Prophanity is a free software synthesizer developed by Roberson Audio Synthesizers. Available format(s): VST for Windows. Prophanity is an emulation of a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 is an emulation of a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. Title: Sequential Prophet 5 - Operation Manual Subject: Sequential Prophet 5 - Operation Manual Created Date: 6/1/2002 5:38:25 PM.

This vintage synth collection is free and comes with 5 emulated VST plugin instruments that include a theremin, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, virtual analog/subtractive, Arp Odyssey Mk.II, and Moog Minimoog Model D. May 23, 2020 Play the classic by Sequential Circuits synthesizers by incorporating the VST plug-in into multiple music-making suites and accessing the libraries of authentic samples or generating custom sounds and tracks on a virtual keyboard. The pack contains Prophet 5, Prophet VS and Prophet Hybrid versions.

The Prophet-5 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by Sequential. Designed by Dave Smith and John Bowen, the Prophet-5 was the first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer and the first musical instrument with an embedded microprocessor. Between 1978 and 1984, about 6,000 units were produced across three revisions. In 1981, Sequential released a 10-voice, double-keyboard version, the Prophet-10. Sequential introduced new versions in 2020.

Sequential Circuits Prophet VS (1986) Classic hybrid Synthesizer 61 keys: 8 voices, 96 samples based on vectorial synthesis with low pass analog filters. Listen to demos or read the review. When you're the first completely programmable analog polysynth, you tend to attract a crowd, and for good reason: the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Rev 3 added distinct changes to the company's flagship that made it distinct from its predecessors and a beast all its own.

The Prophet-5 has been widely used in pop and rock music. It has been emulated in software synthesizers and analog hardware.

Production[edit]

The Prophet-5 was created in 1977 by Dave Smith and John Bowen at Sequential Circuits, who aimed to create the first polyphonic synthesizer with patch memory.^[2] Initially, they developed the Prophet-10, a synthesizer with ten voices of polyphony; however, it was unstable and quickly overheated, creating tuning problems. Smith and Bowen removed half the electronics, reducing the voices to five and creating the Prophet-5.^[2]

Smith demonstrated the Prophet-5 at NAMM in January 1978 and shipped the first models later that year.^[3] Unlike its nearest competitor, the Yamaha CS-80, the Prophet-5 had patch memory, allowing users to store sounds rather than having to reprogram them manually.^[4]

Three versions were built between 1978 and 1984. The first, Revision 1, was hand-assembled and produced quickly to generate initial revenue; only 182 were made. Revision 2 was mass-produced in quantities over 1,000; this model was more robust, added cassette patch storage, and replaced the koa wood casing with walnut.^[2] Revision 3 replaced the Solid State Music (SSM) chipset with Curtis Electromusic Specialties (CEM) chips, necessitating a major redesign. According to Sound on Sound, Revision 3 'remained impressive and pleasant to play, but was slightly cold and featureless by comparison to earlier models'.^[2] In all, approximately 6,000 Prophet-5 synthesizers were produced.^[2]

In 1981, Sequential Circuits released the Prophet-10, featuring 10 voices, 20 oscillators, and a double manual keyboard. Like the Prophet-5 Revision 3, it uses CEM chips.^[2] The first Prophet-10s used an Exatron Stringy Floppy drive for saving patches and storing sequencer data. Sequential later moved to a Braemar tape drive, which was more reliable and could store about four times as many sequencer events.^[2]

The Prophet-5 was equipped with a proprietary serial interface that allowed the user to play using the Prophet Remote, a sling-style keytar controller, but the interface cannot connect the Prophet-5 to other devices. Sequential produced a MIDI interface that could be retrofitted to later versions of the Prophet-5 Revision 3. Third-party MIDI interfaces have also been offered.^[2]

In 2020, Sequential announced a new version of the Prophet-5, the Rev 4. The Rev 4 adds features including USB and MIDI connectivity, velocity and aftertouch sensitivity, polyphonic glide, two sets of filters (both modern versions of the original SSM and CEM filters used in the rev 1/2 and rev 3; now selectable via a toggle switch) and a 'vintage' knob to recreate the instability of various synthesis parameters that gives the older instruments a distinctive sound.^[5] Sequential also announced a new Prophet-10, a ten-voice monotimbral version of the Rev 4, unlike the earlier double-manual bi-timbral Prophet-10.^[1]

