Prophet '08 Synth Module-Sweet!

[terrytee]

$1500 for the rack/desktop prophet

[Orren]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

You know, now I'm tempted to go give the '08 another try. I need to just go to a Banjo-Mart with a set of headphones and tell them to leave me the **** alone for a couple hours this weekend.

I highly recommend giving it that try. It's a really excellent sounding synth. I think my favorite feature is that it's simple enough that you can pull up a sound, twist a few knobs to taste, and you've got something great, or you can get really deep into it and create something unique. It can sound huge and dirty or intimate and clean. And as an owner of Evolvers, I can say that the build quality on the Prophet '08 is better as well (not that the evolvers are falling apart at the seams, but the dials aren't very robust plastic, etc).

This new unit looks like a great way to add 8 more voices in a rack or desktop unit. I used to chain a Mono Evolver Keyboard to a Poly Evolver Rack (sold the MEK to buy the P08) and the DSI Poly Chain Out works as advertised—one MIDI cable, total sync.

Really, this to me is a fantastic update of a classic sound. Obviously, it's personal taste and not everyone has to share my opinion. But give it some serious time without bozos harassing you, and you might just find its a keeper.

Orren

[rokuez]

Originally Posted by Orren

And as an owner of Evolvers, I can say that the build quality on the Prophet '08 is better as well (not that the evolvers are falling apart at the seams, but the dials aren't very robust plastic, etc).

I thought that the knobs on the prophet 08 keyboard where a little loose feeling. They did not feel like the Access Virus B desktop synth knobs. The virus B had really sturdy feeling knobs, where you have to use some force to turn them.

with the virus B you had to really crank to do a 360 turn , with the prophet 8 it feels like u can almost spin them because they give so easily.

With the prophet 8's knobs they feel like they might snap off, or become wobbly over time. i hope they use higher quality knobs in the prophet 8 rack

all of my p8 knobs are still functional however. and i'm loving my p8 se even started a forum for it but its kinda dead prophet8forum.com - Index hopefully i can get people posting their presets in there. i plan on deleting all the stock ones pretty soon and starting from scratch

[Orren]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

See, my biggest beef with it from when I've used it is that it sounds too much like a digital synth, almost as if Dave had the Virus in mind when he made the P'08 and I've already got enough digital synths. (Maybe it's the DCO's making it sound that way?) It doesn't really carry the dirty aggressiveness of the analogs of the 80's.

In the end, it's all taste, but I don't think it has to sound that way. Try playing with the Unison modes, and both layers (A/B). It can sound magnificently fat and dirty, trust me. One of the things I really like about the P08 is that it doesn't sound like digital synths. When you next have a moment with one, make sure the unison LED is lit, find (or make) a preset with both layers active, and set the LPF to taste. It will sound extremely analog, gritty, and Prophet. :)

(at least, to me )

Orren

[Jsx]

Originally Posted by jbuehler

I think Moog is slipping. They should have released the Little Phatty Rack by now with similar nice wood sides for around 750$ (Dunno maybe less or more?).

That would also sell like Charlie Brown.

I must say that I have never really been very interested in acquiring a Little Phatty, but a desktop/rack version with a reduced price would definitely have me considering a purchase.

[Orren]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

Well, let's agree to disagree

Fair enough

Orren

[cub005@yahoo.co.]

<It doesn't really carry the dirty aggressiveness of the analogs of the 80's. >

gotta say I felt totally the reverse when I tried it . Really nice hot sizzle to the sound, and not typically DCO-sounding at all - actually kinda *more* aggressive to me than all the early / mid 80s stuff I had....-}

[kamp+slip+stytch]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

That's only $24,000. It's not like it's hard to get a job that pays that plus enough extra to live on.

my job is to stay free of a job.....why not just home-grow?

[kamp+slip+stytch]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

Because I don't wanna go to jail for dealing.

me neither, it would suck. it's probably one of the more stressful jobs out there.....and it's not fun to puff when yer all stressed about wut yer supposed to enjoy.

i think i'm going to enjoy my herb, i get mine for free.

[cub005@yahoo.co.]

synths are my herb..

