Dave Smith Instruments PROPHET 08 DESKTOP User Manual

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Prophet '08

Operation Manual

Prophet '08

Operation Manual

Version 1.3

May 2010

Dave Smith Instruments

1210 Cabrillo Hwy N

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-1449

USA

www.DaveSmithInstruments.com

Tested To Comply With FCC Standards FOR OFFICE USE

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numerique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Reglement sur le materiel brouilleur du Canada.

For Technical Support, email: support@davesmithinstruments.com

Contents

Quick Start................................................................................................. 1

Prophet '08 FAQ and Troubleshooting Notes ........................................... 3

Getting Connected ....................................................................................4

Basic Operation......................................................................................... 5

Global Parameters .................................................................................... 7

Program Parameters...............................................................................13

Oscillators............................................................................................13

Noise.................................................................................................... 14

Low-pass Filter ....................................................................................14

Amplifier............................................................................................... 15

Envelope 3........................................................................................... 16

LFOs ....................................................................................................16

Modulators...........................................................................................18

Misc Parameters.................................................................................. 18

Keyboard Modes ..................................................................................... 23

Sequencer ...............................................................................................25

Arpeggiator.............................................................................................. 31

Using Poly Chain..................................................................................... 33

Rack Mounting the Module .....................................................................35

Modulation Destinations..........................................................................36

Modulation Sources ................................................................................38

MIDI Implementation ............................................................................... 39

MIDI Messages.................................................................................... 40

NRPN Messages ................................................................................. 42

Global Parameter Data........................................................................ 43

Program Parameter Data ....................................................................45

Sysex Messages .................................................................................51

Packed Data Format............................................................................ 54

Hidden Functions ....................................................................................55

Quick Start

Thanks for purchasing the Prophet '08! Listen to the sounds, twiddle some knobs, have some fun!

Please Register!

Please go to www.davesmithinstruments.com and register your synth. If you purchased directly from us, there is no need to register – we already have your contact information.

So, plug in the power supply, connect (in stereo!!) to your mixer/sound system, switch on the power, and start playing!

Try applying keyboard pressure (aftertouch) and the mod wheel. Many sounds are fairly simple at first, then come alive when you use the controllers. With other sounds, you may need to hold the notes a while to let the sound unfold. Playing in different ways has a big effect on the programs.

Selecting and Editing Programs and Global Settings

You can use the +/- switches to step through the Programs. Also, the PARAM knob changes the Program and PARAM

2 changes the Bank.

If you want to edit a Program, just turn any knob. The new value will be displayed in the bottom line of the LCD (the top line displays the programmed value for handy reference). Once a parameter has been selected, the PARAM

knob will also change the value, and the +/- switches will increment or decrement the value. Hit the + and - switches at the same time to set the parameter to zero.

That’s the whole idea with this instrument – grabbing knobs and changing the sound! After turning knobs, just hit the Program switch so the LCD goes back to the Program / Bank screen, allowing you to change Programs again.

Press the G

LOBAL switch to change higher level parameters, such as MIDI

channel number, Transpose/Detune, and so on. These are remembered when the synth is turned off. Note that in Global Mode, the screen displays two parameters at a time. The top parameter is changed by the PARAM the lower parameter is edited by the PARAM

2 knob. The +/- switches select

1 knob and

new pages.

Summary

You should be up and running now; for more operation information, read on. Or, just look up specific parameters for detailed notes. Pages 35 through 38 contain a handy reference for mod destinations and sources. At some point you should

read through the manual to discover all the little features that you might not notice at first.

I should mention that this manual does not include explanations of basic analog synthesizer functions. It assumes you already know what an oscillator is, how a low-pass filter affects the sound, what an ADSR envelope looks like, and so on.

Fortunately, these days it is quite easy to find such resources on the Internet. If you want to learn the lingo and the basics, just try a search in Google (or the search engine of your choice), something like “analog synthesizer tutorial.” You’ll find plenty of good reading material.

Have fun!

Dave Smith

Special thanks to:

Tim Ande, David Bryce, Andrew McGowan, Dave Polich, Ravi Ivan Sharma, and Stefan Trippler.

Prophet '08 FAQ and Troubleshooting Notes

Voices 1 through 4 are not making any sound.

Check to make sure you're using the Main Output and not Output B.

The arpeggiator/sequencer has stopped working.

Check the Clock setting under the Global menu. If it is set to MIDI In or MIDI In/Out and the Prophet '08 is not receiving MIDI clock, neither the sequencer nor the arpeggiator will play.

How do I reset the Prophet '08?

The Prophet does not have a full (programs, parameters, everything) reset, but you can reset the Global parameters to their factory defaults by holding the

LOBAL switch and pressing LFO 3. The factory program banks are available in

G SysEx format on our Web site.

How can I “zero out” a program to start creating a sound from scratch?

Hold the P parameters to a basic sawtooth program with most of the parameters set to zero. Please note that this does not write the sound into memory; it temporarily changes the parameters of the current program.

Some voices are noticeably louder than others.

Are you using both (left and right) outputs? The Prophet does not have a summed mono output. Many of the factory programs use the P parameter or have some modulation affecting the pan position. The Audio Out parameter in the Global menu can globally switch both outputs to mono.

ROGRAM switch and press + / YES to set the current program's

AN SPREAD

Why am I hearing some distortion in my programs?

The Prophet has an extensive and very deep modulation matrix. If you turn everything up to 11 (figuratively speaking), the sum may be a bit more than the Prophet can handle without distorting. Just back off the levels a bit. Rather than clamping everything internally so that distortion never occurs, we leave it up to you. Besides, sometimes things “break” in interesting ways!

Why doesn't my expression pedal work with the Prophet?

