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SEQUENTIAL/DSI => Trigon-6 => Topic started by: synthwave4ever on January 28, 2023, 05:04:57 PM

Title: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: synthwave4ever on January 28, 2023, 05:04:57 PM
I own the P6 and the OB 6 and while they each of course have a distinct charm, I still often question if I really need both of them, especially since I'm mostly a hobbyist - and space is at a premium in my little bedroom studio. But when I try to decide which I'd part with, I just can't decide.
In comes the Trigon! As soon as I found out the filter is switchable between 2 and 4 pole modes, a light bulb went off: could this single synth essentially replace both of the others? I know it's a different filter from either, and again, it too has it's own sound, but c'mon. They're all kinda varied flavors of the same basic form factor and architecture.
Could the 4 pole mode basically cover P6 territory while the 2 pole mode covers OB 6 territory, recognizing there are some differences?
I know not many have had their hands on one yet since it's so new, but if anyone has experience with all three, or if you want to just join in the totally unsubstantiated conjecture like I'm doing, I'd love to hear from you. :)
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: AlainHubert on January 28, 2023, 10:39:48 PM
My personal take on it:
 
First, it doesn't sound distinctive enough to justify replacing my OB6 which I love the sound of.
Second, if it had 8 voices and a five-octave keyboard, maybe I'd be perhaps tempted.
Third, no, it doesn't sound like a Memorymoog. It sounds like another Sequential synth.

So, for someone who doesn't already have a P6 or OB6, it can be interesting.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 01, 2023, 01:00:52 PM
Switchable 2 / 4 pole filter?

8 voices?

5 octave keyboard?

Sounds like someone needs a Prophet 08!
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: AlainHubert on February 01, 2023, 10:40:04 PM
Switchable 2 / 4 pole filter?

8 voices?

5 octave keyboard?

Sounds like someone needs a Prophet 08!

I've already got a 16 voice Prophet REV2 and don't really like it. It's definitely not a Prophet 6 or OB6, or even Trigon 6 as far as sound quality is concerned. Its 2 pole filter mode is useless (resonnance quasi inexistant).

That's why I said that the Trigon 6 should have been a Trigon 8...
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 02, 2023, 02:22:03 AM
It was just a tongue in cheek joke really :)

Though I will always disagree about ‘sound quality’ (whatever that means), I love the Prophet 08. I also love the 2 pole mode on it!

In regards the original post, we live in a world now where there are so many incredible choices for synths. Lots of synths cover a lot of ground, some are a little more specific in what they do.. but most good polysynths can do most things with the right programming. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer really, my advice is to do as much research as possible and really think about what you are after, and of course play with a potential new synth as much as you can before buying, if possible - especially if it’s to replace existing instruments.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: LPF83 on February 02, 2023, 04:57:52 AM
I've already got a 16 voice Prophet REV2 and don't really like it. It's definitely not a Prophet 6 or OB6, or even Trigon 6 as far as sound quality is concerned. Its 2 pole filter mode is useless (resonnance quasi inexistant).

As an owner of 3 out of 4 above, I totally agree the sound of the Rev2 differs greatly from the P6 and OB6 (which also differ greatly from each other), and compared side by side on a per sound basis, the P6 and OB6 do impress my ear more immediately.  But the Rev2 is a DCO synth...  I think of it as more of a modern Juno than a Prophet.  DCO synths excel in very specific areas, one of which is versatility and playing well with other synths in a mix.   I think the Rev2 is brilliant at this, let's not even get into the voice count (on the 16 voice version), the modulation options, the 5 octave keybed which feels amazing (including the AT implementation), etc.   But what puzzles me is the fact that you've mentioned multiple times you don't like your Rev2...   Why would you not sell it?

To roll a side topic back into the subject of the thread, re:  can a Trigon replace a P6 or OB6.....

