A Quick Look at Sequential Products, the Analog Synthesizer Pioneer

Did you know that there are two types of synthesizers, digital and analog?
Digital synthesizers use digital circuits, so they can easily call up a preset and play a neat tone just by pressing a button. Analog synthesizers, on the other hand, are designed to create original sounds, so the user can create their own tones. Analog synthesizers also use analog circuits in the filter and output section, which allows for a unique, thick sound.

Various brands produce analog synthesizers, but this time I’m going to talk about Sequential. Sequential is an analog synthesizer brand founded by instrument designer Dave Smith who unfortunately passed away in 2022. The brand is best known for their analog synthesizer, the Prophet-5. Smith received a Technical Grammy Award and is often referred to as the “Father of MIDI”.

To start with, I’m going to talk about the Take 5.

SEQUENTIAL (Dave Smith Instruments) / Take 5

The Take 5 is a compact and powerful VCO/VCF-based 5-voice analog polyphonic synthesizer. It features a high-quality full-size 44-key keyboard in a portable size that can be taken anywhere on the go. In addition, the new low-split mode allows the user to play more than 44 keys.

Next up is the Prophet series.

SEQUENTIAL (Dave Smith Instruments) / Prophet-5 Rev.4

The legendary Prophet-5 Rev (Revision 1 = initial model) was introduced in 1978 and has gone through improvements over the years with the Rev 2 (2nd model), the Rev 3 (3rd model), and finally it evolved into Rev 4 (4th model) in October 2020.

SEQUENTIAL (Dave Smith Instruments) / Prophet-10

The Prophet-10 is a 10-voice version of the Prophet-5. In 1978, Sequential was developing the Prophet-10 with 10 voices along with the Prophet-5 Rev 1 that had already been completed. However, despite the many hours spent on the prototype, the hardware at that time had difficulty maintaining the tuning of the 20 analog oscillators due to the heat problem inside the enclosure and the inaccuracy of the VCO temperature compensation. The Prophet-10 has finally been completed using modern technology. The professional version of the Prophet-5 is the Prophet-10.

SEQUENTIAL (Dave Smith Instruments) / Prophet 6

The Prophet-5 is a 6-voice analog polyphonic synthesizer that inherited the philosophy of the old Prophet-5. This newer generation retains the vintage and classic sound established by the original Prophet-5, while offering modern sound production and a wider range of sounds with higher quality.

SEQUENTIAL (Dave Smith Instruments) / Prophet Rev2-16V

The Prophet Rev2-16V is an analog polyphonic synthesizer that is the successor to the popular Prophet '08. It allows for a wide variety of performances, from vintage sounds to full-on sounds that take full advantage of the number of voices. An 8-voice model with an excellent price is also in the lineup.

SEQUENTIAL (Dave Smith Instruments) / Prophet X

The Prophet X is a synthesizer that combines the sampling technology based on the analog synthesizer expertise that has been cultivated over the years. The samples include not only acoustic and electronic instruments, but it also includes ambient sounds and cinematic effects, making the Prophet X ideal for various scenarios.

The next one is from the Pro series.

Among Sequential synthesizers, the legendary monosynths bear ‘Pro’ in their names.

SEQUENTIAL (Dave Smith Instruments) / Pro 3

The Pro 3 is a monophonic synthesizer with 3 analog and digital oscillators and 3 vintage filters. This hybrid design combines the advantages of both analog and digital synthesizers. The Pro 3 offers many potential benefits that sets it apart from conventional monosynths: Expressive morphing sounds from the wavetable oscillators and transformative sequence phrases from the powerful sequencer in addition to the classic bass/lead sounds.

I am still learning about all these gears for professionals, but I hope you enjoyed this article. Please come visit the product pages at Sound House.

⇒ List of Sequential Products