Image: CPRdave at English Wikipedia, Public domain — via Wikimedia Commons
Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
| Category | Electronic (analog polyphonic synthesizer) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Classification | synthesizer |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q2387433 |
Overview
The Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 is a five-voice analog polyphonic synthesizer first released in 1978. Designed by Dave Smith and John Bowen, it was the first commercially available synthesizer that allowed players to fully program its sounds and store them as digital memories that could be recalled instantly from the front panel. That single feature changed how musicians used synthesizers on stage and in the studio.
Origin & History
Before the Prophet-5, most polyphonic synthesizers either offered limited preset sounds or required the player to physically write down panel positions and reset every knob between songs. By combining true polyphony with patch memory, the Prophet-5 made synthesizers practical for live performance with multiple sounds. Sequential built four hardware revisions between 1978 and 1984. After the original company closed, Dave Smith returned to the design decades later and reissued an updated Prophet-5 (and a 10-voice Prophet-10) in 2020 under the renewed Sequential brand.
How It’s Played
The Prophet-5 is played from a five-octave keyboard. Each voice has two voltage-controlled oscillators, a noise source, a low-pass filter, and amplifier and modulation envelopes, all editable from clearly laid-out front-panel controls. Players can save and recall up to 40 patches in the original revisions and many more in later versions. Common techniques include fat unison lead sounds, lush layered string-pad voicings, and the percussive analog basses for which the instrument is famous.
Cultural Significance
The Prophet-5 is one of the most recorded synthesizers in history. It defined the sound of late-1970s and 1980s pop, film scores, and progressive rock, used by artists ranging from Michael Jackson and Madonna to Vangelis, John Carpenter, and Genesis. Its combination of warmth, programmability, and instant recall set the template for every polyphonic synthesizer that followed.
Related Instruments
- Synthesizer – the broader instrument family
- Yamaha CS-80 – a contemporary high-end polyphonic analog
- ARP 2600 – an earlier semi-modular analog
- Roland Juno-106 – a slightly later affordable polyphonic
- Hammond organ – a different kind of electric keyboard from an earlier era
Frequently Asked Questions
How many voices does the Prophet-5 have?
The Prophet-5 is, as its name suggests, a five-voice polyphonic synthesizer; the related Prophet-10 doubles that.
Is the Prophet-5 still made?
A new version was released by Sequential in 2020, designed by the original engineer Dave Smith and using updated components while preserving the classic sound and workflow.
Image: photograph by CPRdave, public domain (Wikimedia Commons).
