DSI Sequential Prophet X - Sample Editing

This is my second video featuring the Sequential Prophet X. In this video I look at the main ways that you can edit and manipulate samples within the synth.

[@lvilliankriss]

There are so few videos on this amazing machine. This is by far the best one I've seen. Thank you.

[@squoblat]

Tim, your dedication to plumbing the depths of what's possible with the hardware you have is something I could watch for hours. I think I'm going to have to treat myself to a DSI synth at some point soon.

[@ghavinga]

Tim thanks, brilliant. Very clear and solid explanations. I also hadn't noticed the difference in semitones in the atmospheric samples and figured why they sounded a bit "wrong". Thought I will sort that out later and now you've nailed it ;-).

[@RikMaxSpeed]

Very instructive video - somehow I think DSI/Sequential haven’t really properly advertised all this amazing synth can do. The sound clarity is spectacular.

[@evildead2002]

Tim this is fabulous. I didn’t even notice the samples being detuned by a few semitones, explains why the sounded a bit off. I also didn’t even think to snatch one of the more subdued piano layers to sample stretch! Fantastic.

[@666JGNotts]

Thanks once again Tim, very informative and interesting :)

[@dannymccook]

Most likely buying one this month, super helpful and informative!

[@digitaldiezel5870]

Wow! This machine is magnificent!

[@dirkkeersmaekers4343]

Thanks,it really help me to how understand this beauty.

[@VadimShinnik]

Very Informative! Thank You! More videos!

[@dannymontreal6316]

Hey Tim, I really have to say a huge thanks for these videos on synths. It was thanks to your videos that I pulled the trigger on a trade for my elektron a4 mk2, plus $1400 CAD in other gear sales for the prophet xl. I love synth, but now I also love piano like never before; and my playing improves daily as it is so absorbing to play with. This is a very overlooked and underrated synth. But it is my favourite I’ve ever owned, and I’ve bought and sold a good many over covid. Anyways, if you did indeed explore the sampling combined with synthesis in an upcoming video (seemingly unlikely, but 🤞), that would be a great watch! Thanks again. Prophet X (L) is amazing.

[@ChazSeamus28]

Great video as usual

[@yurilau3716]

Thanks i will be trying this out.....

[@666JGNotts]

looking forward to some more Prophet X videos :)

[@TimShoebridge]

Ahhh. There might be a delay before I can get the next video recorded, my Prophet X has developed a fault and will no longer start-up. I'm currently in discussion with Sequential tech support about it :(

[@666JGNotts]

@@TimShoebridge Damn I was looking forward to some more! I've also mentioned your videos on the Sequential forums so hopefully you can get back up running again soon :)

[@ghavinga]

Perhaps in a future video you could also show some loop / sample modulation effects, using the LFOs and/or one if the 4 envelopes. I have had some amazingly cool results, using a wave table sample, reducing the loop size and modulate the loop position with envelope 3. The Prophet X is amazingly deep, it will take me years to exhaust all its possible sound sculpting possibilities and then there's the option to load your own samples ........

[@TimShoebridge]

Hi Gerard, Yes definitely, sample modulation is what I will be taking a look at in the next video.

[@charlescowper]

Gerard Havinga videos please :)

[@xray4death]

What speakers are best for the Prophet X or any synth in general? Great video btw, very informative

[@superprim12]

tim.... Don't get it why you did not like this..... This is so ASR -10 ....2020 Just a FYI LOVE YOUR REVEIWS

[@davidsteffens3952]

Love the videos Tim. Thanks for doing these. This one, particularly, is very helpful as I get more acquainted with the prophet x before mine arrives this week. Were you still planning on doing any videos combining the samples + synthesis as mentioned in the end of the video?

[@TimShoebridge]

Thanks very much :) Actually I don't have my PX any more, I had some problems with it due to early firmware issues and it ended up having to be returned to DSI in the US. Since then I got sidetracked by the Quantum but I really miss the PX, possibly I will get another one in a few months if used prices permit.

[@davidsteffens3952]

Tim Shoebridge oh ok. Yes I have seen the quantum videos and enjoyed them as well. I considered both last week, but the Prophet X was really the one that best suited my music. Hydrasynth will have to be my wave table synth, now that my TI is gone. Thanks again for these, very helpful.

[@cronenbergj]

Are there any serois firmware issues in the latest FW versions ?

[@TimShoebridge]

@@cronenbergj Sorry I can't answer that as I don't have a PX at this time. Maybe check out the PX/Sequential groups on FB etc..?