The Prophet should work with most expression pedals. However, the factory programs are not preconfigured to use an expression pedal. For (almost) instant gratification, set the Pedal parameter in Global to control volume or the filter. To select program-specific destinations, set the Pedal parameter to FootCtrl. Then, using the M Foot and set the M

ISC switch in the Modulators section, set the MOD SOURCE to

OD DESTINATION and MOD AMOUNT to the desired values.

Getting Connected

The Prophet '08 has several inputs and outputs on its back panel.

Power Input – Connect the power supply included with your Prophet '08. The

power supply comes with different AC adaptor prongs that allow it to work anywhere in the world. If for whatever reason you need to use a different supply, it must match the specifications on the rear panel near the input jack. Note: The supply label says “Evolver” on it for reference.

MIDI In – To receive MIDI data from another device, connect this to the other

device's MIDI Out.

MIDI Out – To send MIDI data to another device, connect this to the other

device's MIDI In.

MIDI Thru – Received MIDI data is passed through to MIDI Thru so that

multiple MIDI devices can be chained on the same MIDI buss.

Poly Chain Out – A special MIDI output that enables you to chain another

Prophet or up to two Tetras for increased polyphony. See Using Poly Chain on page 33 for details. When Poly Chain is turned off, this jack acts as a second MIDI Out.

Pedal/CV – This input can be connected to two types of controllers: a standard

expression pedal that has a variable resistor on a TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) 1/4" phone plug, or a synthesizer or other device capable of producing a control voltage. The control voltage range is 0 to 5 volts DC, and the input is protected against higher and negative voltages. Note that this input is heavily filtered for clean operation, so there is a limit to the speed it will respond.

Sustain – Works with any standard, normally open or normally closed

momentary footswitch. See “Sustain” in Global Parameters on page 9 for information about changing the polarity to work with your type of footswitch.

Main Output – The Prophet '08's unbalanced, stereo outputs.

Output B – Each of the Prophet '08's 256 programs contains two layers, A and

B. Each layer can be a completely different sound and the layers can be combined as splits and stacks. If you just use the Main Output, layers A and B are both output there. If you plug two additional cables into Output B, however, the sound of B layer will be removed from the Main Output and sent to Output B. This enables you to process the two layers separately.

Headphones – A 1/4 inch stereo phone jack.

Basic Operation

When you first turn the power on, the keyboard will be in Program Mode with

ROGRAM switch lit and the following screen active:

the P

Programxxx Bankx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The top line shows the Program (1…128) and Bank (1…2) number of the currently selected Program, and the bottom line shows the 16-character name of the Program. The PARAM knob changes the Bank. The Program can also be incremented or decremented by pressing the +/Y

Each Program has two layers, A and B. Each layer can contain a completely different patch. The layers are typically used to create stacked and split Programs, though you can also switch quickly between the layers using the E LAYER B switch. When EDIT LAYER B is lit, the front panel controls will edit the layer B patch.

1 knob changes the Program, and the PARAM 2

ES or -/NO switches, respectively.

DIT

Note: When playing in a live performance, E

DIT LAYER B provides a

handy way to toggle quickly between two completely different sounds with a single switch. This applies only in normal eight-voice mode, not in Stack or Split modes.

To edit a Program, simply turn any knob. See Program Parameters on page 13 for a detailed list of all parameters and their functions. After editing parameters, hit the Program switch to enable program changes again.

Compare Feature – While editing a Program, you can press the COMPARE

switch to listen to the original version. If you press the switch again, the Prophet '08 returns to the edited version.

Saving a Program

To save a Program, press the W

Write? P:xxx B:x Hit: Yes or No

RITE switch and the following screen appears:

Press the +/YES switch to save the current Program, or -/NO (or the WRITE switch again) to cancel. To store in a different location, use PARAM a new destination, and PARAM

2 for a different bank.

1 to select

Note: If your Prophet '08 is poly chained to a second Prophet '08, the program will also be saved in the chained unit.

Audition Destination Feature – While there is a write pending (see previous

screen), you can press the C destination before saving. Just be sure to turn C actually hit the +/Y

ES switch to save.

OMPARE switch to hear the target Program

OMPARE off again before you

Transposing the Keyboard Range (keyboard only)

Use the U

P and DOWN Transpose switches to transpose the keyboard up or down

in octaves. The LED indicates the current keyboard transposition state. The transposition changes the MIDI note number of the keys, so MIDI notes sent will also be transposed.

Global Parameters

To edit the Global parameters, press the GLOBAL switch and Global page 1 is displayed. The PARAM and the PARAM switches select the other pages.

1 knob changes the parameter on the upper LCD line,

2 knob changes the lower parameter. The +/YES and -/NO

Note: If you hold the -/N jump to the last page. Similarly, if you hold the +/Y hit the -/N

Page 1:

Transpose: -12…+12 – Master Transpose control, 0 is centered. Steps in

O switch, it will jump to the first page.

Transpose: xx Fine Tune: xx

O switch while you hit the +/YES switch, it will

ES switch when you

semitones.

Fine Tune: -50…+50 – Master Fine Tune control; 0 centered. Steps in cents (50

cents = 1/2 semitone).

Page 2:

MIDI Channel: xx Poly Chain: xxx

MIDI Channel: ALL, 1…16 – Selects which MIDI channel to send and receive

data, 1 to 16. All receives on all 16 channels.

Poly Chain: Off, Out 4, Out 8, In – Use this to increase polyphony by

intelligently processing the keys hit and passing MIDI data through to the Poly Chain MIDI out jack, where it can be routed to a second Prophet '08 or one or two Tetras. See Using Poly Chain on page 33 for details.

Note: If Poly Chain is set to Off, the Poly Chain MIDI out jack simply duplicates the MIDI out jack.

Page 3:

Clock: xxxxxxxx LocalControl: xxx

Clock: see table – Selects the MIDI clock status.

