GForce Sequential Prophet-5

[kraster]

Don't you all agree that you don't get that certain hardware DAC or actual analog feeling from the Prophet in digital? I always check the Youtube and almost none of that classic hardware sound seems audible in the examples so people might not know. It's alot more expensive to go all hardware so I know even I tend to way prefer software based stuff. For more than just cheapness. GForce is real fun.

There is not DAC on real Prophet 5

Prophet 5 has DAC because it is an analog synthesizer with patch memory, a DAC is required.

It's just to control few thing such the vco, the audio is fully analog

But Audio has to go somewhere right ? in to audio interface which has DAC that can affect the sound.

If you record a real prophet 5 into your DAW it has to go through the same DACs.

But the issue here is that the prophet 5 itself has no DAC in its audio path so the DAC conversation as it pertains to audio quality is moot.

You could argue about Opamps and OTAS in the audio path and other analog things but DACs aren't really relevant since there are no DACS in the audio path.

[Lbdunequest]

Don't you all agree that you don't get that certain hardware DAC or actual analog feeling from the Prophet in digital? I always check the Youtube and almost none of that classic hardware sound seems audible in the examples so people might not know. It's alot more expensive to go all hardware so I know even I tend to way prefer software based stuff. For more than just cheapness. GForce is real fun.

There is not DAC on real Prophet 5

Prophet 5 has DAC because it is an analog synthesizer with patch memory, a DAC is required.

It's just to control few thing such the vco, the audio is fully analog

But Audio has to go somewhere right ? in to audio interface which has DAC that can affect the sound.

If you record a real prophet 5 into your DAW it has to go through the same DACs.

But the issue here is that the prophet 5 itself has no DAC in its audio path so the DAC conversation as it pertains to audio quality is moot.

You could argue about Opamps and OTAS in the audio path and other analog things but DACs aren't really relevant since there are no DACS in the audio path.

Thats not the issue that prophet 5 itself doesnt have DAC in audio signal. BUT in the end it still goes thro DAC if you record to DAW. And that alters the sound If you want to be purist you have to play directly thro speakers or headphones.

[Vortifex]

As good as this sounds, I'll be passing on it. The UI is an issue for me. Same with their OB-1, fantastic sound but bad UI. And by bad I mean I actually have a hard time looking at it and reading the fonts. Not just me either:

[GaryG]

If you want to be purist you have to play directly thro speakers or headphones.

Or follow Albini's methods, analog desk to analog multi-track through analog processors to analog two-track mastering tape to vinyl lathe.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Or follow Albini's methods, analog desk to analog multi-track through analog processors to analog two-track mastering tape to vinyl lathe.

I go a step further. I only play my synths acoustically.

[Examigan]

So many synths so little $$

I wanted to update impOSCar to v3, or get M-Tron Pro since those both have an upgrade path in my account. This new one is very interesting, but more expensive than those other two.

I’m surprised there is no upgrade to Minimonsta 2. Maybe my version of v1 was an NFR, I can’t remember for sure…so maybe that’s why.

[beely]

This is a bit of a weird pull, as we're talking about a fully digital synth, and actually, Korg didn't "nail" the hardware Wavestation, because I too owned one, and I sold it because the software actually sounds better

Yes, it sounds like how they would have made it if they had better/cheaper tech at the time they made the hardware, and didn't have to compromise for those reasons. I prefer it, although as I was very used to the hardware (which I still have and used extensively), I still like the sound of the hardware too. It's easier to downgrade higher fidelity audio to a less pristine sound, than it is to go the other way.

due to the fact that they used the full 16 bit PCM wave files, where the hardware was using 12 bit PCM, and sounds noticeably better... or worse, if you are hoping for the original lower resolution model.

You're getting a bit confused in your facts here. The hardware was not 12-bit PCM, the hardware used 16-bit ~32KHz samples (same as the M1), but for the plugin, they re-outputted the samples at the full 44.1KHz and used them that way, and *that's* the reason it sounds brighter. It's not a "resolution" issue (as so few things in audio actually are) and if the plugin is too clean/bright, you just need to roll off the highs a little, and for extra measure do something to simulate the early 90s-era DACs which roughen up the output a little. But rolling off the highs is most of the difference really, and is trivially done if you prefer that sound.

You probably meant all that and just typed out something quickly which came out wrong, but it's good to stop the misinformation before other people read them as fact and continue to parrot wrong info, hence why I jumped in...

[Echoes in the Attic]

Anyone noticing anything with the q-comp?

[zvenx]

I do, but it is indeed very subtle..
Does the hardware behave that way too?

edit:
Apparently very subtle on the hardware too:

https://forum.sequential.com/index.php?topic=6582.0

rsp

[Echoes in the Attic]

Interesting. Would have been nice if they made that more useful.

[zvenx]

They were following the hardware as much as possible afaik..
But yeah a optional diversion would have been appreciated.
rsp

[pummel]

While the Gforce "X-mod" feature is useful, it's lack of per-parameter key tracking is a sin. There is room for another knob by the "velocity" and "amp" knobs. Without key tracking, the osc cross mod feature (beyond a smidge) goes out of tune beyond the single octave for which you tune it. There are other uses for key tracking as well.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I can confirm the compensation is also subtle on the hardware. If using resonance you should hear a difference between minimum and maximum but the differences between the intermediary values is small.

[zvenx]

Thanks, waiting to hear your verdict overall of the match or not so great match as the case may be.
rsp

[abernathy]

As good as this sounds, I'll be passing on it. The UI is an issue for me. Same with their OB-1, fantastic sound but bad UI. And by bad I mean I actually have a hard time looking at it and reading the fonts. Not just me either:

I don't enjoy complaining about this because I love the GForce folks - they are amazing. This sounds beautiful. Incredible work. But that GUI is really bad and strange. And that probably doesn't bother most folks, but I used to be a graphic designer - a bit of a curse! Ha. They thankfully made the knobs have zero perspective (so not nearly as bad as Cherry Audio), but then they made the Pitch and Mod wheels look bent over... And what happened to the iconic silver rims on the knobs? At first you think they're there because of the blinding lighting, but they are solid black on the left side - not even sure what's supposed to be going on there. And maybe this is nitpicking, but with that bright spotlight aimed low from the side there would be dark shadows from the black keys. Well, wouldn't want that, but so many things about this GUI make the brain register that this is all wrong. And if you're used to looking at a real Prophet 5... they've taken the same panel font and condensed it to cram more stuff in I guess, but it makes the whole thing look a little squeezed and distorted, and harder to read. The frustrating thing about the OB-1 GUI is that, unlike the Prophet 5, it really is beautifully and meticulously done, but it at least needed some contrast/brightness options, like u-he's Gamma setting.