Sequential Prophet-6 Desktop Analog Synthesizer (Dave Smith Instruments)

DAVE SMITH INSTRUMENTS PROPHET-6 DESKTOP FEATURES:

Vintage with a Modern Twist

Both the Prophet-6 desktop module and keyboard are Dave Smith’s tribute to the poly synth that started it all—the Sequential Prophet-5. But it’s not simply a reissue of a classic. Rather, as Dave puts it, “It’s the result of our effort to build the most awesome-sounding, modern analog poly synth possible.” The Prophet-6 takes the best qualities of the original Prophet-5—true voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers—and adds enhancements such as studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and more. The result is pure, unadulterated analog tone with the stability and reliability of a state-of-the-art modern synth.

Classic Tone, Classic Vibe

Central to the warm, punchy sound of the Prophet-6 are its two newly-designed, discrete voltage-controlled oscillators (plus sub-oscillator) per voice. Continuously variable waveshapes provide the tonal palette with triangle, sawtooth, and variable-width pulse waves. There are two discrete filters per voice—a four-pole, resonant, low-pass inspired by the original Prophet-5 filter, and a two-pole, resonant, high-pass filter. Voltage-controlled amplifiers complete the all-analog signal path.

Dual Effects

The dual effects section provides studio-quality reverbs, delays (standard and BBD), chorus and phase shifter. While the effects themselves are digital, with 24-bit, 48 kHz resolution, a true bypass maintains a full analog signal path. There’s also an independent stereo distortion effect, which is 100% analog. 

Poly Mod and Poly Step Sequencing

Also present from its classic predecessor is a Poly Mod section, with enhancements. True to the original, modulation sources are filter envelope and oscillator 2 (both with bi-polar control). Destinations include oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 1 shape, oscillator 1 pulse width, low-pass filter cutoff, and high-pass filter cutoff. Another welcome reprise is Unison mode, which features configurable voice count (1-6 voices) and key modes. The polyphonic step sequencer allows up to 64 steps and up to 6 notes per step. You can create sequences polyphonically, with rests, and sync to an external MIDI clock. The full-featured arpeggiator can be synced to external MIDI clock as well. 

Easy to Program

The knob-per-function front panel offers instant access to virtually all Prophet-6 functions. Included are 500 permanent factory programs and 500 rewritable user programs. Toggling off the Preset button enables live panel mode, in which the sound of the Prophet-6 switches to the current settings of its knobs and switches. In this state, what you see is what you hear.

Easy to Play

All of this awe-inspiring sound is packed into a desktop module that’s small enough to fit in a backpack. It’s an ideal combination of portability and power for the project studio or the gigging musician.

DAVE SMITH INSTRUMENTS PROPHET-6 DESKTOP SPECIFICATIONS:

OSCILLATORS

Two newly designed, discrete VCOs per voice

Continuously variable wave shape (triangle, sawtooth, pulse, square) per oscillator

Pulse width per oscillator

Hard sync: oscillator 1 syncs to oscillator 2

Triangle sub-octave generator (oscillator 1) per voice

Low frequency mode (oscillator 2)

Keyboard tracking on/off (oscillator 2)

Oscillator slop amount for increased tuning instability, from subtle to extreme

MIXER

Oscillator 1 amount

Oscillator 1 sub-octave amount

Oscillator 2 amount

White noise amount

HIGH-PASS FILTER

Two-pole, resonant, high-pass filter per voice

Bi-polar filter envelope amount

Velocity modulation of envelope amount

Keyboard tracking: off, half, full

LOW-PASS FILTER

Four-pole, resonant, low-pass filter per voice, inspired by the original Prophet 5 filter

Filter can be driven into self-oscillation with the Resonance control

Bi-polar filter envelope amount

Velocity modulation of envelope amount

Keyboard tracking: off, half, full

FILTER ENVELOPE

Four-stage (ADSR) envelope generator

AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE

Four-stage (ADSR) envelope generator

Velocity modulation of envelope amount

LOW FREQUENCY OSCILLATOR

Five wave shapes: triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, and random (sample and hold)

Clock sync (internal or external MIDI clock)

Initial amount

Mod destinations: oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 2 frequency, oscillator 1 and 2 pulse width, low-pass filter cutoff, high-pass filter cutoff

POLY MOD

Sources: filter envelope (bi-polar) and oscillator 2 (bi-polar)

Destinations: oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 1 shape, oscillator 1 pulse width, low-pass filter cutoff, high-pass filter cutoff

AFTERTOUCH

Source: channel (mono) aftertouch with bi-polar amount

Destinations: oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 2 frequency, LFO amount, amplifier envelope amount, low-pass filter envelope amount, high-pass filter envelope amount

CLOCK

Master clock with tap tempo

BPM control and display

MIDI clock sync

ARPEGGIATOR

Selectable note value: 16th note, 8th note triplet, 8th note, dotted 8th note, quarter note

One, two, or three octave range

Up, down, up/down, random, and assign modes

SEQUENCER

Polyphonic step sequencer with up to 64 steps and rests

EFFECTS

Stereo analog distortion

Dual, 24-bit, 48 kHz digital effects, including: reverb (room, hall, plate, spring), delay (full bandwidth digital delay and emulated bucket brigade and tape delays), chorus, and phase shifter

Delay sync

True bypass maintains fully analog signal path when digital effects are off

PERFORMANCE CONTROLS

Polyphonic glide (portamento)

Hold switch latches held notes on

Unison (monophonic) mode with configurable voice count, from one to all six voices, and key modes

Preset switch: when off, the front panel is live; what you see is what you hear

PATCH MEMORY

500 user and 500 factory programs in 10 banks of 100 programs each

Direct program access, including Prophet 5-style single-button access to the current set of 10 programs

IN/OUT

Left and right audio outputs (2 x 1/4” phone jack)

Headphone output (stereo, 1/4” phone jack)

MIDI in, out, and thru ports

USB for bidirectional MIDI communication

Low-pass filter cutoff expression pedal input

Volume expression pedal input

Sustain footswitch input

Sequencer start/stop footswitch input

POWER

IEC AC power inlet for internal power supply

Operates worldwide on voltages between 100 and 240 volts at 50 to 60 Hz; 30 watts maximum power consumption

PHYSICAL SPECS

21.25” L x 7.43” W x 4.4″ H (54.0 cm x 18.9 cm x 11.2 cm)

13.0 lbs (5.9 kg)

Walnut end panels and trim