So I wanted to chime in regarding the issue on the rev2 at the end of this comparison. I had the same issue. I was able to work with sequential to not just recalibrate the synth, but completely erase all the existing calibration before starting with a new calibration. Worked great and solved the issue. Couldn’t be happier with the rev2, and the service was great.
Yeah, thanks for the input.. they told me after I’d returned them that they can solve most problems remotely. I was nervous in case I over ran the 30 day returns period, and it just felt too odd that 2 consecutive models had an issue. I’m sure most are bang on though (as are my P6 OB6 and Tempest - and my old P8).
I'd like to chime in that I also had an issue with my rev 2. The customer support were great and helped me out with no real issues. I'm up and running and it sounds great. here's to hoping nothing else pops up
i dont mean to be so off topic but does anybody know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid forgot the login password. I appreciate any tips you can give me!
@Alvaro Porter i really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Great video. These sound so close, close enough that it requires a careful A/B comparison in the same room to hear any difference - and so for the voice count (8 or 16) ,the extra octave of keys, the bi-timbrality, and the modulation possibilities, it’s just a no brainer for the Rev2 here for me.
Agreed. Here's the crazy part - I just sold my Moog One 16, that costs over £10k here in the UK - bought a REV2 16 and what I got for it was £8k difference and a better sounding, lower noise, more portable and almost equally as capable synth. Now I have a decent used van and a synth that I like even more. Wild.
Very impressive how you were able to get the Rev2 and the Prophet 6 to sound so close. Technical Support from Sequential has been quick to respond, knowledgeable, and very patient with any Operating System issues that I had with my Rev2.
Quick suggestion (if it helps!). If you're finding you want to adjust a parameter (like oscillator frequency, filter cutoff, LFO rate etc) with more precision, you can actually turn the knob in question to bring it up on the screen, then use the VALUE encoder to fine tune the parameter. Really helps when setting Oscillator coarse frequency!!!
@spraylakkmagazine Absolutely! It's beautiful sounding and it's easy to use. I definitely recommend it for what you want. Then grab the 16 voice chip down the road to stack it. Awe wonderful stuff
@spraylakkmagazine I also have a take 5 and that's poly as well. Both excellent. The new Teo sounds and looks dope as well. You got a ton of options but I think you will be satisfied most people are
Great comparison!! Honestly was expecting more of a difference in the sound of DCO vs. VCO...Love my Rev2 btw, biggest issue is that volume decrease at 7:05. I also notice it when blending Osc 1 and 2.
It's not really an issue, it's by design. Rev2 doesn't have individual controls for the levels of Osc 1 and 2, instead there's balance control to blend between them. As you turn up Osc 2, it automatically turns down the volume of Osc 1 by the same amount. This was probably done because it's easier to crossfade between the oscillators this way using the mod matrix, since it only requires one slot instead of two. It's easy enough to compensate for the volume loss by just turning up the volume.
One of the most interesting A/B vids I've seen from you. The differences are quite striking, and both are great. I'd be delighted to own either, but I'm picking up the Rev2 tomorrow. I prefer everything about it based upon this particular demo (though I've watched dozens and felt the same way then). Little concerned about the QC issues mentioned at the end but the guys at Dave Smith have always been sensational with support. Hopefully I won't need it, but I think it's worth taking the chance. Thanks a million for yet another wonderful, informative, and fun, post.
Great comparison as always. The conclusion at the end gave me flashbacks to my some of old synths now decades ago. For me a 2k euro synth would mean 2 years of saving with discipline, and to get out of the box issues then would call for both anger and deep disappointment. Now, I am actually saving for a Prophet 6 desktop and I really hope it will be a loving welcome.
Oh wow... thanks I hadn't realised I'd written it the wrong way round in the description!! You'd think I'd have got the hang of it after so many uploads.. duh. Cheers.
Great review, and thanks for having integrity about calling out poor quality when you see it. I'm still holding off pulling the trigger on a poly (want to see the price tag on Behringer's OB clone first...), but this review helped. I personally much prefer the tone and overall sound of the P6 and this vid made me want one more.
I love my Prophet-6 but the tuning sometimes is a little off on one of the voices. It's now acknowledged that it probably needs have calibration routine run several times at different ambient temperatures to get it in tune better. However once I get away from the preset sounds, I just love the sound of the Prophet-6. It has a sweetness I've not heard on any modern synth. Every voice DOES sound different. A long as that is fairly subtle then it makes the instrument sounds marvellous, natural and musical.
Sometimes I like the Rev2 patch better and others I like the P6. Just depends on your current need. Both synths are really nice...I'd like to have either of them.
Aaron Sim I thought it was hardware, but apparently there’s a new firmware upgrade that solves stability issues with the voices. I’m still not entirely convinced either issue could’ve been solved with software. I contacted DSI and they said most issues could be fixed remotely, but I couldn’t risk running over the return date for the money back guarantee.
Another great video mate cheers for that. Not sure if you know but there's been a firmware update this week for the Rev2 which has fixed the issues with the encoders
I so much love the lead sounds of the Rev2 ! They cut through and are emotionally moving. For all other sounds (except maybe for basses) the Prophet 6 sounds fuller.
I had a few issues with my Rev 2 off the bat. There were a few presets where if you played them it would corrupt the rest (specifically the fx). Also if I rapidly hit one of the B notes (B3 I think it was) it would behave oddly and seemed like it might have been bleeding. However after a firmware update and a calibration it is trouble free. I absolutely love this synth. It has the most comprehensive feature set and improved where the Prophet 8 left off.
@@oddomadic I've owned both - I'd highly recommend the REV2 over the P6. The modulation matrix in the REV2 enables you to go much deeper into sound design, and they both sound fantastic. Sure the P6 is a little brighter when fully open, but unless you're doing trance or something where it's acceptable to have the filter fully open - it's really a no brainer. Take your goomah out for a fancy meal with the price difference.
My REV2 had 4 dead voices. I had to replace the mother board. However, even though I am not the original owner of the REV2, DSI sent me a replacement mother board and only charged me 25.00. I installed it myself which was very easy, took about 15 minutes. I also had a problem with my Prophet 6 I purchased new from Sweetwater. It kept losing sound and I would have to reboot every time it happened. I sent it back to Sweetwater for a refund. The only thing I didn't like about the Prophet 6 was that it only had 49 keys instead of 61.
DSI are good like that. I did contact them about the issues, and they said they could normally fix problems remotely... maybe they send out replacement boards. In the EU we’re covered by consumer laws so if anything isn’t working you can get your money back - which is good in that you can trust you’ll get a working product, new replacement or money back. Not sure if it’s the same in the states, but I’d have been daft to keep them with the problems. A real shame.
Great video as always! I'm considering getting a Rev2 and your points at the end of the video about faults made me shudder with fear. The problem with GAS and music procrastination is that I can't be the only one who gets new gear and doesn't thoroughly test it before another bout of GAS. I have synths which will probably be out of warranty by the time I finally check out all their options. Stupid and I know it! So if I DO get the Rev2 your observations about the oscillators, voices, etc., will be ringing in my ears and I MUST check everything out. Thanks again for this superb video!
No worries. It's even more annoying after buying a used synth, which I do a lot for these videos, and you only notice a few weeks later.. at which point the stock response is 'it was OK when I had it - it's old so what don you expect it must have gone wrong since you got it... ' I now always attempt to go through everything as soon as I unpack, but it takes so long and there's always something you can miss!
Great comparison. I’m very happy with my REV2, no QC issues after 2 months (fingers crossed). It is true it takes a bit more tweaking to get a fatter tone from the REV2. But shelling out >2,5k€ for a Prophet 6 is totally out of my league so decision is obvious, you get way much more value with the REV2.
Just put in an order for the Rev2 this morning, and this helped seal the deal, so thank you for that. I honestly thought I had made a huge mistake and freaked out, thinking I would vastly prefer some mythical creamy rich filters on the Prophet 6 or OB-6, but after trying to listen to the video without looking and then guessing, I found that I preferred the sound of the Rev2 basically half the time (and frequently assumed it to be the 6). It seemed like a complete toss-up as to which one had the better timbre. I guess when it is too hard to find a clear winner in the tone department then you have to finally look at the on-paper features, which the Rev2 wins out objectively. Still, I doubt I'd completely pass up on an OB-6 or P6 in the future, at least for that high-resonance power.
I love the oscillators and filter on the OB6, but not for twice the price and 4/5ths of a keyboard compared to the rev2. if value is what you're after, the rev2 is the way to go. if ultimate tone is what you're after and price isn't as much of a consideration, I'd go with a desktop OB6.
@@errorkit Haha, yes I do! Still holds up nicely even with a few more synths I got in the meantime (OB6 and Summit). My only complaint is that the levels are reduced by quite a bit when mixing between the oscs. Otherwise it's my go to for stabs and sizzly poly stuff, and some more out there sounds.
I have both and I think they are different enough to keep both, I love them... Rev2 can make some crazy modulated sounds, and the Prophet-6 is so direct and nice sounding.
Is the rev2 analog as well or digital with analog filters. Seems weird the rev2 costs less but does more. Makes me wonder why there is such a price difference
Yeah quality control ain’t what it use to be like in the 80’s, I too had to return two Moogs .. a re-issue Model D and a Grandmother. My Rev2 16 voice is ok .. but I just don’t like the sound, so I’m on the tube looking at the Prophet 6 now, it sounds ok but the 4 octaves is kinda an issue, I need 5 octaves like my old Jupiter 8 .. actually I need my old Jupiter 8 back dawg on it! Anyway thanks for creating this channel and the cool vids over the years, it’s a big help.
You seem to prefer monophonic sounds on the rev2 and polyphonic sounds on the pro 6. The rev 2's mono sounds were gruntier, growlier, thicker, meaner, more punch and likely presence in a mix (who can say though, maybe you'd have to rein them in, cut them down, in which case, whats the point, but then always better to have more and remove some then have not enough and try to add some). While the Pro 6's polyphonic chords sound just amazing, like dropping the most gentle acid in a high mountain meadow as the huge and heavy clouds drift by almost within reach. And I'd agree with you. The sounds you said that you liked better on the rev2, I like better as well; the sounds you said you liked better on the pro 6, I liked better as well. (I reallyl didn't enjoy polyphonic chords on the Rev2 too much - they sounded choked, kind of crumbly and congested around the cutoff, while the pro 6 was a mixture of room temperature butter, feathers, and grown out golden doodle fur. Honestly, I don't know who you are to afford all these synths, and what you do with them, but the obvious solution is to keep both, or all three, or all 8, whatever you have. I find things to like in most every musical instrument/gear. The ONLY way I can tell what I actually like is to keep it for an extended time, and see what I actually end up using and what I actually end up passing over. Usually comes down to interface once a certain threshold for sound quality is exceeded. This is confused by the fact that I have a tendency to kind of rotate through gear, like I'll get kind of infatuated with a synth for a while and I think it is the greatest ever, but after a few months then it kind of gets played out, and I move on to the next one for a while. So a synth or whatever can get passed over for quite awhile until I come back to it, forgetting the intimacy I had with it, so it is kind of fresh again and I can discover new ways to make unique sounds (and remember what I really like about it). So sometimes it is hard to tell what I like and don't. That's what I'm saying, I need gear to stick around for a long time to really tell if I like it. I have sold stuff, and really regretted it. There is nothing worse than selling a piece of gear that is in perfect condition for a financial loss, regretting it, then having to buy it again at a premium, taking another loss, but the guy you're buying it from abused it, and a knob goes dodgy every now and again, and there is crackle on one of the outs, occasionally. Drives me mad, so I try to avoid selling gear. But I'm in a zero sum situation now with finances, so I can't expand, only work within what I already have. I think it is time to part with the Virus B and Volca Bass (which I bought accidentally anyway, though have found uses for it for the past couple of years).
