Hi,
I know this as been brought up so many times but will we be seeing an update that allows you to play the analog four as a four voice poly synth without the need of external devices and workarounds?
If this is not possible please could you shed some light on the matter and the reasons why it is not possible?
Many thanks!
James
It sure has been discussed a lot 
Just not here yet I guess.
But I have tried the A4 polyphonically using a ‘workaround’ as you say. And to be honest, I don’t think 4 voices of polyphony is enough.
It sounds good though, sure. But you’ll get notes being cut off constantly, which isn’t cool.
I don’t think polyphony is really the ethos of this synth. So personally speaking I can understand why it was left out. And even if it was added at some point, I don’t think i’d use it.
How would you expect it to work with Elektrons sequencer?
For those interested, the workaround I used was using the Distributor Rack Extension (plugin) in Reason 7.
If you had 2 or more A4’s though, it would work a treat and sound very impressive indeed I reckon Although obviously the way I did it was to use the A4 just as a fairly basic midi sound module, and not use it’s sequencer. And to not use the sequencer of any piece of Elektron gear is missing half the point of it in my opinion.
Just my 2 mhz worth though of course! 
Although poly has been talked about a lot and am now into week 2 with the A4, having many other poly synth racks, I would actually prefer to see a fully implemented midi out that allows the A4 voice to still play (no Local Off) while being able to sequence external modules with parameter/note slides sent as well (not just Note On/Off).
I want poly chaining! Two A4s and 8 voices sounds like a dream.
I actually could foresee wanting a second A4 and I have wondered rather than what’s commonly called “poly chain” by others, would this currently be accomplished by somehow using the midi out port’s “SYNC FUNCTION” on A4 #2 to A4 #1 midi in port since there’s currently no midi thru? But then, you have just used-up one of two midi DIN in ports. How then would midi in/out over USB fit in this scenario?
I think this places illumination on how nice it would be to have midi out port to be more utilitarian.
it would be possible to do this using the little poli App i’m doing as a workaround:
it does poly dispatch for one A4, and it would be trivial to add support for several A4s (but I only have one so can’t do it for now).
The way I’m thinking it would be to use the USB MIDI port on each A4 to connect it to the poli dispatcher. So every A4 is seen as an independent MIDI device by the app and has its own 16 MIDI channels.
Syncing the A4s sequencers could then be done using soft-thru via the app, or by chaining the A4s via DIN cables…
The big caveat with the app is, even on a single A4, that it’s near impossible to record what’s played into the A4 sequencer. So this is for keyboards or external sequencers only.
I am using a mutable instruments Midipal.
Just sort poly out already…
It’s 2013 for gods sake.
You really want to be syncing two £900 devices to take a proper chord? why stop at two? get three for that extra phatness. 
Love A4 to bits but since Elektron say that its coming they should be a bit clearer in what is actually coming and when. Be good to know I reckon.
Good times!
A
This might help. I use MIDIPal too.
Will the midipal take info from a controller on channel 1 send it to 1-4 (for a4 polyphony) while passing on info on other midi channels (9/10 octa/md) from the same controller?
keys on mpk (ch1) play a4 (ch 1-4)
pads on mpk (ch9/10) play octa/md (ch9/10)
eg:
mpk>midipal>octa in
octa thru> md in
md thru> a4 in
if this works i will be stoked
Just recieved confirmation from oliver at mutable instruments that this will work. Looks like I need to make room for another elektron…
Individual voice editing with the Midipal is a chore. Overall I’m not sure why the official poly mode has been delayed when it worked quite simply for the Monomachine. I’m sure when it is implemented it will be great.
^ I can see many aspects of individual voice editing being a chore. Being able to play all four voices at once with a keyboard is kinda nice though…
I completely agree that I would love to see MIDI control of external gear using the A4, even if that’s only monophonic (though polyphonic MIDI sequencing would be a dream come true on so many levels!). I was surprised to find that it wasn’t capable of that using the CV track. Makes me wish I hadn’t bought my MoPho before the Minitaur came out…