Sequential Circuits Prophet VS

Sequential Circuits Prophet VS Image

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.

Sequential Circuits Prophet VS Rack Image

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.

29 Visitor comments
TheMilford
February 24, 2010 @ 9:19 am
"Rush used two of these on the Hold Your Fire tour.... tour book per Geddy's equipment list. "

I wonder if these were used on that record of if he junt had them to recreate the older OB-X and other analog sounds from previous tours.
Ashe35
December 23, 2009 @ 2:45 pm
Christopher Franke has one as well.
Nick Esposito
November 1, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Spacetime Continuum also used a Prophet-VS on their album Sea Biscuit. I bet a lot of the cool sounds on that album came from this beast!
Adolf hilter
October 23, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
Any decent tech can fix it, its no more problematic then any other synth, however whats really problematic is to find replacement chips!
particularely the custom digital and the CEM based sample hold IC! :)
JOE
September 22, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
love this synth to bits but im sorry as i have to say that its not as classy as the roland d50.the roland d50 with voice crystals keith emmerson sound rom blows the vs away.it is my second favourite digital synth but its no d50.
 
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  • Demos & Media

  • YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 1     - SCI Prophet VS "Vector Synthesizer" single sound demo

    Factory Patches - These are the original factory patches for the Prophet VS, available for Macintosh and Windows/PC.

    More Patches - These are custom patches by Philip Pilgrim at The Audio Lab. They are in the .mid format and are for Macintosh and Windows/PC.

    Manual - Download 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 & Credits

  • Images from Perfect Circuit Audio.

    Additional information provided by Dave Bellamy.

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