Display MIDI Clock Setting

Internal

MIDI Out

MIDI In

MidiIn/Out

MIDI clock is neither sent nor received

MIDI clock is sent

MIDI clock is received

MIDI clock is received and transmitted (use with Poly Chain)

Local Control: Off, On – Enables or disables the internal connection between

the keyboard and panel controls and the synth electronics. This is useful with external sequencer operation.

Page 4:

MParam Send: xxxx M Param Rec: xxxx

MIDI Parameter Send: NRPN, CC, Off – Changes to the values of the Prophet

'08's front panel controls are transmitted via MIDI as Non-registered Parameter Number (NRPN) controllers or as Continuous Controllers (CC). Transmission of parameters can also be turned off. See MIDI Implementation on page 39 for details.

Note: NRPNs are the preferred method of parameter transmission, since they cover the complete range of all parameters, while CCs only handle the main parameters.

MIDI Parameter Receive: All, NRPN, CC, Off – Sets the method by which the

Prophet '08 receives parameter changes via MIDI. As with transmission, NRPNs are the preferred method, though some controllers may only be able to send CCs.

Page 5:

MIDI Program: xxx MIDI Pressre: xxx

MIDI Program: Off, On – When On, the synth will respond to MIDI program

changes received, and will transmit Program changes to MIDI Out.

MIDI Pressure: Off, On – When On, the synth will respond to MIDI pressure

(aftertouch) received, and will transmit Keyboard Pressure to MIDI Out.

Page 6:

MIDI Control: xxx MIDI SysEx: xxx

MIDI Control: Off, On – When On, the synth will respond to MIDI controllers,

and will transmit controllers from the keyboard to the MIDI Out. Controllers include Pitch Wheel, Mod Wheel, Pedal, Breath, Volume, and Expression.

MIDI SysEx: Off, On – When On, the synth will respond to received MIDI

SysEx messages, and will transmit them, when prompted, to the MIDI Out. See Sysex Messages on page 51 for details.

Page 7:

Pedal: xxxxxxxx Sustain: x

Pedal: see table – Sets the destination for the Pedal/CV input. Note that this

input is heavily filtered for clean operation, so there is a limit to the speed it will respond to changes.

Display Pedal Routing

FootCtrl

Breath

Expressn

Volume

LpFilter

LpF Half

Routed to the Foot Control Modulation

Routed to the Breath Control Modulation

Routed to the Expression Modulation

Controls Master Volume

Routed to the low pass filter

Routed to the low pass filter, but with half the range

Sustain: Norm +, Norm -, Arp +, Arp - – A momentary footswitch connected to

the Prophet ’08’s Sustain input can be used either as a sustain pedal or to latch the arpeggiator. The Prophet ’08 can be configured for use with either normally open (+) or normally closed (-) footswitches. When set to Arp+ or Arp-, the footswitch will act as a sustain pedal when the Arpeggiator is off.

Page 8:

Velocity Curve: x Pressure Curve: x

Velocity Curve: 1…4 – Sets one of the four velocity curves for the keyboard;

this gives you the ability to adjust the keyboard to your playing style.

Pressure Curve: 1…4 – Sets one of the four pressure curves for the keyboard;

this gives you the ability to adjust the keyboard to your playing style.

Page 9:

Audio Out: xxxxxx MIDIParamLCD: xxx

Audio Out: Stereo (default), Mono – Switching from Stereo to Mono globally

defeats all of the parameters that affect panning (pan spread, modulation, etc.) and makes both the left and right outputs mono outputs.

MIDIParamLCD: On (default), Off – In edit mode, the display normally shows

any received controller changes. When MIDIParamLCD is Off, only local edits are displayed.

Page 10:

CntrolReset: xxxx BalanceTweak: xx

CntrolReset: Norm (default), PgCh – When set to Norm, the settings of MIDI

controllers such as volume, brightness, or modulation will be carried over with program changes. When set to PgCh, MIDI controllers will be reset when programs are changed locally or via MIDI. The reset is equivalent to sending the Prophet the Reset All Controllers message (CC 121) via MIDI.

BalanceTweak: -7…7 – Adjusts the left/right balance of the audio outputs by

approximately +/- 4 dB.

Page 11:

PotMode: xxxxxxxx EncMode: xxxxxx

PotMode: Relative (default), Passthru, Jump – On the Prophet ’08, 38 of the 52

front panel controls are potentiometers or “pots.” (The pots have about 300° of travel; the encoders are “endless.”) There are three pot modes to determine how the synth reacts when the related parameters are edited.

When set to Relative, changes are relative to the stored setting. In Relative mode, the full value range is not available until either the minimum or maximum value and the respective lower or upper limit of the pot’s travel is reached.

For example, the Oscillator Mix parameter has a value range of 0 to 127. Let’s say the physical position of the Oscillator Mix pot is the equivalent of a value of

100. If you switch to a program that has a stored Oscillator Mix setting of 63

and turn the pot all the way up, it will only go to 90. To get to the maximum value of 127, you first have to turn down until the value is at the other extreme and the pot is at the limit of its travel (in this case, 0 and fully counterclockwise, respectively).

In Passthru mode, turning the pot has no effect until after the edited value equals the preset value (that is, until the edited value “passes through” the stored value).

Jump mode uses an absolute value based upon the position of the pot when edited: turn a pot and the value jumps immediately from the stored value to the edited value.

Encoder Mode: Detent, Non-Det – Optimizes behavior for the type of rotary

encoders (detented or non-detented) on your Prophet ’08. If you’re reading this in a printed manual that came with a new instrument, you should have a Prophet ’08 PE with detented encoders. Just leave it set to Detent.

If you have updated the OS from an earlier version that did not include this parameter, you’ll need to determine which hardware version of the Prophet you have in order to choose the optimum setting. Early standard Prophet ’08s and all Special Editions originally shipped with non-detented rotary encoders. That is, all the controls rotate smoothly and without detents or obvious steps. On these Prophets, this parameter should be set to Non-Det.

If you have a Potentiometer Edition (PE) Prophet, whether purchased that way or converted from the earlier hardware version, set the parameter to Detent. This is true even for those PEs that have a mixture of detented and non-detented encoders. How do you know for certain if your Prophet is a PE? If the filter’s Frequency control has definite minimum and maximum settings (that is, it doesn’t just turn endlessly), it is a PE.

Page 12:

LCD Contrast: xxx MultiMode: xxx

LCD Contrast: 1…100 – This sets the contrast level for the LCD.

MultiMode: Off, On – MultiMode allows separate MIDI control of voices 1

through 4 and 5 through 8. The implementation is fairly simple and enables independent, bi-timbral control of the Prophet.

MultiMode is intended for use with an external sequencer or other MIDI controller controlling the Prophet ’08. It is meant to be a one-way interface (that is, from your sequencer to the Prophet).

When MultiMode is On, the Prophet ’08 responds to MIDI data on two consecutive MIDI channels, the base channel (selected in the Gobal menu) and the next highest channel. The base channel controls voices 1 through 4 and the other channel controls voices 5 through 8. Notes, program changes, and other MIDI data received on the specified channels provide independent control of the two parts.

Note that a program change needs to be sent to each of the two channels when setting up MultiMode. Only Layer A of the selected program is loaded. There are no stacks or splits in MultiMode. Use CCs or Layer A NRPNs for automation of parameters. Program Layer B data is completely ignored in MultiMode.

Page 13:

Copy Bkx P: xxx x To Bkx P: xxx x

Program Copy Utility – Enables Layer A or B of a Program to be copied to

Layer A or B of the same or a different Program. The top line displays the current Bank and Program. Use PARAM 1 to choose the Layer (A or B) to be copied. Use PARAM 2 to choose the destination Bank, Program, and Layer. Press W

Page 14:

RITE to execute.

Dump (Hit Write) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

MIDI Dumps: see table – Allows dumping of Programs in SysEx format via

MIDI. Use PARAM 2 to select from the following options.

Display MIDI Transmit Operation

Current Program

Current Bank

All Banks

Send current program

Send all 128 programs in current bank

Send all programs in both banks

When this page is active, the WRITE switch will blink. Press the switch to start transmission. This feature is handy for saving Programs on a computer in SysEx format, or for sending them to another Prophet '08 via a direct MIDI connection. The dumps include Program and Bank numbers, so when received, the programs will be stored in the same location.

Program Parameters

All Program parameters can be edited using the front panel controls. To edit a program, simply turn the desired parameter knob or hit the switch. The selected parameter and value appear in the LCD display. The top line of the LCD displays the programmed value for reference; the bottom line displays the edited value.

After a parameter is selected by turning its knob, you can also use the PARAM knob to change the value of the selected parameter. Use the +/Y

ES or -/NO

switches to incrementally adjust parameter values.

Hit both +/Y

Note: Hold the P

ES or -/NO at the same time to set the parameter to zero.

ROGRAM switch and hit the +/YES switch to set the Program to

a basic patch, with most parameters set to zero. It does not save the sound in the current program; it only changes all the parameters.

Following are descriptions of each Prophet '08 Program parameter.

Oscillators

Each of the Prophet '08's eight voices has two analog oscillators. The basic controls for each oscillator are the same and are arranged in two horizontal rows, one for Oscillator 1 and another for Oscillator 2.

Note: There are additional modulation controls that can affect the pitch of Oscillators 1 and 2. These are covered in other sections of the Parameter definitions.

Osc Freq: C 0…C 10 – Sets the base oscillator frequency over a 10 octave

range, from 8 Hz to 8KHz, stepping in semitones. C3 is middle C, the first octave is 0 (C0, C#0, etc.), the second octave is 1 (C1, C#1, etc.), and so on.

Fine: -50…+50 – Fine Tune control; 0 centered. Steps in cents (50 cents = 1/2

semitone).

Shape/PW: see table – Selects the analog waveshape as follows:

Display Waveshape

Off Sawtooth Triangle

Saw-Tri

Pulse xx

Glide: 0…127 – Sets the Oscillator Glide (portamento) rate. Glide can be set

No output

Sawtooth

Triangle

Sawtooth – Triangle mix

Pulse Wave, with pulse width ranging from minimum (0) to maximum (99). The pulse width will turn off at the two extremes – this allows some interesting modulation possibilities. A square wave will be at Pulse 50.

independently for each oscillator. Low settings are faster.

Note: See “Glide Mode” in Miscellaneous Parameters on page 18 for additional Glide settings.

Sync 2-> 1 – When enabled (lit), turns oscillator hard sync on. With sync on,

whenever oscillator 2 resets, it will force oscillator 1 to reset for the classic hard sync sound.

Mix: 0...127 – Enables the outputs of Oscillators 1 and 2 to be mixed in varying

amounts. A setting of 0 is equivalent to 100% Oscillator 1 and 0% Oscillator 2. A setting of 127 is just the opposite. A setting of 64 is essentially a 50-50 mix of both oscillators.

Noise

Level: 0…127 – Controls the volume of white noise mixed into the filter.

Low-pass Filter

Each of the Prophet '08's voices utilizes an analog low-pass filter coupled with a 4-stage (plus delay) ADSR envelope generator.

4 Pole – Selects either 2- or 4-pole operation for the filter. (The filter is in 4-

pole mode when the 4

Frequency: 0…164 – Sets the base filter cutoff frequency over more than 13

octaves.

Resonance: 0…127 – Sets the Resonance level of the filter. At high settings the

filter will self-oscillate in 4-pole mode. If the filter does not oscillate, make sure

OLE switch is on.

the 4 P

POLE switch is lit.)

Env Amount: -127…+127 – Sets the amount of filter envelope routed to the

cutoff frequency. This can be positive or negative, allowing inverted envelope control of the filter.

Velocity: 0…127 – Amount of key velocity controlling the level of the filter

envelope.

Key Amount: 0…127 – Sets the amount of keyboard (MIDI note) to the filter

cutoff. A setting of 64 will step the filter one semitone for each note, 32 would be half-semitones, and so on.

Audio Mod: 0...127 – Controls the amount of audio from Oscillator 1 used to

modulate the filter cutoff frequency. For filter-only audio, set O to 127, O

SCILLATOR 2 SHAPE to Off, and OSCILLATOR 1 SHAPE to the desired

SCILLATOR MIX

waveshape. This is useful for bell-like FM sounds. A wide range of sounds can also be made using A

UDIO MOD with the oscillators routed normally through the

filter.

Delay: 0...127 – Sets a delay between the time the filter envelope is triggered

and when the Attack portion actually begins.

Attack: 0…127 –

Decay: 0…127 – Sets the Decay time.

Sustain: 0…127 – Sets the Sustain level.

Release: 0…127 – Sets the Release time.

Sets the Attack time of the filter ADSR envelope generator.

Amplifier

VCA Level: 0…127 – Sets a base level for the VCA (Voltage Controlled

Amplifier). This allows the VCA to be essentially bypassed for programs that drone.

Note: If VCA L typical keyboard playing, VCA L

Env Amount: 0…127 – Sets the amount of VCA envelope to the VCA level.

Velocity: 0…127 – Sets the amount of keyboard velocity controlling the level of

the VCA envelope.

Pan Spread: 0...127 – There is a pan circuit after the VCA that pans the audio

in the stereo field individually per voice. With a P voices are panned in the middle (monophonic). As you turn up P

EVEL is on full, Envelope Amount has no effect. For

EVEL is set to zero.

AN SPREAD of zero, all eight

AN SPREAD, the

audio in each voice is gradually moved away from the center by different amounts. Every other voice goes in a different direction. This provides a wide stereo field as you play. Any modulation to Pan will individually move each voice from its static position as set by the Pan Spread setting.

Note: Use the Audio Out parameter in the Global menu to globally switch the audio outputs from stereo to mono (and vice versa).

Delay: 0...127 – Sets a delay between the time the amplifier envelope is

triggered and when the Attack portion actually begins.

Attack: 0…127 –

Decay: 0…127 – Sets the Decay time.

Sustain: 0…127 – Sets the Sustain level.

Release: 0…127 – Sets the Release time.

Sets the Attack time of the VCA ADSR envelope generator.

Envelope 3

Destination: see table – Sets the Envelope 3 destination. See Modulation

Destinations on page 35 for a list of possible destinations.

Amount: -127…+127 – Sets the amount of Envelope 3.

Velocity: 0…127 – Sets the amount of key velocity controlling the level of

envelope 3.

Delay: 0…127 – Sets a delay between the time Envelope 3 is triggered and when

the Attack portion actually begins.

Attack: 0…127 – Sets the Attack time of Envelope 3.

Decay: 0…127 – Sets the Decay time.

Sustain: 0…127 – Sets the Sustain level.

Release: 0…127 – Sets the Release time.

LFOs

The Prophet '08 has four Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs) per voice. To select a specific LFO for editing, press the appropriate switch, 1–4. Turning a knob will then adjust the parameters of the selected LFO.

Frequency: 0…150, sync – Sets the LFO frequency. Range 0–150 for un-

synced LFO; speed ranges from slow (30 seconds) to very fast – at 90 (8 HZ, C-

2) and above the speed steps in semitones, up to 150 (261 Hz, middle C).

Note: Some of the analog functions may not respond well to the fastest LFO speeds, due to speed limitations of the control voltages; but they will certainly generate some interesting sounds.

Above 150, the sync speeds are as follows:

Display Timing Sync

32 Steps

16 Steps

8 Steps 6 Steps 4 Steps 3 Steps 2 Steps

1.5 Step 1 Step

2/3 Step 1/2 Step 1/3 Step 1/4 Step 1/6 Step 1/8 Step

1/16Step

Shape: see table – Selects the LFO waveshape:

Sequence speed divided by 32; that is, one LFO cycle takes 32 steps

Sequence speed divided by 16

Sequence speed divided by 8

Sequence speed divided by 6

Sequence speed divided by 4

Sequence speed divided by 3

Sequence speed divided by 2

Sequence speed divided by 1.5

One cycle per step

Two cycles every three steps

Two cycles per step

Three cycles per step

Four cycles per step

Six cycles per step

Eight cycles per step

Sixteen cycles per step

Display LFO Shape

Triangle

Rev Saw

Sawtooth

Square Random

Triangle

Reverse Sawtooth

Sawtooth

Square Wave

Random – changes once per cycle for sample-and-hold effects

Amount: 0…100 – Sets the amount of LFO routed to the destination.

Key Sync – When this switch is enabled (lit) the LFO is re-started each time a

new note is played. Key Sync is set independently on each LFO .

Destination: see table – See Modulation Destinations on page 36 for a list of

possible destinations.

Modulators

The Modulators section lets you configure the modulation routing and amount for the Prophet '08’s four general-purpose modulation slots as well as for MIDI controllers (Mod Wheel, Key Pressure, Breath Control, Velocity, and Foot Controller).

Since each Prophet '08 mod source has a single destination, the four general purpose Mods provide a way to send a mod source (such as a sequence or LFO) to additional destinations, with a different amount. There are also additional mod sources available here, such as Noise, allowing a wide variety of possibilities.

To configure a general-purpose modulation slot, press the appropriate switch, 1 through 4, and use the S modulation as desired.

OURCE, DESTINATION and AMOUNT knobs to set the

To configure modulation for a controller, press the M desired controller with the S

MOUNT knobs to set its modulation.

OURCE knob, then use the DESTINATION and

ISC switch, select the

The Breath and Foot Controller parameters can be controlled by the Pedal/CV input on the rear panel. This gives you the ability to route them to different parameters on each Program for more flexible control. These are set in the Global section.

Source: see table – Selects a modulation source. See Modulation Sources on

page 38 for possible sources.

Amount: -127…+127 – Sets the amount of modulation.

Destination: see table – Selects a modulation destination. See Modulation

Destinations on page 36 for a list of possible destinations.

Note: The Modulators can not be edited when the EDIT SEQUENCER

switch is on.

Misc Parameters

The Miscellaneous Parameters module lets you configure a variety of parameters not found elsewhere. The parameter list is printed on the panel for easy reference. Use the S

ALUE knob, PARAM 2 knob, or the +/YES or -/NO switches to adjust the

V value.

ELECT knob to choose the desired parameter, and the

Voice Volume: 0…127 – Sets the voice volume; usually used for matching

volumes between Programs.

Note: There is enough gain in the synth voice that with some settings,

some mild clipping distortion may be heard. If this happens, try lowering

OICE VOLUME, and/or the VCA ENVELOPE AMOUNT (or VCA

the V

ELOCITY AMOUNT).

Name – The lower LCD line will display the name of the Program. The

PARAM 1 knob selects characters for editing. (The active character blinks.) To change the character, use the PARAM 2 knob, the V

O switches.

Osc 1 Key: On, Off – Turns keyboard tracking on or off for Oscillator 1.

Osc 2 Key: On, Off – Turns keyboard tracking on or off for Oscillator 2.

Osc Slop: 0…5 – The amount of random oscillator frequency slop. The analog

ALUE knob or the +/YES or -

oscillators in the Prophet '08 are very accurate, and will not drift. This works great for accurate sounds, and allows precise de-tuning. Oscillator Slop allows subtle amounts of frequency drift. For larger amounts, use a random LFO or white noise mod.

Glide Mode: see table – Sets the way the oscillators respond to Glide settings.

Display Glide mode

FixRate

FixRate A

FixTime

FixTime A

The Glide rate is fixed. The time to transition from one note to another varies depending upon the interval between the notes.

The same, but Glide is only applied when played legato; that is, when a new note is hit while another note is still held. This only applies in Unison mode.

The Glide time is fixed. The time to transition from one note to another is the same, regardless of the interval.

The same, but Glide is only applied when playing legato; that is, when a new note is hit while another note is still held. This only applies in Unison mode.

Pitch Wheel Range: 0…12 – Sets the bend range, in semitones, of the pitch

wheel. The setting is the range in the positive or negative direction. For example, a setting of 7 lets you bend a note up or down by a fifth.

Unison Mode: see table – Determines how the voices are allocated and detuned

when Unison is turned on.

Display Unison mode

1 Voice

All Voices

AllDetune1-3

Classic, two oscillator, monophonic mode. Sleek.

All available voices are stacked in unison. Portly.

All available voices are stacked in unison with three different levels of detuning. From fat to morbidly obese.

Unison Assign: see table – Determines how the Prophet '08 responds to the

keyboard while in Unison mode.

Display Keyboard mode

Low Note

LowRetrig

HighNote

HighRetrg

LastNote

LastRetrg

Seq Trigger: see table – Sets the triggering mode for the Gated Sequencer.

Display Trigger mode

Normal

No Reset

No Gate

NoGateNR

Key Step

Low note priority

Low note priority, re-trigger envelopes

High note priority

High note priority, re-trigger envelopes

Last note hit priority

Last note hit priority, re-trigger envelopes

Sequence plays from the first step when a key is held, and resets to step 1 each time a new note is played. Each sequence step retriggers the envelopes.

The same, but does not reset to step 1 on every note.

The keyboard triggers the envelopes; the sequence steps do not.

Same, but does not reset with subsequent notes.

Striking a key advances the sequencer one step.

Arp Mode: see table – Sets the order in which the arpeggiator plays notes.

Mode Behavior

Up Down Up Down Assign Random

2 Octaves Up

2 Octaves Down

2 Octaves Up Down

2 Octaves Assign

2 Octaves Random

3 Octaves Up

3 Octaves Down

3 Octaves Up Down

3 Octaves Assign

3 Octaves Random

Plays from lowest to highest note.

Plays from highest to lowest note.

Plays from lowest to highest and back to lowest.

Plays notes in the order keys were pressed.

Randomly plays notes.

Plays keyed notes and the same notes one octave higher, from lowest to highest.

Plays keyed notes and the same notes one octave higher, from highest to lowest.

Plays keyed notes and the same notes one octave higher, from lowest to highest and back to lowest.

Plays a keyed note, then the same note one octave higher, in the order keys were pressed.

Randomly plays keyed notes and the same notes one octave higher.

Plays keyed notes and the same notes one and two octaves higher, from lowest to highest.

Plays keyed notes and the same notes one and two octaves higher, from highest to lowest.

Plays keyed notes and the same notes one and two octaves higher, from lowest to highest and back to lowest.

Plays a keyed note, then the same note one and two octaves higher, in the order keys were pressed.

Randomly plays keyed notes and the same notes one and two octaves higher.

Env 3 Repeat: On, Off – When on, loops the Delay, Attack, and Decay stages of

Envelope 3 while a note is gated on.

Keyboard Modes

The Prophet ’08 has three main keyboard modes, Normal, Stack, and Split. While playing in the different modes, if you look at the eight voice assignment LEDs on the right side of the front panel, you can easily see how the different voice assignment modes work.

Normal Mode – When the STACK A/B and SPLIT A/B switches are both off, the

synth is in Normal mode, and will play all eight voices with the same sound.

DIT LAYER B switches between the program in layer A (when off) and the

E program in layer B (when on).

While in Normal mode, other switches like U

NISON, ARPEGGIATOR, and GATED

SEQUENCER will affect all eight voices the same.

Stack Mode – When the STACK A/B switch is on, hitting a single key will play

two voices at the same time. One (on voices 1-4) will play the Layer A sound, and the second (on voices 5-8) will play the Layer B sound. This allows extra fat programs to be made, since you have four oscillators to work with, and twice the sound per key!

Use the E

DIT LAYER B switch to alternate between the A and B layers as you

adjust the parameters of a program. You never have to worry about any other program when using Stack and Split, since each program saves both the A and B layers, and they are not shared with other programs.

You can use the Copy utility (see “Program Copy Utility” in Global Parameters on page 12) to quickly copy layers between programs or from Layer A to Layer B (or vice versa).

Note that each Layer can have different settings for U

ATED SEQUENCER, which allows some very interesting combinations of sound

NISON, ARPEGGIATOR, and

control. The sequences and arpeggios can have different settings and speeds, for example, or you can combine a unison sound on one layer with a polyphonic sound on the other.

Split Mode – When the SPLIT A/B switch is on, hitting a key on the left side of

the keyboard will play the Layer A sound (on voices 1-4), and hitting a key on the right side will play the Layer B sound (on voices 5-8). The specific key that starts the Layer B sound is called the Split Point, and is saved as part of the program. To change the Split Point, simply hold the desired key, and hit the

PLIT A/B switch (while Split is on).

As in Stack mode, the two layers can be completely different in Split mode.

Note: If you hold the EDIT LAYER B switch while in Stack or Split, the EDIT LAYER B switch will blink; this indicates you are now in Link Mode, which means that any parameter you change will update that parameter in both Layer A and Layer B. This can be handy while playing Stacked or Split programs in a live situation.

Sequencer

For many musicians, the term sequencer has become synonymous with MIDI sequencer; that is, a computer-based application or dedicated hardware device for recording and playing back notes and performance gestures via MIDI. But sequencers were around long before MIDI. The Prophet ’08’s sequencer is much more like the original analog sequencers typically associated with modular synthesizer systems. The sequencer comprises four 16-step sequences that play in parallel. Each sequence can be routed to a chosen destination, and each step in a sequence can be set to a different value used to modulate that destination.

Steps

1234

e q

u e

Strictly speaking, the Prophet ’08’s sequencer does not play notes, nor does it transmit MIDI data. If none of the sequence destinations are routed to oscillator frequency, the sequencer may not even affect the pitch. In Prophet ’08 terms, a sequence is just a series of events at timed intervals that changes the value of one of the synth’s parameters in discrete steps. Because the four sequences play in parallel, up to four parameters can be affected by each step, one per sequence. For the most part, the sequence destinations are the same as the modulation destinations, which is appropriate: a sequence is just another modulation source.

56789

v = ste

value

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Dest. 1

Dest. 2

Dest. 3

Dest. 4

For each sequence step, the envelopes are gated on for half the step’s duration. The duration varies according to the BPM and Clock Divide settings (or the MIDI clock, if synced to an external source). The envelope settings of the current program ultimately determine how long each step plays, though, and longer (more legato) or shorter (more staccato) effects can be achieved by editing the envelope rates.

The Prophet ’08’s sequencer is a gated sequencer. That means it requires a note to be gated on—that is played from the keyboard or via MIDI—in order for the sequencer to run. There is no dedicated start or play button and it does not respond to MIDI start/stop/continue messages, but it can still sync to an external clock. Simply turn on the sequencer and then play and hold a note to start.

Reset and Rest

Sequences have a maximum of 16 steps, but they can have fewer—from 1 to 15—using Reset. (Sequences of 16 steps reset automatically.) Reset appears immediately after the highest value setting for a step. Setting a step to Reset causes the sequence to jump back to the first step and continue playing.

Reset is set separately for each of the four sequences, so it must be set at the same step in all four sequences to shorten all the sequences equally. The following illustration shows an example in which all the sequences are eight steps in length.

Steps

e q

u e

1234

56789

v = ste

value; R = Reset

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Dest. 1

Dest. 2

Dest. 3

Dest. 4

Tip: Using Reset while programming a sequence can be helpful. For example, when programming a specific melodic line, start by shortening the sequence to four or eight steps until those steps are set, and then gradually move the reset point to lengthen the loop until the desired number of steps is playing.

Sequences do not have to be the same length, however, which makes for some very interesting, less repetitive patterns, particularly when sequences are set to odd and even numbers of steps.

Steps

e q

u e

1234

56789

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

v = step value; R = Reset

Sequence one has an additional value, Rest, that appears in the list after Reset. Rest prevents the envelopes from being gated by the corresponding step, so a rest in sequence one affects all four sequences. If the sequences are the same length, rests will occur in the same place in all four sequences as they loop. If the sequences are different lengths, the rests in sequence one apply to whatever

Dest. 1

Dest. 2

Dest. 3

Dest. 4

the current step happens to be in sequences two through four, resulting in a more

random-sounding pattern (which can be really cool). In the following example, sequence one is 16 steps long and rests occur at steps 2, 6, 9, and 12. However, sequence two is only eight steps long, so rests occur at steps 2 and 6 the first time it plays through and then at steps 1 and 4—corresponding to steps 9 and 12 in sequence one—the first time it repeats. As sequence two loops, the rests will continue in the same alternating pattern.

