professional keyboard player for 40 years here. i could have only dreamed of having this much information available to me when choosing my synths over the years. this is fantastic and deeply appreciated, thank you!
The tone of that Prophet-10 is unmatched, I can't even explain it, it's perfect. I think its also impacting how you play and what you choose to play giving it even more sauce. Great video
I don't normally comment on videos but a simple thumbs up just does not do this justice. Absolutely brilliant job Julian - It covers everything and displays a depth of knowledge and understanding (as a human being and musician as well as a sound designer) rarely seen in such videos. I could not wish for anything more in helping my understanding of these 2 synths; without actually getting my hands on the Prophet 5/10 (I already own the 6). Thank you for your time and effort in putting together this brilliant comparison and exploration of the Prophets. Worth the wait! and the video editing pain... Thanks again!
I spent the last hour recreating these patches on my Rev 2, trying to get as close as possible - that was both fun AND educational! What a brilliantly made comparison, thank you very much :)
What a great review of both instruments! Thank you so much for showing the P6 for what it is, and not just trying to match it to the P10. ;) Both are great instruments! The moment I put my hand on the P10, I knew I wasn't going to sell my P6. Not because it could almost match the P10, but because of all other great things the P6 can creates. Having compared both, the P10 made me love the P6 more!! Now the P10 is just pure musical magic. It's elegant, and when you play it, as you said, it makes you feel like playing the Rolls-Royce of synths. It's a beautiful instrument like a Grand piano. Thanks again for this outstanding review!
I would love Sequential to release a Prophet 6 Rev 2 with 5 oct, vintage knob instead of SLOP, Bigger knobs and Filter switch between P5 rev1-2, rev3 and P6. It's a dream.. but it's legit to dream sometimes! :)
I’ve owned the P10 for over a year now and I still get goosebumps every time I play it. It truly is a magical instrument. It is so simple and barebones, but it sounds so good with everything you throw at it. I’ve never heard oscillators that are so lively and organic. The raw tone is so sweet and lush. Truly the perfect instrument- a flawless synthesizer design.
@@M3333C I own a Prophet 6. It definitely can be P5-like and can replicate a lot of the classic P5 sounds to 95% accuracy. It does have a little different character though. It doesn’t have quite the richness in sound that the Prophet 5 has. It’s a little thinner and brighter sounding. It does so much more than the Prophet 5 though, and it’s definitely worth having both. The P6 is so versatile and can do some really amazing modern sounds. It goes far beyond where the P5 can. The P5 does have a little more of a rich sound though
I already have an OB-6, so adding a Prophet-10 gives me the best of both worlds, rather than a Prophet-6 as I had originally planned. Thank you for this informative video. I watched the entire thing from start to finish.
This sounds like a great idea. I’ve been tossing up the p6 ob6 option for a while and now thinking of getting a p10. Maybe the p10 - ob6 duo will be the perfect option 👍
The prophet 5/10 Rev 4 is super cool and nostalgic but the prophet 6 is more interesting to me, specially the stereo spread. I love being able to spread the oscillators without relying on chorus or some effect. And the fx are nice just to have. But I'm glad Dave released the prophet 5/10 for the people who have wanted it for years. He's a good dude for that. Also great video thank you for taking the time to make this.
Fantastic video! Thanks for taking the time to make this and demonstrate some of the capabilities of both of these instruments. It is great fun to watch a master craftsman at work! I purchased a Prophet 6 about four years ago. What I find interesting is that I have come to appreciate and love its sound and musical abilities more and more over time. It is a true musical instrument capable of great beauty and nuance as opposed to something that sounds novel and catchy and then quickly loses its luster. After only four years, it’s kind of early to call, but I kind of compare it to the acoustic grand piano that I’ve had for 20 years. I enjoy both more and more over time. More practice and more playing show their capabilities and prove their worth. And this video has shown me even more things that I did not realize I could do with the Prophet 6. It’s hard for me to justify having a Prophet 10 alongside the P6, but it is fun to think about. Thanks again!
Man I can not possibly thank you enough for this video. I would've never imagined such in depth guidance through this question. Thanks to you, I can now make my purchase, which is thrilling!
Have Prophet 6 since day one of release. Used in everything. Live or studio. Totally recommend. Stereo is a delightful feature...you will see how it fits in live situations or studio mixes..Since the ton, is big, rich and vintage you will need 1 sound maximum 2 sounds at once (if you have a second one...module, etc.) to fill any synths scenarios. Ideally you will have an extra module (analog or digital) hooked vis MIDI for more complex live situations. Specially if splits and layers are needed and possible?! OB 6, Korg, Yamaha, Roland any of those modules and many more... will kill it along side Prophet 6 via midi! Happy creations.
Really excellent unbiased comparison, thanks for putting the time in. I’d already ordered a Prophet 10, and never considered the P6 in the past because it left me cold. I think you did a great job of showing it’s more than I thought it was, but the sheer ‘weight’ of the P10 will win me every time
This comparison is a masterclass. I'll never own or be able to play either instrument in the way you do, but I sure enjoyed the journey. Thanks for uploading. Fantastic content!
The Dave Smith/Sequential rabbit hole is deep. First I’m looking at the prophet rev 2 and thinking it’s nice but then it’s like wait there’s an even richer synth, the prophet 6. But then, curveball, there’s an even more lush synth, the prophet 5/10. All with trade offs and pluses and minuses and all brilliant.
Ok, I’m getting the Prophet 5. I’ve had the Rev 2 for many many years and have always felt it was a little thin and fragile in the filter department. That being said, I’m never selling my Rev 2 as it’s a sound designer type of synth with so many modulation points. I want to feel like I’m being embraced by my chords when I’m playing a synth and I believe the P5 will be doing that for me. Thanks for this video!
Amazing review and comparison!!! Watched it all the way through. I have an OB6 and just recently purchased a Prophet 5 and absolulty love the raw tone of the Prophet 5, but also love the additional features the OB6 has built in. They complement each other really well.
