Sequential Adds Stack and Split Capability to Prophet-10 & Voice Expansion Card for Prophet-5

Prophet-5 Voice Expansion Card & Exploring Bi-Timbral Stack & Split On The Prophet-10 - With J3PO video upload by Sequential

"Sequential has released two major enhancements for the Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 Rev 4 synthesizers. The first is an easy-to-install voice expansion card for the Prophet-5 that expands its polyphony to 10 voices, enabling it to benefit from the second enhancement — a new OS that adds bi-timbral, stack and split capability to 10-voice Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 synths.

Voice Expansion: https://www.sequential.com/product/pr...

2.0 OS: https://www.sequential.com/updating-t..."

And a video by Matt Johnson Jamiroquai: Note you can stack the Prophet-5 with the expansion installed. You'll find the press release below. As for the better value, you can do the math. The Prophet-5 + Expansion is less, but you have to install it and you don't get the Prophet-10 badge. :)

Sequential Prophet 10 just got a lot better!! video upload by Matt Johnson Jamiroquai


The press release:

San Francisco, CA—September 7, 2021—Sequential today announced two major enhancements for their acclaimed Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 Rev 4 synthesizers. The first is a new OS that adds bi-timbral, stack and split capability to the Prophet-10. The second is an easy-to-install voice expansion card for the Prophet-5 that increases its polyphony to 10 voices, enabling it to benefit from the new OS.

With a ten-voice instrument and the new OS, players can stack two different programs together for more powerful, complex sounds. Each program is allocated 5 voices of polyphony, allowing 5-note bi-timbral operation. Alternatively, players can split the keyboard into two separate performance zones, each with a different program. This allows forbi-timbral performance of bass and leads, or bass and pads, for example.

To use the new stack and split feature, Prophet-10/expanded Prophet-5 owners will need to upgrade to version 2.0 of the operating system. The OS upgrade is provided free of charge to Prophet owners and is available on Sequential’s website. The Prophet-5 voice expansion card is available directly from Sequential and includes instructions for installation.

“We’re excited to bring stack and split capability to 10-voice Prophets,” said Sequential founder Dave Smith. “It gives even more musical versatility to an already awesome-sounding instrument. Musicians are going to love the sound design possibilities of bi-timbral stacks. And players will be able to make good use of splits in live performance.”

Sequential CEO David Gibbons had this to say about the enhancements: “There’s nothing more satisfying than making a legendary instrument even more powerful than its original incarnation. Turning the Prophet-10 or an expanded Prophet-5 into a bi-timbral synth takes it to new places as an expressive instrument. That’s always been Sequential’s first priority: Putting great-sounding, expressive musical tools into the hands of musicians.”

The Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 Rev 4 reintroduced the music world to Sequential’s most famous and beloved instrument: the Prophet-5. The instruments revisit a landmark era in American analog synthesizer design and are an authentic and authoritative return to roots for the company.

Faithful to the original, the instruments feature five voices with two multi-waveform analog oscillators, resonant analog low-pass filters and amplifiers, and a filter and amplifier envelope per voice. Modulation is provided by a multi-waveshape LFO and Poly Mod, a ground-breaking modulation scheme for its time that allowed the filter envelope and oscillator B to be routed to a variety of destinations including filter cutoff frequency, oscillator A frequency, and oscillator A pulse width.

The Prophet-5 voice expansion card has a US MAP of $899 and is available directly from the Sequential. It is compatible with both keyboard and desktop models of the Prophet-5.

Voice Expansion: https://www.sequential.com/product/pr...

2.0 OS: https://www.sequential.com/updating-t..."

Sequential Re-Introduces the Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 Synthesizers

"The new Prophet-5 is Dave Smith's return to the analog poly synth that changed the world. It embodies all three revisions of the legendary synth — Rev1, Rev2, Rev3 — and now, the Rev4. History never sounded better.

Soundtrack exclusively by Prophet-5. Yes, even the drums."

Both models will be available in October. The Prophet-5 has a US MAP of $3,499. The Prophet-10 has a US MAP of $4,299. Note there is an additional video demo by INHALT further below.

Sequential · Prophet-5 Audio Demos

And the press release (pics below):

"Sequential Reintroduces the Prophet®-5, the Synth that Revolutionized an Industry

San Francisco, CA—Oct 1, 2020—After months of clandestine development, Sequential today announced the reintroduction of its most famous and beloved instrument: the Prophet-5. Timed to coincide with founder Dave Smith’s 70th year, the instrument revisits a landmark era in American analog synthesizer design and marks an authentic and authoritative return to roots for the legendary pioneer of electronic instruments.

“It’s not often that you get to revisit your past, retrieve some of its magic, and give it new life,” said Dave Smith. “The Prophet-5 was one of the most exciting instruments to appear in an equally exciting time for music and technology. It’s gratifying to rediscover that its sound and aesthetics are just as appealing now as they were then.”

Faithful to the original, the new Prophet-5 features five voices with two multi-waveform analog oscillators, resonant analog low-pass filters and amplifiers, and a filter and amplifier envelope per voice. Modulation is provided by a multi-waveshape LFO and Poly Mod, a ground-breaking modulation scheme for its time that allowed the filter envelope and oscillator B to be routed to a variety of destinations including filter cutoff frequency, oscillator A frequency, and oscillator A pulse width.

The new Prophet-5 features original, genuine Curtis VCOs and filters as used in the Prophet-5 Rev3, as well as the Dave Rossum-designed SSI 2140 filter, the modern counterpart of the original SSM 2040 Rossum designed in the Prophet-5 Rev1 and Rev2. “We made the new Prophet-5 the best of all Prophets by embodying all three revisions of the original. We did this by adding a Rev switch to the front panel, so you can choose your preferred filter.”

Smith continued, “We also researched what made the original P-5 sound the way it did — organic and alive — and found that a lot of that desirable character was due to fluctuations and differences in the response times and frequencies of the individual oscillators, filters, and envelopes from voice to voice. So we also added a Vintage knob that loosens all of them up like they were in the old days. You can dial in progressively more vintage character as you go from a very stable “4,” as in Prophet-5 Rev4, all the way to “1,” as in Prophet-5 Rev1, which was the most temperamental of all Prophet-5s. We’ve even included the original factory sound set for the full vintage experience.”

Other modern enhancements include velocity sensitivity and aftertouch to increase expressiveness, as well as MIDI and USB connectivity. Control voltage and gate ins/outs are also present for connecting modular synths and other gear. The new Prophet-5 is housed in a collector-worthy, premium-quality, steel and hand-oiled sustainable black walnut heartwood body, with a full, five-octave, semi-weighted Fatar keybed.

