The Official Sequential/Oberheim Forum
SEQUENTIAL/DSI => Prophet => Sequential Prophet-6 => Topic started by: smithymicky1 on August 22, 2016, 05:33:29 AM
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Hey guys/gals,
I am looking at purchasing my first synth! Have stumbled across DSI brand in my forum trawling and have put my decision down to 2 options. The Prophet 6 or the OB-6.
Now as a noob to synths I am still not entirely sure exactly want type of I want out of the one I pick, I played classical piano for many years wasn't encouraged to dabble in electronic music, if fact it was frowned upon :(
I recently picked up an Ableton Push and have been loving the synth pads, etc and thought I owe it to myself to get a decent synthesiser. Main use will be mucking around with tunes at home.. I have loved some of the arpeggiated stuff I've heard on the Prophet 6 online as well as the Polyphonic tweaking, plus those 80s sounds are taking me right back to my childhood! Then on the otherhand, I've listed to this Youtube: DSI Oberheim OB-6 soundset - Peter Dyer, and was also totally blown away by some of the sounds the OB-6 is putting out.
What are your recommendations?
Cheers, Mike :D
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They are both fantastic sounding synths and you can't go wrong with either. I think they're great synths to explore and to learn on, and both are pretty simple overall with everything right in front of you (very immediate and fun to create new sounds with them)
You can hear lots of demos on YouTube/etc but I think it might be best to try to find music stores nearby that carry these and give it a listen in person to see which you like more.
Enjoy!
Maru
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I'll second what Maru said... get thee to a Guitar Center (or other music store likely to have them) and try them both out.
Spend about 30 minutes with each, and get what you like. Both are excellent synths, and excellent to learn synthesis on. Either choice would be superb.
Shaw
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They are both fantastic sounding synths and you can't go wrong with either. I think they're great synths to explore and to learn on, and both are pretty simple overall with everything right in front of you (very immediate and fun to create new sounds with them)
You can hear lots of demos on YouTube/etc but I think it might be best to try to find music stores nearby that carry these and give it a listen in person to see which you like more.
Enjoy!
Maru
Thanks for your reply! Wish the music store was bigger here where I live 😜
Will go and check them both out when I next go to Melbourne. Is there any other synths you'd recommend me having a look at alongside these two?
Mike
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I'll second what Maru said... get thee to a Guitar Center (or other music store likely to have them) and try them both out.
Spend about 30 minutes with each, and get what you like. Both are excellent synths, and excellent to learn synthesis on. Either choice would be superb.
Shaw
Thanks! I will do as you suggested 😄 Would either one be more suited to trancey sounding synth sounds?
Also I read that the P6 doesn't send arpeggiated stuff through midi channel for recording? Is it the same on the OB-6?
Mike
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I just bought a OB6 Keyboard and a P6 Modul. I didn't had enough space for both in keyboard version and the OB6 looks just nicer to my eyes. Sound wise they can differ but somehow they have a lot in common as well. The OB6 is a bit more aggressive, has more high frequencies, sounds a bit wilder and is to my ears more interesting. The P6 on the other hand has the lushest and deepest pads, great arpeggio sequence sounds and just a huge sweet spot.
the Filter of the OB6 is just great. You can crank up the resonance it never gets harsh in your ears. That's the general nice thing about the OB...it sounds more direct but never harsh.
I just couldn't decide between the two...so I got both :):) maybe a bit of an overkill, but they are just great. The only negative thing for me, are the Modulation options which are really limited. Still both are capable of a lot of different sounds.
To sum it up, you cant go wrong with either of them. I have a tiny preference to the OB6, just because of its filter.
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I haven't had much time with my P6 desktop, but I wanted something to replace my long lost P5. And that it has done. Now, with the OB6 desktop out, I wanted to get this as well to compliment the P6 and give me some of the Oberheim sound I miss. I read differing things comparing these 2. So I took some time out to briefly test the OB6 keyboard and immediately found the sound different. I didn't have much time to play with it, but instantly decided I will get the OB6 desktop when it come out so I'll have both. These are such great designs, though I wish they were cheaper. Gear like this I plan to own forever (till death do us part!).
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I just bought a OB6 Keyboard and a P6 Modul. I didn't had enough space for both in keyboard version and the OB6 looks just nicer to my eyes. Sound wise they can differ but somehow they have a lot in common as well. The OB6 is a bit more aggressive, has more high frequencies, sounds a bit wilder and is to my ears more interesting. The P6 on the other hand has the lushest and deepest pads, great arpeggio sequence sounds and just a huge sweet spot.
the Filter of the OB6 is just great. You can crank up the resonance it never gets harsh in your ears. That's the general nice thing about the OB...it sounds more direct but never harsh.
I just couldn't decide between the two...so I got both :):) maybe a bit of an overkill, but they are just great. The only negative thing for me, are the Modulation options which are really limited. Still both are capable of a lot of different sounds.
To sum it up, you cant go wrong with either of them. I have a tiny preference to the OB6, just because of its filter.
Thanks for your reply, it's good to speak with people whom have both synths! As both of them are inspired by older synths can they be dialled in to create quite modern sounding sounds as well? In particular, the sound demos I have heard mostly of the Prophet 6 have a 70's/80s feel to them (which is awesome by the way!), but many of the patches recorded in this Soundcloud demo of the OB-6 sound quite modern: https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo
Is the Prophet 6 just as capable of making these modern types of sounds (I guess in it's own less wild way?)
Mike
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Mike-
The programming structure of all of these sounds is possible with the Prophet 6. However, the two machines will always have different characteristics due to the fact that the oscillators and filters are individual to each instrument.
-dj
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I think the OB6 sounds more modern then the P6, or lets say you can integrate it better into any kind of modern electronic music. The P6 has more the Jean Michel Jare vibe, wich I love btw. But the OB has more edge, is more aggressive and wild. I just love the pads from the P6, as they are the deepest and lushest pads I ever heard. there the OB sounds more open and less smooth..mainly because of the filter db. Some days later I have to confess, both might be a bit of an overkill and if I Had to choose one, it would be the OB. But thats maybe because of the music style I produce (Psytrance, Chill out) where the OB just seem to fit better.
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Is the Prophet 6 just as capable of making these modern types of sounds (I guess in it's own less wild way?)
Feel free to check the demos I recorded a while back: https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6)
I'd say it's not necessarily bound to sound classic vintage all the time. You can do all kinds of more crazy stuff with the PolyMod section. What colors each of these synth's particular tone most is definitely the filter. So while I would say that both can actually also sound more contemporary, they will do it in differently flavoured ways.
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Mike-
The programming structure of all of these sounds is possible with the Prophet 6. However, the two machines will always have different characteristics due to the fact that the oscillators and filters are individual to each instrument.
