Dave Smith Instruments Prophet'08

This is a highly misunderstood synth. Many want it to be a like a Prophet 5, it isn't. I've read countless reviews bashing the features of the thing, but those reviewers didn't have an idea of what this synth is. If you're looking for an old-school analog, then do yourself a favor and buy one of the old-school monsters. This isn't one of them. Stepped (Digital) controls and DCOs won't sound or feel the same as a Prophet 5's VCOs and analog controls. THAT SAID......... this thing is a MONSTER in its own right! I am absoluteley in love with it. I am a Drum & Bass producer specializing in melodic, paddy electro stuff with a hardline breakbeat & bass combination. All of my music has a hint of 80's sound in it, and the Prophet '08 excels at this! You can make all manner of Prophet 5-type brassy sounds, which I make plenty of use of!

The presets suck. But don't let them lead you that you can't program good sounds with it! You really don't start hearing what this baby can do until you dive into the programming and modulation possibilities. In that way, this instrument is not for the faint-at-heart. Don't buy this unless you plan on learning subractive synthesis, at least on a basic level. This is not a keyboard for anyone wanting a grand piano simulation at the touch of a button, but if you're reading this then you already knew that anyway. :)

If you are new to subtractive synthesis, this is by all means a great 'first synth' to learn on due to the simple layout of the controls and scarcity of menu-diving.

Editing is very easy. I didn't get the Editor (heard its quit buggy at the moment) and I don't feel that its necessary. MOST ALL of the controls have their own dedicated knobs, save for a few in Misc. & Global Parameters, but just two menus isn't bad at all for a modern synth this feature-laden. The 4 LFO's and 4 Modulators share their own respective controls, but it is laid out very well and easily understood.

Manual is barebones, but I like it this way. Just enough information for me to figure out what the LFO controls are or modulation destinations, and the like.

8 voice polyphony. In a world dominated by Access Virus TI's with 80-voice polyphony, this may seem infinitley small. But, there's a huge difference between Digital "Virtual" Voices and actual analog circuitry. Just turn on the Unision on a Prophet '08 after cranking the "Unision" to 16 or whatever on an Access Virus and you'll see what I mean. (By the way I also have an Acces Virus Indigo [T-model], which I love.) If 8 voices simply aren't enough, then you can use the Poly Chain out along with another P'08 (module?) to double the polyphony to 16 voices!

Built-in FX, none. Good move on Dave Smith's part. If effects were included, either the price would jump for quality analog effects or we'd have a **** digital FX selection we'd probably all want to bypass.

This thing has complete MIDI Implementation (would you expect less from the man who invented the protocol?) and all its ins-and-outs are in the back of the manual. Both CC's and NPRN can be sent/received along with SysEx and all the whistles.

The onboard sequencer can be tricky at first, but it is very powerful and a load of FUN to use! Basically 16 of the pots are converted into 'steps' in Edit Sequencer mode. Its just the classic 4x16 patterns common to sequencers of the past. You can use each of the 4 sequences to INDIVIDUALLY modulate things! Great results form that!

The arpeggiator, on the other hand, SUCKS. There's no way around it. No random, no multiple octaves, no patterns. Just BPM and clock divide. Horrible! I have it swtiched on only for ideas, then switch it off and program the arpeggio in my sequencer (Cubase). I even had my P'08 freak out on me when I tried to send MIDI notes to it with the arp switched on!

Points off for the crappy arpeggiator.

Sounds f*cking amazing. Just sit down with the basic patch and within minutes of tweaking you'll discover how great this thing can sound! The analog waveshapes are spot on. Saw, Tri, Saw-Tri, Noise, and variable Pulse waves 0-100 give you alot to work with. Envelopes can be either long or snappy. The Delay feature on all three envelopes is a nice addition not really found on other synths, I've used it for 'pushing back' stuff on a rhythm, or for volume swells (along with a slow attack). Curtis filters sound sick! (Dave Smith had to get Curtis to make a new batch of these chips [which were discontinued] especially for his instruments!) The 4-pole mode is especially satisfying. All manner of spacey resonances can be acheived by playing with the cutoff and having the resonance up. It can even self-oscillate (and there's instructions in the manual how to do this.) Filter-only audio sounds really great on this board. Some may complain that having no multi-mode filters is a limiation, but I've found that I can make all manner of sounds from just having this 2/4-pole Low Pass Filter.

As I make electronic music, my patches tend to be a bit on the wild side. I usually try to max out the modulation possibilities on my patches to make things interesting. P'08 is great for this. It can scream with the best of 'em. Adding some distortion outboard can really take things to another level and I highly recommend this!

Modulation is extensive. 4 LFO's and 4 Modulations. Ability to route almost anything to almost anything. Awesome! Spend some time in the modulation matrix, and you'll discover the real power behind this baby.

I sprung the extra $100 for the Potentionmeter (PE) Edition. Almost all of the rotary encoders are replaced by Pots. This is almost not an option for me, encoders suck. I like to tweak on-the-fly, and while encoders work fine if you're automating (consequently, so do pots, as automation bypasses these controls anyway). The Pots feel nice, however, we have to keep in mind that this is an instrument sold at a reasonable price from a SMALL COMPANY. The build quality is so-so, but NOT HORRIBLE. It all depends how you treat your gear. I'm definitly the babying type. Some that like to smash their keyboards on stage (a la Trent Reznor) may not appreciate how certain things may seem a bit on the delicate side. The buttons, and most of the Pots feel great! However, I've had a Problem with my Filter Env Amt Pot, even tho its a pot and supposedly the upgrade to Pots would resolve any paramter jumping issues, I still have them occasionally on that Pot only, when its aroun "0" value (Halfway up). It seems that vibrations on the casing's face from pushing buttons or nearby pots throws off the value of the Filt Env Amt when in that position. Points off for this, however their excellent customer support almost nullifies this, because they will practically bend over backwards for you. I've heard of people getting entirely new voice boards when problems cannot be resolved! That's like a brand new synth! Try doing that with Roland or Korg. I haven't yet contacted them about this as I've found ways around it for now, but should the problem persist, I have no doubt they'll take care of it.

Would I gig with it? Yes. Without a backup, I don't know. Iv'e had it freak out on me before (during MIDI session with arpeggiator on) and had to run the calibration routine (takes a good ten or so minutes, try doing that on stage!!!) to get it back in order. In all honesty thats the only time its ever happened. Using local control I've never had an issue like that.

My P'08 PE shipped with an encoder knob where a potentionmeter knob should have been. I emailed DSI and they had my replacement knob at my door in three days (And I live in Texas.) They were very prompt in replying to emails, both when I was still researching the synth and afterwards as an owner of one. I have no doubt they will help me resolve my Filt Env Amt issue above should it annoy me to that point.