... I'm going to say that probably depends on what you want from a 6 voice VCO poly.  The envelopes+filter combinations on both the P6 and OB6 can produce extremely punchy bass sounds.  I rarely hear the same kind of sound coming from any ladder filter synth, and I have not yet heard what I would call punchy synth bass coming from a Trigon 6.  That's not to say it's not capable, it just means I haven't heard these sounds coming from it yet.  To me (and so far), the Trigon 6 sounds great, but it's a different sound than the P6 or OB6.  Combined that with the fact that ladder filters have different fundamental characteristics than Prophet or Oberheim style filters, and also that Dave believed in "each synth having their own personality" and designed the Trigon 6 to supplement the P6 and OB6 (not replace them), I would have to say that more than likely the Trigon 6 is not a suitable replacement for the P6/OB6. 
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: shells on February 02, 2023, 07:27:16 AM
Probably.

But why do manufacturers persist with keyboards? How many keyboards can we accommodate! Desktops are surely the way forward - at the end of this particular 'golden era' of synths?
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 02, 2023, 09:12:03 AM
I've already got a 16 voice Prophet REV2 and don't really like it. It's definitely not a Prophet 6 or OB6, or even Trigon 6 as far as sound quality is concerned. Its 2 pole filter mode is useless (resonnance quasi inexistant).

The envelopes+filter combinations on both the P6 and OB6 can produce extremely punchy bass sounds.  I rarely hear the same kind of sound coming from any ladder filter synth

..apart from the scores of classic records which utilised any Moog bass sounds from the 60s onwards! :)

I haven't played on a Trigon, nor do I plan on getting one, but I would bet it can make great bass sounds, or 'punchy' bass sounds (whatever that means anyway). What would make you think it can't?
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 02, 2023, 09:14:14 AM
Probably.

But why do manufacturers persist with keyboards? How many keyboards can we accommodate! Desktops are surely the way forward - at the end of this particular 'golden era' of synths?

I have to strongly disagree. I think it's great to be offered both. For me personally, I much prefer having a standalone instrument I can take with me to a practice, a gig or just a friend's house for a jam!
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: LPF83 on February 02, 2023, 09:55:47 AM
I've already got a 16 voice Prophet REV2 and don't really like it. It's definitely not a Prophet 6 or OB6, or even Trigon 6 as far as sound quality is concerned. Its 2 pole filter mode is useless (resonnance quasi inexistant).

The envelopes+filter combinations on both the P6 and OB6 can produce extremely punchy bass sounds.  I rarely hear the same kind of sound coming from any ladder filter synth

..apart from the scores of classic records which utilised any Moog bass sounds from the 60s onwards! :)

I haven't played on a Trigon, nor do I plan on getting one, but I would bet it can make great bass sounds, or 'punchy' bass sounds (whatever that means anyway). What would make you think it can't?

Most of the bass I hear coming out of the Model D in the 70s doesn't qualify for my definition of punchy.  Honestly I think the first Moogs I ever heard that sounded punchy like a ProOne or Juno60 were probably the Multimoog or Moog Source.

Don't confuse that with "good" bass..  A lot of 70s / 80s funk had good bass, but either got its snap via sampling, layering with something else, or it just didn't have the snap I'm referring to.

I'm not saying the Trigon 6 can't do it.. just that I haven't heard examples yet.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 02, 2023, 01:39:48 PM
What’s a ‘punchy’ bass sound? It may mean different things to different people! Could you give an example?
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: Quatschmacher on February 02, 2023, 01:47:08 PM
Probably.

But why do manufacturers persist with keyboards? How many keyboards can we accommodate! Desktops are surely the way forward - at the end of this particular 'golden era' of synths?

I have to strongly disagree. I think it's great to be offered both. For me personally, I much prefer having a standalone instrument I can take with me to a practice, a gig or just a friend's house for a jam!

I’d go a step further, I really wish they’d offer their keyboards in a third variant with at least a 61-key keyboard. The main reason I never bought any of the 6 series is due to the short keyboard. And no, I don’t really want to hook up a desktop to a master keyboard if at all possible, I’d like a self-contained instrument.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: LPF83 on February 02, 2023, 04:34:00 PM
What’s a ‘punchy’ bass sound? It may mean different things to different people! Could you give an example?

