Prophet ’08 Keyboard

The Prophet ’08 is not a Prophet-5. But then, the other Prophet models weren’t a Prophet-5, either. The Prophet ’08 is an 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer with a 100% analog signal path. The filters use the same design as the Curtis chips in the older synths (with the addition of a 2-pole mode). If you’re familiar with the sound of the old, Curtis-based synths, then the Prophet ’08 should sound familiar to you as well. It is possible to duplicate many of the Prophet-5’s factory sounds on the Prophet ’08 to such a degree that they are indistinguishable in a blind test. (Yes, we have tried. And when programs sounded different, we typically could not tell which instrument was which, just that they sounded different.)

So, for the record, the things you can do with a Prophet-5 that you cannot do with a Prophet ’08 are:

• Oscillator cross modulation (FM)—The particular Curtis chips we’re using don’t support it. You can do audio frequency modulation with the LFOs, though. They go up to middle C.
• Select multiple waveshapes per oscillator—Actually, there is a saw/triangle mix on the ’08, but you can’t mix the pulse waves with the saw and/or triangle on a single oscillator.
• Microtonal tuning

A detailed list of all the things a Prophet ’08 can do that a Prophet-5 cannot would be too lengthy for this FAQ. Let’s just say it does a lot more. Check out the spec on the product page, download the manual and, if you get a chance, play a Prophet ’08.

There are a few programs in the Prophet ’08 that duplicate the old programs, but most of them are new.

Actually, none of our current keyboard instruments uses the exact same keyboard. The Prophet ’08’s keyboard is a semi-weighted, synthesizer action keyboard with aftertouch.

DCOs are not digital oscillators, they are digitally controlled oscillators. The circuitry that generates the actual waveforms is analog.

They’re stable and they enable us to make great-sounding, affordable instruments that stay in tune (when you want them to). There seems to be some lingering distaste for DCOs based solely upon the spotty reputations of DCO-based synths from days of yore. We’ve been making synths with DCOs since 2001 and we think they sound darn good. And so, apparently, do the thousands of happy people who have bought those synths. And if you like tuning drift, that’s what the Oscillator Slop parameter is for!

It is bitimbral. That is, it can play two patches simultaneously via MIDI in Multi mode (on two MIDI channels) or from the keyboard in Split or Stack mode. Each Prophet ’08 program consists of two layers and each layer can contain what is essentially a different patch. Both layers can be played simultaneously in stacked or split keyboard mode with each layer routed to its own stereo output. In Multi, Split, or Stack mode, each patch is allocated four of the eight voices.

Four voices are allocated to layer A and four to layer B.

Yes, two Prophets (keyboards and/or modules) can be poly chained for 16-voice operation. Or add one Tetra for 12-voice polyphony and two for 16 voices.

Short answer: no. But even if you could poly chain them, the programs from one cannot be loaded into the other and the controls from one don’t map onto the other.

No.

There are significant differences between the voice architectures of the two product lines. The most obvious difference is that the Evolvers are analog/digital hybrids. In addition to the two analog oscillators, the Evolvers have two digital wavetable oscillators. Then there are digital signal processing functions that are tightly integrated with each voice. These include a multi-tap stereo delay that is syncable to the clock, the LFOs, and the sequencer, a modelled distortion, a high-pass filter, tuned feedback, and “bit crushing.”