Sequential Prophet-5

The Sequential Prophet-5 is arguably the most important polyphonic synthesizer ever made. Originally released in 1978 by Dave Smith and Sequential Circuits, it was the first fully programmable polyphonic synth, forever changing how musicians created and recalled sounds. The modern Rev 4 reissue, launched in 2020, faithfully recreates the magic of the original while adding modern connectivity and thoughtful improvements.

Sound and Architecture

The Prophet-5 delivers five voices of pure analog polyphony, each built around two Curtis CEM3340 VCOs offering sawtooth, square, and pulse waveforms with pulse width modulation. What makes the Rev 4 special is that it includes two selectable filter types: the Dave Rossum-designed 2140 filter (matching the character of the original Rev 1/2 models) and the Curtis CEM3320 filter (as used in the Rev 3). A simple Rev switch on the front panel lets you flip between these two distinct filter voices, essentially giving you two classic synths in one. The Poly-Mod section is the secret weapon, allowing Oscillator B and the filter envelope to modulate Oscillator A's frequency and pulse width, as well as the filter cutoff, for everything from subtle animation to chaotic FM textures.

Features and Connectivity

The 61-key semi-weighted Fatar keyboard provides velocity sensitivity and aftertouch, a major upgrade over the original. Unison mode lets you stack all five voices with variable detune for massive leads and basses, and chord memory captures any voicing for one-finger playback. The synth ships with 200 factory programs and 200 user-programmable slots, including the original 40-program sound set from 1978. Connectivity includes USB, MIDI, CV/Gate I/O, making it easy to integrate into any modern or vintage setup. An optional Voice Expansion Card doubles polyphony to ten voices and enables bi-timbral operation.

Build Quality

The Prophet-5 Rev 4 is a premium instrument in every sense. The enclosure uses a steel chassis with hand-oiled black walnut heartwood side panels, giving it a look and feel that matches its legendary status. At 37.5 inches wide, it takes up serious desk space but rewards you with an immediacy and hands-on control that software simply cannot replicate.

Who Is This For?

• Professional keyboardists and studio musicians who need lush analog pads, brass, and strings
• Sound designers looking for deep modulation capabilities via Poly-Mod
• Vintage synth enthusiasts who want the Prophet-5 sound without the reliability issues of a 1970s/80s unit
• Producers making any genre from ambient and film scoring to synthwave and progressive rock

The Prophet-5 is a significant investment, but it remains the gold standard for analog polysynths. If five voices feel limiting, the Voice Expansion Card or the full Prophet-10 version offer more headroom. For anyone serious about analog synthesis, this is the benchmark.