Sequential Prophet-600: A Hidden Gem?

[@marsupialmicron]

For a few years I had a Prophet 600 and a Sixtrak and I very much regret selling them. SCI's sound is irreplaceable, even if it's not a P5. The arpeggiators and sequencers on both the P600 and ST are very inspiring. fantastic synths

[@synthsandstuff]

Thank you for your story. The Prophet 600 has so much character, it's a joy to play with. The Gligli is really an added value, just like the stereo mod. With a velocity-sensitive keyboard, the P600 really comes to life.

[@thirtychurchlane8671]

Gligli not essential? Easy-to-install non-destructive firmware drop-in replacement of the new firmware. If you ever find yourself pining for the old sound of your Prophet 600, you can remove the Gligli upgrade and restore the Z80. 2. Greater resolution of many of the sound parameters with an improved refresh rate that is making the instrument much more responsive. Forget those lousy stepped cutoff changes! 3. Faster, smoother amplifier and filter envelope generators supporting four different modes: 1. Fast Linear. 2. Slow Linear. 3. Fast Exponential. 4. Slow Exponential. 4. A new LFO function generator with a wider range from one cycle every to about 60Hz with four new waveforms in addition to the original triangle and square including sine, random stepped, noise (like on the original Prophet 5, but nonperiodic) and sawtooth (ramp up). 5. A dedicated vibrato which can be controlled by the modulation wheel, or can start progressively after a fixed amount of time. 6. Multiple keyboard modes including last/low/high note priority. 7. Unison detune. 8. Mix Overdrive which now allows the output from both oscillators to drive the mix VCAs A and B harder as well as the Curtis 4 pole filter resulting in new sonic possibilities. 9. Pitch Wheel interval selection of plus/minus one octave, a whole tone, a minor third and a fifth. 10. Pitch Wheel reassignment to the VCF and Volume or off. 11.Modulation wheel intensity setting from Maximum to Medium to Minimum. 12. Full Midi In control including: 1. Amp and Filter velocity sensitivity with an external keyboard controller. 2. Continuous Controllers (CC) of all sound parameters. 3. Program change (PC) to choose current preset. 4. Synchronizing the arpeggiator to MIDI clock. 13. A new and improved tuning procedure. 14. Octave, chromatic and free Oscillator course pitch control. 15. Plus/Minus setting for Oscillator Fine Tune and Filter Envelope amount for Poly Mod and Filter. 16. Assignable, Random And Up/Down Arpeggiator. 17. Debounce feature that prevents unintended retriggering caused by the old keyboard. sounds like cures all the issues you raise

[@juno6]

👏👏👏👏 totally agree

[@thirtychurchlane8671]

@ghost mall it's replaced with a brand new modern faster CPU and new software. If you get a pre assembled kit you remove one chip and plug in another daughter board. Have look here on KZbin there are videos and kit starts from $139

[@jfracine_composition]

Hey ! Checking to add the gligli on my P600 but I heard the envelopes are faster. As I really love long attack envelopes, do you still get slow attack possible with the gligli or the envelopes can be longer without the mod ? Thanks !

[@midichlorian73]

I too had one, and it definitely had it's issues, but it sounded fantastic! MIDI implementation was buggy, but let's not forget that it was also one of the first two mass-produced synths with MIDI along with the Jupiter 6. Nice vid, Zach!

[@imogensun7183]

Hi, just a few remarks from my side, since I have spent considerable time on a new (improved and extended) GliGli based firmware version over the last 6 months. First, like envelopes, the LFO is software generated in the P600. Compared to the original Z80, the overall resolution is greatly enhanced with the GliGli mod, both in terms of values (16 bit) and time (2 kHz for envelopes and LFO, 500 Hz for vibrato and mod delay). In my opinion the GliGli mod is a huge step in terms of basic synth performance. It also offers completely new things such as bipolar modulation strength, random LFO shape, MIDI velocity, vibrato etc. The new firmware (ETA: mid 2022) has even more, local off mode, JX8P style envelope routing, etc. The best thing about the mod is that fact, that it totally preserves the character of the instrument, as if it becomes the instrument it should have been. Thanks for the video anyway. I love thins synth.

[@jfracine_composition]

Hi ! Checking to add the gligli but I heard the envelopes are faster. As I really love long attack envelopes, do you still get slow attack possible with the gligli or the envelopes can be longer without the mod ? Thanks !

[@imogensun7183]

@@jfracine_composition With the GliGli mod there are two envelope "speeds" to choose from. I just checked: with the "slow" setting the maximum attack time is 2min 10sec, so pretty long. If you don't have a mod yet, it could be difficult to get one. The boards are no longer produced and some synth traders offer the last ones at - well - not very friendly prices (but still worth it, I think).

[@nopenada3449]

In 1993, I bought a Prophet 600 from a guy as they were tearing down after a gig. For $150 (not a mistype), I got the Prophet 600, an Ultimate Support Systems 3-tier A-Frame stand and a heavy duty flight case (pretty sure he was desperate for some quick drug money). It was the deal of the century. Still have it, still use it. In fact, it sits under a DSI Pro-2 and above a DSI Prophet 12. People can say whatever they want, I love the thing, quirks and all.