Punchy may indeed mean different things to different folks..  many may consider "punch" to be "prominent" in the mix.  But the actual sound "synth bass" typically means a certain category of sound, at least according to the presets on most synths.  Usually if you dial in a sound labeled synth bass it's a very staccato (fast attack, nearly non-existent release) that is almost like a low end pluck.  It's usually in and out fast, and gives rhythm to the track more than really low end presence.  And yes compression and EQ techniques can take any bass sound and make it punchier, but some synths just tend to do it really well.  It comes down to certain characteristics of the envelopes (which the Model D to my knowledge was never known for having particular fast ones) as well as the filter itself.

For example, the Prophet 10 is not what I would consider a super punchy "synth bass" synth.  It can do it, and it has a few sweet spots where the oscillators can be combined in a certain way to give it a certain special snap, but it's primarily better at other things.  Contrast that with the AS-1 (which to me is the modern ProOne)...  It just BEGS to do this out of the box, you almost have to tame it.  There's no searching for sweet spots if you want punchy bass from that synth.

I just reached for some of the first examples that came to mind, not necessarily the best examples (and also YT may not convey the original punch very well).

Smalltown Boy (ProOne I believe)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88sARuFu-tc

Don't Go (ProOne)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sQGwDeambg

Everything she wants (Juno60)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf_Lwe6p-Cg

Also go through some of Luke Millions videos, he does a good job of getting snappy bass out of many of his synths, especially the Multimoog.. most of them don't seem to come off his Model D:
https://www.youtube.com/@lukemillionmusic/videos
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: Manbird on February 02, 2023, 06:00:29 PM
Snappy is the new punchy!
Moog maybe does deep more than it does punchy, if we're being perfectly objective here. I've got a Pro One, a P5 and a Prophet 6 - any of those can land a snappy punch, but the Pro One is my go-to for 80s 8th-note bass. When I want the lowness of tone, though, my Grandmother gets the gig.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: LPF83 on February 02, 2023, 06:07:17 PM
Snappy is the new punchy!
Moog maybe does deep more than it does punchy, if we're being perfectly objective here. I've got a Pro One, a P5 and a Prophet 6 - any of those can land a snappy punch, but the Pro One is my go-to for 80s 8th-note bass. When I want the lowness of tone, though, my Grandmother gets the gig.

I always associate Moog with deep, and creamy / oozy sounding bass, or more commonly the "funk bass" sound (which doesn't really need to be as punchy as it is expressive).  It's not that Moog synths aren't capable of punchy, it's just not their primary forte.  I can get some pretty punchy sounds out of my Slim Phatty, it's just that it takes some menu diving and tweaking to find a particular sweet spot that other synths do so naturally.  I'm envious of your Pro One...  but yeah, P5/10 can do it with some work, the Prophet 6 is exceptionally good at it for a poly synth, and the AS-1 is the master and what I imagine a Pro One is like.  Which is strange because an AS-1 was supposed to be just a P6 with a single voice, but somehow through the rest of the hardware and differences in FX it emerged as more than that, as a bass synth.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 03, 2023, 01:05:54 AM
What’s a ‘punchy’ bass sound? It may mean different things to different people! Could you give an example?

Punchy may indeed mean different things to different folks..  many may consider "punch" to be "prominent" in the mix.  But the actual sound "synth bass" typically means a certain category of sound, at least according to the presets on most synths.  Usually if you dial in a sound labeled synth bass it's a very staccato (fast attack, nearly non-existent release) that is almost like a low end pluck.  It's usually in and out fast, and gives rhythm to the track more than really low end presence.  And yes compression and EQ techniques can take any bass sound and make it punchier, but some synths just tend to do it really well.  It comes down to certain characteristics of the envelopes (which the Model D to my knowledge was never known for having particular fast ones) as well as the filter itself.

For example, the Prophet 10 is not what I would consider a super punchy "synth bass" synth.  It can do it, and it has a few sweet spots where the oscillators can be combined in a certain way to give it a certain special snap, but it's primarily better at other things.  Contrast that with the AS-1 (which to me is the modern ProOne)...  It just BEGS to do this out of the box, you almost have to tame it.  There's no searching for sweet spots if you want punchy bass from that synth.

I just reached for some of the first examples that came to mind, not necessarily the best examples (and also YT may not convey the original punch very well).