Good mate - not back up North so much these days - but, just a thought - I have a CS60 I could maybe drop off sometime if you're interested in doing a comparison with that and software? Might be interesting for you - the channel seems to have well and truly taken off - good for you :)
Thanks for this interesting comparison. Re your comments at the end about quality control, I actually had a very similar experience with my Prophet 6. I bought it from Parkway Music in upstate NY. When i got it home, i realized every time a got to every 6th note, there was a weird glitchy sound. This was within the first 2 or 3 weeks. I contacted Parkway, I wanted to exchange for a new one, and they said DSI wasn't going to go for that. I couldn't believe that after spending $2800 on a new synth, they wouldn't exchange. Instead, they sent a new oscillator in the mail, and a procedure on how to replace - they also asked me to send back the broken one. I will say that the tech support person, Carson, was very helpful and nice. But still - that much trouble after spending nearly 3K$ within the first month is unacceptable. They should have given me my money back or at least replace the model i was given. Some months later, my Prophet 6 went glitchy at a gig. I performed the same procedure, and re-seated the offending oscillator card and it was fine after that. But honestly, people say DSI synths are so sturdy and well-built, but i'm always super-cautious with mine, and i'm not so sure i'd every buy another DSI synth again, though i do like the company. They pump out too many models to quickly.
We're lucky here in that if a purchase is defective you have the right to request a refund within 30 days. It’s EU law and entrenched in every retailers DNA which is good for the customers and I think every manufacturer accepts that. Maybe if it was a global law then we would see less quality issues.
@@StarskyCarr what about now after Brexit. Do we in the UK still qualify for that glorious "30 days return" policy?.... I'm about to buy a high end poly and I'm really nervous now seeing all these QC issues. There's a Rev2-16 at a steal but I'm wondering if theres some deeper underlying issues with it than the cosmetic dink on the front panel. Maybe someone bashed it in rage because of the oscillator problem 😆
@@szymeklawik7636 Who knows..?? We were covefred by EU law previously, but who'll defend a UK resident from a company breaking a promise? Not the EU I suspect, and the UK can't. Having said that I've just sent something back to the Netherlands with no issues. I suppose it depends on the retailer.
For all of the whining about the P08 for years and years.....next to the Prophet 6, and even next to the Prophet 5 Rev. 3 on INHALT’s comparison.....many patches were very, very similar. I have an AS-1, which is probably the best sounding mono I’ve ever owned. I like it more than even my SH-101 and Model D. Always wanted a Pro One, and am very happy. The ONLY thing that truly bothers me about the Rev2, especially the 16 voice, is that it doesn’t have different voicing options. I should be able to do 4x unison with 4 voice polyphony and other options. Its either 8x unison in split mode, or 16x unison in mono. No other option. Thanks for the video. Well done.
Does any one know whether rev2 issues mentioned at 33:22 onwards have been resolved with hardware update on newer production line? Or did they kept production even though they knew about these issue for years? I really hope that's not the case as all I have heard so far is that DSI is very a professional company and respects their customers...
Absolutely fantastic video again! I’m in this exact dilemma. I’ve been leaning towards the Prophet-6 purely and simply because I want a workhorse synth, in every example, the Prophet-6 just oozed character and depth, and to my ears the Rev2 sounded slightly colder and quite brittle. It is close, but everyone needs to choose based on their own needs, tastes and styles. I think the Rev2 is priced very well for what you get, but if you want a “forever” synthesiser, it has to be the Prophet-6 for me.
I own a Rev2 and this is correct! its a little cold/brittle/harsh at times... actually thinking about buying a Deepmind 6 and comparing the two... might sell the Rev2... its a great synth but the Prophet 6 is certainly a different animal...
I really love your comparison videos, but am overwhelmed with the range available. I'm looking for a poly analogue synthesiser to complement my Nord Stage 3 (which I'd continue to use for pianos and organs), and Dave Smith's instruments seem to be the way to go - they all look superb! To my ears, the Prophet-6 is the cleanest and most refined sounding of all of them (even though it's the oldest? - I have taken a look at the OB-6 comparison as well). It's like the sonic equivalent of the best single malt whisky you can imagine! (and the sound would appear to match the early 1980s better as well, which is what I'm looking for). Really appreciate your videos, and channel.
24:00 wish you have compared Rev2 to OB6. I thought sub and the filter were the two biggest differences between P6 nd OB6. Wonder if Rev2 could get into unfiltered OB6 territory?
Hi Starsky great review of two good synths. Prefered the REV2 for bass, sounded thiner but nicer to me, at 29.00 mins the Prophet 6 sounded wider, both are good for different reasons and will sound good in the mix. Thanks for the helpful videos:)
There is a deception directly in the manual of the Rev2 that each layer can respond 'independently' to MIDI control. Because this is not true of pitchbend ! (and I think also aftertouch). This is actually a very bid deal if you are expecting 'two synths in one', or full bitimbral function. All marketing and public communications from the company fail to provide this important information. In this important way, the synth is not fully bitimbral. There is no defense or excuse for this behavior from the company. Not at 3 years after release of the synth.
Hey, absolutely love your videos. A suggestion - label each one A or B and refer to them this way in the videos so we know what we're listening to. "This one" is pretty tough if eyes aren't glued to the screen, and even then sometimes when the synths look so similar
The up/down buttons on the Prophet '08 have been replaced by the 'VALUE' data encoder on the Rev2. Touch any pot and then fine tune that parameter, with detents for precision, on the endless 'VALUE' encoder, which changes whatever parameter is currently shown in the display. Much better than up/down buttons
I liked the up down buttons personally. The potentiometer easily gets jumpy (dust or wear). The buttons were more fault proof in my experience. I use those exclusively (within same bank) now since the knob has become unstable. Jumps from 1 to 5 or hangs.
Ooof. I was all ready to sell the Rev2 and pick up the P6 but I don't think I can do it. Some of the bass stuff sounded better but I have plenty of other bass synths I'm more likely to use for that anyway. I think you just convinced me to save some money and take another look at my Rev2. Thanks for the great comparison.
Starsky! I dunno if you still have your REV2, but the value knob acts like the P08’s up & down buttons. It’ll incrementally step through the last parameter you adjusted. Thought I’d add that here, just in case others are finding the REVs knobs a bit fiddly to dial in precisely, which I know can get pretty frustrating.
I hear a lot more stereo width on the pads at 28:30 and also at 29:20 on the p6. Is that a coinsidence? Isn't the rev2 also capable of more stereo spread?
Interesting demo. The two synths clearly sound quite similar, though I agree the P6 seems to have a bit of an edge, mainly because it doesn't lose the bass when you turn up the resonance on the filter. Something you haven't mentioned is the 16-voice Rev2, that adds A LOT to the sound creation potential. I frequently create patches using 2 layers, and they still have more polyphony than the P6! As to synths having problems: I initially purchased a KORG Prologue 16 but it quickly went back. The compressor introduced flutter noise on the left channel, but the major architectural problem is that the oscillators simply do not stay in tune over the 5 octaves of the keyboard, something DSI excels at. This is made even worse with the addition of the hybrid digital oscillator which is obviously perfectly in tune, so beats against the analogue oscillators. But to make things even worse, the digital oscillator aliases like crazy... So much as this was a synth I wanted to love, it really didn't work for me.
You’re right I never really went into sound design in depth. I did a few videos a couple of years ago showing the Pro8 vs Pro6 sound design and complex pads etc.. I’d have spent more time with it if the second one wasn’t broken as well, but needed to make sure I could get a full refund. It still annoys me that I had the issues as I think it’s a great synth.
I feel like the REV2 would work more in a live-band setting. It feels more "punchy" and versatile. The P6 feels like a perfect studio-synth, because of the high quality oscillators and filter. My dream synth would be a REV2 with a P6 filter.
@@globi227 Hey I havent gotten that far down the rabbit hole yet, but i feel the same way about the Rev2 filter. What do you mean buy/build another module? Like install it inside the Rev2?
@@globi227 sorry to post this two years later, but you can't add filters to a polysynth down the line. The filters need to be in the middle of the signal chain. Each filter has its own ADSR envelope. You need 8 or 16 filters (one per voice) and they must be in the middle of the synth engine. You can't add a filter at the end.
Basically a video that shows 1 is better at some things than the other, and vice versa lol. This make it hard to gauge what to actually buy. Rev2 has more features, and VSTs are only getting better. The more spread, and wide feel of the P6 is good. It's in fact really nice, however, Ozone imager on Rev2, you can push those sides out, while keeping the more Mono punch that the Rev2 provides. The 6 stands out more. But let's be real, Rev2 is more useful long term.
The P6 does sound a little fuller here and there. It also costs a lot more. I think these sonic thinner Rev2 sound can be corrected with proper use of EQ. So the question is: is that little better sound quality of P6 is worth the price difference?
Gonna have to acknowledge that sooner or later and you're absolutely right. He says on paper the Rev2 is better. With DSI, sonics is undoubtedly king here. But the bump up from a Rev2 to a P6 sacrifices 3 LFOs, modulation destinations, voice count (losing up to 10), and bi-timbral and patch stacking functionality. If you already have an analog polysynth that can do all that, you very well could scoff at that argument. But for me, I don't have that going for me and that's a lot to just throw to the wayside IMO.
@@ghostfrom1950 Hi, I have a few and honestly I don't use them enough. Having soft synths is so easy you know and although the hardware ones also have that sonic advantage, in the mix it's just not audible; I combine both hard and software though. My Rev 2 is the youngest achievement. I have it about 5 months and love it. I use my Rev2, Summit, Prologue and an old DW8000 most.
Hi@@MrLawrence0071 ! Great collection you got there. Btw, I also implement hardware with software. Right now I lean on some Juno emulations and other "hybrid" softsynths for poly with the occasional RefaceDX. So I'm missing a good analog polysynth (Also have the Boog). I'm curious to pick your brain on a comparison of the Rev2 and the Summit. In my own comparison, I am largely leaning towards the Rev2 because I think it has that analog "soul" or at least achieves it easier than the Novation Summit. Without increasing the budget to say the OB6 or P6, between Summit/Peak and Rev2, I'm pretty convinced Rev2 has much more character
@ghost mall If 1 guitar sounds just narrowly better but costs 3 times more and you know you can compensate using EQ then I will not spend 3 times more. I like both but the price of the 6 imo isn't justified.
Regarding headphones/speakers. I've been listening to the sample sound tracks on the Dave Smith website. Through my Yamaha HS-8s they both sound great, but using Sony MDR-7506 headphones, the Prophet 6 is more pleasing to listen to, but the sample tunes are different for each instrument so that could be a factor.
They're so dang close, a tool like Decapitator can surely help you get the rest of the way there if one is "deficient" as far as bite. Also check out Scheps Parallel Particles for some real oomph!
Had Prophet 6. Bought Prophet Rev 2. Love the latter so much I sold the Prophet 6. I believe it is the best all-rounder Prophet ever made. So many options for shaping sounds. The OB-6 would make a great partner because of the filter/sound, but I'd still recommend the PRev2 as the best DSI purchase.
Bass much better on REV2 but when either of these go processors in which they will do for any production I would tend to go with my REV2. Just seems to cut through better on REV2 with the highs also, nice and bright. But both are fantastic. Depends what you fancy. Never judge a synth on it's loudness like this dude has. Most always go through compressors, amps etc. Look for the quality in decay, resonance up/down and encoders.
For bass, the P6 may be a little deeper. But leads, pads, they're interchangeable. The Rev2 can do more sounds. I'd go with the Rev 2. Price difference is not worth it.