It's great. There's nothing else on the (new) market like it at all (Save maybe the A6, but thats a whole other beast.) Buy it. You probably won't regret it so long as your not a purist or other hard-headded ***. Once again, it's not going to be a Prophet 5. Think of it as more of an analog/digital hybird. Analog signal path, with digital controls, LFOs, envelopes. The tone-generation is analog but the modulators are mostly digital. Some may really not like this, but I happen to love it. Digital does get points for reliability. BUY IT!

pretty easy if you're at all familiar with analog or even virtual analog synths. The modulation matrix is a little more extensive than most vintage synths so that may confuse some users. It's a good idea to get the patch editor software, especially if you plan to use the step sequencer.

all analog signal path. :)
8 voices is enough for my purposes. :)
2 osc's per voice. :)
2 parts. (splits polyphony in half)
8 voice Unison with spread capability. :)
no effects, but I usually don't like on-board effects.
You can expand it with another Prophet'08... kinda excessive for most people.
Full midi support.
no external audio input. :(
it has a basic 16 step sequencer for making short modulation patterns. You will need a dedicated midi sequencer if you want to sequence a song.
This is not a starter keyboard.

First off... This is an analog poly synth. If you don't know what that means, don't even think about getting one of these. You are not going to get a piano sound out of this. This is a specialized instrument not a bread and butter ROMpler.
The presets are pretty cheesey for the most part, but it is capable of more. It's not great for basses and sounds with very quick envelopes. It's strongest with shimmery pads, bell like synths, atmospherics, motion synths and even unstable atonal noises. It does a decent job at leads, and you can get some giant ones with full unison, but it's not the silky smooth kind you can get with a vintage Moog. The filters are more gritty than silky, but that's not always a negative, although I'd like to have more control over that. The sensitivity and aftertouch are very nice. It definitely has it's own character. some may not like it, but I find it very usable. I use it in two bands. one is a dark ambient experimental group. The other is a more rock band with some post punk, brit pop, shoegaze and indie rock influences. I could also see it used for various forms of electronic music and progressive rock, although I don't have much interest in the latter. I would say, if your doing hip-hop, dub or any bass heavy genres you may want to look into a something else. I personally bought a Little Phatty to fill my needs for bass, smooth leads and filtering external sources. All that said it is much fatter than any of the virtual synths I've used.

The casing is nice.
The knobs are a little wobbly.
The keyboard is well built.
The wheels seem solid enough.
The wall wart is kinda cheesy.

haven't had to use it.

I would definitely consider buying another one if I lost it, but the price tag could put a damper on that.
I've been playing with synths since about 1985.
I currently own a Prophet '08, Moog Little Phatty, Korg Prophecy, and a Korg Mono/Poly.
I bought this along with a Little Phatty, after selling most of my ROMpler and virtual analog gear. I got the two of them for the cost of a Moog Voyager, which was my other choice. I'm pretty satisfied.

The reviews on here always seem to lurch from one extreme to the other , and I'm going to add my voice to the ongoing "feel the love" end.

1) This is a good synth. Full stop. It just covers more bases than any number of classics did " back in the day", whatever you preference for VCO swirl and wobble ( we'll come to that in a minute). Its modulation sources make it more versatile than the classics ; this isn't an argument, just a fact of modern synth design. Instruments like the Prophet 08 and Andromeda provide greater versatility than instruments the P5 or 0BX simply because the luxury of many more modulation sources combined with analog oscillators produces this result. This is not an argument about tonal character, but an observation of what advances in design process have led to.

2) Condemning those who like synth as " green" and "unfamiliar with the real mccoy P5" , etc, seems fairly pointless when these pages are full of 'veterans' such as myself who love this synth ( and also, naturally, 'veterans' who don't).

3) From my point of view , and others on here apparently, the distinctive qualities of this synth don't mean it has to sound "just like a P5" to be of any value in itself. What does its tone offer that's distinctive ? To reapeat & paraphrase several other posts ; an upfront "sizzle" and presence in the mix that's all of its own ; a rare kind of 'musicality' in the tone thats actually more reminiscent of several lesser known 70s antiques rather than the sequentials and oberheims of this world ; a very pure treble end ; and the straightforward versatility further up.

4) Regardless of all that, for most people the choice just won't be between a p5 and obx or p8 to start with. In a world dominated by software synths most people have not even had the opportunity to integrate analog sound into their set-up. This synth is a very viable solution for a large number of people for whom the prospect of rev2 p5s and moog modulars is just a distant, impractical and expensive luxury. For most people the choice will be between digital va synths in an already computer-saturated environment, and an instrument like this. If you run 5 softsynths, the Prophet 08 will provide with you more that's new & distinctive than an Access Virus or Nord Lead. Again, this is just a fact, rather than an argument.

5) There's plenty of room for vintage synths, softsynths *and* new analog synths.
A large amount of energy seems to expended telling people exactly why they shouldn't bother at all with new instruments like this , as they don't sound *exactly* like someone's favourite from 1980, which means we should all go home. This is a worthwhile synth that a lot of people like, that does a lot of new things with an old format , for a decent price. Variety is the spice of life - eat, drink and be merry.

I have the P08 PE edition. Pretty easy to use assuming you know about analog synth programming.

Keyboard feels fine. Pots are sturdy and smooth.

I've had this synth for around a month now. When I first plugged it in and started to play, I actually though the keyboard was broken - the first patch ('Wagnerain', or something - I blew it out so I'd never have to see or hear it again) is so exceptionally and profoundly bad. Whoever programmed that patch should be flogged everyday for eternity, It's really that bad. Not a great first impression to say the very least.

So I moved on to the other patches...most of them are as equally awful. Not a big deal, I've read this over and over on the web so I expected the worst and I wasn't let down by the utter crappyness of the factory programs.

Like I said, no biggie - I cut my teeth on a JP-6, so I love to program. This reveals the major flaw with this synth. It just basically sounds like crap. The filter is weak and grainy (not in a good way) and the envelopes are sloppy.

On something like a Minimoog where you have to struggle to get a bad sound, on the P08 you have to struggle to get something even usable. And then try and record it with other instruments and you can't even hear it in a mix - only the brightest aspects of the sound makes it through.

It does some nice brass and string sounds but that's about it. Filter sweeps are thin, basses lack guts, sync sounds are just okay. There's zero growl here. Quirky sounds that any self-respecting analog poly synth should be able to do in seconds are totally non-existent.

I know, I know, "Dave wasn't interested in rehashing the past." I'm sure his intention wasn't to make a wimpy, characterless keyboard either...but he did.

Put it this way, if you've never heard or owned a decent poly like a Jupiter-6 or even a Juno-60, you might think this synth sounds like an old classic. It doesn't. It lacks the vibe of those oldies and sounds many times removed like a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy. Yeah, you can tell what it's supposed to be, but it's only a mere shadow and all the important stuff has been lost.

Does it sound like a Prophet-5? Ha, ha... If you think an Epiphone Les Paul sounds like a vintage Gibson Les Paul, then yes, it sounds just like a Prophet-5. Apples and oranges, really...

What are the redeeming qualities of the P08? It's small, loaded with knobs, and has wood on the sides. You can stack and split sounds, at the cost of polyphony, of course. The arpeggiator, though, sounds dumb and reacts poorly. The gated sequencer is flat-out dumb and counter-intuitive.

I own a Jupiter-6, Juno-60, Minimoog, Rogue, DW-8000, Poly-800 II and Yamaha CS2X. Which of these synths does the P08 most sound like? The cheap ten-year-old all digital CS2X, only not as thick.