[devious]

i noticed people are talking about the knobs.

loooooooooook aaaaaaaaaaattttttttt thhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeee piccccccccs!

he is NOT using the standard p08 keyboard knobs. this concern has been very well addressed. so again, look at the keyboard, look at the rack/desktop version side by side. and stop "hoping" because there's no need, it's addressed, :)

and to the comment about "it being early for this unit" - not really. the sales of the keyboard are high, but demand for the desktop unit is extremely high.
if everybody who buys one who said they would when/if he released a desktop, even 1/3rd of those people, he would have sold more desktop units in the end, in theory that is. information disseminated from many o places across the internet went into this mental-wack theory ha ha. :)

-d

[Jsx]

Originally Posted by devious

i noticed people are talking about the knobs.

loooooooooook aaaaaaaaaaattttttttt thhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeee piccccccccs!

he is NOT using the standard p08 keyboard knobs. this concern has been very well addressed. so again, look at the keyboard, look at the rack/desktop version side by side. and stop "hoping" because there's no need, it's addressed, :)

and to the comment about "it being early for this unit" - not really. the sales of the keyboard are high, but demand for the desktop unit is extremely high.
if everybody who buys one who said they would when/if he released a desktop, even 1/3rd of those people, he would have sold more desktop units in the end, in theory that is. information disseminated from many o places across the internet went into this mental-wack theory ha ha. :)

-d

They look to me like the Evolver knobs, which is what many people are concerned about. I personally don't really care - the Evolver knobs are not quite as robust and satisfying as other types, but they work well enough. But I do understand the concerns that some people express, as for such a high-quality synth the knobs do leave a little to be desired.

[The_Crooked_Man]

Damn, those are the Evolver knobs on the P08 module. Worst knobs of any synth I've ever played. They pop right off, are too small, and will move if you breath on them. So many people have complained about those, and now they DSI puts them on his newest piece? Bad news.

[initialsBB]

Ah, WTF? I didn't notice that. I guess maybe using those evolver knobs shaved a few bucks off the price but those P08 knobs look so much nicer.

Although I think the pics on the DSI site are just a prototype. Notice the shiny front panel. I think when he's prototyping a unit he prints out a paper front panel and laminates it so maybe the knobs will change when it goes into production.

[cub005@yahoo.co.]

maybe early for the final design, but at such a good price the knobs can't be a worry I feel ..

[Steve Singh]

Originally Posted by plaid_emu

This would be sweet in my slant-top rack right above the XL-7....=)

How about a Prophet 01 desktop module similar to the MFB stuff with lots of knobs or a with a 3 octave keyboard? I already have a desktop Evolver. Does anyone think this idea would be redundant? Sound too similar already? Would the 100% analog signal path really sound that much better than an Evolver with it's high quality op amps?

It sounds different. I've got both. The filters in the prophet are tweaked differently. They kind of shimmer. Also, the random panning of each voice is a really inspiring. Very cool feature. On the downside, you can not record a sequence from the keyboard which is kind of a drag. and no delay either, which is a fun thing to modulate on the evolver. I switched to the prophet and really missed the digital filters, so I got an MEK again. Two very different awesome machines. You need both.
Steve

[DocT]

A Prophet'08 bass sound and some more sounds arranged around it:

http://www.trippler.net/files/p8/p8p.mp3

Just some quick late evening fun.

[sctt_stone]

So should I sell my P5 for a p08? Be kinda cool to have that extra grand back.

[keybdwizrd]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

I would say no. The Prophet 5 sound is timeless. The Prophet 08 sound is kind of bland.

I would say it's a personal decision, also considering such factors as style(s) of music, how much the P5 is currently played, ratio of gigging to recording, and many other things.

With all due respect, it could be argued that the Prophet 5 sound is overstated and over-hyped, and that the instrument is often coveted more for reasons of nostalgia than practicality.

IMHO, the Prophet '08 sound is engaging, interesting, and provocative; this synthesizer inspires me; it is equally at home with jazz fusion leads, retro prog rock characterizations, pop synth colors, gritty electronic effects, etc.

Just my two cents, and I own one (and play it LOTS). :)

[sctt_stone]

The shitty thing for me is that the music stores close to me do not keep analog gear in stock other than the little phatty. I have actually thought about ordering a P08 and making a demo of my P5 next to the P08 to post here. May be a few of weeks but I plan on doing it. I am surprised no one has done that yet!

