| Prophet-5 | |
|---|---|
 A Prophet-10 Rev 4, a modern re-issue of the Prophet-5 | |
| Manufacturer | Sequential |
| Dates | 1978–84, 2020– (Prophet-5) 1977,[1] 1981–84, 2020– (Prophet-10) |
| Price | US$3,995 (Rev 1, 2) US$4,595 (Rev 3.x) US$3,499 (Rev 4, 5-voice, 2020)[2] US$4,299 (Rev 4, 10-voice, 2020)[2] |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 5 voices (Prophet-5) 10 voices (Prophet-10) |
| Timbrality | Monotimbral (Prophet-5) Multitimbral (Prophet-10) |
| Oscillator | 2 VCOs per voice |
| LFO | 1 |
| Synthesis type | Analog subtractive Analog FM (Poly-Mod) |
| Filter | 4-pole resonant low-pass |
| Aftertouch expression | Rev1 to Rev3 no, Rev4 yes |
| Velocity expression | Rev1 to Rev3 no, Rev4 yes |
| Storage memory | 40 patches (Rev 3 120, Rev 4 200) |
| Effects | None |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 61 keys (Prophet-5 (all versions), Prophet-10 (1977, withdrawn from production) (Prophet-10 (1981-84)) Dual manual 61 key |
| Left-hand control | Pitch and modulation wheels |
| External control | CV/Gate Proprietary serial interface MIDI (Rev 3.3) |
The Prophet-5 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by the American company Sequential. It was designed by Dave Smith and John Bowen in 1977. It was the first polyphonic synthesizer with fully programmable memory.
Before the Prophet-5, synthesizers required users to adjust controls to change sounds, with no guarantee of exactly recreating a sound. Sequential used microprocessors to allow users to recall sounds instantly rather than having to recreate them manually. The Prophet-5 facilitated a move from synthesizers creating unpredictable sounds to producing "a standard package of familiar sounds".[3]: 385
The Prophet-5 became a market leader and was widely used in popular music and film soundtracks. 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, and it has been emulated in software synthesizers and hardware. Sequential also released several further Prophet synthesizers, such as the Prophet '08.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Reid 1999was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Prophet-5 Returns!" (Press release). San Francisco, California: Sequential. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Analog Dayswas invoked but never defined (see the help page).