-dj
Thanks, as this will be my first and probably only (at least for a while) synth I would love to be able to make a mixture of vintage and modern sounds with it :)
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I think the OB6 sounds more modern then the P6, or lets say you can integrate it better into any kind of modern electronic music. The P6 has more the Jean Michel Jare vibe, wich I love btw. But the OB has more edge, is more aggressive and wild. I just love the pads from the P6, as they are the deepest and lushest pads I ever heard. there the OB sounds more open and less smooth..mainly because of the filter db. Some days later I have to confess, both might be a bit of an overkill and if I Had to choose one, it would be the OB. But thats maybe because of the music style I produce (Psytrance, Chill out) where the OB just seem to fit better.
Does it go well for producing Psytrance? What other gear do you use in combination with it to produce it?
Would the OB-6 be suited in any way to modern EDM sounds as well? Thought it would be fun to have a dabble in a few genres
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I think the OB6 sounds more modern then the P6, or lets say you can integrate it better into any kind of modern electronic music. The P6 has more the Jean Michel Jare vibe, wich I love btw. But the OB has more edge, is more aggressive and wild. I just love the pads from the P6, as they are the deepest and lushest pads I ever heard. there the OB sounds more open and less smooth..mainly because of the filter db. Some days later I have to confess, both might be a bit of an overkill and if I Had to choose one, it would be the OB. But thats maybe because of the music style I produce (Psytrance, Chill out) where the OB just seem to fit better.
Does it go well for producing Psytrance? What other gear do you use in combination with it to produce it?
Would the OB-6 be suited in any way to modern EDM sounds as well? Thought it would be fun to have a dabble in a few genres
The Ob6 is good for Psytrance as it can sound quite aggressive. Squelches and hard LFO driven sounds are easy to achieve, even though I miss a Sine Wave on the LFO. In general the LFO sounds a bit clicky. Strange FX sounds are easy as well. Acidic leads ala 303 are great sounding. Band passed filtered leads etc...really cool.
Other gear I use for my productions: Virus TI, Little Phatty and Waldorf, of course loads of Softsynths like Omnisphere, Sylenth, Zebra, ABL Pro etc. FX I use only plugins like stuff from UAD, Soundtoys, fabfilter, Waves etc.
But the P6 is very useful as well. The Pads and chords sound super deep and thick. But the overall tone is just a bit reduced and kinder, less in your face. So I use it more for deep chill out maybe.
For classic EDM, House or Deep House both are equal good. Housy Chord sounds and stabs is where the P6 shines. Poly sounds on the Ob6 have more this 80s vibe. Reminds me a lot of Scareface score..lol
In general the OB has more edge and raw power. The P6 sounds always lovely, nice and warm. I really love them...even though I still think, having both is a bit of an overkill. One thing I noticed, on my P6 the build quality of the knobs is not as good as on the Ob6. They are not 100% centred and sometimes feel a bit scratchy when I turn them The big junky knobs on the OB6 are perfectly centred and no scratchy feeling at all.
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In particular, the sound demos I have heard mostly of the Prophet 6 have a 70's/80s feel to them (which is awesome by the way!), but many of the patches recorded in this Soundcloud demo of the OB-6 sound quite modern: https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo
Is the Prophet 6 just as capable of making these modern types of sounds (I guess in it's own less wild way?)
Mike
Hi Mike,
since you posted this soundcloud track as an example, can you point to some specific parts in the demo that you consider modern types of sounds?
Soundcloud lets you copy the URL for a specific time in a track, by clicking Share and then clicking the "at [time]" checkbox to the right of the URL. For example:
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=3:58
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In particular, the sound demos I have heard mostly of the Prophet 6 have a 70's/80s feel to them (which is awesome by the way!), but many of the patches recorded in this Soundcloud demo of the OB-6 sound quite modern: https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo
Is the Prophet 6 just as capable of making these modern types of sounds (I guess in it's own less wild way?)
Mike
Hi Mike,
since you posted this soundcloud track as an example, can you point to some specific parts in the demo that you consider modern types of sounds?
Soundcloud lets you copy the URL for a specific time in a track, by clicking Share and then clicking the "at [time]" checkbox to the right of the URL. For example:
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=3:58
"Modern" is of course a bit subjective, so I'd rather call it everything beyond the typical analog poly synth stuff. But yeah, no problem. Here are a few examples:
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:53 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:53)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:39 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:39)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:29 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:29)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=10:01 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=10:01)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:41 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:41)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=13:17 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=13:17)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:31 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:31)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:15 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:15)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:32 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:32)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:57 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:57)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=3:51 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=3:51)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:09 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:09)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:12 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:12)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=7:27 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=7:27)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:03 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:03)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:49 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:49)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=12:38 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=12:38)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=14:53 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=14:53)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=15:26 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=15:26)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:36 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:36)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:14 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:14)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:52 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:52)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:34 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:34)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:56 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:56)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:43 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:43)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=17:25 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=17:25)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=18:44 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=18:44)
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In particular, the sound demos I have heard mostly of the Prophet 6 have a 70's/80s feel to them (which is awesome by the way!), but many of the patches recorded in this Soundcloud demo of the OB-6 sound quite modern: https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo
Is the Prophet 6 just as capable of making these modern types of sounds (I guess in it's own less wild way?)
Mike
Hi Mike,
since you posted this soundcloud track as an example, can you point to some specific parts in the demo that you consider modern types of sounds?
Soundcloud lets you copy the URL for a specific time in a track, by clicking Share and then clicking the "at [time]" checkbox to the right of the URL. For example:
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=3:58
"Modern" is of course a bit subjective, so I'd rather call it everything beyond the typical analog poly synth stuff. But yeah, no problem. Here are a few examples:
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:53 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:53)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:39 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:39)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:29 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:29)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=10:01 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=10:01)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:41 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:41)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=13:17 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=13:17)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:31 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:31)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:15 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:15)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:32 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:32)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:57 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:57)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=3:51 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=3:51)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:09 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:09)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:12 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:12)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=7:27 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=7:27)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:03 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:03)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:49 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=11:49)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=12:38 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=12:38)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=14:53 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=14:53)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=15:26 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-2?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=15:26)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:36 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=0:36)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:14 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=2:14)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:52 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=4:52)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:34 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=5:34)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:56 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=6:56)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:43 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=8:43)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=17:25 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=17:25)
https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=18:44 (https://soundcloud.com/pauldither/sequential-prophet-6-demo-part-3?in=pauldither/sets/sequential-prophet-6#t=18:44)
Wow! Thanks for posting direct links to each of these sound examples, they are AMAZING! Many of them are kind of modern I was thinking about... I have heard lots of OB-6 demos giving off similar types of quirky and cool sounds and notes, and was hoping that the Prophet 6 was capable of this type of stuff for some trance/fat bass/wierd and wonderful stuff too.
