From mr808@teleport.com Fri Dec 22 13:00:39 1995 22 Dec 95 16:00:28 +0500 21 Dec 95 16:08:47 +0500 Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 05:22:59 -0800 (PST) From: That Damn 808 Subject: Prophet Xmas FlameFest Continued... On 20 Dec 95 at 17:28, Roderick W. MacQuarrie wrote: > I would like to hear from anyone out there rich enough to own several > different revisions of the Prophet 5 (or who have had the chance to compare > different revisions side by side). I just spent the last hour or so wading > through the archives and have not really had my questions answered regarding > these synths... > > ...especially the different revisions....Does anyone have any info on these? > Some say you should buy a REV. 3 because of the MIDI capabilities... Rev 3's can be upgraded to MIDI w/ a factory kit which gives you Program Change & SysEx patch dump capabiities - they're still available from Whine Country. Rev 1 & 2's can be upgraded to MIDI w/ a Kenton kit which gives you the typical Kenton features - NoteOn/Off & probably not much else. > yet I've heard that the REV 2's are better sounding...Why is this?...and what's an SSM > chip? Also, what about the REV 1's...what do they sound like? All of these questions are interrelated...the Rev.1 & 2's sound essentially the same, but the 2's are slightly more reliable. The Service Manual says the Rev.2's were a "mere refinement". Many people think Rev.1/2 P5s sound better, because the SSM chips used in them. Solid State Music (SSM) once made integrated circuits designed specifically for building synthesizers with, as did Curtis ElectroMusic Specialties (CEM). The SSM chips have a reputation for sounding nice, but for whatever reason (either reliability or availability is my guess), Sequential switched to CEM chips when they redesigned the Rev 3 Prophet 5. The Service Manual swears the chips made no difference in the sound, but I know otherwise. You may like the Rev.3's better, but I suggest listening to Japan's "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" and "Tin Drum" albums if you want to hear what a Rev.1/2 can do. > Can anyone tell me what I should expect to pay for one nowadays (for the > different revs.)? I've seen some Rev.2's go for $450, $550, and $650 in the last year; none had MIDI. Rev.3's go for $450-1350, depending on the availability of MIDI. FWIW, somewhere around 1300 Rev.1/2's were made, maybe 5000 Rev.3's were made. On 20 Dec 95 at 17:46, Jacktrippy@aol.com wrote: > A more expensive sound as > the 1's and 2's use the hard to find SSM chips as opposed to the CEM on the > rev. 3. Given that the CEM chips in question are about as hard to find as the SSM chips, and similiarly priced, I don't understand this remark. Besides, I think most of the problems with early Prophets were due to tour use by bands (about the only people that could afford them). > I also understand the calibration process on the early rev's is > amojor pain in the ass. If you want reliablity go for the rev 3.3 with midi. If you want reliability in an old car, drive a '63 Dodge Dart. If you want a cool looking ride that does 170mph stock, go with a '63 Studebaker Avanti. On 20 Dec 95 at 19:15, Joseph Rivers wrote: > > Speaking of the Prophet 10, does it use SSM or CEM chips ? > > The P 10 like the P 5 used SSM chips(SSM 2020, 2030, and 2040) hope it helped. All Prophet 10's, or just the early double manual ones? Did SCI revise the later Prophet 10's the way they revised later P5's? Does anyone have a later P10? Does anyone know what's lurking under the hood of the T8? Still holding out for a Rev.2...808