Smalltown Boy (ProOne I believe)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88sARuFu-tc

Don't Go (ProOne)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sQGwDeambg

Everything she wants (Juno60)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf_Lwe6p-Cg

Also go through some of Luke Millions videos, he does a good job of getting snappy bass out of many of his synths, especially the Multimoog.. most of them don't seem to come off his Model D:
https://www.youtube.com/@lukemillionmusic/videos

If that's the kind of thing..how about Donna Summer - I Feel Love? Literally the first thing that came to mind, created on a Moog (with a ladder filter).
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 03, 2023, 01:30:48 AM
I've already got a 16 voice Prophet REV2 and don't really like it. It's definitely not a Prophet 6 or OB6, or even Trigon 6 as far as sound quality is concerned. Its 2 pole filter mode is useless (resonnance quasi inexistant).

The envelopes+filter combinations on both the P6 and OB6 can produce extremely punchy bass sounds.  I rarely hear the same kind of sound coming from any ladder filter synth

..apart from the scores of classic records which utilised any Moog bass sounds from the 60s onwards! :)

I haven't played on a Trigon, nor do I plan on getting one, but I would bet it can make great bass sounds, or 'punchy' bass sounds (whatever that means anyway). What would make you think it can't?

Most of the bass I hear coming out of the Model D in the 70s doesn't qualify for my definition of punchy.  Honestly I think the first Moogs I ever heard that sounded punchy like a ProOne or Juno60 were probably the Multimoog or Moog Source.

Don't confuse that with "good" bass..  A lot of 70s / 80s funk had good bass, but either got its snap via sampling, layering with something else, or it just didn't have the snap I'm referring to.

I'm not saying the Trigon 6 can't do it.. just that I haven't heard examples yet.

..also worth mentioning that both the Multimoog and the Moog Source had ladder filters!
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: LPF83 on February 03, 2023, 04:39:48 AM
..also worth mentioning that both the Multimoog and the Moog Source had ladder filters!

Alongside snappy envelopes....and this is why I knew I was going to regret trying to post examples.  Anyway my point is I haven't heard snappy bass out of a Trigon 6 yet.  It's possible it can do it, I just haven't heard it yet and I've found it to not be a strength of ladder filter synths.  Whether it is a strength or not is completely unrelated to whether ladder filter synths can be made to sound snappy/punchy.  But I'm not going to get into an endless debate about that.. you can find plenty of that on Gearspace.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: shells on February 03, 2023, 04:53:11 AM
Probably.

But why do manufacturers persist with keyboards? How many keyboards can we accommodate! Desktops are surely the way forward - at the end of this particular 'golden era' of synths?

I have to strongly disagree. I think it's great to be offered both. For me personally, I much prefer having a standalone instrument I can take with me to a practice, a gig or just a friend's house for a jam!

I’d go a step further, I really wish they’d offer their keyboards in a third variant with at least a 61-key keyboard. The main reason I never bought any of the 6 series is due to the short keyboard. And no, I don’t really want to hook up a desktop to a master keyboard if at all possible, I’d like a self-contained instrument.

Yeah. I get that those white and black things are convenient for data entry to the synth but the £700 premium each time plus the space required is my issue. The synth itself is complete. Fwiw, I think the Trigon project could have been a bit more radical.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 03, 2023, 05:49:02 AM
..also worth mentioning that both the Multimoog and the Moog Source had ladder filters!

Alongside snappy envelopes....and this is why I knew I was going to regret trying to post examples.  Anyway my point is I haven't heard snappy bass out of a Trigon 6 yet.  It's possible it can do it, I just haven't heard it yet and I've found it to not be a strength of ladder filter synths.  Whether it is a strength or not is completely unrelated to whether ladder filter synths can be made to sound snappy/punchy.  But I'm not going to get into an endless debate about that.. you can find plenty of that on Gearspace.

