Studioblade is a music workstation available with windows or mac osx platforms. He took over as president at seer systems and developed the first soft synth for intel in 1994, followed by the first fully professional soft synth, reality, released in 1997. Dave smith on the history of synths, from analog to digital. Utilization easy sound editing thanks to the mac pc editor, many routing possibilities, complicated sequenced sounds.
Dave smith is an american engineer and musician and founder of the synthesizer company sequential. Get the most from your dave smith ob6 desktop editor and librarian with fast and easy parameter editing, unparalleled bank organization, inspirational patch randomization, plugin support for au, vst3, vst2, aax, and unmatched daw integration. This revolutionary product was the worlds first polyphonic and programmable synth, and set the standard for all synth designs that have followed. Dave smith on the history of synths, from analog to. The mopho keyboard is a monophonic synthesizer with an all. In the meantime, smith started the company dave smith instruments after realizing the limitations of the software. In 1977 dave designed the prophet5, the worlds first fullyprogrammable polyphonic synth, and the first musical instrument with an embedded microprocessor. Synthesis virtual instrument with over 14,000 sounds, 57 fx engines, and hardware synth integration mac pc aax, vst, au. Dave smith founded sequential circuits, the premier manufacturer of professional music synthesizers, in the mid70s. Dave smith founded sequential circuits in the mid70s. Mopho sound editor provides the ultimate editing and sound development experience by displaying all mopho program parameters in a single intuitive graphical interface.
Dave smith tetra desktop synthesizer like 4 mophos in one. Dave smith in his own words, francis preve, keyboard magazine, jul 2012 dave smith. Tetra is basically four mophos in a very compact 7. Sequential is led by legendary instrument designer and grammywinner dave smith, the founder of sequential circuits in 1974. The soft knobs are detented encoders and are great for dialing in specific values. Stunning graphics, intuitive functions and easy to use menus make tweaking the prophet 08 hardware fun and easy. Nov 29, 2017 dave smith instruments pro 2 first look.
Dx10 is a fm synth, it has only two operators, but you can still get nice bell sounds out of it. After a stint working in software synthesis for seer systems, dave. Released in 2002, evolver is the first instrument to come from dave smith instruments. Each of the prophets twelve voices is composed of a brand new hybrid digitalanalog architecture that sounds different than any other dsi synth, yet retains the true prophet vibe. Programming presets for the sequential prophet 6 synth. If you really want a dsi synth get an x4, otherwise i suggest an a4 which is actively developed and with great pc integration.
Even among the pantheon of synth pioneers, few instrument makers have covered as much ground as dave smith, founder of dave smith instruments. It has also developed andor licensed software to the top three synthesizer manufacturers as well major hardware manufacturers including. Midi quest dave smith ob6 desktop editor and librarian for. One instrument both the ob6 desktop module and ob6 keyboard are a onceinalifetime collaboration between the two most influential designers in poly synth history, dave smith and tom oberheim. With its vcos, polymod, monotimbral architecture and 1970s sound, the prophet 6 is the model that most resembles the earliest prophets and will appeal to those who lust. Some of these soft synths are completely new while others are replications of your favorite old synths such as the famous, fat tb303. New from eventide audio, crushstation is a versatile, bestinclass, stereo distortion platform for your mac, pc or ipadiphone. See winter namm 2014 reports at sonicstate and harmony central. Do you like the way the instrument sounds, does it have personality, do you bond with it. One of the best things about the ob6 is that is pretty much always sounds good.
Software news eventide audio introduces crushstation. Analog synth dave smith instruments mopho keyboard. Pittsburgh modular announces its love letter to the analog monosynth, the. Or, even more to the point, whether programming the prophet would prove to be a retro experience or something somewhat more. Another niggle is the 1980s method of patch naming, but perhaps. Sequential circuits, korg, yamaha, soft synths, and his new evolver synths. Five great free soft synths for mac omega recording studios. Dave smith mopho analogue synth sound programming 32 programs. Great for vintage synth tones and more through its flexible modulation matrix. Realizing the limitations of software, dave returned to hardware and started dave smith instruments, which released the evolver hybrid analogdigital synthesizer in 2002. He is also referred to as the father of midi for his role in the development of midi, now a standard interface protocol for electronic.