I watched the first episode to Stranger Things tonight, and was blown away by the synth sounds used in the opening title.. I guess both the OB and Prophet would be suited to similar arpeggios to that with similar filter effects? How did you get the arpeggiator recording out to Ableton Live?
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Wow! Thanks for posting direct links to each of these sound examples, they are AMAZING! Many of them are kind of modern I was thinking about... I have heard lots of OB-6 demos giving off similar types of quirky and cool sounds and notes, and was hoping that the Prophet 6 was capable of this type of stuff for some trance/fat bass/wierd and wonderful stuff too.
Thanks! Yeah, it's absolutely possible to get quirky and weird sounds out of the Prophet-6 just as much as randomly self-evolving drones. In that regard both the Prophet-6 and the OB-6 are technically capable of the same sonic diversity, although I personally would say that the OB-6's filter identity is always more obvious. But don't forget that you can also use the Prophet's high and low-pass filters to emulate a bandpass filter. All in all I have to say that given that both of these synths are fairly conservative in terms of modulation options, they surprisingly cover a lot of sonic territory. It's not that they only do typical pads, leads, and basses.
I watched the first episode to Stranger Things tonight, and was blown away by the synth sounds used in the opening title.. I guess both the OB and Prophet would be suited to similar arpeggios to that with similar filter effects? How did you get the arpeggiator recording out to Ableton Live?
I've read that they used a Prophet-6 quite a bit for the recordings: http://www.salon.com/2016/07/23/obsessed_with_stranger_things_meet_the_band_behind_the_shows_spine_chilling_theme_and_synth_score/ (http://www.salon.com/2016/07/23/obsessed_with_stranger_things_meet_the_band_behind_the_shows_spine_chilling_theme_and_synth_score/)
I'm not quite sure what you mean by the question about how I got the arpeggiator recording out to Ableton Live. I just recorded arpeggiated patches directly into Live. The MIDI data Live recorded were just the notes I played on the Prophet-6, but since the arpeggiator was activated on the according patches, the arpeggios would of course be reproduced during the playback for the audio recording. But in most cases I recorded audio and MIDI simultaneously anyway.
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I love how broad the Prophet-6 sound palette is compared to the Prophet-5. Although this has had some unfortunate side effects with people leaving narrow-minded / knee-jerk comments on youtube demos about how the Prophet-6 doesn't really sound like a Prophet-5.
No the P6 doesn't automatically sound like the P5, precisely because of the much broader sonic possibilities. After having used the P6 for about six months, I can get it to sound incredibly close to P5 patches, it just takes quite a bit of tweaking for each patch. I know this wasn't your question but I thought I'd just throw this into the discussion.
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I love how broad the Prophet-6 sound palette is compared to the Prophet-5. Although this has had some unfortunate side effects with people leaving narrow-minded / knee-jerk comments on youtube demos about how the Prophet-6 doesn't really sound like a Prophet-5.
Indeed. Don't know if you've listened to these audio examples (the first recordings posted in the paragraph "Les voix du maître"), a quiz that compares a Prophet-5 Rev. 3 and a Prophet-6 without saying which one is which:
http://fr.audiofanzine.com/synthe-analogique/sequential-circuits/prophet-6/editorial/tests/le-retour-du-roi.html (http://fr.audiofanzine.com/synthe-analogique/sequential-circuits/prophet-6/editorial/tests/le-retour-du-roi.html)
No the P6 doesn't automatically sound like the P5, precisely because of the much broader sonic possibilities. After having used the P6 for about six months, I can get it to sound incredibly close to P5 patches, it just takes quite a bit of tweaking for each patch. I know this wasn't your question but I thought I'd just throw this into the discussion.
It's true. And the example above proves that pretty well.
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I have to confess, after 3 weeks owning both, the OB6 and the P6, I have a clear preference to the OB6. The reason why, is mainly because the OB6 fits better into my productions. The P6 somehow sounds always a bit "far away", "dull", "softer" and much less "in your face" then the OB and its more difficult to make it shine in a Mix. The Ob seems much louder as well and the P6 is clipping much faster. At least that's my experience until now.
When I play with the P6, I like what I hear. But as soon as I try to do some sounds for actual projects, I'm having troubles making the sounds shine in the Mix. With the OB I don't have those problems at all.
Honestly I'm a bit confused now..lol, but I'm tending to sell the P6 and get a Pro 2 instead...only because it I get a much broader sound palette.
One thing is for sure...both synth are great...but owning both, for me seems a bit a overkill. I mean, those synths shine most on the classic sounds like Leads, Pads, Baselines etc., so one is enough. I might prefer to get a Pro 2 instead for some more "out of this world" sounds, the P6 / OB6 cant achieve.
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I've been lucky enough to own and enjoy a Prophet 6 for 5mnths now. It is a thing of sonic beauty. It isn't stuck in a time warp nor is it so futuristic to be impractical for everyday gigging. Dave and his team have got the balance right between yesterday and tomorrow. I started my synth journey back in the 70's when analog was analog and Moog and ARP were the kings. Then along came the Oberheim 4 voice, first heard for me on Weather Report's Heavy Weather classic. It wasn't until the 80's that I finally got my hands on an ObXa and a Prophet 5. Both were beautiful but different. To me the Oberheim was more like a Hammond on acid whereas the P5 was tight weird and modern (Japan). Ok there was a huge area of common ground between them but in the end it was the P5's filter and mod facilities that won me over.
I got a chance to spend a few hours with the Ob6 yesterday. It is gorgeous. The thing that stands out above anything else is that filter - it is way better than anything the ObXa had, but still manages to produce that gritty ObXa sound. It takes you to places you couldn't go with the P6 and, to me, totally justifies the instrument's parallel existence at DSI.
Is it better than my P6? No! Would I have both.. Yes please!
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I guess, I just have to give the P6 some more time to grow. Maybe the problem lies as well in the limited modulation possibilities of both. Having one synth like this is ok...but two maybe is a bit too much for me as a big modulation fan. :) Adding for example a Pro 2 would maybe be a better companion in my case.
Anyway...don't want to hijack the tread with my personal issues with those two...as mention both are great, the OB6 just fits my personal taste better. And to be honest...quite nice as a problem..lol...having those two :):)
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I have to confess, after 3 weeks owning both, the OB6 and the P6, I have a clear preference to the OB6. The reason why, is mainly because the OB6 fits better into my productions. The P6 somehow sounds always a bit "far away", "dull", "softer" and much less "in your face" then the OB and its more difficult to make it shine in a Mix. The Ob seems much louder as well and the P6 is clipping much faster. At least that's my experience until now.
When I play with the P6, I like what I hear. But as soon as I try to do some sounds for actual projects, I'm having troubles making the sounds shine in the Mix. With the OB I don't have those problems at all.
