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Sequential Prophet-6 Synthesizer

BH #SESP66VPAS • MFR #DSI-2600
1 review
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Sequential Prophet-6 Synthesizer
Key Features
  • Semi-Weighted Velocity Sensitive Keys
  • 4 Octave Keyboard w/ Channel Aftertouch
  • 6 Voices w/ 2 Oscillators per Voice
  • Low Pass and High Pass Filter
The Sequential Prophet-6 from Dave Smith Instruments is a modern, all-analog 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer that pays tribute to the original vintage Prophet 5, but with several enhancements. The synth features true voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, amplifiers, envelopes, and an LFO. Additional enhancements include studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step-sequencer, and an arpeggiator; all of which can be synchronized internally or via external MIDI clock.
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Sequential Prophet 6 Overview

The Sequential Prophet-6 from Dave Smith Instruments is a modern, all-analog 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer that pays tribute to the original vintage Prophet 5, but with several enhancements. The synth features true voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, amplifiers, envelopes, and an LFO. Additional enhancements include studio-quality effects, a polyphonic step-sequencer, and an arpeggiator; all of which can be synchronized internally or via external MIDI clock.

The four octave, semi-weighted keyboard offers velocity sensitivity and channel aftertouch, while the control panel offers knob-per-function control with no menu diving. There are 500 permanent factory programs and 500 user programs, which are organized into 10 banks of 100 presets. The Prophet-6 offers an ideal combination of portability and power for the project studio or the gigging musician.

Classic Tone, Classic Vibe
  • Two discrete voltage-controlled oscillators (plus sub-oscillator) per voice
  • Continuously Variable Waveshapes: Triangle, sawtooth, and variable-width pulse waves
  • One 4-pole, resonant, low-pass inspired by the original Prophet-5 filter
  • One 2-pole, resonant, high-pass filter
  • VCA: Voltage-controlled amplifiers
Dual Effects
  • Dual Effect Engine: 24-bit/ 48 kHz resolution
  • Studio-quality reverbs, delays (standard and BBD), chorus, and phase shifter
  • True bypass maintains a full analog signal path
  • Independent stereo 100% analog distortion effect
Poly Mod and Poly Step Sequencing
  • Modulation Sources: Filter envelope and oscillator 2 (both with bi-polar control)
  • Destinations: Oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 1 shape, oscillator 1 pulse width, low-pass filter cutoff, and high-pass filter cutoff
  • Unison Mode: Configurable voice count (1-6 voices) and key modes
  • Polyphonic Step Sequencer: 64 steps with up to 6 notes per step with rests. Syncs to an external MIDI clock
  • Arpeggiator: Syncs to external MIDI clock
Easy to Program
  • Knob-per-function front panel offers instant access to virtually all Prophet-6 functions
  • 1000 Presets: 500 permanent factory programs and 500 user programs organized into 10 banks of 100 programs
  • Live Panel Mode: Switches from a preset to current knob and switch settings
Easy to Play
  • Four octave, semi-weighted keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch
  • Programmable Backlit Pitch Wheel: 1 to 12 semi-tones
  • Backlit modulation wheel
UPC: 855346000777

