Prophet 5: Famous Preset Sounds

[@thx1138abc1]

RIP Dave Smith. Sequential Circuits changed the face of electronic music. Thank you Mr Smith for all you did.

[@ChrisTopheRaz]

Who’s Dave Smith?

[@thx1138abc1]

@@ChrisTopheRaz He was the guy behind the Prophet synths, the two companies Sequential Circuits and Sequential, and he was integral in the design of MIDI. Quite a guy. He died recently. Sadly missed.

[@lonophonic117]

Much agreed.

[@MatheusManzano]

RIP Dave Smith. A true genius at service of music.

[@salpha8714]

Monster synth, sounds amazing even on the phone speaker.

[@RetroPlus]

salpha Just wait until you plug one into some sub woofers, it's magical.

[@WouterB76]

Amazing and phone speaker in one sentence, must be some special phone... Hopefully one day you get to experience a really decent stereo system.

[@salpha8714]

@@WouterB76 you mean on my Adam A7x or Wharfedale Diamond 230?

[@WouterB76]

@@salpha8714 Better then a phone speaker at least.

[@ennote91]

This is probably the best sounding synth I've heard yet. I could play it for hours as well. Sending positive vibes your way Stay safe keep making videos

[@StefanoPapaleo-TS]

See the joy literally painted on his face when using this synth. As we say in Italy, Doctor Mix gode come un riccio ;)

[@Doctormix]

Peffozza!

[@albertovisconti352]

No dai ahahahha

[@prodky33]

@@Doctormix hi

[@auxorion]

He ended up buying one for his new studio. Good choice, too. Dr. Mix gives us hope.

[@auxorion]

3:54 wasn't expecting that lovely uplifting little song. Nicely played.

[@skycron]

Yep! The piece he is playing is "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free", famously performed by Nina Simone and written by Dr. Billy Taylor and Dick Dallas. -Cory

[@auxorion]

@@skycron Awesome thanks for the info!

[@skycron]

@@auxorion :)

[@auxorion]

9:31 and on was just great. So good. Perfect chord progression

[@LukasFink1]

And I could listen to this for hours.

[@j1thom]

Saw Thompson Twins touring Gap. Three P5's on the stage. Just heaven. GREAT vid. Thanks.

[@matthewy393]

1:24 why's he shagging the keyboard

[@TheRealD4]

It was his first love?

[@ironrob4344]

Appliantology, he likes pluking keyboards.

[@wafflestoast5228]

I guess it just gets him going

[@AboveEmAllProduction]

he is a synthophile :)

[@zodiakgaming3761]

😏

[@ajgnexus]

that organ sounded damn near perfect. also I loved that 40s baseball game song you played.

[@dudedudeson6869]

Thumbs up for the Profondo Rosso theme at 4:50.

[@SLIMECORE_TV]

@FUNKYSPECTRUM George! Nice seeing you here man, it's me Kyle Pittman.

[@sebastiantorres5363]

2:14 bro, that was sooooooooo beautiful

[@trenchling9762]

This is great, makes me feel a piece of the early 80s.

[@petercampbell3382]

Doctor Mix, I'd like to congratulate you on ALL the videos you have produced about keyboards. What I love is your enthusiasm, knowledge and, clearly, your love for these instruments. Please keep the videos coming. Many thanks.

[@AntonioOliveira-em4cd]

I have just purchased a rev 4. This is an absolutely amazing synth

[@nythpill]

daft punk and talking heads really knew how to make some incredible stuff with this synth. tons more artists have used it but those two are some of my favorites.

[@zachary4670]

Nythil what Talking Heads songs use this? I love that band! Also, did Yaz use one of these?

[@SPAZZOID100]

Nythil Daft Punk not a good example. Look to any artist 1980-1985

[@SPAZZOID100]

Zachary Harward Them & Tom Tom Club.

[@SPAZZOID100]

@@zachary4670Full albums. 1980-1986. Also Tom Tom Club.

[@VimyScout]

Tnx for sharing doc. Great to see and hear the Prophet 5 again.