Impact[edit]

The Prophet-5 became a market leader and industry standard.^[4] It has been used by musicians including Tony Banks,^[6]Phil Collins,^[7]Michael Jackson, Tangerine Dream, Madonna, Patrick Cowley, Dr Dre,^[4]Too Short, Radiohead,^[8]John Carpenter, Alan Howarth,^[9] and John Harrison.^[4]Brad Fiedel used a Prophet-10 to record the soundtrack for The Terminator (1984).^[10]

Synthesis[edit]

Early Prophet-5s used voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), filter and amplifier chips designed by E-mu Systems and manufactured by Solid State Music (SSM). Revision 3 Prophet-5s used Curtis CEM chips manufactured by Curtis Electromusic Specialties. Some owners maintain that SSM oscillators produced a richer timbre.^[11] However, the SSM oscillators rendered the instruments unstable and prone to detuning over time. CEM chips have remained more stable.^[12]

The Prophet-5 uses five voices of polyphony. Each voice is assigned two VCOs. Both oscillators can generate sawtooth waves and square waves (with variable pulse width), and the second oscillator can also generate a triangle. The oscillators can be played in sync, or in 'Poly-Mod', with oscillator B and the filter ADSR envelope modulating the frequency, pulse width, and filter of oscillator A. A dedicated low-frequency oscillator (saw, square, or triangle) is also present to modulate the pulse width and/or pitch of oscillators A and B and filter cutoff frequency.^[11]

Successors[edit]

Arturia developed a softsynth version of the Prophet-5, the Prophet V. Prophet V also includes a recreation of the Prophet VS, a synthesizer manufactured by Sequential Circuits in 1986. Elements of the two synthesizers can be combined in a 'hybrid' mode. The softsynth closely recreates the layout of the original analog synthesizer, though there were some differences in programming, notably through some restrictions on the envelope generator.^[13]

In January 2015, Smith announced that Yamaha's president, Takuya Nakata, had granted him rights to the Sequential brand, which he had been unable to use following the company's acquisition. The release of the name coincided with Smith's debut of the Prophet-6, a new synthesizer based on the Prophet-5 with additional features.^[14]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'Prophet-5 Returns!' (Press release). San Francisco, California: Sequential. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
2. ^ ^abcdefghReid, Gordon (March 1999). 'Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro)'. Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
3. ^Preve, Francis (23 July 2012). 'Dave Smith in His Own Words'. Keyboardmag. Archived from the original on 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
4. ^ ^abcd'The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them'. FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
5. ^'Sequential Prophet 5 Product Page'. Sequential.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
6. ^'Tony Banks talks new album A Chord Too Far and his favourite synthesizer of all time'. Musicradar. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
7. ^'Classic Tracks: Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight''. Mixonline. 2005-05-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
8. ^'The 14 synthesizers that shaped modern music'. The Vinyl Factory. 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
9. ^Paul Tingen. 'John Carpenter - Film Director & Composer'. Sound on Sound. No. July 2016.
10. ^Seth Stevenson, What Is the Time Signature of the Ominous Electronic Score of The Terminator?, Slate, Published 26 February 2014, Accessed 27 February 2014.
11. ^ ^ab'Sequential Circuits Prophet 5'. Vintage Synth Explorer. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
12. ^Forrest, Peter (1996). The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part Two. Short Run Press Ltd. p. 114.
13. ^Reid, Gordon (September 2006). 'Arturia Prophet V'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
14. ^'Sequential is Back!'. Dave Smith Instruments. January 22, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.

Further reading[edit]

• 'Prophet 5'. Music Technology. Vol. 2 no. 12. October 1988. p. 42. ISSN0957-6606. OCLC24835173.
• 'Retro: SCI Prophet 5'. Future Music. No. 47. Future Publishing. September 1996. p. 53. ISSN0967-0378. OCLC1032779031.

External links[edit]

VST plugins are an excellent addition to your DAW setup, easy to install and simple to use. They recreate the legendary sounds of the classic synthesizers at a fraction of the price. A VST emulator is perfect if you don’t have the budget to throw at vintage and rare synth hardware.

Many of the top synth companies have recreated their successful products into VST plugins, and there are many other specialist plugin companies who have created their own plugin versions as well.

