#246

I have a perfect algorithm of no-buying polysynth for me:

  1. Ok, let’ spend 2-3k for analog poly?
  2. Modern? <- not, sounds not the same like some vintage (My great fall was when I went to a rehearsal about 5 years ago with my DSI P08 and found Roland Juno 106 that sounds so much more interesting even without chorus section).
  3. Analog vintage poly sounds too big to fill pads with my modular synths (euro and MU)
  4. Need a digital, I like FM. DX7 sounds good, but hard to configure
  5. Try Dexed - sounds almost the same but easy to configure and kilos of presets that can be transformed into new ideas
  6. I don’t need a polysynth.
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#247

I felt exactly the same way about the OB-6 after I played the Rev2 as well. The gated sequencer is something I’m just now starting to appreciate. The overall versatility of the Rev2 is truly impressive.

The Rev2, IMO, is one of those “stunning for the money, and excellent even if money is no object” types of synths (I put the Digitone into the same category, personally). It sounds incredible, superbly versatile, and after almost a year of owning it now, I’m still finding it something I want to keep playing and playing. It doesn’t hurt that it’s got a fantastic keyboard action too, especially at that price range.

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#248

I’ve always been far less interested in polysynths than mono; they never sound as good to me, I don’t find stacked chords nearly as interesting as interlocking arpeggios, etc. Even when I use a poly, I’m far more interested in hearing what they can do with monophonic parts that have notes that ring out without cutting each other off, etc.

That said, I recently picked up an Ensoniq SQ-80 for $150 and I don’t understand how these don’t go for $1500 or more on the used market. It’s unbelievable how great it sounds - it can do really convincing rich analog or very grainy, aliased digital/wavetable/chiptune or pretty much anything in between. The interface is oddly great given that you have one slider for everything. The 3 osc/many waveshapes/four LFO/four envelope/analog filter/weird routing and syncing and AM and aftertouch and etc. architecture is outstanding.

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#249

FWIW $150 for a SQ-80 is a very good deal, they usually go for $400-800. on the high side, that is nearing Juno-106 territory (not a directly comparable synth, but just as an example of a popular, sought-after model of similar era).

they do seem amazing! those Ensoniq VFD displays are sorta magical.

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#250

That Prophet 600 sounds really good @ghost ! Haven’t been looking too much into it though, my impression is that those are pretty rare, at least here in Norway. But I will most certainly keep my eyes open!

@chapelierfou do you feel like you can get some of the same warm characteristics from the Rev2 as from the OB6? I’m mostly interested in a poly with a well layers out interface and just a real solid core sound pallette. Listening to demos of the P6 I just really love the thick brassy sounds and lush pads. And to be honest, just the look of it make me a little giggly… on the other hand I think the Rev2 seems like a lot of fun with a lot of potential! And to me it sounds great based on the demos. I’m really curious how they’ve managed to make them as «cheap» as they are!

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#251

Played around on the Prophet X recently and it was simply amazing. The complexity and layers of sound were breathtaking. Sonically there is something wonderful about the older polysynths and many of the new emulations such as the P6 etc do sound good but I don’t quite get the appeal - with the PX I almost had no idea what was going on or what might happen next and it sounded otherworldly, not just a contemporary flavour or a sentimental nod. I find this to be what makes eurorack so interesting; it moves quickly and is on the cusp of design and invention - polysynths perhaps need more of this ethos. My current poly is the Novation Peak, which I do love, and it surprises me constantly with its depth and capabilities. I would say it doesn’t have a sound which is instantly pleasing like the P6 but the interface really lends itself to sound design, it is a very tweakable box of tricks and I would recommend it to anyone considering a polysynth who wants a broad palette of sounds.

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#252

I owned an OB6, P’08, and played with a P6 a good deal too. I wanted to do nils frahm Juno 60 sounds without copying him exactly so I went with the OB6. Now I think the P6 would probably have been better at feeling ‘alive’ but not too distinctive/retro-fetish.

