Sequential Circuits Prophet VS

Sequential Circuits Prophet VS Image
VSE Rating
User Rating

Here's a very cool keyboard from Sequential. Notice the joystick for controlling your sound modeling. The Prophet VS uses Vector Synthesis as its revolutionary new means of sound creation. It uses a total of four oscillators per voice with 127 waveforms (32 user) and dynamic waveform crossfading via the joystick. This was Sequential's first digital synth, and it was also their final synth unfortunately. But after Sequential was gone, Vector Synthesis technology went into the popular Korg Wavestation and Yamaha's SY-22 and TG-33.


Pictured above is the common rackmount version of the PVS. The Prophet VS is still a very sought after instrument because it has an incredible range of sounds! Its only problem is that there's practically nobody left that can fix it if something went wrong. It is used by Brian Eno, Trent Reznor, Apollo 440, Depeche Mode, Vince Clarke, Kraftwerk, Vangelis, Erasure and filmmaker/composer John Carpenter.

Lookup Prices for Prophet VS

Demos & Media

SCI Prophet VS "Vector Synthesizer" single sound demo
by
retrosound72
Factory PatchesThese are the original factory patches for the Prophet VS, available for Macintosh and Windows/PC.
More PatchesThese are custom patches by Philip Pilgrim at The Audio Lab. They are in the .mid format and are for Macintosh and Windows/PC.
ManualDownload the original owner's manual from SoundProgramming.net.

Specifications

Polyphony - 8 Voices; 2-part multitimbral
Oscillators - 96 preset waveforms + 32 user waveforms
LFO - Two, each with own envelope generator
Filter - Curtis analog (digitally controlled) 4-pole lowpass with its own envelope generators
Envelopes - 5 stage amp, filter and mix envelopes
Keyboard - 61 keys (velocity / aftertouch)
Memory - 100 patches
Effects - twin chorus, stereo effects panning of individual oscillators/individual voices
Arpeggiator - very nice versatile arpeggiator, user can define note order by playing etc.
Control - MIDI
Date Produced - 1986-87

Resources

Images from Perfect Circuit Audio.

Additional information provided by Dave Bellamy.