Hands down, the best fifty-three minutes and nine seconds I’ve ever spent on TH-cam. I already have a P6 and will be buying the P10 desktop version ASAP. Your patches mos def suit my style of production and live play so I’ll be heading over to your site tonight. Thx for a very informative and well presented (your chops bro🔥🤢🔥) video. Here’s another like, subscription, and share. Cheers
A bit late posting but, I listened/watched your video a couple of days ago and I thought yep, I can hear the difference between the two. It’s subtle in most cases but in others it’s really noticeable. And in some (limited) cases loopop’s “blind test” of these sounds showed me I was fooling myself about the difference. And in the end, I thought, yeah the P5rev4 sounds better to my ears but the P6 has so many other features that make it useful in a current studio environment and I don’t know that I’d choose the P5 over the P6. I mean the P5 doesn’t even have stereo outs right? That’s game over right there. That was the end of that I thought. Then over the next 36 hours, I’ve had a hard time thinking about anything but that P5 sound and now I’m working on a solution to get one. It has literally been haunting me. Was thinking a desktop module might be best for me and now I’m actually considering a full key option.
@@lorenzogrilli21 well, I still have it 😀 and I still love it. I think it has always been a bit of a dream synth for me and to finally have one is pretty amazing. It sounds so beefy and in your face yet can also get very soft and gooey. Even the release of the Oberheim x8 hasn’t distracted me from the P10. I’d love one of them too but I wouldn’t give up my P10 to get one. Make of that whatever you will. Might still sneak a desktop x8 at some point. The only synth itch I still had after getting the P10 was for a Moog and I ended up with a Subsequent 37 which I am also very happy with. It’s an expensive piece of kit for most people (me included) and it isn’t life changing so make sure you aren’t going hungry to get one. I’d also recommend playing one in store or somewhere else if you can before buying. I’ve had a lot of itches go away after getting hands on with the actual gear.
35:50 QUESTION ABOUT ARPEGGIATOR - IN ASSIGN MODE. Can you play a given note twice in Assign mode? I can't on the OB6 but I can on the Prophet-6 firmware 1.4.0 and that is SO much better for improvisation. I asked Tim Shoebridge and his P6 modules wouldn't do it. Therefore I'm not updating my OS in case I lose that feature.
My take: Advantages of P5/10. 10 voices on the P10. Cooler wood. 5 octaves. 2 filter options. It's a direct descendant of the Rev3 P5. Plus magic that happens when you turn the cutoff knob. Advantages of P6. More compact. Cheaper. Removable voice cards for easier maintenance. Negative envelope amounts to filter and poly mod. Stereo output. Arpeggiator / Sequencer. Analog distortion. (Plus Internal FX. Pan spread). Not commening on the sound, which is likely a matter of taste.
Watching this, I have a feeling that most of the differences here come from the "vintage" knob. That's obvious in the "Tom Sawyer" patch but even the way the filter resonance seems more "organic," seems to be just a function of the different voices having randomized behavior, so you don't just get a handful of filters all moving in exact unison. I just tested this hypothesis on my Prophet 6 and am even more convinced that this is the case. I made a bunch of patches, including the Tom Sawyer patch, and compared the sound of the filter being swept by the LFO vs the sound of the filter being swept around by oscillator 2 as the LFO through poly mod. Guess what? The Tom Sawyer patch now sounds right because the 6 filters are being off set by 6 non-unison LFOs as the envelope brings the whole level off all of them down. Same with the poly patch that you do in this video: when I use the LFO to move the resonant filter, it sound like "a whistle on top." When I use oscillator 2 as an LFO to do it, it sounds exactly like the Prophet 5/10. This is encouraging as a P6 owner, but frustrating because it's just a proprietary coding thing. DSI could update the coding of the 6 to make the "detune" knob do what the vintage knob does, and the Prophet 6 would be that much better. In any case, I am definitely not selling my P6 to get a P5.
Now THIS is the kind of comment I like to read. :) First of all, brilliant. I just tried it myself, and it definitely gets that sound into the arena! I'd love it if you made a video of how you set it up and a sound example or two. :) I'm sure others would love to see/listen, too. When I just tried it right now, it took a little brain work and "touchy" dial tweaking to get it to function properly. To me, it doesn't have the exact same vibe as the Vintage knob, still. Also, the LFO, by means of polymod, aren't "random" enough. Plus, you lose whatever those routing destinations are in order to set up the "randomness" of the filter sweeps. I find this idea very intriguing and it would be wonderful if Sequential could somehow implement the randomness feature into the slop knob. Who knows if that's even possible though at this point.
I don’t know about you guys... but I noticed two different behaviors of the two synths when you crank up the resonance. On the P10, I noticed the volume level of peak resonance was adjusted (lower) to match the normal output of the mixer... on the P6, the volume was not lowered down, in fact we get a higher gain when we crank up the resonance. On some parches, this makes the P6 sounds fatter (not compared to a P10, but just compared to the volume of the P6, without resonance cranked up)So maybe that difference between the P10 and the P6 on those patches is due to this behavior... and maybe this is why we feel the sound of the P10 being more contained and united, compared to the P6 which seems to be a whistle on top of triangle bass...
Thank you for posting that video Jonathan! Everyone who is reading these comments, check his video out because it demonstrates how-by means of subtle poly mod LFO-you can bring the P6 into the arena of the P5’s “vintage” features. While it may not be *exactly* the same as the vintage knob, it certainly provides quite a bit of that flavor, and more importantly, it’s an awesome sound design technique that can be applied to any synth with such modulation capabilities.
Great video - right when you think one is better, Julian blasts your reality by demonstrating the other. I'll withhold my preference. Both are excellent.
