The World’s FIRST Digital Reverb: EMT 250 Part 1 Demo with a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5

video upload by foleytronics fx repair

"This is a 1976 EMT 250 digital reverb, one of not very many ever made. It came to the shop screaming white noise in my ear as soon as you turn it on, which ended up being a RAM issue. 12 bit (quasi 15 bit according to the manual as it converts the signal to floating point while it processes the signal, though I think they meant 16 bit as the RAM array is 8k x 16), 24 khz sample rate, probably around a 10 kHz roll off.

Part I discusses how to use it and you can hear some sound demos, part II will explore the circuitry of the unit a little more.

Shot and edited by Michael Shular"

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 - having a play

video upload by Oli Freke

Oli Freke is the man behind the "Synthesizer Evolution", "Vintage Synths", and "Drum Machines and Samplers" books previously featured here.

"In which I have a first play with a Prophet 5 rev 3 (a friend's, not mine!). As you can tell I have a predilection for hard sync / FM type sounds, which may not be the usual lush analogue chords you might initially be expecting!

It was actually quite a lot more digital sounding in that way - cross-modulation and FM giving rise to those harsher/brighter sounds I guess.

I'll have to do another one that's a bit more 'Stranger Things'! :-)"

Late Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Rev 3.3, Midi, Upgrades incl Rev-1, PSU SN 6430

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

"This unit is in excellent shape, has an upgraded power supply, the Analogue Renaissance REV-1 SSM board, which also includes 2/4pole and Q switching to retain bass with higher resonance settings. This also includes the original owner's manual binder and detail sheets."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Venerable Moog Memorymoog - Inspiration for the Moog Muse?

video upload by Vintage Synthesizer Solutions

"Please join us while we explore the infamous, but actually quite venerable Moog Memorymoog synthesizer. As is widely recognized, the Memorymoog was developed too late and was rushed to the market. By 1982/83, the era of extremely expensive flagship analog polysynths being ubiquitously adopted by professional musicians and studios was coming to an end. Synths like the Sequential Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-X/Xa, & Roland Jupiter 8 had dominated the market, but new digital technology - both in synthesis and sampling, was quickly gaining a substantial foothold in the music industry. The Memorymoog was notorious for reliability issues right out of the box while innovative instruments like the Yamaha DX7 were cheaper, much more reliable, and had a unique new sound.

In hindsight and considering the analog renaissance we've expereinced of late, one can evaluate the Memorymoog from a different and more forgiving perspective... It sounds absolutely fantastic and offeres an incredibly unique & fat tone relative to competetive products of both its era and modern times. Additionally, once a competent technician has sorted common issues with the power supply/fan, connectors, etc. the instrument can be quite reliable from a functionality and tuning standpoint.

The audio is DIRECT, with a just a touch of OTO Bam reverb added on an aux bus - You are hearing the raw audio as it comes directly from the synthesizer. There is NO EQ, Dynamics, etc. Listen on good headphones or monitors!

Thank you so much for watching! This channel is a passion project. These videos are recorded off the cuff. We are just two hobbyists who share a deep passion for synthesizers."

A Take on the Sequential Take 5 !

video upload by Yuki The Synth Dr

0:00 opening demo
1:00 Opening thoughts (pros and cons)
5:33 sounds and making patches
18:20 closing

Note regarding the filter, it's actually based on the Prophet-5 Rev 4. Via Sequential where you can find additional info:

LOW-PASS FILTER
Four-pole, resonant, low-pass filter per voice, based on Prophet-5 Rev 4 design
Filter can be driven into self-oscillation with the Resonance control
Bi-polar filter envelope amount

The Smile - Don't Get Me Started (Testing Sequential Prophet 5 Rev4 with Elektron Analog RYTM)

video upload by Fluffy Momo

"試行錯誤中…。 #thesmile #thesmiletheband #thomyorke #jonnygreenwood #tomskinner #wallofeyes #sequential #prophet5rev4 #elektron #analogrytm"

Custom Desktop Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Rev3

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Ian



via this listing

"This is a one off custom Prophet 5 converted into a desktop format.
The keyboard and case were removed, and a new walnut case was custom made. As can be seen the leds were swapped out for blue , which (subjectively) is rather fetching. At this time the other important service was undertaken to prevent the well known failures of the prophet 5, rebuild PSU etc . A lot of care and attention went into this conversion. There would be no point in going to the effort here without overhauling the electronics.