[@mephistovonfaust]

I love how we can see how much fun you're having... I imediately had to switch on my MatrixBrute and play a litte :D It's contatious.

[@theopenrift]

Dude the fact you started playing the melody to Dario Argento's Deep Red main theme.... Mm, made my day

[@indianaraconceicao6860]

Fr

[@emiel333]

Love to see the good old analog gear in action. Nowadays we use a lot of VST and soft synths, but most of them emulating analog synths and so fort. Lovely video!

[@finbarrmcgrath1686]

Every time I start think 80’s analog synths are basically nostalgic over priced garbage you produce something like this and I’m 18 again hearing them for the first time. Thank you, thank you thank you!

[@SPAZZOID100]

Bryan Smart goes for any synth. This synth was on 70% of all records made 1980-1985, and most patches were custom.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Bryan Smart incorrect. I own one. Sounds incredible DRY, unlike most modern synths.

[@fakshen1973]

I can hear so much of the early 80's synth stuff... Squeeze, Asia... I'm going to go listen to "Only Time Will Tell" now... the intro of it sounds like a Prophet 5.

[@seventscott3945]

fakshen1973 didn't Asia use a Roland Jupiter 8 in most of their tunes ?

[@Gabesafish]

IDK what Asia was using, but one of those voices instantly reminded me of Only Time Will Tell.

[@jaykeel7309]

@@seventscott3945 Prophet 5/10 and Elka Synthex were his main boards back in the early days

[@seventscott3945]

@@jaykeel7309 thank you

[@anzipex]

Please make more videos like this, i mean with testing and playing presets. Love it. Respect

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Interesting to note that John Bowen who authored almost all of the original 40 something presets for the Prophet 5 recreated them for DSI’s Prophet 6. It’s actually quite remarkable how alike they sound. I use them all the time. A trick to make the Prophet 6 sound closer to the Prophet 5 is to actually decrease the Amp envelope and both of the VCO levels to 50%. When they are maxed out it actually drives the filter too hard and has a “harsh tone” to it (which is probably why a lot of people’s first impressions of it were that the synth sounded harsh). Backing it off to 50% gives off a much smoother and richer sound. In regards to the Prophet 5 presets themselves, I’d recommend the horror film soundtrack for the film Creepshow by John Harrison. He used a Steinway Grand Piano And Prophet 5 for the entire score and almost all the sounds you hear on there were the original presets.

[@moogdome2562]

Wow. Jim Bowen from Bullseye.

[@SPAZZOID100]

EverettDudgeon138 Not many presets used on the Soundtrack.

[@javiceres]

Thanks for all the info :) I hope one day I’ll have a P6. I have the monophonic version (Toraiz AS-1) and think it sounds stellar.

[@scififunk]

Great info! Thanks Everett.

[@rollingrock5143]

How can 142 people not appreciate one of the most positive people on the internet geek out on a vintage synth?

[@thefastandthefurious1]

It’s true he’s a very happy dude

[@BaddaBigBoom]

Jealousy perhaps?

[@zoomthruths7976]

there is a lot of flt earther out there just surfing around... trump supporter and covid deniers... that is why.

[@aleckent6709]

278 now, almost doubled since your comment, making yours all the more true!

[@miklosmiklos5681]

Because they are asholes

[@t.kahraba763]

Wow u really played Santana on a synth,, sounds fantastic

[@henryhowardmusicassociatio5739]

How could you not like this guy's energy and spirit?

[@TheSdzisuaf]

Guess those 216 had shaky hands from excitement

[@AdamBorseti]

I think that out of all of the many bands that used the Prophet-5, I think that the award for the most creative and out-of-the-box uses of it should definitely go to Japan. The album "Tin Drum" is a great example of what the instrument can do in capable hands. It was Richard Barbieri who programmed and played the Prophet-5 on the album, and David Sylvian used the mighty Oberheim OB-X as well. Between the two of them, they were able to create some of the most evocative, and mysterious sounds ever made with those synths. They were all made to sound like some sort of East Asian, oriental folk instruments, still electronic, but very familiar; like you feel like you have heard them before.