Sequential is simultaneously offering the Prophet-10, a ten-voice version of the synthesizer with the same sound engine and collector-worthy design. “I originally designed the first Prophet in both five-voice and ten-voice versions. But the five-voice model was the one that achieved mass production. We thought it would be fun and fitting to reintroduce the ten-voice as well, to make the circle complete.” Sequential Circuits’ later product, the dual-manual, bi-timbral Prophet-10, was a different instrument in both concept and execution.

Both models will be available in October. The Prophet-5 has a US MAP of $3,499. The Prophet-10 has a US MAP of $4,299."

Sequential Prophet 5 Rev4 INHALT Sound Design of Factory Patches Demo


"There are few synthesizers that spark deep emotions and reverence. The Prophet 5 is one of them. Its history is marked by both the counter and the dominant cultural works; wether listening to the independent outings of New Musik and Skinny Puppy, the art of Japan and Sakamoto, the disco of Cowely, the soundtracks of Carpenter or the pop of McCartney and Madonna, it collectively becomes clear that the Prophet 5 is the great enabler of the modern musical expression. If the Model D is the left hand the Prophet 5 is the right. And rightly so, as its genius and genuineness transitioned the 5 from "tool of novelty" firmly into the place of an exuberant enabler of the creative expression. From decade to decade, its design and purity allowed it to slot into a music production unweathered and unbiased by whatever style is in vogue. Yet, it's always fashionable and it always sits right where it's supposed to. Put simply, it's a workhorse that inspires. Whatever the revision. And now, that story, that lineage continues with the Rev 4.

It's with absolute honor, gratitude, and exhilaration that I accepted the offer to work on the factory patches for Sequential's latest chapter in the story of the Prophet 5. Sound designing alongside the superb voicing team has been a wonderful collaboration with a company I consider family and my way to give thanks for the career that the Prophet 5 has helped me build. Unlike other projects I've done in the past, part of my testing of the Rev 4 included putting it through an actual studio music production. I'm currently in the middle of producing two LP's (the artists Some Ember and Patriarchy) and the Rev 4 got used heavily on both. The main question I sought to answer: "does it handle the same as a vintage unit". What became abundantly clear: the Rev 4 isn't like a Prophet 5, isn't inspired by a Prophet 5, ins't referencing a Prophet 5; it is a Prophet 5. Through and through in every sense of the very defining characteristics of the 5. It's a Prophet 5. Period. And in many regards it's better. Why?

Rapid fire MIDI, Fatar keybed, both genuine SSM (SSI) filters and VCAs, genuine Curtis filters and oscillators, a perfectly tuned LFO and envelopes, the ability to actually save LFO amount settings, velocity, aftertouch, the same voice allocation as the original ... and zero repairs needed with no sacrifice to the soul of what makes the 5 the 5. It looks the same with minor additions that can be completely ignored if you choose. You can play it like the original and you can expect it to do exactly what the original does. Or you can take advantage of all of the modern facilities. I also made a set of patches that were the same sounds on both a vintage 5 and the Rev 4 and quickly cycling playing the same passage on the 2 instruments, for all in the room, it was impossible to tell what's what and who's who.

The amount of care, attention to detail, and workmanship that has gone into the Rev 4 is remarkable and I am honored to have been a part of the team putting it through the paces. Sequential is a special company. It's marked by integrity, friendship, care, and carries on a tradition of producing musical instruments from that platform. The Rev 4 is a Prophet 5 and ONLY Sequential can make that.

Please note, the Rev 4 in the video is a prototype unit and I recorded this with a beta firmware. As such, while the synth was largely done there are some changes both to the panel and to the OS that are in the final shipping version (obviously). The Prophet 5 was recorded straight into Pro Tools HD and no post processing or fx were added. What you're hearing is the raw Rev 4."

All the press pics:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sequential Introduces New Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 Desktop Modules

Title says it all. Press release follows:

Sequential Announces Prophet®-5 and Prophet®-10 Desktop Modules

San Francisco, CA—Jan 12, 2021—Fast on the heels of the reintroduction of its legendary Prophet-5 synthesizer, Sequential today announced that it has created a desktop version of the acclaimed instrument. As with the keyboard version, the desktop model will be available in both five- and ten-voice configurations, dubbed the Prophet-5 desktop module and Prophet-10 desktop module, respectively. They feature the same authentic vintage sound and front-panel controls as the Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 keyboards, but in a smaller form factor designed for portability and space-conscious studios.

“Our introduction of the Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 Rev 4 keyboards has been hugely successful. At the same time, a lot of people have been asking us for an easy way to fit them into a smaller studio space or into a touring rig,” commented Sequential founder and original Prophet-5 designer Dave Smith. “It was an easy decision to create a desktop module to fill that need. The great thing is, we managed to fit the same big, ballsy sound of the full Prophet-5 into a desktop model. It sounds every bit as awesome.”

Like the original, the new Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 modules feature two multi-waveform analog oscillators, analog resonant low-pass filters and amplifiers, and a filter and amplifier envelope per voice. Modulation is provided by a multi-waveshape LFO and Poly Mod, a ground-breaking modulation scheme for its time that allowed the filter envelope and oscillator B to be routed to a variety of destinations including filter cutoff frequency, oscillator A frequency, and oscillator A pulse width.

And just like the new Prophet-5/10 Rev 4 keyboards, the modules feature genuine Curtis VCOs and filters as used in the Prophet-5 Rev 3, as well as the Dave Rossum-designed SSI 2140 filter — the modern counterpart of the original SSM 2040 Rossum designed in the Prophet-5 Rev 1 and Rev 2. A Rev switch on the front panel allows users to switch between the two as desired.

Also present is the new Vintage knob, which loosens up the oscillators, filters, and envelopes from voice to voice as they typically are in vintage Prophet-5s. Users can dial in progressively more vintage character from a very stable “4,” as in Prophet-5 Rev4, all the way to “1,” as in Prophet-5 Rev1, which was the most temperamental of all Prophet-5s. The original factory sound set is included as well.

Other modern enhancements include velocity sensitivity and aftertouch to increase expressiveness, as well as MIDI and USB connectivity. Control voltage and gate ins/outs are also present for connecting modular synths and other gear. The new modules are housed in a premium-quality, steel case with hand-oiled sustainable black walnut heartwood trim.

Both modules will be available in February. The Prophet-5 desktop module has a US MAP of $2,499.
The Prophet-10 desktop module has a US MAP of $3,299.

About Sequential
Originally launched in 2002 as Dave Smith Instruments, Sequential is helmed by legendary musical instrument designer and Grammy® award winner Dave Smith. Dave’s many accomplishments include the creation of the Prophet-5—the world’s first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer—and his legacy as the primary driving force behind MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).

The company’s products are used by an ever-growing roster of well-known musicians and are available from music retailers worldwide. Instruments include the new Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 Rev 4, the Pro 3 and Pro 3 SE, and the Prophet X, Prophet-6, OB-6, and Prophet Rev2 synthesizers. Sequential is based in San Francisco, where its instruments are also assembled. Visit www.sequential.com.