Hello Julian, Bonjour in French. Thank you for this video. Personally, for 3 years I bought a Prophet 5 and an OB-6 (module version) and I think that they form a very successful pair. Both give me a wide and rich palette of amazing sounds!!! I completely share your philosophy about Prophet 5 nostalgia etc. And thank you for saying it's a Rolls Royce of synthesizers, I'll show your comment to my friends, so they'll think before calling me crazy... Hahaha!!! Bye, Take care 🙏 -Maurice-
Thanks very much for this comparison - I do admire very much what you‘re saying about the mojo of an instrument, how it makes you feel and how it influences how and what you play - thanks again
Thanks for making me jealous but still affirming us 6 lovers. Can't argue with that distortion knob, and no way I could give up my arp. Love the glide sauce trick. I always have my filter hooked to a REFLEX expression pedal, key is to set the pedal to exponential. Permanent sauce on all patches, free hand.
Great video. And some of the comments in here are great too. I’m finding the restraint in the p5 is kinda the star for its sound. It’s just all sweet spot and very polite. I will say i can get very close sounds on other synths however there is something inspiring about being hands on with it. From the woodwork to the layout. It really is something special. And deceptively deep.
I'm a total noob but I find this video to be surprisingly fascinating. Actually played an analogue synth, the Prophet 10, for the first time in the store last week and was super intrigued.
Very cool comparison video. I really liked how you both demonstrated the similarities and the differences between both instruments. The Prophet 5/10 does indeed have more of a vintage feel to it, which I really like.
Tonally, I've heard a few people tell me that the 6 is lacking in some of that classic low end analog warmth the prophets usually have but what I am personally hearing here is that it isn't exactly the low end that isn't as apparent but rather that it sounds ' brighter ' seemingly, feels slightly digital almost. Also, thank you very much for making this video! I've been set on owning a Rev4 5 for a while now but have had some friends try and sway me more towards the 6 without any audible reference and having seen this I can confidently say I will be buying my Rev4 proudly with 0 remorse lol
A very good comparison. I had beginning the 80ies the Prophet 5 and sold it in 1987. It's a pity. 3 years ago I bought the Prophet 6. So I am happy with it. I will keep the Prophet 6. I don't want to miss the effects. Both instruments are great. Love it. Thomas
J3PO - really really great video. Can't express enough how much I appreciate it and it's well done. I know what you mean, both are great synths, but the old school prophets, just have an X-factor that makes them feel more organic, more gritty, more "real". Listen or watch Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense", Bernie Worrell's (RIP) work on the Prophet on that tour is nothing short of incredible. His Prophet screams and occupies it's own phat space with crystal clarity and just is soul-rattling good-sounding. In fact I think they used 2 or 3 Prophet-5's onstage. Thanks again.
I highly agree the old synths always seem to be the best when it comes to raw sound, and especially the vintage prophet sounds sooo MYTHICAL it feels like the final boss of synthesizers but I must say, these new prophets sound sooo similar I feel like it’s hard to tell the difference. Do you think these differences would stick out when you’ve fully processed it in your mixes? Cuz man at $4500 cad this is a steal to own such a mythical beast
Intresting well made video. Love both of them. Got a full 10 mins into this video before i remembered i cant afford either of these, but do own a behringer Pro - 800 and enough guitar pedals to make it ok so will go play that :)
This was SO SO SO good. Thank you so much for spending the time to make this. I’m already sold on the P10, but this, like your other tour of the P10 sounds, is just wonderful. You are also a terrific player which helps. Keep the videos coming!
As many users say, the OB6, while being a very good synth, doesn't have the lushness of the Xa. It's been described as fizzy by some. It can sound similar to the Xa sometimes, but its sound generally reminds me more of my Matrix 1000 with some effects. Here is a comparison: th-cam.com/video/fPtYpjUWujM/w-d-xo.html
@@danielfisch389 Yes, I agree... I have an OB8. And listening to many many of the OB6 demos here on youtube, the sound of OB6 seems a bit 'thin' (Juno 106-ish sounding??) as compared to my OB8.
@@JoelBouchillon The OB6 is a modern synth and cuts more easily through modern mixes. It has fewer voices. The envelopes are not drifting on the OB6 like the OB8 - this is a big difference, as well. IF Sequential port the Vintage knob functions from P5 to P6/OB6, this will narrow the difference. But, the OB6 is a blend of Dave Smith and Tom Oberheim. It sits in the middle, and I'd never expect it to sound fully like either.
I have been grabbing his prophet 6 patches and recreating them on my 10. Actually I have been looking at pro 53 patches and prophet v patches to copy over too.
The Prophet 10/5 has a cool younger brother with all the extra bits and bobs, but he’ll always be living in his older brother’s shadow. Something about that tone (hate to say warmth, as you stated), it just sounds like more of an “”instrument”” than a keyboard somehow. I’d love to own either, but damn. I’m the proud owner of a Moog Grandmother and an MS2000- the only other synths I even care to own are the OP-1 and the Prophet 5. This video just reaffirms how much I want it. I’d also prolly take a CR-78 drum machine haha. Cheers to the awesome video!
I have the 10 rev4 and I’m keeping my 6 too. The 6 feels very hi fi whereas my 10 feels like I’m riding the magical school bus. That raw tone is great and if you are strapped for cash on pedals use your DAW and test what delays and reverbs can do. I am amazed at the delays and reverbs from my NI Komplete 12 suite.
Thanks for sharing this excellent comparison, Julian! For the great musician you are, your presentation is amazingly structured 🤩 (....you know, the „left brain“/„right brain“ stuff 🤓...). I think the P 5/10 has definately more „mojo“ and „vintage charm“. The new „vintage“ update doesn‘t help much (as some of the other comments sugest). I have an OB-6 and lately installed that firmware update. When Julian compares the raw oscillators, they sound pretty similar. So I guess it must be in the Curtis base filters of the 5/10 and probably the envelopes. I would sum up by saying, that the P6/OB-6 are „modern“ synths (as they also include the extra features Julian explained and pointed out to clearly) and the P5/10 is THE time machine, bringing THE vintage classic to modern (relyable) times. Big thank you to Dave Smith for the re-incarnation of the P5 and Julian for this excellent, enlightning comparison.
