The Sound of the Prophet VS

[@AlexBallMusic]

Great to see a VS demo'd by one of its designers. Borrowed one a few months back and it's a very cool synth. Made sure to do your tip of keeping the stand out wide.

[@RudyAdrian]

Great demonstration - love the comment at end about slap bass, where Marketing Dept had insisted it needed a DX7-style slap bass patch :)

[@AdamBorseti]

"Twang Bass" blows the DX-7 slap bass out of the water. There should be a random patch generator on every synthesizer!

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Do you have a diagram deconstructing the slap bass patch or at least what Wavetable numbers are used? I've successfully recreated the VS choir patch on my Prophet X (as all the VS wavetables are included) and would love to recreate more.

[@cdxart]

VS is incredible. Significant excitement around the Prophet 5rev4; any chance of a VS refresh? High demand for a stable grail like the VS.

[@LearningModular]

When I asked Dave Smith about that at Synthplex last year, he laughed and said "no." Of course, plans can always change; there was a time when he said he was only interested in making new instruments and not remaking old ones - and now we have the Prophet 5 Rev4...!

[@cdxart]

@@LearningModular Glad you've at least thought about it! Here's to hoping Dave sees the same potential in a VS refresh as he did in the P5. Keep after him! www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/1328491-its-golden-age-full-size-reissues-what-synths-would-make-you-cry-tears-joy-if-reissued.html

[@BlackMan614]

Always wanted one of these but could never afford one when they were new. Bought a WS A/D when they came out as a compromise. They pretty much nailed it... IF they would have included a resonant filter. You would think/hope Dave Smith would have done something w/ the Evolver or P12 to emulate the VS (other than including the waves). One could wish I suppose.

[@LearningModular]

True story: Dave Smith didn't want resonant filters on the VS either; I argued we needed them to better create vocal-ish formants, and offered the trade that I would leave resonance off the Studio 440 if we could include it in the VS. The Wavestation eerily resembles a proposal Dave submitted after Yamaha bought Sequential (and shared some of their technology & ideas with Korg), so I'm not surprised the Wavestation does not have resonance, given that history. The Wavestation has the additional benefit of wave sequencing (which Dave told me he also proposed), but lacks the high-frequency aliasing of the waveforms which gives the VS its sharper edge. Dave sat in on my VS talk at Synthplex, where I explained the benefits of looping envelopes; I hope it inspires him to use them in future instruments. (In general, I wish more would steal the VS's envelopes! The only module that can do it is the Detroit Underground DU-INO.)

[@edjwise]

@@LearningModular In that era wasnt resonant filters viewed as making cheesy duck squawks and such?

[@Bananskuden]

I guess they did that with the Prophet X. It even comes with the original VS waves.

[@EvilDragon666]

I'd say those are aliasing rather than dithering noises. Very indicative of early digital instruments. Dithering pertains to amplitude/bit depth changes, while aliasing pertains to pitch/frequency/resampling changes (which is what VS does to play notes at different pitches).

[@LearningModular]

In the VS, the sample rate and fundamental frequency track each other, and an even number of samples were used per wave. So, aliases keep the same relationship as you play different notes, and are relatively in tune. The tones that are out tune and that change from note to note is the result of the playback clock frequency dithering.

[@intheblink]

Mario Krušelj (he helped design and produce this synth)

[@murky66]

I was in the room Saturday morning when Michael Boddicker realized he had forgotten to get the VS out of his attic and bring it to you. A rather amusing flurry of activity ensued. I wondered if he managed to get it there in time or not. And now I know, the rest of the story. :)

[@LearningModular]

To Michael Boddicker's credit, he had asked that the VS be brought over earlier; it's just that no one bothered to...until sometime later the morning I needed it. Unfortunately, no one also bothered to see if it WORKED. Michael has a VS keyboard; they could have swapped that in instead.

[@murky66]

@@LearningModular Also to Michael Boddicker's credit, he helped organize one of the most influential music events in my life. It may sound silly to some people, but I had a once in a lifetime experience there. I would consider coming back even though I live on the east coast. I thank all of you for making the event what it was.

[@DonSolaris]

Thank you Chris! The long lost lecture from the Knobcon in one way or the other eventually appeared at the surface. :))) Now, where's Suit&TieGuy with that Knobcon tape. :o)

[@skoddeskoddesen4241]

Thank you Chris!

[@uprougher9459]

Super cool sound.

[@DBPawlan]

Thanks for the followup Chris. The part about the envelope reversing was really interesting. Is there a specific type of patch which highlights that well?

[@LearningModular]

Any patch where you want more complex modulation while a key is held down. Looping envelopes act like LFOs that are added to the envelope's sustain, and which kick in only while a note is being sustained. If you choose to loop one segment back and forth, the result is like a triangle LFO. More segments = more complex modulation waveshape.

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

Such a high demand yet, no one will build/clone it.

[@SuperQuater]

Behringer pro vs

[@cymonalex]

Still love my VS’s Chris (I have 3 of them)... other than a PPG, nothing stands out in a mix like a VS! Testament to how good it still is today

[@edjwise]

Twangbas, how is that patch made?

[@lasideasfugazes]

The first preset could be the same as MJ’s Beat It : )

[@jannemikaeljarvinen4630]

1:05 Patch 55 - VS Laser Harp 😄

[@tiz9000]

Whoa, pressure works on yours!

[@LearningModular]

Yeah - the modification was done to mine. However, the reason one key is broken and another is cracked is from me pushing down REALLY HARD on keys to get aftertouch before the mod was done. (I have replacement keys; I just need to take the time to replace them.) The other trick is when you put it on a keyboard stand, make sure the arms are outside of the the bottom feet, not inside - otherwise, the case will flex, and it will seem like aftertouch is on all the time.