Update: additional pics via https://www.sequential.com: (Note the CV IO on back)

CLICK FOR MORE »

Dave Smith Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Prophet-5 Poly Synth

Famed Instrument Designer Celebrates 40 Years Since Debut of Industry-Changing Poly Synth

San Francisco, CA—August 31, 2018—In a private event held in historic North Beach, San Francisco, Dave Smith and a group of music industry friends, insiders, and artists today celebrated the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5—the world’s first fully-programmable polyphonic synthesizer. To mark the occasion, Smith announced that Dave Smith Instruments has rebranded itself as “Sequential”—re-embracing the name and legacy of Smith’s original, pioneering electronic instrument company.

Founded by Smith in 1974 as “Sequential Circuits,” the original incarnation of the company forever changed music technology with the advent of the Prophet-5, which broke new ground as not only the first polyphonic synthesizer to enable players to store and recall presets, but also as the first musical instrument with an embedded microprocessor.

The instrument debuted at the 1978 Winter NAMM show to a largely astonished audience of musicians and industry competitors such as ARP, Moog, and Oberheim, who comprised the bulk of a market almost exclusively made up of a very few pioneering American companies. The instrument featured 5 voices and a 5-octave keyboard with a case crafted out of figured koa wood. The enclosure housed a straightforward, knob-based interface/voice architecture that musicians could easily grasp: two hard-syncable oscillators with simultaneous triangle, sawtooth, and pulse waves, a robust 24 dB per-octave, resonant low-pass filter, individual 4-stage envelopes for filter and amplitude, and the innovative Poly Mod section that provided simple-yet-powerful modulation capabilities.

Manufactured from 1978 to 1984 with an initial price of $3995 (about $15,000 in today’s dollars) the Prophet-5 proved so successful that its sound not only defined popular music for years, but its design provided the blueprint for what a poly synth could be. Virtually every major artist of the period used the Prophet-5 on stage or in studio, while its iconic sound provided the backbone of countless songs.

Dave Smith described the early days of the Prophet-5: “The demand for the Prophet-5 was incredible. For the first several years we simply couldn’t keep up. Artists and their management would call our offices begging us to sell them whatever we had. It was a crazy time.” As analog synthesizers gradually gave way to cheaper digital instruments in the 1980s, Sequential eventually phased out the Prophet-5. The final unit to roll off the production line is still owned by Smith.

The company ceased operations in 1987 and its name (shortened to “Sequential” in the mid-1980s) and assets were acquired by Yamaha. Smith went on to consult for Yamaha and Korg, developing the Wavestation and other ground-breaking instruments.

When Yamaha returned the Sequential name to Smith in a gesture of goodwill in 2015, Smith and company created a successor to the original instrument in the form of the Sequential-branded Prophet-6, a 6-voice re-imagining of the Prophet-5 with an all-analog signal path and discrete VCOs and filters. Not surprisingly it has proved to be as popular with musicians as its legendary predecessor. In an era filled with digital emulations of vintage instruments, Smith says he’s not surprised: “To me, a hardware synth has a soul. It inspires you to interact with it in a musical way that I often find lacking in software instruments and many all-digital instruments. Judging from the enduring success of the Prophet-5 and Prophet-6 and their successors, a lot of people feel the same way. That’s very gratifying.”

Regarding returning to his roots, Smith had this to say: “It’s amazing that this month marks the 40th anniversary of the Prophet-5. It’s such a landmark achievement that I felt it was the right time to fully restore the Sequential brand and bring our journey full circle. The name change also reflects the fact that our instruments are the result of a team effort. It’s not just me, it’s the entire company.” He continued: “We have the same excitement and enthusiasm for making inspiring instruments as we did when the Prophet-5 was first created. Sequential is back. And we’re better than ever.”

Sequential Prophet 5 & 10 Overview Demos by Urban Sound Studio

Sequential Prophet 5 & 10 Part 1 🕵️‍♀️ Getting Started with Subtractive Synthesis Basics Tutorial
video upload by Urban Sound Studio - Todd

"Want to learn the Sequential Prophet 5 & 10? This getting started video will teach you all you need to know about the layout of the Prophet and how to being making sounds with subtractive synthesis.

No effects are used on the examples. You are hearing the raw sound of the Prophet!

🎥 Video Chapters:
0:00 - Understanding Subtractive Synthesis
0:40 - The Oscillators, Waveforms, Mixer, and Tuning Tricks
6:45 - The Amp and ADSR Envelope
8:20 - The Filter and Envelope
13:05 - Unison, Glide, and Vintage Knob"

Sequential Prophet 5 & 10 Part 2 👨‍🚀Exploring Modulation: LFO, Mod Wheel, & Poly Mod Tutorial


"Want to learn the Modulation Sections of the Sequential Prophet 5 & 10? With LFO, Noise, the Mod Wheel, Velocity, Aftertouch, and Poly Mod, you will be on your way to making amazing sounds. This video will teach you all you need to know about the different types of modulation, including some of the quirks of this synth that make it different from all the others.

No effects are used on the examples. You are hearing the raw sound of the Prophet!

🎥 Video Chapters:
0:00 - Modulation with the Sequential Prophet?
0:31 - LFO, Noise, and Mod Wheel
8:04 - Velocity and Aftertouch as Modulation Sources
9:20 - Poly Mod Section 🤯"

Sequential Prophet 5 & 10 Part 3 🥷🏻Classic Sounds Design Tips and Tricks Tutorial


"Want to dive deep into the sound design and tricks of the Prophet 5 & 10? This video will open the doors to some of the classic sounds while addressing the quirks of this synth that make it stand apart from all the others.

No effects are used on the examples. You are hearing the raw sound of the Prophet!

🎥 Video Chapters:
0:00 - Prophet Sound Design Tips and Tricks
0:31 - Classic Polyphonic Brass
2:13 - Polysaw Patch
4:14 - Sync’d FM Style Effects
6:40 - Descending Stepped Filter Effect
8:30 - Punchy Octave Filter Envelope Slide
10:15 - Octave Jump & Double Hits on Key Release
11:38 - Poly Mod Filter Sequencing Effect
14:34 -Disappearing Oscillators - Pulse Width Trick
16:35 - Slow Evolving Glassy Pad"

Sequential Prophet 5 rev4 - Patch audio demos from Peter Dyer

peterkeys88

"I had the privilege of contributing to the factory preset banks for Sequential's Prophet 5 rev4. These are clips I recorded direct from the Prophet 5, playing the patches I contributed, which you will find if you grab a new Prophet 5. Many of these are already included in Sequential's Soundcloud Audio Demos, which you can hear [below]
Check out my preset pack "Mammoth Pads" for Sequential's Rev2 at
https://www.peterdyer.net/shop"

Sequential Prophet 5 rev4 - "Prophet Run"


"While beta-testing and making patches for Sequential's delightful Prophet 5 rev4, I was checking midi timing for myself in Ableton and using Live's arp device. Turns out I had fun making a short runner-bass track. Let's call it "Prophet Run". All sound sources from the Prophet 5, except kick and snare. This was a beta unit so it's panel is missing some name plates"

Sequential · Prophet-5 Audio Demos

SoundsDivine Presets for the Sequential Prophet 5/10

SoundsDivine 'Resonate' Presets - Sequential Prophet 5/10
video upload by SoundsDivine111

"Preview of the presets from the 'Resonate' soundset for the Sequential Prophet 5/10.
https://soundsdivine.com/product/prop..."

