Prophet 08 (what do you think now?)

[small blue dot]

So,people have had a chance to own these for a while. It seems to me after the initial excitement not a lot has been said about these. I'm curious to hear from people who have owned them, what their general thoughts are. More specifically likes and dislikes about the general sound of the synth rather than the impressive specs. I find myself drawn to this synth, particularly as I try to minimize my setup. However, I can't help comparing it to synths such as the Matrix 1000 and the price difference. I also read mixed reports about peoples impressions on the general sound of the synth. Current and past owners, I'd love to hear your reviews.

[Pilot352]

I've owned mine since September last year and it's still my "go to" synth for analog sounds. Funny though, by itself it's sounds are really good but not super great. But when I play it along with my two other analog synths... c**p it sounds good. It's tones comp;ement my other synths perfectly.

My only complaints are the knobs which are a little flimsy and the fact that there's been no additional syx or updates in a year.

In a nut shell... It's a great synth!!!

[Robonaut]

I think that the rack version is a total bargain.

If I was looking at the keyboard version, though, I'd probably just cough up the extra $600 or so and get an Andromeda. The Andromeda is just much deeper.

The Prophet does sound fantastic, however.

[Joey]

I have the rack version, and I will never sell it.

The thing just sings the right way to me.

Noise modulation is great too..

definitely going to be one of the classic analog synths in the next 20 years, it just does everything so right.

if I had one thing to change though, I would want either osc cross mod, ringmod, or more filter types, but i don't care that much, the synth is great as it is

[JSRockit]

Sorry to intrude on this thread. I'm also interested in this synth since I am getting sick of my monomachine's cold and thin sound.

I have a few questions. Are the oscillators hard routed to the left and right outputs like the evolver? With the sequencer, can you route to each voice / osc to a track... to say, have 4 different sequences with 4 seperate voices going? I know my choice of words may be off here...but basically I would love to have 4 different mono synth lines going with 4 different voices...is this possible?

[Pilot352]

Are the oscillators hard routed to the left and right outputs like the evolver?

The panning is voice level and not per oscillator level (two oscillators per voice). In Poly mode, the panning can be controlled by the modulation scheme but it is still voice level panning (i.e. play one note it comes out of one speaker... play another note it comes out the other). The amount of separation is controllable, however. In mono mode, it basically works the same, but as all voices are playing at once so the stereo effect is all at once.

With the sequencer, can you route to each voice / osc to a track... to say, have 4 different sequences with 4 seperate voices going? I know my choice of words may be off here...but basically I would love to have 4 different mono synth lines going with 4 different voices...is this possible?

The sequencer in the prophet is pretty powerful. It can be configured in many ways. One way to achieve what you describe is to split the synth into two separate engines. 4 voices go to engine "A" and 4 go to engine "B". Each engine has it's own 16 step sequencer and can run at different speeds (must be in sync), different patterns, etc. So, you are limited to only two separate "voice" engines.

Remember too, these "A" and "B" engines are completely separate. They have their own LFO's, Filters, VCA's etc.. you can make one sound like a string and the other sound like a cat... they are two totally separate synths in this configuration.

[JSRockit]

The sequencer in the prophet is pretty powerful. It can be configured in many ways. One way to achieve what you describe is to split the synth into two separate engines. 4 voices go to engine "A" and 4 go to engine "B". Each engine has it's own 16 step sequencer and can run at different speeds (must be in sync), different patterns, etc. So, you are limited to only two separate "voice" engines.

Ah, I see... does that mean each voice in a voice engine can then be routed to its own sequencer for sequencing notes using the sequencers 4 different routing destinations?

Also, each voice engine then has its own set of outputs right?

Also, since it is gated...I either have to hold down the keys to play a sequence or use note data via midi to start the sequencer right (i.e. it can't just be synced and started by a master clock)?

[Pilot352]

Actually, after looking at it, it looks like you can do what you described. Even in the "non split" mode (only one layer).
Let me try to clarify.. It's still pretty complex...

Illustration
==========================================
Layer "A" Normal and split mode:
16 step sequencer 1 --> Destination 1 ( huge list of destinations )
16 step sequencer 2 --> Destination 2 ( huge list of destinations )
16 step sequencer 3 --> Destination 3 ( huge list of destinations )
16 step sequencer 4 --> Destination 4 ( huge list of destinations )

Layer "B" just like Engine "A" - split mode Only
16 step sequencer 1 --> Destination 1 ( huge list of destinations )
16 step sequencer 2 --> Destination 2 ( huge list of destinations )
16 step sequencer 3 --> Destination 3 ( huge list of destinations )
16 step sequencer 4 --> Destination 4 ( huge list of destinations )
==========================================

Each step sequencer is independent but runs at the same rate. You can also wrap the four sequencers to two 32 step sequencers. If you run in "split mode" (i.e. two layers) you get two complete copies of the above Layer "A" and Layer "B" thus you get 8 16 step sequencers. But remember in this mode, the voices are split between the two layers and therefore the polyphony is reduced.

Also, the destinations can be oscillator 1, oscillator 2 or oscillator 1 & 2 of each voice as three of the large list of destinations. I had to look it up but it do what you want.

Update: As to not confuse... I used the term "Engines" but the correct term (per the manual) is "Layer" so I updated the text.

[JSRockit]

hmmm...this is looking like a winner.

[Pilot352]

One thing I want to point out that I just found. There's another thread about the sequencer in the P'08.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... 13&t=43635

The sequencer is gated which means that you have to hold the key to get it to rum. However I think I found that sending a "NOTE ON" command through MIDI without the subsequent "NOTE OFF" command will latch it.

[JSRockit]

The sequencer is gated which means that you have to hold the key to get it to rum. However I think I found that sending a "NOTE ON" command through MIDI without the subsequent "NOTE OFF" command will latch it.

How does this work?

[Pilot352]

The sequencer will only run while holding a key down. It doesn't "latch" and free run. I hadn't realized this before.

Although I haven't tried it yet, if you send a "note on" command to the synth from a laptop without sending the note off command, according to the manual, the sequencer should free run. In MIDI a note is played by sending a command sequence to the synth. This command sequence contains a command to start the note, what note to start and how loud the note should be. Another command is then sent to turn off the note. There are ways to send just the note on command using software like cubase or any other sequencer software.

I wrote a patch editor for the P'08 last year in C++ which I'm thinking about adding this feature to it.

If you buy a P'08, I would be happy to give you a copy of it. And for that matter, anyone else who wants it. It works quite well and it's free!!

[small blue dot]

Just bought one off a forum member. Can't wait to get it.

[Pilot352]

Woo Hoo!!! You wont be disappointed!! It's a great synth!!! Congrats!!!

[OriginalJambo]

Just bought one off a forum member. Can't wait to get it.

God, only took you 3 days for that decision.