[@franciscoojeda11]

Adam Borseti Richard Barbieri is a synth genius, is one of the main reason i think porcupine tree sounded that way

[@kz1000ps]

David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto and an army of Prophet-5s......

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Did the Japan members do things with it that no-one else could get near? I remember reading someplace that the Thompson Twins members preferred the Oberheim OB8, because unlike the Prophet 5, you could tell the presets apart on the OB8. What was it that eluded Thompson Twins that Japan nailed?

[@AdamBorseti]

ShreadTheWeapon I'm not sure. It's not that Japan were doing things that no one else could do, it's just that at the time, they used the Prophet-5 in a way that no one had done yet. As for the Oberheim OB-8, that came out in 1983 or 1984, right?

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Yes Adam Borset. The OB8 was 1983.

[@Hansepans68]

5:12 I finally know where the wistle in "All Good Things Come To An End" by Nelly Furtado comes from. Also the Prophet-5 flute has been used several times by Kate Bush.

[@sektorsiebenblau]

Korg M1 Nimbus was also used in this Furtado song ^^

[@martinkyhn-johansen4454]

1:05 "Nothing special here" sounds like the synth from Atoms for Peace - Ingenue

[@zosoppelin]

Excelent!! :D

[@acsone3546]

Martin Johansen I was about to comment that, Thom used the prophet heavily with atoms for peace, on in rainbows and on the eraser

[@nicksidiropoulos802]

@@acsone3546 Don't forget Kid A

[@june4135]

ingenue sounds like MS-20 eq'd

[@auxorion]

LMAO underrated comment. I didn't notice that's pretty much exactly Ingenue. Radiohead got tried.

[@davegillett7135]

I like that what you play matches the preset. What a lovely synth!

[@marcrobson2268]

Just awesome ..... thank you for existing and putting a smile on my face

[@kleberkeys2011]

Uma obra de arte!! Obrigado pelo presente David Smith! e descanse em paz! Thanks for the review Doctor MIx!

[@thegood9]

I used to think the Jupiter 8 and the Obie 8 was my fave synth, until I discovered that the Prophet sound was the one that kept bringing me back over and over and over again to that synth. THAT, and the fact that it is THE sound that I hear giving that special "something" to all my fave records...

[@Junkboimusic]

Amazing, I love the Prophet 5 so much!

[@apocalypsevingt-cinq156]

YES ! More Goblin - Profondo Rosso @ 4:55. So beautyful music.

[@alessandroskocir]

Era un gruppo spaventoso!!

[@lxworld]

One of my favourite synthesizers. I too have several VSTs. Native Instruments should revive the Pro53 for sure

[@bonurse7969]

I'm obsessed with this channel, man.

[@antoinedufou]

It makes me want to spend all my money in synths, that is sooo magical

[@cnewell5953]

ditto!

[@Bluzigo]

I love the little song at 3:50 it’s amazing

[@EphemeralProductions]

Cute and cool indeed. :)

[@AaronAtkinsHonorableChairman]

i wish i knew how to be free by nina simone

[@dos_mas_805]

You're a true musician is every sense! I discovered your channel in recent months and can't get enough. Love the vibe and seeing you explore each keys/synth you demo! Can't help to think how fun it would be to jam with you! Thank you Doctor Mix!

[@alexrichardson5236]

Goblin's Profondo Rosso. For a band that mostly did soundtracks their music is really cool.

[@JiveTalker78]

Quite possibly the greatest video of all time lol. The Prophet 5 is such ana amazing instrument

[@tomfewins5803]

That chord structure makes me wanna cry with hope! Loved it

[@chinoneu1]

Esa parte de la Improvisación en 3:33 me hace acordar a la Intro de The Cars "Hearbeat City" que la volví a escuchar por estos días,Felicitaciones Dr. Mix, Greetings from Patagonia Argentina.

[@BECIELOFFICIAL]

Nice ear

[@MsrAlaindeFerrier]

Love the way you appreciate and approach all this fantastic vintage gear with such reverence excellent vid and please do more on the Prophet 5 thanks

[@OscillatorCollective]

Damn...I could feel that pad in my SPINAL CORD....💜💜

[@bananaspartan2234]

Dexter Wansel used that preset 21 "whistle" sound in Nights Over Egypt (near the end of the song) and in several songs on MFSB Mysteries of the World.