I owned a Prophet 6 but sold it to get a Moog One. Now I'm getting the Prophet-10 (keeping the Moog One obv). For me the Prophet-10 edges it when it comes to mojo, character and charisma. The only thing I would really have liked and will most likely miss from the Prophet 6 is the pan spread and LFO sync. Anyway, great video. I like it that you take the time to explore things thoroughly rather than make some flashy short vid and your presentation is spot on.
@@chrismurphy9750 Yeah, I've been using loads of randomizing tricks on the One for those vintage-style effects. Since firmware 1.4.0 you've got extra randomizers to play with, which is great.
The way the filter sounds almost separate on the 6 is one of my favorite things about it.. I've never heard another synth that sounds like that and almost every synth sounds more like the way the 5's filter responds. To me, that's the essence of the 6 and its a positive.
@@itsdrawkcab5899 like the resonance is it's own voice like a seperate oscillator more than just feedback from the oscillators like other synth's sound.
Thank you for this great video that answers all my questions on the differences between the Prophet 5/10 and 6 and shows your excellent and programming skills! If I hadn't had the OB-6, Moog One 16v and Alesis Andromeda and lack of space, I would definitely go for the new Prophet 10. Why not for the 6? Well, I had the choice once between an OB-6 and a Prophet 6, and I bought the OB-6 for its filter morphing options. The sonic detail, the superb layout and the extra voices would make the 10 preferable to me.
Simply one of the best review / comparing videos I‘ve ever watched. Thx for taking the time - esp. programming these patches for showing the similarities and differences. Insightful, clear and a joy to watch you play these legends!
That is such a great video - no battle just explaining and showing and then brining both to their best strength .. Please keep on making such great videos.
How do you find tracking in a DAW with the Prophet 10? How do you feel about the LFOs not being synced in a studio environment? That's the one issue that has me hesitating about buying the P10 module.
Excellent review! Prophet 6 wins in my book and less expensive than the Prophet 5. Looking at either the Prophet 6 or the OB6 and a Roland Jupiter X and Waldorf Iridium. That trio would be perfect for sound design and music production.
@@Doppeltgemoppelt09 since you didn't get a reply, this person was talking about a firmware update that allows the user to switch the "slop" knob to now be a "vintage" knob (which the P5/P10 have). This feature randomizes various components of the sound (including pitch and envelopes) making it sound like older components that would naturally drift a bit, and gives it a warmer, more vintage feel.
Thanks to Sequential for upgrading the Prophet 6 with the vintage feature! And it's amazing to hear even on TH-cam's shitty sound quality, how the Prophet 5 just sounds that nice bit "fuller", "rounder", or "warmer" than the P-6, when you compare the raw oscillator tones by playing chords. That really gives a nice, clear decision help - now, you just need to have the budget and need to know what you want. ;) I am getting a P-6 next week and I look forward to having 95% of the vintage sound, while at the same time getting a lot of "modern" options to go along with it!
clearly at 9.42 you can hear the p5 attack/start of the sound pops to life...and the p6 attack envelope is slower and just sounds like a softer, more pleasant start to the sound.
professional keyboard player for 40 years here. i could have only dreamed of having this much information available to me when choosing my synths over the years. this is fantastic and deeply appreciated, thank you!
The tone of that Prophet-10 is unmatched, I can't even explain it, it's perfect. I think its also impacting how you play and what you choose to play giving it even more sauce. Great video
39:43
Which Prophet have you been using on your productions Alpharisc?
@@mertk.3386 I was using the Dave Smith Prophet 08. It sounds nice but doesn’t seem to have the tone of the one in this video
I don't normally comment on videos but a simple thumbs up just does not do this justice. Absolutely brilliant job Julian - It covers everything and displays a depth of knowledge and understanding (as a human being and musician as well as a sound designer) rarely seen in such videos. I could not wish for anything more in helping my understanding of these 2 synths; without actually getting my hands on the Prophet 5/10 (I already own the 6). Thank you for your time and effort in putting together this brilliant comparison and exploration of the Prophets. Worth the wait! and the video editing pain... Thanks again!
Thank you. 🙏 I had fun making the vid :)
Now that Sequential has implemented the "vintage" feature on the Prophet-6 and OB-6 ... I'd be interested in an "update: video.
totally.
a quick update would be nice 🤘
You just saved me like 2 grand. Thanks!!
@@mowensmd im not sure the new p6 vintage knob makes it sound like a p5. Closer maybe but still not on par
I agree - I am very curious about the Updated vintage mode on the P6 vs the P5/P10 re-issue
I spent the last hour recreating these patches on my Rev 2, trying to get as close as possible - that was both fun AND educational! What a brilliantly made comparison, thank you very much :)
What a great review of both instruments! Thank you so much for showing the P6 for what it is, and not just trying to match it to the P10. ;) Both are great instruments! The moment I put my hand on the P10, I knew I wasn't going to sell my P6. Not because it could almost match the P10, but because of all other great things the P6 can creates. Having compared both, the P10 made me love the P6 more!! Now the P10 is just pure musical magic. It's elegant, and when you play it, as you said, it makes you feel like playing the Rolls-Royce of synths. It's a beautiful instrument like a Grand piano. Thanks again for this outstanding review!
I would love Sequential to release a Prophet 6 Rev 2 with 5 oct, vintage knob instead of SLOP, Bigger knobs and Filter switch between P5 rev1-2, rev3 and P6. It's a dream.. but it's legit to dream sometimes! :)
I’ve owned the P10 for over a year now and I still get goosebumps every time I play it. It truly is a magical instrument. It is so simple and barebones, but it sounds so good with everything you throw at it. I’ve never heard oscillators that are so lively and organic. The raw tone is so sweet and lush. Truly the perfect instrument- a flawless synthesizer design.
have u ever played a prophet 6? How much of a difference do you think it is, does the Prophet 6 at least come close to that goosebump level?
@@M3333C I own a Prophet 6. It definitely can be P5-like and can replicate a lot of the classic P5 sounds to 95% accuracy. It does have a little different character though. It doesn’t have quite the richness in sound that the Prophet 5 has. It’s a little thinner and brighter sounding. It does so much more than the Prophet 5 though, and it’s definitely worth having both. The P6 is so versatile and can do some really amazing modern sounds. It goes far beyond where the P5 can. The P5 does have a little more of a rich sound though
@@OwensDrumming I agree, you can get much closer in mono and no effects though.
