Dave Smith Instruments Shipping Sequential Prophet-6 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer

The recently reacquired brand, Sequential, is Dave Smith Instruments’ original identifier for the vintage Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer. Originally introduced in 1978, The Prophet-5 was the first analog synthesizer of its kind to offer patch recall, and one of the first polyphonic synthesizers ever.

The Sequential Prophet-6 has been declared a worthy predecessor to the Prophet-5 by implementing reliability of modern instruments with the vintage sound of the 80s. Sequential Prophet-6 still includes voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers, and adds stereo outputs, velocity and aftertouch sensitivity, dual digital effects, high-pass filter, a polyphonic step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and MIDI.

The six-voice polyphonic analog synthesize fromr Dave Smith Instruments.

The six-voice Dave Smith Instruments Sequential Prophet-6 is available now for $2799 MSRP. Here are more details from DSI:

Vintage with a Modern Twist
The Prophet-6 is Dave Smith’s tribute to the poly 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.

Classic Tone, Classic Vibe
Central to the warm, punchy sound of the Prophet-6 are its two newly-designed, discrete voltage-controlled oscillators (plus sub-oscillator) per voice. Continuously variable waveshapes provide the tonal palette with triangle, sawtooth, and variable-width pulse waves. There are two discrete filters per voice—a four-pole, resonant, low-pass inspired by the original Prophet-5 filter, and a two-pole, resonant, high-pass filter. Voltage-controlled amplifiers complete the all-analog signal path.

Dual Effects
The dual effects section provides studio-quality reverbs, delays (standard and BBD), chorus and phase shifter. While the effects themselves are digital, with 24-bit, 48 kHz resolution, a true bypass maintains a full analog signal path. There’s also an independent stereo distortion effect, which is 100% analog.

Poly Mod and Poly Step Sequencing
Also present from its classic predecessor is a Poly Mod section, with enhancements. True to the original, modulation sources are filter envelope and oscillator 2 (both with bi-polar control). Destinations include oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 1 shape, oscillator 1 pulse width, low-pass filter cutoff, and high-pass filter cutoff. Another welcome reprise is Unison mode, which features configurable voice count (1-6 voices) and key modes. The polyphonic step sequencer allows up to 64 steps and up to 6 notes per step. You can create sequences polyphonically, with rests, and sync to an external MIDI clock. The full-featured arpeggiator can be synced to external MIDI clock as well.

Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.