The Prophet-5 is a classic polyphonic analog synthesizer that was first introduced in 1978 by the American company Sequential Circuits. It was the first synthesizer to offer five-voice polyphony, which means that it could play up to five notes at once.
The Prophet-5 was very popular in the 1980s and was used by many influential musicians, particularly in the genres of pop, rock, and electronic music. It was known for its warm and rich analog sound, which was created by its voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), filters, and envelopes.
The Prophet-5 was also one of the first synthesizers to include memory storage, which allowed musicians to save and recall their own custom patches. This feature was particularly important for live performance, as it allowed musicians to quickly switch between different sounds without having to manually adjust the synthesizer’s settings.
The Prophet-5 has had a significant impact on the development of electronic music and remains a highly sought-after instrument today. It has been reissued several times, most recently in a modernized version called the Prophet-5 Rev 4.
The Prophet-5 was a very popular synthesizer in the 1980s and was used by many influential musicians across a wide range of genres. Here are some examples of artists who used the Prophet-5 in their music:
- Peter Gabriel – The Prophet-5 was used on many of his recordings in the 1980s, including his hit song “Sledgehammer”.
- Prince – The Prophet-5 was a staple of Prince’s sound in the 1980s and was used on many of his albums, including “1999” and “Purple Rain”.
- New Order – The Prophet-5 was used extensively on their album “Power, Corruption & Lies”, particularly on the hit song “Blue Monday”.
- Duran Duran – The Prophet-5 was used on many of their recordings in the 1980s, including their hit song “Rio”.
- Depeche Mode – The Prophet-5 was used on many of their early recordings, particularly on their album “Speak & Spell”.
- Tangerine Dream – The Prophet-5 was a key element in their electronic sound, and was used on many of their albums in the 1980s.
These are just a few examples of the many artists who used the Prophet-5 in their music. The synthesizer’s warm and rich analog sound made it a popular choice for many musicians in the 1980s and beyond.
The Prophet-5 is known for its warm and rich analog sound, which is created by its voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), filters, and envelopes. The sound of the Prophet-5 is often described as fat, punchy, and full-bodied, with a distinct character that is different from other synthesizers.
The oscillators of the Prophet-5 are capable of producing a wide range of waveforms, including sawtooth, square, and pulse waves. The filters can be used to shape the sound by attenuating certain frequencies, while the envelopes control the attack, decay, sustain, and release of the sound.
One of the key features of the Prophet-5 is its ability to create rich and complex sounds by combining multiple oscillators, filters, and envelopes. This allows for the creation of deep basses, soaring leads, and evolving pads and textures.
The sound of the Prophet-5 has been used in a wide range of musical genres, from pop and rock to electronic and ambient music. Its warm and analog sound has become an iconic part of the sound of the 1980s and continues to be popular today.