Depends what you want though. I still feel the allure of the rev16 to create more complex, complete patches.

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#253

Here’s my experience :
I recorded some songs with heavy use of the OB-6 a few months ago. Then I realized that I won’t take it on my next tour since I don’t love it that much. On the other hand, I’m quite positive that I will tour with the Rev2 (I might replace it with the desktop version, though). So I started to replace OB-6 sounds with the Rev2. The filter is really different, but for the brassy sounds, I managed to get close enough. There is only a lowpass filter on the Rev2 (and a digital HP as FX) so it really depends on what filtering you use on the OB-6.

#254

I’ve had the Prophet 8 for a long time, and got the chance to play on my friend’s REV2 this summer. I felt very at home and familiar on the new one. The addition of alternative tunings is so wonderful. Makes a very interesting instrument.
The only drawback for me was how they switched the placement of the parameter change encoders and the program change encoder - i lost a lot of great sounds reaching for the wrong knob thinking i’m still on the P08.

#255

I still have P08 but use it only as midi keys. For my ears modern curtis filters almost ruin the vanilla analog poly sound. but it’s very subjective

#256

I got a Prophet Rev 2 (8-voice) recently, after a long period of GAS for the Prophet 08 that we have at uni. I’ve never spent this much money on one item. Even the last car I bought was half the price. After saving specifically for it, it still took me a couple of days to part with the money.

BUT after spending the last two weeks with the Rev 2, I have to say it’s a wonderful thing, and really quite beautiful in the flesh. Just one of those buys that instantly fit, and there’s no doubt you made the right choice. Covers all bases for me, and has a nice keybed to play on, too. I can’t imagine needing any more synths at the moment.

The Curtis filter is of course different to Moog, Roland, etc… but it’s not as harsh or brassy as I had expected from reading reviews. You can get some warmth out of this synth, even with DCOs and that filter. The Osc slop option is great, too. Much more effective than it was on the Prophet 08. And the modulation is very deep and incredibly simple to set up. Stacked options can sound huge —even bigger on the 16-voice model, though I’m not feeling I’m lacking anything.

As alluded to above, the vanilla analog poly sound of something like a Juno or Prophet 6 is definitely going to beat that of the Rev 2. Played a Juno 106 recently and it’s filter is like butter. But the Rev 2 is no slouch either. And I actually like the fizziness it can give you.

You can get 2nd hand 8-Voice models for under £1k. I say do it!

#257

That’s funny, I love the sound of the current generation of Curtis filters, but I also like many other filter styles and types too. Each of them offer their own sound. And I find on the Rev2 especially, the filters are super super smooth and lush sounding.

To my ears, there are many different implementations of Curtis filters and not all of them sound the same by any means, even if they use the same chipset - this likely has to do with things like internal drive level, osc. harmonics and other interactions, and possibly even impedance loading, etc. of the chipset. So, personally, I don’t like or dislike Curtis filters any more or less than any other filter architecture, I just really love them in the Rev2, just like I love my Moog filter in my Subsequent 37. I even really like the digital filters in the Nords… to each instrument it’s own timbre, and a filter to go with it, I say!

The thing I really like about the Rev2 is that it doesn’t pretend to be a Juno or Jupiter, but it has its own, beautiful, and very entrancing versions of those sorts of nostalgic sounds. It’s not “too clean”, and it can definitely be “dirtied up”.

But there’s nothing wrong with not liking the timbre of a certain instrument either, so really, let your own ears be the judge! (And choose good headphones or monitors to listen on - I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had friends say they really didn’t like a certain synth and then have their minds blown when they heard it on better speakers – or vice versa!)

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#258

I think I love almost all other filters except P08rev1. Have many in MU format and some in other (stompboxes, euro, digital)
Too harsh for me, I even tried to make in fully open with external filters but it’s hard to sync with modulations sources.