Earlier on you said "I rarely hear the same kind of sound coming from any ladder filter synth, and I have not yet heard what I would call punchy synth bass coming from a Trigon 6" in answer to the original question (which this is all about). I asked for examples because I wasn't sure exactly what you meant by 'punchy' bass and I wasn't convinced that simply the fact of a synth having a ladder filter this would mean it is not able to produce that kind of sound. I understand though that when discussing sound in words there is lots of grey, and lots of subjectivity - I also don't want to get into an endless debate about particular sounds either - so all good! :)



Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: hoodoo_ray on February 03, 2023, 06:06:55 AM
I own the P6 and the OB 6 and while they each of course have a distinct charm, I still often question if I really need both of them, especially since I'm mostly a hobbyist - and space is at a premium in my little bedroom studio. But when I try to decide which I'd part with, I just can't decide.
In comes the Trigon! As soon as I found out the filter is switchable between 2 and 4 pole modes, a light bulb went off: could this single synth essentially replace both of the others? I know it's a different filter from either, and again, it too has it's own sound, but c'mon. They're all kinda varied flavors of the same basic form factor and architecture.
Could the 4 pole mode basically cover P6 territory while the 2 pole mode covers OB 6 territory, recognizing there are some differences?
I know not many have had their hands on one yet since it's so new, but if anyone has experience with all three, or if you want to just join in the totally unsubstantiated conjecture like I'm doing, I'd love to hear from you. :)

One thing to consider is sometimes there is a huge amount of airtime given to the differences between synths - the areas they can go to which other synths can't - rather than shared ground. Even with the P6 and OB6, of course there are differences and if you dive full into 'Oberheim' territory on the OB6 you will find things the P6 can't do, and vice versa. However, the shared ground between them is quote huge - even if their filters are so different. So I would take that into consideration - and try to explore how much shared ground there is between the Trigon and those two. I should imagine that the Trigon actually has even more shared ground with both the P6 and the OB6 (due to the filter options) whilst also sharing much of the same architecture. Further it has that third oscillator which gives you even more options too. So in summary - are there aspects really specific to the P6 and OB6 which you would really miss which you perhps couldn't cover with the Trigon?

Also, if you are struggling for space going down to one synth could be the answer. I know some folk who really believe that you don't need more than one polysynth, and that you can get 99% of what you want through good programming, effects etc. So if you can believe you can do that then why not?

Another thing to think about too - would you miss having two synths playing in parallel? Is this something you utilise a lot, or do you tend to record etc with one synth at a time? If the former you may want to think about that.

Lastly, I will say what I always say to anyone considering buying a new synth - if you do get the chance to try one, does it inspire you? Does it 'feel' right? This is not something that is important to everyone mind - but for me personally I tend to be much more creative with instruments (not just synths) which feel right somehow. That's really woolly I know, and probably not well described - but I hope it makes sense in some way!
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: Quatschmacher on February 03, 2023, 07:27:02 AM
Probably.

But why do manufacturers persist with keyboards? How many keyboards can we accommodate! Desktops are surely the way forward - at the end of this particular 'golden era' of synths?

I have to strongly disagree. I think it's great to be offered both. For me personally, I much prefer having a standalone instrument I can take with me to a practice, a gig or just a friend's house for a jam!

I’d go a step further, I really wish they’d offer their keyboards in a third variant with at least a 61-key keyboard. The main reason I never bought any of the 6 series is due to the short keyboard. And no, I don’t really want to hook up a desktop to a master keyboard if at all possible, I’d like a self-contained instrument.

Yeah. I get that those white and black things are convenient for data entry to the synth but the £700 premium each time plus the space required is my issue. The synth itself is complete. Fwiw, I think the Trigon project could have been a bit more radical.

I do piano-style playing as opposed to any kind of sequenced stuff so for me the extra keys are essential. That’s why I was suggesting they make 3 versions: a module, a 4-octave keyboard and a 5- or 6-octave keyboard. That way users have a choice. There are companies who do this or almost this such as Korg (Prologue), Modal (Cobalt and Argon), ASM (Hydrasynth). Bit of market research to determine likely numbers of sales on each version and it’d be win-win for everyone.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: LPF83 on February 03, 2023, 07:56:03 AM
I do piano-style playing as opposed to any kind of sequenced stuff so for me the extra keys are essential. That’s why I was suggesting they make 3 versions: a module, a 4-octave keyboard and a 5- or 6-octave keyboard. That way users have a choice. There are companies who do this or almost this such as Korg (Prologue), Modal (Cobalt and Argon), ASM (Hydrasynth). Bit of market research to determine likely numbers of sales on each version and it’d be win-win for everyone.

