The mono stereo thing......In a track, I hardly ever use more than one or two sounds in stereo, more than that, the track becomes mushy and undefined. Mono can be a beautiful thing, and I feel the Prophet 5 in Mono is absolutely beautiful!
I agree completely. The wide stereo patches take up a lot of space in the mix. Alex Ball addresses the issue of Prophets having only mono out in one of his vids by demoing how great multiple mono Prophet tracks sound. Having said all that, I’ll take both a Prophet 10 and the Obie. My dream synths!😅
Bought my REV2 a year ago when it became obvious that the Behringer UB-Xa wouldn't be available as soon as expected. I'm glad I did because it's all I could afford, and it sounds great!! Will still be purchasing the UB-Xa when it becomes available as it will be in my budget, and I think it will pair up with the REV2 very well. Plus, the UB-Xa will have 16 voices and poly aftertouch!
I have to confess… the midrange absolutely makes the Prophet 5 for me. That unmistakable aggression it dishes out on Pink Floyd The Wall. I desperately want to love the Rev 2…. Especially because of the price. But that midrange of the P5 really gives it that unmistakable growl… that is regrettably absent in the Rev 2. Man, the Prophet 5 is a BEAST!!
Even if you don‘t layer the Rev 2 and OB-X8 there is the pan spread/voice panning for stereo sound. Besides this, your description of each synth seems perfect to me.
Yeah, the problem with the pan spread mode is you have voices bouncing around the stereo field, which I would never use in a mix because it’s distracting - and it thins everything out as well. Never got any real world use out of that mode. I suppose it could work in certain situations though especially with the OB-X8’s improved implementation!
Coming back to this video after owning all three of these gems. They all serve a purpose in my studio and I try to pull from the strengths of each in my production. For my work, the Oberheim is thick, lush and commanding with an always musical tone, the Prophet 10 is the mediator that “sits” in the mix without being too dull or too harsh, and the Rev2 offers both the functionality and polyphony of a workhorse and the sound will usually cut through any dense track, though I often reach for a little EQ to complete its sound. Very good video! ✨
Wow…..u make me wish I never gave up my Rev2!! I’m realizing I never pushed its limits and gave it an honest chance. Seeing the sounds you have got out of it and having 16 f$@king voices is just insane! Thank you for the great video!
@@JimDanekerBoth the Prophet 5 (or 10) and the OB-X8 are pretty much modern recreations of old school holy grail synths, but it seems like the Rev 2 is gaining a legendary status from the throngs of people who have purchased one. In 20-30 years I’m thinking all 3 of these will be considered must haves for any deep (and deep pockets) synth studio.
Wow! I'm shocked at how great the Rev2 sounds in this shoot-out! It goes to show the whole DCO vs VCO thing isn't everything it's made up to be. This, in combination with your video on double-tracking vs chorus, shows how powerful the Rev2's extra voices become when you use it binaurally. Most choruses will cancel out a lot of the high end, and the Rev2 retains that gorgeous "air."
Keep in mind that he was comparing a DCO synth to Modern VCO synths (not vintage VCO synths).. Modern VCO's are as stable as DCO's, and this is why the vintage knob is there.
Nice job Jim, The Rev 2 in indeed ia really nice synth. The OBx8 does sound a bit more full and I dunno.. just wonderful! I'm glad I do have the Rev2 though.. you can coax some really nice stuff out of it, and it seems only now do people find out what a cool synth it really is.
I purchased a Prophet 08 when they were first released. Upon hearing it, it struck me. The Prophet 08 was more like an Oberheim than a Prophet. The REV2 brought some great updates. Its a hell of a deal. I use mine midi'd up to my Prophet T8. Definitely worth picking one up if you do not have one!
@@JimDaneker Yes excellent job here Jim ( you still have your KX88 ? if so, would love you see you rock it with a TX816 ) I am also fortunate enough to own all three of these and am waiting for a OBX8 module to make a an OBX16. I also love the Rev2 for its own character. It was my first of these three and I bought it before the P5/p10 reissue and OBX8. i highly recommend listening from 22:48 onwards with your eyes closed. My Experience with the three: Rev2: more programing options, 16 voices can help a lot, scooped out mids compared to the others. A modern classic in its own right with already a serious lineage stemming from Prophet8. You need to embrace the different sound of the DCOs. This instrument for me perfectly straddles modern instruments with complex programming options with vintage prophet sound. It is its own creature and stands proudly in my studio as that. Prophet 5/10: limitations of what you can program are what set you free. Mono however maybe all you want in many circumstances. This instrument is one giant sweet spot in terms of sound ( it is hard to make it sound bad ). OBX8: if i had to pick only one, this would the it. I had wanted one of these ( OB series ) for 40 year. The moment I played an OBX8 in the flesh there was no question for me. It has it all, the sound, the easy of programming. I am not bothered at all by page 2, for me it's a non issue. I would rather have page 2 by a long shot than have those features deleted or a significant increase in knobs, etc. Get the blue overlay if you want short cuts printed on the keyboard. I prefer the clean grey OEM look, at least for now. I find it remarkable that they have released ver 2.0. My overarching ethos with these instruments is " a particular sound over features " or "a particular character over complexity. " Nothing against a Quantum MK2 or Moog One, these are magnificent beasts of a different nature.
When you really learn the Rev2 inside and out, you'll be astonished over and over at how good it can sound. I even have an OB-6, but the Rev2 is and always will be my workhorse synth. Incredibly lush and endless modulation power, it can do FAR more than the prophet 5 or OBX8 with its 4 lfos, 3 envelopes, and 4 track step sequencers. If I could only own one synthesizer in the world, it would be the Rev2.
As soon as they make a desktop for the obx-8, I’m getting it. It will be on a board with a p12 desktop, and a prophet 10 desktop with 2 H9max. I just hope it doesn’t take too long to build a desktop for it.
This is one of the best comparisons of these synths. I don’t care about the tone measurements of each oscillator’s sine wave. That info is useless afaic. How do they sound as a musical instrument real. To me the OBx8 and the Rev2 are huge, lush and expansive. Beautiful sounding synths
I am going to get a rev2 this friday, It’s an amazing synth and does sound awesome, chose it over the p5 because of how versatile and capable it is. Thanks for this awesome video showing how great the rev2 sounds
Prophet Rev 2 suona che è una bomba!!! È un synth straordinario, ti ringrazio per il confronto che hai fatto , o ascoltato il video su delle casse e ogni volta che mettevi le mani sul Rev2 solbalzavo dalla sedia😍. Il suono del oberheim e molto simile al Rev2
@@JimDaneker a few questions... What do you think about running the Prophet 5-10 through a good stereo chorus pedal to widen the sonic spectrum? Would you say the5/10's second detunable oscillator could give warbly tuning effects similar to the OB, with no polyphony sacrifice? Lastly...hearing other demos, it seems like the sonic capabilities of the 5/10 are deeper and more complex. With manipulation of the filters, the chords could go from soft/dull, to maintaining the fundamentals, while including harmonics in the stratosphere. Would you feel that in the demo, with a bit of regulation and a stereo signal, the 5 would have been up there with the ob in terms of complexity and lushness? I had the feeling the video was more to (rightfully) show the possibilities of the Rev2 than in really showing what the 5/10 can do. It also seems like the 5-10 gives sonic capabilities and flexibility combined with ease of use. Cheers! Frank
@@frankpiccinini1652 hey Frank, yeah, this video ended up being more about how the Rev2 stacks up to the "legends." The P5 is still the king of big, fat, analog brute force, power, and unmistakable lush warmth. Well, along with the Oberheim, but that one has a bit more of a brassy tone, for lack of a better word. If I had to choose just one, it would be the P5, no question. I do often run it through a chorus; it can get into Juno/Jupiter territory especially if you use the right Roland chorus. But by far my favorite stereo widening approach is to simply double track it, like you hear in the comparisons at the end of the video. Cheers!
I run my OB-X8 through a stereo-chorus, which gives it that extra lush pad sound, without having to switch it to ‘double’ mode, and lose four of the voices. With that said, I also program the majority of my REV2 (16-voice) patches in binaural double mode, to capture that classic Prophet sound, with a much wider stereo field. The REV2 is highly underrated, IMHO, and is one of Dave Smith’s greatest masterpieces.
Absolutely Chris. What’s your favorite stereo chorus to use on the X8? I have several I like to choose from depending on context - probably my favorite is the Roland Zenology plugin, because you get all their vintage analog chorus emulations which are fantastic and don’t destroy the high end like a lot of chorus FX…
@@JimDaneker I have a few various hardware and software chorus’s, however, my all-time fav chorus is the original Roland Juno 60 chorus. Last year I got TC Electronic’s ‘June 60 ver 2’, however, like the original, it’s only mono in (works great with my Moog Sub 37). However, before my OB-X8 arrived, I recently got the TC Electronic’s ‘Plethora X3’, which can be programed to emulate the Juno 60 chorus, and many others, but with full stereo in’s & out’s. Thus far, i’ve found it a fantastic parring with the OB-X8, because it is easy to program, and can utilize up to three effects at once. However, I’m still experimenting with some of my others, and have yet to run it through my Klark Teknik analogue emulation of the BBD-320.
I sent my Prophet 10 rev4 back when I ordered one - I could not see any advantage to my 16 Voice Rev 2 full of great sounds! It is also sounding great, no question, but in the end of the day it's a big nostalgic empty wood chassis compared to what you can do with the Rev 2 music wise. Same thing with my 20 Year old Moog Voyager - I ordered the 2017 Minimoog reissue back then and also did not keep the reissue - I'm not owning these instruments for side by side open filter comparisons - they are in my studio to write and perform music with them. And either the Voyager and the Rev 2 are better companions for me than the old Originals, as much as I love them too. The Moog Voyager for me is the best analog mono Synth ever build - it's a logic progression of the old Minimoog and the same counts for the Prophet Rev2 compared to the P5 or P10 to me.
I have 2 weeks left to decide whether to keep my P10 module. I did a-b it in the store with the Rev 2 and liked the P10 (5 in the store, actually...) better sonically, plus "they" say the Rev 2 is harder to "dial in" on sounds, and I'm a rookie and the P10 is simpler. Can you elaborate more on why you like Rev 2 > P5 (or 10)? Thanks....
@@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton sounds like you should keep the P10 Module - if you like the sound better that should be reason enough. I just came to the point where I figured out that I'm not into vintage or vintage replica stuff anymore - the modern successors of these can do more for me in the context of my work.
The rev2 sounds exactly like the oberheim. Never is the oberheim worth twice as much! Thank you jim, you really hit the nail on the head with your comparison, you pay over $2.5k more just for the name... Apart from that: if you can play ambidextrous, never buy a synth with less than 10 voices
It does sound really close in that one specific example, but it never gets the same swirly, natural chorus texture of the OB… and it’s *really* important to keep in mind that I never even touched on the vastly different filters in the OB that set it apart. You’ll never get those out of the Rev 2. So, there’s a lot more to the story - I’ll have to do another video that delves into that! Having said all that, the Rev 2 is definitely a stunning synth, and easily the best bang for the buck in the analog world right now! 😁
@@drk1825 not yet but the demos I’ve heard sound fantastic. Same idea as the Rev 2 in “binaural” mode, but it seems to have more of the Jupiter/Juno vibe ;-)
The Rev2 is awesome. I've found that I often overcomplicate making patches because it's so diversely capable! At least as the old standard basic sounds are concerned.
really interesting vid thanks for doing this...man I really really really hope Oberheim has secretly included the ability to expand the voice count min the OB-X8 and will "unveil" this feature in a few months once initial orders have been filled....please please pease!!!
I really want the X8 because the sound is amazing. I can’t deal with being limited to 4 voices when layering. This would be the perfect synth if it were 12 voices/6 layered.
Then you REALLY need to check out the 3rd Wave by Groove Synthesis. It's like having a Prophet 5, OB-X8, D-50, and PPG all in one box. It's shockingly good. See ruclips.net/video/VBiypCpWg0o/видео.html
@@JimDaneker Thanks for the reply and reference! Well now I’m torn between the 3rd Wave and Quantum MkII. They seem to be very similar in many regards and both sound incredible!
@@Mercy_Pants yep, I also faced the same choice and I'm glad I went with the 3rd Wave. The Quantum is an amazing synth, but I have so many plugins that can do what it does; the 3rd Wave on the other hand has no plug-in equivalent. It's so textural, I absolutely love it.
you mean like a Super JX? 😁😄 Jim your video of the JX-10 with the MPG-70 with the exact same chords i think beats both the Obi and Prophet just imho...full analog with 12 voices and 24 oscillators...in stereo (two stereo outs per layer) and can add chorus...but maybe it's different in person @7:07 but gosh the Obi and Rev 2 sound beautiful
also just to say it would be nice if the synths volume was as loud or a bit louder than your voice ...they are at times a bit quiet and in the background compared to your voice 😌
Interestingly this video convinced me to cancel my OB-X8 back order and buy the in stock Rev2 16. I will pickup the OB-X8 next year after they iron out the few reported issues. (Especially since I have a Prophet 10 already)
I disagree when in Part 1 you said the P5 was a letdown because of the mono compared to the other two stereo synths…when you finally went back to it, it was a breath of fresh air. It’s more direct, focused, and thicker. Sometimes less is more.
For sure - it is definitely a “big deal” even when mono. I’m just a sucker for big, wide, lush synth sounds. Most everything else in a mix is typically mono, so I tend to lean on synths for ear candy that nothing else can do. 😁
same here...got the p10and its sitting in the mix like no other synth except model d. For ambient or bright "I am the pad" obx8 might be good but on stage and in the studio I mostly prefer the pure p10 signal and character. by the way use gfi specular tempus and p10 goes bright stereo....
Awesome comparison! P10 is definitely it's own thing in Mono, but I was really impressed by how well the Rev2 held up to the OBX8 for the big stereo pads and brass. The only area I found Rev2 was weaker was in the detune. It never quite got to the sweet spot where the oscs are exactly in the goldilocks zone of detune, where they aren't phasing but also not seasick sounding. Otherwise filter, spread etc, was all similar to the OBX8! Can't wait to get my OBX8.
i program some voice component modeling on the sequencer of my rev 2 and it gets the detune beatuiful especially with double layering and panning it sounds like some vintage vco's and with the 2 filter modes it gives a lot of diffrent tones
This was great, Jim. Thank you for putting this together. The Rev 2 is no joke. It also has the benefits of deeper programmability due to its extra LFOs, envelopes, step sequencer and built in fx. Its DCO design prevents it from drifting unless we want it to. I can’t recommend Creative Spiral’s free Rev 2 templates highly enough. His use of the step sequencer as a look up table for per note voice offsets is ingenious and much more authentic than just using the Slop parameter. Perhaps Oberheim will release a module version in the future as Sequential has done in the past. Using poly chaining, you could have 8 voice polyphony even with layers. It would be expensive but doable. Have you thought about expanding your P5 to 10 voices?
Thanks Peter! I haven’t considered adding the voice expansion to my Prophet 5 because it would still be a mono synth. I have seriously pondered getting the desktop though, which would give me a true stereo Prophet 5! I do think that was a missed opportunity with the Prophet 10… it should have had a stereo architecture like the original version!
@@JimDaneker The module would be a strong choice for exactly that reason. An additional benefit of expanding it to 10 voices is that it enables split/layer functionality iirc. That said, it would still be a monoaural instrument so unless you need larger voicings, the stereo benefit of the module may outweigh the split/layer capability. One nice thing about the X8 and Rev 2 is that they have screens which helps manage those splits and layers in a clear way compared to the screenless Prophet 5.
@@JimDaneker The original P10 was a single manual version which due to overheating was redesigned to the more commonly known two manual version that Tony Banks made famous. The new P10 is based on that single manual design. I wonder if that also had stereo outputs like the two manual version. Either way, I agree with you; it's a missed opportunity. Sometimes these remakes follow the original designs too closely and leave off valuable additions that contemporary users have come to expect.
@@peterkadarmusic9728 yes, but the dual manual P10 had independent outputs for the upper and lower boards, so it was the only "true stereo" Prophet. I was SO bummed that they didn't take that opportunity with the new P10!
OBX8 has depth to it that the Rev 2 cannot simply match. X8 is pushing more air at lower end, 5:40 Listening with HD6XX cans, while it may not be worlds apart, there is a clear reason why the X8 costs what it does. Diminishing returns when you pay more, but that is what getting that extra costs now. Now you mention oscillators, only 2 per note where the P12 has 4 per note. The thing is people have posted how thin and cold the P12 can sound, that's because people use to many oscillators and start to destroy the sound, it's how you use the oscillators, how you mix them in, rather than getting them to work against each other. I love my Rev 2, I only have 8 voices but get a ton of flexibility out of them in 2 layer. 11:00 has that trumpet blurt that Terminator used so well, love that sound. Rev 2 does stack very well, but in saying that, the X8 I have heard do the love theme from Flash Gordon and I was blown away. All 3 synths have a place in a studio, how much overlap would be regarding what type of patches you're intending to play. Traditionally I would go a Rev 2 due to the amount of sequencing I do, I am not a keys player but more a live set noodler. I have 5-6 sometimes 10 synths running at once so a P5 or X8 would go to waste in my setup. And you said it about that question, *why 5K?* It's all about the sound. In 79 OBX was 5995, today that would equal 24K. Being able to get this in 3 variations on the X8 seems pretty fair and reasonable, even if it does cost what a 2nd hand car does. Quality does come at a price, even with local manufacturing involved. Thank for the upload, enjoyed it thoroughly.
The last minutes are the most important. A double tracking with the P5/10 is just amazing and easily leaves the REV2 in the dust. You don't even have to change anything in the patch, it will just work with a little vintage dialed in. The REV2 lacks a tad of everything here. The OB-X8 stands up very well with the P5/10, having a less beefy but more high-end character to it. My workflow with Rev2 and P10 has mostly been: Make drafts with the Rev2, then record the P10 in the end. No idea if and how this is gonna change now with the OB X8 - it's just arrived and I still have no workflow with it :)
Great comparison. On my macbook speakers the Prophet 5 sounds consistently the best to me. It's also the loudest so that could help. A P10 can run in poly unison - that would have been nice to compare. Really surprised with the REV 2 though! It definitely gives the OB-X8 a run for it's money, especially considering the note limitation in layer mode.
Well, there definitely are significant differences, but I wanted to show that for certain types of sounds, they can be extremely similar. And whatever the case, the Rev2 is an absolute beast- and it does things its big brothers can only dream of! So, you picked a winner!
I’ve been dying for someone to compare the Prophet 5 to the new Oberheim. Thank you! I already have a Rev2 and I’m still debating whether to get the 5 or the X8. Also quick question, what’s the device you’re using for those amazing panning shots? Thanks!
Thanks Matt! Hope it was somewhat helpful. The Rev2 is shockingly good and I think this shows that if nothing else. As for the panning shots, I assume you mean the motion stuff? That's done with a motorized camera slider ;-)
Great comparison! Haven't received the OB-X8 yet, but I use a footpedal to sweep both filters at the same time when in double mode on my Oberheim OB-series synths.
I have a REV2 and P10 - they are both incredible instruments. I personally prefer the prophet 5 tone in isolation, and the more “simple” workflow (I’m not a great programmer haha) as a result I enjoy programming it and using it more. I think the REV2 can sound sterile/brittle at times, but some more advanced programming helps avoid that territory. I love them both - never realized how similar the REV2 could sound to the OB, although there were hints (2pole filter and the misc-phaser fx). Fantastic video and epic setup!
You don’t need an external effect to make the Prophet 5 stereo… it sounds better when you double track it. See this video for an example! ruclips.net/video/Z4lbSoUHRlg/видео.html
The double mode requiring you to change one layer at a time is how the OB-Xa and OB8 work, so I imagine they are keeping it faithful to the way those original units work.
Yep, they definitely stuck to original ways of working. Thankfully they are considering adding the more modern option which would be way more convenient!
Very nice, you've done an excellent job showing that though these 3 can all get in the ballpark, slight differences in them can make enough of a difference whether buy voice count, stereo vs mono, envelope response, oscillators and filters.. I have a similar setup, though I have P08 instead of a Rev 2 and a P10 vs a P5.. but love each.
very nice and musical A/B/C play, this is very useful to have a real idea of the feeling/sounds. I ve p5rev4 , rev 2 16, and moog one 16 too. Now very intrigued by the obx8. Must say that i love too A LOT the rev2 is an AMAZING warm synth especially if programmed with the vcm technique. Is the synth i use when i can just only grab one, maybe one of the best poly ever designed.
Somewhere between 12:33 - 13:15, I scrolled down the comments whilst hearing the sounds. I was barely able to tell which was which between Rev.2 and OB-X8. Also this vid has made me reconsider upgrading to what over my Prophet '08.
Rev2 is the mightiest analogue Prophet. It sounds as good as you can make it sound. It's like a huge mansion, of course it takes longer to go from one end to the next, that's the point of mansions.
@@Septeemberpain thanks! It's woefully incomplete since it was really just an exploration of one specific sound, but definitely interesting to put them side by side!
I actually have a 16-voice Prophet REV2 and a Prophet 10 and have been considering the OB-X8. I programmed a patch on the REV2 that sounds very close to something you would hear on an Oberheim before I actually had a chance to play an Oberheim. Just a few days ago (Black Friday 2022), I finally got a chance to demo an OB-X8 for the first time at my local music store and spent hours playing it only to realize how close it sounds to the patch I programmed on the REV2. I then went back home and played the REV2 again right afterwards to confirm that it indeed sounds very close in character to the OB-X8. I will say the Oberheim does have a smoother (and perhaps fuller) tone and maybe a tad bigger/deeper bottom end. There is simply no denying that. The question for me is whether these differences are worth $5000. That's the big question. And like you said, it is limited to only 4 voices when layered vs the Prophet REV2's 8 voices in stack mode. You see, I'm also thinking about the new Minimoog Model D reissue too, which costs the same as the OB-X8. I'm thinking perhaps that would actually be a better addition to my setup. I've always wanted a real Minimoog, Oberheim too, but I can't really justify $5000 for a synth that sounds a lot like a synth I already own with only a few minute differences in tone. Well, perhaps I could if money was no object. However, 5 grand is not easy to come by for me. Therefore, a synth would have to either sound very different or significantly better than anything I already own in order for me to spend that much money on it. Thank you for this wonderful video comparison. It's extremely helpful, very informative, and well done!!! It was this video that opened my eyes and ears to truth about my Prophet REV2 and helped to counteract the GAS for an OB-X8. Now, I have real-life hands-on experience to back it up. Now the Minimoog? That's another story!!!! There's simply not much, if anything, that can compete with a Minimoog Model D, especially when it comes to synth basses. And yes, I have a Behringer Poly D.
Glad you found it useful. The Rev2 is indeed a shockingly great synth and quite underrated - and it easily holds its own against any other analog poly for many types of sounds. As for the Minimoog, it may not be popular to say, but I sold mine when I heard Softube’s Model D plugin. It’s insane how far things have come in that world. There’s no way on earth I would ever part with $3000 - let alone $5000 - for a Minimoog these days. 😁
@@JimDaneker Yeah, I'm going to definitely try out the Minimoog at Guitar Center whenever they get one in stock and on display. If it sounds too close to my Behringer Poly D and the Behringer Model D (which I also had a chance to play a while back) from what I remember, I may opt for a Behringer Model D to compliment the Poly D instead of getting the Minimoog. The main difference in the Poly D is the gain staging at the oscillator mixer section. I don't like the way Behringer implemented it on the Poly D. The Model D is better in that regard. The Poly D also has a lower overall volume output at line level as well. On the otherhand, it has that beautiful sounding Juno chorus and Minimoog form-factor as well, which I really like. BTW, I went back and played the OB-X8 again today and discovered a big contrast in tone versus my Prophet REV2. It has a huge smooth, deep, lush sound that the REV2 simply can't touch. I just discovered it's much more apparent when I switched each of the two oscillators to the square/pulse waveshape with the sawtooth wave disengaged. The tone instantly becomes bigger, deeper, and thicker, especially in the lower octaves. Also, I set the pan width to "Full" and the pan mode to either "Spread" or "4L4R." Of course, I also detuned the second oscillator to get them beating. Boy, I tell you, the sound I heard today is something that can only be experienced in person. Wow!!! Perhaps the OB-X8 is worth the price difference. My final evaluation now is, although both the REV2 and OB-X8 have a few similarlies and are capable of making a few identical patches, each have some major architectural and tonal differences that set them apart in a good/unique way. Based on what I've heard today and yesterday between both synths and careful comparisons and analysis, I've come to the conclusion the differences in the core tone of the OB-X8 is definitely worth the 5 grand. The quality of tone is right up there with the Prophet 10, and bigger actually because it's stereo. With that said, the REV2 has the modulation features that takes it to places the OB-X8 can only dream of. I perfectly understand why you have a Prophet 5, a Prophet REV2, and an OB-X8. They are very different in their own way. That's also why I currently have two of the same three I just mentioned (well I have the Prophet 10, but basically the same thing) and still considering getting the third (the OB-X8).
@@kvmoore1 Interesting to read about your experience with the Rev2 and Obx8. I also own the Rev2 and i appreciate its capability however it just never excites me with sound produced. I have pondered on the P5 / P10 for a long time but limited sound ability but powerful beautiful sound obviously. Its all about what funds are available and what ultimately suits your music style. The Obx8 has delicious sound textures and certainly in that P5/P10 territory but if i had the money id buy both without thinking twice about it (buying lottery tickets today lol) Painful as it seems I'll hold out for the Behringer Ubxa and hold onto my Rev2 and try and love it again. The Ubxa looks promising but would love to hear more demos to truly get a feel for what its about. I just calnt justify spending 5k when I could possibly buy 2 very capable analog synths that give me a far wider sound choice. My moog subsequent 37 is my stellar mono synth and untouchable inmo.
@@xntricity6446 Yes. The Behringer UB-Xa does sound good from the demos I've heard. However, I couldn't say that it sounds as good as the Oberheim OB-X8 from what I've heard of it so far. I'll have to hear more demos of it. But yeah, I agree that 5 grand is a lot. However, I also have a Prophet 10 and I would love to compliment it with an OB-X8. I've do it without thinking twice provided I had the funds, which is what I was thinking. Then Moog brought back the Minimoog Model D which threw a monkey wrench into the idea. I've never played a Minimoog as of yet, so I gotta experience that first then decide based on that as well as Poly D I already own. This is a very interesting time right now. Then, there's the Trigon 6, which I'm not even thinking about right now because it is only 6 voices and I already have two Prophets plus a Polybrute. The OB is the only other analog poly I would consider buying at this point if I were to buy another one.
@@kvmoore1 If you pull the trigger on thr OBX8 you will have 2 of the most powerful polys in existence. I know the UBXA wolnt come close to OBX8 as a different beast but i suspect they will get it to 95% of the original UBXA so will keep with that plan ( trying to convince myself not to overspend and opt for OBX8 😂) . The menu diving is a turn off with OBX8, for me knob per function helps with realtime performance and i would find this anoying. The Trigon did not excite my ears but will listen to a couple of more demos in the meantime. The minimoog is luxury that might not prove as a good return on investment comparing to OBX8 as the behringer D side by side comparisons have been spot on. Final thought, if stretching towards a OBX8 why not go extra mile and go for Moog one.... I promised myself ill get one for my 50th birthday in 2 years time so hope firmware has fixed every niggle by then. Best of luck with your decision-making anyway and happy synth playing.
7:53 a let down? when you went back to that dark and moody mono p5 pad i was grinning ear to ear. That is THE sound for me. Everyone else can have the stereo panned voices and strymon shimmer verbs. I'll pass!
Use the mod matrix. Set "note number" as the mod source and the destination as "FX Mix" and then use "Amount" to scale the mix to taste. "Note Number" allows you to scale settings across the keyboard positively or negatively (i.e. more or less depending on where you play on the keyboard). You could also try this with the distortion effect to see what it does to the tone on the low mids. @@Kuronoichig01
I personally love the tone of the obx8 or p5 with just 2-4 voices. Overtime I find myself preferring that super low count polyphony sound more and more and I feel like those two just do such a great job of that. I had a moog one 16 for awhile and found myself almost never using 16 voices. Rev 2 has great capability and great value. But the personalities of the obx8 and the P5 really stand out to me personally. Great video and demonstration !
They should have a higher polyphony model like the prophet 10 to the prophet 5, OB x8 to the OB x16, just like the moog one 8 to one 16. If the OB had 16 voices id buy one right now. I like the OB filter options and what not more, the prophet 10 sounds brighter and more full in a natural way unlike the brighter and more hollow lack of mid range VST sounding OB-6 for example. The OB-x8 is also a lot more capable even if theres menu diving, at least you have the ability for more options and it can even be updated. I think the prophet 10 already has everything I would want on it though. Picking between a 16 voice OB-x8 and a super gemini is a lot more convincing. I would want a prophet 10 but I cant get that bigger sound that the OB has. The prophet accels at mono and single voiced tones to me than the OB-x8. Unfortunately that 24 db filter the OB-x8 has a problem the original didnt have of that volume and potential glassier nature that VSTs have. Its why I want the real thing, it doesnt sound glassy, it sounds more full and its brighter and more lively. They need to fix that filter in an update.
@@JohnnyADi huh? There's nothing wrong with the (multiple) filters on the OB-X8... they're the same as the vintage versions found in the original OB series (X, Xa, 8) plus the extra SEM filters. It's a monster! But yes, I do wish it could be expanded to 16 voices 😁
Thanks Jim for your time to create this amazing video! So pity Sequential released the Prophet 5/10 with only Mono output because I really like its tone in double tracked, its sounds awesome! . Having no more Analog synth, which one to start with according to you ? :)
Thank you for the kind words! Honestly I think if I could just have one, it would be the Rev 2! As you can hear in this video, it easily holds up against the other two, and gives you vastly more synth for the money, with none of the limitations!
@@JimDaneker Thanks Jim for your time answering me and for sharing your passion, they all have their tone, the best will be to get all of them and not getting married (to save money hahaha).
Bought Oberheim X8 after a friend introduced me to his vintage Oberheim. Prophet 5 is smoother and not as brassy or raw but both are superb analog poly synths.
The Rev2 sounds nice. But the pluses (wide sound, deep lows and bright highs) are also a con when it comes to fitting it into a mix.. Yes, the Rev2 is great on it's own. But the Prophet 5/10 plays well with others and you can post-process anything you play using pedals or effects in the daw.With the latest firmware update you can now stack two sounds.. PLUS it has CV i/o. (And if you want to make a Prophet 5 into a Prophet 10 you can purchase & install a second board! 0 Tres cool)
The issues you mentioned would apply equally to the Prophet 5, though, too. I don't have any issues fitting either of them in a mix. The Rev doesn't have to be in dual "binaural" mode if you don't want it to be wide - but it's a killer option to have two completely independent 8-voice synths in one box, with an architecture that runs circles around the Prophet 5. And even if you add the second voice board, you are still cramming everything down a single mono output… It's not like they have independent outputs of their own - so IMO that's a wasted investment. The P5 does have a bit of an edge in terms of raw tone, but the Rev2 can easily stand shoulder to shoulder with it in just about any example.
One comment section: The Rev2 may play well with others and sit in a mix, but it doesn't have the deep lows of the Prophet 5 Another comment section: The Rev2 may have those deep lows but it doesn't play as well with others and sit in a mix like the Prophet 5
Great comparison, thanks for your hard work! Can I ask, have you tried per-voice modeling on the Rev2? I've hard it make DCOs sound literally like VCOs, as every voice drifts differently. It would be very interesting to hear the comparison that way... it's actually one of the reasons I'm planning on springing for the 16 voice.
I sometimes forget how cool of a synth the REV 2 is. I should spend some more time with it again and make some cool sounds for it. It's such a flexible and well-rounded synth :) It's hard to get distracted by all the new stuff, such as the P6 and UB-Xa I recently acquired though :) I have to say that the UB-Xa does sound awesome as well, I wish it had a simple way to double a preset and pan the instances hard left and right. Maybe an update will provide that functionality, as it'd be awesome.
The rev 2 sounds exactly like the Jupiter X which I just bought.. Has that brassy big sound. I have the prophet 6 but I need a warmer sounding synth for lofi so I’m torn between the P5 and X8..
Interesting comparison. I would have preferred if you played them in single mode though, as comparing a single P5 voice to double REV2 and double OB-X8 voices gives a bit of a skewed view. In terms of 'classic' sounds I do still prefer the P5 and OB-X8 over the REV 2. But the REV 2 does offer a lot for the money compared to the other two.
Thanks. I totally get that, but that was one of the main points I was trying to make… that the Rev2 offers vastly more for a lot less, and really can hang with the other two in a lot of scenarios. I didn’t even get into vintage component modeling on the Rev2 or the various filter options on the OB-X8… it was really just a very surface-level overview. A comparison between these three could go on forever! And yes, there really is something special about the raw tone of the Prophet 5 ;-)
Very interesting.- know what? _i think on pop/rockmusic, for this kind of sound, you want the Prophet 5. It immediately reminds of Peter Gabriel. You wouldn't need it stereo, so there's room for other sounds still. So actually it would have even been more interesting to compare these pads without any whistles. Still then the OB would be different enough, it's so great.
First off, nice intro! As for the the Prophet 5, mono out is an asset. I own the prophet 5 and I track a lot of parts in mono. You don't track everything in stereo. When I want it in stereo I just run it through something like a Strymon El Capistan Tape Delay or a Chorus. I have the option of mono or stereo. Also, the Prophet 5 has an AMAZING 3d depth and chorus like quality to it when you detune the oscillators and adjust the vintage knob just right. I often have to check to see if I have it running through a chorus. It layers in a mix very well, probably better than the Oberheim if it's anything like my OB-6 which wants to "take over" the mix. I've done entire demo tracks with nothing but the Prophet 5, check out my Stranger Things "Kids" cover, that's nothing but the Prophet 5. Thanks for your video, I know they take time to put together. Keep them coming!
Thanks for the kind words! And absolutely, it’s not like every synth HAS to be stereo all the time. But man, when you want those big, wide, lush Prophet pads, it sounds stunning when double tracked. A chorus effect might be just the ticket in the moment, but double tracking is a killer option at times, and nothing else sounds like that. Here’s a demo of that concept: ruclips.net/video/Z4lbSoUHRlg/видео.html
@@JimDaneker Wow, you got a video addressing this very subject! Nice! The double tracking sounds really good. I've got all those plugin chorus efx in your video. The only one that I really like is the TAL. The UAD is ok but it thins things out a bit, sometimes it works fine. TC electronics spatial expander is nice and the Roland Cloud Juno Chorus works well for me sometimes. Running through a chorus pedal can sometimes work wonders. The thing about a chorus is you can keep tweeking it in the mix unless you tracked it. I gotta try more double tracking!
the problem is the OB does pads and brass well but its the only thing that really shines!! i think the Prophet is more musical than OB had my heart set on the OB UNTILl i played the OB in my local store its a no go for me !! I like the p-10 SUPER WARM and down the middle OB not better than Rev-2 .. GREAT VIDEO!! i love when folk tell the truth!! PAD sound great on OB but not 5k great lol!!!
A lot of gnashing of teeth on here about the price of the OB-X8. Obviously, from folks who weren't around in 1980 when an OB-XA went for $4500 ($16k in today's money)!!! Think about it.
Indeed. And not lost on me. Those were my college days and those Oberheims were so out of my reach. I eventually owned a Matrix-1000 and you could get Matrix 6 Keyboards for $200! After the digital revolution took over - for a while.
I was hoping you would do the comparison between the Prophet 5 and the OB-X8 and here it is and you threw the Rev 2 in for good measure. Highly recommend adding the upgrade card for the Prophet 5 to make it a Prophet 10. Adding a Dimension C to the Prophet can give it a pseudo stereo spread without sounding like a chorus with button 1 depressed. I agree with you the Rev 2 is a great synth just has a bit more scooped mid range to the sound. Tom Brislin's makes great use out of it in his live rig with Kansas.
Great video. 3 different and beautifull synths compared in a really good way. This show the different characters and capabillities.Had a Rev 2 and regret selling it. P5 is an amazing sounding synth but the lack of stereo kept me from buying it. I can not afford an OBx 8 but looking for a second hand OB6.
Much more interesting would be what the special places of each synth are, where the others can't go. So doing this of course people criticize that you run out of voices on the P5 or OB in stack/layer mode. Anyway all are beautiful synths.
Agree! I also feel that workflow is an important factor for how I arrive to a sound… when I’m meddling in the REV2 mod matrix vs poly mod or using OscB as an LFO I end up with different types of tones (I am not the most intentional programmer haha)
Great comparison video, thanks for that! Already watched it like 5 times. Question: especially in your last comparison at the end of the video, the X8 sounds quite different from the rev2. It sounds like the X8 had more detuning or a chorus on it (as you already mentioned). Do you think that you can get the rev2 sound more like the last X8 sound (complete end of video) or is that not possible without adding a chorus?
No, that's where the X8 sets itself apart. I got them as close as possible initially, but that gorgeous "swirling" effect is just so effortless on the X8 even without any chorus.
@@JimDaneker Hi Jim, Maybe interesting info in case you did not know this yet: I just found out that a guy called Creative Spiral did research on what exactly gives that analog sound on many vintage synths, and what makes the VCO sound different from DCO. Based on his studies, he created VCM, which he implemented on the Prophet rev2. His rev2 settings can give huge differences and can give that OB Xa/X8 feeling a lot more. On RUclips, he compares the sound with and without his technique (on/off).
I would tend to think, where the OB-X8 would shine most vs the Prophet would be in it's mono lead synth ability. Even some cheaper synths like Matrix 6 & 1000 could make some decent pad sounds. You don't need a $5000 synth for that. But the OB-X something seemed to be kind of the lead synths in a polyphonic keyboard with patch memory, etc.
It all depends on what music you're using it in and with a constellation of other synths and instruments as well. You really don't need that much polyphony in synths like that because too many notes used will suck the air out of other instruments. I don't own any DS synth, but without trying to brag, I have a combo of other top synths made by other brands that have their own unique sound signature. Oberheim was always my dream synth. Couldn't have it when I was young, and now I have the opportunity to have all 3 legends in one plus some. For me, it's all about that big unmistakable sound.
The mono stereo thing......In a track, I hardly ever use more than one or two sounds in stereo, more than that, the track becomes mushy and undefined. Mono can be a beautiful thing, and I feel the Prophet 5 in Mono is absolutely beautiful!
I agree completely. The wide stereo patches take up a lot of space in the mix. Alex Ball addresses the issue of Prophets having only mono out in one of his vids by demoing how great multiple mono Prophet tracks sound. Having said all that, I’ll take both a Prophet 10 and the Obie. My dream synths!😅
@@allkeyspro6606 agree :)
@@joxer96 thank you for sharing. Such glorious synths !
Bought my REV2 a year ago when it became obvious that the Behringer UB-Xa wouldn't be available as soon as expected. I'm glad I did because it's all I could afford, and it sounds great!! Will still be purchasing the UB-Xa when it becomes available as it will be in my budget, and I think it will pair up with the REV2 very well. Plus, the UB-Xa will have 16 voices and poly aftertouch!
the OB-X8 & Prophet 10 be a must have for any musician!
I love the adjectives you useful the Oberheim..."gooey"..."creamy"...no other words even come close!
I know it's not close to an OB-X8...but this is making me want to get an editor for my Matrix-1000...Thanks Jim, great video!
@@johnheyer5424 It may not be that far off from the Matrix 1000… I have a Matrix 6 showing up and will do a little A/B. Those are fantastic synths!
I have to confess… the midrange absolutely makes the Prophet 5 for me.
That unmistakable aggression it dishes out on Pink Floyd The Wall.
I desperately want to love the Rev 2…. Especially because of the price.
But that midrange of the P5 really gives it that unmistakable growl… that is regrettably absent in the Rev 2.
Man, the Prophet 5 is a BEAST!!
The 5 really does have that in spades 😁
Even if you don‘t layer the Rev 2 and OB-X8 there is the pan spread/voice panning for stereo sound.
Besides this, your description of each synth seems perfect to me.
Yeah, the problem with the pan spread mode is you have voices bouncing around the stereo field, which I would never use in a mix because it’s distracting - and it thins everything out as well. Never got any real world use out of that mode. I suppose it could work in certain situations though especially with the OB-X8’s improved implementation!
I’m getting closer and closer to buying the Rev2
Coming back to this video after owning all three of these gems. They all serve a purpose in my studio and I try to pull from the strengths of each in my production. For my work, the Oberheim is thick, lush and commanding with an always musical tone, the Prophet 10 is the mediator that “sits” in the mix without being too dull or too harsh, and the Rev2 offers both the functionality and polyphony of a workhorse and the sound will usually cut through any dense track, though I often reach for a little EQ to complete its sound. Very good video! ✨
Thanks Matt!
Wow…..u make me wish I never gave up my Rev2!! I’m realizing I never pushed its limits and gave it an honest chance. Seeing the sounds you have got out of it and having 16 f$@king voices is just insane! Thank you for the great video!
You are so welcome. I was in the same boat… Mine just sat there for a good three or four years until I finally gave it a real chance!
@@JimDanekerBoth the Prophet 5 (or 10) and the OB-X8 are pretty much modern recreations of old school holy grail synths, but it seems like the Rev 2 is gaining a legendary status from the throngs of people who have purchased one. In 20-30 years I’m thinking all 3 of these will be considered must haves for any deep (and deep pockets) synth studio.
Wow! I'm shocked at how great the Rev2 sounds in this shoot-out! It goes to show the whole DCO vs VCO thing isn't everything it's made up to be.
This, in combination with your video on double-tracking vs chorus, shows how powerful the Rev2's extra voices become when you use it binaurally. Most choruses will cancel out a lot of the high end, and the Rev2 retains that gorgeous "air."
EXACTLY my brutha!
Keep in mind that he was comparing a DCO synth to Modern VCO synths (not vintage VCO synths)..
Modern VCO's are as stable as DCO's, and this is why the vintage knob is there.
Nice job Jim, The Rev 2 in indeed ia really nice synth. The OBx8 does sound a bit more full and I dunno.. just wonderful! I'm glad I do have the Rev2 though.. you can coax some really nice stuff out of it, and it seems only now do people find out what a cool synth it really is.
Yep! I admit I kind of slept on it for a few years… But lately I’ve been falling in love with it! It can totally hang with the big boys!
I purchased a Prophet 08 when they were first released. Upon hearing it, it struck me. The Prophet 08 was more like an Oberheim than a Prophet. The REV2 brought some great updates. Its a hell of a deal. I use mine midi'd up to my Prophet T8. Definitely worth picking one up if you do not have one!
Thx for adding P5 with double-tracking at the end of the comparison!
@@mertk.3386 sure thing 👊🏻
@@JimDaneker Yes excellent job here Jim ( you still have your KX88 ? if so, would love you see you rock it with a TX816 )
I am also fortunate enough to own all three of these and am waiting for a OBX8 module to make a an OBX16. I also love the Rev2 for its own character. It was my first of these three and I bought it before the P5/p10 reissue and OBX8.
i highly recommend listening from 22:48 onwards with your eyes closed.
My Experience with the three:
Rev2: more programing options, 16 voices can help a lot, scooped out mids compared to the others. A modern classic in its own right with already a serious lineage stemming from Prophet8. You need to embrace the different sound of the DCOs. This instrument for me perfectly straddles modern instruments with complex programming options with vintage prophet sound. It is its own creature and stands proudly in my studio as that.
Prophet 5/10: limitations of what you can program are what set you free. Mono however maybe all you want in many circumstances. This instrument is one giant sweet spot in terms of sound ( it is hard to make it sound bad ).
OBX8: if i had to pick only one, this would the it. I had wanted one of these ( OB series ) for 40 year. The moment I played an OBX8 in the flesh there was no question for me. It has it all, the sound, the easy of programming. I am not bothered at all by page 2, for me it's a non issue. I would rather have page 2 by a long shot than have those features deleted or a significant increase in knobs, etc. Get the blue overlay if you want short cuts printed on the keyboard. I prefer the clean grey OEM look, at least for now. I find it remarkable that they have released ver 2.0.
My overarching ethos with these instruments is " a particular sound over features " or "a particular character over complexity. " Nothing against a Quantum MK2 or Moog One, these are magnificent beasts of a different nature.
Killer video Mr Daneker - very helpful and enlightening especially with the Rev 2 thrown in the mix. Always loved that board too!! ✊
Man, way to make my day brother Jack! Always great to hear from you! 😁👊🏻
This was a very good demonstration of the effectiveness of stereo vs mono in a synth.
Came for the x8, left wanting a rev2! 😂
Ha - that seems to be a growing theme!
@@JimDaneker Thanks for these videos. My OBX8 arrives tomorrow!!
@@muco007WOOHOO!! Have a blast with it!
When you really learn the Rev2 inside and out, you'll be astonished over and over at how good it can sound. I even have an OB-6, but the Rev2 is and always will be my workhorse synth. Incredibly lush and endless modulation power, it can do FAR more than the prophet 5 or OBX8 with its 4 lfos, 3 envelopes, and 4 track step sequencers. If I could only own one synthesizer in the world, it would be the Rev2.
@@NauticVagrant agreed - too many people vastly underestimate the Rev2!
Another peach, James. Thanks for taking the time.
Sure thing, and thanks much!
Tks again for showing those beautiful synths!
Great video! I really liked your comparisons. I like to see my Rev2 validated. I always knew it to be a great analog synth and I feel lucky to own it.
The Rev 2 has consistently earned more and more respect for me… It’s an absolute monster of a synth!
@@JimDaneker It’s capable of complex modulation and that’s why I’d never go back to my old Prophet 600.
As soon as they make a desktop for the obx-8, I’m getting it. It will be on a board with a p12 desktop, and a prophet 10 desktop with 2 H9max. I just hope it doesn’t take too long to build a desktop for it.
This is one of the best comparisons of these synths. I don’t care about the tone measurements of each oscillator’s sine wave. That info is useless afaic. How do they sound as a musical instrument real. To me the OBx8 and the Rev2 are huge, lush and expansive. Beautiful sounding synths
Yes! Thank you!
I am going to get a rev2 this friday, It’s an amazing synth and does sound awesome, chose it over the p5 because of how versatile and capable it is. Thanks for this awesome video showing how great the rev2 sounds
You are so welcome. It's a great synth - enjoy it!
Beautiful all around. Your playing. Your chord choices. Your tones!!!!
Thanks brother!
mono output sounds magical.
great video comparison - This video gives me new respect for the Rev2 but I'm in love with the OB-X8
Rightly so! Both are fantastic for different things. But man, that OB-X8 is just in a league of its own!
It is the sound that makes me buy a synth, nothing else.
Prophet Rev 2 suona che è una bomba!!! È un synth straordinario, ti ringrazio per il confronto che hai fatto , o ascoltato il video su delle casse e ogni volta che mettevi le mani sul Rev2 solbalzavo dalla sedia😍. Il suono del oberheim e molto simile al Rev2
ears-opening comparison, priceless content. thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@JimDaneker a few questions... What do you think about running the Prophet 5-10 through a good stereo chorus pedal to widen the sonic spectrum? Would you say the5/10's second detunable oscillator could give warbly tuning effects similar to the OB, with no polyphony sacrifice? Lastly...hearing other demos, it seems like the sonic capabilities of the 5/10 are deeper and more complex. With manipulation of the filters, the chords could go from soft/dull, to maintaining the fundamentals, while including harmonics in the stratosphere. Would you feel that in the demo, with a bit of regulation and a stereo signal, the 5 would have been up there with the ob in terms of complexity and lushness? I had the feeling the video was more to (rightfully) show the possibilities of the Rev2 than in really showing what the 5/10 can do. It also seems like the 5-10 gives sonic capabilities and flexibility combined with ease of use. Cheers! Frank
@@frankpiccinini1652 hey Frank, yeah, this video ended up being more about how the Rev2 stacks up to the "legends." The P5 is still the king of big, fat, analog brute force, power, and unmistakable lush warmth. Well, along with the Oberheim, but that one has a bit more of a brassy tone, for lack of a better word. If I had to choose just one, it would be the P5, no question.
I do often run it through a chorus; it can get into Juno/Jupiter territory especially if you use the right Roland chorus. But by far my favorite stereo widening approach is to simply double track it, like you hear in the comparisons at the end of the video. Cheers!
I run my OB-X8 through a stereo-chorus, which gives it that extra lush pad sound, without having to switch it to ‘double’ mode, and lose four of the voices. With that said, I also program the majority of my REV2 (16-voice) patches in binaural double mode, to capture that classic Prophet sound, with a much wider stereo field. The REV2 is highly underrated, IMHO, and is one of Dave Smith’s greatest masterpieces.
Absolutely Chris. What’s your favorite stereo chorus to use on the X8? I have several I like to choose from depending on context - probably my favorite is the Roland Zenology plugin, because you get all their vintage analog chorus emulations which are fantastic and don’t destroy the high end like a lot of chorus FX…
@@JimDaneker I have a few various hardware and software chorus’s, however, my all-time fav chorus is the original Roland Juno 60 chorus. Last year I got TC Electronic’s ‘June 60 ver 2’, however, like the original, it’s only mono in (works great with my Moog Sub 37). However, before my OB-X8 arrived, I recently got the TC Electronic’s ‘Plethora X3’, which can be programed to emulate the Juno 60 chorus, and many others, but with full stereo in’s & out’s. Thus far, i’ve found it a fantastic parring with the OB-X8, because it is easy to program, and can utilize up to three effects at once. However, I’m still experimenting with some of my others, and have yet to run it through my Klark Teknik analogue emulation of the BBD-320.
@@PacificIslandDrive thanks. Keep me posted on what you find!
Chris Borders: "The REV2 is highly underrated, IMHO, and is one of Dave Smith’s greatest masterpieces." - I totally agree
5:25 is just glorious. Coming back to this video there’s just something about the OB
Yep. I was trying to get everything else in my studio (and plugins) to match it - nothing can.
@@JimDaneker Keep coming back for those OB-X8 pads as well. About to add to cart.
@@jfracine_composition thats a lot of robux for a synth, but oh man what sound…
I have the X8 and the prophet 10 but I can't stop wanting a Rev 2
It's a fantastic synth!
just got a 16 voice one, i say they’re still as relevant as ever in 2024
thanks so much for the vid and i really like your little "uuhhh thats nice" comments. You really love what you are doing.
Glad you liked it!
Amazing !!! Thanks for the Vid ! Gladly I have an Prophet 5 in my Studio ... OB-X8 coming soon 😀
Awesome - you will love it!
I sent my Prophet 10 rev4 back when I ordered one - I could not see any advantage to my 16 Voice Rev 2 full of great sounds! It is also sounding great, no question, but in the end of the day it's a big nostalgic empty wood chassis compared to what you can do with the Rev 2 music wise. Same thing with my 20 Year old Moog Voyager - I ordered the 2017 Minimoog reissue back then and also did not keep the reissue - I'm not owning these instruments for side by side open filter comparisons - they are in my studio to write and perform music with them. And either the Voyager and the Rev 2 are better companions for me than the old Originals, as much as I love them too. The Moog Voyager for me is the best analog mono Synth ever build - it's a logic progression of the old Minimoog and the same counts for the Prophet Rev2 compared to the P5 or P10 to me.
I have 2 weeks left to decide whether to keep my P10 module. I did a-b it in the store with the Rev 2 and liked the P10 (5 in the store, actually...) better sonically, plus "they" say the Rev 2 is harder to "dial in" on sounds, and I'm a rookie and the P10 is simpler. Can you elaborate more on why you like Rev 2 > P5 (or 10)? Thanks....
@@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton sounds like you should keep the P10 Module - if you like the sound better that should be reason enough. I just came to the point where I figured out that I'm not into vintage or vintage replica stuff anymore - the modern successors of these can do more for me in the context of my work.
The rev2 sounds exactly like the oberheim.
Never is the oberheim worth twice as much!
Thank you jim, you really hit the nail on the head with your comparison,
you pay over $2.5k more just for the name...
Apart from that: if you can play ambidextrous, never buy a synth with less than 10 voices
It does sound really close in that one specific example, but it never gets the same swirly, natural chorus texture of the OB… and it’s *really* important to keep in mind that I never even touched on the vastly different filters in the OB that set it apart. You’ll never get those out of the Rev 2. So, there’s a lot more to the story - I’ll have to do another video that delves into that!
Having said all that, the Rev 2 is definitely a stunning synth, and easily the best bang for the buck in the analog world right now! 😁
@@JimDaneker Thanks alot! Have you ever tried the UDO Super 6?
@@drk1825 not yet but the demos I’ve heard sound fantastic. Same idea as the Rev 2 in “binaural” mode, but it seems to have more of the Jupiter/Juno vibe ;-)
I‘ve ordered today the rev2 16
the 5 reminds me a bit of my Juno-6...and seriously i could listen to these chords and pads all day (first set especially)
The Rev2 is awesome. I've found that I often overcomplicate making patches because it's so diversely capable! At least as the old standard basic sounds are concerned.
It really is a spectacular synth, and a lot of folks mistakenly assume it’s not up to Prophet standards!
All I have to say about the Oberheim sound, and the OBX8 is....If you know, you know.
I also have both the OB-X8 and a Prophet 10 and think that they compliment one another pretty well.
They sure do!
really interesting vid thanks for doing this...man I really really really hope Oberheim has secretly included the ability to expand the voice count min the OB-X8 and will "unveil" this feature in a few months once initial orders have been filled....please please pease!!!
Indeed!!!
I really want the X8 because the sound is amazing. I can’t deal with being limited to 4 voices when layering. This would be the perfect synth if it were 12 voices/6 layered.
Then you REALLY need to check out the 3rd Wave by Groove Synthesis. It's like having a Prophet 5, OB-X8, D-50, and PPG all in one box. It's shockingly good. See ruclips.net/video/VBiypCpWg0o/видео.html
@@JimDaneker Thanks for the reply and reference! Well now I’m torn between the 3rd Wave and Quantum MkII. They seem to be very similar in many regards and both sound incredible!
@@Mercy_Pants yep, I also faced the same choice and I'm glad I went with the 3rd Wave. The Quantum is an amazing synth, but I have so many plugins that can do what it does; the 3rd Wave on the other hand has no plug-in equivalent. It's so textural, I absolutely love it.
you mean like a Super JX? 😁😄 Jim your video of the JX-10 with the MPG-70 with the exact same chords i think beats both the Obi and Prophet just imho...full analog with 12 voices and 24 oscillators...in stereo (two stereo outs per layer) and can add chorus...but maybe it's different in person @7:07 but gosh the Obi and Rev 2 sound beautiful
also just to say it would be nice if the synths volume was as loud or a bit louder than your voice ...they are at times a bit quiet and in the background compared to your voice 😌
Interestingly this video convinced me to cancel my OB-X8 back order and buy the in stock Rev2 16. I will pickup the OB-X8 next year after they iron out the few reported issues. (Especially since I have a Prophet 10 already)
I disagree when in Part 1 you said the P5 was a letdown because of the mono compared to the other two stereo synths…when you finally went back to it, it was a breath of fresh air. It’s more direct, focused, and thicker. Sometimes less is more.
For sure - it is definitely a “big deal” even when mono. I’m just a sucker for big, wide, lush synth sounds. Most everything else in a mix is typically mono, so I tend to lean on synths for ear candy that nothing else can do. 😁
It’s great to have mono on the OB as well as stereo. Having that choice is the key.
same here...got the p10and its sitting in the mix like no other synth except model d. For ambient or bright "I am the pad" obx8 might be good but on stage and in the studio I mostly prefer the pure p10 signal and character. by the way use gfi specular tempus and p10 goes bright stereo....
Awesome comparison! P10 is definitely it's own thing in Mono, but I was really impressed by how well the Rev2 held up to the OBX8 for the big stereo pads and brass. The only area I found Rev2 was weaker was in the detune. It never quite got to the sweet spot where the oscs are exactly in the goldilocks zone of detune, where they aren't phasing but also not seasick sounding. Otherwise filter, spread etc, was all similar to the OBX8! Can't wait to get my OBX8.
Thanks for the kind words, and yes indeed, the OB is definitely in that “Goldilocks zone” 😁
i program some voice component modeling on the sequencer of my rev 2 and it gets the detune beatuiful especially with double layering and panning it sounds like some vintage vco's and with the 2 filter modes it gives a lot of diffrent tones
This was great, Jim. Thank you for putting this together. The Rev 2 is no joke. It also has the benefits of deeper programmability due to its extra LFOs, envelopes, step sequencer and built in fx.
Its DCO design prevents it from drifting unless we want it to.
I can’t recommend Creative Spiral’s free Rev 2 templates highly enough. His use of the step sequencer as a look up table for per note voice offsets is ingenious and much more authentic than just using the Slop parameter.
Perhaps Oberheim will release a module version in the future as Sequential has done in the past. Using poly chaining, you could have 8 voice polyphony even with layers. It would be expensive but doable.
Have you thought about expanding your P5 to 10 voices?
Rev 2 is a workhorse, but the OBX8 is more a players synth.
Both are good in their own rights, both would complement each other imo.
Thanks Peter! I haven’t considered adding the voice expansion to my Prophet 5 because it would still be a mono synth. I have seriously pondered getting the desktop though, which would give me a true stereo Prophet 5! I do think that was a missed opportunity with the Prophet 10… it should have had a stereo architecture like the original version!
@@JimDaneker The module would be a strong choice for exactly that reason. An additional benefit of expanding it to 10 voices is that it enables split/layer functionality iirc. That said, it would still be a monoaural instrument so unless you need larger voicings, the stereo benefit of the module may outweigh the split/layer capability. One nice thing about the X8 and Rev 2 is that they have screens which helps manage those splits and layers in a clear way compared to the screenless Prophet 5.
@@JimDaneker The original P10 was a single manual version which due to overheating was redesigned to the more commonly known two manual version that Tony Banks made famous. The new P10 is based on that single manual design. I wonder if that also had stereo outputs like the two manual version. Either way, I agree with you; it's a missed opportunity. Sometimes these remakes follow the original designs too closely and leave off valuable additions that contemporary users have come to expect.
@@peterkadarmusic9728 yes, but the dual manual P10 had independent outputs for the upper and lower boards, so it was the only "true stereo" Prophet. I was SO bummed that they didn't take that opportunity with the new P10!
OBX8 has depth to it that the Rev 2 cannot simply match.
X8 is pushing more air at lower end, 5:40
Listening with HD6XX cans, while it may not be worlds apart, there is a clear reason why the X8 costs what it does.
Diminishing returns when you pay more, but that is what getting that extra costs now.
Now you mention oscillators, only 2 per note where the P12 has 4 per note.
The thing is people have posted how thin and cold the P12 can sound, that's because people use to many oscillators and start to destroy the sound, it's how you use the oscillators, how you mix them in, rather than getting them to work against each other.
I love my Rev 2, I only have 8 voices but get a ton of flexibility out of them in 2 layer.
11:00 has that trumpet blurt that Terminator used so well, love that sound.
Rev 2 does stack very well, but in saying that, the X8 I have heard do the love theme from Flash Gordon and I was blown away.
All 3 synths have a place in a studio, how much overlap would be regarding what type of patches you're intending to play.
Traditionally I would go a Rev 2 due to the amount of sequencing I do, I am not a keys player but more a live set noodler.
I have 5-6 sometimes 10 synths running at once so a P5 or X8 would go to waste in my setup.
And you said it about that question, *why 5K?*
It's all about the sound.
In 79 OBX was 5995, today that would equal 24K. Being able to get this in 3 variations on the X8 seems pretty fair and reasonable, even if it does cost what a 2nd hand car does.
Quality does come at a price, even with local manufacturing involved.
Thank for the upload, enjoyed it thoroughly.
Great points… Thank you for the comments!
Ok that P5 double tracked made a huge difference! Wow.
Yes indeed! That works with any analog synth 😁👊🏻
I love the Moog One the most out of all the flagship new analog polys but the OBX8 is the second.
The last minutes are the most important. A double tracking with the P5/10 is just amazing and easily leaves the REV2 in the dust. You don't even have to change anything in the patch, it will just work with a little vintage dialed in. The REV2 lacks a tad of everything here. The OB-X8 stands up very well with the P5/10, having a less beefy but more high-end character to it.
My workflow with Rev2 and P10 has mostly been: Make drafts with the Rev2, then record the P10 in the end. No idea if and how this is gonna change now with the OB X8 - it's just arrived and I still have no workflow with it :)
Great video, very useful. Thank you!
You're so welcome ;-)
Great comparison. On my macbook speakers the Prophet 5 sounds consistently the best to me. It's also the loudest so that could help. A P10 can run in poly unison - that would have been nice to compare. Really surprised with the REV 2 though! It definitely gives the OB-X8 a run for it's money, especially considering the note limitation in layer mode.
Great video, glad I have a Rev 2! Differences are not worth all the extra cost of the OB-X8 or P5 imo but I still want all 3 synths 😀
Well, there definitely are significant differences, but I wanted to show that for certain types of sounds, they can be extremely similar. And whatever the case, the Rev2 is an absolute beast- and it does things its big brothers can only dream of! So, you picked a winner!
@@JimDaneker I a-b'd both in a store and deemed the P5 more organic sounding thus superior. Why why not put the added toys on the more expensive unit?
@@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton Because people like you will pay more for that sound, with less features … That’s why! 😊
I returned the Prophet 10 module and got the DarthVaderinger.... for 1/10 the cost.@@kierenmoore3236
this is a rare video that makes these three synthesizers sound great
That would be a shame, because it’s not hard to make them sound great!
I’ve been dying for someone to compare the Prophet 5 to the new Oberheim. Thank you! I already have a Rev2 and I’m still debating whether to get the 5 or the X8.
Also quick question, what’s the device you’re using for those amazing panning shots? Thanks!
Thanks Matt! Hope it was somewhat helpful. The Rev2 is shockingly good and I think this shows that if nothing else. As for the panning shots, I assume you mean the motion stuff? That's done with a motorized camera slider ;-)
Great comparison! Haven't received the OB-X8 yet, but I use a footpedal to sweep both filters at the same time when in double mode on my Oberheim OB-series synths.
Hmmm… great idea! I’ll have to see if that works!
I have a REV2 and P10 - they are both incredible instruments. I personally prefer the prophet 5 tone in isolation, and the more “simple” workflow (I’m not a great programmer haha) as a result I enjoy programming it and using it more. I think the REV2 can sound sterile/brittle at times, but some more advanced programming helps avoid that territory. I love them both - never realized how similar the REV2 could sound to the OB, although there were hints (2pole filter and the misc-phaser fx). Fantastic video and epic setup!
I‘m going for the Prophet 5. Deep and powerful. But you need an external effect to go stereo. I sell my Rev2.
You don’t need an external effect to make the Prophet 5 stereo… it sounds better when you double track it. See this video for an example! ruclips.net/video/Z4lbSoUHRlg/видео.html
@strangerhythm Yes, I agree! I’m also a new owner of the Prophet 5 and very happy with the synth. As an effect I use a Eventide H9 Max. Very cool
The double mode requiring you to change one layer at a time is how the OB-Xa and OB8 work, so I imagine they are keeping it faithful to the way those original units work.
Boring, I agree with Jim on that :)
Yep, they definitely stuck to original ways of working. Thankfully they are considering adding the more modern option which would be way more convenient!
Very nice, you've done an excellent job showing that though these 3 can all get in the ballpark, slight differences in them can make enough of a difference whether buy voice count, stereo vs mono, envelope response, oscillators and filters.. I have a similar setup, though I have P08 instead of a Rev 2 and a P10 vs a P5.. but love each.
Thanks for the kind words!
Thanks Jim. This video inspired me to join your channel.
Very kind, thank you!
very nice and musical A/B/C play, this is very useful to have a real idea of the feeling/sounds. I ve p5rev4 , rev 2 16, and moog one 16 too. Now very intrigued by the obx8. Must say that i love too A LOT the rev2 is an AMAZING warm synth especially if programmed with the vcm technique. Is the synth i use when i can just only grab one, maybe one of the best poly ever designed.
Somewhere between 12:33 - 13:15, I scrolled down the comments whilst hearing the sounds. I was barely able to tell which was which between Rev.2 and OB-X8. Also this vid has made me reconsider upgrading to what over my Prophet '08.
Rev2 is the mightiest analogue Prophet. It sounds as good as you can make it sound. It's like a huge mansion, of course it takes longer to go from one end to the next, that's the point of mansions.
I love a strymon deco to make a mono signal split, and you can control the delay between channels. It gives you huge sounds on guitar too
I’m pretty sure if you close the filters completely, the three will sound literally exactly the same ☺️ thanks Jim!
GREAT comparison!
@@Septeemberpain thanks! It's woefully incomplete since it was really just an exploration of one specific sound, but definitely interesting to put them side by side!
@@JimDaneker I know there’s so much you can go into BUT that served its purpose wonderfully… and solidified why I personally prefer the prophet 5 :)
@@Septeemberpain can't go wrong with that one! It's an absolute icon 😁
I actually have a 16-voice Prophet REV2 and a Prophet 10 and have been considering the OB-X8. I programmed a patch on the REV2 that sounds very close to something you would hear on an Oberheim before I actually had a chance to play an Oberheim. Just a few days ago (Black Friday 2022), I finally got a chance to demo an OB-X8 for the first time at my local music store and spent hours playing it only to realize how close it sounds to the patch I programmed on the REV2. I then went back home and played the REV2 again right afterwards to confirm that it indeed sounds very close in character to the OB-X8.
I will say the Oberheim does have a smoother (and perhaps fuller) tone and maybe a tad bigger/deeper bottom end. There is simply no denying that. The question for me is whether these differences are worth $5000. That's the big question. And like you said, it is limited to only 4 voices when layered vs the Prophet REV2's 8 voices in stack mode. You see, I'm also thinking about the new Minimoog Model D reissue too, which costs the same as the OB-X8. I'm thinking perhaps that would actually be a better addition to my setup. I've always wanted a real Minimoog, Oberheim too, but I can't really justify $5000 for a synth that sounds a lot like a synth I already own with only a few minute differences in tone. Well, perhaps I could if money was no object. However, 5 grand is not easy to come by for me. Therefore, a synth would have to either sound very different or significantly better than anything I already own in order for me to spend that much money on it.
Thank you for this wonderful video comparison. It's extremely helpful, very informative, and well done!!! It was this video that opened my eyes and ears to truth about my Prophet REV2 and helped to counteract the GAS for an OB-X8. Now, I have real-life hands-on experience to back it up.
Now the Minimoog? That's another story!!!! There's simply not much, if anything, that can compete with a Minimoog Model D, especially when it comes to synth basses. And yes, I have a Behringer Poly D.
Glad you found it useful. The Rev2 is indeed a shockingly great synth and quite underrated - and it easily holds its own against any other analog poly for many types of sounds.
As for the Minimoog, it may not be popular to say, but I sold mine when I heard Softube’s Model D plugin. It’s insane how far things have come in that world. There’s no way on earth I would ever part with $3000 - let alone $5000 - for a Minimoog these days. 😁
@@JimDaneker Yeah, I'm going to definitely try out the Minimoog at Guitar Center whenever they get one in stock and on display. If it sounds too close to my Behringer Poly D and the Behringer Model D (which I also had a chance to play a while back) from what I remember, I may opt for a Behringer Model D to compliment the Poly D instead of getting the Minimoog. The main difference in the Poly D is the gain staging at the oscillator mixer section. I don't like the way Behringer implemented it on the Poly D. The Model D is better in that regard. The Poly D also has a lower overall volume output at line level as well. On the otherhand, it has that beautiful sounding Juno chorus and Minimoog form-factor as well, which I really like.
BTW, I went back and played the OB-X8 again today and discovered a big contrast in tone versus my Prophet REV2. It has a huge smooth, deep, lush sound that the REV2 simply can't touch. I just discovered it's much more apparent when I switched each of the two oscillators to the square/pulse waveshape with the sawtooth wave disengaged. The tone instantly becomes bigger, deeper, and thicker, especially in the lower octaves. Also, I set the pan width to "Full" and the pan mode to either "Spread" or "4L4R." Of course, I also detuned the second oscillator to get them beating. Boy, I tell you, the sound I heard today is something that can only be experienced in person. Wow!!! Perhaps the OB-X8 is worth the price difference. My final evaluation now is, although both the REV2 and OB-X8 have a few similarlies and are capable of making a few identical patches, each have some major architectural and tonal differences that set them apart in a good/unique way. Based on what I've heard today and yesterday between both synths and careful comparisons and analysis, I've come to the conclusion the differences in the core tone of the OB-X8 is definitely worth the 5 grand. The quality of tone is right up there with the Prophet 10, and bigger actually because it's stereo. With that said, the REV2 has the modulation features that takes it to places the OB-X8 can only dream of.
I perfectly understand why you have a Prophet 5, a Prophet REV2, and an OB-X8. They are very different in their own way. That's also why I currently have two of the same three I just mentioned (well I have the Prophet 10, but basically the same thing) and still considering getting the third (the OB-X8).
@@kvmoore1 Interesting to read about your experience with the Rev2 and Obx8. I also own the Rev2 and i appreciate its capability however it just never excites me with sound produced. I have pondered on the P5 / P10 for a long time but limited sound ability but powerful beautiful sound obviously. Its all about what funds are available and what ultimately suits your music style.
The Obx8 has delicious sound textures and certainly in that P5/P10 territory but if i had the money id buy both without thinking twice about it (buying lottery tickets today lol)
Painful as it seems I'll hold out for the Behringer Ubxa and hold onto my Rev2 and try and love it again. The Ubxa looks promising but would love to hear more demos to truly get a feel for what its about.
I just calnt justify spending 5k when I could possibly buy 2 very capable analog synths that give me a far wider sound choice. My moog subsequent 37 is my stellar mono synth and untouchable inmo.
@@xntricity6446 Yes. The Behringer UB-Xa does sound good from the demos I've heard. However, I couldn't say that it sounds as good as the Oberheim OB-X8 from what I've heard of it so far. I'll have to hear more demos of it. But yeah, I agree that 5 grand is a lot. However, I also have a Prophet 10 and I would love to compliment it with an OB-X8. I've do it without thinking twice provided I had the funds, which is what I was thinking. Then Moog brought back the Minimoog Model D which threw a monkey wrench into the idea. I've never played a Minimoog as of yet, so I gotta experience that first then decide based on that as well as Poly D I already own. This is a very interesting time right now.
Then, there's the Trigon 6, which I'm not even thinking about right now because it is only 6 voices and I already have two Prophets plus a Polybrute. The OB is the only other analog poly I would consider buying at this point if I were to buy another one.
@@kvmoore1 If you pull the trigger on thr OBX8 you will have 2 of the most powerful polys in existence. I know the UBXA wolnt come close to OBX8 as a different beast but i suspect they will get it to 95% of the original UBXA so will keep with that plan ( trying to convince myself not to overspend and opt for OBX8 😂) . The menu diving is a turn off with OBX8, for me knob per function helps with realtime performance and i would find this anoying.
The Trigon did not excite my ears but will listen to a couple of more demos in the meantime.
The minimoog is luxury that might not prove as a good return on investment comparing to OBX8 as the behringer D side by side comparisons have been spot on.
Final thought, if stretching towards a OBX8 why not go extra mile and go for Moog one.... I promised myself ill get one for my 50th birthday in 2 years time so hope firmware has fixed every niggle by then.
Best of luck with your decision-making anyway and happy synth playing.
7:53 a let down? when you went back to that dark and moody mono p5 pad i was grinning ear to ear. That is THE sound for me. Everyone else can have the stereo panned voices and strymon shimmer verbs. I'll pass!
If you want more dirt or gooey in the low end of the rev-2 to stick all more together, then add some reverb and set the tone to the lower notes.
How do you set reverb tone with only low notes?
Use the mod matrix. Set "note number" as the mod source and the destination as "FX Mix" and then use "Amount" to scale the mix to taste. "Note Number" allows you to scale settings across the keyboard positively or negatively (i.e. more or less depending on where you play on the keyboard). You could also try this with the distortion effect to see what it does to the tone on the low mids. @@Kuronoichig01
@invisiblehomesband Fantastic! Going to try this out later, thank you!!
@@Kuronoichig01 You can tune the reverb with one of the controls, turn it to the left for low reverb, turn it right for mid/high reverb.
@@Kuronoichig01 It's the fourth knob to set the reverb tone, be carefull if you if you set the fx mix to high it can ruin everything.
I personally love the tone of the obx8 or p5 with just 2-4 voices. Overtime I find myself preferring that super low count polyphony sound more and more and I feel like those two just do such a great job of that. I had a moog one 16 for awhile and found myself almost never using 16 voices. Rev 2 has great capability and great value. But the personalities of the obx8 and the P5 really stand out to me personally. Great video and demonstration !
Great points, and thanks for the kind words!
They should have a higher polyphony model like the prophet 10 to the prophet 5, OB x8 to the OB x16, just like the moog one 8 to one 16. If the OB had 16 voices id buy one right now. I like the OB filter options and what not more, the prophet 10 sounds brighter and more full in a natural way unlike the brighter and more hollow lack of mid range VST sounding OB-6 for example. The OB-x8 is also a lot more capable even if theres menu diving, at least you have the ability for more options and it can even be updated. I think the prophet 10 already has everything I would want on it though. Picking between a 16 voice OB-x8 and a super gemini is a lot more convincing. I would want a prophet 10 but I cant get that bigger sound that the OB has. The prophet accels at mono and single voiced tones to me than the OB-x8. Unfortunately that 24 db filter the OB-x8 has a problem the original didnt have of that volume and potential glassier nature that VSTs have. Its why I want the real thing, it doesnt sound glassy, it sounds more full and its brighter and more lively. They need to fix that filter in an update.
@@JohnnyADi huh? There's nothing wrong with the (multiple) filters on the OB-X8... they're the same as the vintage versions found in the original OB series (X, Xa, 8) plus the extra SEM filters. It's a monster! But yes, I do wish it could be expanded to 16 voices 😁
Thanks Jim for your time to create this amazing video! So pity Sequential released the Prophet 5/10 with only Mono output because I really like its tone in double tracked, its sounds awesome! . Having no more Analog synth, which one to start with according to you ? :)
Thank you for the kind words! Honestly I think if I could just have one, it would be the Rev 2! As you can hear in this video, it easily holds up against the other two, and gives you vastly more synth for the money, with none of the limitations!
@@JimDaneker Thanks Jim for your time answering me and for sharing your passion, they all have their tone, the best will be to get all of them and not getting married (to save money hahaha).
@@sound4label ha!!!
I would've gotten the 16v of the REV2 but the 8 voice has the right touch for me.
Bought Oberheim X8 after a friend introduced me to his vintage Oberheim. Prophet 5 is smoother and not as brassy or raw but both are superb analog poly synths.
Yep, they can overlap in some ways but they’re also very different, each with a distinct character.
Thnx! Love my REV2, though I need to explorer it much more! :)
thank you. You helped me picking my dream's synth (Rev 2). i ll only need not to eat for 3 months instead of 6 too :D
Ha! Well you'll love it - it will be worth the sacrifice 😁
pro 5 with external stereo processing
The Rev2 sounds nice. But the pluses (wide sound, deep lows and bright highs) are also a con when it comes to fitting it into a mix.. Yes, the Rev2 is great on it's own. But the Prophet 5/10 plays well with others and you can post-process anything you play using pedals or effects in the daw.With the latest firmware update you can now stack two sounds.. PLUS it has CV i/o.
(And if you want to make a Prophet 5 into a Prophet 10 you can purchase & install a second board! 0 Tres cool)
The issues you mentioned would apply equally to the Prophet 5, though, too. I don't have any issues fitting either of them in a mix. The Rev doesn't have to be in dual "binaural" mode if you don't want it to be wide - but it's a killer option to have two completely independent 8-voice synths in one box, with an architecture that runs circles around the Prophet 5. And even if you add the second voice board, you are still cramming everything down a single mono output… It's not like they have independent outputs of their own - so IMO that's a wasted investment.
The P5 does have a bit of an edge in terms of raw tone, but the Rev2 can easily stand shoulder to shoulder with it in just about any example.
One comment section: The Rev2 may play well with others and sit in a mix, but it doesn't have the deep lows of the Prophet 5
Another comment section: The Rev2 may have those deep lows but it doesn't play as well with others and sit in a mix like the Prophet 5
@@swanofnutella4734 ha! Yeah, you can never win. Meanwhile, people are making music. 😁
Great comparison, thanks for your hard work! Can I ask, have you tried per-voice modeling on the Rev2? I've hard it make DCOs sound literally like VCOs, as every voice drifts differently. It would be very interesting to hear the comparison that way... it's actually one of the reasons I'm planning on springing for the 16 voice.
I haven't had time yet but I need to. I’m already so impressed with that synth!
3:56 "The best part of wakin' up ...is Foldger's INNN your CUP!"
😂😂😂
I sometimes forget how cool of a synth the REV 2 is. I should spend some more time with it again and make some cool sounds for it. It's such a flexible and well-rounded synth :) It's hard to get distracted by all the new stuff, such as the P6 and UB-Xa I recently acquired though :)
I have to say that the UB-Xa does sound awesome as well, I wish it had a simple way to double a preset and pan the instances hard left and right. Maybe an update will provide that functionality, as it'd be awesome.
fuck, the rumbling bass in my room right now is so glorious.....
The rev 2 sounds exactly like the Jupiter X which I just bought.. Has that brassy big sound. I have the prophet 6 but I need a warmer sounding synth for lofi so I’m torn between the P5 and X8..
Check Behringer's UB-Xa. imo it's the perfect high-end, yet affordable P6 companion.
Interesting comparison. I would have preferred if you played them in single mode though, as comparing a single P5 voice to double REV2 and double OB-X8 voices gives a bit of a skewed view. In terms of 'classic' sounds I do still prefer the P5 and OB-X8 over the REV 2. But the REV 2 does offer a lot for the money compared to the other two.
Thanks. I totally get that, but that was one of the main points I was trying to make… that the Rev2 offers vastly more for a lot less, and really can hang with the other two in a lot of scenarios. I didn’t even get into vintage component modeling on the Rev2 or the various filter options on the OB-X8… it was really just a very surface-level overview. A comparison between these three could go on forever! And yes, there really is something special about the raw tone of the Prophet 5 ;-)
Very interesting.- know what? _i think on pop/rockmusic, for this kind of sound, you want the Prophet 5. It immediately reminds of Peter Gabriel. You wouldn't need it stereo, so there's room for other sounds still. So actually it would have even been more interesting to compare these pads without any whistles. Still then the OB would be different enough, it's so great.
oberheim is so warm
First off, nice intro! As for the the Prophet 5, mono out is an asset. I own the prophet 5 and I track a lot of parts in mono. You don't track everything in stereo. When I want it in stereo I just run it through something like a Strymon El Capistan Tape Delay or a Chorus. I have the option of mono or stereo. Also, the Prophet 5 has an AMAZING 3d depth and chorus like quality to it when you detune the oscillators and adjust the vintage knob just right. I often have to check to see if I have it running through a chorus. It layers in a mix very well, probably better than the Oberheim if it's anything like my OB-6 which wants to "take over" the mix. I've done entire demo tracks with nothing but the Prophet 5, check out my Stranger Things "Kids" cover, that's nothing but the Prophet 5. Thanks for your video, I know they take time to put together. Keep them coming!
Thanks for the kind words! And absolutely, it’s not like every synth HAS to be stereo all the time. But man, when you want those big, wide, lush Prophet pads, it sounds stunning when double tracked. A chorus effect might be just the ticket in the moment, but double tracking is a killer option at times, and nothing else sounds like that. Here’s a demo of that concept:
ruclips.net/video/Z4lbSoUHRlg/видео.html
@@JimDaneker Wow, you got a video addressing this very subject! Nice! The double tracking sounds really good. I've got all those plugin chorus efx in your video. The only one that I really like is the TAL. The UAD is ok but it thins things out a bit, sometimes it works fine. TC electronics spatial expander is nice and the Roland Cloud Juno Chorus works well for me sometimes. Running through a chorus pedal can sometimes work wonders. The thing about a chorus is you can keep tweeking it in the mix unless you tracked it. I gotta try more double tracking!
totally agree - same impression and experience here
the problem is the OB does pads and brass well but its the only thing that really shines!! i think the Prophet is more musical than OB had my heart set on the OB UNTILl i played the OB in my local store its a no go for me !! I like the p-10 SUPER WARM and down the middle OB not better than Rev-2 .. GREAT VIDEO!! i love when folk tell the truth!! PAD sound great on OB but not 5k great lol!!!
Oh man this was just one example - it can do WAY more than pads & brass. It’s an analog soundscape funhouse 😁
ruclips.net/video/HdhMZ9wNXc0/видео.html
No, lol, this thing is a bass monster
love the 3 of em.
Yep, they’re all synth studs 😁
Synthpunk brought me here! Love my Rev2, I was just making some brass patches on it last week.
It’s quite a beast isn’t it!
A lot of gnashing of teeth on here about the price of the OB-X8. Obviously, from folks who weren't around in 1980 when an OB-XA went for $4500 ($16k in today's money)!!! Think about it.
Yep - when you factor inflation and what you get for today’s dollar, it’s quite amazing!
Indeed. And not lost on me. Those were my college days and those Oberheims were so out of my reach. I eventually owned a Matrix-1000 and you could get Matrix 6 Keyboards for $200! After the digital revolution took over - for a while.
So ob6 and prophet 10 ✊🏼
Definitely a strong combo 😁
I was hoping you would do the comparison between the Prophet 5 and the OB-X8 and here it is and you threw the Rev 2 in for good measure.
Highly recommend adding the upgrade card for the Prophet 5 to make it a Prophet 10.
Adding a Dimension C to the Prophet can give it a pseudo stereo spread without sounding like a chorus with button 1 depressed.
I agree with you the Rev 2 is a great synth just has a bit more scooped mid range to the sound.
Tom Brislin's makes great use out of it in his live rig with Kansas.
Great video. 3 different and beautifull synths compared in a really good way. This show the different characters and capabillities.Had a Rev 2 and regret selling it. P5 is an amazing sounding synth but the lack of stereo kept me from buying it. I can not afford an OBx 8 but looking for a second hand OB6.
Look at the stats of REV2 (the Fx are bland) but everything else is a powerhouse!!
Love my REV 2 16 voice. Never selling it.
Would LOVE some sort of patch tutorial for the rev2. This sounds incredible
Do a search for "Prophet Rev 2 binaural" and you'll find some goodies!
Much more interesting would be what the special places of each synth are, where the others can't go. So doing this of course people criticize that you run out of voices on the P5 or OB in stack/layer mode. Anyway all are beautiful synths.
For sure - I need to do another one that shows those aspects!
@@JimDaneker looking forward to... :-)
Agree! I also feel that workflow is an important factor for how I arrive to a sound… when I’m meddling in the REV2 mod matrix vs poly mod or using OscB as an LFO I end up with different types of tones (I am not the most intentional programmer haha)
Great comparison Jim 👍
Thanks Craig!
Great comparison video, thanks for that! Already watched it like 5 times.
Question: especially in your last comparison at the end of the video, the X8 sounds quite different from the rev2. It sounds like the X8 had more detuning or a chorus on it (as you already mentioned). Do you think that you can get the rev2 sound more like the last X8 sound (complete end of video) or is that not possible without adding a chorus?
No, that's where the X8 sets itself apart. I got them as close as possible initially, but that gorgeous "swirling" effect is just so effortless on the X8 even without any chorus.
@@JimDaneker thanks for letting me know and for the video. Lovely synths!
@@SebasAdamo sure thing. The Rev 2/16 does have many advantages though - even against the mighty X8 and Prophet 5!
@@JimDaneker Hi Jim,
Maybe interesting info in case you did not know this yet:
I just found out that a guy called Creative Spiral did research on what exactly gives that analog sound on many vintage synths, and what makes the VCO sound different from DCO. Based on his studies, he created VCM, which he implemented on the Prophet rev2. His rev2 settings can give huge differences and can give that OB Xa/X8 feeling a lot more. On RUclips, he compares the sound with and without his technique (on/off).
@@SebasAdamo yep, I’m familiar - he does great work!
Great comparison! Is there a chance to get a dump of your rev2-patch? Really love it!
Thanks! I’m out of town for a bit but I'll try to remember to ;-)
I would tend to think, where the OB-X8 would shine most vs the Prophet would be in it's mono lead synth ability. Even some cheaper synths like Matrix 6 & 1000 could make some decent pad sounds. You don't need a $5000 synth for that. But the OB-X something seemed to be kind of the lead synths in a polyphonic keyboard with patch memory, etc.
It all depends on what music you're using it in and with a constellation of other synths and instruments as well.
You really don't need that much polyphony in synths like that because too many notes used will suck the air out of other instruments.
I don't own any DS synth, but without trying to brag, I have a combo of other top synths made by other brands that have their own unique sound signature. Oberheim was always my dream synth. Couldn't have it when I was young, and now I have the opportunity to have all 3 legends in one plus some.
For me, it's all about that big unmistakable sound.
Those manufacturing company need to lower price of high end synthesizers