#259

I recently pulled the trigger on updating NI Komplete and am blown away by Form. I love the UI and how it combines elements of granular and wavetable synthesis. Been making pads like crazy! Here are a couple of examples:


And the samples they used:


4 Likes
#260

I have a nice 9ies collection of virtual analogue machines that i bought then. Apart from the abilities to make your desired sounds (i was producing drum&bass) i always had appreciation of how these synths were performing in the mix. The Nord 2 is really pleasing on most fronts from lo bass to crazy fm tones, heck i had this synth play 8 different sounds on my projects! This was my entry into polyland. I decided to buy various other synths after that for the simple fact that i wanted distortion, coz drum&bass :joy: the virus2 was next-really precise bass and sounddesign in general but lacking mojo and color in the mix. Same goes for novation nova-this is actually really cold in the mix. I still like the supersaw mode (coz hoovers :joy:) and the combfilter is nice!
The synth that definitely opend my ears and mixes was the waldorf XT. Its not really good for bass but the sound of this machine is cold/precise and has mojo! In retrospect ALL distortion modes on these synths sound crap. We needed professional help from the legend Mampi Swift to school us abt the mackie desk distortion and the EMU sampler. Now this machine sounds gorgeous :heart: From harsch beats to lush stereo pads its all warm and great in the mix! Needless to say that we adapted the ‚rinse/rerinse‘ (sample and resample) technique shortly after and everything came out the EMU.
Today, i switch on the XT and love this machine for the sound and abilities, i‘m glad i still own it. The Nord2 found a home with a producer that was strictly Ableton before and he loves the Nord and the hands on approach-no menues (thats awful on virus and novation) no bullshit sound. Oh, the EMU6400 was probably my introduction into modular sythesis-there is so mach you can do with that matrix and basically the zplane filter only.

In Software i love Massive

3 Likes
#261

Lots of terrific discussion on this thread!

A lot of the aforementioned synths sound wonderful in their respective demo videos, but might anyone comment on particular polysynths—I’m definitely thinking of the Prophet 6 and Rev2, but also the Juno 60—that sit well in mixes with several other voices (acoustic and electronic)?

#262

the problem with the “plays well with other voices” is that this depends on the other voices. I think there’s no avoiding some trial and error. it’s a form of composition basically, but an annoying one that involves buying and selling gear.

but yeah, roland stuff generally works well. the HPF on the jupiter 4 is a godsend.

3 Likes
#263

I find the OB6 and Prophet 6 to be both one giant sweet spot. I love their sound, but I went with the 16 Voice Rev2. I have mixed feelings about the filter, but with a little finesse this synth has many wonderful sweet spots and fresh sounds to discover. Dave Smith is great at having all of his synths have a purpose, and I don’t think any make any other obsolete. If you are more focused on sound design, certainly go for the Rev2, or consider the Prophet 12 or X if you can afford it. I’ve seen some truly magnificent synthesists pull incredible sounds out of the 12. I grabbed the Rev2 because I could only afford one and I needed it to work for one of my projects that needs more classic vintage style Prophet sounds too beyond my more sound design focused approach. It was the closest thing to a happy medium. It’s not perfect, but I’m loving it the more I use it, and I don’t think there’s anything else out there that beats it for what it does for the money.

4 Likes
#264

Thanks for all the helpful feedback and thoughts on the Prophets! I went to a local music store the other day and spent some time with P6, OB6 and the Rev2. First of all, they’re obviously great instruments all of them, and I’m sure I would be pretty much satisfied with either one. I kind of went in hoping that the Rev2 would really win me over, but I have to say the P6 just resonated deeper with me. I think Rev2 has a lot more to offer in terms of modulation and sound design, but I found the P6 to be everything I want in a polysynth (for now at least). The interface is so intuitive and hands on. And I really love the sound of it. Like reaaally love it.

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#265

Don’t judge the REV2 by its presets though. They mostly make me puke food I ate in the 80s. :smiley:

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