Gear update

[MBTC]

Here are 3 sets of soundsets by Luke Neptune for the OB-6, Prophet Rev2 and Prophet 6. It's a good way to hear some of the differences of the three, since it contains renditions of classic film riffs by the same creator on each of the synths. I wouldn't use them as the end-all comparison though, because for example the Stranger Things Bass doesn't sound like he put much effort into the Rev2 version, the OB-6 one sounds much warmer IMO, and the Rev2 is very capable of warm bass. Also, there are some areas the Rev2 just sounds brighter and better than the OB-6, but it's not a limit of the OB-6 as much as a reflection of how much time was put into each. And I'm not sure making them sound the same on each was even his goal as much as to bring out specific traits of each synth.

I did notice in Luke's comments he said all of his Rev2 sounds are single-layer 8-voice, which makes these vids a good comparison of oscillator and filter character, but not a good comparison of the synths overall.. because for example, if he had stacked 2 layers on the Rev2 he would be taking it into territory the others cannot go.


OB-6: VCOs and SEM filter, 6 voice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9XQGQZgBNg

Prophet Rev2: DCOs and Curtis filter, 8 voice per layer (2 layers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAU-80ReCag


And lastly, here is some of the same patches for the Prophet 6, which I don't yet own!

Prophet 6: VCOs and Curtis filter, 6 voices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0ZyozQZWp0


Here is what I think is capturing the difference between the 8 voices of the Rev2 and the 6 of the OB-6. Many people will say the OB-6 sounds fatter (sometimes it does), but in certain sounds you can hear a difference the polyphony makes, like in the last moments of Jump intro:

https://youtu.be/58yog7dDJHU?t=119
https://youtu.be/bVGLc5mdras?t=118


Which of these three synths (OB-6, Prophet Rev2, or Prophet 6) do you prefer the sound of, and why?

[MBTC]

Recently added a Korg Minilogue XDm to my setup. I didn't want to waste space on a tiny keyboard with slim keys (referring to the keyboard version versus the desktop module), I'd rather have a smaller module that I can just keep near one of my 61 key controllers and reach the knobs easily, and non-standard sized keys and cramped octaves aren't my thing. I would have bought a Prologue module if one existed... I think Korg might have decided that an 8-voice Prologue desktop would cost not much less than the 8 voice keyboard to produce, so the price point wouldn't make much sense. A Minilogue XDm is a good way to test the Korg analog waters -- a keyboard version or second module can be polychained for 8 voices controlled from a single unit.

Out of the box, impressions based on presets were somewhat lukewarm --I'm now spoiled by the sound of Sequential gear. I was listening to basses, strings and pads and comparing them to the sounds I get from my Rev2 and OB-6.... and clearly it's not in that league (nothing close)....At first I thought it was going to be a send-back, but then I started tweaking the presets and finding sweet spots, playing with the sequencer + motion feature, the multi-engine and then had that holy shit moment where I realized why this thing gets five star reviews. Once you use the drive to push the signal through the filter, and realize the power of the effects (delay, mod and reverb all simultaneous and the reverb is LUSH), it dawns on you what a creativity powerhouse this little box is! And for $550 USD? Amazing value and recommended, nothing like it at the price point IMHO.

Like I said, it's not going to replace my Sequential stuff but it definitely found a welcome home in my studio.

[MBTC]

Recently added a Prophet 6 to my list of analogs. I actually sold my Virus Snow a few months back -- I always liked the sound, but actually working with it annoyed me and I felt like soft synths had gotten close enough to the Virus sound and even surpassed it in many cases. The reason workflow with the Snow didn't work for me was mostly just not having a "knob" for everything and having to go back to the mouse/keyboard to do this or that (and even then, I didn't care for the plugin or find it to be very good for sound design or production). Then there is the "volume" thing (i.e. the Virus TI has lame volume, because according to Kemper they had to leave enough headroom for 16 parts to play at the same time. What? Let me adjust the volume per part to my liking, headroom is for me to worry about not the synth designer, and this seems like the kind of excuse Elon Musk would make).

Anyway, despite all this I may get another Virus at some point because it does some things well -- I just need more knobs and direct control than the Snow offered.

A friend of mine inquired about my Minilogue XD module, and asked me how it compared to the Snow. Honestly even only as a 4 voice VCO poly and an under $600 price tag, its a little gem and sonically adds much more to a mix than the Snow, albeit not the exact same types of sound. It can sound very digital if you want it to, especially with the third digital oscillator, and there is a rich community of custom oscillators to choose from for the minilogue/prologue line.. you can get some very cool sounds from it, but what I like best about it is the sequencer, how you can combine it with "motion sequencing" modulation. Korg USB MIDI drivers are a little finicky and I think like the Virus its not a class compliant device (so you need the driver on Windows at least).