Prophet X: A New Legend

If you've thought about exactly what you want in your dream synth, rest assured, synth design guru Dave Smith is one step ahead of you. It's called Sequential Prophet X, and it's an 8-voice bittimbral stereo (16-voice mono) beast that combines everything you love about analogue synthesis with the infinite power of digital processing. At the core of the Prophet X is a powerful sound engine that drives dual-sample-based instruments and a pair of high-resolution digital oscillators with waveform modulation, all routed through delicious-sounding stereo analog filters.

As for the samples themselves, Prophet X does it right. This 150GB sample library (created by 8Dio) comes with acoustic and electronic instruments, along with lots of cinematic and ambient effects. And that's just the beginning. In addition to the four envelope generators, four LFOs and deep modulation matrix, you have loop manipulation, sample stretching and other powerful tools for sculpting your samples. To top it off, a premium 5-octave aftertouch-enabled keyboard, onboard storage, dual effects engines, a polyphonic step sequencer, and more; and you have the Sequential Prophet X: a beastly synthesizer eminently worthy of carrying on the legendary Prophet lineage.

Sophisticated sample engine

The Prophet X's sampling engine consists of two digitally voice-sampled self-contained stereo instruments (four in Stack or Split mode). It also features 150GB of deep sampled content created by 8Dio that includes a versatile selection of beautiful acoustic and electronic instruments, as well as cutting-edge cinematic and environmental effects. Samples can be shaped via Prophet's loop manipulation, sample stretching, and modulation functions. Each sample instrument is equipped with a high-pass/low-pass filter tone control. The Prophet X has an additional 50GB of onboard storage for importing external sample libraries (additional sample packs are available from 8Dio).

Prophet's Turbocharged Synth Engine

Comprised of two high-resolution digital oscillators boosted with classic waveforms and a supersaw, the Prophet X's synth engine delivers the incredible power of a classic Prophet with expanded tonal versatility. Grab the Shape Mod control to quickly dial in a waveform width for any of the classic sawtooth, sine, or pulse waves; then give your patch movement with an LFO or other modulation source. The Prophet X offers a full arsenal of classic synthesis functionality, including four synchronizable LFOs with spin and phase shifting, four looping 5-stage envelope generators, and a 16-slot modulation matrix with dozens of sources and destinations.

Stereo filters for dimension and impact

At the heart of any classic synthesizer is its filter; and the Prophet X doesn't disappoint with its new 24dB/octave stereo resonant low-pass filters, which are based on vintage circuitry. For a true stereo signal path, Prophet X has separate filters for the left and right channels, enhancing samples and oscillators with fullness, presence and power. At this juncture, it's worth noting that you can switch the Prophet from 8-voice stereo mode to 16-voice mono mode for added polyphony — eminently useful for splits and stacks.

Highly musical polyphonic step sequencer

Prophet X's polyphonic step sequencer provides up to 64 steps and up to six notes per step. Whether you're working in stacked or split voice mode, it lets you create a different sequence for each layer, making it a powerful tool for performance and composition. Sequences can even have loops and pauses and can be synchronized with an external MIDI clock. The arpeggiator features note repeats and locking and can also sync to the external MIDI clock.

Two effects per layer

The Prophet X includes a powerful dual effects engine with multiple reverbs, two delays (standard and BBD), chorus, phase shifter, flanger, vintage rotary speaker, highpass filter and distortion. In split or stacked voice mode, you can apply two different effects to each layer. To create continuously changing tones, you can easily modulate effect parameters via Prophet X's mod matrix.

Designed by a synth legend

The name Dave Smith commands respect. A UC Berkeley CS and EE degree holder, musician, design engineer, and the driving force behind Sequential Circuits, Dave's first synthesizer was the legendary Prophet 5 in 1978—the first microprocessor-controlled polyphonic synthesizer capable of storing the value of every parameter within your voice and control systems. This was a watershed technological advance, and the implications were staggering. Think about it: before the Prophet 5, it simply wasn't possible to input a patch number into a synth and recall a sound you'd stored.

The Prophet 5 and its successors were hugely successful, finding their way into every major artist's studio and keyboard, and onto countless recordings by artists as diverse as Madonna and Weather Report! Impressive, yes — but Dave also helped invent a little thing called MIDI. Making the most of the latest cutting-edge digital/analog technologies, the Prophet X is the latest chapter in one of the great American synthesizer success stories.

Characteristics

• Bi-timbral, 8-voice stereo synthesizer (16-voice mono);
• Combines high-fidelity stereo samples with powerful synthesis;
• 150GB sample library created by acclaimed sound developers 8Dio;
• 2 simultaneous instruments based on 16-bit/48kHz samples;
• 50GB of internal storage for importing additional samples;
• Loop handling and sample stretching;
• 2 high-resolution digital oscillators with waveform modulation;
• Stereo analog filters;
• 4 envelope generators, 4 LFOs;
• Modulation matrix;
• Premium semi-weighted 5-octave keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch;
• 3 OLED displays, USB support and built-in power supply.

Specifications

• Type: keyboard synthesizer with sequencer;
• Sound engine: sample plus synthesis;
• Digital Analog: Digital;
• Number of keys: 61;
• Wrenches type: full size, semi-heavy;
• Back Touch: Yes;
• Velocity sensitive: yes;
• Other controllers: pitch bend, mod wheel;
• Polyphony: 8 stereo, 16 mono;
• Number of presets: 512 factory (4 banks of 128), 512 user;
• Oscillators: 2 x digital oscillators per voice;
• LFO: 4 x LFO per voice;
• Filter: 2 x 4-pole analog low-pass filters, 1 digital high-pass filter;
• Effect types: Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Distortion, Modulation;
• Arpeggiator: Manual, Rise, Fall, Rise Fall, Random, Assign;
• Sequencer: 64-step polyphonic sequencer;
• Sampling: sample playback, 150GB of factory-installed 8Dio instruments;
• Storage: 50GB internal;
• Audio Outputs: 2 x 1/4 in. (main), 2 x 1/4-in. (output B);
• Headphones: 1 x 1/4 in.;
• USB: 1 x Type A, 1 x Type B;
• MIDI I/O: In/Out/Thru/USB;
• Pedal Inputs: 1 x 1/4 in. (volume), 1 x 1/4 in. (hold up), 1 x 1/4-in. (sequencer), 1 x 1/4 in. (pedal/CV);
• Power source: Standard IEC AC connector;
• Dimensions: 97.6 x 34.4 x 10.5cm;
• Weight: 10.9kg.