The inside is a stock prophet 5 rev3 complete with 120 programs and factory midi, however factory midi has been disconnected and Kenton midi in installed (there wasn’t much value in installing thru/out since there is no keyboard , but it would be possible to connect these if you wanted to.)

the knob on the rear controls the amount of pitchbend received over midi"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sequential Celebrates 50 Years with a Prophet-5 Rev4 Giveaway Competition

Sequential is giving away a Prophet-5 Rev4 for their 50th anniversary!

Click here to enter

Details follow:

"Celebrate 50 Years of Sequential, a name synonymous with innovation, power, and the very sound of music history. And at the heart of it all lies the legendary Prophet-5.

The Prophet-5 is your gateway to iconic sounds that have graced countless hit records. It’s the instrument that revolutionized music with its 5-voice polyphony, preset sound storage, and pioneering use of microprocessors – features that laid the foundation for the synthesizers of today.

Imagine crafting your own sonic masterpieces with the same instrument that has shaped whole genres. Imagine the warmth, the power, the pure analog magic that has defined generations of music.

This is your chance to win a piece of music history – and music future."

Nicholas Semrad's Sequential Rev 2 "Vintage Tribute" Patch Set (Demo)

video upload by Nicholas Semrad

"Here is a demo video for my now available-for-purchase Sequential Prophet Rev 2 "Vintage Tribute" Patch Set. You can purchase these patches at my website, www.nicholastsemrad.com/shop.

These patches are meant for use with the Sequential Prophet Rev 2 (8 or 16 voice). They will not work with any other hardware or software programs.

This patch set contains 2 parts:
- 25 patches I created to emulate some of my favorite vintage synths and synth sounds from various 70's/80's recordings
- BONUS: 40 patches meant to pay homage to the first 40 presets on the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5

DISCLAIMER: While the patches that begin with "P5" are meant to pay homage to the original Prophet 5, they will not sound 'exactly' the same. The P5 and the Rev 2 are very different boards with very different modulation functions and data ranges."

Inside Sequential: A Synth Lover's Dream Tour

video upload by Doctor Mix

"Join me on a journey to the heart of analog synthesizer craftsmanship at Sequential, creators of the Prophet 5 and more. Featuring a surprise visit by Mr. Tom Oberheim and a tour of their high-tech factory, this episode is a dream for every synth lover! 🚀 Discover the amazing synthesizers range by Sequential! Click here 👉 https://sequential.com/"

Iota // Ambient 1 (Sequential Prophet X)

video upload by Mai

"Ambient/cinematic music on the Sequential Prophet X synthesizer. Played through the Elektron Analog Heat MKII for a little warmth/saturation.

This version of Iota is on the album Beta, released 8th December 2023: https://wormholeworld.bandcamp.com/al..."

Nu // Ambient 5 (Prophet 6, Prophet 12, Minitaur, Mono Lancet '15, Keystep Pro)

video upload by Mai

"This version of Nu is on the album Beta, released 8th December 2023: https://wormholeworld.bandcamp.com/al...

Besides deciding on a scale and having an idea of the notes to play for each instrument, this was improvised. It was also unquantized and played in free time. I switched each sequence into 'Walk' mode, which is semi-random and adds an element of chance in terms of how the 4 sequences will interact."

Sequential Prophet 5 Rev 3.3 120 Presets SN 3576

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Vintage Prophet 5 Rev 3.3 with 3 banks of 40 presets, 120 presets total. This Prophet 5 has been serviced, with all pots and switches cleaned, and all controls are operating perfectly. The keyboard has brand new bushings and plays like new, with all key contacts professionally cleaned. All 120 original factory presets have been loaded into memory.

The wood cabinet is really beautiful, with very minor signs of age. There is some old tape residue/missing paint on the back panel, as shown in the photos.