Is it good for beatmaking
I already have an OB-6, so adding a Prophet-10 gives me the best of both worlds, rather than a Prophet-6 as I had originally planned. Thank you for this informative video. I watched the entire thing from start to finish.
This sounds like a great idea. I’ve been tossing up the p6 ob6 option for a while and now thinking of getting a p10. Maybe the p10 - ob6 duo will be the perfect option 👍
Okay, now, after the last update, we have the vintage knob in the P6. Thanks so much Sequential! Wow!
The prophet 5/10 Rev 4 is super cool and nostalgic but the prophet 6 is more interesting to me, specially the stereo spread. I love being able to spread the oscillators without relying on chorus or some effect. And the fx are nice just to have. But I'm glad Dave released the prophet 5/10 for the people who have wanted it for years. He's a good dude for that.
Also great video thank you for taking the time to make this.
Fantastic video! Thanks for taking the time to make this and demonstrate some of the capabilities of both of these instruments. It is great fun to watch a master craftsman at work! I purchased a Prophet 6 about four years ago. What I find interesting is that I have come to appreciate and love its sound and musical abilities more and more over time. It is a true musical instrument capable of great beauty and nuance as opposed to something that sounds novel and catchy and then quickly loses its luster. After only four years, it’s kind of early to call, but I kind of compare it to the acoustic grand piano that I’ve had for 20 years. I enjoy both more and more over time. More practice and more playing show their capabilities and prove their worth. And this video has shown me even more things that I did not realize I could do with the Prophet 6. It’s hard for me to justify having a Prophet 10 alongside the P6, but it is fun to think about. Thanks again!
Man I can not possibly thank you enough for this video. I would've never imagined such in depth guidance through this question. Thanks to you, I can now make my purchase, which is thrilling!
Have Prophet 6 since day one of release.
Used in everything. Live or studio. Totally recommend. Stereo is a delightful feature...you will see how it fits in live situations or studio mixes..Since the ton, is big, rich and vintage you will need 1 sound maximum 2 sounds at once (if you have a second one...module, etc.) to fill any synths scenarios.
Ideally you will have an extra module (analog or digital) hooked vis MIDI for more complex live situations. Specially if splits and layers are needed and possible?!
OB 6, Korg, Yamaha, Roland any of those modules and many more... will kill it along side Prophet 6 via midi!
Happy creations.
Really excellent unbiased comparison, thanks for putting the time in. I’d already ordered a Prophet 10, and never considered the P6 in the past because it left me cold. I think you did a great job of showing it’s more than I thought it was, but the sheer ‘weight’ of the P10 will win me every time
Maybe the best youtube synth video I've seen. You're a great teacher.
This comparison is a masterclass. I'll never own or be able to play either instrument in the way you do,
but I sure enjoyed the journey. Thanks for uploading. Fantastic content!
Never say never!!
great job on this video. I've never seen anybody do a more conscientious and thorough job of comparing two instruments in detail.
Superbly detailed. Dude knows what he's on about.....
The Dave Smith/Sequential rabbit hole is deep. First I’m looking at the prophet rev 2 and thinking it’s nice but then it’s like wait there’s an even richer synth, the prophet 6. But then, curveball, there’s an even more lush synth, the prophet 5/10. All with trade offs and pluses and minuses and all brilliant.
These are so even, seriously one of the only synth comparisons where I can’t choose lol. Usually I find a winner
The 5 seriously
Very Professional and great demo/comparison of these two units!
Ok, I’m getting the Prophet 5. I’ve had the Rev 2 for many many years and have always felt it was a little thin and fragile in the filter department. That being said, I’m never selling my Rev 2 as it’s a sound designer type of synth with so many modulation points. I want to feel like I’m being embraced by my chords when I’m playing a synth and I believe the P5 will be doing that for me. Thanks for this video!
Amazing review and comparison!!! Watched it all the way through. I have an OB6 and just recently purchased a Prophet 5 and absolulty love the raw tone of the Prophet 5, but also love the additional features the OB6 has built in. They complement each other really well.
pure gold! I have the p6, and was curious about the differences. great job clearing that out. am getting a p10 asap!
Hands down, the best fifty-three minutes and nine seconds I’ve ever spent on TH-cam. I already have a P6 and will be buying the P10 desktop version ASAP. Your patches mos def suit my style of production and live play so I’ll be heading over to your site tonight. Thx for a very informative and well presented (your chops bro🔥🤢🔥) video. Here’s another like, subscription, and share. Cheers
One more statement.
Hell yeah this video helped. Hands down THE best comparison video of these.
A bit late posting but, I listened/watched your video a couple of days ago and I thought yep, I can hear the difference between the two. It’s subtle in most cases but in others it’s really noticeable. And in some (limited) cases loopop’s “blind test” of these sounds showed me I was fooling myself about the difference. And in the end, I thought, yeah the P5rev4 sounds better to my ears but the P6 has so many other features that make it useful in a current studio environment and I don’t know that I’d choose the P5 over the P6. I mean the P5 doesn’t even have stereo outs right? That’s game over right there.
That was the end of that I thought. Then over the next 36 hours, I’ve had a hard time thinking about anything but that P5 sound and now I’m working on a solution to get one. It has literally been haunting me. Was thinking a desktop module might be best for me and now I’m actually considering a full key option.
update - I am awaiting notification to pickup my P10 rev4 full key from store.
edit - I have it now. Happy days.
Can you give an update after 2 years. Exactly same situation right here 😂
@@lorenzogrilli21 well, I still have it 😀 and I still love it. I think it has always been a bit of a dream synth for me and to finally have one is pretty amazing. It sounds so beefy and in your face yet can also get very soft and gooey. Even the release of the Oberheim x8 hasn’t distracted me from the P10. I’d love one of them too but I wouldn’t give up my P10 to get one. Make of that whatever you will. Might still sneak a desktop x8 at some point. The only synth itch I still had after getting the P10 was for a Moog and I ended up with a Subsequent 37 which I am also very happy with. It’s an expensive piece of kit for most people (me included) and it isn’t life changing so make sure you aren’t going hungry to get one. I’d also recommend playing one in store or somewhere else if you can before buying. I’ve had a lot of itches go away after getting hands on with the actual gear.