SoundsDivine 'Brass' Presets - Sequential Prophet 5/10


"Preview of the presets from the 'Brass' soundset for the Sequential Prophet 5/10.
https://soundsdivine.com/product/prop..."

SoundsDivine 'Bass' Presets - Sequential Prophet 5/10

"Preview of the presets from the 'Bass' soundset for the Sequential Prophet 5/10.
https://soundsdivine.com/product/prop..."

Sequential Prophet 6 Overview Videos by Marc Doty aka AutomaticGainsay

01-The Sequential Prophet 6- Introduction and Sounds

Published on May 25, 2015 AutomaticGainsay

"Here is an introduction to the Sequential Prophet 6 that features six different musical examples of multiple patches.

SUPPORT SYNTH DEMONSTRATION! http://www.patreon.com/automaticgainsay"

02 The Sequential Prophet 6- Oscillators Part 1

Published on May 27, 2015 AutomaticGainsay

"Here is part one of a demonstration of the sound and functionality of the Sequential Prophet 6 Oscillators.

Yes, the theme was made with the Sequential Prophet 6 (except drums)."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sequential Prophet-5 Demos by Timm Johannes Brockmann

video upload by Timm Johannes Brockmann

Playlist:

1. Sequential Prophet-5 | Valhalla Supermassive

This is a quick improvisation to demonstrate the majestic side of the Prophet-5, soaked in the Supermassive reverb from Valhalla.

2. Sequential Prophet-5 | Roland JD-990 | valhalla supermassive --- Glassy shimmering evolving pads

In this video, the Prophet-5 is played and sends it´s MIDI notes via the MIDI Out to the Roland JD-990. You get a beautiful layering with a shimmering pad from the JD-990.

3. Nord Piano 5 || Sequential Prophet-5 || LAYERED

In this video, the Sequential Prophet-5 is adding some notes to a repetitive pattern on the Nord Piano 5.

Recorded in Logic Pro X with additional effects.

Dave Smith Instruments Rebrands as Sequential

Update: Photo from last night’s announcement party added. It’s the West Coast Synth Brain Trust. Tom Oberheim, Roger Linn, Dave Smith, Dave Rossum, and John Chowning. Quite the group!

"Sequential" (minus "Circuits") is officially back! We saw the brand name come back with the Prophet-6, but the it was still under Dave Smith Instruments. DSI the company is now officially Sequential. It's great to see the Sequential brand name back. You might recall Yamaha owned the rights but gave it back to Dave Smith back in 2015.

The official press release follows:

Dave Smith Instruments Officially Becomes “Sequential”

Dave Smith Returns to Sequential Brand to Mark 40th Anniversary of Prophet-5 Poly Synth

San Francisco, CA—August 31, 2018—In a move auspiciously timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of his legendary Prophet-5 poly synth, Dave Smith today announced that Dave Smith Instruments will rebrand itself as “Sequential” — reclaiming the mantle of Smith’s original, ground-breaking company. Going forward, all products and services will bear the Sequential® brand.

Company founder Dave Smith explained the decision: “It seems incredible, but this month marks the 40th anniversary of the Prophet-5. That’s a huge milestone. And it felt like the right time for us to completely restore the Sequential brand and bring our journey as a company full circle. The name change also reflects the fact that our instruments are the result of a team effort. It’s not just me, it’s the entire company.”

Founded by Smith in 1974 as “Sequential Circuits,” the original incarnation of the company quickly established itself as a major innovator in the then-nascent field of electronic instruments. In 1978, Sequential Circuits’ flagship keyboard, the Prophet-5, took the music world by storm as the world’s first fully-programmable polyphonic synthesizer—and the first musical instrument with an embedded microprocessor.

Numerous other ground-breaking products soon followed, including the hugely popular Pro-One monosynth, the Prophet 600 (the world’s first MIDI-equipped instrument), the Six Trak (the first multi-timbral synthesizer), and the Prophet VS (the first instrument to feature digital vector synthesis). Sequential Circuits ceased operations in 1987 and the company’s name (shortened to “Sequential” in the mid-1980s) and assets were acquired by Yamaha. Smith went on to consult for Yamaha and Korg, developing the Wavestation and other innovations.

In 2002, Smith established Dave Smith Instruments to concentrate on solo hardware designs and released the Evolver hybrid analog/digital synthesizer. The DSI product lineup steadily grew to include the Prophet ’08, Mopho, Tetra, Tempest drum machine, Prophet 12, Pro 2, Prophet-6, OB-6, Prophet Rev2, and the Prophet X.

In 2015, with the encouragement of Roland’s Founder, Ikutaro Kakehashi, Yamaha returned the Sequential name to Smith in a gesture of goodwill. “Once Kakehashi-san and Yamaha enabled us to re-acquire the Sequential name, I knew we’d fully adopt it again when the time was right. That time has arrived,” said Smith. “The best part is that we have the same sense of excitement and enthusiasm for making the world a more creative place as we did 40 years ago. Sequential is back, better than ever.”

About Sequential
Originally launched in 2002 as Dave Smith Instruments, Sequential is helmed by legendary musical instrument designer and Grammy® award winner Dave Smith. Dave’s many accomplishments include the creation of the Prophet-5 — the world’s first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer—and his legacy as the primary driving force behind MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).

The company’s products are used by an ever-growing roster of well-known musicians and are available from music retailers worldwide. Instruments include the Prophet-6, OB-6, Prophet Rev2, Prophet X, and the Tempest analog drum machine. Sequential is based in San Francisco, where its instruments are also manufactured. For more information, visit www.sequential.com.

An Evening with Dave Smith at Pyramind | Video Recap

Published on Jan 11, 2016 Pyramind

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com

Part 2 below.

"On November 12th, Pyramind welcomed a true legend to our facility. The one and only Dave Smith, founder of Sequential Circuits and Dave Smith Instruments who is often referred to as the Father of MIDI.

