KVR Audio

prophet08 · Post by **prophet08** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:50 pm

Hi guys,

I recieved my DSI Prophet '08 analog synth (standard edition with a serial no: 422) last month. It has a pure analog signal path and has an amazing sonic potential indeed. Having extended modulation capabilities, layering concept, gated sequencer, arpeggiator, 8 voice polyphony and well known curtis filters, it gives a warm analog sound, and much beyond than even amazing Prophet 5, I think. It will become a modern classic soon, IMO. It has a simple interface and easy to tweak, and I purchased its sound editor/librarian software by Soundware from DSI website so that programming became even a breeze.

Keyboard magazine have a review of Prophet '08 in the link http://www.dsisynth.com/KM1107.DaveSmith.pdf

In a couple of weeks, I was able to complete a bank of my own patches which really reflectes the power of that monster For Prophet '08 owners we can put some of our presets in patches part of this forum, and that might result in a nice sonic pool with time.

Cheers

KP

dirty oscillators · Post by **dirty oscillators** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:07 pm

cool, glad you like it.

aren't the oscillators digitally controlled? i think they are a bit different than the oscillators on the Prophet 5. and those Curtis filters... i dunno, i tend to think the Prophet 5 is untouchable.

the Prophet 08 demos didn't impress me. it seemed to sound more like the Oberheim Matrix 6...

just my opinion.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:23 pm

As I've mentioned before, I did get to check out the Prophet 08 in person, and was underwhelmed. Its basically a rearranged Poly Evolver (which I own), minus the wavetable oscillators and various other bits, but with twice the polyphony. The 2-pole filter mode is extremely disappointing, just as it was on the PEK. Its basically only useful in 4-pole mode. And while it does technically have Curtis filters, these are not the classic chips, and do not have that classic sound. Very disappointing. My Andromeda blows it out of the water.

prophet08 · Post by **prophet08** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:07 pm

We also use Poly Evolver (rack), Prophet 5, and Andromeda A6, and actually know how those monsters sound individually as well. However, Prophet 08 has its distinct warm and fat sound IMO, for sure as long as you tweak like the any other synths..

I think that having DCO's does not mean that it will sound worse than VCOs, of course; it's just the control of the analog oscillators. There is a parameter called Osc Slop that can be set especially if subtle frequency drift is desirable, which gives really good results by the way.

I think as well that presets could be better so that demos could be much attractive but, once you program your own sounds it shows its sonic potential and flavour indeed. Especially with its dedicated editor software it's much easier to get that amazing sonics results in a much shorter time, thanx to unique preset genetic functions which seems quite similar to Nord Modular G2

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:23 pm

Yes, I don't see anything wrong with DCOs either. My main complaints are 1)It doesn't sound anywhere close to a P5, and 2)Its really just a derivative of the Evolver series, rather than an entirely new synth. I haven't tried the software editor for the PEK, but I've never really felt that it required one. Patch mutation would be pretty cool though. I love that feature on the NM G2. Anyway, it sounds like you have a bunch of other nice synths, so I'm sure you already know the pros and cons of the P08. Enjoy!

dirty oscillators · Post by **dirty oscillators** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:24 pm

prophet08 wrote:We also use Poly Evolver (rack), Prophet 5, and Andromeda A6.....

hmmmm. yeah, i really think that there isn't any synth out there like the Prophet 5. especially the Rev. 1's. to me it's my favorite synth - i like it better than the OB-X's, better than the Memorymoogs, and better than the Jupiters.

dirty oscillators · Post by **dirty oscillators** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:28 pm

deastman wrote:Yes, I don't see anything wrong with DCOs either. My main complaints are 1)It doesn't sound anywhere close to a P5, and 2)Its really just a derivative of the Evolver series..

besides the extra polyphony, it's more like a stripped down version of the Evolver. at least the Evolver has some interesting features, like the ability to sort of do wave sequences, the VS waves, and some of the digital processing. the 08 is more of a bread and butter basic subtractive synth. it looks cool with all the LED's and stuff, but the demo's don't sound very good.

hifiboom · Post by **hifiboom** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:08 pm

mmmh, mr prophet08, could you deliver some demo mp3s from your patches, would be nice indeed if it isn't too much extra work for you.

I think the pro8 is a nice analog synth well priced and the softeditor is a real advantage over the original unit.

prophet08 · Post by **prophet08** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:37 am

hifiboom wrote:mmmh, mr prophet08, could you deliver some demo mp3s from your patches, would be nice indeed if it isn't too much extra work for you.