35:50 QUESTION ABOUT ARPEGGIATOR - IN ASSIGN MODE. Can you play a given note twice in Assign mode? I can't on the OB6 but I can on the Prophet-6 firmware 1.4.0 and that is SO much better for improvisation.
I asked Tim Shoebridge and his P6 modules wouldn't do it. Therefore I'm not updating my OS in case I lose that feature.
My take:
Advantages of P5/10. 10 voices on the P10. Cooler wood. 5 octaves. 2 filter options. It's a direct descendant of the Rev3 P5. Plus magic that happens when you turn the cutoff knob.
Advantages of P6. More compact. Cheaper. Removable voice cards for easier maintenance. Negative envelope amounts to filter and poly mod. Stereo output. Arpeggiator / Sequencer. Analog distortion. (Plus Internal FX. Pan spread).
Not commening on the sound, which is likely a matter of taste.
Brilliant video. Your playing is a joy to hear. Love those voicings.
My girl said I needed more glide sauce,
So I bought a Prophet
Now I’m single, but the sauce is PRESENT
Watching this, I have a feeling that most of the differences here come from the "vintage" knob. That's obvious in the "Tom Sawyer" patch but even the way the filter resonance seems more "organic," seems to be just a function of the different voices having randomized behavior, so you don't just get a handful of filters all moving in exact unison. I just tested this hypothesis on my Prophet 6 and am even more convinced that this is the case. I made a bunch of patches, including the Tom Sawyer patch, and compared the sound of the filter being swept by the LFO vs the sound of the filter being swept around by oscillator 2 as the LFO through poly mod. Guess what? The Tom Sawyer patch now sounds right because the 6 filters are being off set by 6 non-unison LFOs as the envelope brings the whole level off all of them down. Same with the poly patch that you do in this video: when I use the LFO to move the resonant filter, it sound like "a whistle on top." When I use oscillator 2 as an LFO to do it, it sounds exactly like the Prophet 5/10. This is encouraging as a P6 owner, but frustrating because it's just a proprietary coding thing. DSI could update the coding of the 6 to make the "detune" knob do what the vintage knob does, and the Prophet 6 would be that much better. In any case, I am definitely not selling my P6 to get a P5.
Now THIS is the kind of comment I like to read. :) First of all, brilliant. I just tried it myself, and it definitely gets that sound into the arena! I'd love it if you made a video of how you set it up and a sound example or two. :) I'm sure others would love to see/listen, too. When I just tried it right now, it took a little brain work and "touchy" dial tweaking to get it to function properly. To me, it doesn't have the exact same vibe as the Vintage knob, still. Also, the LFO, by means of polymod, aren't "random" enough. Plus, you lose whatever those routing destinations are in order to set up the "randomness" of the filter sweeps. I find this idea very intriguing and it would be wonderful if Sequential could somehow implement the randomness feature into the slop knob. Who knows if that's even possible though at this point.
I don’t know about you guys... but I noticed two different behaviors of the two synths when you crank up the resonance. On the P10, I noticed the volume level of peak resonance was adjusted (lower) to match the normal output of the mixer... on the P6, the volume was not lowered down, in fact we get a higher gain when we crank up the resonance. On some parches, this makes the P6 sounds fatter (not compared to a P10, but just compared to the volume of the P6, without resonance cranked up)So maybe that difference between the P10 and the P6 on those patches is due to this behavior... and maybe this is why we feel the sound of the P10 being more contained and united, compared to the P6 which seems to be a whistle on top of triangle bass...
@@j3po784 th-cam.com/video/IhvjXPwjWkM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for posting that video Jonathan! Everyone who is reading these comments, check his video out because it demonstrates how-by means of subtle poly mod LFO-you can bring the P6 into the arena of the P5’s “vintage” features. While it may not be *exactly* the same as the vintage knob, it certainly provides quite a bit of that flavor, and more importantly, it’s an awesome sound design technique that can be applied to any synth with such modulation capabilities.
Such a clever trick!
More of a master class on sound design than a simple comparison vid.. thank you so much.
that triangle on the prophet 10 is life
Best comparison video between two synths I've ever seen
Great video - right when you think one is better, Julian blasts your reality by demonstrating the other. I'll withhold my preference. Both are excellent.
Such an intelligent and informed review/comparison. REALLY liked and subscribed - thank you for having this TH-cam channel, J3PO.
Hello Julian, Bonjour in French.
Thank you for this video.
Personally, for 3 years I bought a Prophet 5 and an OB-6 (module version) and I think that they form a very successful pair. Both give me a wide and rich palette of amazing sounds!!!
I completely share your philosophy about Prophet 5 nostalgia etc.
And thank you for saying it's a Rolls Royce of synthesizers, I'll show your comment to my friends, so they'll think before calling me crazy... Hahaha!!! Bye, Take care 🙏 -Maurice-
This must have been a lot of work for you. Thank you so much.
This synth puts a smile on my face..
Thanks very much for this comparison - I do admire very much what you‘re saying about the mojo of an instrument, how it makes you feel and how it influences how and what you play - thanks again
Thanks for this video, you took the time to match them so we could really pick up the subtle differences, thankyou so much!
Thanks for making me jealous but still affirming us 6 lovers. Can't argue with that distortion knob, and no way I could give up my arp. Love the glide sauce trick. I always have my filter hooked to a REFLEX expression pedal, key is to set the pedal to exponential. Permanent sauce on all patches, free hand.
Very nice review , thanks
5/10 has the nicer , more “ expensive” sound so to speak , the 6 more tricks
Good to see someone so passionate about sound!!