During An Evening with Dave Smith, which you can watch in it’s entirety, you will get to hear what the new Sequential Prophet-6 synth is capable of in the hands of it's creator. The Prophet-6 is Dave Smith’s tribute to the analog polyphonic synth that started it all—the Sequential Prophet-5. But it’s not simply a reissue of a classic. Rather, as Dave puts it, “It’s the result of our effort to build the most awesome-sounding, modern analog poly synth possible.” The Prophet-6 takes the best qualities of the original Prophet-5—true voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers—and adds enhancements such as studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and more. The result is pure, unadulterated analog tone with the stability and reliability of a state-of-the-art modern synth.

For more information about Pyramind events head to our blog: http://hubs.ly/H01Pj5Z0

Timestamps:

01:00 - Hardware vs. Soft Synths - real synths cost more than soft synths (hardware competes with FREE)
02:48 - What inspired you to start building equipment?
05:03 - Talks about the way he developed his synth to work, and what didn’t work for other companies
05:58 - Where do you start when designing your instruments?
09:30 - Talks about the Prophet 6 (voltage controlled oscillators)
12:18 - “Slop Control” feature
14:00 - Analog distortion
16:00 - Story about the new name - Sequential
18:20 - Starts demoing the synth (focused on sequencer)
19:24 - Talks about factory presets and why they’re made the way they are
21:10 - Arpeggiator
22:00 - Effects
24:30 - Analog synthesis has passed the test of time
26:18 - People used to just want to emulate real instruments
28:05 - Inspiration behind the Prophet 2000
30:30 - Why didn’t they quantize oscillator frequencies?
31:40 - Why he likes constrained designs
34:08 - You can know nothing about synthesis and still make cool sounds with these synths
34:58 - USB integration (it’s just midi over USB)
35:20 - Presets
35:48 - Analog gear market
37:30 - Appealing to different clients / genres
38:28 - Taylor Swift Custom Prophet 12
41:14 - What did the sound designers bring to the synth?
42:16 - Hearing presets being used / modified"

An Evening with Dave Smith | Video Recap | Part II | feat. Jason Linder

Published on Jan 11, 2016

"On November 12th, Pyramind welcomed a true legend to our facility. The one and only Dave Smith, founder of Sequential Circuits and Dave Smith Instruments who is often referred to as the Father of MIDI.

During An Evening with Dave Smith, which you can watch in it’s entirety, you will get to hear what the new Sequential Prophet-6 synth is capable of in the hands of it's creator. The Prophet-6 is Dave Smith’s tribute to the analog polyphonic synth that started it all—the Sequential Prophet-5. But it’s not simply a reissue of a classic. Rather, as Dave puts it, “It’s the result of our effort to build the most awesome-sounding, modern analog poly synth possible.” The Prophet-6 takes the best qualities of the original Prophet-5—true voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers—and adds enhancements such as studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and more. The result is pure, unadulterated analog tone with the stability and reliability of a state-of-the-art modern synth.

For more information about Pyramind events head to our blog: http://hubs.ly/H01Pj5Z0

Timestamps:

00:46 - How do you know when the synth is “done”?
01:32 - Prophet 6 circuit board vs. Prophet 5
02:00 - Prophet 6 poly chaining, module version
03:08 - Tempest design vs Prophet 6
06:05 - Problems with having too much input during design stage
07:10 - Any high profile sound designers?
07:50 - Demoing
09:20 - Spring reverb model (hitting the side of synth)
12:26 - What was the hardest feature to cut during design?
13:30 - Favorite synth he has made
14:10 - Talks about polymod (one of the most unique things about the Prophet 5) individual modulation PER VOICE
16:00 - Jason Lindner (Keyboardist of Now vs. Now) demo
22:58 - Compares choosing synths to the way guitar platers choose guitars
24:17 - When do you think about what to build NEXT?
25:48 - Will you ever make guitar pedals or effects?
26:50 - Are you continuing to build your back catalog?
28:25 - Is there an audio input? (No)
29:41 - Filter poles (4 pole for lowpass, 2 pole for highpass)
30:24 - Unison mode demo (chord hold)
33:08 - Analog gear cost
35:10 - What do your employees do?
37:55 - Talked about doing a hybrid analog digital vocoder
39:50 - How are the synths assembled?
41:18 - What changed after having employees?
43:39 - Are you less connected with your products now that you have employees?"

You'll find some event pics on Pyraminds website here.

SEQUENTIAL PROPHET-5 REV4 PATCHES | "VINTAGE PROPHET" Soundset | No Talking

video upload by AnalogAudio1

"(c) 2022 by AnalogAudio1

You can buy these patches for your SEQUENTIAL PROPHET-5/10 REV4 - read the description for details (scroll down).

I played a Prophet-5 REV4 along with a Korg SDD-3000 (delay effects, right channel only) and Lexicon MPX 500 (occasionally for reverb effects).
Drums starting at 10:00 ALESIS HR-16 (vintage drum machine from 1988).

_________________________________________________________

THE SOUNDS IN THIS VIDEO:

AnalogAudio1 is proud to announce the release of the "VINTAGE PROPHET" sound set for the new SEQUENTIAL PROPHET-5/10 REV4 featuring 80 handcrafted patches. You can rely on AnalogAudio1's wide programming experience on original Sequential synths, to bring the best out of the new Prophet-5 for your music. This sound set provides vintage-style Prophet-5 sounds heard on many iconic recordings from the 80ies, which were not factory presets. The patches will load into user GROUP 4 and 5.

This sound set features 80 exciting analog tones of the highest quality, ready to use in your music! All sorts of vintage pads, deep basses, electronica sounds, leads and fat, monophonic sounds (all the sounds you hear in the video and some more). This sound set comes with a patch list and loading instructions (PDF).

The 'VINTAGE PROPHET' soundset costs 25 Euros, payment is via PayPal. To purchase it, send a message to:

analogaudio1@gmx.net

IMPORTANT: NOW KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR SPAM/JUNK FOLDER! I answer within 12 hours.

After payment you will get the patches (including a patch list and loading instructions, both as PDF) to your email address.

The patches are royalty free. Use them for your music as you prefer! Buying this soundset you purchase the right to use these sounds in your music, releases and gigs. Other use is not allowed - such as sharing, reselling, making sample packs, including them in commercial patch collections etc.

By the way, I created another soundset for the PROPHET-5 REV4, called 'CLASSIC PROPHET', see: [this post]

You can purchase both soundsets as a bundle for 46 Euros. Both will load into different locations (CLASSIC PROPHET into groups 2 & 3, VINTAGE PROPHET into 4 & 5), so you will have access to both at the same time."