I would expect to see the Trigon6 eventually follow the P6 and OB6 with a desktop module in the $2299 price range.
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: J_P_P on February 03, 2023, 01:08:09 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0I0RkK6ttA
Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: LPF83 on February 03, 2023, 03:35:35 PM
[...video...]

I was just getting ready to post this, a very timely post considering the recent discussion about snappiness of bass on ladder filters and whether the Trigon 6 would be able to match the P6 or OB-6 in this regard.  Check out the bass comparison at the 11 minute mark.

Overall I think the Trigon 6 is a great sounding synth, but the OB-X8 remains more on my immediate radar.  I feel there is less overlap between the Prophet 6 and OB-6, they are synths that feel similar but sound very different.  The OB-6 is so full of character, and the filter always makes itself known, but played next to the Prophet 6 or Prophet 10 it always feels a bit less versatile in tone.  The Trigon 6 seems to have a bit more Prophet-like versatility, from what I've heard in sound demos.

Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: SynthHead on October 20, 2023, 05:03:14 PM
As someone who's owned a Prophet 6, 2 OB-6's a Prophet 10 (still got) and a Trigon 6.. the Trigon is the punchiest of the '6' voicers by far. I would suggest a massive amount of 'I don't have that new synth so I'll talk it down vs what I already have' is going on.

Absolute nonsense.

For a start the P6 I had was gutless, utterly gutless, it sounded flat and as far from punchy as I could imagine. My Prophet 10 doing a proper bass sound (doesn't have to be in unison) is immense, it's extremely 'moog like' in the attack and has a ton of depth to the sound (even without a sub osc). Prophet 6 sounds a lot weaker on bass.

Ob6? Love it.. but not for bass, it can do bassy sounds but it NEVER really 'punches', it's much better up the other end, if the Prophet 6 had more guts it would probably 'beat' the OB-6 on bass (technically it does due to the 4 pole filter and more precise VCOs/tone where OB-6 is more airy/fibrous). Either way, neither are bass monsters and both pale next to my Prophet 10 or even my Prologue 16 (which is very good considering it's also a 16 voice poly).

So.. where does Trigon fit it? Hands down the best at bass, not only does it IMMEDIATELY have more low end in a single osc vs the other 2 6's it has a much easier ability to sculpt with the variable 3 osc that isn't just a 'dumb sub osc'. But even just 1 vs 1 osc or 2 oscs the Trigon out punches P6 and Ob6 massively, it has a proper weighty rounded punchy feel, a sound I've rarely heard in modern mass produced polysynths. Most of them flake out when pushed for bass.

Obv resonance up and bass thins (use feedback to get some back) but for the kind of bass I'm talking about I don't need much, if any, resonance.

Further and back on main topic, generally vs Prophet 6 and OB-6 the Trigon 6 is most definitely my favourite. I do LOVE the OB-6 for what it does well, you know it when you hear it, but for the other 90% of what you use an analog for it's just 'OK' vs the Trigon which is massively more flexible, inherently more 'analog' sounding with some real heft to it, and overall - outside of the special OB-6 filter modes that are only needed now and again for me - low pass to low pass, the Trigon filter is MUCH more exciting both in its 4 pole mode (it doesn't get dull and lost like the Prophet 6 ) and in 2 pole mode where it's, again inherently, far less 'wispy' and 'samey' as the OB-6.

Trigon 6 is the best of the 6's - Prophet 6 is the worst (many people all over the net have spoken about how they found the P6 underwhelming in terms of being a VCO analog poly), to me the Trigon sounds and reacts (bites/pushes/moves air) exactly like I'd hoped the P6 would when I got one many years back. Prophet 10 also has a killer sound, much better than P6 , but while it's awesome at snappy defined bass, the Trigon has a lot more going on to do other kinds of basses that sound more textured and thicker than the P10 in straight 10 voice mode (unison is awesome on P10 though), for poly type basses with sequences/arps etc the Trigon excells note-to-note with it's punchy rounded sound and 'alive' flavour coming through from the filter/drive/feedback in ways the OB-6 just doesn't even begin to compete with (here it sounds pretty but definitely flatter and lacking on the lows) and the P6 is, as said, just kinda gutless and somewhat 'static' for an analog synth.