Remember, that you may need a bridge (we recommend jBridge) to allow 32-bit plugins to work with 64-bit DAWs, this will enable you to play these older VSTs on your modern DAW software.

There are hundreds of quality VSTs to choose from, ranging from a few hundred dollars to free downloads, so we’ve put together a list of some classic and vintage synths that have been recreated as VST plugins.

If you’re not sure if one of the paid VSTs is right for you, all of the VSTs offer free trials to test them out!

Table of Contents

Roland Jupiter-8

The Jupiter-8 announced Roland as a top synth manufacturer in the 1980s, the colorful interface and textured sounds powered by the innovative ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) Modeling made it an instant hit across the globe, so the VST plugin was always going to be a popular option.

Roland Cloud Jupiter-8 (Paid)

Roland recreated a version of their legendary synth and this is the go-to option if you want as close to the real thing as possible, those smooth pads, trembling basslines, and inspiring leads are just a download away and all for a fraction of the price of the real thing.

Arturia Jup-8 V (Paid)

/vst-looper-plugin-free.html. Arturia has also created their own offering, the Jup-8 V, including a fully-loaded step sequencer and patch effects for more sound options.

Access Virus

Recreating the Access Virus is a big ask for anyone, the legendary synth has come a long way since its release in 1997, shaping the sound of electronic music along the way with its powerful sound and flexibility, it’s safe to say that a Virus VST would be welcome by most synth players.

Adam Szabo Viper (Paid)

Adam Szabo has managed to recreate a lot of the Virus sound in his Viper VST, you’ve got multiple types of oscillators with various waveforms, modulation capabilities, plenty of effects, and a lot more. It all adds up to a worthy mention of a great VST that recreates the mighty Virus!

Adam Szabo Phazor (Free)

A bonus free VST is also available from Adam Szabo, the Phazor, recreating the famous Virus phaser effect. A great addition to your setup that has been carefully designed and optimized to keep the CPU usage as low as possible, allowing you to use it multiple times within a project.

Sequential Circuits Prophet V

The Prophet 5 sits firmly in the synthesizer hall of fame, a programmable polysynth released in the 1970s that helped Dave Smith’s Sequential Circuits company rise to the top. Famed for its good looks and dual analog/digital setup, the Prophet V was a revolution in synth design.

Arturia Prophet V (Paid)

The Prophet V has been beautifully recreated by Arturia, a VST plugin that successfully brings back those big analog sounds which made this synth so famous. As a welcome extra, Arturia has combined this with Sequential’s other big name synth, the digital Prophet VS.

EFM ScP5 (Free)

A VST plugin that combines both analog and digital synthesis giving you two world-famous synths in one package, offering up a huge sound palette to experiment with. A free 32-bit version is available at VST4free, the sound recreation is close but not quite at Arturia’s level.

Roland TR-909

The Roland TR-909 was released after the worldwide success of the TR-808, using a hybrid design of analog circuitry and digital sampling, the resulting rhythmic patterns and deep bass sound quickly inspired musical genres such as house, techno, and hip-hop.

Roland Cloud TR-909 (Paid)

Roland has recreated their famous 909 as a VST plugin and they left no stone unturned. All of the original details have been included with plenty of extras like the improved sequencer programming section. It’s an authentic plugin that emulates the character of the 909 very well.

D16 Drumazon (Paid)

The Drumazon VST plugin from the D16 company emulates all of the 909’s synthesis design, built with extra functionality that allows you to adjust the sound even further.

MaxSynths DR-910 (Free)

A free 32-bit version is also available from Max Synths from VST4Free, but the sequencer is missing from the overall design.

Roland JP-8000

The JP-8000 from Roland was released in 1997 and used innovative design to replicate the vintage analog sound with digital technology flexibility. It also included some welcome extras such as motion control, sequencing and the famous SuperSaw and Feedback oscillator types.

Adam Szabo JP6K (Paid)

You can also find some well made emulations of some of the JP-8000 features on the internet. The JP6K from Adam Szabo is a plugin has been carefully designed to recreate that highly sought after Supersaw effect that was fundamental to the foundation of Trance music.

