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.

MrZoon

February 11, 2011 @ 1:18 pm

Mid '80s I worked at a digital studio in NE Vermont. The Prophet VS was just one of many incredible synths we had there. I remember it quite well as I wrote a VS patch librarian program for the Apple II. Unfortunately I moved away to another job, the owner died, the studio was closed. I've always wondered where all that stuff went to: Prophet VS, Linn Drum, Voyetra 8, Matrix 12, Waveterm, a wooden synth we bought from Wendy Carlos, John Tesh's Synclavier, many other synths. plus many other insane instruments, amps, etc. Mits X850 + Westar 72-ch (which I snaked). Probably all sold around 1990.

jalky

December 14, 2010 @ 3:08 am

the analog filters make all the difference in lifting this above so many digital synths of the era IMHO.

jalky

December 14, 2010 @ 3:05 am

Much warmer than the wavestation - a really striking sounding and moving synth.

George

December 13, 2010 @ 4:50 pm

This is one heck of a beast. It's very similar to the KORG Wavestation (as it was what the Wavestation was based on). If you're an ambient musician this will fit right into your setup, on the other hand if you're more into dance/electronica this will again sound great. I personally use the Wavestation more but this is a pleasure to use. Quite rare in most parts of the world nowadays, grab one while you can I suggest!

Ian

March 7, 2010 @ 5:32 am

I have two of these, one is near mint, the other a bit rougher but completely functional. If I ever see another for sale I will buy it, nothing sounds like a Prophet VS.

The first thing to go on these is not the custom ASIC's or 5530's, it's the after touch ... the keyboard used a primitive method to do aftertouch and the sensors wore out quickly or burnt out, both of mine seem to work perfectly. Not bad after 24 years. I also have the original WaveWrangler application (which was kindly supplied to me by an ex Sequential employee, cheers!) that allows you to send custom waveforms to the VS, requires Mac System 7, so I keep an old Performa around for the task. Theres a very good article by Vector Synthesis creator, Chris Meyer, here: http://manfreda.org/LordFrito/Prophet%20VS/Birth.htm. Sadly no one ever seems to mention him. Cudos Chris. Thanks for a great synth.

<654321>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

Message:

 

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.

I have read and understand the posting rules.