|
This is a collection of synthesizer resources online
for the Prophet 5. Along with some how-to information
I have included some sysex files as well.
Contents:
- P5 Web Resources
- Some insider stuff and my experiances with
programming the P5 synthesizer.
- Cassette Interface
- How to load and save to cassette tape
- Patches
- Program patches on the web for the Prophet V.
- History
- Links to Sequential history pages.
- MIDI TOOLS
- Midi / Sysex librarians - editors, and other goodies.
- Tech Support
- Owner and Operation manuals.
- Sequential Circuits
- Wine Country parts and service for Dave Smith's synthesizers.
PROPHET V Rev. 3.3 Web Resources
This was my first real synth and it is still my favorite machine
in the studio. It has a lush warm tone and plenty of funky vintage sound
patches that make you want to play with it for hours on end.
The Prophet-5 synthesizer is a computer controlled analog synthesizer.
It was created by the fertal mind of
Dave Smith and who assembled the first one in his apartment back in 1978
just in time for the NAMM show where Dave introduced the
the world to the very first computer controled anolog synth.
The now defunkt Sequential Circuits Inc. made alot of great synths and
and turned the world on to some fantastic sounds. Thanks Dave!
I bought my Prophet-5 at a local swapmeet and dragged it home not knowing exactly what it was but shure it was worth a hell of a lot more than I had paid for it. I had a real job cut out for me searching online a finding almost nothing at the time about. I finely traced down Wine Country Productions and they hooked me up with the circuit diagrams and spare parts I needed to get it going again. I adventualy added their midi refit kit and have enjoyed using it eversince. Mine is a Revision 3.3 the last model they made. It sounds fantastic but is very strange to program if you have never used a cassete interface. I began useing a cassette tape storage system on my old Vic 20 computer back around 1983 and it seemed insane then to store computer data on audio tape so you can imagine how crazy it seems now.
Use a good quality tape deck and back up your Prophet's programs dolby noise reduction is not nesecary in fact iy would most likely make a mess of things if you used it. A little experimenting and you will find the right record playback levels for your machine. On my tape deck I have to adjust the record level high so that the play back will be right at 0 db. I can play it back a little loader in to the Prophet but any lower and the synth doesn't reqonise the data signal. Right down the record settings once you get it right, and you may even want to dedicate a tape deck in your studio to the synth just for this purpose.
Tape Instructions
SAVING TO TAPE Rev 3.3
- Look on the Prophet's rear panel on the far left end.
You may need a screw driver to push it down so it is Disabled.
- Place a new unused cassette into the tape recorder and
rewind to start of the tape then play past the leader.
- Test the record and playback levels, record at just over 0 db.
What you are looking for is playing back at 0 db.
- Hold the Prophet's orange RECORD
switch down while pressing the grey SAVE TO TAPE switch.
- When, after about 40 seconds, the grey
FROM TAPE switch indicator blinks, stop the
recorder.
- Rewind to start of the tape.
- Press play on the tape deck and wait
until the tape leader has passed.
- Press the (blinking) LOAD FROM TAPE
switch.
- The LOAD FROM TAPE switch indicator goes out
stop the tape deck.
- If the LOAD FROM TAPE switch indicator
is blinking now, an error has occurred. Adjust record play back
levels a try it again.
- If you plan to record more than one
program on a cassette you should have a microphone handy to record your
voice stating the Bank number and Program description. Leave enough space on the tape
between programs and your anouncments.
LOADING FROM TAPE Rev 3.3
- Look at the Prophet's rear panel and set the
Data Record slide switch to ENABLED.
- Set the tape to the posistion that holds your program.
Listen for the anouncement.
- Set playback level play at 0db.
- Hold the Prophet's orange RECORD
switch down while pressing the grey LOAD FROM TAPE switch.
- The Prophet front panel will go dark,
except for the LOAD FROM TAPE switch indicator will be lit.
- The L.E.D. will go out after about 40 seconds, now Stop the tape.
- If the LOAD FROM TAPE light blinks, an
something has gone wrong. Adjust your playback level and try again.
Patches:
 |
Analog Norway
This repair shop in Norway has a great cache of factory patches for
new and older synthesizers and you can down load them for free.
Always a good deal! |
 |
Kid Nepro
This dealer has loads of factory and custom patches for
new and older synthesizers and samplers. I was able to get
patches for my Prophet 5 from him on a cassette tape! |
History:
Dave Smith:
Dave Smith founded Sequential Circuits, the premier manufacturer of
professional music synthesizers, in the mid-70s. In 1977, he designed the
Prophet-5, the world's first microprocessor-based musical instrument. This
revolutionary product was the world's first polyphonic and programmable
synth, and set the standard for all synth designs that have followed. The
Prophet instruments played a major part in the recordings of all popular
music styles, and are still prized by musicians today.
Dave is also generally known as the driving force behind the generation
of the MIDI specification in 1981--in fact, he coined the acronym. In 1987
he was named a Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) for his
continuing work in the area of music synthesis.
What is Dave up to today? Dave Smith Instruments
Here are some metaphysical tech notes:
Chet Wood, an earlier programmer
at Sequential Circuits
ASCII-encoded mantras into
the Prophet 5 computer code.
The original code was written so that it
would include a mantra / chant,
so each time we turn on our synths,
that buddist programmer becomes more enlightend!
Computer code like that in the Prophet 5,
cycles over and over like a Tibetin prayer wheel.
When I rebuilt mine and added the midi
refit kit from Wine Country I noticed the
circuit board had some interesting things on it
such as a silkscreened Buddah, Shiva, mandalas,
some mushrooms and flowers,
and a bunch of Sanskrit writing.
Fred
|
 The Prophet Five in SPACE:
For those familiar with the voice of a Phrophet 5, check out
Star Trek The Motion Picture you will reconise many of the
sound effects like the engine noise were created using
the then brand spanking new tool of sound designer
Alan Howarth. V'ger's voice was created on a Prophet 5
with added outboard effects including a Sequential Pro-FX unit.
Fred
|
 |
Synth Museum
A good collection of synthesizer history and pictures
with current market value and reviews.
|
|