I'm not some bozo who tried it in a music store for a few minutes and came away with a bad opinion. I dropped $1850.00 on this turd and have the balls to call it what it is. Usually, people will defend their pricey purchases with glowing reviews because they refuse to admit they wasted a major chunk of change. That's fine, but it helps no one out other than you and your delicate sensibilities.

Like I said, if you're a kid who has never heard a classic before, let alone a top-of-the-heap analog poly like a Prophet-5, Memorymoog, JP-8 or a CS-80, you might think the P08 sounds good.

It's not even in the same class of a Matrix-6 or a Juno-60 or a Poly-6...or a Poly 800 II even...those boards all sound like massive modular monsters in comparison.

I know I sound like a huge jerk with a chip on his shoulder but don't make the same mistake as me. I'll keep this thin, metallic-sounding synth for live use since drunk people won't know the difference, but the P08 will never make it on a recording...I'll keep trying though.

Seems okay.

I've heard DSI is very good in this regard.

Stay away unless you have a lot of money to burn.

Not sure what the software version, will have to check this out before I can really say here.
The presets sound great judging by the samples on their site, shows that this will be a very creative device.
I haven't actually used it yet but it looks very easy - no prior experience with synthesis will be necessary, unless you want to create really boring stuff.
The manual, I hear is fine.

I will check the manual for the polyphony but I believe it's around 7. There are no built in effects however this is a bit academic because every sound is an effect - it's a synth!
By linking together with other prophets you can obtain a polyphony of at least 22. Especially if you use 3.
There's a lot of stuff in the middle, too much to mention here.
According to the manual (bible) this prophet has a very good sequencer, it's very flexible and it's very easy to use, especially for the novice.

The wooden side panels mean that it can produce very realistic acoustic instruments, I believe the Trumpet preset is better than the real instrument.
This instrument would definitely be better for classical music, nothing on here would suit electronic music and has no relevance there. If you want that then buy a flute.

It's never let me down and I hope that continues when I use it. I wouldn't use it on a gig it's not the type of place you would take it to.
This question would be better rephrased as, "Would you introduce it to your mother?
The answer is no I wouldn't.

Brilliant, really friendly even when you don't have a problem.

I haven't bought it yet so no comment on it's value. If it were stolen I would find the thief and buy it back.
I've been playing for a number of years and have just learned my first chords, so really chuffed about that.
I hate the fact that I cannot afford one yet.
I compared it to a pair of trousers and decided on the trousers in the end.
I wish it had pots like the PE version.
It's great for music if that's what you wan to do with it.
I have sweets.

I think I got one of the first or second prophet-08's to come into Canada with a very low serial number on it.
I am not much a fan of the presets, I quickly started by programming my own sounds and found it very easy to use.
I have only really had to pick up the manual a few times and I thought it could explain a few things a bit better, however I have previously used several other analog synths so I was at home on this one.

At 8 voices of analog polyphony I find it to be enough. A synth like this doesn't need to have a million voices and multifx, etc, etc.
The keyboard action is ok. I wasn't expecting a piano. It's fine for a synth.
The reason to use this synth in my opinion is it's fantastic modulation routings and step sequencers.
It will make your sounds move all over the place. It offers functions that it's older counterpart doesn't.
The layer mode is nice as well if you want to create very complex sounds and sequences. Also the Pan spread is a nice addition and reminds me a little of my beloved OB-8.

As an owner of many vintage poly synthesizer's (Jupiter-4, OB-8, OBX, Prophet-5, Jupiter-8, Polysix) I will say that it is NOT a prophet-5. I actually put them side by side and programmed the same patches on both to hear the difference (thanks to the prophet-5's patch sheets in the user manual). The prophet-5 DOES sound bigger, but the 08 does sound analog and sits in my music in ways that the prophet-5 can't.
The 08 does sound like a sequential though. There is no doubt about that. And for those who are using VA, there is simply no comparison to real Analog.
If you think the 08 is not sounding rich enough, Add oscilator slop, detune the voices a bit, put it into layer mode, Hit the UNISON button.

I would say that luckily I have not had an issue, and I don't expect to. It is brand new so no need to worry about dead SSM/ curtis chips, and recapping it. That is one thing I don't like about the old gear.
I have taken it out for a show, and I will again.
It is nice an small compared to a Jupiter or Oberheim.
I do hope that the knobs keep up over the years though.

Once I had to contact Dave Smith Instruments regarding the Evolver's software.
It was a sunday afternoon around dinner time. I emailed, and within an hour I had a response from Dave Smith himself with a software fix via a midi file!!
I am sorry Roland, Korg, Yamaha, & E-mu but that is the best synth support I have ever had. Perhaps you could learn something from this small, QUALITY company!

Overall it is a great modern synth. It is about time that there were a few Analog options in the new synth market. It stands out in the age of sterile computer production,VA's and workstations.
I would replace it if It was lost or stolen with another one perhaps a desktop to save some space though.
I do wish there was another 2 banks of memory to store patches though.
Also missed is the Polymod of the prophet-5.
Otherwiswe it is a great new synth!

I think software is brilliant.
I think presets are there just for example of the overall potential of the instruments.

The manual is the key to understand the purpose of this instrument, something as: "please play, you are not an engineer, I've done the engineering for you"

Polyphony right, enough...

The sequencer, as all sequencers is hard to understand. A a part of a rock structure.
Well, it's gated. And that's in someway a suggestion to me.

Sound is great. It depends form ears to ears. But this actually it's great to me, because I'm looking for a kind of sound that's not futuristic or vintage.

This instruments is very powerful: I play rock with it, classical, and dance too (it has 4 (four) LFO's!)

Good keyboard

I'd carried with me in an hard case.
No problem.

The price, in the end, is correct.
I've played it for 6 months.

I love sound and hate a little the limit of cannot play it for 5 hours in a day. It's not a piano, it's easy to lost your imagination in one of the hundred possibilities of this instrument.

I wish it had... more pedals!

To play it is an experience.

The last thing to share: music is time! I whish the prophet was built in four dimensions!

pretty straightforward poly analog layout, except for the layer features, check the manual on there.

polyphony good, keybed response pretty good, like the stacking feature.

there's absolutely no question = this synth has more presence than all the 'virtual analog' synths on the market. This reminds me of the Juno-60 , actually, but with miles better features and fkexibility. People who say this instrument is good for a balance of "modern electronica' ( clean treble and highs) and 'vintage' ( warmth & presence) are bang-on, and that's what you get with the best DCO synths. one or two reviewers below a bit muddled about the point of the synth,,; wasn't supposed to be a retread of the prophet 5 to start with, as dave smith said. It's half sequential sound and half new synth ( clean ) sound and damn good at being just that.

some complaints about the knovs, but considering the price they 've got it down to for a multi voice analog you'd expect that the trade off there.

all you need to is the compare the sound to overpriced VAs, and the featureset on old 80s analogs out there, to see what strong value this is. optimistically we;re going to see more like this and fewer VA synths.

Limited polyphony as 30 years ago.
Somehow cheap feel of knobs and buttons.
Due to target price synth looks cheap.
Functionally it is 90% OK.

