What are your thoughts on the Prophecy?

Alex E · Post by **Alex E** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:11 pm

I've been doing some of my own research on it, and it's really cool how complex the voice architecture is. It's compact and powerful.

And how about the Z1?

severen · Post by **severen** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:45 pm

Prophecy is insteresting mono synth.
Jexus like this synth.

I think this synth is rather a funny shape.
looks like cheap portable keyboard
but Z1 is pretty synth.

Soundwave · Post by **Soundwave** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:45 pm

Overly complex to program and c**p resonance on the filters. It can do some nice weired digital percussion which was novel in 96 but nothing amazing today. The Z1 is the better bet tho most decent softsynths sound better these days.

OMNI26 · Post by **OMNI26** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:33 pm

I haven't played one in a number of years, but I recall some really beautiful and smooth leads on the Prophecy. I remember REALLY wanting one when they were first released. Also, most of them seemed to eventually have a problem with the 1/4" output jacks breaking loose inside the synth and eventually needing repair.

Post by **tallowwaters** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:18 pm

I love my prophecy. Great controller, and can get sounds no other synth (short of Z1 and yammy vl stuff) can get.

seamonkey · Post by **seamonkey** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:52 pm

OMNI26 wrote:I haven't played one in a number of years, but I recall some really beautiful and smooth leads on the Prophecy. I remember REALLY wanting one when they were first released. Also, most of them seemed to eventually have a problem with the 1/4" output jacks breaking loose inside the synth and eventually needing repair.

I can verify the output jack problem, mine is starting to cut in an out.
I took the case off thinking it would be a simple soldering job but it's near impossible getting to them and I didn't want to risk going any further.

Forget the beautiful leads, this thing is meant to get nasty, out of this world raunchy screaming alien giving birth sounds.
The comb filter can really dirty things up and the ribbon controller can really change a sound just by tapping your fingers on it.

Post by **shaft9000** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:57 pm

I had one for ages...bought it new and then sold it last year.

pros:
- it's a diverse toolbox of synthesis types, 2 configurable filters + 6 LFOs & 4 EGs
- unique timbres to be had w/ MOSS & modulation flexibility
- ribbon/log combo is unique to it and makes it into a badass all-around synth-action MIDI controller of other synths.
-"fat sound" potential. at the time it was unveiled many people that heard it (without playing it) thought it could ape Minimoogs w/ ease. naturally, we know better

- crazy effects that sound like robots fighting in a zeppelin hangar are cake to make w/ this freak of nature
- programmable arp
- can go from warm, 'wet' bassy goodness to shrieking chaos in a snap
- looks awesome in an x-files sort-of way

cons:
-cryptic menu navigation scheme- this was the reason i sold it. i could have lived w/ all the other cons except for this. the editor is at least $150 for progenie for p.c. and that is just too much in my mind for a software editor made for a cheap, relatively mass produced synth. it's still more expensive than the bloody karma editor, for phuck'ssake.
-monophonic. while the z1 may not sound EXACTLY the same as a prophecy, it's closer than anything else, of better build, POLYphonic and less than twice the price.
-v.a. section is laughable by today's standards. sure, it sounds very cool and i happen to like it, but it's not very analog. more like prodigy-fat of the land.
the acoustic modelling is now outpaced by modern software and is not of the sophistication of the yamaha vl-1. but it IS very good at some things, and is a a big selling point for good reason!
--build/key action - this is a personal thing that some people are fine with. but i never grooved w/ the keyaction and the plastic knobbage and casing (w/ metal underside). it's not as bad as a pro-one, but it is a bit of cheap Korg-ness.

Post by **synth3tik** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:17 pm

I had a Z1 for awhile. It was cool, but was definitely not a main board by any means. I guess the Prophecy has better after touch then the Z1, other then that I would think you may want to grab up a Z1.

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:18 am

I like it sounds better than the Z1, it's a great digital sounding VA.

Huppo · Post by **Huppo** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:19 pm

I've had a Z1 and a Prophecy. I still have the Z1, though it's not because the Prophecy wasn't a great synth, I just happen to prefer polyphonic synths and as others mentioned a Z1 is essentially a polyphonic Prophecy for just a little more $. I used my Z1 as my main controller for a long time and it served well in that capacity.

Both of them are frustrating to program for the reasons mentioned above. LOTS of parameters and a terribly impenetrable editing interface. They do reward deep, thoughtful programming but it's difficult to realize this by squinting into the little LCD and twirling ever-changing soft knobs.

The used prices for the Z1 and Prophecy are both fairly stable, so if you're interested you can pick one up and resell it later if you don't care for it without losing anything.

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:46 pm

A LOT of menu-diving. that's my main gripe about it. could be great midi controller though. shaft9000 pretty much listed everything i had to say about it.

good digital synth if you don't mind its interface.

goom · Post by **goom** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:34 am

I own a Prophecy, Oasys PCI and a Triton Extreme. I've also played a Z1. None of the synths have nailed the Prophecy's sound. The Extreme has a Prophecy bank that is close, but still not exact. The polyphony is nice though.

To sum it up, the Prophecy is still a nice board, but there are other, newer options to consider. A cool thing with the Proph is the size and weight. It's very light and small. Nice for gigging.

tom Cadillac · Post by **tom Cadillac** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:09 am

I love the 'found on board alien space ship' quality to it, but wish I had a spare month to totally devote to understanding its alien programming langauge. Other than that - yeah its light and gigs nice, great for expressive basslines, and the logwheel/tuchpad is great. But I don't realy use mine much, but like to know its there.
And it has got a very assertive sound, as suited to a monosynth.