[@murphyjulian7393]

Great tune!!!

[@darkwing7966]

3:40 “This is so fun it’s scary”. It truly is. These old keyboards definitely gives me the creeps. The prophet 5, Yam Cs-80, Jupiter 6, Jupiter 8 and Minimoog and the sound possibilities were limitless in the way they were used. In the 70s and 80s, some artists seem to find uncanny ways to progress their songs. The way they used waves, oscillators, LFOs etc were more than convenient, almost like something was speaking to them through these boards. “Hmmm….How do I capture the attention of the world with a mere sound”. Old Synth: “Please adjust the following settings and transition to this chord inversion with the following notes” 😬😱🪄📠✨🧟‍♂️👀🎹. Maybe it’s just me. A lot of those famous sounds and songs are just waaay too legendary.

[@sonykroket]

One of the coolest keyboards ever made, next to the Juno-60.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Sony Kroket no comparison.

[@sonykroket]

I never said it was a comparison. Why do you project?

[@SPAZZOID100]

Sony Co not even close.

[@mrtravoiceburges]

Videos like this Have so much replay ability value!!!

[@dannyanalog4423]

The Prophet 5 is my absoulutley Favorit syntheziser in my collection

[@aangtonio5570]

One of the best "analog sound, digital control" pieces of gear ever made.

[@manifestgtr]

1:58 oh my god...what is this tune. I just can’t name it and it’s killing me

[@callakracker]

manifestgtr Its “Black Magic Woman” by Santana

[@tdunster2011]

Fleetwood Mac - Black Magic Woman

[@samuelinchley9133]

It really reminds me of the vocal melody from the song The Hunter by Mastodon

[@germjam1733]

Reminded me of the Sailor Moon theme song

[@curly_wyn]

The synth used by Martin Rev of the band Suicide!!!

[@lonophonic117]

RIP Dave Smith. A fantastic man who founded a fantastic corporation, who created a fantastic and one of the greatest most iconic synthesizers of all time.

[@sektorsiebenblau]

If you want a good example for using the Prophet 5 almost perfectly, just listen to „Theme For Prophet 5“ (made by german Frumpy-drummer Carsten Bohn) It was used in many german radioplays, for example in „The three investigators“ („Die Drei ???“) from the german label EUROPA based in Hamburg.

[@ReinKayomi]

God rest your soul, Dave Smith.

[@mrtravoiceburges]

That whistling part made me laugh you were having too much fun!

[@carlbowles1808]

Herbie Hancock used prophet 5 on MR Hands album 1980.I now know how he made such glorious sounds.

[@synthdude7664]

That’s a serious synth

[@HuntersMoon78]

The sound is so Phat that it'll roll over at night and squish you!

[@RetroPlus]

Hunter's Moon Indeed!

[@iniziodelrumore]

5:00 Goblin...Real italian mate!

[@DirtySanch3z]

your vids are pure joy, good sir

[@piercerolli2729]

this KILLS me. 'This is actually pretty fun!"

[@SPAZZOID100]

Reissue is here!!!

[@HarryFisherIII]

I have the Prophet 5 vst by Arturia. Great synth.

[@philtowers1392]

Top quality troll work there

[@davegillett7135]

I've got 6 Arturia classics but my classic computer defeats me. Can't get any sound out. More frustrating than window shopping when you're skint

[@juliusebola9389]

@#martinkdodd Check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3ekkHVspbVsd6M

[@digitaldiezel5870]

This is what a synth should sound like…🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@digitaldobbie]

I just had to comment so that there was no longer 666 comments. He he he great vid!

[@Revelator2025]

Love this synth since I first heard it in the 80’s...Like a Mini Moog, this synth is one of those timeless instruments so musical and inspiring that it really should be in music stores today-of course MIDI-equipped and FAITHFULLY reproduced true-to-spec..!!!