@ghost mall I have soft synths that do stuff no P6 or P2 can do indeed and honestly, in a mix, any sound difference is negligeable. I like my P2. It has a unique sound. And so far it's been doing everything I need. But I do notice I use my soft synths most of the time. They have matured a lot and sound equally good; Different, but good.
@ghost mall I never said "it all sounds the same". I am just not one of those "analogue is always better" guys nor any of them "hardware is always better" guys. I have almost all soft synths out there in addition with about 15 hardware synths/modules, old and new, digital and analogue. I am into music and production since 1994. I enjoy playing on an old DW8000 as much as on a new Korg Prologue or the Rev 2. Some of us just can be productive with anything they can get their hands to. That's what counts for me. I know guys making music with a 1500 dollar laptop and just some software. And they make hits with that. Just saying bro.
My REV2 (16 voice model) had to be fixed under warranty because of faulty digital encoders. And the calibration is less than perfect on all voices (especially the pulse width which is pretty inconsistant between voices). There are also a few firmware bugs that have yet to be fixed (I'm on the latest revision 1.0.3 as of this writing). I think the REV2 is cheaper than a P6 or OB6 for a reason: it's cheaply built (electronics wise). I also own an OB6 (desktop version), which is flawless and sounds bloody great. Although I really like the REV2 despite its shortcomings, if I had to keep only one, I'd keep the OB6. I also own a Minimoog D from 1975 which is still working perfectly, over 40 years later !
More brighter? Are you getting **exactly** the same waveform amplitude to do that comparison? The same Channel of your audio interface or mixer or whatever are used for both? ...
Another great comparison, thank you! Interesting about new Minimoog comment, will keep a close ear on mine. A few years back I bought a secondhand Voyager XL in pristine condition, which got reasonable deal on, I thought... long story short, a new replacement analog board later & she has run like a dream ever since. Very pleased I didn't give up on that synth! It was a problem with some of the components supplied to Moog which took time to start failing I believe. Therefore, I don't believe their fault. Moog Service team were great! Very helpful. As I understand, took them some time to work out why a few of these Voyagers were playing up! Long story short, sadly in this day & age everything is so profit/ sharemarkets driven that corners get cut, I'd say more often by component manufacturers than reputable musical instrument builders. Maybe I'm wrong. I believe the main thing is that all the major & boutique electronic music equipment brands need to monitor quality control very closely or accept there will be problems down the track. When these problems do occur, consumers want to see great service & problem rectified ASAP. We pay a lot of money for some of these synths & expect them to last if looked after well.
Thanks for the comparison. I'm not really convinced there's much sound difference between the two or that one sounds better than the other. I'm not really a fan of their filters (stepping and quite dry and boring with not a particularly nice resonace) - especially when compared to the OB-6. Modern VCOs are so stable anyway. The Rev 2 has an awesome amount of modulation though, new colour screen and with the new modulation system and effects it's a pretty good deal. A very good improvement over the original I swapped - I'm quite tempted to get one again. If I do get one i'll make sure I get the 3 year warranty. It would be really useful if you could run through the tests to do on camera to check things are working properly when I receive it.
Be interesting to see how these compared to the fully digital Prophet X, I have to saw that HPF is so much better on the prophet 6 than the the digital effect.
you point out exactly the right thing. the rev 2 sounds fuller and more precise - and most importantly darker and actually quite 80s. also the top end is more sparkly and you have alternate tunings and 16 voices so you can stack massive harmonic wave mountains - aand duophonic so if you like complex sequencing like me get the rev 2, 16 voice version.
Im surprised to hear of the quality issues with these synths. I thought Moog and DSI were made in America so they have to be better quality. Apparently not!
I know - I really don't want to criticise them but have to be honest about my experiences with them. I like that they're both creating new synths, and own loads of products by Moog and DSI, but having received 2 Rev2s each with a voice issue it just seemed more than a coincidence.
It would be awesome if Moog made another Moogerfooger run. I know I'm off topic, but I seen that you had a nice little collection there. I'm currently looking at the more premium Sequential's. My issue is figuring out if the keys are worth the extra price. I could get the OB-6, Pro 6, and Pro 5/10 modules, and save quite a bit. I already have multiple keyboards, which include ribbon controllers and Poly AT, plus I just ordered a Squarp Hapax sequencer. Some say the keys are the way to go, and only touring players should consider the modules, but I'm not really sure. I could save thousands by getting the modules, and get more of them. If I get the keys versions, I could probably afford two at best right now. If I got the keys, they would probably be the OB-6 and Pro 6. I could more than likely get 3 of the modules. I may even be able to get the Pro 10 module, instead of the 5. I'm also considering the Trigon 6 sometime down the road, which is obviously keys only right now. I feel that the Rev 2 has it's place, but compared to the Pro 6, it doesn't sound as special. It's still a very nice sounding synth, and most listeners probably wouldn't be able to guess which one you used on a track.
You’re totally right about poor quality control. Every Dave smith product I’ve ever owned has fallen apart on the stand it sits on. Their issues with 3rd party rotary encoders has also been a manufacturing nightmare. Every unit that shipped to me failed and Dave smith CHARGED me to upgrade the encoders. For that reason alone, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing another DS product.
I was seriously considering dumping a huge sum, huge by my perspective, on a DSI product, specifically the Prophet 10.... After reading about the problems with the third party encoders, I must really do more research, and soul searching, before jumping into this purchase. I wish I hadn't read this, but am grateful that I did...
@Frigus This would be great but I was charged. I was not provided free anything when I contacted DSI about the bad encoders. I also read his "statement" that they got quite a few bad ones but all that mattered to me is he passed the cost on to me instead of doing right by me so, I'm out. * Someone correct me if I am wrong and they do, in fact, provide free repair now in 2021?
Does seem a bit odd that you have to scroll through patches to select the one you want on Rev 2. I suppose you could implement a midi controller to directly activate patches you want. Selah Quarts would be a great addition if youre using pedals with this thing but just about any midi controller or even DAW triggers would do the trick.
Hey Starsky - did you ever notice massive oscillator bleed on your REV2? I have a REV2 and a Matrix 1000 (they use the same - or similar? - oscillator/filter chips) and I've compared them for oscillator bleed - it's crazy how much more signal to bleed ratio there is on the Matrix 1000. They sound almost identical, but the oscillator bleed is just killing it for me. What a beautiful synth otherwise :/
Get in touch with DSI. I returned mine because of this. I had a return T&C deadline so sent it back before it was unrefundable (not a real word but you get the gist). I contacted DSI about it and they said most issues can be sorted remotely. Sort of wished I’d never returned it but couldn’t take the chance with a potentially broken unit at the time.
Thanks for the response - I actually DID get a hold of DSI who explained that "what you're experiencing is quite normal". I sent them an audio file and they said that there was nothing wrong with the unit. Maybe I'll get in touch with them again - although I've listened to other demos online - there's one comparing the Peak to the REV2 and I can hear the damn buzzing in that video too, only on the REV2. There was a moment I wasn't watching it, just listening and I was like "Oh, I don't hear it here..." Yeah - that was the Peak. It's a shame because there are some beautiful sounds I get out of it, but then I hear it - the little buzzing bee that's stuck in the unit.
I had a constant low level bleed - I could hear a patch playing continually. With the speakers turned up it was very noticeable - no good for live work without a noise gate.
Great review! The limiter of 6 voices and 4 octaves baffles me in how they designed the P6. I rather get 16 voices in the Rev2 and a few other synths for the same money.
IMHO in REV2 your Pan Spread setting is set to 0, hence comparing sounds in stereo will always benefit Prophet-6. Have you tried tuning it? I do not own either of those but this is what I have noticed in music store.
Great comparison video! Both instruments sounds great, but although I have the feeling that the REV2 sounds more modern its sound is easier to emulate with modern plugins. The Prophet 6 has something that most plugins aren't able to do. So if it comes to the decision to buy one and you already have a lot of plugins or other hardware synths I would go with the Prophet 6 after this video. Much warmer, more character und a better bass. Especially for club and dance music the Prophet 6 has this special flavour that the REV2 doesn't have.
I had 3 faulty roland fantom 6's in a row... unbelievable but true! The 4th one was ok but by then I'd spent a year messing with faulty crashing freezing fantoms instead of working. It had to go.
Both great value … 16-voice DCO Swiss army knife synth, or 16-voice Hybrid Swiss army knife synth … I have both, though I expect I will trade one out, at some stage … but I’m in no hurry to get rid of either … ❤️❤️ Being able to run the Rev2 into the Summit, and take advantage of the Summit’s reverb and other great features, means they can enhance each other …
I've had a MAX, a Prophet 600 and now a Prophet '08. There's things I like and dislike about each one. I wish I could just take my favorite things about each and combine them into one.
interesting your opening comparison to osc at C pitch. The way they seemed same in headphones but not in speakers. Well they sound the same to me through JBL Lsr 305 monitors, and thru AT 40x cans. Certainly not darker on the Rev2 to me. I think when you mention different cans or speakers making things sound different, well it's hard for that to be of any use 'overall' because headphone/speaker 'flatness' also is a 'granular' discussion, meaning there can be dip and bumps that are narrow band, even if there is overall 'flatness'. So, if some speakers or can happen to make something seem sweeter or better, unless it does that across a large range of material in the basic range (as in 'the bass), then it's explained as a coincidental"sweet spot" occurrence of the combination of those particular cans and that particular signal. But it's not necessarily meaningful or useful. In fact it's the opposite because it's easy to jump to conclusions based on such coincidences. BTW just let me say your comparison vids are awesome and you obviously are highly skilled and capable. I've VERY interested in trying to choose between these two synths. Well, honestly, more like 'what would I be missing' sonically if I don't get a Prophet 6 and only keep a Rev2. I know about the 'feature' differences. I just mean the 'overall' sound (without effects). I've had the Rev2 for a few weeks. It can be very bright, not quite cold but almost harsh. If the Prophet 6 is all that but somehow a little 'smoother' I might prefer it, idk. There is talk of DCO vs VCO, but I've not seen enough of it. I don't care about the instability of VCO being a desirable feature, I can understand that. I'm concerned if there is any technical/electrical effect on the 'timbre', 'subtle fuzz', 'character' 'warmth' etc of VCO vs DCO. I really don't know enough about that discussion, so am looking for some really in depth insight there. There's a great YT video that tells you how to sort of similar VCO behavior on the Rev2 but you have to use up two LFO's and have to be using the gate sequencers. But still what matter is how patches sound, small diffferences at OSC level can add up I guess, Idk. If I could own a Prophet 6 and compare it to my Rev2, I think I'd find them so close socially that I would consider them the same, aside from the obvious feature differences. That said, I wish the Rev2, and all DCO analog synths, had a built it 'VCO simulator' added in addition to everything else. I bet that would be fairly easy for them actually. I don't think that's quite the same as OSC 'slop' or drift. But I LOVE that control. Just wish there was a simple VCO simulation on/off button on things like the Rev2.
I had to send a sub 37 back too. Had issues with the octave buttons not working right. Ended up replacing it with a sub phatty and it's satisfied my thirst for moog bass thus far.
whats up with these companies and all their issues!? kind of odd. i bought a minitaur played it for 10 hours (not straight. periodically) and it froze on me one day....only after about 10/11 hours of actually play time. 170 dollar motherboard replacement cost from Moog...thanks a lot....
Now that DSI is stopping production of the P12, I have to wonder if they're coming out with something new, if anything. Maybe like the P12 w/a combination of analogue and digital "oscers"s and sequencing? Meanwhile, I'm thinking Rev 2.