Honestly I'm a bit confused now..lol, but I'm tending to sell the P6 and get a Pro 2 instead...only because it I get a much broader sound palette.
One thing is for sure...both synth are great...but owning both, for me seems a bit a overkill. I mean, those synths shine most on the classic sounds like Leads, Pads, Baselines etc., so one is enough. I might prefer to get a Pro 2 instead for some more "out of this world" sounds, the P6 / OB6 cant achieve.
There's quite a bit of difference between the SSM(-style) filter of the rev 1 Prophet-5 / Prophet-6 and the Curtis filter(s) of the rev 2/3 Prophet-5 / Prophet '08; likewise, the SEM filter sounds quite different than the OB-Xa's Curtis filters. A Pro-2 + a Prophet '08 / Tetra / Mopho x4 would probably cover most of the bases.
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Wow! Thanks for posting direct links to each of these sound examples, they are AMAZING! Many of them are kind of modern I was thinking about... I have heard lots of OB-6 demos giving off similar types of quirky and cool sounds and notes, and was hoping that the Prophet 6 was capable of this type of stuff for some trance/fat bass/wierd and wonderful stuff too.
Thanks! Yeah, it's absolutely possible to get quirky and weird sounds out of the Prophet-6 just as much as randomly self-evolving drones. In that regard both the Prophet-6 and the OB-6 are technically capable of the same sonic diversity, although I personally would say that the OB-6's filter identity is always more obvious. But don't forget that you can also use the Prophet's high and low-pass filters to emulate a bandpass filter. All in all I have to say that given that both of these synths are fairly conservative in terms of modulation options, they surprisingly cover a lot of sonic territory. It's not that they only do typical pads, leads, and basses.
I watched the first episode to Stranger Things tonight, and was blown away by the synth sounds used in the opening title.. I guess both the OB and Prophet would be suited to similar arpeggios to that with similar filter effects? How did you get the arpeggiator recording out to Ableton Live?
I've read that they used a Prophet-6 quite a bit for the recordings: http://www.salon.com/2016/07/23/obsessed_with_stranger_things_meet_the_band_behind_the_shows_spine_chilling_theme_and_synth_score/ (http://www.salon.com/2016/07/23/obsessed_with_stranger_things_meet_the_band_behind_the_shows_spine_chilling_theme_and_synth_score/)
I'm not quite sure what you mean by the question about how I got the arpeggiator recording out to Ableton Live. I just recorded arpeggiated patches directly into Live. The MIDI data Live recorded were just the notes I played on the Prophet-6, but since the arpeggiator was activated on the according patches, the arpeggios would of course be reproduced during the playback for the audio recording. But in most cases I recorded audio and MIDI simultaneously anyway.
So does the arpeggiator not record just to midi, and instead you have to record straight audio in Ableton?
PS is the Prophet 6 capable of dark bass at a level similar to the OB?
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In particular, the sound demos I have heard mostly of the Prophet 6 have a 70's/80s feel to them (which is awesome by the way!), but many of the patches recorded in this Soundcloud demo of the OB-6 sound quite modern: https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo
Is the Prophet 6 just as capable of making these modern types of sounds (I guess in it's own less wild way?)
Mike
Hi Mike,
since you posted this soundcloud track as an example, can you point to some specific parts in the demo that you consider modern types of sounds?
Soundcloud lets you copy the URL for a specific time in a track, by clicking Share and then clicking the "at [time]" checkbox to the right of the URL. For example:
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=3:58
Sorry about the late reply!
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=0:02 - The very first sound!
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=3:54
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=12:30
Looking back at that demo, it probably wasn't the best one to describe that modern sound I have heard from the OB...
Would something like this be achievable with the filters on the Prophet 6?: https://soundcloud.com/davesmithinstruments/ob-6-filter-delight#t=0:47
I love that slow pass down to low at that point! (I have read that some people don't rate the high pass filter on the Prophet?)
Also in particular a brilliant type of sound I have heard comes from Peter Dyer's demo of the OB-6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51cADWLdC1E
Particularly at 0:18 - 1:01!
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Indeed. Don't know if you've listened to these audio examples (the first recordings posted in the paragraph "Les voix du maître"), a quiz that compares a Prophet-5 Rev. 3 and a Prophet-6 without saying which one is which:
http://fr.audiofanzine.com/synthe-analogique/sequential-circuits/prophet-6/editorial/tests/le-retour-du-roi.html (http://fr.audiofanzine.com/synthe-analogique/sequential-circuits/prophet-6/editorial/tests/le-retour-du-roi.html)
wow this is great, thanks for posting that. Even though some of the patches were still not tweaked close enough (the Clav for example), this is one of the best Prophet-6 comps/reviews I've seen. They really knew what they were doing.
I have a rule of thumb that when doing a side by side synth comparison you have to spend at least 30 minutes tweaking per patch, to get it close enough. For some patches I've spent hours tweaking. Even something simple like the slightest difference in volume levels will result in a big (perceived) difference for most listeners.
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So does the arpeggiator not record just to midi, and instead you have to record straight audio in Ableton?
I'm still not sure what exactly you're asking for. An arpeggiator doesn't record anything, it just plays back arpeggiated notes based on the ones you're holding down on the keyboard and based on the arpeggiator settings (up, down, up+down, random, octave range, etc.).
Are you asking whether the arpeggiator sends out the arpeggiated notes as MIDI notes? - In that case: no, it doesn't. But the Prophet-6 sends out the MIDI note data, the notes you play whether an arpeggiator is activated or not, so there's still no need for recording straight to audio.
PS is the Prophet 6 capable of dark bass at a level similar to the OB?
The Prophet-6 is no Oberheim, so if you want an Oberheim-ish sound, you'd rather need to get an OB-6 or a SEM module by Tom Oberheim. In that sense it's pretty much like it was with the Prophet-5 and the OB-X, or OB-Xa.
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Would something like this be achievable with the filters on the Prophet 6?: https://soundcloud.com/davesmithinstruments/ob-6-filter-delight#t=0:47
Short answer: no. That sound needs this particular 12 dB filter.
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Indeed. Don't know if you've listened to these audio examples (the first recordings posted in the paragraph "Les voix du maître"), a quiz that compares a Prophet-5 Rev. 3 and a Prophet-6 without saying which one is which:
http://fr.audiofanzine.com/synthe-analogique/sequential-circuits/prophet-6/editorial/tests/le-retour-du-roi.html (http://fr.audiofanzine.com/synthe-analogique/sequential-circuits/prophet-6/editorial/tests/le-retour-du-roi.html)
wow this is great, thanks for posting that. Even though some of the patches were still not tweaked close enough (the Clav for example), this is one of the best Prophet-6 comps/reviews I've seen. They really knew what they were doing.