[@MrRoadster100]

Quick word about the original Prophet 5: There was a demonstrator at Music City (on Columbus Ave in San Francisco) who could do about 100 times more on it than shown here. He could make this keyboard walk and talk when it was new in the '80s!

[@FlynLatif]

this video is a work of art

[@rico-3687]

Your videos are great! Especially because you're classically trained in piano and apply that skill and knowledge to synth and electronica!

[@hightower196X]

Dave did it again! 🍻

[@27scole]

Brilliant video man! So good :)

[@Keith-nm3uf]

My favorite synthesizer.

[@absolving]

i really enjoyed this video bro! im buying my first synthesizer soon, and i really like the look of this one

[@JohnRSippy]

The company "Dave Smith Instruments" makes a modern version of the Prophet 5 as well as other great synths. I own a "Poly Evolver Keyboard" from them and absolutely love it! That being said, there are many many many great synthesizers on the market today. I would highly recommend going to your local music gear / keyboard shop and trying out as many of them as you can. You will find that you like some more than others. Good luck and welcome to the world of Synths!!!

[@absolving]

John R. Sippy Thanks for the advice! Currently still looking, loads to choose from. this is hard!

[@vrendus522]

Very nice and enjoyed your playing immensely.Thanks and G bless.

[@murat_buyuk]

LOL, now that I preordered the Prophet reissue, I see that video

[@jjar2561]

Fantastic mate, loved this

[@ambarliquido]

2 years later and I'm still waiting for someone to list the tunes

[@wojtekwozniak9272]

And still no one made one...

[@talltrini10]

I don't even play an instrument but I keep watching this channel's videos. Keep up the great work!

[@DavGreg]

Just picked up the Softube Model 80 Five Voice ( Prophet 5 soft synth ).

[@blacklightning7227]

favorite channel bro... dude u killed it LIVE... the Dr...Mix

[@MaurizioCefalo]

Grande Doctor Mix :)

[@eskee1]

Just got one of these at goodwill for 12.99. Pretty good deal I think so far.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Eric Loyd u wish.

[@indramarosa7675]

A wooden analog and it's still relevant to the next millennium. That's how great Prophet 5 is. A class of It's own.

[@ryanbryan1096]

I’m so glad I watched this whole video

[@BaddaBigBoom]

Ok, please de-construct 'Ghosts' by Japan :-)

[@KitsukiTheLostIsland]

UP!!!!

[@OliveAir26]

6:13 - I was expecting Only Time Will Tell by Asia :3

[@Gideon_Judges6]

4:44 I thought you were going to play the Donkey Kong title theme for a moment. Also don't know how you resisted trying The Good the Bad and the Ugly with the whistle patch. Great stuff!

[@BaddaBigBoom]

7.42 reminds me of "Lucky Day" (Thompson Twins)

[@jizzo385]

7:42

[@j.fetzer5814]

Thompson Twins were big Prophet fans and players!

[@BaddaBigBoom]

@@j.fetzer5814 That explains it :-)

[@designermuppetstring]

That thing is so cool

[@microwah]

Me : 'Right! Time to knuckle down and do some college work' also me : 'Ok ok, Just a couple of episodes of Doctor Mix,then knuckle down'

[@paulsf1990]

At 2:30, what is that setting called?? Love that sound with the cutoff filter making that swell sound.

[@Bloodstone_DC]

9:19 Nick Batt cheering in the background...

[@TheWatcherOnWho]

Picking up on some early 80's Doctor Who sounds here.

[@annother3350]

It only seemed temporamental because when you changed presets the knobs aren't in the right place for the present. So the slightest touch of the filter may suddenly make it jump to really bright

[@polymonorecords]

Got to love Dr Mix

[@beng1lh00ly]

level 42's mike lindup and wally badarou got some serious usage out if this beast - i think it appears in everyone of their records!

[@MacXpert74]

I love the use of the Prophet on their first record. Particularly the track 'Heathrow" is really cool and showcases the great Prophet 5 sound very well.

[@ak99uk]

Yes, and Wally's work with Grace Jones too.... It's why I've always wanted one.