[@cronenbergj]

@@TimShoebridge Thanks :)

[@Lagspike99]

Is there a simple way to describe what the prophet X versus the waldorf quantum offer in contrast with each other? Also, does one or the other handle drum sounds well? I don't have a drum machine but would like to use drum samples in my songs and probably record them live or through midi.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Prophet X is more like traditional subtractive synths. It’s quick and easy to operate and edit. The options are not as crazy, and it doesn’t have as many different synth engines. PX has a wavetable-style osc and a sample playback osc that can do only very basic looping/single ‘grain’. But what you get with the PX is an absolutely amazing sounding filter (2 of them per voice.. stereo). The Quantum is super deep with 5 different oscillator types including deep granular playback. It’s made for deeper, weirder sound design. The sound is more clean and synthetic. It has a mono analog filter which just isn’t as good as the Prophet. It also has stereo digital filters which sound quite clean and a little cold imo. It really depends on what you’re looking to do. For wild weird stuff, the Quantum. For very beautiful analog type tones, PX. I wouldn’t recommend either for doing drums. Neither of these synths are workstations. You might get more value out of something like the Yamaha MODX or Roland Fantom. The Quantum and PX are made to play a single synthesizer sound, and while they have drum samples on board, you can’t put drums on its own midi channel and play at the same time. There are lots of great inexpensive drum machines now. Check out Roland’s TR-6s.

[@bleekzaXXX]

Damn! Never knew about the pitch mode. That’s an amazing innovation. Why doesn’t Sequential highlight this kind of stuff on the Pro X page?

[@manny7662]

There are a lot of features too much to advertise. Check out the user manual online- it shows what the keyboard can really do.

[@bleekzaXXX]

@@manny7662 ya know… I asked this a year ago… but… you got a Shockwave profile pic… so it’s all gud

[@manny7662]

@@bleekzaXXX oh right lol thanks btw

[@s.f.n.641]

#Tim Shoebridge can you record samples from external audio directly from the synth? Without a pc?

[@mano123456]

Unfortunately no. There are a few apps you can run on your computer to prepare banks on a USB drive, and then load them in..

[@MadelnMachines]

Did the combining sample sounds and traditional synthesis sounds whilst using the editing features video ever happen?

[@TimShoebridge]

Unfortunately not. My PX died before I got that opportunity. Am looking for a "cheap" used PX to replace it but no-one is selling....!

[@Jeremy-su3xy]

Does it allow to upload personal samples? Only 8dio allowed?

[@audialeyes6709]

yeah it does 50gigs

[@sub-jec-tiv]

You may want to high-pass your room mic in future... your key hits are coming across as sub bass blasts

[@VadimShinnik]

Hello Tim! Did you try to load own samples in Prophet X/XL ?

[@TimShoebridge]

Hi, I have uploaded some sample packs from 8dio but not my own samples. Unfortunately my synth developed issues before I got the chance to try...

[@VadimShinnik]

@@TimShoebridge hmmm so only from 8dio is aloud. Thanks anyway

[@TimShoebridge]

@@bartmark5744 I don't know the current status of the PX in terms of latest firmware and general stability. When my PX had a problem I spent some time searching for similar problems and possible solutions on the internet. I came across what I would consider to be numerous issues reported by early PX owners (mainly related to issues during or after firmware updates) and I found two other instances where the issue described seemed exactly the same as mine (total startup failure) and resulted in the synth having to have a replacement SSD or a return to base. The SSD in my synth was eventually replaced but it didn't solve the problem so the only solution was a return to California. It was at this point that I decided to obtain a refund and not continue with the PX any more, this was a personal decision to make and a sad one, but the whole process of dealing with the broken synth took a long time. I very much hope that stability has improved since that time, there is a lot of tech (computer hardware and software) inside the PX and this is a contributing factor but also means that there is a lot of scope to improve through firmware updates. I would consider buying another PX in the future, but for now I chose a Quantum which for me has turned out to be a very good choice.

[@mano123456]

@@TimShoebridge That's too bad to hear... Mine comes in the mail in a week or so. I will be watching for any issue. I have a warranty. It seems like such a great instrument, I will take the risk :)

[@audialeyes6709]

@@mano123456 Hows it going so far Mano? I'm also very interested but I don't want to experience such an issues either.

[@davecjd]

Is that a Poly Evolver in the background Tim?

[@TimShoebridge]

It's the little brother, the mono evolver keyboard. Really powerful little mono synth 👍

[@davecjd]

@@TimShoebridge interesting, don't see them much. I've just bought a JD-XA.