I have a rule of thumb that when doing a side by side synth comparison you have to spend at least 30 minutes tweaking per patch, to get it close enough. For some patches I've spent hours tweaking. Even something simple like the slightest difference in volume levels will result in a big (perceived) difference for most listeners.
Did you find out which one is which?
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In particular, the sound demos I have heard mostly of the Prophet 6 have a 70's/80s feel to them (which is awesome by the way!), but many of the patches recorded in this Soundcloud demo of the OB-6 sound quite modern: https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo
Is the Prophet 6 just as capable of making these modern types of sounds (I guess in it's own less wild way?)
Mike
Hi Mike,
since you posted this soundcloud track as an example, can you point to some specific parts in the demo that you consider modern types of sounds?
Soundcloud lets you copy the URL for a specific time in a track, by clicking Share and then clicking the "at [time]" checkbox to the right of the URL. For example:
https://soundcloud.com/syntheticthings/dave-smith-instruments-ob-6-sound-demo#t=3:58
PS, I guess the following is similar to one of the sounds I am chasing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdHBkYoUXOs
In your opinions do you feel that type of sound (particularly the intro) could be achieved with Prophet 6 or would it be better with the OB?
:D
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I own both the P-6 and OB-6. They complement each other well and are surprisingly versatile. The link I posted is a children's Halloween video, and I did the music and sound design for it using only the P-6 and OB-6. I found it amazing how far you can take these synths despite the relatively limited modulation capabilities (compared to digital synths). All the door squeaks and knocks, thunder sounds, monster noises, music, percussion, etc. -- everything you hear except the singing/talking and the brief audience clapping in the middle -- was done on the OB-6 and P-6. It's an equal blend of both synths. Which one is better for sound fx? It was more or less a coin toss in deciding which synth to use for a particular sound because both synths are up to the task. And for the music? The signature of the OB-6 is more noticeable due to the filter, and for that reason it is possible that the P-6 is ever slightly more versatile. I am not 100% set on that angle, but it's what pops into mind after several extensive sound design and music production gigs with both units.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efW0xpqMvto (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efW0xpqMvto)
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Interesting result - I'd bet that the P-6 sits better into the mix after dialogue normalization / mix compression; I have a pretty good guess as to which elements were which....
(and with a toddler at home, believe me - I get exposed to this more than most....)
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Excellent sound effects. The door knocks and creaks, thunder claps, and tolling bell were very convincing
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Interesting result - I'd bet that the P-6 sits better into the mix after dialogue normalization / mix compression; I have a pretty good guess as to which elements were which....
(and with a toddler at home, believe me - I get exposed to this more than most....)
Indeed, the P-6 blends very well...very easy to mix. But the OB-6 blends well too, even if sometimes it requires slightly more tinkering (though not always). With these synths I can usually get pretty close to the final mix sound before starting to mix.
I've got two toddlers at home so even my productions for grown-ups end up sounding like kids' songs. I guess that's ok 'cause I'm a hippie...lol
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Excellent sound effects. The door knocks and creaks, thunder claps, and tolling bell were very convincing
Thank you! It was a lot of fun to make. In fact, doing that project (there were other songs involved too) sort of 'cured' me of burnout which I was facing because of so many 12 hour days doing sound/music stuff. I had decided to just use the DSI synths to get to know them better and in that process I found them so much fun to work with. I am huge fan of digital synths too, but these DSI synths make work fun -- and they sound great!
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Excellent sound effects. The door knocks and creaks, thunder claps, and tolling bell were very convincing
Thank you! It was a lot of fun to make. In fact, doing that project (there were other songs involved too) sort of 'cured' me of burnout which I was facing because of so many 12 hour days doing sound/music stuff. I had decided to just use the DSI synths to get to know them better and in that process I found them so much fun to work with. I am huge fan of digital synths too, but these DSI synths make work fun -- and they sound great!
Very Impressive track!
-dj
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Very Impressive track!
-dj
Thank you DJKeys!
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I own both the P-6 and OB-6. They complement each other well and are surprisingly versatile. The link I posted is a children's Halloween video, and I did the music and sound design for it using only the P-6 and OB-6. I found it amazing how far you can take these synths despite the relatively limited modulation capabilities (compared to digital synths). All the door squeaks and knocks, thunder sounds, monster noises, music, percussion, etc. -- everything you hear except the singing/talking and the brief audience clapping in the middle -- was done on the OB-6 and P-6. It's an equal blend of both synths. Which one is better for sound fx? It was more or less a coin toss in deciding which synth to use for a particular sound because both synths are up to the task. And for the music? The signature of the OB-6 is more noticeable due to the filter, and for that reason it is possible that the P-6 is ever slightly more versatile. I am not 100% set on that angle, but it's what pops into mind after several extensive sound design and music production gigs with both units.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efW0xpqMvto (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efW0xpqMvto)
Wow, that was great! Well done on that track, I loved the sound design :)
That long low note near the end that comes in at about 3:01, was that done with the OB-6?
One thing that I have been wondering, when people talk about that Oberheim signature sound that can be heard on the OB-6, is that the buzz sound that I would have heard in several OB-6 demos which is kind of like a permanent sawtooth wave sound? Can the OB-6 make sounds without that slight buzz to it?
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"Wow, that was great! Well done on that track, I loved the sound design :)
That long low note near the end that comes in at about 3:01, was that done with the OB-6?
One thing that I have been wondering, when people talk about that Oberheim signature sound that can be heard on the OB-6, is that the buzz sound that I would have heard in several OB-6 demos which is kind of like a permanent sawtooth wave sound? Can the OB-6 make sounds without that slight buzz to it?"
Thank you! You nailed it: that long low note that comes in at around 3:01 is indeed from the OB-6.
That sound that you describe, the one which differentiates the OB-6 from the P-6 derives mostly from the mechanics of the oscillators and the 2-pole, 12dB per octave filter. That type of filter allows more frequencies above the cutoff point to slip through. This makes it easier to get that 'buzzy' or 'gritty' sound if you wish. However, the synth is more than capable of making sounds that are not in that vein.
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"Wow, that was great! Well done on that track, I loved the sound design :)
That long low note near the end that comes in at about 3:01, was that done with the OB-6?
One thing that I have been wondering, when people talk about that Oberheim signature sound that can be heard on the OB-6, is that the buzz sound that I would have heard in several OB-6 demos which is kind of like a permanent sawtooth wave sound? Can the OB-6 make sounds without that slight buzz to it?"
Thank you! You nailed it: that long low note that comes in at around 3:01 is indeed from the OB-6.
That sound that you describe, the one which differentiates the OB-6 from the P-6 derives mostly from the mechanics of the oscillators and the 2-pole, 12dB per octave filter. That type of filter allows more frequencies above the cutoff point to slip through. This makes it easier to get that 'buzzy' or 'gritty' sound if you wish. However, the synth is more than capable of making sounds that are not in that vein.
