Native Instruments Pro-52

Pretty much you can see what you want to do and do it, considering the goal of remaking an analog it functions as I think the original would have.

As software, some things could have been made more convenient, like automating MIDI etc. is not the simplest thing to do.

But easy enough to run and tweak.

Synth, not sequencer.

For a synth there's plenty of features. Some others might have been nice but they wanted to emulaTe, so it probly has what the original did and no more.

Okay here is the down side. This virtual synth (surprise!!!) does not sound like an analog machine!!!!! I have used several analog synths (Jupiter 8, Siel, Waldorf Pulse) and although they are different than the Prophet, they sit in a mix much better. This sounds thin and cold. I guess you could try to fix it up outboard. Doesn't have the organic tone, especially down low.

Yes.

Works great, not too much CPU

10 FOR A SOFTSYNTH your computer may still crash tho!

never tried

Got it free

I have used it ALOT. It is very flexible and useful, I would estimate 20-30 really usable presets I have programmed. If you want a softsynth to tweak that look sgood and sounds decent, this is a good choice!!!!

But if you are really picky about sound, you may not like it. Check out Reaktor (harder to use, IMO sounds better) or Rainbow Synth for some fatter sounding ones.

PRO-52
Presets are very good. Editing is pretty easy, but not as easy as my Prophet-5!

32 voices of polyphony???
Yeah, ok---I guess theoretically, however, those 32 virtual voices still don't sound as warm or FATT AS my prophet-5's 5 Real analog voices.....

Excellent emulation of the original--but still an emulation...EMULATION is the key word here, folks!
If I couldn't have gotten my hands on a Prophet-5, I'd have to settle for this plug-in..after all, it's the closest thing to a prophet-5..

I did notice that the pro-52 falls short in the low frequency department---It's not as good in the bass register as the original!!!
It just seems to fall apart in the lower frequencies....

NO PROBLEMS...

??????

VERY, VERY GOOD EMULATION OF A PROPHET-5...

If you guys can't afford the real thing, then this is the closest you are going to ever get to it....

Before I begin my review I'd just like to say that the person who posted first is CLEARLY a Native Instruments employee- unlike me.

On the ease of use stakes I'd say it's welll...... hmmmmmm...... ok. I guess. On the plus side it has a lovely very friendly interface and I must admit, the presets are very good indeed. My only gripe is that I couldn't create certain sounds I had in mind, however hard I tried. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't quite get the LFO or the delay section to sound quite as I wanted and for certain sounds I've ended up having to look elsewhere.

To sum up- if you approach this synth with an open mind you'll pleasently surprized with some of the interesting sounds you can get from it. If on the other hand you have crystal clear ideas of the precise sounds you want to create then you are in for a rough (and in my case fruitless) experience.

I wish I could give it 6 and a half but I'll go with 7.

There's no shortage of this type of info on the net so I'll give my mark and move on.

Ok, you'll laugh, but you can get some really great bleeps from this and also some very cool sweeps. The onboard delay section is unlike any I've seen before. It has a mind of it's own! Sometimes you can tweak it all day long and it'll sound crud, then out of the blue sometimes you'll get these amazing complicated swirling delays.

Like I say, sound wise I'd very gladly use it for bleeps, sweeps and maybe synth lead. However, I'd generally go elsewhere for warping sounds, bass sounds or more organic effects.

no problems here at all. Happy to give a ten.

NA

If it were lost I would get it again. It's a very nice soft synth for the collection. Infact, a couple of months ago I would have strongly argued this was the best soft synth on the market (and I've tried a few!). However, since the arrival of the FM7 I'm not so sure- it's a close call (for what it's worth, I think FM7 has better sound capabilites and presets, but it's much more difficult to program).

The only other thing I'd like to share is to say good luck to N.I. They do seem to make some pretty good products. I predict that the soft synth scence with be MASSIVE within the next five years. Sound wise, the only real difference between any of my soft synths and the "real" synths I've owned and played (as far as I can make out) is that modern day synths have much more interesting presets. Now, unfortunately I can't let you hear sound comparisons at this time, but all you have to do is look at the names of the presets to get an idea of what I'm talking about. For example, my Korg Z1 has presets like "Alien laughing", "Dark Forest" "reso motion" and so on. The soft synths have a while to go before they reach that stage- they all have much more bland presets like "lead bass", "fat sweep" AND "synth string" but I am sure that will change soon.

The main thing for N.I. is that they just need to make sure they keep choosing the correct synths to emulate.

If instead of going for the organ thing (B-5 or whatever it was) and this Pro 52, they had gone for (say) a Juno 106 and maybe a JP8000 then I think N.I. would be well on their way to being the next Microsoft.

I am currently running version 2.2 of the Pro-52. Version 2.5 will be out shortly, adding support for MAS, DXi, and Direct Connect. The 512 factory presets sound absolutely killer! Not a bad one in the bunch. Some of the sounds this thing makes are truly inspiring. Editing and creating new patches is a breeze. The controls work just like the original Prophet, with fantastic accuracy. The manual is written clearly and in great detail (and in three languages). All patches are listed in the rear of the manual, and there is even a tutorial section that shows you the finer points of creating and editing patches.

Here are the features right off the NI website:

? 2 oscillators per voice
? Choice of pulse, triangle and saw-tooth waveforms
? Oscillator detune and synchronization
? 24dB low-pass filter with resonance and self oscillation
? ADSR envelopes for amplitude and filter
? Low Frequency Oscillator with numerous modulation options
? Theoretically unlimited number of voices (depending on CPU power)
? 512 freely programmable preset memories
? 512 selected classic analog sounds preprogrammed
? 64 new up-to-date sounds by vintage-synth legend John Bowen
? Velocity sensitivity
? Real-time MIDI control and automation of all parameters
? Two operating modes: analog warmth or digital accuracy
? Amount of analog inaccuracies freely adjustable
? Effects unit for chorus, flanging and echo, MIDI-syncable
? Input for external audio signals
? Fully compatible to Prophet?-5 MIDI-SysEx program data

The Pro-52 sounds like a good soft synth should - like the original. But better. The Pro-52 adds some valuable features the original Prophet lacked, such as unlimited polyphony and MIDI implementation. The Pro-52 sounds great on Techno, House, and other Urban styles. But I have had lots of fun using the Pro-52 on my guitar-driven Industrial music.

I have had no problems running the Pro-52 on my Apple PowerMac G4-400 MHz w/ 256 MB RAM. Installation was a breeze, and I have had no crashes or glitches. I am anxiously awaiting the 2.5 update so I can run it as a MIDI plug -in in Digital Performer, as I have been with Retro AS-1.

I haven't had to deal with Native Instruments yet.

I am currently running a computer-based studio on my Apple PowerMac G4 equipped with Digital Performer 3 and the MOTU 2408 mk II I/O Interface. I also own Rebirth RB-338 (Propellerheads Software) and Retro AS-1 (Bitheadz). The Pro-52 has been a great addition to my computer-based studio. It sounds very realistic, even compared to Retro AS-1. It doesn't offer as many editing options as Retro, but you can't beat the Pro-52 for it's simplicity and ease of use. And unlike Retro, the Pro-52 has not crashed my Mac. I would recommend this product to anyone with a compter-based DAW looking to recreate the much sought after analog tones of the 80's.