PolyEvolver PE Upgrade 

Funny though the desktop Evolvers have encoders and don't have this problem. I haven't had to use a drop of deoxit in the 5 years since owning mine. Poly Evolver is hands down probably the best synth. It's become a Holy Grail of sorts. Well worth the upgrade.

Good job Tim, I believe it is definitely worth it. The Evolver series were so ahead of their time and still sound great (with some external effects even better). I managed to purchase a mono Evolver keyboard / display conversion kit directly from Sequential a few years ago. Also was a breeze to replace, very happy with the kit. I managed to combining my MEK and my old Evolver desktop. I do not have to touch the desktop at all anymore, which is great.

I replaced the rotary encoders on mine about 10 years ago with some higher quality ALPS ones. The PEK has been working flawlessly ever since after that "upgrade", at a fraction of the cost of the conversion kit. Plus, I still have the encoder's functionality of picking up the values from right where they were. What I want to say is that rotary encoders are not inherently bad, it's the bad quality / low cost ones that ruin their reputation.

I have a desktop Evolver with no rotary encoder failures yet. Fluke or systematic difference, I'm wondering. Likely the same encoders were used.

I think a lot of the encoders from DSI products from this period have this encoder issue. My Rev 2 feels more well built compared to the Prophet 08 that preceded it

Only advice here Tim is, try to avoid vacuuming, the nylon hoses can have static which could mean bad things to any ROM/RAM modules onboard if there is a discharge. Maybe compressed air or the ole paint brush would be safer. PE is the predecessor of the Tempest. Both amazing bits of kit. Yours now looks like it came fresh from the factory, stellar job and HNY.

I've got the PE version of the Mono Keyboard. LOVE it. I had a blofeld.... encoders broke after a few weeks (from new) Sent it back Got another a few years later. Same thing. Got rid. never again

Ive had a rather positive experience with the encoders on my DSI Mopho though. It's probably 15 years old by now. But I guess I got lucky.

Good job. Enjoy 😀

I managed to buy one of the last Potentiometer editions about 10 or more years ago and shortly after found a 4-voice rack. Probably the best sounding synths I've ever owned and that inlcudes a CS80.

I once said I would watch any video you make because it's entertaining, and I'm still right. I don't have an Evolver at all. Sequential has always had great designs, Ive been inside a VS that I sold and it was a breeze. I'll see how I feel after I open my 2000 though 😂

Luckily i got one of the last encoder kits for the MEK. Didn't touch it for years and felt like i had a new synth, on the downside i'm still kind of pissed at DSI for even releasing synths with such bad quality, it's not that this issue came up after a few decades of heavy use.

That's odd that your filter knob still appears to be an encoder (?). Mine is definitely a potentiometer.

any info on where to find the conversion kit? I'm in the market for a PE and it'll be nice to have a kit on standby

Know of any other conversion kits out there?

I have a newer Blofeld ( I think they did put better quality encoders in the later models ) and the encoders are fine but for how long?

For how much EURO or USD dit you sell it?

Let me tell you about the encoders of my MoPhO 👎🏼

I also can't understand why encoders have to break. There are wear-free and fail-safe optical and magnetic encoders.

All those AD DSPs and red PCB immediately made me think of Gravis Ultrasound... Great curation Tim, I'm sure it will pay off soon.

I wish I could find a kit for my Prophet08 but alas.. Sequential says to solder new stepped encoders on it..

I have a PEK sitting in my living room but yeah, the encoders are totally wonky. I was back at the DSI / Sequential studio last month, but no luck on finding a conversation kit. Meanwhile, my MEK PE version has never had any issues.

I guess I got lucky I had a polyevolver and it was genuinely mint, never had encoder issue. Unfortunately & I know I seem to be in minority, but it’s the one synth I just didn’t like and I was glad to move it on...on paper it seemed perfect (& there was a lot to like) but I just didn’t like it’s basic sound 😮really hated its digital aliasing )- (& I love digital synths😀). Glad you seem to like yours so much!

Putting the encoders on without checking if they have a line on them or blank, has made my OCD radar collapse. How can you live with yourself 😬

I bought one of the last kits from Thomann, it came broken and send it to California and they send another and it was broken! So Carson send another and it works great. There is a threat in gearslutz that about the encoders problem with the part number to replace the encoders from Alps.

The rotary encoder on our car radio does that - thankfully we have volume up/down buttons on the steering wheel. It's a pity they crap out so much quicker than humble potentiometers!

Great synth. I had the rack and the PEK.... the original encoders failed a few times... DSI sent me deoxit but it went again about a year later so I went for the analogue pots and had no issues whatsoever...

I bought the PolyEvolver keyboard when it came out. I’ve got serial #14. I did the pot upgrade and knob upgrade since the old ones got gummy. It’s been at least 10 years since I upgraded the pots and the encoders on the new board are still good. It’s an amazing synth that drew a lot of hate when it was new because it wasn’t a prophet 5 and that’s all anyone wanted from Dave smith. I’m glad it’s found a second life as it’s getting older. Also…check reverb. The prices on them have been going through the roof the last year or so. It’s a bit bonkers.

Nice video Tim, very interesting informative 👍🏻

Took me ten years to replace all the wonky encoders on my DSI mono Evolver keyboard.

Happy New Year Tim! I hope the PE finds its way into your compositions.

Yup. Rotary encoders. Hate em. It’s enough to make one go fully vst

Did it solve your problem?