Sequential Circuits Prophet 5
Encyclopedia
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.
-IN and MIDI-OUT ports.
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.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
that was manufactured by Sequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
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
Polyphony (instrument)
Polyphony Instruments that are not capable of polyphony are monophonic.-Synthesizer:Most of early synthesizers were monophonic musical instruments which can play only one note at a time, and are often called monosynth as opposed to polysynth...
synthesizers, with a maximum polyphony
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
of 5 voices, meaning that up to 5 notes can sound at the same time. Like the Minimoog
Minimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
, 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
Frequency modulation synthesis
A 220 Hz carrier tone modulated by a 440 Hz modulating tone with various choices of modulation index, β. The time domain signals are illustrated above, and the corresponding spectra are shown below ....
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
Curtis CEM
Curtis CEM chips are analog chips used in many synthesizers.Curtis Electromusic Specialties, founded by Doug Curtis , developed a family of signal-processing products for electronic music synthesizers and audio equipment.-SSM and CEM:Chips List...
chips from Curtis Electromusic Specialties.
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 MIDIMusical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
-IN and MIDI-OUT ports.
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.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. http://www.vintagesynth.com/sci/p10.phpSoftware clones and emulators
ArturiaArturia
Arturia is a software company located in Grenoble, France and founded in 1999 by Frédéric Brun and Gilles Pommereuil, both INPG-qualified engineers. The company's focus is on the development of electronic music software and tools - primarily emulation of vintage analog synthesizers...
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
Native Instruments
Native Instruments is a technology company that develops software and hardware for music production and DJing. The company has originally been identified mostly with software instruments, but has also expanded to various other music equipment segments in recent years.Current products of Native...
developed and markets a Virtual Studio Technology
Virtual Studio Technology
Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
(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
Creamware (software company)
Creamware Audio GmbH was a manufacturer of DSP-based sound cards and synthesizers. These cards are used to create synthesized sounds for audio production in music and other audio environments. The company was founded in 1992 and operated until 2006...
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
Prophet '08
The Prophet '08 is a polyphonic analog synthesizer created by Dave Smith of St. Helena, California, USA, for Dave Smith Instruments , released in late 2007...
, 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.
Artists that used the Prophet-5
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See also
- Sequential CircuitsSequential CircuitsSequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
- Polyphonic synthesizer
- Analog synthesizerAnalog synthesizerAn analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
- Synthesizer#Patch