This proprietary plugin is installed in your audio software as a virtual instrument vst or audiounits and will control all of the functions found on the prophet 08. It was first released as a desktop version in 2002, then later a 37key keyboard bearing the same synth engine as the evolver desktop was also released. Dave smith mopho analogue synth sound programming 32. Sequential circuits pro one vintage synth explorer. Midi quest dave smith ob6 desktop editor and librarian. What are the cheapest alternatives to the sequential. New analog mono synth is full featured, compact, affordable half moon bay, calif. The prophet 6, prophet 12 and prophet rev 2 share many attributes but, having spent considerable time with each, i now appreciate the distinctions between them see table. So here i am, facetoface with dave smiths reincarnated prophet 6, wondering if i still had the right stuff to make this divine synth sing like an angel. While the firstglance impression might understandably be monophonic prophet 12, its in fact a rather different animal. Same sound engine as mopho but with a 32note keyboard. The engineering on the synth seems to put you right in the sweet spot. Korg, yamaha, roland, alesis, akai, line 6, maudio, and tcelectronic. W enclosure, a sort of mini prophet with a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve.
Patch bases third significant update this month brings support for the first dave smith synths ive worked with since the mopho. The prophet 12 is the next step for dave smiths revered line of prophet synthesizers. Dave smith instruments evolver vintage synth explorer. Musical instruments are or should be more than the technology used to build them. Or, even more to the point, whether programming the prophet would prove to be a retro experience or something somewhat more inspiring. Dave smith is considered a legendary figure in the synthesizer world, he founded sequential circuits and designed such classics as the prophet 5 and prophet vs, and he was a pioneer in bringing midi to synthesizers. As a result, in 2002 he released the evolver hybrid analogdigital synthesizer. Best free synth vst au plugins for mac os x blogosaur. The pro one was basically sequentials attempt at taking their legendary prophet 5 polysynth and packing it into a compact, inexpensive, monophonic analog synth. Midi quest includes all of the standard features you would expect to find in a toraiz as1 editor and librarian along with unique capabilities found nowhere else. Off, 116sets the channel on which one of tempests sounds can be played from an external midi keyboard or other midi controller, or a midi sequencer. In 1977, he designed the prophet5, the worlds first microprocessorbased musical instrument. It has two vcos, a great 4pole lowpass filter, two adsr envelopes one for.
Synth zone has updated its listing of useful youtube channels. It has two vcos, a great 4pole lowpass filter, two. Then, in 1997, dave created the first fully professional soft synth called reality. These free vst work for mac os x, they dont have ui, youll have to use the default interface supplied by your host. You can change the assignment of the four controllers directly on the synth, but its not very practical in emergency situations you need 1020 seconds to do it. If you want to get free loops of the latest prophet 6, be sure to check out our loops and samples shop if he hadnt named his company dave smith maybe you wouldnt know about him.
Look at the synths you use on a daily basis whether hardware or software, chances are theyve been. Weve also added a poly chain feature so that any two ob6s can be paired for twelvevoice polyphony. Like his friend and colleague roger linn who we also interviewed recently dave smiths contribution to the world of modern electronic music equipment has played a fundamental role in shaping the way every single one of us makes music. Analogue synth power studio jam with 2 moogs and a dave smith mopho keys in the lead duration. Sound quest has been creating sysex editorlibrarian software for over 30 years. He is also referred to as the father of midi for his role in the development of midi, now a standard interface. This video captures a talk by electronic instrument designer dave smith on the history of synths, moving from analog to digital to software and now back to analog smith gave the talk last night at stanfords ccrma the center for computer research in music and acoustics official bio. I am looking into that or the virus ti but am shying away from that because of the reported bugs it has. Dave smith instruments ob6 6voice polyphonic analog synthesizer 49key, 6voice analog polysynth with 2 oscillators and a sub oscillator per voice, statevariable filter, 64step polyphonic step sequencer, and semiweighted, velocity and aftertouchenabled keyboard. Used strictly as a midi sound module, tempest behaves as a sixvoice analog poly synth. Some people get way too wrapped up in technology debates, when it should simply be.