Sequential Introduces Take 5® Compact, Five-Voice Poly Synth

video upload by Sequential

Sequential · Take 5 Audio Demos

And a demo by INHALT:

Sequential Take 5 INHALT Sound Design Demo

video upload by

"I had the great pleasure of working on yet another Sequential modern masterpiece, the Take 5. This is a long recording of the patches I made for the Factory Bank of sounds that ship with the synth. I think the Take 5 captures the essence of a rev 2 Prophet 5 with its SSM/SSI oscillators, filters and vca but it transposes it into the future with the sophisticated FX engine and mod matrix! What's on offer is a lovely and timeless sound with many of the modern trimmings musicians will need today. Its' compact form factor also makes it possible to easily get this first class sound in a package that's easy to gig and travel with. Please note all of the recordings are from a pre-production unit running a pre-release firmware. No additional FX or processing were added to this recording, everything you hear came straight off the Take 5."

Follow-up to this post.

via Seqeuntial

New Instrument Puts Powerful, Affordable VCO/VCF-based Synthesis Within Easy Reach of Newcomers and Pros Alike

San Francisco, CA—August 23, 2021—Sequential today introduced the Take 5®, an all-new, compact and portable five-voice VCO/VCF-based poly synth designed with both synth newcomers and space-conscious pros in mind.

A full-featured subtractive synthesizer, the Take 5 sports two VCOs and a sub oscillator per voice, a classic 4-pole, resonant analog filter from the Prophet-5 Rev 4 design, 44 full-size keys, and a premium Fatar keybed. Its clever key-split feature gives players access to a wider playable range than many other compact synths by enabling players to divide the 3.5 octave keyboard into two separate performance zones. Dual Digital effects and a dedicated overdrive, continuously variable wave shaping, and front-panel access to analog FM ensure the Take 5 can cover a wide range of sonic territory, from vintage to modern.

“The Take 5 puts the classic Sequential sound and legacy into the hands of people who may not have been able to experience it before,” said Dave Smith, Sequential founder and lead product designer. “Packing this much performance power into such a small footprint was the kind of challenge we love. Throughout development we were amazed by how huge this synth sounds and how crazy versatile it is. It was a joy to work on and I’m looking forward to hearing what our customers create with it.”

This versatility comes from the Take 5’s sound engine. Two voltage-controlled oscillators provide traditional sine, saw, and pulse waves with waveshaping, while simple analog FM adds harmonically complex, bell-like FM timbres at need. The Prophet-5-lineage 4-pole analog filter shapes the sound of the oscillators and sub oscillator in classic fashion while a Drive control provides additional punch. For still more warmth, a Vintage knob adds micro variations to oscillator, filter, and envelope behavior from voice to voice.

The Take 5 feature set is rounded out with two LFOs (1 global, and 1 per-voice LFO), ADSR+delay envelopes, dual digital effects (a dedicated reverb and a suite of time-delay and other effects) a separate additional overdrive effect, and extensive modulation possibilities. A 64-step polyphonic sequencer and multimode arpeggiator complete the picture.

Sequential CEO David Gibbons summed up the Take 5 this way: “For players that have wanted to get into analog poly synths but have been put off by price or complexity, the Take 5 is the perfect gateway to subtractive synthesis and the creative power of Sequential’s best synths. It is pure Sequential sound and quality at a price that’s within reach of almost anyone. Portability is also a huge plus — you can transport it from studio to stage without breaking a sweat or leaving any features or playability behind.”

The Take 5 is available now at a US MAP of $1,299.

https://www.sequential.com/product/take-5-compact-poly-synth/

Hi-res pics (click them for the full size shots):

CLICK FOR MORE »

what's the difference between the prophet 5 reissue and the prophet 6?

J3PO

"In this video, we take a deep dive into the key differences between the Sequential Prophet 5/Prophet 10 (Rev 4) Reissue and the Sequential Prophet 6. This video focuses on the sound and functionality of the two synthesizers; where they differ and where they overlap.

Chapters:

00:12 - Introduction
00:58 - Part 1: Prophet 6 "main" differences
04:03 - Part 2: Prophet 5/10 "main" differences
06:48 - Part 3: "direct" sound comparisons (similar patches)
27:17 - Part 4: patches that begin to reveal inherent differences
32:44 - Part 5: Prophet 6 "unique" patches
39:31 - Part 6: Prophet 5/10 patches, demonstrating raw "tone" & "timbre"
48:55 - Part 7: Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The two synthesizers were recorded directly into Pro Tools at 48khz with Universal Audio Apollo preamps. No external FX were used in the recording of the sounds unless where noted in the video. The two synths were leveled in terms of gain as carefully as possible to create the most unbiased listening environment.

Three things to note when viewing this video:

1. I use the terms "Prophet 5" and "Prophet 10" interchangeably, as the only difference between the two synths is that the Prophet 10 has five additional voices.

1. Though I contributed to some of the "factory" presets for the Sequential Prophet 5/10 (rev 4), we are not comparing "factory" presets in this video. I have crafted all the presets in this presentation to show you as carefully as possible how similar the synths can sound, and how vastly different they can sound.

2. We will not be discussing any of the technicalities of "what's under the heard" in terms of components, but rather, focusing on sound and functionality, and the experience. For technical information, please visit www.sequential.com."

Sequential Circuits PROPHET 5 synthesizer - sounds & presets【SYNTH DEMO】

Published on Oct 19, 2018 synth4ever

"Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 analog synth demo. Playing sounds and presets on vintage Prophet 5 analog synth from Sequential Circuits including pads, bells, polymod, filter and resonance tweaks. The Prophet 5 in this sound demo is a Revision 3.3.

The Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 synth was created by Dave Smith (from DSI/Dave Smith Instruments) and John Bowen, and manufactured from 1978-1984. Nearly 6,000 Prophet 5 synths were made in total, and three major revisions: revisions 1 and 2 used SSM chips, while the later revision 3 used Curtis chips.

The Prophet 5 has 5 voices of polyphony and was the first fully programmable polyphonic synth with an embedded microprocessor. It features 2 VCOs (square/pulse/tri/saw), 1 LFO, 4-pole resonant low pass filter, 2 ADSR envelopes, 61 keys, FM (Polymod) and can store between 40-120 patches (depending on model).

The SCI Prophet 5 is a legendary synth and commands high prices on the second hand market. It is known for having a warm, lush and brassy tone and for being very organic. The Prophet 5 has been used by many artists over the years on many hit records.

This Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 synthesizer demo was filmed at the Vintage Synthesizer Museum in Oakland, CA. Visit them at www.vintagesynthmuseum.com or watch the studio tour I did here:" [posted here]

Sweet Discrete Sequential Prophet 5 Demos

www.sweetdiscrete.co.uk

Playlist:

1. THE BEST way to hear the NEW 'Sequential Prophet 5 Rev 4'_with Class A, Discrete, STUDER 189 MK II..

Oh yes, she finally arrived. the Prophet 5 landed 17th December 2020 and it's serial number 658.

