ARP Pro DGX
| Category | Electronic (preset monosynth) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | synthesizer, synthesizer model |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q3601144 |
Overview
The ARP Pro DGX is a preset monophonic synthesizer released by ARP Instruments in 1977 as a successor to the ARP Pro Soloist. It offered thirty fixed preset voices — flutes, brasses, leads, basses — selected by panel buttons, with a modest set of performance controls including pitch bend, modulation, and filter modulation. Aimed at touring keyboardists who needed reliable single-line solo voices on stage, the Pro DGX traded programmability for fast preset access.
Origin & History
ARP introduced the Pro DGX as part of a wider effort to replace the ageing Pro Soloist with a more refined preset instrument. The DGX shared many of the Pro Soloist’s design priorities — touch-sensitive aftertouch, a small performance keyboard, and a button-bank preset selector — while updating the underlying circuitry. The instrument was a steady seller through the late 1970s and was used by stage keyboardists who needed a quickly switchable solo voice without the complexity of a fully programmable synthesizer.
How It’s Played
The Pro DGX is played from a 37-key keyboard with the desired voice chosen from the panel preset bank. Pressure-sensitive aftertouch lets the player add vibrato, tremolo, or filter sweep to a held note, giving expression to the otherwise fixed presets. The instrument is monophonic — one note at a time — and is intended for solo lines rather than chords. Onboard performance controls cover the range needed for live work without menu diving or programming.
Cultural Significance
The Pro DGX represents a particular moment in synthesizer design: the preset monosynth as a working stage tool, before fully programmable polysynths and patch-memory systems made fixed-preset instruments obsolete. It was used by stage keyboardists in rock and progressive bands of the late 1970s, and its expressive aftertouch design influenced later monosynth approaches.
Related Instruments
- ARP Pro Soloist – the immediate predecessor
- ARP 2600 – ARP’s flagship semi-modular
- ARP Omni – ARP’s contemporary string synthesizer
- ARP Quadra – ARP’s flagship multi-section instrument
- Korg Prophecy – later mono-voice solo instrument
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Pro DGX programmable?
No — it is preset only, with no user voice memory.
How many presets does it have?
30.
Is it polyphonic?
No — it plays one note at a time.