P08 doesn't have signature sound of heavyweight synthesizers we loved so much in 80s. It ressembles them., but pale in comparison.
Polyevolver is better synth than this prophet.
Don't expect Prophet 5 here.
Some VAs (Virus TI) are better to my ears, even Andromeda that is criticized heavily has overal more balls and character.
IMO budget was so low that better synth couldn't be actually produced.

No idea.

I couldn't force myself to keep it.
I have Polyevolver PEK+PER for 8 voices and this combo at least has something special and new brought to table. It is new concept.
I expected a lot from P08, but it didn't deliver.
For guys who never owned Prophet 5 or Memorymoog P08 might sound like analogue synth from the past, but it's not so.
I don't recommend it to real analogue afficionados.

Using Latest software available.
I think the presets have some nice sounds showing what the synth is capabale of. "Moonster" is a Massive and awesome sounding patch that really blew me away. Editing patches is a breeze thanks to the classic layout of the front panel.
The manual is small and easy to understand.

8 Voices of polyphony is not bad at all. I would perfer 10 voices because I play often cords with 5 notes, and if I play pads I would like the second chord not to replace the notes of the previous chord, other then that the polyphony is pretty acceptable :).
No built-in effects, but with 4 LFO's and PAN modulation, you can make some nice delay effects :)
This board has no expansion capabilty other then being able to connect another prophet 08 to double the polyphony.
The keyboard is very nice for those who wants an expressive keyboard, the aftertouch and velocity is extremely sencitive.
The onboard sequencers (4) can be modulation sources! :D
This synth has extremely wide range of modulation capabilities.

To my taste, this is the weak point of the synth.
To start of with the good things here: With all the modulation capabilties, it is possible to create very complex sounds, though it will require a tad of menu diving but this is the strong side of the sound of this synth. On the other hand, I have problems finding the sweetspots I was hoping for with an analog synth; By creating basses, leads and strings, I do not get satisfied. I really hate the filter responce! And the sound from the oscillators is very dry and thin. I was hoping for the warm sounds and screaming leads, that the Prophet had. But this synth is totally different.

The software of this synth seems to be rock solid, I didn't experience any bugs of any sort. Personally if I would gig with this, I would've put it in a hard case. The knobs really worries me, they feel loose and sencitive, and gives me an impression of bad quality. Though it feels a bit better then on the Evolver series because of the bigger heads, but they need care still. The buttons feels the same way, but luckily they arent as big as the knobs and is less vunerable because of that.

I've sent some e-mails and their responce is extremely quick. Good job Dave!!

I would not buy it again. I've actually sold mine now and replaced it with a moog little phatty, that gives me the sound I was after.
My setup now: Nord Wave, Moog LP, Virus TI, IK multimedia software bundle, Best service Drums overkill, Mac Pro, Cubase 4.
I wish the prophet 08 had better buildquality of knobs and buttons. I wish it had 10 voices. I wish it had VCO's instead of DCO's. I wish the filter responce would be different. I wish it had USB connection for editor software.

Currently using the latest software. The presets are a good starting point to make your own sounds and they demonstrate the unlimited sound sculpting possibilities. Editing can be as easy as twisting a knob or as complex as routing anything to anywhere. Manual is simple no BS. I use the editor librarian for backing up sounds only.

8 voice poly. keyboard action is better than any other in its category. no effects. currently using a lexicon mx300 to process. polyphony can be expanded by chaining with other p8's. All the necessary MIDI is there(Remember, Dave Smith originally implemented it)

Are the sounds realistic. geez i hope not. pure analog. I use it for pop, rock, and electronic dance,etc. again, no effects. You can route anything to the mod, pitch wheels or cv pedal for expression. velocity and aftertouch as well, and don't forget about all the knobs. Sounds are good, for a poly analog at its price.

I use this keyboard for gigging and home studio. I've owned it for a year now. After gigging with it about 20 times (in a softcase) and transporting it to the studio and rehearsals 2 to 3 times per weak it has not failed me. Although the knobs are tempermental when twisting too fast while playing live. If i could afford a backup i definately would.

i've dealt with the company, and am currently dealing with the knob situation. customer service is as good as it gets.

if it were lost or stolen i would replace it, i cannot think of another keyboard that could replace it with. it's my main axe. I love everything about it except the tempermental knobs. chose this keyboard because of sound, price weight, keyboard and capabilities. There is a few things i wish it had but there is more than plenty to keep me busy.

I'm using the latest software as of September 2008. This synth sounds fabulous. It's the first real analog synth I've owned for a long time, and I'd forgotten how great they sound. Virtual analogs are good for many things, but if they're all you play you won't know what you're missing. In a dense mix, live, on a compressed mp3, or over the radio, the difference between virtual and actual analogs is often lost. Play the Prophet 08 by itself next to the Virus TI, however, and you'll hear the difference.

The presets are a mixed bag, like on every synth. Some are really nice, some are unusable and just meant to grab your attention or highlight a particular feature, some are just bad. Editing them is about as easy as it gets, though, since there are very few menus. The patch editor has its advantages, but it's mostly not necessary for typical patch tweaking. It's probably most useful as a librarian or for the sequencer. The display is very easy to read, the LFO lights indicate rate and waveshape by the way they blink, and sequencer functions are indicated by yellow lights and lettering--all very ergonomic and great.

Ease of use is compromised, though, by the external power supply. It's really surprising that someone like Dave Smith, who has made such landmark instruments and designed them with such care would do that to an otherwise great synth. Wall warts/line lumps get stepped on, kicked around, they get pulled out of the jack on the synth, and it's much harder and more expensive to keep spares around. Really, REALLY bad move.

Otherwise, the only thing I'd wish for is a numeric keypad for selecting patches. That's a small gripe, though. Points off for the external power supply.

I won't make a list of the features, because you should get them from the DSI website. I've seen incorrect features listed for many synths on HC.

The keyboard action is very nice, tied with the Supernova II and Virus C/TI as my favorite. It's nicely weighted, fast, solid, it bottoms out onto something firm but forgiving, and the velocity and pressure sensitivity respond wonderfully. SOO much better than flimsy MIDI controllers, and much better even than the V-Synth, various Nords, etc. It's a real pleasure to play.

8-voice polyphony is fine--of course 16 or 32 voices would be great, too, but this is unlikely to be anyone's only synth, and more voices means higher cost. No effects, but I bought a t.c. electronic M350 for next to nothing, and the P08 is permanently routed through it. (There's a dedicated front-panel bypass switch on the M350 for when I don't want to hear effects.) No expansion capabilities, and MIDI capabilities are fine. Actually, the MIDI poly-chain feature is unusual and great--plug in a second P08 and they act as a single 16-voice synth. Great!

The on-board sequencer is tricky. I wish it weren't gated only, but would play sequences even after I lifted my hands from the keyboard or at the touch of a button like the sequencer from the Evolver series. Although it's hard to program, it's still very useful. Having 4 LFOs is fantastic, I just wish there was a smoothed-random waveshape (Access calls it sample-and-glide, Novation acheives it by smoothing the S&H setting) and I wish there were more LFO destinations (like other LFOs, for example). The endless knobs are fine with me--I think the smooth changes in settings that they provide is worth the trade-off of not being able to "see" all the settings in a particular sound by looking at the knob positions. Especially since the display shows the original setting and new setting for any parameter you alter.