;D ;D Thanks for making more sense of that for me!
So for making high pitch 'non-buzzy' sounds like at the 2:00 mark of this prophet 6 video, would the OB-6 be in with a chance?
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"Wow, that was great! Well done on that track, I loved the sound design :)
That long low note near the end that comes in at about 3:01, was that done with the OB-6?
One thing that I have been wondering, when people talk about that Oberheim signature sound that can be heard on the OB-6, is that the buzz sound that I would have heard in several OB-6 demos which is kind of like a permanent sawtooth wave sound? Can the OB-6 make sounds without that slight buzz to it?"
Thank you! You nailed it: that long low note that comes in at around 3:01 is indeed from the OB-6.
That sound that you describe, the one which differentiates the OB-6 from the P-6 derives mostly from the mechanics of the oscillators and the 2-pole, 12dB per octave filter. That type of filter allows more frequencies above the cutoff point to slip through. This makes it easier to get that 'buzzy' or 'gritty' sound if you wish. However, the synth is more than capable of making sounds that are not in that vein.
;D ;D Thanks for making more sense of that for me!
So for making high pitch 'non-buzzy' sounds like at the 2:00 mark of this prophet 6 video, would the OB-6 be in with a chance?
Is the the video to which you refer my video or some other in a link?
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"Wow, that was great! Well done on that track, I loved the sound design :)
That long low note near the end that comes in at about 3:01, was that done with the OB-6?
One thing that I have been wondering, when people talk about that Oberheim signature sound that can be heard on the OB-6, is that the buzz sound that I would have heard in several OB-6 demos which is kind of like a permanent sawtooth wave sound? Can the OB-6 make sounds without that slight buzz to it?"
Thank you! You nailed it: that long low note that comes in at around 3:01 is indeed from the OB-6.
That sound that you describe, the one which differentiates the OB-6 from the P-6 derives mostly from the mechanics of the oscillators and the 2-pole, 12dB per octave filter. That type of filter allows more frequencies above the cutoff point to slip through. This makes it easier to get that 'buzzy' or 'gritty' sound if you wish. However, the synth is more than capable of making sounds that are not in that vein.
;D ;D Thanks for making more sense of that for me!
So for making high pitch 'non-buzzy' sounds like at the 2:00 mark of this prophet 6 video, would the OB-6 be in with a chance?
Is the the video to which you refer my video or some other in a link?
Oops, my bad! Forgot to link! :o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtjcMp2tqpc
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"Wow, that was great! Well done on that track, I loved the sound design :)
That long low note near the end that comes in at about 3:01, was that done with the OB-6?
One thing that I have been wondering, when people talk about that Oberheim signature sound that can be heard on the OB-6, is that the buzz sound that I would have heard in several OB-6 demos which is kind of like a permanent sawtooth wave sound? Can the OB-6 make sounds without that slight buzz to it?"
Thank you! You nailed it: that long low note that comes in at around 3:01 is indeed from the OB-6.
That sound that you describe, the one which differentiates the OB-6 from the P-6 derives mostly from the mechanics of the oscillators and the 2-pole, 12dB per octave filter. That type of filter allows more frequencies above the cutoff point to slip through. This makes it easier to get that 'buzzy' or 'gritty' sound if you wish. However, the synth is more than capable of making sounds that are not in that vein.
;D ;D Thanks for making more sense of that for me!
So for making high pitch 'non-buzzy' sounds like at the 2:00 mark of this prophet 6 video, would the OB-6 be in with a chance?
Is the the video to which you refer my video or some other in a link?
Oops, my bad! Forgot to link! :o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtjcMp2tqpc
I think it's possible to get a sound like that with the OB-6. But keep in mind that the sound to which you refer contains a lot of fx (both delay and reverb), and such fx can change the basic analog sound considerably.
I usually begin building a sound by turning off the onboard fx and start with the 'basic preset' (on the OB-6 it means pressing the MANUAL and WRITE buttons). This way I can get a basic idea of genuine analog character first. Once I get in the ballpark of the sound I am after, I experiment with onboard fx and also fx in my DAW and then decide which I like better (or maybe I chose no fx depending on the task).
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Here's a major contribution to the discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKtL1nb_x1M
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Here's a major contribution to the discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKtL1nb_x1M
Nice video, thanks for sharing!
When he plays them both in the end, it really shows that they are complementary.
The rest is basically a matter of taste and needs, as simple as that. I'm always tempted to say that the sound of the OB-6 has that particular SEM filter veil, althouh that's a little unfair, as one could probably say the same thing about the 24 dB filter of the Prophet-6. And of course the filter of the OB-6 stands out more in general because it's not as widely spread as all the variations of a 24 dB lowpass filter that are available out there.
However, the impression that the SEM filter character seems to stand out all the time, no matter whether you program vintage pads or more experimental patches, may be the main reason why the Prophet-6 appears to be applicable in more universal ways. In this video at least, it seems like the Prophet-6 is capable of covering a broader sonic palette.
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I got a lot out of that video. The music was good and the audio quality excellent, but I focused more on the immediate side-by-side comparisons. The two instruments do sound fairly different from each other. The OB-6 has an easily recognizable filter with a frothiness over the top. The Prophet-6 belongs more to the classic analog domain, with a consistently warmer slightly darker tone, and it's the sound I far preferred throughout the video.
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So, I've also owned both the P6 and the OB-6. Here is my analysis between these two lovely synths.
I first owned the P6 due to its heritage, history, and known sonic waves that takes you back to the 70s-80s era. The P6 does sound gorgeous and provides a lot of versatility to manipulate sound waves. But here is where the P6 fell short with me.
First, I could not connect with the sound, emotionally. This is a where most of people's creativity comes from in terms of music. I now understand and feel the way other P6 owners felt. I tried loving the P6, but the more I chased it the more she was running from me.
Second, the sound. It's not dry, it's not loud and in-your-face, but just sits in the middle. In an odd middle too. It's almost as if the P6 sound doesn't know where to fit in. It tries, but you're constantly fighting the sound to get it finessed in order to fit into mixes. And it gets frustrating fighting the sounds when it should be working with you effortlessly.
Third, the QC issues with the knobs. Yes, they are "wonkie" when you turn them. Yes, the knobs are "loose" to "extremely loose" all over the board. I even posted a video on youtube demonstrating the inconsistency in knobs across the board. This is a major concern for me as it is a known problem and I'm not sure how the knobs will last decades down the road. There should be consistency and reliability in a $3K synth and I felt the P6 fell short in that area.