I've had some real moogs to compare snap/punch/bass too (inc slim phatty and sub 37 and subsequent 37 - not the top of the tree but they are pretty punchy and trigon is pretty much up there with them in that respect - ob6 and p6 don't' stand a chance)

I've also had the Rev 2 (08), before I had any of these others and found it awful. The filter is scratchy, the oscs are generic and thin and the programming tedious (having to.. I mean HAVING to put movement into the DCOs with a mod slot or 2 everytime you make a sound just to wake it up gets old) and the tone is overall cold, tinny and cheap sounding (no surprise given the chips used which have very few fans on the net). There's many owners who claim to LOVE the Prophet 08/rev 2, but there's far more Ex -owners who hated the general tone of it. It in no way compares even to the Prophet 6 let alone the OB-6 and certainly NOT the Trigon 6 which is at the top of the tree tone wise from sequential (along with Prophet rev4 and OB-X8)

That said, make your own mind up but this is my honest and no-holds-barred experience of all these synths.

OB-6 and Trigon 6 are both great, but Trigon 6 is a LOT harder to get bored with, has all the flexibility of the P6 and then some with the 4/2 pole option, has a much viby-er filter, fatter sounding base tone/oscs AND also addresses drawbacks on the other 2 synths (namely - finally a real kind of 2nd LFO/polymod while still allowing 2 VCOs) and any shape sub you like to choose rather than just square or triangle like on the other 2, and the 2/4 pole option which drove me nuts on the other 2 lacking those options (I'd much rather forgoe the HPF or the OB-6s notch/bandpass to get 2/4 pole options on all synths... but on the Prophet rev2 it's a moot point that it has that as it sounds lacklustre anyway and had to be removed from all my recordings in progress and replaced with other synths).

As for can it replace the other 2? Hoodoo I think said it right, IF you can forgoe what the other 2 do especially then yes, imo the Trigon is the best of both worlds (or as near as you can get as we only have these 3 to choose from in this case), the OB-6 is def more 'special' than P6 and it's hard to get quite THAT sound or that special filter for those tricks, but the P6 is as generic as it comes and EASILY replaced by Trigon which eats it for breakfast. I do like Prophet tones but it sounds way more 'real' in my P10 rev 4 than it ever did on P6, I don't care for the HP/BP mode but you might? But even then it's still sub-par tone wise for me, lacking life and energy/presence which is why I let it go a long time back with no regret.

OB-6 style sounds can be reached on Trigon 6 far easier than on P6 due to both the 2 pole filter option AND the more 'swimmy' VCOS (everyone knows Ob-6 felt looser and more vibey to play than the over-controlled P6 even after vintage knob update) so you can get maybe half of what OB-6 does well on a Trigon (different tonality though but imo even nicer than the same old over done OBIE tone) and ALL of the bread and butter stuff from P6 and then... a massive range of stuff only Trigon can possibly do due to its extras, and if you had to have just one yes I think T6 is the best all round by far and sounds the most powerful and 'big analog' of the 3. Trigon 6 nails (modern) big analog, OB-6 hints at big analog (but sometimes misses the mark when you need more oomph and guts) and P6 completely fails at it 99.9999% of the time).. and rev 2 is not even in the same league at all. Don't let spec sway you.

Title: Re: Could the Trigon replace both the P6 and OB 6?
Post by: Kja on December 26, 2023, 05:32:13 AM
Calling a p6 gutless compared to the trigon is like calling a music easel gutless compared to a minimoog... Yes, but really not the point. Anybody playing them together can tell they all sound different, none of them "destroy" any other of them.. find the one that speaks to you is the best advice, they all have tons of sounds that only they can do. Ignore all the nonsense, some get so into the my synth is better then yours that it becomes somewhat delusional.