@ 5.20 the Sounds start but you'll miss consumer opinion and a kid at Christmas ! - Thank you Music Matter & Dave Smith / Sequential.

This is just a quick unbox, and live tweaking of parameters, showing off the filter type differences and the vintage knob.More to follow soon. This video is somewhat experimental and intended as an alternative listen showing off the frequency / harmonics that can be found with noodling about. It is not drenched in FX. The 2nd part of the video failed on the camera, so an unedited chunk at end shows a few preset sounds, but they sound epic...watch this space for other videos soon.

What do you think to the filter differences, pretty subtle in places, huge in others ?

Recorded with this chain:

Sequential Prophet 5 rev 4
Studer 189 MK II mic pre into console master ( not direct out - this will be later )
Apogee Symphony @ 48Khz 32 bit floating

Only console EQ ( slight )
Compression to level
UAD Studer A800
Touch of reverb

Enjoy, stay safe

Craig
Sweet Discrete
www.sweetdiscrete.co.uk
SHOW LESS

2. 39 Tracks of only 1 Prophet 5 Rev 4_RAW tracks un mixed_Part 1 of 3

"Programmed 34 User patches and borrowed 5 factory patches to make this Disco Techno fusion. Experimental fun really, but made a mini series..

Part 1 is this Raw recorded audio multitrack. Tracked on Studer 189 MK II using just the mic pre / eq, no compression.

Part 2 is the mixing video / tutorial on the final mix.

Part 3 is the Mastering and release, why not ?

All comments welcome.. thought it's a bit different to other videos, hope you get the vibe..

Totally different music genres to follow, Hip hop / Lo Fi, Funk, pop etc...."

3. Prophet 5 Rev 4 - Hypnosis_FULL Mastered Track_See iTunes for full release

"This is from the earlier video ( RAW AUDIO )

now mixed @ Sweet Discrete by Craig Aspin

and..

Mastered by the amazingly talented John Davis @ Metropolis, Thank you

Part 2 will be a Mix tutorial how I mixed the track

Part 3 is Mastered by John Davis and some info on promotion and launching..

Stay safe

Craig

www.sweetdiscrete.co.uk"

Dave Smith Instruments Includes Legendary Prophet-5 Sound Set with New Prophet-6 Synth

"Original Sound Designer John Bowen Enlisted to Recreate Presets for Prophet-6 Factory Set

San Francisco, CA—June 5, 2015—Dave Smith Instruments is pleased to announce that its new Prophet-6 six-voice analog synthesizer features faithful recreations of the original factory sounds from its legendary 1970’s predecessor, the Prophet-5. To program the sounds, the company enlisted the talents of the original sound designer, John Bowen. Presets 411-458 on the new instrument correspond to presets 1-1 to 5-8 on the Prophet-5.

The Prophet-6 takes the best qualities of the Prophet-5 — true voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers — and adds enhancements the older instrument never had, such as stereo outputs, velocity and aftertouch sensitivity, dual digital effects, a high-pass filter, a polyphonic step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and of course, MIDI. It is targeted at musicians looking for authentic, vintage analog tone with the reliability and convenience of modern technology.

John Bowen was Sequential Circuits’ original Product Specialist. He created the majority of factory sounds and sequences shipped with the Prophet 5, Prophet 10, Prophet T-8, Prophet VS, and other Sequential products. An acclaimed synth designer in his own right, Bowen’s pedigree includes instruments for Moog, Sequential Circuits, Yamaha, Korg, Creamware, and his own company, Zarg Music.

Describing the genesis of the project, Bowen said, “When Dave first revealed the Prophet-6, I was curious to see if I could recreate the original factory presets I did for the Prophet-5, and asked if he’d like me to try. When I received the synth, I was impressed with the additional functions available. Dave’s enhancement to my original Poly Mod design adds bi-polar control signals and allows for even more flexibility. And having a high-pass filter allows you to create sounds unattainable on the original Prophet-5. I was happy to find that I was able to accurately recreate the bulk of my presets.” Added Bowen: “In fact, it was great to be able to spice up some of them a bit with the new FX section — which I think is an essential feature in today’s market. I congratulate Dave on creating a very impressive synth!”

As Dave Smith put it, “Bringing the classic Prophet-5 presets back to life on the Prophet-6 was a great way to connect our past with our present. The fact that John was able to duplicate his old sounds so well is a testament to the sonic integrity of the new instrument.” Added Smith: “It’s not often that you get an opportunity to improve on a past achievement — especially one as influential as the Prophet-5, which totally changed the musical landscape of the time. Creating the Prophet-6 has been every bit as satisfying. ”

The Prophet-6 is available now with a MAP of $2799."

J3PO Prophet 5 Patches - Official Sounds Demo

J3PO

www.j3po.net

"The J3PO Prophet 5 Patches — for the Sequential Prophet 5/Prophet 10 synthesizer.

You can buy these (80) presets for your Prophet 5 (rev 4) or Prophet 10 (rev 4) from www.j3po.net. These presets work EXCLUSIVELY with the Prophet 5 (rev 4) and Prophet 10 (rev 4) hardware synthesizers, both keyboard and desktop versions, from Sequential. These presets DO NOT work with any plugin or virtual instrument.

There are 80 patches in this pack and they will load to groups 4 and 5 on your Prophet 5/10 synthesizer. On sale right now for $45.

Inspired by the sounds of yesterday and today, this set of patches features tones inspired by the original Prophet 5 synthesizer and music from the early 80s as well as the contemporary sounds of today. It is important to note that the Prophet 5/10 does not contain any internal FX and the demo is recorded such WITHOUT any external processing. It is recommended to experiment with high quality effects such as chorus, delay, and reverb to further enhance the sound and playing experience of the patches. To hear a 'fully realized' version of many of these patches, please check out my Prophet 5 Reissue video here:" [posted here]

Sequential Prophet-5 & Prophet-10 Demos by BridgeSet Sound

Sequential Prophet-10 Rev 4 Demo with Fabio Fonseca (Synth Only)
video by BridgeSet Sound

"Fabio Fonseca of Key Magic Inc stopped by to drop off more Vinicius Electrik Lizards and could not resist treating us to an impromptu mess around on the Prophet-10.

Recorded with a Warm Audio WA-412 , API 527 compressor and Apogee Symphony MK II."

Sequential Prophet-5 Rev 4 Demo with Damon "Mr. Dizzy Fingers" Bennett (Batch 1-195)

video by BridgeSet Sound

"Damon 'Mr. Dizzy Fingers' Bennett plays both original patches (Start - 4:10​) and presets on the Sequential Prophet-5 Rev 4 synthesizer in his studio.