However, I love the wood all around the P6! It's much better than the OB-6 metal font piece. The OB-6 should have incorporated a wood piece across the bottom with the Tom Oberheim signature engraved on the right side and the OB-6 logo engraved on the left side. Sure, this would have been a bit more money. But the OB-6 is a ONE TIME hybrid masterpiece with the holy grail of synth heads collaborating. This synth should have gone beyond normal into something special! This is not a normal or average synth! And Dave Smith should have recognized that!
Now, onto the OB-6.......
The reason behind me picking up the OB-6 is because of ALL the raving reviews that are out there claiming, in its own way, much better than the P6. So, I battled myself daily, lost sleep, prowled YouTube every minute of every day. I became so obsessed it was ridiculous. Not good being a GearSlut. Anyway, I went to Guitar Center, tried it out, couldn't really tell at the store with the crap monitors connected to it, so I ended up bringing it home.
First, I am not a fan of the blue stripes and the new layout. However, the blue stripes grew on me. I now love the layout, knobs, and the stripes on the OB-6 much more than the P6. The OB-6 I feel, in many ways, should have been the P6 (especially with the knobs and logical layout). Maybe not from a sound perspective, but definitely with the layout of the effects, filters, etc. If you look at the Prophet~5, then you'll notice the P6 has the same knobs, but skinnier. I think Dave Smith should have kept the knobs thicker on the P6.
Secondly, the sounds. Wow! Talk about not chasing after the girl that always rejects you (P6). The OB-6 is soooooo inviting. The sounds connect with me on an emotional level. So much so that I am very inspired with this synth. I couldn't say the same about the P6. The sounds can either stand out in a mix of other sounds, sit in the middle, or be tucked behind other sounds. It truly has an identity in my music. It's not the oddball trying to fit-in. The sounds work with me when programming and not against me. It's truly a personal connection being made between me and the synth. NEVER had that with the P6 (actually made me sad).
Also, the sounds on the OB-6 can be best described as: The P6 is the synth that rides the wave or hides under the wave, while the OB-6 is the synth to either disrupt the waves, ride with the waves, or PUNCH through the waves.
Third, KNOWING the music your making really makes a difference on choosing the P6 or the OB-6. From my take, and experience, the OB-6 is more for contemporary EDM, trance, psychedelic, somewhat relaxed, pop, hip-hop, r&b, soft rock, funk, alternative, and similar genres. The P6 is more geared towards psychadelic, relaxed, funk, movie-based music, and similar genres.
I feel that I can do more with the OB-6 because of its ability to have an identity within the music (regardless of genre). The P6 is much darker, which is fine in its own respect, but it does not provide the sonic waves to really get the crowd moving as a single instrument (which I think a lot of people expect when buying a P6 and contributes to the connection not being made between the P6 and its owner). Put it this way, the OB-6 is more for upbeat music that will keep you wanting more. Interesting to the ears. The sounds have more vibrant emotions. Whereas the P6 is more for mellowed out music that can get a bit repetitive or boring after some time.
It's important to know your music type and why you need or want the synth. Based on my stressful, anxious, experience with these two amazing synths this is why I chose the OB-6 as my keeper. The P6 has a place, but I believe it has its own respective place within music. If I was able to justify keeping the P6 with the OB-6 then I would've had an awesome setup. But the justification wasn't there so I got rid of the P6 for NOW..... Maybe I'll rethink down the line. But I think the OB-6 could be better paired with the Arturia MatrixBrute or another mono/para synth without that Dave Smith sound.
Would the P6 compliment the OB-6? Absolutely! Two very different sounds that target very different parts of a soundtrack. But if you can justify the price of having both, then have at it!
I hope this proves useful to some of you out there banging your heads around this important, but personal, decision. What moved me the most into getting the OB-6 was someone that stated, "The OB-6 can take you places that the P6 cannot, but the OB-6 can go to every place the P6 can." This was the motivating factor (plus, who doesn't want the best of both worlds?!?).
Take care! And good luck with your decision!
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For me it's the P6. It just seems more versatile in sonic capabilities. The OB6 is going to sound like the OB6. Not that it's a bad thing but it's always going to have a bit of fizz or buzz to it. I would actually get the Two Voice Pro over the OB6 for a number of reasons but I think mostly because the Oberheim OBXa is everyone's "go to" when they think of the Oberheim sound. I believe that wasn't SEM based and it relied on the Curtis filter so that makes the Prophet 08 and even Prophet REV2 actually closer to that OBXa sound. Plus the OBXa had split and layer capabilities which the OB6 doesn't have.
It really just depends on what sound you are after. For me, I do soundtrack oriented synth stuff and looking at the classic soundtracks I love, most of the time they are always using a Prophet. Even with some that had Oberheims involved there's always the Prophet next to it.
There were other synths used in most of these but the ones that only had the Prophet I've put a * beside.
John Carpenter and Allan Howarth: The Fog, Escape From New York, Halloween 2, Halloween 3, Christine, Big Trouble In Little China, Prince Of Darkness and They Live-Prophet 5 and Prophet 10. (The last 3 films also had an Oberheim 4 voice)
Allan Howarth: Lost Empire and Retribution-Prophet 5 and Prophet 10.
John Harrison: Creepshow* and Day Of The Dead-Prophet 5
Tim Krog: The Boogeyman-Prophet 5 AND Oberheim 8 voice modular
Jay Chattaway: Maniac-Prophet 5 AND Oberheim (not sure which)
Joseph LoDuca: Evil Dead-Prophet 5*
Howard Shore: Scanners-Prophet 5
Brad Fiedel: The Terminator-Prophet 10 (and Oberheim OBXa)
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Now as far as soundtracks with the Oberheim being the main synth with no Prophet.
Queen: Flash Gordon soundtrack-Oberheim OBXa*
Rob Walsh: Revenge Of The Ninja-Oberheim OBXa*
Stephen Horelick: Madman-Oberheim 4 Voice
Joe Renzetti: The Exterminator-Oberheim OBX*
Paul Herzog: Bloodsport and Kickboxer-Oberheim OB-8
Charles Bernstein-Nightmare On Elm Street-OBX
And with those Oberheim based scores there's a lot more going on in them (live orchestras, guitars, live bands, other synths, so it's more for complimenting rather than leading.).
Even in a lot of New Wave/Progressive stuff like Gabriel, Collins...it's the Prophet. The Oberheim sound is much more American and rock/pop oriented, to be played within a live band context as it cuts through the mix (Think JUMP by Van Halen (OBXa) or Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds (OBXa and Jupiter 8).
It really just depends on the situation and what sound you are going for. For me I'll stick with the Prophet and eventually I'll get the Oberheim Two Voice Pro for bass sounds and sequences. I can get to the OB6 sound with the Prophet with a little tweaking but like I said the OB6 is always going to sound like the OB6.