Great video. And some of the comments in here are great too. I’m finding the restraint in the p5 is kinda the star for its sound. It’s just all sweet spot and very polite. I will say i can get very close sounds on other synths however there is something inspiring about being hands on with it. From the woodwork to the layout. It really is something special. And deceptively deep.
I'm a total noob but I find this video to be surprisingly fascinating. Actually played an analogue synth, the Prophet 10, for the first time in the store last week and was super intrigued.
Very cool comparison video. I really liked how you both demonstrated the similarities and the differences between both instruments. The Prophet 5/10 does indeed have more of a vintage feel to it, which I really like.
Tonally, I've heard a few people tell me that the 6 is lacking in some of that classic low end analog warmth the prophets usually have but what I am personally hearing here is that it isn't exactly the low end that isn't as apparent but rather that it sounds ' brighter ' seemingly, feels slightly digital almost.
Also, thank you very much for making this video! I've been set on owning a Rev4 5 for a while now but have had some friends try and sway me more towards the 6 without any audible reference and having seen this I can confidently say I will be buying my Rev4 proudly with 0 remorse lol
If the P6 would have a similar wooden panel on front, on top of the keys, like P5/10 the sounds would be even more close between P6/5/10! ;-)
Such a great comparison. Thanks, Julian!
A very good comparison. I had beginning the 80ies the Prophet 5 and sold it in 1987. It's a pity. 3 years ago I bought the Prophet 6. So I am happy with it. I will keep the Prophet 6. I don't want to miss the effects. Both instruments are great. Love it. Thomas
Now the P6 has the vintage knob - DSI added it to the firmware after the last update!
J3PO - really really great video. Can't express enough how much I appreciate it and it's well done. I know what you mean, both are great synths, but the old school prophets, just have an X-factor that makes them feel more organic, more gritty, more "real". Listen or watch Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense", Bernie Worrell's (RIP) work on the Prophet on that tour is nothing short of incredible. His Prophet screams and occupies it's own phat space with crystal clarity and just is soul-rattling good-sounding. In fact I think they used 2 or 3 Prophet-5's onstage. Thanks again.
I highly agree the old synths always seem to be the best when it comes to raw sound, and especially the vintage prophet sounds sooo MYTHICAL it feels like the final boss of synthesizers but I must say, these new prophets sound sooo similar I feel like it’s hard to tell the difference.
Do you think these differences would stick out when you’ve fully processed it in your mixes? Cuz man at $4500 cad this is a steal to own such a mythical beast
39:43 The MAGIC that happens when you turn the cutoff knob on the Prophet-5 or 10. Like nothing else for my ears. Especially at lowish settings.
I’m interested in another Video after the recent vintage knob update to the P-6
We definately need a video about that
Definitely@@kasperkosminen2679
Intresting well made video. Love both of them. Got a full 10 mins into this video before i remembered i cant afford either of these, but do own a behringer Pro - 800 and enough guitar pedals to make it ok so will go play that :)
This video was very helpful. Thank you! I ended up getting the Prophet 5.
Thanks Julian. You obviously put a lot of time into this. Great job!
🙏
This was SO SO SO good. Thank you so much for spending the time to make this. I’m already sold on the P10, but this, like your other tour of the P10 sounds, is just wonderful. You are also a terrific player which helps. Keep the videos coming!
FANTASTIC JOB on this demo! You mentioned you also owned an OBXa. Could you do the same style of video comparing the OBXa and the OB6?
Nice request
Except for the fact that the OB6 is designed after the Oberheim SEM and not the OBXa. Very different. The Xa and the OB8 have more in common.
As many users say, the OB6, while being a very good synth, doesn't have the lushness of the Xa. It's been described as fizzy by some. It can sound similar to the Xa sometimes, but its sound generally reminds me more of my Matrix 1000 with some effects. Here is a comparison: th-cam.com/video/fPtYpjUWujM/w-d-xo.html
@@danielfisch389 Yes, I agree... I have an OB8. And listening to many many of the OB6 demos here on youtube, the sound of OB6 seems a bit 'thin' (Juno 106-ish sounding??) as compared to my OB8.
@@JoelBouchillon The OB6 is a modern synth and cuts more easily through modern mixes. It has fewer voices. The envelopes are not drifting on the OB6 like the OB8 - this is a big difference, as well. IF Sequential port the Vintage knob functions from P5 to P6/OB6, this will narrow the difference. But, the OB6 is a blend of Dave Smith and Tom Oberheim. It sits in the middle, and I'd never expect it to sound fully like either.
I hope you're releasing prophet 5 patches soon cause I noticed those weren't the presets I have!
I have been grabbing his prophet 6 patches and recreating them on my 10. Actually I have been looking at pro 53 patches and prophet v patches to copy over too.
The Prophet 10/5 has a cool younger brother with all the extra bits and bobs, but he’ll always be living in his older brother’s shadow. Something about that tone (hate to say warmth, as you stated), it just sounds like more of an “”instrument”” than a keyboard somehow. I’d love to own either, but damn. I’m the proud owner of a Moog Grandmother and an MS2000- the only other synths I even care to own are the OP-1 and the Prophet 5. This video just reaffirms how much I want it. I’d also prolly take a CR-78 drum machine haha. Cheers to the awesome video!
Great demo. Thank you! Wonderful how you brought out such subtly of each. And yes, history! 😊
32:56 Oh yeah! Analog distortion. Excellent use of it.
Sounds so much better than that tedious old sync lead sound that I never really liked.
I have the 10 rev4 and I’m keeping my 6 too. The 6 feels very hi fi whereas my 10 feels like I’m riding the magical school bus. That raw tone is great and if you are strapped for cash on pedals use your DAW and test what delays and reverbs can do. I am amazed at the delays and reverbs from my NI Komplete 12 suite.
Thank you very much for making this wonderful video
Superb comparison and beautiful sounds. Full soul included. Good job and many thanks!