Steps

e q

u e

1234

56789

v = ste

value; r = rest; R = Reset

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Dest. 1

Dest. 2

Dest. 3

Dest. 4

Programming the Sequencer

Programming the sequencer is easy, but there are a few things to consider before you start. Most importantly, what do you want the sequence to do and what modulation destinations will provide the results you’re seeking? For example, is the sequencer going to control oscillator frequency? One sequence can control the frequency of both oscillators or one sequence can control oscillator 1 and another sequence can control oscillator 2 for harmonies or countermelodies. A typical application of the sequencer might have sequence one routed to the frequency of both oscillators, sequence two routed to filter cutoff, sequence three routed to filter resonance, and sequence four routed to amplifier envelope amount for accents. Many of the factory programs have sequences programmed, so you can refer to those to see how certain effects are being achieved.

The sequencer’s controls are indicated in orange type on the Prophet '08's front panel. The G Even when G

ATED SEQUENCER switch activates the sequencer. (Remember:

ATED SEQUENCER is on, you still have to play a note to hear the

sequence.) The other sequencer controls do double duty as synthesizer controls.

DIT SEQUENCER in Modulators on (lit), the knobs labeled 1 through 16 in

With E the Filter and Amp sections are used to set the values for each of the sequence's 16 steps. Switches 1 through 4 in Modulators select the sequence (labelled “Seq Track”) to be edited. To set the destination for a sequence, choose the desired sequence and use M

OD DEST to change the destination. See Modulation

Destinations on page 36 for a list of possible destinations.

To program a sequence:

1. Press the GATED SEQUENCER switch and press a key to play the

sequence. You may also want to adjust the C

LOCK DIVIDE and BPM

settings.

2. Press E

DIT SEQUENCER to enter sequence edit mode.

3. Select the sequence you want to program by pressing the appropriate

switch (1, 2, 3, or 4 in Modulators).

4. Select the destination for that sequence using the M

OD DEST. For

example, to generate a sequence of notes, select OscAllFreq.

When a sequence is routed to oscillator frequency, each knob increment equals half of a semitone. The LCD display will show the relative note value, with a “+” after it to show when at a half-semitone step.

5. Turn the Step 1 knob to the desired value.

As the sequence loops, you will hear your edits.

6. Repeat for each subsequent step in the sequence.

7. Choose another sequence and follow the same basic steps until you’re

happy with the results.

8. Dont forget to write your edits to memory! Sequences are saved with

the related program. Just press Write and then Yes to save the program and sequences.

More Sequencer Parameters

The previous section covers the basics of sequencer programming, but there are some additional parameters that affect the sound and user interaction with the sequencer.

Slew

In modular analog synthesizers, a lag processor or slew limiter is used to create a time-varying change—a smooth transition—between successive, discrete control voltage levels. The rate of change is called the slew rate and one common application is to create a glide (aka portamento) effect between notes.

Among the possible destinations for Prophet ’08 sequences two and four is a sequence-only parameter called Slew. Slew behaves a little differently from the other modulation destinations, in that it is not really a destination at all; instead, it affects the sequence above it. That is, if Slew is the chosen destination for

sequence two, it controls sequence one, and Slew in sequence four controls sequence three.

In the Prophet ’08’s sequencer, Slew sets the slew rate between the previous step’s value and the current step’s value when the step is gated on. Confused yet? This should help: let’s say sequence one is routed to oscillator frequency and sequence two to Slew. Increasing the Slew value for step four will cause the oscillator frequency to glide from the step three value when step four is gated on. The higher the Slew value, the slower the slew rate. And the slew rate can be different for each step. But its not just for oscillator glide. Slew can be applied to any of the destinations. For example, sequence three could be routed to filter cutoff with Slew in sequence four used to create a less abrupt transition from one step to the next.

Note: Depending upon the BPM and Clock Divide settings, the slew rate can actually exceed the time the envelopes are gated on, causing a step in the affected sequence to not reach its set value. For example, if Slew is applied to oscillator frequency, high Slew values may cause a step to sound flat or sharp. If that’s not what you want, simply reduce the Slew value.

Sequencer Trigger Modes

The Sequencer Trigger mode determines how the sequencer reacts to triggers and what constitutes a trigger. Sequencer Trigger is found in the Miscellaneous Parameters section. The different modes are:

Normal–A note on, from either the local keyboard or via MIDI, causes the

sequencer to play from the first step. The sequencer resets to step one each time a new note is played. Each sequence step gates the envelopes.

No Reset–As above, but the sequencer does not reset to step one for each note

played. The sequencer is effectively free running.

No Gate–The keyboard gates the envelopes, but the sequencer does not. The

sequencer resets to step one each time a new note is played.

NoGateNR–As above, but the sequencer does not reset to step one for each note

played. Again, the sequencer is effectively free running.

Key Step–Striking any key or playing a note via MIDI advances the sequencer

one step.

Syncing an LFO to the Sequencer

One very useful way to modulate a parameter in sync with a sequence is using an LFO with Clock Sync. A setting of 16 Steps for LFO Frequency with a

triangle wave selected and routed to the filter will provide a clean filter sweep over a 16-step sequence, perfectly in sync! This is much easier (and smoother) than manually programming a sequence to sweep the filter.

Arpeggiator

Arpeggiator—Turns Prophet ’08’s arpeggiator on and off. The tempo and note

value are determined by the BPM and Clock Divide settings. Arpeggiator Mode is set in Miscellaneous Parameters. The different modes are:

Mode Behavior

Up Down Up Down Assign Random

2 Octaves Up

2 Octaves Down

2 Octaves Up Down

2 Octaves Assign

2 Octaves Random

3 Octaves Up

3 Octaves Down

3 Octaves Up Down

3 Octaves Assign

3 Octaves Random

Briefly hold the Arpeggiator switch down to latch arpeggiated notes. (The light will blink when latched.) Playing additional notes while latched adds them to the notes already playing.