The main feature that is really disappointing is the arpeggiator. It has no random mode, and it can't do multiple octaves. If you play new notes while it's latched, those notes get added to the existing arpeggio instead of replacing the existing arpeggio. It seems like replacing existing arpeggio notes is MUCH more useful--it is to me, anyway--or at least being able to choose between the two would be great. I've emailed them about this, and they basically said that they're busy, don't hold your breath.

Mmmmmm. I used to think that people were too OCD about analog sounds, that VAs were so good today that real analogs were no longer necessary. Then I played the P08, and I changed my tune. I still think that in a loud live mix, buried under guitars and all the rest, the difference will be lost on the audience. In the studio, though, or in more refined live settings or recordings, the difference is immediately apparent. The P08 sounds huge, full, warm, and organic in a way that only analog can. It's beautiful (or nasty and filthy, depending on your programming). It would work for any music where synths are called for, unless you specifically want a glassy, digital edge or samples.

I'm not so sure about this one. The knobs are seriously wobbly and the power supply is external. These two things make it feel like a studio-only piece. It's weird that the knobs are so fragile-feeling, because the keyboard and the wheels feel so nice. Like other reviewers below, I'd have paid more for sturdy knobs.

Very nice people who respond quickly to emails. It's a tiny company, though, and they appear not to have time for extensive OS updates like those offered by Kurzweil or Waldorf (also tiny companies).

I actually returned the keyboard because of the knob issues, and I bought the P08 rack. It's knobs are still not as sturdy as those on a Nord or Moog, but they're better. Plus, I'll admit that I hate wood ends on synthesizers. It just seems like a marketing tactic aimed at nostalgic people, because wood is clearly not the best material for synth construction. (It absorbs moisture, it dings easily, it required dead trees, etc.) The P08 rack has wood ends, but it comes with rack ears that I use, and they're great. In the rack, if you use angled connectors and if you seriously bend the power cord (I tied mine into an angle with thread), you won't need an extra space above the synth for the cables.

Otherwise, this is a fantastic synth. It's specialized because it does one thing only--analog sounds--so it's unlikely to be anyone's only synth. Luckily, it does analog sounds incredibly well. It has limitations as described above, but it costs less than a vintage analog polysynth on eBay, and it does SO many things that vintage polysynths can't do. It's really great to be able to buy a new analog polysynth, more powerful than previous ones, at a low price and with a warranty!

I compared this synth with what I consider to be the best VAs out there--the Alesis Ion/Micron, and the Clavia Nord Wave. (I've heard great things about the VA engine in the Korg Oasys, but I can't afford it, and the Access Virus TI aliases too much for me to consider it a good analog emulator.) The Ion and Micron are both great, and they have capabilities that the P08 lacks, but I have other synths with unusual filters and three oscillators per voice, so I thought my needs were better served by a real analog engine. The Nord Wave is great and has a very convincing sound, but it's expensive and much of its cost is because of its ability to play samples. I would have considered an Alesis Andromeda, but nobody around me sells them, and I didn't want to pay that much money for a used thing on eBay. Plus, the P08 is simpler, yet it still sounds great.

I also own a Roland V-Synth, a Waldorf Blofeld, and a Kurzweil PC3. The Prophet 08 rack rounds out this collection perfectly. It I somehow lost it, I'd buy it again without hesitation.

The presets installed were pretty much a joke. There was only one good one. The rest had no musical value whatsoever. Sound creation was pretty strait forward. I never used the editor software. The synth has an amazing number of modulation possibilities, but since the owners manual provides only a minimum of information, I never was really able fully understand and use all of the features in a satisfying manner. It's almost like after they finished developeing the Prophet, someone realized "Hey we forgot the manual" and then wrote it in a few hours!

The keyboard has eight voices, which for this type of keyboard, is sufficient. No built-in effects. I bought a Lexicon MX200 when I bought the Prophet. The keyboard action is very nice. For a non-weighted action, it provides a nice amount of resistance.

The on-board gated sequencer sounds great in all the ads, but in reality, it's very hard to program.

This instrument, like most analogs, produces a limited range of sounds. That's just the nature of analog synthsis. Although the sounds are very fat, this is not a work-horse kind of synth, and I only occasionally could find a need for it in my work.

Undependable. I constantly had to calibrate the keyboard do to pitch drift while playing.

All I could get was some lame website.

I really tried to unlock all the "potential" that everyone was saying this keyboard has. In the end, after all was said and done, I returned the keyboard on day 29 after buying it. I relaced it with Sonic Instruments SAMPLE MOOG software for $240.00. And I used the rest of the money as a down payment on a new car. I'm much happier now!!!

The P08 is mostly easy to use.
Layout is logical with a dedicated knob for most common functions
What I find a bit frustrating is that with the small screen the knobs dont give you any visual feedback as to the settings so in this respect its less intuitive than synths with sliders such as my humble SH101.
This is offset at least by the fact when you go to tweak a knob the display tells you the setting of the patch before you started to alter it.
This is good for knobs that alter something like a modulation destination where one touch may take you a long way from your current setting. Without this you could touch the knob and drastically alter a sound and not be able to find your way back.
In the P08s defence Im not sure how you could get around this limitation except with something like a bigger display with a page with all the modulations set out. In fact the software editor gives you this sort of visual information.
Overall, Im finding it easy to work with.

Very well specified in a nice size.
I wont repeat the all specifications but just say I find theres lots of ways to manipulate your basic oscillators sound, plenty of LFOs and envelopes and modulation routings
I love having 8 voices and the built in sequencer.
Maybe not as capable of as broad a range as the PolyEvolver with its wavetables, but still, for an analogue synth its pretty comprehensive. Youd have to compare it to the Alesis Andromeda to get this many modulation options and the Andromeda is way more expensive and fills a different niche.

Well to my ears it sounds lovely
Expressive keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
Every analogue synth has its own character and this is no exception.
Comparisons with the lovely Prophet 5 are fair enough. To me it shares some of the quality but the P05 sounds smoother and silkier, the P08 out of the box is more cutting and abrasive, sounds "brighter" and more overdriven especially in unison mode.
This has a bit to do with the presets which seem to show off its "brassy" sounds a lot. I have coaxed mellower sounds out of it but it doesnt seem to fall naturally into this type of sound for me.
Its an extroverted, upfront, synth for me.

Well heres where I feel a bit let down
Ive been using this for about a month and some of the knobs are already feeling a bit loose and Im very very gentle with my gear.
You sometimes have to spin the knobs quite a lot to get the changes you need and all this tweaking seems to be too much for them.
Its a big problem because it makes me afraid to use the synth Im afraid Ill slowly break it.
I want to be able to tweak away and get into it, not treat it like this super delicate thing. Im already thinking about stashing some spare knobs away. I hope its not too hard to get to them to change them in the future.
I personally would have preferred to pay a more for sturdy knobs. Im thinking of the clunkers on the Moog Voyager or the Prophet 5

Dont know yet
Good reputation for sure

Sounds great, plenty of control options
Love the small size
Very reasonable price, but as I mentioned I would have paid more for more solid knobs. Apart from playing the keyboard, tweaking the knobs is fundamental for me. Playing an instrument is a tactile and physical thing. Its part of the whole experience of using "real" synths instead of software.
I have many synths. I have sold most of my "vintage" analogue gear because I was getting frustrated by reliability issues. Its great to be able to buy a genuine analogue with so many modern features that isnt 20-30 years old.
I would compare it favourably with my Andromeda for sound shaping features such as filters, modulation, and sequencer and it stacks up pretty well. The A6 is in a different price range with 16 voices bigger screen with more info, knobs more sturdy. Its sound is more low key and silky. Prophet 08 has more punch and guts to my ears, not as much squelch and "liquidness".
In this respect you could say it sounds a lot like the "analogue" part of the DSI Evolver.
I bought this on its own merits but I was interested in checking it out because I love the DSI Poly Evolver Keyboard and as I mentioned Im phasing out my vintage gear (except for my Prophet 5 and SH101)
Overall, Im enjoying this synth very much.

Very easy to use, especially with the computer editor which lets you "see" the sound. Good selection of presets, from simple to very complex-sounds like more than 8 voices sometimes! All is clearly laid out, though needs a bit of practice if you are a novice.

Does what it says it does - 8 voices of pure 100% analog sound. MIDI control is feature-rich. Perhaps a HPF would have been nice, but it just feels complete as it is.

I was too young (8) when the Prophet 5 came out, though I remember the ads well. That well-known "vibe" of a classic synth is well captured in the P08, and while it may not "sound" the same as a P5 or P8, it has all the expression that one would want. Deep, harsh, sweet, it is all there. Oh, and you have to listen to it though monitors as the headphone output does not do the instrument justice.

No problems so far.

Dave Smith is supposed to offer great support, though I haven't needed it yet.

Thank you Dave Smith for building an instrument of such grace and beauty for those of us that missed out the first time round! It integrates perfectly with my old and new synths and samplers, but best of all, sounds great!

If you've ever used an analog or virtual analog, this will be a breeze. The layout of the controls is very straightforward, and most functions have a dedicated knob assigned to it. The presets range from quite good to pretty lame, but at least the give a good impression of the various features.

You'll be starting creating your own library of sounds soon enough and that's when the machine starts to shine. I bought the PC editor mainly for librarian purposes and PC editing during sequencing, but it's not necessary to get good sound from the unit.

The manual is sparse but detailed. It might be a bit baffling to people new to synths, but if they read a generic analog synth tutorial they'll be up to speed in no time.

The Prophet '08 features pretty much anything you expect on a modern day synth, but with the beautiful full sounds of the past. The keyboard feels nice and expressive and the sound is absolutely stunning. There aren't any onboard effects, but you get a 100% analog signal path in return. Add a bit of reverb, chorus or delay from an external unit and it gets even better.

You get velocity and aftertouch combined with loads of modulation options and the onboard sequencer which can also be used as modulation source. This makes the unit very, very flexible when it comes to shaping sounds and performing.

The arpeggiator is a bit lacklustre though, with not many options and a lack of playing over various octaves. Also, I personally would have like a third oscillator per voice and/or a suboscillator.

The sounds are absolutely beautiful and organic and lively. The keyboard performance options are very well integrated, making this not only a great sound generator but also a superb performance instrument. When editing sounds it's very easy to assign keyboard pressure or velocity to one or more sound parameters, resulting in very expressive playing.

The unit feels solid enough, although the knobs do feel a bit lightweight and fragile. I would use it for gigs (but I use it only in the studio), but I'd make sure to pack it really well in a sturdy flightcase with loads of damping materials.

The customer support is excellent. I ordered the sound editor and got a code that didn't work. Within 5 minutes after mailing them I got a reply both from Sound Tower and Dave Smith, providing me with a new code which worked fine. They really seem to care about their customers. Another mail I sent earlier to DSI involving registration of the instrument also got a swift reply.

Definitely worth the cash I paid for it, and I would replace it. I'm very happy to be able to own a brand new virgin genuine analog machine straight from the factory with support and warrantee for a fair price.

I own a couple of Virtual Analogs, and Evolver and some analog drumming, but the Prophet '08 really is something else. The sound quality, the way the unit operates and the performance options put it pretty much in a league of its own, only shared by vintage equipment with all the perks and quirks.

Sure, it could have been better. I would have liked more robust knobs. I would have liked some indication of the value of the knobs when opening a new patch. Maybe some more modulation options, like FM or coloured noise. A more elaborate arpeggiator.

But come on. You pay less than $2000 for a unit with superb sound, a great interface and countless possibilities when you compare it to vintage equipment. This IS as good as it gets.

Original OS I believe. Out of the box, a very intuitive keyboard. Well laid out.Editing is very simple. I was tweaking away without the manual and finding my way around quite easily.

Good polyphony for an analog poly synth. Keyboard action is one of the best I've ever played, and I've played a LOT! Very nice integration of aftertouch. You feel a connection to the instrument.
No effects as this would bring it into the digital domain. Step sequencer and arpeggiator are nice. Wish there was a bit more variety in the arpeggiator though. No random note option!

Sound is pure Prophet all the way! This thing can growl and sizzle, yet retain it's warmth. Pretty ballsy too though I must say my Moog Voyager is a bit smoother and has more depth. Something lacking in the overall sonic richness. But still quite nice. Reacts well to playing. Some sounds though, especially pads have a tendency to "cut out". I thought this was a polyphony issue. Be warned in stacked mode, your 8 notes of polyphony are cut in half to 4. But even when playing simple chords, say a low bass note and a 2 note chord in the right, notes still fall out.

I'm strictly a studio player, but I don't think I'd gig this machine.
Seems like they cut corners to keep the price down. That's fair, but the knobs are a little flimsy. If you baby them it should be fine, but a few rough tweaks and I can see problems down the line. On my unit the presets were a little jumpy, changing suddenly if you bump the keyboard or tweak a knob too quickly. Also the LED is covered by thin plastic, not even glass or a firm plastic. A bit shallow on the craftsmanship I think.

Very good. I had a few questions and they got back to me ASAP.

While I do like the Prophet 08 alot, in the end I've decided to send it back. I've been playing for 30 years and owned a lot of gear. I thought the Prophet would bring me back to my youth. It definetely has a niche market. Perhaps DSI did too good a job! This thing sounds OLD! If you want to recreate that 70's sound ala early Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, M. Jarre and the like, look no further. This is the board for you. But I can't get past the dated sound. It makes my tracks sound like they were just discovered in a vault from '75! I would probably only use it for adding a little "flavor" to my tracks here and there, and that does'nt justify the $2000 cost for me. But all in all a nice keyboard.

signal flow is pretty simple, DCOs to filter to amp/adsr. editing patches would be nicer w/o having to look at where you are on the LCD screen. small price to pay for LOTS of modulation options though. presets sound OK, but underwhelming for what it can do.

great polyphony. no audio in, no mono out. sequencer is really cool. modulation abilities are awesome! lots of ways to loosen up the DCO sound w/ osc slop and unison.

before any criticisms, i'll preface that it sounds great, and you should be using this thing in STEREO to really get the most out of it.

i might get chided for this, but doesn't do deep bassline stuff particularly well, imo. this might be a limitation of the curtis chip, or just a unique character trait in exchange for that sizzly metallic sort of sound, but trust me, buy this thing if you're looking for polyphony for leads and awesome pads primarily. you can get great bass sounds, but i'm just saying, don't buy this particularly for that function in your studio. now admittedly this is coming from someone who's owned a voyager/ms20/sh-09, and those are pretty much bass machines, but with all that said, you definitely can make do with proper programming and maybe some compression. don't let the presets fool you, as they are primarily very "sheen-y" often utilitizing all voices in mega-detune unison mode w/ cutoff all the way open, so you get alot of same-y UBERBUZZ sounds. there's a few really good examples of the capabilities of this thing, but overall they can be a bit underwhelming. give it a chance though, and for the love of dave, PROGRAM SOMETHING YOURSELF before passing judgement! at first i was really disappointed, hoping this would be the end-all be-all, but i think w/ some time it will grow on me quite a bit because of it's unique-yet-flexible sound palette. it will produce "analog sounds of the 80s" very well, and w/ a little delay can be absolutely enchanting. you can coax Boards of Canada style pads with Osc slop and modulation. it's scary cool for leads and arpeggios, too. basslines will come out of the woodwork but to get good ones you need to spend time w/ it.

I've owned an Evolver for 5 years or so, no probs. I have the P'08 rack and it's a tank. knobs are same as evolvers but a bit more ''in place'' feeling. DSI makes things to last.

upgrade my os w/ PIC chip on the Evolver and talked to dave about some midi stuff. awesome here.

this thing rules, with only a few minor (workable) caveats. it will be a great complement to studios with other analog gear in them. partners GREAT w/ moog stuff. i retain that it's not a sub-bass machine, but can do everything else very well. i'm getting a Future Retro XS and Revolution to partner with it, and think this will be an optimal setup. it has a few qualities to it that make it better for some applications than others, but this can be said about every good synth. if you are looking for polyphony and VAs don't cut it for you, get this! i think it rivals the Virus TI very well. Prophet 5 meets the Evolver line.

There's a very satisfying simplicity and directness about this synth. It's something to do with the way all the controls are laid out, and the best word to describe that might probably be "ergonomic".

You'll find some interesting innovations and developments of the old sci ways of doing things here re; control routings and modulations , and to me the layering feature is one of the most handy.

I've owned in successive order a revision 2 prophet V, a grand but untenable prophet t8, a prophet 600 , a prophet VS and now an 08. The prophet 08 provides the most crispness , colour and punchiness, the 600 the best cloudy " washes " , the t8 the best ringing & grand tones ( and ringing and grand repair bills to go with them) and the old P5 good at size. This instrument competes with the all of them and has its own attributes. While it does plenty of things that are reminiscent in one way or other of each predecessor, it also does plenty of things any one of the predecessors couldn't. Looking at in this kind of context is probably the best way, and I'd recommend all of them.

This is a real plus, after the trying to sustain a t8 almost killed me ( physically and financially ). Its hard to put a price on having someone at the end of a line you can deal with for a tricky analogue synths, and that's something to consider when making a choice.

I think I've said everything important above, and I've very much enjoyed having this instrument.

I'm about to install the version that came vith the editor, not sure which is installed right now.
Presets focus on showcaseing the synths features, more as an inspiration than something you play out of the box. Then again, this is not a synth where you'll need the presets anyway. I really don't understand the criticism below, this. is. an. easy. synth. to. edit. Period. If you can't tell which knob to turn - espescially when working with the external editor, well, wash your ears! ;) I've only been breezing through the manual but it seems pretty clear.

8 voices can always be expanded to 16 with the P'08 module. :) The keyboard action is really nice, it's very easy to feel at home on this particular key bed. Stiff, but not heavy and very, very responsive. AT feels balanced and just right. It suits me better than my Andromeda and MUCH better than my Moog LP. No fx, but hey, can You afford a good enough reverb yourself anyway? The sequencer is really flexible, not as powerful as on the Poly Evolver but easier to implement.

Extremely precise analog fatness from the start, and with the osc slop you get all the drift you want - within reason. The unison mode blows anything away, it's the fattest unison I've heard next to the MKS-80. Separate glide rates per osc is nice, and there's a LOT of options for sculpting your favorite sounds. Analog strings and percussive sounds are a breeze, for softer pads I still use the Andromeda. For now, perhaps. :)

It's very light weight but still feels sturdy. I wouldn't hesitate to bring it to a gig. The only downside is the dreaded wall wart power supply, why?!?! I HATE wall warts, and that brings it down to an 8.

Extremely helpful. I have an Evolver and a PER, and DSI have always been as helpful as they can be. Probably the best support in the business!

I'd replace it in a blink. I have a ton of synths, but this is the first poly analog I consider gigging with on a regular basis. It sounds great, it's light weight, it seems reliable and looks great on stage. Considering the price and the support, I'd say it's a best buy among analog polys today. Sure, the Andromeda and the Code8 have advantages, but this one has the SOUND. Get one, you won't regret it.

At a start i was quite worried that the endless knobs was going to be a problem to me coz i have never used this kind of knobs. I was very worried that i would no havet he visable overview of the sound like you have on other analog synths with knobs. But after a while i also could see the advantage of endless knobs. Especialy when you start to program an old preset that you not have been working with for a while. Then the knob starts where you left it the last time and you dont have to feel where it was before. It is just a new way of working with the synth. It would be gret if we could have light diods like the Moog LP or Nordlead 3, but it had for sure affected the price.

We got 8 voices of poly in a true analog synth. It got a load of LFO??s and modulators. A great sequencer and arpeggiator. A very nice keyboard (i use mine as the master in my home studio). This baby got it all. Meaby a highpass filter would do the thing to give it a 10. But im very pleased with the comptence of this machine.

I have owned a few analog polys like Roland Jupiter 8, SCI Prophet 5 (rev 2), Oberhiem OBXa and they all sounds very good. My favorite was the Prophet 5 especialy the Rev 2 with the SSM2040 filter. This machine is that good also. You can imeditly hear its P5 sound. That sweet analog living sound. And the fine thing about the P08 is that you can adjust how "alive" you want it to be with a parameter how drifty the Oscs will be. So you can have it to sound as clean as you want and as dirty, drifty as you want. Amazing. Great sound!

This is the main reason why i bought it. As i said before i have owned a few old analog polys and as you know, old analog polys are getting quite expensive and they are not getting larger in numbers. So sold my polys to sleep better at night and save some time prying that they will not die on me. I can always reliy on this babay. No warming up time, no strange overheat problems and it only gets out of tune as much as i want it :)

I have not had any problem with my P08 yet so i have not been forced to contact DSI. But i have heard that Mr.Dave him self anwers if you contact DSI. Meaby i should contact them just to have a nice conversation with the god of analog polys ;) *joke*

This synth is here to stay in my home studio. This is the synth i build up my sound around nowdays. I just love it. I was searching for a good analog poly for a few years and have tryed a few, Alesis Andromeda, Studio electronics Omega 8 etc etc but there have always been something that i did not like. The Andromeda A6 sounds to "flat" i think and the Omega 8 is much to expensive etc etc. This is a great synth for a great price. So if you are in to analog polys and want to play/making music instead of sending your instrument to your lokal repair man. This is the machine for you.

as mentiond typical subtractive , very hands on . the presets just show of different facets of the sound engine to get you moving. they're not meant be some kind of end-all like on a rompler.

8 voices of poly and curtis filters. you can split and layer your sounds. the main thing is the modulation options , which go a long way to make it pack a punch.

in response to the guy below - did you notice this is actually for 'user' reviews ? ie people who actually own the synth ?the reason you were disappointed was because you spent ten minutes in a store, on a MONO speaker ! give me a break . half the power of this thing is in the modulating options, that's where you find the mojo with this. And as for the mono demoing, a lot of the patches are set up for stereo image effects on the l/r to the channels, so no wonder you haven't heard what it can do. the filter sizzles and bubbles with a really hot sound. very nice. if anyone thinks the sounds the same as software I don't know what planet they're on. most of the people praising the sound down there mention comparison with their old synths, they're not newbs here.

after losing breaking two knobs on my mek got them in the post pronto.

this is a powerful synth no question, and I would replace if lost. there's lots of edge and spice in the sound and does a lot. if people are going to review stuff, please actually try and spend some time with them first !

I agree with the first poster and a few others. My colaberator has the real McCoy P5, and the biggest joy is pushing a button to select "saw tooth" "unison" quickly tweaking a knob in realtime, with out thinking about it's corosponding value in a small lcd screen. Getting back to the program bank is a pain, and scrolling though programs are a nightmare, awkwardly clunky overshooting the program in each direction. As said and agreed, It's no better than Native instruments soft synth.

I give this a "1" because I expect better and more out of Dave Smith, yes we can put digital doodads on hamburger if we want, but is it practicle? What's the point of analog if you are going to hide behind digital controls?

Keyboard action feels about as specail as my E-mu 49 midi controller that I use to controll the native intruments P5, wich by the way, is the worst experience about using native instruments. (my poor quality keyboard controller)

This is where I was extremely disapointed. As I played the P08 trying to emulate the "power sync 5" the benchmark of the prophet sound IMO, it fell short of my expectation. The Prophet5 and even the NI P5 has teeth, this thing has gums.

Even the filter sweep was whimpy compared to the NI and SQ versions.

As I played this machine (I had to go get Bill for a second opinion) I realized I was playing through a Rolland Amp sitting on the floor. Thinking of the fat sound I get out of my DW8000(which btw I think out classes this in grit and umph) which I run in stereo, I asked Bill is the P5 in stereo(thinking the mono source was the culprit) No it's mono this thing should have teeth and it doesn't period! I agreed and we left.

NO opinion, I was there to buy and left with out it.

NO opinion no sale

For those that rant and rave about the fatness of this obviously hasn't played an real analog synty with all of it's glories and flaws of descret cuircuts and semi conductors prone to failure and pots that fail, but for a few bucks all of which can be fixed.
Sure I guess this thing would make a great Trance and Hip Hop machine but for Rock-n-roll you're supposed to feel the analog, it's more than what you hear. If aren't feeling it, and I don't mean in decibles, then it aint happening.

I'll give it a seven because I'm sure it's a ten for most. But if you have a definition of Analog that was defined by Moog, Sequential Cuircuts(pre 81), Oberhiem(OBx1) this will fall short. Especially if you are out to regain that analog in new gear that has been missing from Music store shelves for over 2 decades now. I'll stick with the Native instruments if we're all just making do, until we can get some analog pots, and 4pole filters built back on these so called analog Synths.

...Some of the presets are really good, some are not. But half the fun of a instrument like this is that is really fun to tweak all of the sounds, including the ones that you don't like, to fit your tastebuds. It's so easy, and the sounds that you create become you own one of a kind patches. Creating signature sounds was never easier !!

Eight note polyphony...unless you double up. When you look at the Voyager, eight seems like a lot...and properly used, it is. The keyboard is really nice...very expressive, with alot of control over aftertouch/velocity (the only synth-action keyboard that I prefer the action on is the Virus TI). Great sequencer...I'm still learning how to use it.

Velocity and aftertouch are very expressive and helpful. The instruments are not realistic simulations of acoustic instruments...but hey...this is a analog synth, not a sample playback maching. The sounds SIZZLE...very hard to explain, until you hear it next to a Virus or Nord. Don't get me wrong...I love my Viruses and Nord to death (they have very specific strengths), and I'll never part with them...but this synth just JUMPS out of your speakers with a CLEAR, SIZZLING sound that is so warm and fat. No effects here...the sound is all 100% analog. Listen to it, and you'll know why !!

I don't know how reliable it would be gigging, but I suspect that it would be great, due to the level of refinement on this keyboard. And I'm doubly sure that DSI would be on any repairs with blinding speed (read below).

I have no doubt that DSI would be IMMEDIATE in their response to your call/email. When I got mine, I opened it up, just to find the power supply broken. At 8:30pm, I emailed them, and Andrew at DSI responded within an hour...and had a new power supply to me in 1 day. And I called to ask questions about it pre-purchase, I got Dave Smith, the legend...not a recording. He'll talk as long as it takes to answer any questions (I kept him on the phone for 15 min). You gotta love that !! And maybe I'm just starstruck, but this is also the genius that was responsible for inventing MIDI, the Prophet-5, ETC. WOW !!

I have a ton of gear (2 Viruses, 3 Nords, a Moog Voyager, 2 Yamaha Motif XS's, 3 Hammond organs/w Leslies...etc.). I have been playing for over 40 yrs...and now this monster. Among all these stellar boards, this one stands out. I love everything about it (except maybe the power wall-wart). The way I look at it, my VA's are slick...but the Prophet '08 is powerful in a very big way. As you can tell, I absolutely and catagorically LOVE THIS SYNTH. Please, please...try it out alongside a VA. Unless your totally deaf, you'll immediately see what I mean (actually, if you have the $$, you'll probably walk out with both the Prophet '08 and the Virus TI. Very complementary boards...

this is an intuitive and logical interface, excellent.

Modulation routings galore, hours of fun for adults, my kids, and the dog. Do you really need built in effects when you have a Unison mode splurge like this instrument does ? This man says no.

the Prophet'08 is very sensitive to the touch and to attack vel. The key feel is nicer than most of my old analogs IMHO. Top point though, is that it sounds ==musical== . I've only had two oldie analogs sound musical in this way, as you go from one note to other up a scale, and those were my arp axxe and my arp chroma. Have a play on one, knock out a scale or two and you may just get a handle on what I'm saying.

well it's a bit early for that kind of thing, hey ?

As the good people have said Dave Smith has got a good rep for tech support. Hopefully I won't need it.

As you can probably tell, I like this synth. A lot. It sounds ==musical==.