Dave Smith Instruments Sequential Prophet-6 User Manual
Prophet-6 Manual Addendum
OS Version 1.3.1
Prophet-6 OS version 1.3.1 adds a number of new features not covered in the
main Operation Manual. These features are described in the following Addendum
in the order shown below.
• Using Poly Chain (Unison, Sequencer, Arpeggiator)
• Recovering from a failed OS update
• Additional effects: 2 angers, a ring modulator, and a new phaser
• How to check a parameter value in a preset
• Stepping backward in the sequencer
• Stepping through presents using the increment/decrement buttons
• Additional velocity curves
Checking Your Operating System Version
If you’ve just purchased your Prophet-6 new, OS 1.3.1 should already be installed. If
you purchased your Prophet-6 prior to June, 2016 and wish to use the new features
described above, you’ll need to update your OS to version 1.3.1 or later.
To update your Prophet-6 OS, you’ll need a computer and a USB cable, or a MIDI
cable and MIDI interface. To download the latest version of the Prophet-6 OS along
with instructions on how to perform a system update, visit the DSI website at:
https://www.davesmithinstruments.com/updating-the-prophet-6-os/
To check your OS version:
1. Turn on your Prophet-6. The OS version number is briey displayed in the
main bank/program display.
2. If your OS is out of date, download the latest version from the URL above and
update your instrument using the instructions included with the download.
1
If you are updating to OS 1.3.1 from OS 1.0.1 you must do so using the MIDI DIN
connectors on your Prophet-6 and not the USB connector since USB was not supported in
the OS 1.0.1 release. Updating via USB is supported in OS 1.1 and above.
A MIDI boot loader, which enables recovery mode in case of OS update errors, was
added to the Prophet-6 beginning with OS 1.2 (serial number #2415 and later). If you are
updating to OS 1.3.1 from OS 1.0 or 1.1, you will notice that a second “OS load countdown”
stops at “1” on the main display rather than automatically restarting. This is normal. Simply
wait 60 seconds then power your Prophet-6 off and on again. The Prophet-6 will restart
using the newly installed OS. As a general rule during OS updates, if the countdown ever
stops at “1” rather than automatically restarting, wait at least 60 seconds before powering
your Prophet-6 off and on again.
Recovering from a Failed OS Update
In very rare cases, the Prophet-6 OS might fail to load correctly when you update.
There is now a safe and easy way to recover in such situations. The Prophet-6 is
now equipped with a MIDI boot loader, which will allow you to reload the OS in
the event the you accidentally “brick” your synth (permanently freeze it) while
updating its OS.
To restore your Prophet-6 if it is frozen.
1. Power on the Prophet-6 while holding the write switch to enter boot loader
mode. You’ll see an animation in the main display.
2. Use a MIDI cable (not USB) to transmit the new OS to your synth. You
must use a standard MIDI cable for this. USB MIDI doesn’t work in boot
loader mode.
3. As the OS loads, you will see the main display count backwards from 999.
When it gets to 0, another countdown will begin between the main display
and the
effects parameter 1 display. Do not power down until this count-
down has nished. The Prophet-6 will restart itself when it is done.
If your Prophet-6 is currently equipped with OS 1.2 (which is included with Prophet-6
serial numbers #2415 and later) you cannot downgrade to an OS version earlier than 1.2. If
you try, your Prophet-6 will freeze. If this happens, you can enter recovery mode by holding
the write button while powering up as described above. You can then update your synth to the
latest OS via MIDI DIN (not USB).
2
Poly-Chaining Two Prophet-6 Synthesizers
If you have two Prophet-6 synthesizers of any type (modules or keyboards) you can
link them together with MIDI to increase the total available polyphony to 12 voices.
We call this poly chaining. If you have a Prophet-6 keyboard and a Prophet-6 module,
you will use the keyboard as the master and the module as the slave.
To poly chain two Prophet-6 synths:
1. With a MIDI cable, connect the rear-panel midi out of the rst Prophet-6
(the master) to the midi in of the second Prophet-6 (the slave).
2. On the master Prophet-6, press the
globals button then press program selector
button 9 (midi out).
3. Use the
4. Press the
bank/decrement and tens/increment to select
globals button twice to exit globals mode.
ply
(poly).
The two synths are now poly chained. You can now play up to twelve notes
simultaneously. Another advantage of this arrangement is that notes with long
release times are less likely to be cut off as you play additional notes.
Using Unison in a Poly-Chained System
In a poly-chained system, the maximum number of voices available in unison
mode is 12 voices. In a non-poly chained system, Unison gives you control over
how many voices to stack, from 2 to 6 voices.
In a poly-chained system, stacking options are slightly different. You can choose
to stack either 2, 3, 4, 5, or 12 voices. In other words, setting voice stacking
above 5 voices will stack all 12 voices. There are no options for stacking 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, or 11 voices in a poly-chained system.
To use Unison:
1. Press and hold the unison button.
2. With the
increment butons to choose the number of voices to stack (2, 3, 4, 5, or 12
unison button held down, use the bank/decrement and tens/
voices) then release the unison button.
3. To detune the oscillators, use the
slop knob.
3
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