Vintage Synth Explorer

Dave Smith Instruments • Prophet '08

Prophet '08

The Prophet '08 truly signals the return of the classic Sequential Circuits Prophet synthesizers, in a beautiful, modern and ultra-stable programmable analog synthesizer! Building on the Poly Evolver keyboard, the Prophet '08 offers eight voices of polyphony with a 100% analog signal path. The look is spot-on! Brand new, the Prophet '08 already looks like it's a classic vintage piece of history. And its sound really does blow you away!

Dave Smith is considered a legendary figure in the synthesizer world, he founded Sequential Circuits and designed such classics as the Prophet 5 and Prophet VS, and he was a pioneer in bringing MIDI to synthesizers. The new for 2007 Prophet '08 brings back much of the original technology from those old Prophets (Curtis filters and analog oscillators), updated of course, to meet todays musician's needs.

While it doesn't sound exactly like an original P5, it does sound and behave more like one than any other pretender. It's cleaner, purer and a little more predictable than its 25 year old predecessors. Actually, it sounds just like the Poly Evolver, minus the digital oscillators.

Regardless, the Prophet '08 is truly a modern day Prophet series synth. Unlike many (Roland) synths that are attaching vintage model names to their current synths even though they are almost nothing alike (Juno, SH, etc.), the Prophet '08 is the real-deal next generation version of its predecessors. As DSI says, the Prophet '08 is the product of evolution, not nostalgia. Of course, it includes features we now take for granted, like velocity and aftertouch. Add to that performance features like an arpeggiator, gated step sequencer, and the ability to split and layer sounds. The modulation possibilities are much deeper than anything Sequential ever produced, making it capable of producing sounds the "classics" simply could not.

Prophet '08 Special Edition

The year 2008 marks 30 years of great Dave Smith-designed synthesizers. To celebrate, DSI issued the Prophet '08 Special Edition. In addition to the standard Prophet '08 features, the Special Edition includes red lighted (pitch/bend) wheels, exotic leopard-wood end panels, and a special commemorative overlay signed by Dave. It also includes editor/librarian software and the "Dave Smith: Synthesizer Pioneer" DVD. It costs about $500 more than the standard model.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Matt Young

Posted 128 days ago

I want one of these at the moment can only talk about Mopho (come on VintageSynth get it added - it's a classic in the making) and what a little beast it is. As you will know it's one voice of Prophet '08 and a powerhouse, rich lush just beautiful. This just makes me really excited about getting what is essentially a polyphonic version albeit different as Dave Smith wanted to make them each unique instruments. I'll come back with a review of the '08 when I'm lucky enough to have one.

Kaefros

Posted 195 days ago

Absolutely wonderfull synth!
Never expected to hear such sounds from an analog synth.
Modulation routing is amasing. Something impossible with an older analog synth.
A trully wonderfull synth and i still hevent get to in depth programing....

Arthur

Posted 197 days ago

It has great technical features and feels absolutely fantastic. But it will NEVER be as fat sounding as a vintage T8 or prophet 5. It comes very close to the original i must admit....

Voispectra

Posted 204 days ago

I use Prophet 08 for more than one year and it's simply a fantastic poly analog! Warm and deep sound as long as you start to tweak.. I prefer to use it together with its editor software and created my library with full of vintage sounds according to my taste. Key action is great, knobs are ok but could be better. Oscillator slop function creates instability whose dose can be adjusted easily and the result is amazing. Having MIDI ports, software integration it is simply a modern classic indeed.. It has a good sonic integration with my virus TI and nord modular G2.

doug melbourne

Posted 208 days ago

I've had the Prophet 08 for about 6 months now, and I love it. I've owned a Prophet 5 rev 2 and a Pro One and can honestly say that this is my favourite of the three. It's great sounding of course, but one benefit I wasn't expecting was the beautifully expressive keyboard. This answers all of my analogue synth needs!

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