This is a really great original Prophet 5. Tunes perfectly and sounds absolutely great."

CLICK FOR MORE »

On the Nature of Tubelight: Sequential Prophet 5 + Metasonix R-52 Vacuum-Tube VCA/Distortion

video upload by MIKROPUSE

"Once nothing special sounding Sequential Prophet 5 chord progression now 'tubified' by an absolutely best-in-class Metasonix R-52 Vacuum-Tube VCA/Distortion (a Zerosum Intertia Edition 5U module), straight into a Mytek 192/8 AD Converter. No other preamps were used.
Few distortion devices come near Metasonix R-52 when it comes to preserving dynamic subtleties of source material. What's more, the natural compression that occurs helps a great deal, so the tracks require a little to no EQ during mixing. It does require a bit of tuning in, just to get the sound right where you want it to be."

METASONIX R 52 Zerosum Intertia Edition + Gibson TRINI LOPEZ + Scrotum Lab ORGONE ACCUMULATOR

video upload by MIKROPUSE

"A Gibson Trini Lopez electric guitar and a Scrotum Lab Orgone Accumulator (Frac) going into a lovely, and ever so slightly distorting Zerosum Intertia Edition Metasonix R 52 filter (5U) via Thermionic Culture Rooster 2 preamp (in the background). Not pretty - pretty."

Wine Country Sequential Is Winding Down

This the end of an era. Wine Country Sequential was formed by ex Sequential Circuits employees when the original Sequential Circuits went under. They specialized in servicing and providing parts for vintage Sequential Circuits synths. I actually own a Wine Country "Perfect Prophet-5" myself.

via Wine Country Sequential:

"The Long & Winding Road Ends..Soon

It's been 46 years since musicians experienced the polyphonic sounds of a Prophet-5, and 41 years since the Prophet 600 introduced MIDI to the world. Sequential Circuits Prophets have made significant contributions to music, film, & theatre for decades. Since 1987 keeping the Prophet sound alive has always been the goal of Wine Country Sequential, and it's been a long and interesting ride. The ride is now over, Wine Country Sequential repair services for Sequential Circuits Prophets ended in December 2023. However, Wine Country Sequential remains open for business as the liquidation of original Sequential Circuits parts & manuals in order to help vintage Prophets survive in the decades to come.

Liquidation of Sequential Circuits parts, manuals & archival documentation continues. Original Operation & Technical Manuals, Printed Circuit Boards, custom IC's, sound programs, Diagnostic ROMs and various other parts are available for most Sequential Circuits instruments. Wine Country Sequential will remain open for business in 2024 until the parts are gone.

Visit WineCountrySequential.com and SequentialCircuits.com for updates reflecting current availability of parts as the liquidation continues.

The Last Restored & Warranted Prophet 600 for sale by Wine Country with a 30 Day Parts & Labor Warranty is currently posted on SequentialCircuits.com at https://sequentialcircuits.com/prophet600forsale.html

Coming soon to SequentialCircuits.com is a Collector's Corner page offering original manuals, memorabilia, brochures, and even complete original engineering fabrication drawing packages for Sequential Circuits Prophets, drum machines, & other synths.

Thank you for your previous interest, and best of luck with your music.

Kind regards from California,

David Sesnak
General Product Manager
WINE COUNTRY PRODUCTIONS INC.
San Jose, CA 95118 USA"

Paul McGowan of PS Audio Explains the Moog Synthesizer

video upload by Paul McGowan, PS Audio

"The classic Moog changed the world. Paul helps us understand what all the wires and modules actually do."

https://www.psaudio.com

Fascinating bit at 1:50. Paul McGowan actually created his own synthesizer, The Infinitizer. Curious if there are any images of it out there. He almost sold one to Wendy Carlos. It gets a mention in his book 99% True: Almost a National Bestseller which you can find on Amazon here (note this is an affiliate link - see the site's privacy policy for more info).

Update: I asked Paul if he had any pics of The Infinitizer. Unfortantely he didn't, and he no longer has any of the parts, but he did send over the following additional info:

"I don’t have any photos of the Infinitizer, unfortunately. I remember a very sad day back in 1995 or so when I was cleaning out my lab and had to own up to hauling it off to the dump (it was a mere skeleton of PCBs, a keyboard, and lots of wires and didn’t work)."