Starsky makes good synth demo videos, but this time he made a little blunder. :) Set your volume to max and then right click on the video and select "statistics for nerds", look at "volume | normalized". Then watch Woody Piano Shack video "RUclips loudness normalization | What you need to know". ruclips.net/video/wIicS8hKbeQ/видео.html
I also meant to say, I'm quite interested in a Rev 2, as more in current price range. However, waiting a year or so to see how they are holding up, reliability wise, fingers crossed :)
Thank you for your deepest synth comparinsons! You definetly have a golden hand for patching.. At minute 29.10 you start a new patch on OB6. (Patch Nr.008) The Rev2 Version you patched sounds way better! Do you remember how you set it up, briefly? Woud be awesome! Thx for your time!
Appreciate the video. I’m here to tell you that indeed these things are rolling out with issues. My FEG and headphone jack just died on the Sub37, my Blofeld is dead and I have s persistent voice issue w my uber expensive P12 (calibration did not help). I can either wait or keep power-booting and it eventually goes away. My analog gear from yesteryear was leaps and bounds more quality (notwithstanding the aging issues like batteries and such)... For a couple years now I’ve been distraught when looking at new machhines in the shop. You just never know what yr getting anymore. It really is so unfortunate, but despite all the headache I have come to understand whh the P12 was Daves new fav baby. Anyway,..I appreciate yr review and conclusion. I too am eyei g the P6 (desktop) to connect with P12 here. Also looking at that newfangled ASM synth. nice backstory. Seems stable enough and I’m not an analogue purist per se. 👋🏽🍺
I love my REV2, and I sold P6 and got P10 last year. Difference is drastic when resonance is up on REV2, I wonder why they did not introduce loudness compensation like they did on Pro3.
The only Sequential synthesizer I have is Pioneer AS-1. I want to get a polyphonic analog synthesizer. However, honestly, all the Sequentials sound the same. I was thinking about a Prophet X... however, it's a ROMpler and a hybrid. I'm just so lost here. Any input. For instance, what can the Prophet-6 do that the Prophet 10 can't. I've seen those comparisons, honestly, I didn't really see a difference.
@@ErwinSchrodinger64 I think you will need to try each one of these instruments live to figure out how they differ. To start with, I own Prophet 10, REV2, OB6, Poly Evolver, Mopho x4, Tempest (This is just poly -lineup of DSI/Sequential instruments in my studio). Each one is unique in its build, features and sound. I am strongly disagreeing that "they all sound the same" - simply as they don't. I will compare Prophet 10 with REV2 - totally different oscillators, completely different filter, Prophet 5/10 (and even 6) are more immediate instruments, while REV2 is modulation monster. The main difference in a synth is for me the character of the sound source and the filter - and that is what differs from product to product. They sound the same to tyou because you are watching videos that show raw oscillators, filter sweeping... ofc you will find overlapping, if you play saw with 100% open filter. To try and help you out, Prophet X is digitally driven synth, combining samples and digital oscillators with a 4 pole filter. Prophet 5/10 is 100% analogue machine. The diffference is huge, and it is up to you to decide what do you want from an instrument. Is it workstation-like versatility in sounds? Is it classic subtractive synthesis? Is it a combo of both? Let's throw OB6 in the mix - sizzly, 2 pole SEM filter, again, totally unique instrument. Aside from the mentioned Sequential synths, I own a lot of other poli synths, UDO super 6, Jupiter 6, Alpha Juno, Dx7, Microwave, Poly six, JV 1080, Korg Tryton, Hydrasynth... so you can see combo of old and new there. I would gladly help, if you would shed some light into what kind of poly are you looking for. To reply to your question (For instance, what can the Prophet-6 do that the Prophet 10 can't?) its apples and oranges, but I would say that P6 can do way less than PX can, but those things it does, it does way better than PX. I had P6 and sold it to get P10, both are immediate, simple to use, great sounding analogue synths. Prophet X can cover all the stuff from classic pianos, strings etc, also it is bi-timbral, so you can either layer or split your sound.
@@earlsfield thank you very much for your input. It has some shed some light. I'm into electronic music including progressive house and breaks (so a lot of melody and dark ambience is necessary). I'm still new to production. My studio consists of the following: Korg Kronos II Access Virus II Waldorf Kyra Waldorf Iridium (pre-ordered) Roland TB-03 Toraiz AS-1 (Dave Smith) Korg Wavestate Toraiz Squid Elektron Analog IV MKII Elektron RYTM MKII Pioneer SP-16 Akai Live II Your comment is helpful, from the degree, needing to understanding filters and analog machinery. I don't have any shops around here that carry Sequential synthesizers. Overall, I want an analog synthesizer with the capabilities of producing a lot melody and dark rich baselines with a lot of depth... if that's helpful. The Pioneer AS-1 (Dave Smith Instruments which I believe is based on the Prophet-6 architecture) is an incredible monophonic instrument. With some delay and reverb it creates some spacious melody. Thus, the reason why I'm leaning towards Sequential. As far as subtractive synthesis, I'm still learning. Thus, I don't know how important it will be for me in the future. Either way, thank you for taking the time to write your response. I will research multi-pole filters and oscillators ever more.
@@ErwinSchrodinger64 Right, so, that is a nice lineup of synthesizers. If you are looking for really dark ambience, surely Wavestate is a monster for that - I am using it heavily for all ambient/evolving sounds. Also, you are waiting for Iridium, which is like 5 synths in one - I would say put a stop to buying gear (or don't , totally up to you), until you learn iridium inside out. To be honest, your Virus TI can create basses thick as a concrete (I also have a desktop Virus), plus tons of other stuff. Maybe analogue is not neccessarily what you are looking into. Korg Kronos is a monster. Kyra is a monster. Analog 4 is also great foe basses and any kind of synth lines really, you know that already... I would say, if you are looking to buy ONE Sequential poly, that should be either Prophet 5/10 OR REV2. Also, you might want to think about PRO 3, so to skip polis all together? Or, you might want to look into second hand Prophet 12. All of them can create amazing, luch, rich soundscapes that evolve, modulate, it is just a matter of which one you want to pick up. Obviously, you can get REV2 for as little as 1000£ in a desktop format, or full on Prophet 5/10 for its heafty price. But I would wander if you actually need something like that? Wouldnt't you rather invest this money in multi effects units, for instance, that can complement your already rich synth collection? Also, don't forget Novation Peak, it is pretty much somewhere there with REV2, but with one wavetable oscillator, which is a huge deal. I haved recently got Super 6, adding user wavetables to classic analogue poly patches is just a dream. You are aware, however, that you can create a full on album using ONLY one of your synths? For instance, Kronos, you can literally create entire album. virus TI - from classic virtual analog to crazy multi timbral stuff. Question is - do you need extra synth, now, when Iridium is on its way? (It is extremely complex synth, I had it for a bit and sent it back, not because it is bad , but because I have no need for so much digital power packed in a hardware box - Iridium is a monster but best used for no-DAW setups). Whatever you choose, enjoy. And let me know if I can help.
@@earlsfield I already have an Eventide H9Max and a Boss GT-1000 Core for effects. Even contemplating a Styrmon Big or Night Sky and a dedicated delay unit. I'm also a DJ (I've been doing for 20 years), I'm 38 now, so I finally got the urge to get into production. I've always like the very musical side of multi-layered music. Not the mindless riffs. Honestly, I'm so overwhelmed and scarred so your input is greatly appreciated. The Kronos has proven to be a very complex machine with UI that is menu driven hell. The Korg Wavestate has become much easier to utilize now that Korg has released Wavestate2.0 UI. OK, so I wasn't expecting on holding back to purchase a synthesizer. That's not advice you usually get but you're the 2nd person that has stated that. Maybe holding off is the best option for me currently. But I will research Phophet5/10 and Rev2. Again, thank you for taking the time for your responses. I've read your response 3 times already so I can fully grasp your input.
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So I wanted to chime in regarding the issue on the rev2 at the end of this comparison.
I had the same issue. I was able to work with sequential to not just recalibrate the synth, but completely erase all the existing calibration before starting with a new calibration. Worked great and solved the issue.
Couldn’t be happier with the rev2, and the service was great.
Yeah, thanks for the input.. they told me after I’d returned them that they can solve most problems remotely. I was nervous in case I over ran the 30 day returns period, and it just felt too odd that 2 consecutive models had an issue. I’m sure most are bang on though (as are my P6 OB6 and Tempest - and my old P8).
Thanks again for all of your awesome content. Very thorough without being pedantic.
I'd like to chime in that I also had an issue with my rev 2. The customer support were great and helped me out with no real issues. I'm up and running and it sounds great. here's to hoping nothing else pops up
i dont mean to be so off topic but does anybody know a tool to log back into an Instagram account..?
I was stupid forgot the login password. I appreciate any tips you can give me!
@Alvaro Porter i really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
"and straight away you can hear a big difference" All the synth guys nod, everyone else looks around confused.
😂😂
Hahahaha!!
....ok that was funny as heck.
Agreed. In a mix, even a cat with super ears won't notice any difference.
👌👌👌
Great video. These sound so close, close enough that it requires a careful A/B comparison in the same room to hear any difference - and so for the voice count (8 or 16) ,the extra octave of keys, the bi-timbrality, and the modulation possibilities, it’s just a no brainer for the Rev2 here for me.
Agreed. Here's the crazy part - I just sold my Moog One 16, that costs over £10k here in the UK - bought a REV2 16 and what I got for it was £8k difference and a better sounding, lower noise, more portable and almost equally as capable synth. Now I have a decent used van and a synth that I like even more. Wild.
Thank you for such a great video! This is the most helpful comparison of the two titans on RUclips.
Very impressive how you were able to get the Rev2 and the Prophet 6 to sound so close. Technical Support from Sequential has been quick to respond, knowledgeable, and very patient with any Operating System issues that I had with my Rev2.
Quick suggestion (if it helps!). If you're finding you want to adjust a parameter (like oscillator frequency, filter cutoff, LFO rate etc) with more precision, you can actually turn the knob in question to bring it up on the screen, then use the VALUE encoder to fine tune the parameter. Really helps when setting Oscillator coarse frequency!!!
Yes, that's what I do to
Got me the rev2 8voice two days ago. I love it. Been running it through a zoom pedal and its gnar-gnar. I appreciate the vids
Still like it? I am seriously thinking about getting one as my main poly synth platform🤔
@spraylakkmagazine Absolutely! It's beautiful sounding and it's easy to use. I definitely recommend it for what you want. Then grab the 16 voice chip down the road to stack it. Awe wonderful stuff
@@Ra_Sharpness Nice, good to hear :) 99% sure its the right synth for me.
@spraylakkmagazine I also have a take 5 and that's poly as well. Both excellent. The new Teo sounds and looks dope as well. You got a ton of options but I think you will be satisfied most people are
Great comparison!! Honestly was expecting more of a difference in the sound of DCO vs. VCO...Love my Rev2 btw, biggest issue is that volume decrease at 7:05. I also notice it when blending Osc 1 and 2.
It's not really an issue, it's by design. Rev2 doesn't have individual controls for the levels of Osc 1 and 2, instead there's balance control to blend between them. As you turn up Osc 2, it automatically turns down the volume of Osc 1 by the same amount. This was probably done because it's easier to crossfade between the oscillators this way using the mod matrix, since it only requires one slot instead of two. It's easy enough to compensate for the volume loss by just turning up the volume.
One of the most interesting A/B vids I've seen from you. The differences are quite striking, and both are great. I'd be delighted to own either, but I'm picking up the Rev2 tomorrow. I prefer everything about it based upon this particular demo (though I've watched dozens and felt the same way then). Little concerned about the QC issues mentioned at the end but the guys at Dave Smith have always been sensational with support. Hopefully I won't need it, but I think it's worth taking the chance. Thanks a million for yet another wonderful, informative, and fun, post.