Sequential Prophet 6 Specs

Oscillators
2x discrete VCOs per voice
Wave Shape per Oscillator (Continuously Variable): Triangle, sawtooth, pulse, and square
Pulse width per oscillator
Hard Sync: Oscillator 1 syncs to oscillator 2
Triangle Sub-Octave Generator: Oscillator 1 per voice
Low Frequency Mode: Oscillator 2
Keyboard Tracking: On/off (oscillator 2)
Oscillator Slop: For increased tuning instability, from subtle to extreme
Mixer
Oscillator 1 amount
Oscillator 1 sub-octave amount
Oscillator 2 amount
White noise amount
High Pass Filter
2-pole, resonant, high-pass filter per voice
Bi-polar filter envelope amount
Velocity modulation of envelope amount
Keyboard Tracking: Off, half, full
Low Pass Filter
4-pole, resonant, low-pass filter per voice
Filter can be driven into self-oscillation with the Resonance control
Bi-polar filter envelope amount
Velocity modulation of envelope amount
Keyboard tracking: Off, half, full
Envelope Generators
Filter Envelope: Four-stage (ADSR) envelope generator
Amplifier Envelope: Four-stage (ADSR) envelope generator with velocity modulation of envelope amount
LFO
5x Wave Shapes: Triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, and random (sample and hold)
Clock sync (internal or external MIDI clock)
Initial amount
Mod Destinations: Oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 2 frequency, oscillator 1 and 2 pulse width, low-pass filter cutoff, high-pass filter cutoff
Poly Mod
Sources: Filter envelope (bi-polar) and oscillator 2 (bi-polar)
Destinations: Oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 1 shape, oscillator 1 pulse width, low-pass filter cutoff, high-pass filter cutoff
Aftertouch
Source: Channel (mono) aftertouch with bi-polar amount
Destinations: Oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 2 frequency, LFO amount, amplifier envelope amount, low-pass filter envelope amount, high-pass filter envelope amount
Clock
Master clock with tap tempo
BPM control and display
MIDI clock sync
Arpeggiator
Selectable Note Value: 16th note, 8th note triplet, 8th note, dotted 8th note, quarter note
1, 2, or 3 octave range
Up, down, up/down, random, and assign modes
Sequencer
Polyphonic Step Sequencer: 64 steps and rests
Effects
Stereo analog distortion
Dual, 24-bit, 48 kHz Digital Effects: Reverb (room, hall, plate, spring), delay (full bandwidth digital delay and emulated bucket brigade and tape delays), chorus, and phase shifter
Delay sync
True Bypass: Maintains fully analog signal path when digital effects are off
Controls
Keyboard: Full-sized, semi-weighted, 4-octave with velocity and aftertouch
Pich Wheel: Backlit, spring-loaded with selectable range per program (1 to 12 semitones up and down)
Mod Wheel: Backlit
Transpose: 8 octave range
Hold Switch: latches held notes on
Polyphonic Glide: Portamento
Unison (Monophonic) Mode: Configurable voice count, from one to all six voices, and key modes
Preset Switch: When off, the front panel is live; what you see is what you hear
Patch Memory
1000 Programs: 500 user / 500 factory programs in 10 banks of 100 programs each
Direct Program Access: Prophet 5-style single-button access to the current set of 10 programs
Input & Output
Left/Mono & Right Audio Outputs: 2 x 1/4" / 6.35 mm phone jack
Headphone Output: Stereo, 1/4" / 6.35 mm phone jack
MIDI: In, out, and thru ports
USB: Bi-directional MIDI communication
Low-pass filter cutoff expression pedal input
Volume expression pedal input
Sustain footswitch input
Sequencer start/stop footswitch input
Power
100/240 volts at 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 30 W maximum
IEC AC power inlet for internal power supply
Dimensions
32.0 x 12.7 x 4.6" / 81.3 x 32.3 x 11.7 cm
Weight
20.0 lb / 9.1 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
28.65 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
38 x 18.5 x 8.5"

Sequential Prophet 6 Reviews

A Worthy Successor to the Prophet 6

By James
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2016-06-03

The DSI Prophet 6 is probably the most compelling Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer on the market at the moment. Having learned synthesis on a Moog Modular in the 70's it is clear to me that this little beast is the real deal. A modern Analog Poly Synth wrapped in a very modern feature set. If you're looking for the classic Prophet 5 sound but did not want to deal with the unstable tuning headaches of the original then your ship just came in. The design and layout is superb, with every knob and control right there in front of you for instant changes in modulation with no menu diving. In fact, there are no menus, just like the Prophet 5, however I did not find that limiting once I got used to it. The included sound set is excellent and much better that the sound set that DSI shipped with the Prophet 8 IMHO. If you are lucky enough to find a store that actually has the Prophet 6 on display you can use the 'Play' function in the sequencer section to preview the sounds. For me, the warm analog sound of this machine is what made it stand out from the other DSI offerings, however it was the outstanding Arp/Sequencer and Digital Effects engine that convinced me that it was worth the heavenly price point. The ability to use the Poly-Chain feature to link two Prophet 6's together would create a 12 Voice, Analog tone monster to contend with. Add in a full size keyboard and integrated power supply and there not much to be desired here. The available third party software really helps to round out the potential for using this in the studio and integrating it into a DAW setup. The nicely weighted keyboard is both velocity sensitive and has after-touch but for some reason the P6 ships with a 49 note, four octave keyboard while its namesake and other DSI offerings like the P8 came with a 61 note keyboard. Not a show stopper for me but it is a curious omission on an otherwise brilliant, modern analog synthesizer. Highly Recommended.

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