"The idea was to make 10 synthesizers into one unit that was easy to use. This meant it would be the world’s first polyphonic synth, since musicians only have 10 fingers.

I designed a complete analog chain of 10 modules (the usual: VC filters, oscillators, envelope generators, amplifiers, etc.). Then, I hired an engineer out of Vandenburg Air Force Base who was a whiz at this new thing called “digital”. He designed for me a multiplexed keyboard that constantly scanned all the keys looking for ones that were pressed. The keys were all internally numbered and when pressed, the multiplexer would find an available VC oscillator and assign that number to the oscillator. Because we know the number of the key, the appropriate voltage was sent to that oscillator and it produced the appropriate frequency for that key. In order to have the entire keyboard voltage move up and down (like if you wanted to bend the notes or modulate the frequency with a LF oscillator) the master voltage (that got divided by the individual keys assigned to it) could be accessed as one might normally do through the patch bay.

I also wanted to have the keys pressure sensitive so for that, I invented the use of conductive foam under each key (and that too could manipulate the master voltage to the oscillator banks) and could be assigned to modulate any of the other modifiers too. My patch bay was a switch matrix and pots kind of like ARP used to do.

It was a very cool device which I wrote about extensively in my memoirs, 99% True."

-------

As for the first non organ based poly synth, currently that honor likely goes to one of the following depending how you define it:

1975 - Buchla 502 - six voice polyphonic with minicomputer and ability to save patches to tape drive. Development on the 500 series began in 1969.

1975 - Oberheim FVS - four voice polyphonic with Polyphonic Synthesizer Programmer. Not sure if the 502 or FVS was released first.

1977 - Yamaha - CS50/CS60/CS80 - first single enclosure polyphonic keyboard synthesizers, with the CS80 to be the first synth with poly aftertouch

1978 - Sequential Circuits - microprocessor control the SCI prophet 10 (briefly) and the P-5 --- again based on existing E-mu tech stuff

via The First Synth to...

Sequential Prophet 5

video upload by SyntheticMachines

"A two part multitrack demo made with the Prophet 5 desktop module

Intro: all sounds from the Prophet 5
Part 1: Prophet 5 + Uno Drum
Part 2: all sounds from the Prophet 5

As usual multitrack recordings with some fx.

00:00 - 01:04 intro: all sounds from the Prophet 5
01:05 - 03:36 part1: Prophet 5 + Uno Drum
03:37 - 07:32 part2: all sounds from the Prophet 5"

Moog Mavis, Prophet 5, AJH Synth large Eurorack modular synth Performance

video upload by DreamsOfWires

"Performance using Eurorack and Sequential Prophet 5. The modular consists mostly of AJH Synth modules (list below), a Doepfer Mini Synthesizer Voice and a Moog Mavis.
This is a slightly simplified section of something I've been recording for Bandcamp. A reflection of the present with an ear to the past. It'll be released on Bandcamp soon if I'm satisfied with it once it's finished, no promises.
I wanted to build a piece around a simple, analogue, un-quantised sequencer. The manual scaling and slowing of the sequence was inspired by Tangerine Dream's 'Phaedra', which begins rather chaotically, before the sequence morphs and slows to become more melodic. A fascinating piece of music and synth tweaking from the early 70's.
The ambient drone sounds and polyphonic Prophet presets (which I also created) are more inspired by the movie and television soundtracks of the past, if anything, or at least in my imagination of them.
This was entirely recorded within the Eurorack modular system - the mix isn't the best, but I like creating something in this way, set in stone, frozen in time, warts and all, perfectly imperfect.
My music: https://tomorrowthecure.bandcamp.com

Modules used:
Sounds - 2 full AJH Synth MiniMod voices (equivalent of a Minimoog), with 1 using a Sonic XV instead of a Transistor Ladder Filter. Additionally, a Fixed Filter Bank 914, Wave Swarm, Tone Science Triple Cross, Precision Voltages, Ring SM and CV Mix (for scaling the sequence), Dual LFO, 2x Muting Mxer. Doepfer A-111-5 (same voice as a Dark Energy), Moog Mavis, and Music Thing Modular Radio Music (Japanese funeral ceremony sample).
Sequencer - Erica Synths Sequential Switch with CV Expander.
Effects - Happy Nerding FX Aid (master reverb), ALM Busy Circuits MFX (Mavis drone reverb), XAOC Devices Sarajewo analog 'bucket brigade' delay.
Mixing - Cosmotronic Cosmix.
Audio recorder - Expert Sleepers Disting Mk4 (as WAV recorder)."

