Dave Smith Instruments Prophet ’08 Pot Edition

The Prophet 08 synth is symbolizing the return of Dave Smith (Sequential Circuits Mr) in the race for analos modern hybrid view (requires Evolver). For this is the most important characteristics:
Polyphony 8 notes
Two classical oscillators
Curtis low-pass filter 2 and 4 pole
VCA architecture
52 buttons
4 LFOs Prophet
3 envelopes per voice + sequencer
Layers by two programs
Arpeggiator
5 octave keyboard
Touch, velocity sensitive
Aftertouch
Pitch Bend and Modulation
Dimensions: 883.9 x 98.4 x 307.3 mm
Weight: 10 Kg

UTILIZATION

Setup is simple but still requires a little time getting started. The manual is not used much, at most provide some clues on the use of sequence or menus.
For editing sounds is easy, two banks of 128 sounds BACKUP or 256 memory locations which is enough when you love doing research sound.

SOUNDS

I believe the Prophet 08 has caused much ink to its release on this point (among others) because many have waited for the re-birth of the illustrious Prophet 5. Naive dream because I do not think this model will ever be reproduced at a rate consistent (f 40,000 at the time anyway, ie goshawks than 30 times the minimum wage!! As if you went out a New Prophet 5 ° for Ed .... € 40 000!!???) if one repeats the specified related to it.
So yes, it is not the case, even if you feel a kinship between these two Prophet is in this case is no longer in possession of a machine to sound deep, analog, crude, refined and thoroughly modern.
It is therefore in the presence of a standalone machine grain very assertive and undeniable presence. The filter is excellent and disperses sound very 80's, it's pretty obvious (like Oberheim OB8 or Roland Jupiter / Juno) and very special. We can make him do just about anything you want it still sounds reasonably well.
Envelopes can be a little soft but curiously it does not bother me at all, it's part of the signing of P08 and its identity.
The factory sounds are distressing (ultra dated), it is far from the quality of programs of Evolver KB but hey it's a synthesizer so it is up to each build their own sounds.

A very interesting demo that illustrates quite well the possibilities of the machine:



Another very revealing of the potential 'retro' of P08



OVERALL OPINION

I have for some years and I have never regretted the purchase. I did customize the USA at DSI to get rid of terrible encoders of the first version and have the PE version. The game is worth the effort and the result is very convincing. Here you can play, program and sweat gear without worry.
We can nitpick and blamed a keyboard a little 'cheap' but it's personal I never hindered.
Given the park synth that I had in my life, I can unhesitatingly place it on top of the ladder, next to those I do not resell because that's exactly the sort of tool that never fails to blackmail your inspiration. Excellent!

5 octave keyboard with semi-weighted aftertouch
8 votes, other features see site builder

UTILIZATION

with some reference configuration is quite easy
edition of the sounds is very simple. In addition there are a publisher very well done and very affordable
there is no effect, gross gross listening to numerous demo, you can imagine if you add qq pedals ....
The possibilities are enormous, the sounds are also draws

SOUNDS

sounds feasible may cover them many styles, like any good synth

OVERALL OPINION

I've had two months, I had a lot of other models in the hands of alesis andromeda the notament, which I quickly saw the separate numbers in other beug ...
I like his Loock, is not to say it is beautiful.
the sounds are just terrible. I was looking for an affordable analog, given the market OCCAZ, and I am filled
this choice I would do without hesitation

Poly 8, just enough for analog! The keyboard is quite nice, good touch. No built-in effects and all the better, there is an increased awareness of the grain of this machine. In it sticky later on some good chorus sounds (such as groundwater) is simply fabulous.

UTILIZATION

No need for manual, as mentioned, this synth is very intuitive. Good ergonomics.

SOUNDS

It is good in all the styles that Prophet 08. But that's my opinion on the categories of sounds:

Bass: + +
Pads: +
Leads: + + +
Tablecloths: + + +
Effects: + +
Sequences: + +

OVERALL OPINION

It complements my Nordlead 2X, Arturia Origin, MKS-50 and Motif XS6. The Prophet 08 adds its grain and personality to my set-up. TOP build quality.
Price / quality ratio pretty good, a bit expensive but the quality is there and all levels.

Hyper full polyphony 8 (or 4 layers of 2)

Specs

* 5-octave semi-weighted keyboard With action, velocity, and aftertouch.
* Spring-loaded pitch wheel and assignable mod wheel
* 256 fully-editable Programs (2 banks of 128) with 2 Layers (2 separate sounds) in EACH Program.
* 16 x 4 gated step sequencer
* Arpeggiator
Digitally controlled * 2 analog oscillators (DCOs) per voice selectable With sawtooth, triangle, saw / triangle mix, and pulse waves (with pulse-width modulation), and hard sync.
* White noise generator
* 1 Analog Curtis low-pass filter per voice, selectable 2 - and 4-pole operation (self-resonating in 4-pole mode).
* 3 Envelope Generators: filter, VCA, and assignable (four-stage ADSR + delay); Envelope 3 Cdn loop.
* 4 LFOs
* Glide (portamento): separate rats per oscillator.
* Analog VCAs
* Dimensions: 12.1 "(30.73 cm) W x 34.8" (88.39 cm) W x 3875 "(9.84 cm) H (2.25" at front edge; The feet account for 0.25 "of the total height)
* Weight: ~ 22 lbs. (9.98 kg)

Ins and Outs

* MIDI In, Out, Through, and Poly Chain
* Main stereo audio output: 1 / 4 "unbalanced
* Output B stereo audio output: 1 / 4 "unbalanced
* Sustain pedal input: accepts Normally it off momentary footswitch Normally gold.
* Pedal / CV input: Respond to expression pedals or control voltages ranging from 0 to 5 VDC (protected Against High or negative voltages).
* Headphone output: 1 / 4 "stereo phone jack.


UTILIZATION

Super intuitive if one has already touched analog synth. Not need the manual (except for 2 3 hidden functions). Everything is accessible ...

Unimaginable opportunities (3 adsr, 4 modulations, 4 LFOs, 4 sequencers, aftertouch) ...

POT version infinitely more playable than the basic version.

SOUNDS

Its very versatile. The prophet is hard to tame at the start of ground to make sweet and scalable. At ease in any type of synthesis, low in fat layers, scalable through noise drones etc ...

OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it?
2 months.

Did you try many other models before getting this one?
I have a CS-15 (analog monophonic). I tested a lot of synth (Juno, novation k station & bass, Korg M1, Minimoog, Crumar Multiman) and I was looking for a polyphonic analog synth versatile ...

What thing do you like most/least about it?
most: the possibilities, ergonomics, sound,
minimum: nothing ...

What is your opinion about the value for the price?
Fabulous ... For the price of a minimoog, it has a polyphony of 8, 4 modules, 4 sequencers, 4 LFO ... that you ask for ...

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?
Graaaaaaaaave!