Studio-grade dual effects engine

The Sequential Prophet-6 sports a dual effects section that delivers studio-quality reverbs, delays (standard and Bucket Brigade Device – aka BBD), chorus, and phase shifter. Although the effects are digital, with 24-bit/48kHz resolution, true bypass maintains your pure-analog signal path. Also onboard is a 100% analog independent stereo distortion effect. In the early ’80s, the Prophet-5’s polyphony and patch memory were huge technological achievements; onboard effects were nothing but a pipe dream (if that). Kind of makes you appreciate the age we live in all the more, no? 

Pure, cutting-edge analog: modern, yet classic

At the core of the Sequential Prophet-6 are two newly designed, discrete voltage-controlled oscillators (reinforced by a sub oscillator) per voice. These modern analog oscillators feature continuously variable waveshapes with triangle, sawtooth, and variable-width pulse waves. Two discrete filters per voice give you Michelangelo-class tone-sculpting prowess: a four-pole, resonant lowpass (inspired by the original Prophet-5 filter), and a two-pole, resonant highpass. Voltage-controlled amplifiers complete the Prophet-6’s pure-analog signal path.

Poly Mod and polyphonic step sequencer

The Prophet-5 rocked a feature called Poly Mod, and so does the Prophet-6 – with enhancements, of course. As with its predecessor, the Prophet-6’s 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, lowpass filter cutoff, and highpass filter cutoff. Unison mode (featuring configurable voice count of 1-6 voices and key modes) also makes an encore. The Prophet-6’s polyphonic step sequencer accommodates up to 64 steps and up to six notes per step, letting you build sequences polyphonically, with rests and external MIDI clock sync. There’s also a full-function arpeggiator that you can sync to external MIDI clock as well.

This synth is amazingly easy to program

Dave Smith designed the Sequential Prophet-6 with a knob-per-function top panel that gives you instant access to virtually all its functions. You get 500 permanent factory programs, arranged in 10 banks of 100 programs each. You can, additionally, create and save up to 500 user programs. Toggle off the Preset button and you’re in Live Panel (what you see is what you hear) mode, in which the sound of the Prophet-6 switches to the current settings of its controls. 

Features

• All-analog signal path; discrete VCOs and filters
• 6 voices; 2 voltage-controlled oscillators plus sub oscillator per voice
• 2 discrete filters per voice: 4-pole resonant lowpass and 2-pole resonant highpass
• Digital dual-FX section (true bypass maintains a full analog signal path)
• Multimode arpeggiator; 64-step polyphonic step sequencer
• Full-size, 4-octave semi-weighted keyboard with velocity and aftertouch

Tech Specs

• Type:Keyboard Synthesizer with Sequencer
• Sound Engine:Analog
• Number of Keys:49
• Type of Keys:Semi-weighted
• Aftertouch:Yes
• Velocity Sensitive:Yes
• Other Controllers:Pitchbend, Mod Wheel
• Polyphony:6 Notes
• Number of Presets:500 x Factory, 500 x User
• Effects Types:Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Phase Shifter, Distortion
• Arpeggiator:Yes
• Sequencer:64-step
• Audio Outputs:2 x 1/4″
• Headphones:1 x 1/4″
• USB:1 x Type B
• MIDI I/O:In/Out/Thru/USB
• Pedal Inputs:2 x 1/4″ (expression pedal), 2 x 1/4″ (footswitch)
• Mod Matrix:Poly Mod: 2 Sources, 5 Destinations
• Height:4.6″
• Width:32″
• Depth:12.7″
• Weight:20 lbs.