Sequential Prophet 10 | The Disaster. An FX-soundscape

video upload by MIDERA

"This whole sequence of sounds just... was not good. I actually made part 2 first, but then started over and that's what you hear first. Part 1 I just got up and shut it down. But hey - maybe you'll find something inviting and interesting in this moor.

Eventide Blackhole VST used for reverb"

It's all about timbres and how you play them. Interesting as a follow-up to Prophet 5 - How does the Poly-Mod Work?

Sequential Circuits Pro One Synthesizer + Drumtraks DEMO for Trevor

video upload by Synth Tailor Electronics

"Here's a Sequential Circuits Pro One that was overhauled and upgraded by Synth Tailor Electronics in Columbus, Ohio. Visit our website to get in touch for repairing your vintage synths, drum machines, tape machines, and outboard gear. We service vintage items made before 1991!

Restorations done:
-Installed Fatar TP/9S keybed from TechsMechs Vintage Synth (potentiometer Prophet 5 caps from TechsMechs as well)
-MTG Turbo CPU Midi Upgrade installed
-Potentiometers cleaned/ new pots installed
-Power Supply Rebuilt and Full Calibration/Tuning"

Sequential Prophet 5/10: a Musical Exploration Part 2

video upload by Synth Universe

"Part 2 continues my musical exploration of sounds and timbres on this classic analog synth using custom-created patches. All the sounds you hear in this video were created by me on the Prophet 10 and include pads, keys, bass, poly synth, leads, sines, chimes, strings and FX.

I wanted to retain the raw sound, so in the making of this video no chorus, modulation or thickening effects were used (software or hardware). Note that the Prophet 5/10 has no internal effects. The only effects used were reverb (mainly the Valhalla Vintage Verb plugin) or delay (Logic native delay plugin). No EQ was used to enhance either the low end or the high end.

The Prophet 5/10 has a single mono audio output, so to create a stereo image I used old-school layering in my DAW. When I recorded each audio take, I also captured MIDI data and used this to record new tracks of the original take. Using the Vintage knob on the Prophet set at 3 means that each MIDI take has subtle differences in pitch, envelopes and filter. Panning and slight detuning of the tracks creates, to my ears, a nice rich stereo image and retains the character of the sound.

*If you own a Prophet 5 rev 4 or Prophet 10, all the sounds featured in this video are now available to purchase as part of the Synth Universe Prophet 5/10 rev 4 Soundbank. Follow the link below where you can also watch video demos of all 80 patches.

Buy the sound bank here: https://synthuniverse.sellfy.store/pr...

Watch the demo of patches 1 - 20 here: [posted here]

Watch 'A Musical Exploration Part 1' here: [posted here]

Time stamps
00:00 PWM synth strings
00:49 Girth
01:28 Short synbrass
01:59 Clear keys
02:38 Fifth release
03:27 Spectral awakening & slow strings
05:47 Tremowah
06:33 Poly trill
07:12 Blasted bass
07:56 Vintage accordian
08:26 Fat muted PWM
09:02 Harmonics
09:46 Dreamy sine
10:39 PW chord pad
11:09 Quirky pop
11:28 Scat lead
12:00 Unison harp
12:31 Resonance keys
13:19 Hollow but rich
13:59 Rich chimes RAW
14:29 Rich chimes STEREO
14:59 Water spattering

All musical ideas are my own and are copyright to me.

Video graphics on Spectral awakening by ChristianBodhi from Pixabay.

There was no sponsorship or affiliation to Sequential or their products in the creation of this video."