Vintage Synth Explorer

Sequential Circuits • Prophet 10

This rarely seen monster analog synth is by far one of the fattest and nicest vintage synthesizers. The Prophet 10 is simply two glorious Prophet 5 synthesizers stacked together. That gives 10 voices with 20 of Sequential's unique analog VCO oscillators at 2 per voice for a big fat analog dream! The Version 1 series suffered from major overheating and unstable tuning problems making it clumsy and unreliable to use. It also had a standard 61 note keyboard and looked just like the P5.

Then came a bigger and better looking stacked keyboard version (as seen above); to be known as Version 2. Better chips were designed which soon cured most of the overheating problems. While Rev. 1 & 2 Prophets used chips made by SSM (Solid State Microdevices) which were fatter sounding but less stable, the Rev 3 Prophets changed to CEM (Curtis Electronics Manufacturing) chips. These increased their stability and reliability. Some audiophiles think they sound thinner than the SSM chips. However tuning and other functions were still somewhat unstable.

Version 3 (pictured top) was by far the best and most stable. 20 oscillators (2 per voice), 10 voices, 2 independent 61 note keyboards and all the great sounds and editing facilities as the Prophet 5! Built in Tuning tones and Auto-Tuning functions help make sure you won't go out of tune. And top notch circuitry and design prevent overheating. Multiple keyboard modes allow for true flexibility for different performance / voicing needs! The Prophet 10 is a truly fat and classic analog instrument. Used throughout the 1980's and on into the 90's by names like Tangerine dream, The Orb, The Who, Vangelis, Genesis, the Human League, and filmmaker/composer John Carpenter.

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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.

 

Dave

Posted 26 days ago

It's hard for me to look at this page. I had one of these back in 1993 that was retrofitted with MIDI and traded it because it was not working properly. What a fool am I!!! the guy who got it from me had it fixed for less than $500. (Still beating myself in the head with a brick for that stupidity).

stu

Posted 43 days ago

Got one as a gift from my uncle. I was young, it was the 90s n I'da rather had the newest groovebox or whatever. I've realized since that this monster was a total GODSEND. Cool trick is to use in 'stereo unison' w same exact unison patch on both boards routed to mid-L & mid-R like on the new DSI evolver. Open the filter, add a little pwm. Its pure analog bliss. It puts my junos, korg monopoly & poly6, n a few others to total shame. The filter isnt a moog but still pretty round & can self OSC into screaming madness. If you find one for sale, sell the kids n buy it, LOL! I'd stare death in the face n SPIT before I ever let mine go. Thanks uncle G!

Felipe Avalos B

Posted 65 days ago

Tony Bank's uses a Prophet 10 in the three sides live tour (abacab) 1981

micke

Posted 85 days ago

Also used by Manuel Göttsching on his solo album "E2-E4" (recorded in late '81).

Mezzo

Posted 129 days ago

Sick, sick, sick. No one else had the balls to take their flagship synth (p5) and graft two together to make such a beast (imagine a Jupiter 16). One of the most over the top and wonderful analog instruments ever.
As is often the case with these posts things like the Est. value are way off. Also, how is a DX-1 an alternative or related? Oh... I get it; the same people who can't afford a P10 can't afford a DX-1. That's just about all of us isn't it?

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