This Prophet-5 is from batch 1-195 and remains as shipped. Signal is recorded dry and unprocessed with the Focusrite ISA and Apogee Symphony I/O.

Mr. Dizzy Fingers is a great friend and client of ours and we appreciate his doing this. In addition to electronic composition and performance, Damon is a skilled flute player, producer and musical director. You can say hi to him on IG at @mrdizzyfingers.

Index:
0:01​ Bring the Funk
0:20​ Honey Waves
0:45​ Dat Deep n Squishy
1:08​ Do Duh Bat!
1:26​ The Robots are coming for Dinner...
2:07​ ...And they're staying for Dessert!
2:44​ Milk Spaghetti
3:39​ Little Tiny Ghost
4:13​ 'Whatchya say? Your Phone is breaking up'
5:10​ Icicle Kingdom
5:51​ "Do you remember...?"
6:53​ Inside the Egyptian Beehive
7:15​ Inside the Egyptian Beehive pt.2 - Haunted Edition
7:58​ Say Hello to the Princess
8:44​ Bro, Where are my keys?
10:03​ Tinfoil-vision
10:46​ "Huh? I can't hear you over my super dope Bass tone"
11:39​ Chubby Little Pug puppy smelling the flowers
12:02​ Electric Pancakes
12:19​ Electric Pancakes with Butter
12:24​ Electric Pancakes with Butter and Maple Syrup
12:27​ Electric Pancakes feat. Eddie Van Halen
12:46​ Do you know the time?
13:21​ The Witch is Sleeping
13:53​ Snake Race
14:36​ I want steak for dinner
14:59​ RIP Allan Holdsworth
15:33​ Underwater Rubber bands
16:13​ That's called sunshine, baybuh!
16:42​ I don't know the time unfortunately
17:36​ Droid Whispers
19:19​ Old Faithful
19:27​ Space Ship Barber Quartet
19:48​ ..And now for the lead singer's solo
20:34​ ..the Baritone wubwubs have taken over
21:17​ Lost at Sea
21:51​ Man Overboard"

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Rev 2

Click here for shots via this auction.
Details from isatellite:
"This is the famous Sequential Prophet-5, a rare Rev. 2 version, in near mint collector's quality condition. It is considered by many to be one of the best analog polysynths ever made. This one has been babied, and maintained throughout it's life. It comes with 5 new old stock spare SSM chips (VCOx2, VCF, VCA, ENV) worth over $500 so you can be sure this synth will be running for many years to come.

History: When I bought it I had a Kenton Electronics MIDI kit installed in it. It has been used on pretty much every song I've ever done and was featured as the main lead in the song Automat. I used it live once at the Autobahn show in Ohio back in 2003 and it was a solid performer live. It has been one of my favorite synths and I really hate to see it go. This synth has guts, and nothing sounds like it. I've owned 5 Prophet-5's throughout the years and this one sounds the best. I've owned many Rev. 3's and they have generally been more unreliable than this synth. You'd be hard pressed to find one in better condition at any price.
Version: This is the later version Rev. 2, just before they switched over the CEM chips. It uses the much better sounding SSM chips throughout, and has the rare cassette upgrade. This is how a Prophet-5 was supposed to sound, before it got a complete circuit redesign by Sequential Circuits. Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads said he preferred this version to the other Prophets. OMD swore by their Rev. 2 and were upset when Sequential changed the internals. Some have called this the Rev. 2.2 model, but that numbering has been debated.

Condition: See untouched photos for details. These were taken this morning, straight out of my camera. Based on 15 years of owning literally dozens of vintage synths, I would rate it a 9.9/10. It is in near mint electronic and cosmetic condition. I know the word mint is overused on eBay, but take a look at the photos and judge for yourself. As you can see, the cosmetic condition of this synth is pristine. There is no wear whatsoever on the graphics, knobs, silver switches, or lettering. The logo plates are all original and reflect like a mirror. The large Prophet-5 logo on the back is simply stunning and in pristine shape. Looks much better than the heatsync on the Rev. 3 models. There is no sun damage and all of the parts retain their original coloring. The wood is a gorgeous walnut with only a few small marks here and there on the wood edges that are barely noticeable in the photos. There is one indentation in the wood on the righthand side that is very minor and not noticeable in the photos. Rev. 2 Prophets almost invariably have a crack in the wood at the upper right due to a design defect in the modulation section. This synth has been taken care of and has no cracks in the wood. A couple of the knobs have marks on them, but they are all original, not Wine Country reproductions. Small mark on the top of the modulation wheel...barely noticeable. Small indentation on the right of the Prophet-5 logo on the face of the synth. The underside has some marks and paint scrapes in places. There are still two pieces of velcro stuck to the bottom where I had a controller attached for turning on a bubble machine during the performance of Bubbleboy in 2003. One screw is missing from the bottom of the synth. The red LED screen is bright and clear, and the plastic lens has only extremely light scratches from dusting it...but they would not show up in the photos. A little plastic polish and the lens will shine as new. The keys are highly reflective with only the occasional mark here and there. The internal components are all present and accounted for, and the internals are clean and free of rust and debris. This is the mintest example of a Rev. 2 Prophet-5 that I have ever owned or seen ever in over15 years of collecting synths. If you're picky about the condition of your gear, and you want the very best Prophet-5 ever made in pristine condition, this is the synth for you. I realize I'm asking a lot for this synth and it may not be the synth for your price range. If so, please don't send me threatening e-mails. If you can find another in this shape at any price, then buy it. It would be worth it. I'm the type of person that will pay additional $ for something that is the best of its kind, with no rust, and no issues. And this is the best example I have seen of a Rev. 2 Prophet-5 anywhere, at any price.

Functionality: This synth has been babied and maintained in top functioning condition its entire life. I literally just brought it back this weekend from having my tech go over it in detail and make sure everything was functioning 100%. It tunes up after about 20 minutes of warm up, and then never drifts after that. A few years back Tony Clark of Great Lakes Modular modified the power supply so that it was more stable than typical Rev. 2 Prophets. All of the knobs and buttons function perfectly, with no scratchy pots. I have never had to clean the sliders or pots, and they all work as new. All keys trigger perfectly with no double-triggering. I spent a great deal of money buying and installing completely new bushings about a year ago. The keys play like butter. All inputs and outputs, MIDI, velocity (from MIDI), aftertouch (from MIDI), modulation, pitchbend, keys, buttons, and pitchbender - everything works perfectly. There is nothing functionally wrong with this synth. The Kenton MIDI kit provides MIDI in, out, and thru and is considered to be the best MIDI kit available for the this synth. For more info on everything that the Kenton MIDI kit can do, please check out the Kenton site at kenton.co.uk. In case you are worried about the reliability of this synth, I have only had one SSM chip replaced during the 11 years I've owned it."