CFA-Sound SUPER-7 (Free)

A free 32-bit version that recreates the SuperSaw oscillator of the JP-8000 is also available at vst4free, as it’s a free download you shouldn’t expect as many features as the JP6K paid plugin but it’s a great option if you just want to experiment with some of the JP-8000 sounds.

ARP Odyssey

Originally released in 1972, the Odyssey picked up a large following for its unique character and aggressive sound. The duophonic analog synth was then reissued by Korg in 2015 with the help of David Friend, the co-founder of Arp, bringing back to life the power of the Odyssey.

KORG Collection ARP Odyssey (Paid)

Korg also released the VST plugin version which recreates that Odyssey character and sound engine beautifully, putting all of that raw power straight into your DAW setup. A nice little bonus is that you can switch between the three different color designs of the past.

Elektrostudio ODsay (Free)

The free version from Elektrostudio is also worth a look at, this VST plugin emulates the original Odyssey and it does sound pure vintage! The plugin is only 32-bit so you will need jBridge or something similar to convert it into any modern, 64-bit, music production software.

ARP 2600

The ARP 2600 is considered to be one of the greatest analog synthesizers ever made, used by many artists over many different genres, the semi-modular synth went head to head with the legendary Moog throughout the 1970s, answering the call for a compact and intuitive synth.

Way Out Ware TIMEWARP 2600 (Paid)

Another ARP 2600 plugin is available from Way Out Ware, this version has extra flexibility with the aid of modern technology and has been specially endorsed by the original inventor of the 2600, so you know it’s going to be good!

Arturia ARP2600 V (Paid)

Arturia has produced an ARP 2600 VST plugin and it certainly hits the nail on the head for the sound quality, the impressive flexibility with the many features, and the modular routing options, plus, the plugin is loaded with presets to give you a running start when you first switch on.

Glen Stegner Arppe2600va (Free)

Plus, for those looking for a free version, be sure to look out for Glen Stegner’s offering which has been defined into a great sounding ARP 2600 plugin.

Roland Juno-106

The Juno-106 is a hugely popular vintage synth from Roland, EDM DJ’s and electronic-based musicians jumped onto this instrument due to the simple and intuitive interface and big analog sound. It was also one of the first synths to introduce MIDI instrument connectivity.

Roland Cloud Juno-106 (Paid)

Roland has recreated this legendary synth into a popular VST plugin, keeping to the iconic sound and its legacy of simple programming. The full specification of the synth has been kept and using this plugin is a perfect way to get your hands on this classic piece of synth hardware.

Synthescience Poly 2106 (Free)

A free 32-bit version is also available from Synthescience the Poly 2106 plugin is an excellent emulation of the classic Juno-106. It’s a must-have for any Roland fans out there!

Roland SH-101

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Vst Free Full

The SH-101 from Roland is a monophonic synthesizer that was originally released in the early 1980s. The simple design structure made it stand out from the other synths, the tone from the one oscillator, filter, amp, and LFO design became famous with the Techno and D&B crowd.

Roland SH-101 (Paid)

Roland has an SH-101 VST plugin available and has managed to create a full reproduction of their classic synth product, no expense or detail spared with this one, the recreation of the sounds and circuitry behavior makes you feel as though you’re using the real thing.

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Vst Free Trial

D16 LUSH-101 (Paid)

The D16 group also has an SH-101 VST plugin available with a powerful sound design at its core and a modular, logical interface layout.

Togu Audio Line TAL-BassLine-101 (Paid)

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5

Togu Audio Line also managed to put out an authentic sounding SH-101 plugin. TAL also included some additional features on the appegiator/sequencer to improve the usability.

Roland TB-303

The Roland TB-303 initially failed as a bass synth, but the second-hand units came into the hands of EDM producers and gave life to the techno and acid house genres. The TB-303 squelchy bass sound soon became famous and inspired many copies of this newly loved synth!

D16 Phoscyon (Paid)

Be sure to check out the VST plugin offering from D16, they make high-quality recreations of famous synths and this is no exception. The classic 303 sound is expertly emulated and it comes with many features such as distortion, arpeggiator, and randomizer.

antto Venom VB-303 (Free)

A free, 32-bit, plugin by the name of Venom VB-303 is available at vst4free. A great option for those looking to get their hands on the 303 sound in a DAW setup. The interface has proven to be a little complicated for some, but as a free option, we think it’s worth a try.