[@lawrenceonethree6872]

These videos are super high-quality. I hope the music shop is paying you appropriately.

[@itsmebarz9859]

He’s the owner bruv

[@danwentz]

Back then - This and a Moog Prodigy would have been all I needed… ah well, I did have the Moog

[@retailhutch9108]

Funny to see this - I actually bought my Prophet 600 from Alamo back in '83. Maybe I missed it in the demo, but my favorite sounds are the 'dirty' strings ... think "Mr. Mister." Still sounds great!

[@SPAZZOID100]

Why do so many of these videos have the subtitles “Is it worth it”??? It’s worth what people are willing to pay. PERIOD.

[@vaiman7777]

I prefer it when they have a shocked look on the thumbnail. Or looking up… thinking 🤔

[@rhill109]

$1500 for a Prophet-600 is getting pretty close to used Prophet 6 module prices. Save a little longer and get the 6. Trust me, I used to own a 600 until it died in the late 90s. Sold it for parts on ebay. It can make some cool sounds but it is pretty flaky. The membrane switches on mine were also starting to age.

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

I've got both and still use the P600. I've literally never had a single issue with the membrane panel, or anything else for that matter. Flakey is the last thing I would call it. It's no P5, but it's got a wonderful tone all its own.

[@rhill109]

@@SacSynths_Jack_Z I agree about the sound. The one I owned had lived a hard gigging life before it was given to me. It looked more beat up than the one in the video with the added bonus of the switches requiring loads of pressure to function.

[@juno6]

Prophet 6 sound dead in comparison.

[@AllureMusicLab]

Both are worth the Money - But P600 definitely only with Gligli Mod and Stereo Voice Mod !

[@maxzukowski]

Would love to see some demos of siel synths. Amazing pieces of gear.

[@SPAZZOID100]

And the video will be labeled “Is it worth it”???

[@saren6538]

Ah well it’s all history now as behringer has dropped the pro800

[@bullet0657]

This and A vintage JX8p = match made in Heaven

[@AllureMusicLab]

Both are worth the Money - But P600 definitely only with Gligli Mod and Stereo Voice Mod !

[@RayyMusik]

Related to the price the P600 sounds better than the P5. Waiting for the Behringer P800 …

[@killswitchmediastudios]

Where is that Sequential Circuits Split 8 review?

[@braien25980]

Moin, is it possible to recreate the baseline of Mr. Fingers (Can you feel it)? Regards

[@SPAZZOID100]

That was a Juno-6

[@braien25980]

@@SPAZZOID100 Thank you, look for a cheaper alternative. But gladly analogue, will then probably wait for the synth from Behringer.... So about 2 years 🫣

[@shadynook86]

You don't think you get that much from the GLIGLI mod??

[@SPAZZOID100]

He’s wrong.

[@juno6]

Amazing synth. The sounds chosen for this demo doesn't do it justice...

[@snoolee7950]

There's some nice sounds in the video. I like it.

[@juno6]

@@snoolee7950 cool

[@amonster8mymother]

I saw this already.

[@mauriziomauricone]

Check out the Imogen v2022 mod!!

[@amonster8mymother]

I dont see the point of velocity for these synths it's not a piano?

[@SPAZZOID100]

On some synths, Velocity can be applied to the amp or filter. Sometimes to control other parameters as well.

[@shadynook86]

That one looks horrible, and gives the Prophet-600 a bad impression at least aesthetically. Of course this is coming from someone with a mint 600, with P-5 knobs and metal Sequential Circuits/Prophet name plates on the front. Even still it's almost embarrassing to see the showcasing of one is such poor shape. Anyway, the GliGli mod makes it very close to the sonics of a vintage P-5 (voice architecture almost identical to P-5), same Prophet family during the same classic period.

[@jjrusy7438]

there are lifetime limits on capacitors and various plastics etc. any electronics in the 40-50 year old range will most likely need internal service. vintage will either go down the tubes, OR the prices will get even crazier with the added refurb price. IMO, vintage is a loser either way. NOBODY is going to gig with old crap unless they are really looking for trouble.

[@jelwilham]

Vintage through-hole synths are infinitely repairable. Modern synths however suffer the same fate and then can't be repaired by technicians. You then have to contact the manufacturer to replace the entire board. I always say vintage synths are a big investment, but a good one.

[@jjrusy7438]

@@jelwilham all opinion on your part. Smd can be repaired. Replacing modules saves money on labor. Also many vintage components don't even exist in normal supplies of components. Look around. You will see modern synths on stage. There is a reason=dependability. Vintage is for collectors only now.

[@SPAZZOID100]

@@jjrusy7438tell that to Dr. Mix

[@jjrusy7438]

@@SPAZZOID100 Dr mix has vintage in his studio but when you watch his performance vid, all modern.

[@SPAZZOID100]

@@jjrusy7438I don’t think anyone gets vintage synths to use live. My vintage synths never leave my studio.