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

I think the fact that since the two posts immediately after Sctt_Stone's reflect that people are either obsessed with the Prophet 08 or have an abhorrence towards it, the best thing to do is to just take your Prophet 5 up to Guitar Center, sit it next to a Prophet 08, and just decide for yourself. *gives keybdwizrd the evil eye for having opinions which differ from my own!!!*

[Fishy1500]

how would you compare the prophet 8 and some like the studio electronics code or omega series sound wise (not price wise, since it is very different)?

[kingofswing]

I get my Prophet 08 KB tommorow Sooner than I expected.

Module vs Keyboard - I decided on the keyboard for a more completed instrument and it looks better too. I like the knobs better than the evolver ones.

[Orren]

Originally Posted by kingofswing

Module vs Keyboard - I decided on the keyboard for a more completed instrument and it looks better too. I like the knobs better than the evolver ones.

It should also be added that since the knobs can send out MIDI CCs (unlike the Evolver keyboards), the Prophet '08 keyboard also makes a damn fine MIDI controller for software instruments. For those of us that aren't analog purists, that is. ;)

Orren

[sctt_stone]

Wow the lead singer for this Ember After looks like Christopher Lamber from the high lander movies!!!

Originally Posted by Orren

It should also be added that since the knobs can send out MIDI CCs (unlike the Evolver keyboards), the Prophet '08 keyboard also makes a damn fine MIDI controller for software instruments. For those of us that aren't analog purists, that is. ;)

Orren

[Orren]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

Wow the lead singer for this Ember After looks like Christopher Lamber from the high lander movies!!!

Hehe...thanks! Although I think Chris was younger than I am now. ;)

Orren "There can be only one" Merton

[keybdwizrd]

Originally Posted by Orren

For those of us that aren't analog purists, that is. ;)

LOL. Heck, I've been using my P'08 to play my new Motif rack... I guess I am about as far away from being an analog purist as you can be!

[plaid_emu]

Originally Posted by keybdwizrd

I guess I am about as far away from being an analog purist as you can be!

I appreciate "analog". I've got a Neptune II, a POLY-61 and a desktop Evolver and that's as analog as I get.

I love that folks still have the itch to keep it alive, but I've got to give props to Morgan Sparks (R.I.P.) for reverse engineering the the Roswell crash into something useful for us slaves.

Without Bell Labs and the US government's funding we wouldn't have Absynth or a Virus!

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?bl...19908155713626

Roswell UFO Incident - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Transistor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The only problem is they've got the technology to build something that perfectly emulates everything from a Teletronix LA-2A to a Reaktor 5. And they can probably build it for twenty five cents.

Instead of building something like that, they'll use it to create these:

dragonfly drones - Google Search

[dan p]

When you use a P5 people i know say yeah that sounds dated.I think the P5 is overated but i would still own a P8.My 2 cts.
You dont get jobs in this biz with stuff that has been done before.Most folks want something new.Its ok for the bedroom and an occasional use i think.


Dan P

[kingofswing]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

I think that it's because they really don't have much in common.

You seem to be very protective about the gear you appear to own, though I have no problem with that. You like what you like...right?

But to bash a superb and more than capable new analog synth (being the Prophet 08) is way out of line. The fact is: Davesmith made this synth in 2007 using modern components, just as he made the Prophet 5 and others back in the day using parts of of that time / era.

Modern components lend to all sorts of changes - the result being that we have a new 8-voice poly synth here with a pure analog signal path, using analog filters and VCAs. The sound is top notch - I really don't care what you think.

Cheers

[sctt_stone]

Jesus, cant we all agree to disagree and agree that they do sound different. i love the sound of the P5 but I wish it could do more cool shit like the P08. The p08 demos do not sound like the P5. the P5 has a much more aggressive sound and is darker sounding.
As for the comments about "that synths old news so no one wants to hear it" that is some ignorant ass shit. Well shit for that matter lets burn all stringed instruments and Pianos while we are at it because they have been used for a few hundred years so no one wants to hear them anymore! I have noticed that a lot of people around this forum seem to think that gear writes songs, WTF is that? If you write a unique sounding tune and use dated instruments i will be damned if it wont sound good to people. The only thing in music that sounds dated is tired ideas that all sound the same to to a lack of creativity.
For that matter every fu-kin pop-Punk song on the radio sounds the same to me. Would someone please tell them to stop whining through their noses like that and quit it with the nut hugger jeans!!!!! Oh yeah and while I am at it its so original to be a Gangsta.