Korg Prophecy

It reintroduced ribbon controls on synths. Has whut Korg called the LOG, basicly a pitch control wheel (centered)with the said ribbon control on it. It also has 2 more wheels and 4 knobs... 1995 or 1996 knobs was a reinvention to synths.... Like I said Sounds excelent. Editing is not for the fain't at heart... Use software point blank... like most synths of this age it's better to use midi to edit the equipment.

Price paid: $600 USD

UTILIZATION

Excelent for a performance based unit. It was designed as a lead synth... think of the synth parts from "the Killers" you have the idea. It's a secret weapon of mass cone distruction. It gets down lower than Lil John or the skirts in the video's. Great as a lead instrument, Pad, Bass synth. It is probably the most fun unit I have to play with and it has built in efects that sound good. I gave it a 7 because it's not that easy to edit in compared to some of the other gear I own. but again rember this was made in like 1996

SOUNDS

It's the origianl Korg moss bassed synth... It's monophonic... It's probably one of the best voices you will hear..... It's not the only thing in your studio.... unless your talented and have alot of time and software.... Idea Time!) It's the older brother to the Korg Z1, Trinity/triton Moss card, MS2000's, Minikorg. 128 patches based in 2 banks of 64... add a 512kb memory card and you have a "C" bank with 64 or 128 more patches.

OVERALL OPINION

Excelent contruction except top is plastic. Silver unit and 37 keys. No repair job's and likes to spit midi data out.

It's still here in the studio... If it came up missing I would buy another one. Like most of my equipment it has a role to play in my music. It's light in the patch storage area. But it's 10 or so years old now. It still amazes me that it sounds so fresh and so lifelike as a woodwind, Brass, String, or Vintage analog. They are going for $200-350 on ebay... try one!

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: kazper ( 7-, 2005)

1995 the guys at Korg unleash a bomb in the small world of synthesis, codenamed "Prophecy".
A big synth small format, richly endowed controllers (for the time), molded in a plastic "silver gray" as a bimbo in her dress in polyester. We love, we do not like, but it imposes with its red smarties, its bulbous knobs and this big thing thingy-straight out of Star Wars: LOG; 3D controller ensuring the change that you want as a big wheel pitch bend inlaid with a touch sensitive tape position, pressure and velocity. Phew. The pitch and modulation are the part too. Re-whew.

Roughly the Prophecy is a monophonic synth dedicated to digital ... that you actually want. On baby it says "solo synthesizer", but nothing prevents you to use it for bass, leads, gloubiboulgas supersonic in acid or bluffing saxophone sounds in the '90s but light years that offers a Yamaha VL or a large computer sampler.

The keyboard responds to mono aftertouch and velocity. For the rest, just get on with triturables contraptions to get a sound.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is it simple?
No. Absolutely not. It is a modular synthesizer where everything is done internally. If you have insomnia I suggest you start by telling LFOs and if the problem persists, start the program.

Editing sounds and effects is it easy?
No more. This synth is amazing and incredibly complex to program. Can tamper anyhow and just random sounds, you can load presets gleaned from the web, but make your own sounds is a daunting task.

The manual is clear and sufficient?
It helps, but it is not a miracle cure.

SOUNDS

The sounds they suit your style of music?
Yes. For now it serves me especially terrifying low which Virus posing as microbes and modern analos for soft stuff. You really try to understand, this machine is monstrous and quick to eat everything that roams around.

The effects are they effective and responsive?
In fact there is not really, apart from a kind of Wah and a Drive. The rest of the program with LFOs for example.

The expression is good? (Reaction velocity, aftertouch)?
Yes. This is a killer.

What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
I say that in a hundred years, can not make the turn.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
Few months. And it was time that I dreamed.

Have you tried many other models before buying it?
Much.

What is the particular feature you like best and least?
I love the sound. The downside, it is very complex to program.

How would you rate the quality / price?
On occasion it is a gift. It is totally undervalued. But it is also due to its complexity.

With experience, you do again this choice?
I do not mind a second. And not a Z1 or Radias, the sound of Prophecy is exclusive. We can approach but without the dynamic and grain. This synth is unique, a more modular MS-20, a more expressive modern analog (thank you to LOG), more affordable than a rom-player used.

I suggest you read these two articles in English.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/prph.php

https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/oct95/korgprophecy.html

Extract http://virtualacoustic.free.fr
Instructions available here: http://virtualacoustic.free.fr/HTML/downloadZ1.html

Released in November 1995, the Prophecy can be acquired for himself or as an option for the Trinity or Triton. Modeled on the VL1, was the first that could have made him the competition. It offers in its synthesis Moss (Multi Oscillator Synthesis System) a summary of complete physical acoustic sounds, but it is not as good as Korg has not really invested in the development of physical models. It may be noted the complete absence of PCM.

UTILIZATION

Extract http://virtualacoustic.free.fr

Despite the care given to the ergonomics of this synthesizer (aftertouch, wheel, ribbon controller, nice screen ...), the interface control and scheduling problem, as difficult to understand. The factory sounds have undoubtedly been made with an external editor. The device is not really developed for physical models, and changing sounds and controls necessary for expressive performance are unwieldy. Demonstrators stores can not even use it. In these circumstances it is difficult to convince a potential buyer.

SOUNDS

Extract http://virtualacoustic.free.fr
Demos available here: http://virtualacoustic.free.fr/HTML/Demos.html

It offers a total of 5 types of synthesis: analog subtractive classical VPM (Variable Phase Modulation, FM equivalent), modulation (Cross / Sync / Ring), Comb Filter Oscillator and physical models (reed, brass and pluck). Unfortunately, it is not designed to take advantage of a breath controller, it is not directed either to a faithful imitation of acoustic sounds. No complete construction of the instrument is proposed.

OVERALL OPINION

Extract http://virtualacoustic.free.fr

Yamaha, Korg and Technics are the first manufacturers to attempt to use the technique of synthesis by physical models. Their business strategies are different, and distinct steps. It should be noted that all the synthesizers using synthesis by physical models employ exclusively models of waveguides. If manufacturers adopt this synthesis giving a variety of names (S / VA, MOSS, Acoustic Modelling ...) it is indeed always the same technique.

When you consider all that is missing in these synthesizers, physical models seem to be a beautiful place in the market.