Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
| Manufactured by | Sequential Circuits |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1978-1984 |
| Price | US$4495 (Rev 1, Rev 2); US$3995 (Rev 3) |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 5 voices |
| Timbrality | Monotimbral |
| Oscillator | 2 VCOs per voice |
| LFO | 1 |
| Synthesis type | Analog Subtractive Analog Frequency modulation via Poly-Mod |
| Filter | 1 lowpass |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 61 keys |
| Left-hand control | Pitch & modulation wheels |
| External control | CV/Gate Optional factory MIDI kit |
The Prophet-5 is an analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Sequential Circuits in San Jose, California between 1977 and 1984. The Prophet-5 was groundbreaking in that it was one of the first analog synthesizers to implement patch memory, a feature which stored user settings of every parameter on the synthesizer into internal memory. It is also one of the first polyphonic synthesizers, with a maximum polyphony of 5 voices, meaning that up to 5 notes can sound at the same time. Like the Minimoog, the pitch wheel was not spring-loaded, but had a detent mechanism which clicked every time it was centered.
The Prophet-5 was also known for its modulation capabilities. The "Poly-Mod" feature routed the output of the filter envelope generator and the second oscillator in each voice through two mixer knobs, which could then be connected to the pulse width and pitch controls on the first oscillator, to the filter cutoff frequency control, or all three at the same time. Since the second VCO was not limited to being an LFO, this allowed the Prophet-5 to generate 2-operator FM synthesis and ring modulator-style effects, as well as complex sweeping sounds.
Three revisions were produced, the first two (commonly referred to as Rev 1 and Rev 2) using oscillators manufactured by Solid State Music (SSM), and the last one (Revision 3) using Curtis CEM chips from Curtis Electromusic Specialties.
Contents |
[edit] SSM vs. Curtis
The Revision 1 and 2 Prophet-5s used SSM oscillator and filter chips while the Revision 3 instruments used the CEM chips. There is still much debate about whether the earlier SSM oscillators produced a richer, more musical timbre. The instability of the early SSM-based Prophets, however, renders this debate moot for all but owners who are either technical enough to tweak or maintain their own Revision 1 or 2 instruments, or wealthy enough to pay a dwindling breed of analog synth technicians to do it for them. The most common and stable of the three revisions was the Revision 3. The last of the rev 3.3s were available with MIDI-IN and MIDI-OUT ports.[1]
[edit] Users
The Prophet-5 is prized by amateurs and professional musicians alike for its lush washes, textural sounds, as well as the classic polyphonic sweep. It is also capable of synth brass sounds, as well as bell-like and atonal sound effects. The characteristics of Sequential Circuits' signature sound quality was a result of the interplay of oscillators and filters in Sequential's poly-mod section.[2]
[edit] Other versions
Sequential Circuits also manufactured a double version of the Prophet-5 called the Prophet-10, which featured 10 voice polyphony and two keyboards, stacked on top of each other. However, early versions were dogged by frequent overheating and tuning stability issues. [1]
[edit] Software clones and emulators
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Arturia developed and markets a "virtual" version of the Prophet 5 called the Prophet V which also includes the Prophet VS. In this version, characteristics from both synthesizers can be used simultaneously in a "hybrid" mode.
Native Instruments developed and markets a Virtual Studio Technology (VST) version of the Prophet 5 called "Pro-53" (previously released as "Pro-52"). This software simulates the look and sound of the Prophet 5, and is programmed similarly.
Analog Synth Lab have released the Prophecizer 5, a Prophet 5 emulator for PC.
Creamware developed and manufactures a "virtual" version of the Prophet 5 called the "Pro-12". This version has an SSM filter emulation. Creamware has also developed and manufactures a hardware version of the Pro-12 called the Pro-12 ASB.
Dave Smith Instruments celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Prophet by developing the Prophet '08, an 8-voice analog synthesizer. Dave Smith was the original developer of the Prophet 5 and the owner of Sequential Circuits, until it went out of business in the late 1980's when the rights were bought by Yamaha and later sold to Korg. Dave Smith now manufactures his new instruments under his own name, as the Japanese manufacturers will not release his original Sequential Circuits Brand back to him.
[edit] Artists that used the Prophet-5
(alphabetically ordered)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Peter Forrest, The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part Two, Short Run Press Ltd, 1996, p. 114
- ^ Julian Colbeck, Keyfax Omnibus Edition, MixBooks, 1996, p. 123
- ^ Peter Forrest, The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part Two, Short Run Press Ltd, 1996, p. 113
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icehouse_%28band%29#cite_note-Warner-3
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icehouse_%28band%29#cite_note-27
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0mAxTckBE
