The original Poly 800 is one of the first midi synths, and operated
only in OMNI
mode (affects/is affected by all channels). It also could run on D
batteries, and had guitar strap brads at either end so it could be
worn. It took about 10 years for rock keyboardists to realize how
stupid they looked trying to vamp like
a lead guitar player while wearing a plastic keyboard. Fortunately
that period of music is very over. The sound of the Poly 800 WAS kind
of thin, that was part of what charm it had. Also--no velocity
sensitivity, and a single (not very steep ) filter. With enough
reverb it sounded usable, and was one of the first affordable
polyphonic synths.

Philip Perkins