I think the pro8 is a nice analog synth well priced and the softeditor is a real advantage over the original unit.

I am currently working on a track which exclusively features my Prophet 08 patches, and I think it will be completed possibly in December and put in our myspace page. But, for sure I can put some short mp3's as well for demo purpose soon. I will let you know as soon as I put them.

Cheers

cub005 · Post by **cub005** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:09 am

I've owned both a poly evolver rack and a P5 , and I think there's still one or two misconceptions about on this synth , which are also connected to the reflex response of one or two bloggers a few days after it first came out before in fact having a look at it themselves. Having played it, I can see what DSI mean when they say the chips have been tweaked to sound different from the evolver, and actually it sounds a lot more rounded and colored. Another part of that problem is that the demos on their site at the moment don't capture that difference nearly as well as the promotional mix demos they posted when it first came out . As I found after just a few mins of tweaking, there are colors and textures here that are clearly distinct from anything I've ever heard or managed to knock up on my evolver :

http://www.trippler.net/music/DSI-Evolv ... het08.html

prophet08 · Post by **prophet08** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:48 am

cub005 wrote: ..Another part of that problem is that the demos on their site at the moment don't capture that difference nearly as well as the promotional mix demos they posted when it first came out . As I found after just a few mins of tweaking, there are colors and textures here that are clearly distinct from anything I've ever heard or managed to knock up on my evolver :

http://www.trippler.net/music/DSI-Evolv ... het08.html

Totally agree. Judging based on the average demos only would result in misconception. After experimenting with the program genetics, and then a bit more tweaking for the optimization, I obtained my own gorgeous and warm pads, fat basses, polysynth sounds that surely reflects the unique sound of Prophet 08.

Epiphany · Post by **Epiphany** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:02 pm

Sorry, what's the Prophet 08? $3000?

For that and the smallest amount of ebay nous, you could have a vintage monosynth and vintage polysynth, and still have enough money to fund parts and repairs over a good period of time. A SCI Pro One alone can be had for less than $1000 and is all the things the Prophet 8 isnt and will never be.

The things people will do for MIDI and DCOs.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:06 pm

Epiphany wrote:Sorry, what's the Prophet 08? $3000?

No, $1999. Google broken at your end?

A SCI Pro One alone can be had for less than $1000 and is all the things the Prophet 8 isnt and will never be.

And vice versa, no doubt.

z15 · Post by **z15** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:15 pm

Epiphany wrote:A SCI Pro One alone can be had for less than $1000 and is all the things the Prophet 8 isnt and will never be.

Hmm, where can you get a Pro One for less than $1000 though? I must admit I don't follow eBay constantly but the ones I've seen have usually gone for more than that. And compared to P8, those things do include a fecking awful construction - my friend is a vintage synth nut and has one, it sounds pretty brilliant but he says it's probably the single worst synth he's ever owned build quality -wise and has had to do quite a lot of repair to it already.

I mean, I'm all for vintage analog monos (constantly hunting for a cheap ARP Odyssey I could afford) and P8 hasn't really convinced me yet for example... but although Pro One sounds good, it is really a good example of the best reason to stay away from vintage gear - the repair, renovation keeping everything in tune, etc. can become a hobby or constant source of annoyment.

And it really depends what kind of sound you want in the end like whyterabbyt hinted...

wilsontherocker · Post by **wilsontherocker** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:51 pm

deastman wrote:The 2-pole filter mode is extremely disappointing, just as it was on the PEK. Its basically only useful in 4-pole mode. And while it does technically have Curtis filters, these are not the classic chips, and do not have that classic sound. Very disappointing.

I've found the 2-pole filter on my evolver very useful, especially for softer and more subtle sounds for which not much resonance is needed. So, you know, just one of those cases of YMMV.

I can see why people expecting a new P5 would be disappointed because despite it acknowledging its heritage in its name, the P08 is a new and different synth. I don't understand how those who wanted a new all-analog polyphonic synth (and it seemed like there were many) would be disappointed unless they just don't prefer the sound of the instrument. I mean, despite it's few architectual limitations, it's still a rather flexible polyphonic analog (I'm a fan of sequencer tracks routed to mod destinations

). It seems to follow right along with that whole Sequential family mentality.

But actually, the Matrix 6 seems like a pretty good comparison. Probably not a bad alternative if you don't want to spend all that money, need lot of knobs, or want a warranty.