Great comparison as always. The conclusion at the end gave me flashbacks to my some of old synths now decades ago. For me a 2k euro synth would mean 2 years of saving with discipline, and to get out of the box issues then would call for both anger and deep disappointment. Now, I am actually saving for a Prophet 6 desktop and I really hope it will be a loving welcome.
How is it going?
Remember the Prophet 6 will hold its resale price. It's hardware and it's analog. Consider it an investment.
@@manny_f would it still be an investment?
00:56 Oscillators
04:05 Waveshapes
05:46 Filters
08:58 High Pass
10:45 VCO vs DCO
14:13 Modulation
16:08 Audio Mod
19:55 Basic Pad
22:30 Bass
28:00 Patch vs Patch
31:26 Decisions
32:45 Conclusion
Oh wow... thanks I hadn't realised I'd written it the wrong way round in the description!! You'd think I'd have got the hang of it after so many uploads.. duh. Cheers.
Best way I can describe the REV 2's sonics compared to the P6 is this- REV2: 2D, P6: 3D. Hope you're good dude! Great vid as always.
Good to see you calling in :)
Great review, and thanks for having integrity about calling out poor quality when you see it. I'm still holding off pulling the trigger on a poly (want to see the price tag on Behringer's OB clone first...), but this review helped. I personally much prefer the tone and overall sound of the P6 and this vid made me want one more.
Im also really intrigued by the Behringer OB clone - I can't wait to compare it with the OB6, which I love.
I love my Prophet-6 but the tuning sometimes is a little off on one of the voices. It's now acknowledged that it probably needs have calibration routine run several times at different ambient temperatures to get it in tune better. However once I get away from the preset sounds, I just love the sound of the Prophet-6. It has a sweetness I've not heard on any modern synth. Every voice DOES sound different. A long as that is fairly subtle then it makes the instrument sounds marvellous, natural and musical.
Rev2 desk here! Super fantastic! Nice comparison demo btw! Cheers!❤
Sometimes I like the Rev2 patch better and others I like the P6. Just depends on your current need. Both synths are really nice...I'd like to have either of them.
I know - it was a hard decision... unfortunately made more easy in the end by the issues I experienced with the Rev2
are these software or hardware issues? I was gonna pull the trigger on the Rev2 desktop but these issues made me rethink my decision
Aaron Sim I thought it was hardware, but apparently there’s a new firmware upgrade that solves stability issues with the voices. I’m still not entirely convinced either issue could’ve been solved with software. I contacted DSI and they said most issues could be fixed remotely, but I couldn’t risk running over the return date for the money back guarantee.
Another great video mate cheers for that. Not sure if you know but there's been a firmware update this week for the Rev2 which has fixed the issues with the encoders
I so much love the lead sounds of the Rev2 ! They cut through and are emotionally moving.
For all other sounds (except maybe for basses) the Prophet 6 sounds fuller.
I had a few issues with my Rev 2 off the bat. There were a few presets where if you played them it would corrupt the rest (specifically the fx). Also if I rapidly hit one of the B notes (B3 I think it was) it would behave oddly and seemed like it might have been bleeding.
However after a firmware update and a calibration it is trouble free. I absolutely love this synth. It has the most comprehensive feature set and improved where the Prophet 8 left off.
@Nigel Day sure, if you like 4 octaves and 6 voices. I prefer the Rev but love both.
@@oddomadic I've owned both - I'd highly recommend the REV2 over the P6. The modulation matrix in the REV2 enables you to go much deeper into sound design, and they both sound fantastic. Sure the P6 is a little brighter when fully open, but unless you're doing trance or something where it's acceptable to have the filter fully open - it's really a no brainer. Take your goomah out for a fancy meal with the price difference.
My REV2 had 4 dead voices. I had to replace the mother board. However, even though I am not the original owner of the REV2, DSI sent me a replacement mother board and only charged me 25.00. I installed it myself which was very easy, took about 15 minutes. I also had a problem with my Prophet 6 I purchased new from Sweetwater. It kept losing sound and I would have to reboot every time it happened. I sent it back to Sweetwater for a refund. The only thing I didn't like about the Prophet 6 was that it only had 49 keys instead of 61.
DSI are good like that. I did contact them about the issues, and they said they could normally fix problems remotely... maybe they send out replacement boards. In the EU we’re covered by consumer laws so if anything isn’t working you can get your money back - which is good in that you can trust you’ll get a working product, new replacement or money back. Not sure if it’s the same in the states, but I’d have been daft to keep them with the problems.
A real shame.
This video convinces me the rev2 is better for me - sounds good enough and I want the extra features and bigger keyboard
I feel you on that
Love your videos. Really helpful. And you come across as a really decent guy.
I really like your comparisons, very honest, deep, but easy and relaxed
Great video as always! I'm considering getting a Rev2 and your points at the end of the video about faults made me shudder with fear. The problem with GAS and music procrastination is that I can't be the only one who gets new gear and doesn't thoroughly test it before another bout of GAS. I have synths which will probably be out of warranty by the time I finally check out all their options. Stupid and I know it! So if I DO get the Rev2 your observations about the oscillators, voices, etc., will be ringing in my ears and I MUST check everything out. Thanks again for this superb video!
No worries. It's even more annoying after buying a used synth, which I do a lot for these videos, and you only notice a few weeks later.. at which point the stock response is 'it was OK when I had it - it's old so what don you expect it must have gone wrong since you got it... ' I now always attempt to go through everything as soon as I unpack, but it takes so long and there's always something you can miss!
2:50 You are TOTALLY correct! Never thought to think of filters this way. Brill!
Which synth did you end up keeping btw? And do you still have the Rev2?
I prefer the Rev 2, which surprises me. So I’ve ordered the desktop version to go through my Virus. Great video thank you.
Great comparison. I’m very happy with my REV2, no QC issues after 2 months (fingers crossed). It is true it takes a bit more tweaking to get a fatter tone from the REV2. But shelling out >2,5k€ for a Prophet 6 is totally out of my league so decision is obvious, you get way much more value with the REV2.
Sorry but if you are able to afford a REV2 you are able to afford a prophet 6
@@X22GJP Sorry, but this isn't true
Just put in an order for the Rev2 this morning, and this helped seal the deal, so thank you for that. I honestly thought I had made a huge mistake and freaked out, thinking I would vastly prefer some mythical creamy rich filters on the Prophet 6 or OB-6, but after trying to listen to the video without looking and then guessing, I found that I preferred the sound of the Rev2 basically half the time (and frequently assumed it to be the 6). It seemed like a complete toss-up as to which one had the better timbre. I guess when it is too hard to find a clear winner in the tone department then you have to finally look at the on-paper features, which the Rev2 wins out objectively. Still, I doubt I'd completely pass up on an OB-6 or P6 in the future, at least for that high-resonance power.
If it wasn't for the quality issues I'd have definitely kept the Rev2, there's really not that much in it and the flexibility of the Rev2 is great.
I love the oscillators and filter on the OB6, but not for twice the price and 4/5ths of a keyboard compared to the rev2. if value is what you're after, the rev2 is the way to go. if ultimate tone is what you're after and price isn't as much of a consideration, I'd go with a desktop OB6.
so? still got the rev2?
@@errorkit Haha, yes I do! Still holds up nicely even with a few more synths I got in the meantime (OB6 and Summit). My only complaint is that the levels are reduced by quite a bit when mixing between the oscs. Otherwise it's my go to for stabs and sizzly poly stuff, and some more out there sounds.
I have both and I think they are different enough to keep both, I love them... Rev2 can make some crazy modulated sounds, and the Prophet-6 is so direct and nice sounding.
Is the rev2 analog as well or digital with analog filters. Seems weird the rev2 costs less but does more. Makes me wonder why there is such a price difference
@@mpmi7588 The rev2 is analog also, but the oscillators are digitally controlled (DCO) rather than voltage (VCO)
Well just ordered the Pro-6 this week 😎
TheAstroKid Are you still happy with it?
Astro! Whats up ? Im getting one as well.
I got to play both synths today at Perfect Circuit. It was a blast, I was there for over 2 hours haha
Haha it gets addictive. These videos are massively edited. I will have normally played them side by side for hours or even days!!
U make the best comparison tubes...
Yeah quality control ain’t what it use to be like in the 80’s, I too had to return two Moogs .. a re-issue Model D and a Grandmother. My Rev2 16 voice is ok .. but I just don’t like the sound, so I’m on the tube looking at the Prophet 6 now, it sounds ok but the 4 octaves is kinda an issue, I need 5 octaves like my old Jupiter 8 .. actually I need my old Jupiter 8 back dawg on it! Anyway thanks for creating this channel and the cool vids over the years, it’s a big help.
You seem to prefer monophonic sounds on the rev2 and polyphonic sounds on the pro 6. The rev 2's mono sounds were gruntier, growlier, thicker, meaner, more punch and likely presence in a mix (who can say though, maybe you'd have to rein them in, cut them down, in which case, whats the point, but then always better to have more and remove some then have not enough and try to add some). While the Pro 6's polyphonic chords sound just amazing, like dropping the most gentle acid in a high mountain meadow as the huge and heavy clouds drift by almost within reach. And I'd agree with you. The sounds you said that you liked better on the rev2, I like better as well; the sounds you said you liked better on the pro 6, I liked better as well. (I reallyl didn't enjoy polyphonic chords on the Rev2 too much - they sounded choked, kind of crumbly and congested around the cutoff, while the pro 6 was a mixture of room temperature butter, feathers, and grown out golden doodle fur.
Honestly, I don't know who you are to afford all these synths, and what you do with them, but the obvious solution is to keep both, or all three, or all 8, whatever you have.
I find things to like in most every musical instrument/gear. The ONLY way I can tell what I actually like is to keep it for an extended time, and see what I actually end up using and what I actually end up passing over. Usually comes down to interface once a certain threshold for sound quality is exceeded. This is confused by the fact that I have a tendency to kind of rotate through gear, like I'll get kind of infatuated with a synth for a while and I think it is the greatest ever, but after a few months then it kind of gets played out, and I move on to the next one for a while. So a synth or whatever can get passed over for quite awhile until I come back to it, forgetting the intimacy I had with it, so it is kind of fresh again and I can discover new ways to make unique sounds (and remember what I really like about it).
So sometimes it is hard to tell what I like and don't. That's what I'm saying, I need gear to stick around for a long time to really tell if I like it. I have sold stuff, and really regretted it. There is nothing worse than selling a piece of gear that is in perfect condition for a financial loss, regretting it, then having to buy it again at a premium, taking another loss, but the guy you're buying it from abused it, and a knob goes dodgy every now and again, and there is crackle on one of the outs, occasionally. Drives me mad, so I try to avoid selling gear. But I'm in a zero sum situation now with finances, so I can't expand, only work within what I already have. I think it is time to part with the Virus B and Volca Bass (which I bought accidentally anyway, though have found uses for it for the past couple of years).
thanks for your comment, I agree a lot.
couldn't agree more 🔥
Great honest comparison as always - thanks M
Cheers, how’s things with you?
Good mate - not back up North so much these days - but, just a thought - I have a CS60 I could maybe drop off sometime if you're interested in doing a comparison with that and software? Might be interesting for you - the channel seems to have well and truly taken off - good for you :)
Thanks for this interesting comparison. Re your comments at the end about quality control, I actually had a very similar experience with my Prophet 6. I bought it from Parkway Music in upstate NY. When i got it home, i realized every time a got to every 6th note, there was a weird glitchy sound. This was within the first 2 or 3 weeks. I contacted Parkway, I wanted to exchange for a new one, and they said DSI wasn't going to go for that. I couldn't believe that after spending $2800 on a new synth, they wouldn't exchange. Instead, they sent a new oscillator in the mail, and a procedure on how to replace - they also asked me to send back the broken one. I will say that the tech support person, Carson, was very helpful and nice. But still - that much trouble after spending nearly 3K$ within the first month is unacceptable. They should have given me my money back or at least replace the model i was given. Some months later, my Prophet 6 went glitchy at a gig. I performed the same procedure, and re-seated the offending oscillator card and it was fine after that. But honestly, people say DSI synths are so sturdy and well-built, but i'm always super-cautious with mine, and i'm not so sure i'd every buy another DSI synth again, though i do like the company. They pump out too many models to quickly.
We're lucky here in that if a purchase is defective you have the right to request a refund within 30 days. It’s EU law and entrenched in every retailers DNA which is good for the customers and I think every manufacturer accepts that. Maybe if it was a global law then we would see less quality issues.
@@StarskyCarr what about now after Brexit. Do we in the UK still qualify for that glorious "30 days return" policy?.... I'm about to buy a high end poly and I'm really nervous now seeing all these QC issues. There's a Rev2-16 at a steal but I'm wondering if theres some deeper underlying issues with it than the cosmetic dink on the front panel. Maybe someone bashed it in rage because of the oscillator problem 😆
@@szymeklawik7636 Who knows..?? We were covefred by EU law previously, but who'll defend a UK resident from a company breaking a promise? Not the EU I suspect, and the UK can't. Having said that I've just sent something back to the Netherlands with no issues. I suppose it depends on the retailer.
For all of the whining about the P08 for years and years.....next to the Prophet 6, and even next to the Prophet 5 Rev. 3 on INHALT’s comparison.....many patches were very, very similar.
I have an AS-1, which is probably the best sounding mono I’ve ever owned. I like it more than even my SH-101 and Model D. Always wanted a Pro One, and am very happy.
The ONLY thing that truly bothers me about the Rev2, especially the 16 voice, is that it doesn’t have different voicing options. I should be able to do 4x unison with 4 voice polyphony and other options. Its either 8x unison in split mode, or 16x unison in mono. No other option.
Thanks for the video. Well done.
The P8 and Rev2 hold up really well, which is why I was hoping to replace the P6 with the Rev2... I'll maybe take another look in the future.
Does any one know whether rev2 issues mentioned at 33:22 onwards have been resolved with hardware update on newer production line? Or did they kept production even though they knew about these issue for years? I really hope that's not the case as all I have heard so far is that DSI is very a professional company and respects their customers...
Absolutely fantastic video again! I’m in this exact dilemma. I’ve been leaning towards the Prophet-6 purely and simply because I want a workhorse synth, in every example, the Prophet-6 just oozed character and depth, and to my ears the Rev2 sounded slightly colder and quite brittle. It is close, but everyone needs to choose based on their own needs, tastes and styles. I think the Rev2 is priced very well for what you get, but if you want a “forever” synthesiser, it has to be the Prophet-6 for me.
I own a Rev2 and this is correct! its a little cold/brittle/harsh at times... actually thinking about buying a Deepmind 6 and comparing the two... might sell the Rev2... its a great synth but the Prophet 6 is certainly a different animal...
Just repeating things people say to satisfy looking for confirmation bias.
I really love your comparison videos, but am overwhelmed with the range available. I'm looking for a poly analogue synthesiser to complement my Nord Stage 3 (which I'd continue to use for pianos and organs), and Dave Smith's instruments seem to be the way to go - they all look superb! To my ears, the Prophet-6 is the cleanest and most refined sounding of all of them (even though it's the oldest? - I have taken a look at the OB-6 comparison as well). It's like the sonic equivalent of the best single malt whisky you can imagine! (and the sound would appear to match the early 1980s better as well, which is what I'm looking for). Really appreciate your videos, and channel.
@D MD Thanks - that was my original idea, and I could well stick with it! :)
Note Reset is set to OFF on the init patch, which might be what you're hearing at 33:33.
Thanks, but it was definitely a faulty voice. That was a triangle playing one voice at a time so voice reset shouldn’t affect it in that way.
Great video (from someone who's shopping between these two)! Thanks!
Cheers, my head says Rev2 my heart P6. I’d be more than happy with the Rev2..... if the P6 didn’t exist!! I feel your pain 😉
Lol, my heart and head say the P6... my wallet says REV2 (can't go wrong with either)
24:00 wish you have compared Rev2 to OB6. I thought sub and the filter were the two biggest differences between P6 nd OB6. Wonder if Rev2 could get into unfiltered OB6 territory?
Hi Starsky great review of two good synths.
Prefered the REV2 for bass, sounded thiner but nicer to me, at 29.00 mins the Prophet 6 sounded wider, both are good for different reasons and will sound good in the mix.
Thanks for the helpful videos:)
Thanks for the comment - always good to hear folks enjoy the vids.
I also liked the REV2 bass more. Phat and wide is not always the answer.
The Rev2 sounds great too
very useful, thank you
The prophet 6, sounds more warm smooth and gritty to my ears, both will work, but I would choose the prophet 6, rev 2 has a pristine sound to it
There is a deception directly in the manual of the Rev2 that each layer can respond 'independently' to MIDI control. Because this is not true of pitchbend ! (and I think also aftertouch). This is actually a very bid deal if you are expecting 'two synths in one', or full bitimbral function. All marketing and public communications from the company fail to provide this important information. In this important way, the synth is not fully bitimbral. There is no defense or excuse for this behavior from the company. Not at 3 years after release of the synth.
Hey, absolutely love your videos. A suggestion - label each one A or B and refer to them this way in the videos so we know what we're listening to. "This one" is pretty tough if eyes aren't glued to the screen, and even then sometimes when the synths look so similar
This is helpful especially if we are sneaking in a listen at work. I mean, we need to work to afford these things. 😜
The up/down buttons on the Prophet '08 have been replaced by the 'VALUE' data encoder on the Rev2. Touch any pot and then fine tune that parameter, with detents for precision, on the endless 'VALUE' encoder, which changes whatever parameter is currently shown in the display. Much better than up/down buttons
I liked the up down buttons personally. The potentiometer easily gets jumpy (dust or wear). The buttons were more fault proof in my experience. I use those exclusively (within same bank) now since the knob has become unstable. Jumps from 1 to 5 or hangs.
Ooof. I was all ready to sell the Rev2 and pick up the P6 but I don't think I can do it. Some of the bass stuff sounded better but I have plenty of other bass synths I'm more likely to use for that anyway. I think you just convinced me to save some money and take another look at my Rev2. Thanks for the great comparison.
I ended up buying a Moog One and I'm watching for this rumored Sequential OBX release!
@@VincentPresley that’s dope, I got to try a Moog One at my guitar center several times
@@vincenzoaquila167 It's really great and made me sell several of my vintage poly synths.
@@VincentPresley have you not been effected by the tuning nightmare of the Moog one?
@@xntricity6446 Not at all. I believe that was only a problem with the very early units. I've had zero problems.
Starsky! I dunno if you still have your REV2, but the value knob acts like the P08’s up & down buttons. It’ll incrementally step through the last parameter you adjusted. Thought I’d add that here, just in case others are finding the REVs knobs a bit fiddly to dial in precisely, which I know can get pretty frustrating.
I just listened to this in the background and during the pad comparison I really couldnt tell the difference haha. Guess thats a good thing though
fantastic demo, exactly what I wanted to see in deciding whether to get the Rev2
I hear a lot more stereo width on the pads at 28:30 and also at 29:20 on the p6. Is that a coinsidence? Isn't the rev2 also capable of more stereo spread?
wygląda na to że dobrze że tego nie kupiłem, cieszę się, że nie kupiłem, dzięki za prezentację 🙂
Interesting demo. The two synths clearly sound quite similar, though I agree the P6 seems to have a bit of an edge, mainly because it doesn't lose the bass when you turn up the resonance on the filter.
Something you haven't mentioned is the 16-voice Rev2, that adds A LOT to the sound creation potential. I frequently create patches using 2 layers, and they still have more polyphony than the P6!
As to synths having problems: I initially purchased a KORG Prologue 16 but it quickly went back. The compressor introduced flutter noise on the left channel, but the major architectural problem is that the oscillators simply do not stay in tune over the 5 octaves of the keyboard, something DSI excels at. This is made even worse with the addition of the hybrid digital oscillator which is obviously perfectly in tune, so beats against the analogue oscillators. But to make things even worse, the digital oscillator aliases like crazy... So much as this was a synth I wanted to love, it really didn't work for me.
You’re right I never really went into sound design in depth. I did a few videos a couple of years ago showing the Pro8 vs Pro6 sound design and complex pads etc.. I’d have spent more time with it if the second one wasn’t broken as well, but needed to make sure I could get a full refund. It still annoys me that I had the issues as I think it’s a great synth.
Rik MaxSpeed Thank man...you just killed Prologue for me😉😄
Rik MaxSpeed YOU’RE A FOOL YOU GOT A LEMON SYNTH- A WORKING PROLOGUE IS MAGIC N I HAVE PROPHET 6 MAGIC TOO
I feel like the REV2 would work more in a live-band setting. It feels more "punchy" and versatile. The P6 feels like a perfect studio-synth, because of the high quality oscillators and filter.
My dream synth would be a REV2 with a P6 filter.
My thoughts exactly! If only
Why not buy a Rev2 and build/buy a nice filter module with the extra cash?
@@globi227 Hey I havent gotten that far down the rabbit hole yet, but i feel the same way about the Rev2 filter. What do you mean buy/build another module? Like install it inside the Rev2?
@@globi227 it wouldn’t be the same since all the voices would be sharing 1 filter
@@globi227 sorry to post this two years later, but you can't add filters to a polysynth down the line. The filters need to be in the middle of the signal chain. Each filter has its own ADSR envelope. You need 8 or 16 filters (one per voice) and they must be in the middle of the synth engine. You can't add a filter at the end.
Basically a video that shows 1 is better at some things than the other, and vice versa lol. This make it hard to gauge what to actually buy. Rev2 has more features, and VSTs are only getting better. The more spread, and wide feel of the P6 is good. It's in fact really nice, however, Ozone imager on Rev2, you can push those sides out, while keeping the more Mono punch that the Rev2 provides.
The 6 stands out more. But let's be real, Rev2 is more useful long term.
Haha… that’s EXACTLY what it is. And seems it’s done it’s job… for you the 6 stands out more and the Rev2 would be more useful long term…. Job done 😂
The P6 does sound a little fuller here and there. It also costs a lot more. I think these sonic thinner Rev2 sound can be corrected with proper use of EQ. So the question is: is that little better sound quality of P6 is worth the price difference?
Gonna have to acknowledge that sooner or later and you're absolutely right. He says on paper the Rev2 is better. With DSI, sonics is undoubtedly king here. But the bump up from a Rev2 to a P6 sacrifices 3 LFOs, modulation destinations, voice count (losing up to 10), and bi-timbral and patch stacking functionality. If you already have an analog polysynth that can do all that, you very well could scoff at that argument. But for me, I don't have that going for me and that's a lot to just throw to the wayside IMO.
@@ghostfrom1950 Hi, I have a few and honestly I don't use them enough. Having soft synths is so easy you know and although the hardware ones also have that sonic advantage, in the mix it's just not audible; I combine both hard and software though. My Rev 2 is the youngest achievement. I have it about 5 months and love it. I use my Rev2, Summit, Prologue and an old DW8000 most.
Hi@@MrLawrence0071 ! Great collection you got there. Btw, I also implement hardware with software. Right now I lean on some Juno emulations and other "hybrid" softsynths for poly with the occasional RefaceDX. So I'm missing a good analog polysynth (Also have the Boog).
I'm curious to pick your brain on a comparison of the Rev2 and the Summit. In my own comparison, I am largely leaning towards the Rev2 because I think it has that analog "soul" or at least achieves it easier than the Novation Summit. Without increasing the budget to say the OB6 or P6, between Summit/Peak and Rev2, I'm pretty convinced Rev2 has much more character
@ghost mall If 1 guitar sounds just narrowly better but costs 3 times more and you know you can compensate using EQ then I will not spend 3 times more. I like both but the price of the 6 imo isn't justified.
Regarding headphones/speakers. I've been listening to the sample sound tracks on the Dave Smith website. Through my Yamaha HS-8s they both sound great, but using Sony MDR-7506 headphones, the Prophet 6 is more pleasing to listen to, but the sample tunes are different for each instrument so that could be a factor.
They're so dang close, a tool like Decapitator can surely help you get the rest of the way there if one is "deficient" as far as bite. Also check out Scheps Parallel Particles for some real oomph!
Today I rented a P6 for comparason against my Rev 2 ( which is going on eBay tonight ). 🤣 Rev 2 kinda sounds like a VST of the P6!
Had Prophet 6. Bought Prophet Rev 2. Love the latter so much I sold the Prophet 6. I believe it is the best all-rounder Prophet ever made. So many options for shaping sounds. The OB-6 would make a great partner because of the filter/sound, but I'd still recommend the PRev2 as the best DSI purchase.
Bass much better on REV2 but when either of these go processors in which they will do for any production I would tend to go with my REV2. Just seems to cut through better on REV2 with the highs also, nice and bright. But both are fantastic. Depends what you fancy. Never judge a synth on it's loudness like this dude has. Most always go through compressors, amps etc. Look for the quality in decay, resonance up/down and encoders.
For bass, the P6 may be a little deeper. But leads, pads, they're interchangeable. The Rev2 can do more sounds. I'd go with the Rev 2. Price difference is not worth it.
@ghost mall I have soft synths that do stuff no P6 or P2 can do indeed and honestly, in a mix, any sound difference is negligeable. I like my P2. It has a unique sound. And so far it's been doing everything I need. But I do notice I use my soft synths most of the time. They have matured a lot and sound equally good; Different, but good.
@ghost mall I never said "it all sounds the same". I am just not one of those "analogue is always better" guys nor any of them "hardware is always better" guys. I have almost all soft synths out there in addition with about 15 hardware synths/modules, old and new, digital and analogue. I am into music and production since 1994. I enjoy playing on an old DW8000 as much as on a new Korg Prologue or the Rev 2. Some of us just can be productive with anything they can get their hands to. That's what counts for me. I know guys making music with a 1500 dollar laptop and just some software. And they make hits with that. Just saying bro.
My REV2 (16 voice model) had to be fixed under warranty because of faulty digital encoders. And the calibration is less than perfect on all voices (especially the pulse width which is pretty inconsistant between voices). There are also a few firmware bugs that have yet to be fixed (I'm on the latest revision 1.0.3 as of this writing). I think the REV2 is cheaper than a P6 or OB6 for a reason: it's cheaply built (electronics wise). I also own an OB6 (desktop version), which is flawless and sounds bloody great. Although I really like the REV2 despite its shortcomings, if I had to keep only one, I'd keep the OB6. I also own a Minimoog D from 1975 which is still working perfectly, over 40 years later !
More brighter? Are you getting **exactly** the same waveform amplitude to do that comparison? The same Channel of your audio interface or mixer or whatever are used for both? ...
Another great comparison, thank you!
Interesting about new Minimoog comment, will keep a close ear on mine.
A few years back I bought a secondhand Voyager XL in pristine condition, which got reasonable deal on, I thought... long story short, a new replacement analog board later & she has run like a dream ever since. Very pleased I didn't give up on that synth!
It was a problem with some of the components supplied to Moog which took time to start failing I believe. Therefore, I don't believe their fault. Moog Service team were great! Very helpful. As I understand, took them some time to work out why a few of these Voyagers were playing up!
Long story short, sadly in this day & age everything is so profit/ sharemarkets driven that corners get cut, I'd say more often by component manufacturers than reputable musical instrument builders. Maybe I'm wrong. I believe the main thing is that all the major & boutique electronic music equipment brands need to monitor quality control very closely or accept there will be problems down the track. When these problems do occur, consumers want to see great service & problem rectified ASAP. We pay a lot of money for some of these synths & expect them to last if looked after well.
Very good, useful comparisons
Somehow i always prefer the Prophet 6 over other new polysynths...well, i guess this is just personal taste
Thanks for the comparison. I'm not really convinced there's much sound difference between the two or that one sounds better than the other. I'm not really a fan of their filters (stepping and quite dry and boring with not a particularly nice resonace) - especially when compared to the OB-6. Modern VCOs are so stable anyway. The Rev 2 has an awesome amount of modulation though, new colour screen and with the new modulation system and effects it's a pretty good deal. A very good improvement over the original I swapped - I'm quite tempted to get one again. If I do get one i'll make sure I get the 3 year warranty. It would be really useful if you could run through the tests to do on camera to check things are working properly when I receive it.
Be interesting to see how these compared to the fully digital Prophet X, I have to saw that HPF is so much better on the prophet 6 than the the digital effect.
Yeah...me too.
you point out exactly the right thing. the rev 2 sounds fuller and more precise - and most importantly darker and actually quite 80s. also the top end is more sparkly and you have alternate tunings and 16 voices so you can stack massive harmonic wave mountains - aand duophonic so if you like complex sequencing like me get the rev 2, 16 voice version.
Im surprised to hear of the quality issues with these synths. I thought Moog and DSI were made in America so they have to be better quality. Apparently not!
I know - I really don't want to criticise them but have to be honest about my experiences with them. I like that they're both creating new synths, and own loads of products by Moog and DSI, but having received 2 Rev2s each with a voice issue it just seemed more than a coincidence.
It’s probably because these are made in America is the main reason that there are build quality and quality control issues
It would be awesome if Moog made another Moogerfooger run. I know I'm off topic, but I seen that you had a nice little collection there. I'm currently looking at the more premium Sequential's. My issue is figuring out if the keys are worth the extra price. I could get the OB-6, Pro 6, and Pro 5/10 modules, and save quite a bit. I already have multiple keyboards, which include ribbon controllers and Poly AT, plus I just ordered a Squarp Hapax sequencer. Some say the keys are the way to go, and only touring players should consider the modules, but I'm not really sure. I could save thousands by getting the modules, and get more of them. If I get the keys versions, I could probably afford two at best right now. If I got the keys, they would probably be the OB-6 and Pro 6. I could more than likely get 3 of the modules. I may even be able to get the Pro 10 module, instead of the 5. I'm also considering the Trigon 6 sometime down the road, which is obviously keys only right now. I feel that the Rev 2 has it's place, but compared to the Pro 6, it doesn't sound as special. It's still a very nice sounding synth, and most listeners probably wouldn't be able to guess which one you used on a track.
You’re totally right about poor quality control. Every Dave smith product I’ve ever owned has fallen apart on the stand it sits on. Their issues with 3rd party rotary encoders has also been a manufacturing nightmare. Every unit that shipped to me failed and Dave smith CHARGED me to upgrade the encoders. For that reason alone, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing another DS product.
I was seriously considering dumping a huge sum, huge by my perspective, on a DSI product, specifically the Prophet 10.... After reading about the problems with the third party encoders, I must really do more research, and soul searching, before jumping into this purchase. I wish I hadn't read this, but am grateful that I did...
@Frigus This would be great but I was charged. I was not provided free anything when I contacted DSI about the bad encoders. I also read his "statement" that they got quite a few bad ones but all that mattered to me is he passed the cost on to me instead of doing right by me so, I'm out. * Someone correct me if I am wrong and they do, in fact, provide free repair now in 2021?
Starsky..did you end up getting a copyright strike for 7:10 (bit of singing for a change) :). Just revisiting this as thinking of adding a Rev 2.
Does seem a bit odd that you have to scroll through patches to select the one you want on Rev 2. I suppose you could implement a midi controller to directly activate patches you want. Selah Quarts would be a great addition if youre using pedals with this thing but just about any midi controller or even DAW triggers would do the trick.
Hey Starsky - did you ever notice massive oscillator bleed on your REV2? I have a REV2 and a Matrix 1000 (they use the same - or similar? - oscillator/filter chips) and I've compared them for oscillator bleed - it's crazy how much more signal to bleed ratio there is on the Matrix 1000. They sound almost identical, but the oscillator bleed is just killing it for me. What a beautiful synth otherwise :/
Get in touch with DSI. I returned mine because of this. I had a return T&C deadline so sent it back before it was unrefundable (not a real word but you get the gist). I contacted DSI about it and they said most issues can be sorted remotely. Sort of wished I’d never returned it but couldn’t take the chance with a potentially broken unit at the time.
Thanks for the response - I actually DID get a hold of DSI who explained that "what you're experiencing is quite normal". I sent them an audio file and they said that there was nothing wrong with the unit.
Maybe I'll get in touch with them again - although I've listened to other demos online - there's one comparing the Peak to the REV2 and I can hear the damn buzzing in that video too, only on the REV2. There was a moment I wasn't watching it, just listening and I was like "Oh, I don't hear it here..." Yeah - that was the Peak.
It's a shame because there are some beautiful sounds I get out of it, but then I hear it - the little buzzing bee that's stuck in the unit.
I had a constant low level bleed - I could hear a patch playing continually. With the speakers turned up it was very noticeable - no good for live work without a noise gate.
Great review! The limiter of 6 voices and 4 octaves baffles me in how they designed the P6. I rather get 16 voices in the Rev2 and a few other synths for the same money.
We should do another track again. Maybe find a use for that patch at last lol
IMHO in REV2 your Pan Spread setting is set to 0, hence comparing sounds in stereo will always benefit Prophet-6. Have you tried tuning it? I do not own either of those but this is what I have noticed in music store.
yeah this makes a huge difference
Great comparison video! Both instruments sounds great, but although I have the feeling that the REV2 sounds more modern its sound is easier to emulate with modern plugins.
The Prophet 6 has something that most plugins aren't able to do. So if it comes to the decision to buy one and you already have a lot of plugins or other hardware synths I would go with the Prophet 6 after this video. Much warmer, more character und a better bass. Especially for club and dance music the Prophet 6 has this special flavour that the REV2 doesn't have.
MrVinylistic Really. With all respect sir, I’d bet you couldn’t pass a blindtest between P6, REV2 and U-he Repro-5✌🏼
Sounds like you might not be aware of U-He plugins...I've seen people say they prefer Repro-5 over their Prophet 6.
P6 does the trick for me
I had 3 faulty roland fantom 6's in a row... unbelievable but true! The 4th one was ok but by then I'd spent a year messing with faulty crashing freezing fantoms instead of working. It had to go.
For the price u can't really beat the rev2
Yes you can with the Novation Summit!
@@gravyguns in your opinion of course
Both great value … 16-voice DCO Swiss army knife synth, or 16-voice Hybrid Swiss army knife synth … I have both, though I expect I will trade one out, at some stage … but I’m in no hurry to get rid of either … ❤️❤️
Being able to run the Rev2 into the Summit, and take advantage of the Summit’s reverb and other great features, means they can enhance each other …
I've had a MAX, a Prophet 600 and now a Prophet '08. There's things I like and dislike about each one. I wish I could just take my favorite things about each and combine them into one.
Thanks for the review, I will get Rev2 now😊.
interesting your opening comparison to osc at C pitch. The way they seemed same in headphones but not in speakers. Well they sound the same to me through JBL Lsr 305 monitors, and thru AT 40x cans. Certainly not darker on the Rev2 to me. I think when you mention different cans or speakers making things sound different, well it's hard for that to be of any use 'overall' because headphone/speaker 'flatness' also is a 'granular' discussion, meaning there can be dip and bumps that are narrow band, even if there is overall 'flatness'. So, if some speakers or can happen to make something seem sweeter or better, unless it does that across a large range of material in the basic range (as in 'the bass), then it's explained as a coincidental"sweet spot" occurrence of the combination of those particular cans and that particular signal. But it's not necessarily meaningful or useful. In fact it's the opposite because it's easy to jump to conclusions based on such coincidences. BTW just let me say your comparison vids are awesome and you obviously are highly skilled and capable. I've VERY interested in trying to choose between these two synths. Well, honestly, more like 'what would I be missing' sonically if I don't get a Prophet 6 and only keep a Rev2. I know about the 'feature' differences. I just mean the 'overall' sound (without effects). I've had the Rev2 for a few weeks. It can be very bright, not quite cold but almost harsh. If the Prophet 6 is all that but somehow a little 'smoother' I might prefer it, idk. There is talk of DCO vs VCO, but I've not seen enough of it. I don't care about the instability of VCO being a desirable feature, I can understand that. I'm concerned if there is any technical/electrical effect on the 'timbre', 'subtle fuzz', 'character' 'warmth' etc of VCO vs DCO. I really don't know enough about that discussion, so am looking for some really in depth insight there. There's a great YT video that tells you how to sort of similar VCO behavior on the Rev2 but you have to use up two LFO's and have to be using the gate sequencers. But still what matter is how patches sound, small diffferences at OSC level can add up I guess, Idk. If I could own a Prophet 6 and compare it to my Rev2, I think I'd find them so close socially that I would consider them the same, aside from the obvious feature differences. That said, I wish the Rev2, and all DCO analog synths, had a built it 'VCO simulator' added in addition to everything else. I bet that would be fairly easy for them actually. I don't think that's quite the same as OSC 'slop' or drift. But I LOVE that control. Just wish there was a simple VCO simulation on/off button on things like the Rev2.
I had to send a sub 37 back too. Had issues with the octave buttons not working right. Ended up replacing it with a sub phatty and it's satisfied my thirst for moog bass thus far.
whats up with these companies and all their issues!? kind of odd. i bought a minitaur played it for 10 hours (not straight. periodically) and it froze on me one day....only after about 10/11 hours of actually play time. 170 dollar motherboard replacement cost from Moog...thanks a lot....
@James White me too! Loss of volume.
Now that DSI is stopping production of the P12, I have to wonder if they're coming out with something new, if anything. Maybe like the P12 w/a combination of analogue and digital "oscers"s and sequencing? Meanwhile, I'm thinking Rev 2.
I don't own either so I'm unbiased but I can assure you that the Prophet-6 sounds slightly "fuller".
Ok so my first DSI is ordered: rev2 :-)
On the list: P6 or OB6. Not sure yet...
21:40 cracklin is of the prophet or overloading channel on mix console?
Never noticed that before - maybe the video mix down or RUclips. Definitely wasn't the synth or the mixer - it was well below overload levels. Cheers.
Starsky makes good synth demo videos, but this time he made a little blunder. :)
Set your volume to max and then right click on the video and select "statistics for nerds", look at "volume | normalized".
Then watch Woody Piano Shack video "RUclips loudness normalization | What you need to know".
ruclips.net/video/wIicS8hKbeQ/видео.html
I also meant to say, I'm quite interested in a Rev 2, as more in current price range. However, waiting a year or so to see how they are holding up, reliability wise, fingers crossed :)
I bought a rev2 approximately the second they were available after the pre orders were filled. zero issues so far.
@strangerhythm good information. thank you.
Thank you for your deepest synth comparinsons! You definetly have a golden hand for patching..
At minute 29.10 you start a new patch on OB6. (Patch Nr.008) The Rev2 Version you patched sounds way better! Do you remember how you set it up, briefly? Woud be awesome! Thx for your time!
I bought the Rev2.
Based off this video or because of the price difference? Just curious
@@mpmi7588 after listening to a number of videos then I evaluated the price. I bought a used one.
@@crazzylee nice. I'll have the Rev 2-16 before next t year ends.
Appreciate the video. I’m here to tell you that indeed these things are rolling out with issues. My FEG and headphone jack just died on the Sub37, my Blofeld is dead and I have s persistent voice issue w my uber expensive P12 (calibration did not help). I can either wait or keep power-booting and it eventually goes away. My analog gear from yesteryear was leaps and bounds more quality (notwithstanding the aging issues like batteries and such)... For a couple years now I’ve been distraught when looking at new machhines in the shop. You just never know what yr getting anymore. It really is so unfortunate, but despite all the headache I have come to understand whh the P12 was Daves new fav baby. Anyway,..I appreciate yr review and conclusion. I too am eyei g the P6 (desktop) to connect with P12 here. Also looking at that newfangled ASM synth. nice backstory. Seems stable enough and I’m not an analogue purist per se. 👋🏽🍺
My Subsequent 37 headphone jack failed as well. Its currently in for repair. It seems to be a common problem.
Did you get it fixed on the sub 37,im wondering is it anything to do with impedance of the headphones blowing the circuit?
I love my REV2, and I sold P6 and got P10 last year. Difference is drastic when resonance is up on REV2, I wonder why they did not introduce loudness compensation like they did on Pro3.
The only Sequential synthesizer I have is Pioneer AS-1. I want to get a polyphonic analog synthesizer. However, honestly, all the Sequentials sound the same. I was thinking about a Prophet X... however, it's a ROMpler and a hybrid. I'm just so lost here. Any input. For instance, what can the Prophet-6 do that the Prophet 10 can't. I've seen those comparisons, honestly, I didn't really see a difference.
@@ErwinSchrodinger64 I think you will need to try each one of these instruments live to figure out how they differ. To start with, I own Prophet 10, REV2, OB6, Poly Evolver, Mopho x4, Tempest (This is just poly -lineup of DSI/Sequential instruments in my studio). Each one is unique in its build, features and sound. I am strongly disagreeing that "they all sound the same" - simply as they don't. I will compare Prophet 10 with REV2 - totally different oscillators, completely different filter, Prophet 5/10 (and even 6) are more immediate instruments, while REV2 is modulation monster. The main difference in a synth is for me the character of the sound source and the filter - and that is what differs from product to product. They sound the same to tyou because you are watching videos that show raw oscillators, filter sweeping... ofc you will find overlapping, if you play saw with 100% open filter. To try and help you out, Prophet X is digitally driven synth, combining samples and digital oscillators with a 4 pole filter. Prophet 5/10 is 100% analogue machine. The diffference is huge, and it is up to you to decide what do you want from an instrument. Is it workstation-like versatility in sounds? Is it classic subtractive synthesis? Is it a combo of both? Let's throw OB6 in the mix - sizzly, 2 pole SEM filter, again, totally unique instrument. Aside from the mentioned Sequential synths, I own a lot of other poli synths, UDO super 6, Jupiter 6, Alpha Juno, Dx7, Microwave, Poly six, JV 1080, Korg Tryton, Hydrasynth... so you can see combo of old and new there. I would gladly help, if you would shed some light into what kind of poly are you looking for. To reply to your question (For instance, what can the Prophet-6 do that the Prophet 10 can't?) its apples and oranges, but I would say that P6 can do way less than PX can, but those things it does, it does way better than PX. I had P6 and sold it to get P10, both are immediate, simple to use, great sounding analogue synths. Prophet X can cover all the stuff from classic pianos, strings etc, also it is bi-timbral, so you can either layer or split your sound.
@@earlsfield thank you very much for your input. It has some shed some light. I'm into electronic music including progressive house and breaks (so a lot of melody and dark ambience is necessary). I'm still new to production. My studio consists of the following:
Korg Kronos II
Access Virus II
Waldorf Kyra
Waldorf Iridium (pre-ordered)
Roland TB-03
Toraiz AS-1 (Dave Smith)
Korg Wavestate
Toraiz Squid
Elektron Analog IV MKII
Elektron RYTM MKII
Pioneer SP-16
Akai Live II
Your comment is helpful, from the degree, needing to understanding filters and analog machinery. I don't have any shops around here that carry Sequential synthesizers. Overall, I want an analog synthesizer with the capabilities of producing a lot melody and dark rich baselines with a lot of depth... if that's helpful. The Pioneer AS-1 (Dave Smith Instruments which I believe is based on the Prophet-6 architecture) is an incredible monophonic instrument. With some delay and reverb it creates some spacious melody. Thus, the reason why I'm leaning towards Sequential.
As far as subtractive synthesis, I'm still learning. Thus, I don't know how important it will be for me in the future.
Either way, thank you for taking the time to write your response. I will research multi-pole filters and oscillators ever more.
@@ErwinSchrodinger64 Right, so, that is a nice lineup of synthesizers. If you are looking for really dark ambience, surely Wavestate is a monster for that - I am using it heavily for all ambient/evolving sounds. Also, you are waiting for Iridium, which is like 5 synths in one - I would say put a stop to buying gear (or don't , totally up to you), until you learn iridium inside out. To be honest, your Virus TI can create basses thick as a concrete (I also have a desktop Virus), plus tons of other stuff. Maybe analogue is not neccessarily what you are looking into. Korg Kronos is a monster. Kyra is a monster. Analog 4 is also great foe basses and any kind of synth lines really, you know that already... I would say, if you are looking to buy ONE Sequential poly, that should be either Prophet 5/10 OR REV2. Also, you might want to think about PRO 3, so to skip polis all together? Or, you might want to look into second hand Prophet 12. All of them can create amazing, luch, rich soundscapes that evolve, modulate, it is just a matter of which one you want to pick up. Obviously, you can get REV2 for as little as 1000£ in a desktop format, or full on Prophet 5/10 for its heafty price. But I would wander if you actually need something like that? Wouldnt't you rather invest this money in multi effects units, for instance, that can complement your already rich synth collection? Also, don't forget Novation Peak, it is pretty much somewhere there with REV2, but with one wavetable oscillator, which is a huge deal. I haved recently got Super 6, adding user wavetables to classic analogue poly patches is just a dream. You are aware, however, that you can create a full on album using ONLY one of your synths? For instance, Kronos, you can literally create entire album. virus TI - from classic virtual analog to crazy multi timbral stuff. Question is - do you need extra synth, now, when Iridium is on its way? (It is extremely complex synth, I had it for a bit and sent it back, not because it is bad , but because I have no need for so much digital power packed in a hardware box - Iridium is a monster but best used for no-DAW setups). Whatever you choose, enjoy. And let me know if I can help.
@@earlsfield I already have an Eventide H9Max and a Boss GT-1000 Core for effects. Even contemplating a Styrmon Big or Night Sky and a dedicated delay unit. I'm also a DJ (I've been doing for 20 years), I'm 38 now, so I finally got the urge to get into production. I've always like the very musical side of multi-layered music. Not the mindless riffs. Honestly, I'm so overwhelmed and scarred so your input is greatly appreciated. The Kronos has proven to be a very complex machine with UI that is menu driven hell. The Korg Wavestate has become much easier to utilize now that Korg has released Wavestate2.0 UI.
OK, so I wasn't expecting on holding back to purchase a synthesizer. That's not advice you usually get but you're the 2nd person that has stated that.
Maybe holding off is the best option for me currently. But I will research Phophet5/10 and Rev2.
Again, thank you for taking the time for your responses. I've read your response 3 times already so I can fully grasp your input.