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Agreed. If you're doing movie soundtracks then IMHO the Prophet~6 fits that scope perfectly. Also, it depends on one's connection with the instrument. If I connect, personally, to an instrument then I can make it fit in anywhere. There are musicians that can fit a fart noise into a soundtrack and make it sound good. It just depends on the person.
I was wondering tis question.... What is Dave Smith's favorite instrument between the OB-6 and the Prophet~6?
Personally, after watching his interviews releasing both the P6 and the OB-6 at NAMM it appears that Dave Smith became OVERLY excited about the OB-6 and starts playing it on-the-spot. That's just an observation I made. He didn't seem AS excited about the P6 for some reason and didn't play it on-the-spot like he did the OB-6. Just something I found interesting.
Honestly, I would love to have the P6 coupled with the OB-6 at some point in the future. Learning either of these synths will limit the learning curve when adding the other since they're so much alike from a features perspective. Again, I think the OB-6 has more contemporary sounds out-of-the-box whereas the P6 requires finesse to get more contemporary sounds.
Another interesting take is the versatility. I find that both instruments are very versatile. I can use the OB-6 for practically anything since it has a decent High, Mid, and Low range. However, I find that the P6 is limited to the High to Mid range which makes it a less versatile when needing lows. I mean, the OB-6 is no Moog when it comes to lows, but it can get really close.
I agree with most who insist none of these synths is better than the other. It all depends on needs. And, myself, along with most that chime-in, connect most with the OB-6.
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This is my (short) story about both keyboards. I have started with OB6, and had recently a Prophet 6 to make some sound design works on it. I already preferred OB6, but I must admit the Prophet 6 is the one on which I go naturally for my "everday " use. Prophet 6 is more straightforward, efficient, while OB6 is more vintage and original to my ears.
I will keep the OB6, because it is a better complement to my roland Jupiter 8.
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Another excellent comparison video (Skip to 5:40 to get to the sounds.):
https://youtu.be/KtoitoPoMcQ
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Thought provoking YouTube thanks.
I think it highlights mostly the difficultly in comparison when it's presented like this at arms length.
I kept thinking 1. Programming is letting the P6 down and 2. The overall impression is the OB6 is running much closer to overloading the signal path so it sounds louder. It's easy enough to rectify these issue and present a fairer comparison. But I guess if you just drive it out of the box the OB6 is going to sound more aggressive and dirty without even trying.
My view is (as with many others in this thread) the P6 has more versatility and subtlety. If you want it! And yes maybe it is easier to make the OB6 gurgle and scream. It's an interesting viewpoint that says the SEM 12db/octave filter also allows more harmonics to pass through and so is easier to sit in a mix. I wonder what the P12 and P8 guys think?
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Your welcome. I always enjoy comparison videos and discussions. Of course, they can only go so far as to precision and fairness, but they are what they are. This particular video has its limited value, for certain, and there was no attempt to program the same sounds on each instrument and then compare. But still, the two synthesizers are there to give some sonic sense of each one's voice.
The OB-6's filter has a sandy fizziness from upper frequencies passing through that is so distinctive, almost regardless of the patch. It's an unmistakable quality. Personally, I far prefer the warmer and darker Prophet-6. I've grown to like it again, after being disappointed with its limited modulation. And it sure could double as a fine mono synth. I'd love to hear the keyboard and module versions paired and panned.
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I don't know if anyone has made this comparison already but after listening to your YouTube yesterday, it occurred to me that a good "similar too" would be to compare a Fender Strat with a Gibson Les Paul. The Strat being closer to the P6 with its ability to produce very clean sounds with reduced harmonics as well as scream (in the right hands). Whereas the OB6 is more like a Gibson with hot humbuckers.
Both are great and together produce a huge range of similar or overlapping sounds. But they both have particular niches.
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A note on the OBXa I'm pretty sure I don't remember it having self oscillating filters. Or at least the ones we hired back then didn't. Also, Im thinking the OBXa filter was 12db/octave (2pole) and made by SSM? Either way the 2 pole filer made the OBXa less sonically flexible than the P5. Although as I remember it the OBXa was much funkier and gutsy live. It made a great replacement for my Hammond. I'm sure part of this was the real estate. The OBXa was physically big! My memory is the P5 really scored in the studio. It had some beautiful emotional sounds.
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I just wish the OB6 had a bit more difference in terms of features than the P6. Even something as simple as having the OBXa benders instead of the mod wheels.
(http://www.synthfind.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/obxa2.JPG)
The ability to do splits and layers would have been nice or even just more polyphony. I dunno just something to differentiate it a bit more than just the sound. I get that the sound IS the key feature but still.
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A note on the OBXa I'm pretty sure I don't remember it having self oscillating filters. Or at least the ones we hired back then didn't. Also, Im thinking the OBXa filter was 12db/octave (2pole) and made by SSM? Either way the 2 pole filer made the OBXa less sonically flexible than the P5. Although as I remember it the OBXa was much funkier and gutsy live. It made a great replacement for my Hammond. I'm sure part of this was the real estate. The OBXa was physically big! My memory is the P5 really scored in the studio. It had some beautiful emotional sounds.
The OB-X had discrete 2-pole non-self oscillating low-pass filters; the OB-Xa and OB-8 had Curtis 4-pole (self-oscillating) / 2-pole low-pass filters. (You may have been thinking about the original OB-X.)
Rev 1 / Rev 2 Prophet-5 units had SSM 4-pole low-pass filters; Rev 3 units had Curtis 4-pole (self-oscillating) low-pass filters, as did later Sequential units.
By comparison–the Prophet-6 has discrete SSM-style (e.g., Rev 1 / Rev 2) 4-pole low-pass + 2-pole discrete high-pass filters in series; the OB-6 has discrete SEM-style 2-pole state-variable filters (high-/band-/low-pass or notch); same applies to the (Pioneer DJ) Toraiz AS-1.
The Pro-2 has a single discrete SSM-style 4-pole low-pass filter, as well as a single SEM-style 2-pole state-variable filter, which can be arranged in series, parallel, or split among the four digital oscillators.
The Prophet '08 / Mopho / Tetra and the Evolver range all have Curtis 4-pole (self-oscillating) / 2-pole low-pass filters; the Prophet-12 adds a discrete 2-pole high-pass filter in series.
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Thanks David, great info. I do remember the OB-X it had a horrible front panel colour scheme! I can't remember exactly what I did with the OBXa we had back in 1982 (it was only for a few gigs) but I do remember I had a chance of buying a second hand OBXa in ~1991, I can remember I couldn't get the filters to self oscillate. So I didn't buy it! To me that's a major feature of an analogue synth. So maybe it was out of calibration or something. I just assumed that the OBXa design didn't incorporate self oscillating filters I was very disappointed. Wish I'd known then what I know now. I would certainly have paid the £450 he wanted. Lol
Still I bought a secondhand Matrix 6 rack instead which was awesome!