Detailed Instruction on Using Prophet 5

[jackvoelker]

I've had my Prophet 5 for a few months and have some basic familiarity with synthesis to the point that I can patch together sounds or work off of presets to aim for a desired sound.

That being said, I've looked everywhere for resources of someone going super in depth about tweaking every parameter with the Prophet 5 .

Is this something that exists? I've seen J3PO video detailing the PolyMod feature (which was great and hugely informative) but haven't seen anything else like that getting into some of the other functionality. I find it hard to believe that everyone who has one of these has a masters in acoustical engineering. Thanks,

[stairfaller]

Here are some resources I've found most helpful:

(1) Gordon Reid's synth secrets for Sound on Sound is a goldmine: https://www.soundonsound.com/series/synth-secrets
(2) The patch sheets for the original 40 sounds is a pretty good start to setting a foundation. Especially the nuances like using the Polymod for the attack on patch #4 electric piano.
(3) YouTube videos on synthesis
(4) Setting up a patch on a modular synth

There are two areas to study and understand:
(1) Sound itself, how various instruments produce their sound, how the harmonic spectrum plays out for a sound (Gordon Reid's synth secrets covers this well)
(2) Applying the principles of sound to the features of the synthesizer, in our case with the Prophet 10 this would be traditional analog subtractive synthesis (VCOs --> VCF --> VCA ....plus modulation).

I apologize for stating the obvious in some of my post but this has been my process and the resources I've used. Part of the fun is that the exploring and learning never stops. I've had a modular for 20 years and I'm still seeking out the same thing you are.

[SynthWolf]

What I found to be really helpful and fulfilling is recreating sounds.

You can purchase the sound tower p5 rev4 software and use this as a tool to check your work.

I would start doing 2 patches a day where you reverse “engineer” a patch. Select a sound you really like, and start by moving the cutoff filter , move it fully open and closed and then try to match where the cutoff should be. By selecting the preset button it’ll bring you back to the original sound so you can A/B your placement of the cutoff is. Do this until it’s as close to your ears as humanly possible and do it for all the knobs. After you’re done, check your work with the sound tower editing patch.

This is a great sound design exercise that will make you ears more tuned in to the prophets knobs and make you more confident with the synth

What are your thoughts?

[Analog Prophet]

You can purchase the sound tower p5 rev4 software and use this as a tool to check your work.

I would never buy any Sound Tower products (again); the products are ok but when support is needed there is absolutely non, only ignorance. If I was the only one with that experience would be one thing but I heard so many (at different forums, Moog for instance) sharing that experience. Save your money for a product from a company giving support when needed.

[SynthWolf]

You can purchase the sound tower p5 rev4 software and use this as a tool to check your work.

I would never buy any Sound Tower products (again); the products are ok but when support is needed there is absolutely non, only ignorance. If I was the only one with that experience would be one thing but I heard so many (at different forums, Moog for instance) sharing that experience. Save your money for a product from a company giving support when needed.

Yeah I’ve actually heard this before from other people. But at the same time, I’ve heard a lot more people, people I talk to speak highly of the software specifically for the p5. But then again I don’t have any of their software. So I can’t speak from experience.
What was your experience?

[Analog Prophet]

My experience was, as I mentioned, good software (Moog Voyager) but no response at all when I had technical questions and questions about updates. During the years I contacted Sound Tower a few times but never received any support, just ignorance - not interested of costumers, only costumer’s credit card. Plenty of other members at the Moog forum had the same experience and no one I can recall testified that Sound Tower ever gave expected support when issues appeared. If the program was freeware such things can be ok but not for a commercial program at that price range - absolutely unacceptable.

[LPF83]

I can only provide my own experience.  The Soundtower products aren't perfect, and sometimes they do act up but I generally find they get the job done, and I'm better off with them than without.  I typically run the standalone version for editing the instrument, with the audio going through Cubase.  This is because the standalone versions have some functions the plugins do not with regard to morphing etc.

As far as support, I've sent a couple of emails and more than once gotten well-thought-out and well-written lengthy responses from Mark (I assume he is the primary developer/business owner).  I do get the impression this is not his day job, and to some extent that sentiment is reflected in literally every third party editor for a hardware instruments I've ever used... and by that same token I can fully imagine that there are times when any small business owner gets so far behind on responding to every email that it just becomes overwhelming.

So, individual mileage may vary.  Codeknobs editors are pretty good too -- I like that I can run a plugin that is full featured with regard to morphing/patch creation.  They aren't perfect either though, and unfortunately there is currrent not an Codeknobs editor for the P5/P10.  So in that regard, Soundtower is probably the best option for an editor.

Getting back to the original thread question..  I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Syntorial for learning sound design.  It's not based on the P5, it uses a built-in soft synth to instruct but the principles of sound design are mostly the same on any subtractive synth.  It tends to go on half-price sale around the holidays.

[Analog Prophet]

The whole idea of a software editor instead of the perfect hardware interface of P5/P10 (and other hands on knob per function synths) is a little bit strange to me. A library, such SysEx Librarian, to store/backup patches is enough to a such great hardware interface in my world. Otherwise I could go software all the way.

[LPF83]

The whole idea of a software editor instead of the perfect hardware interface of P5/P10 (and other hands on knob per function synths) is a little bit strange to me. A library, such SysEx Librarian, to store/backup patches is enough to a such great hardware interface in my world. Otherwise I could go software all the way.

For me an editor is not a replacement for the panel knobs on the P10.  It is primarily for the librarian features as a way to easily rename/organize patches.  But also features like morphing and similar can be a great way to generate ideas more rapidly across a wider spectrum.  For example if I decide I want something thats sounds somewhere in between patch A and patch B, but always retaining the filter envelope from patch B, I can move a slider to quickly audition lots of variations.   But I consider sound design to be mostly setup, preparation, and cataloging rather than part of the music making process.  Its the music making process where the hands on knobs come into play (literally).

And to be honest, for me the Rev4 is the one synth where the above mentioned feature comes the least in handy, because of the simplicity of the controls.  On other synths where FX settings like chorus or distortion might be included in the patch, I may want to morph between two sounds while locking down those parameters and that could get quite tedious fast flipping through patches on the synth.

That said, if one only wanted the sysex librarian features -- what are other good options for Sequential synths?

[g3o2]

Hi,

I have found Simon Cann’s How to make noise series to be pretty hands-on and accessible: https://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make-a-noise-analog-synthesis/

The book goes for only a few dollars (a steal IMO) and the older more general book is even a free download.