OB~6 Distortion vs Prophet~6 Distortion

[MPM]

I've noticed a difference between the way my OB~6 and Prophet~6 Distortion effect sounds. When applying distortion to an initial patch on each synth (with a simple filter env for musicality) I find that the Prophet~6 distortion sounds lifeless compared to the OB~6 distortion, which sounds like it's following the notes and much more musical.
My question is, are the OB~6 and Prophet~6 distortion circuits in the same spot in the synths? In which case I assume something is wrong with my Prophet~6 distortion. Anyone with both hearing the same thing?
Or are they just wired in differently?

[synthwave4ever]

I don't think your P6 is broken. I got my P6 in 2015 and have never liked the distortion. Even with small amounts it chops off all the high end and definition and turns the sound to mush. Maybe OK for a grungy 303-style sound on mono patches but pretty bad otherwise.

Just got my OB6 and immediately noticed the distortion seemed much smoother and useful! Actually sounds genuinely awesome, in fact. Kind of a funny irony that on the synth with a dedicated distortion knob the distortion kinda sucks and on the synth where it's a hidden parameter it sounds good. Haha

[SynthHead]

I owned a Prophet 6 once, and have owned 2 OB-6 (probably my favourite modern synth). There's many posts on the internet about the distortion sounding 'better' on the OB-6, it may be more likely that while the distortion is exactly the same and in the same place it just sounds better being applied to a MUCH nicer sounding engine/VCOs/Filter and VCA section.

I was always underwhelmed by my Prophet 6 (I've since got a Prophet 10 rev 4.. now THAT sounds like a prophet! ) and, again, many others noticed how tame, small and distant it sounded for a VCO analog. The mixer section has no saturation and if you turn everything up to full it just sounds hard and sterile, while the OB-6 can push into the filter like a Moog does... now combine that more saturated texture and the nicer sounding oscilators with the distortion and, yeah, it seems to 'glue' to the sound better.

Furthermore, with some resonance on the OB-6 and just the right amount of distortion, I've created some of the greatest sounds to come from a single keyboard ever.. perfect for low drone intros and bridges... I never got that from the Prophet 6 as it just sounded harsh with the distortion (and not too great without sadly)

[hoodoo_ray]

I owned a Prophet 6 once, and have owned 2 OB-6 (probably my favourite modern synth). There's many posts on the internet about the distortion sounding 'better' on the OB-6, it may be more likely that while the distortion is exactly the same and in the same place it just sounds better being applied to a MUCH nicer sounding engine/VCOs/Filter and VCA section.

I was always underwhelmed by my Prophet 6 (I've since got a Prophet 10 rev 4.. now THAT sounds like a prophet! ) and, again, many others noticed how tame, small and distant it sounded for a VCO analog. The mixer section has no saturation and if you turn everything up to full it just sounds hard and sterile, while the OB-6 can push into the filter like a Moog does... now combine that more saturated texture and the nicer sounding oscilators with the distortion and, yeah, it seems to 'glue' to the sound better.

Furthermore, with some resonance on the OB-6 and just the right amount of distortion, I've created some of the greatest sounds to come from a single keyboard ever.. perfect for low drone intros and bridges... I never got that from the Prophet 6 as it just sounded harsh with the distortion (and not too great without sadly)

Shame you didn’t get on with the Prophet 6. I think it’s a fantastic synth, and borne out by how many great records (to me anyway) it appears on. I personally love it! I do somewhat agree about the distortion, there are certain sweet spots with certain sounds for sure, but on the OB-6 it tends to stay more ‘musical’ generally (that’s the best I can describe it I think). My guess is similar, I think it is probably the same distortion circuit but reacts differently to the VCOs and the filter - same as how certain distortion pedals react differently to the other elements before it and which guitar is being used. Like I said though I have found the distortion on the Prophet 6 is great for particular patches, so I am glad it’s there to be honest!

[LPF83]

Like I said though I have found the distortion on the Prophet 6 is great for particular patches, so I am glad it’s there to be honest!

This has been my experience.  It doesn't sound great on every patches, but on the right ones it can sound amazing.

[LoboLives]

I actually enjoy the P6's distortion. It has a character to it. I've used it a bit when doing more "lo-fi" soundtrack work.

[LPF83]

Recently I've found a new appreciation for the distortion knob on the P6.  I usually use samples for drums but have been on an experimental binge making analog drum sounds on the P6... this is something the OB6 (and my future OBX8) can't do at all, and some synths which do have self-oscillating filters just don't have quite the punch that the P6 does.

I'm quite sure my Toraiz-AS1 could do great percussion as well but I prefer to use the P6 for analog percussion due more knobs/immediacy, and also the fact that the AS1 is my favorite bass synth (something the P6 is great at too but the AS1 is a little better).

One thing that also becomes apparent when doing percussion on the P6 is how the other on board FX might seem a bit tame compared to outboard pedals, when using them with percussion sounds, the results can be so good that it starts to seem this is how Dave intended the FX to be used.

Just another reason I'm never letting my P6 go, despite owning a P10.

[Manbird]

Recently I've found a new appreciation for the distortion knob on the P6.  I usually use samples for drums but have been on an experimental binge making analog drum sounds on the P6... this is something the OB6 (and my future OBX8) can't do at all, and some synths which do have self-resonating filters just don't have quite the punch that the P6 does.

I'm quite sure my Toraiz-AS1 could do great percussion as well but I prefer to use the P6 for analog percussion due more knobs/immediacy, and also the fact that the AS1 is my favorite bass synth (something the P6 is great at too but the AS1 is a little better).

One thing that also becomes apparent when doing percussion on the P6 is how the other on board FX might seem a bit tame compared to outboard pedals, when using them with percussion sounds, the results can be so good that it starts to seem this is how Dave intended the FX to be used.

Just another reason I'm never letting my P6 go, despite owning a P10.

When I first got my Prophet 6, I recorded a handful of all-P6 songs, which included the P6 as "drum kit." It really has a tough little sound in that regard. More recently, I've picked up both a Digitakt and the Roland TR-6S and have imported loads of my P6 percussion sounds into those machines. An all-P6 drum machine is a fab treat!

[LPF83]

Recently I've found a new appreciation for the distortion knob on the P6.  I usually use samples for drums but have been on an experimental binge making analog drum sounds on the P6... this is something the OB6 (and my future OBX8) can't do at all, and some synths which do have self-resonating filters just don't have quite the punch that the P6 does.

I'm quite sure my Toraiz-AS1 could do great percussion as well but I prefer to use the P6 for analog percussion due more knobs/immediacy, and also the fact that the AS1 is my favorite bass synth (something the P6 is great at too but the AS1 is a little better).

One thing that also becomes apparent when doing percussion on the P6 is how the other on board FX might seem a bit tame compared to outboard pedals, when using them with percussion sounds, the results can be so good that it starts to seem this is how Dave intended the FX to be used.

Just another reason I'm never letting my P6 go, despite owning a P10.

When I first got my Prophet 6, I recorded a handful of all-P6 songs, which included the P6 as "drum kit." It really has a tough little sound in that regard. More recently, I've picked up both a Digitakt and the Roland TR-6S and have imported loads of my P6 percussion sounds into those machines. An all-P6 drum machine is a fab treat!

The hard-hitting percussion sound possibilities of the P6 really are underrated.  I suppose some of the same DNA was part of the Tempest, which I would like to own but the combination of price/complaints of bugs and the fact it's discontinued was a put off for me.