Prophet 08 plugse is an audio plugin dedicated to your prophet 08 synthesizer. We got the opportunity to sit down with this grammywinning engineer and designer to talk about his process, the state of synthesizers today and the future of dsi. May 5, 2010dave smith instruments has released a keyboard version of mopho, dsis popular desktop synthesizer module. Software synthesizers here you will find a collection of software based synthesizers which do the same thing as traditional physical synths, except they run on your computer. Nov 25, 2015 analogue synth power studio jam with 2 moogs and a dave smith mopho keys in the lead duration. The pro one was basically sequentials attempt at taking their legendary prophet 5 poly synth and packing it into a compact, inexpensive, monophonic analog synth.
The dave smith prophet 6 is probably in the ballpark, of what a prophet 5 was, but i have never heard a p5 in person. So here i am, facetoface with dave smith s reincarnated prophet 6, wondering if i still had the right stuff to make this divine synth sing like an angel. Mac based and we use apogee symphony converters to ensure maximum quality, at whatever bit rate you desire. Great for vintage synth tones and more through its flex. Dave smith instruments prophet rev 2 sound on sound.
Sequential released many innovative instruments and drum machines over the next 10 years. Mopho soundeditor is a fullymopho x4 sound editing software. Now rebranded as sequential, dave smith keyboard synths have always been at the forefront of the industry. Some of the most legendary synthesizers ever made, these synths are optimised for musicians who need. Dave smith instruments analog synth company explained.
The eagleeyed musician may find it odd that a monophonic synth has a unison onoff parameter, but when paired with a dave smith instruments tetra sold separately, the mopho keyboard makes an incredibly compact, extremely powerful fivevoice poly synth. Some of the most legendary synthesizers ever made, these synths are optimised for musicians who need expressive control over powerful hardware synthesisers. The xmod will produce some very different textures. There are new dave smith evolver and evolver keys synths in the patch base ipad and mac apps, a collection of patch editors and librarians for hardware synthesizers this is what patch base developer, chadwick, has to say. Synth parameters are selected and tweaked using the four soft knobs and soft keys located above and below the display. The software synths have improved over the years, so when you listen to a soft emulation of a hardware synth, they are at least close. Smith was responsible for the first commercial polyphonic and microprocessorcontrolled synthesizer, the prophet5, and later the multitimbral synthesizer. If you want hardware, then the next question is whether you want vcos or dcos, because vcos seems to cost more. Download the vcv rack opensource virtual modular synth, wave alchemy drum samples from the roland system 100, and the syntonica seismic modular wave based synth for mac. Dave smith tetra desktop synthesizer like 4 mophos in one synth. I just listened to an interview with dave smith about why he is making this keyboard and i really like the ideaology that he has. In short, dsi have taken the best from the heyday of analogue synthesis, and added a significant amount of new technology to create a modern classic.
The evolver is an analogdigital hybrid synthesizer designed by dave smith and manufactured by dave smith instruments. The sequential pro one is a wicked little monosynth. Crushstation controls can drive your tone from creamy. Dave smith tetra synthesizer details tetra is fully programmable via the front panel or with a free downloadable editor for mac os and windows. With a humongous twelve voice polyphony, streamline. Since thats what i bought it for, i am a happy man. Every single owner of an analog synthesizer knows this guy name. Midi quest is the only professional multiinstrument editorlibrarian that supports. Dave smith told me recently that, i dont use the prophet name lightly, but the prophet 12 is clearly deserving of it, and a great new flagship instrument.
Sound quests midi quest multiinstrument editorlibrarian gives you the tools to get the most from your dave smith toraiz as1. Aug 05, 2009 dave smith tetra synthesizer details tetra is fully programmable via the front panel or with a free downloadable editor for mac os and windows. The p12 will definitely go soft and smooth when you need it to. This product was the worlds first polyphonic and programmable synth, and set the standard for synth designs that have followed. The soft knobs the soft keys using compare at any point while editing a program, turn on compare to hear the. If you put them side by side, you can certainly tell the difference, but many people have never played a real prophet 5, for example, and most do not own one, so getting 90% of the sound is close enough. It comes from the same period and genre as the roland sh101 and moog prodigy.
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