Thanks for sharing this excellent comparison, Julian! For the great musician you are, your presentation is amazingly structured 🤩 (....you know, the „left brain“/„right brain“ stuff 🤓...). I think the P 5/10 has definately more „mojo“ and „vintage charm“. The new „vintage“ update doesn‘t help much (as some of the other comments sugest). I have an OB-6 and lately installed that firmware update. When Julian compares the raw oscillators, they sound pretty similar. So I guess it must be in the Curtis base filters of the 5/10 and probably the envelopes. I would sum up by saying, that the P6/OB-6 are „modern“ synths (as they also include the extra features Julian explained and pointed out to clearly) and the P5/10 is THE time machine, bringing THE vintage classic to modern (relyable) times. Big thank you to Dave Smith for the re-incarnation of the P5 and Julian for this excellent, enlightning comparison.
I owned a Prophet 6 but sold it to get a Moog One. Now I'm getting the Prophet-10 (keeping the Moog One obv). For me the Prophet-10 edges it when it comes to mojo, character and charisma. The only thing I would really have liked and will most likely miss from the Prophet 6 is the pan spread and LFO sync.
Anyway, great video. I like it that you take the time to explore things thoroughly rather than make some flashy short vid and your presentation is spot on.
I have a Moog one was thinking of selling it for a Prophet 10
On your Moog One check out recent Tim Shoebridge video on giving it a vintage vibe. Very Cool and along the lines of the vintage discussion.
@@jonathanstubbsguitar5340 if you have a prophet 6 I wouldn't but if you don't then maybe. Two different sounds.
@@chrismurphy9750 Yeah, I've been using loads of randomizing tricks on the One for those vintage-style effects. Since firmware 1.4.0 you've got extra randomizers to play with, which is great.
@@jonathanstubbsguitar5340 I wouls swap my prophet 10 for your moog one!!!
Outstanding and informative comparison. Thank you so much for taking the time to create and share this.
great synth breakdown, much needed 🔥🔥🔥
This is the comparison video I was hoping someone knowledgeable would make! Thanks J3PO!
The way the filter sounds almost separate on the 6 is one of my favorite things about it.. I've never heard another synth that sounds like that and almost every synth sounds more like the way the 5's filter responds. To me, that's the essence of the 6 and its a positive.
What do u mean by separate?
@@itsdrawkcab5899 like the resonance is it's own voice like a seperate oscillator more than just feedback from the oscillators like other synth's sound.
Great video and very good job !
The p6 is more complete and sounds very similar but i think the p5/10 has more punch and low mids
Thank you for this great video that answers all my questions on the differences between the Prophet 5/10 and 6 and shows your excellent and programming skills! If I hadn't had the OB-6, Moog One 16v and Alesis Andromeda and lack of space, I would definitely go for the new Prophet 10. Why not for the 6? Well, I had the choice once between an OB-6 and a Prophet 6, and I bought the OB-6 for its filter morphing options. The sonic detail, the superb layout and the extra voices would make the 10 preferable to me.
Very good, deep and honest comparaison with real artistic arguments. Thank you !
My goodness the day has come I never thought I’d see it.
This will look amazing next to my voyager XL.
Simply one of the best review / comparing videos I‘ve ever watched. Thx for taking the time - esp. programming these patches for showing the similarities and differences. Insightful, clear and a joy to watch you play these legends!
That is such a great video - no battle just explaining and showing and then brining both to their best strength .. Please keep on making such great videos.
How do you find tracking in a DAW with the Prophet 10? How do you feel about the LFOs not being synced in a studio environment? That's the one issue that has me hesitating about buying the P10 module.
Expert, serious, you are a great sinth specialist and a good musician.Thanks for your videos
Part 4 at 27:18 is what I've been seeking. 😊
Hello J3PO, Could you do an update of this video with the new firmware on the Prophet-6 and the vintage add-on ?
best
t
incredible video, and great player. P5/10 definitely ! Thanks for your work !
I'd love to hear some stuff with the Prophet 5/10 in the context of a full track! Also you should do a studio tour!!!
Thank you very much for your video ! Prophet 6 for touring - Prophet 5 for recording
theres no touring
Excellent review! Prophet 6 wins in my book and less expensive than the Prophet 5. Looking at either the Prophet 6 or the OB6 and a Roland Jupiter X and Waldorf Iridium. That trio would be perfect for sound design and music production.
amazing review. very happy with my p6 after seeing this, especially with the updated vintage feature
Which vintage features ?
@@Doppeltgemoppelt09 since you didn't get a reply, this person was talking about a firmware update that allows the user to switch the "slop" knob to now be a "vintage" knob (which the P5/P10 have). This feature randomizes various components of the sound (including pitch and envelopes) making it sound like older components that would naturally drift a bit, and gives it a warmer, more vintage feel.
@@brianmcleod3783 ok need to check it on my p6
Thanks to Sequential for upgrading the Prophet 6 with the vintage feature! And it's amazing to hear even on TH-cam's shitty sound quality, how the Prophet 5 just sounds that nice bit "fuller", "rounder", or "warmer" than the P-6, when you compare the raw oscillator tones by playing chords. That really gives a nice, clear decision help - now, you just need to have the budget and need to know what you want. ;) I am getting a P-6 next week and I look forward to having 95% of the vintage sound, while at the same time getting a lot of "modern" options to go along with it!
What a great video. Thanks so much for this
Love that P6 lead patch with distortion.
They both sound wonderful and musical. Can't lose. Except for the money!
Wonderfull video! Superb presentation. V informative and straight to the point. No “waffling”, so unusual in many presentations!
clearly at 9.42 you can hear the p5 attack/start of the sound pops to life...and the p6 attack envelope is slower and just sounds like a softer, more pleasant start to the sound.
Amazing job, as usual, J3PO!
Excellent video. Can't wait to buy those patches!
Great walkthrough Julian! Super detailed review!
Thanks Todd! :)
fantastic job mate!!! this review is absolutely perfect, your filter/envelope/sound design knowledge is totally 100% never ending ∞ perfect!!!!!
Thank you for this. Amazing comparison, beautiful design and playing.
I’ll definitely be back to watch this later. Seeing as the 6 was like a modern reimagining of the 5, I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts.