So I think I've determined that I want my next synthesizer to be one of these three from Sequential but I'm having trouble deciding. I'm a player first and am still relatively green in terms of production, sound design etc. I tend to prefer analog or at least hybrid synths but I'm trying to determine which of these would most compliment and fill in the gaps of the gear I already have.

My other boards are a stage piano (Viscount Legend 70s), a Clonewheel (Hammond Sk Pro 73), a Prologue 16 and A Poly D, which I think compliment each other very well but I do somehow feel my collection's not complete *cue little mermaid music* (If I was actually opening my own studio I'm sure it's far from complete).


Prophet 10 Rev 4: I love the sound of the P10 rev 4 and love the classic look of the Prophet 5 (I do also think the old school dual manual version of the prophet 10 is very nice sounding and looking but that's waaay beyond my price range). My Prologue does scratch 80% of the itch for me for most classic analog poly sounds but I've still been lusting after some genuine top of the line flagship analog poly to get that last little bit of "vintage" tone without having to pay through the nose for an actual vintage instrument and I think for me it's a choice between the Prophet 10 or the Obx8 , leaning slightly more towards the Prophet.


Prophet X: I like the idea of combining acoustic instrument samples and VA sounds through genuine analog filters and it seems like this or the Korg Wavestate offer capabilities in terms of adding digital composition and sound design tools that the others don't offer while still feeling like a proper "instrument" (something like the Quantum/Iridium feels like a little too much for me and it seems like many of the kinds of synthesis it offers are better done in software) that would add to my current setup. I don't really like the all black look of it compared to the classy wood housing of the Rev 4 though.

Trigon 6: I used to feel like a 4 octave keyboard and 6 voices are slight "compromises" for a poly synth, but I now think that having something like this in a relatively compact form factor would be useful for gigging, and its "Moogy" qualities (3 VCOs, ladder filter, feedback and drive circuits) might make it a good compromise between a polysynth and a monosynth (My prologue sounds pretty good in its Uni or Mono mode but I still prefer the Poly D for lead and bass sounds, and conversely I hardly ever use the latter's paraphonic or duophonic modes). I don't think I'd get rid of my Prologue for this but I might replace the Poly D. I think the look is extremely bland/uninspiring to me though.

TL:DR if you were in my situation with the stuff I already have, which one do you think would be the best choice?

Considering what you have...

Prophet X is the one that offers more possibilities that you don't already have.

If you don't like your Poly D, maybe the Trigon is your best option.

The Prophet 10 is "probably" the one more similar to your Prologue ? But not kinda exactly the same, of course ...

Prophet Rev4 you'll have the easiest time learning and will sound great *most* of the time.

If I wanted a sample player synth, I'm not sure Prophet X is where I'd start. For sure it's an amazing synthesizer but not the most easy or intuitive thing. A synth for the sampling grown ups!

I love the Poly D, but despite it's name I don't think it's all that useful as a polysynth. Conversely the Prologue works fine as a monosynth, so in situations where I'm only bringing one synth I would bring it, but it would be nice to have something that has a switchable filter polarity and 3 vcos for playing leads and basses.

I think if I got the Prophet 5 I might sell the Prologue (although it does have some things that Prophet 5/10 doesn't have like 12 db filter sounds, 16 voices, the digital engine etc.) whereas if got the Trigon I might discard the Poly D, but you're right there's not much "Redundancy" with the Prophet X....decisions decisions

I played a prophet X in store, I didn’t get buy me vibes from it but I’m not sure that’s really what I look for in a synth anyway.

To me it’d be between prophet 10 and trigon. I feel like on paper the trigon is more interesting. I think it boils down to whether you need 6 voices or 10 voices. I wouldn’t discount the prophet 6 or take 5 either if you don’t need 10 voices.

If analog sounds (VCOs) is the desire, then I'd go with the sound I want either Moogish (Trigon6) or Sequential (Rev 4).

But if I wanted to compliment the synths that were listed, I would choose Prophet X as it would give me a completely different expanded set of sounds to work with and vastly new ones that are waiting to be coaxed out of it. I didn't realize I'd want a Prophet X, but it is awesome. I got the Quantum and Wavestate first, but then decided to sell my Pro 2 for a Sequential synth with sample ability. Basically I wanted samples, not waveforms, in a Sequential synth/UI and the PX is it. One of the best decisions I made for me personally. It gave my polyphony and 4 layers of samples (since you can stack 2 different sounds) to work with. I really like having synths that send samples through analog filters. The PX actually compliments the Quantum and Wavestate really well, believe it or not. It's a deep synth, but it can be as basic as you want it to be. The VA section (and of course the samples) of it really does sound good through the VCFs. Imo, if someone is looking for orchestral and traditional instrument sounds then the PX should be at the top of the list because it sounds quite a bit better than a rompler and is easier to tweak. It's a dark synth, very sleek and stealthy looking, but the orange glow of the lights is beautiful.

Thanks for the input.

Awhile ago I was considering getting the Nord Wave 2 which seems somewhat comparable to the Prophet X and less expensive, though obviously there are differences and the X does offer some things that the Nord doesn't. At one point I was considering getting a desktop or Rackmount Rompler of some kind to take advantage of my Viscount's External controller module, but I kind of wish there was a module version of the Prophet X as I think it would lend itself to being controlled by a fully weighted 88 key piano action keyboard.

Yeah...my px sounds nothing like my quantum. They share some features...but...the sound is Very, very different. The Px is more kinda made like a Analog Synth where 2 of OSCs are Samples... kinda

This is though! All are fine synthesizers.

But based on your situation, I would consider selling the Prologue and Behringer Poly D and get the Prophet 5/10 Rev 4 to replace pure classic analog synthesizer duties. It is really all you ever need for classic tones. You mentioned you didn't want to get rid of the Prologue, but once you have the Prophet, I don't think you will regret it personally!
Maybe get a Moog in the next few years.

I regret selling the Prophet X, because i could make sounds out of it that were completely unique and it is currently missing from my own set up which covers classic analog, but no unique sample based synthesizer tones. But seeing as you have the Viscount 70's, (I think for Rhodes and piano?) this would be enough if you want that kind of sound. But to me, the ability on the Prophet X to go further in sound, with classic Rhodes sounds and piano, but make it more unique to your taste by adding synthesizer layers or synthesizer modulations through it's analog filters and lfo's is unmatched. The interface of the Prophet X is truly one of a kind to create these unique type of sounds.

Hope this helps!

Those are such incredibly different machines for different purposes and sounds, imo. But maybe I'm nitpicking? I'd say test the extreme sub low frequencies on the trigon and see if they are buttery enough for you compared to the prophet 5/10 - the 10 is reliable and has 10 voices which is rad but if you have a whole setup for both hands who cares, just use two synths on two separate keyboards and you'll feel less cramped anyway. If you're interested in the sampler x then spend the next year with the trigon or prophet rev 4 until you are ready for it, while visiting guitar center every day learning about it. I consider it more a math project than a music device for thr first year of use. Prophet is reliable. Trigon is an interesting second option.

My $0.02: The Prophet X is probably the best all-round keyboard if you want something flexible. It can do analog sounds and it can play back samples. If you get the add-on packs by 8Dio - you can turn it into another synth. For example, the OBX add-on basically gives you the OB-X oscillators that you can then play back through the X's analog filters. It's not exactly an Oberheim of course, but it's sounds great. 8Dio is probably having a sale now so you could pick up all the addons for a song.

Based on what you have, I’d go Prophet X.
It’s one of my favorite synths, and can go places none of your other gear can.

However, as a general rule I think the presets suck, and as you have said you are new to sound design. It really comes into its own when programming your own patches. If you find the idea of this daunting then maybe walk away. On the flipside, it is super easy and fun to program and there is enough depth there that you will never get bored / hit its limits.

One of the best synths of the last decade in my opinion.

The Trigon would be last on the list for me. I’m not really loving what I’ve heard from any of the demos.

Hmmm that does make the Prophet X a little more appealing. Are there are any good demos of the OB-x or Model D add-ons? I've seen/heard ones for the Prophet 5 and ARP 2600 add-ons but not for those others.

I don't doubt that the Rev 4 is superior for classic VCO sounds but I do think the Prologue is massively underrated in that regard (I know at least some people who actually prefer it to the Prophet 6 or even OB-6) and the ability to combine sounds from the user oscillators with VCO tones through analog filters is something I definitely would miss. I think it's still the only hybrid synth on the market that can be entirely digital, entirely analog or a blend of both. Also I do like the character of the 12 db filter (which maybe means I should aim for the Ob-x8 for a top tier VCO poly but I think I do slightly prefer the sound, look, form factor and slightly higher voice count of the Rev 4 to the Obx8).

As for the Poly D, controversies about Behringer not withstanding, it is a great sounding monosynth and if I were to get a poly to replace it I think I would want something that had three VCOs and a ladder filter, which pretty much means the Trigon in terms of what's currently available. That the Trigon also has a switchable filter pole is also a point in its favor over the P10, but I think I want to see more reviews and demos come in to get a better sense of its sound and if it really is a Memorymoog replacement.

Like I said I kind of wish the Prophet X existed in a keyboardless module form because the Viscount's External controller module is very useful for allowing it to serve as a midi controller and keep that functionality separable from its other sound engines.

Based on what you have, I'd go Prophet X from those three.

Player first? Prophet-10 rev4. You'll appreciate the 5 octave Fatar keyboard with velocity and aftertouch. And you'll want all 10 voices for extended range.

The Prophet-5/10 sound is PERFECT. Is it as versatile as the Prophet-X? Probably not. Is it as aggressive or thick as the Trigon-6? No. It's just a perfect perfect synth sound. Just the right amount of growl in the Rev 1/2 filter, or a more open clarity in the Rev 3 filter if that's what you are looking for.

I love the Trigon-6. It is a ton of fun. And I will never ever sell my Prophet-10. I sold my Prophet-5 back in 1998 to pay for computer music classes, and it was the right decision. So I'm happy that I've paid my past self back with interest by getting the Prophet-10.

My $0.02:

The Prophet X' samples, especially the strings, are among the best there are. Its synth-engine + analog filters also sound excellent. However, I think this is about as far away from a P5/10 as you can get. If you want that P5R4-vibe, you should consider getting that instead. It's the best-sounding analog-poly I've ever played; though, I actually would prefer a Moog One for its ample versatility (and also sounds very, very good). Not to get too off-topic, but if you have a chance to audition an Moog One in person, you'll see it doesn't sound "too modern;" to me, the Moog One sounds as vintage as you want it.

If you're more of a composer, the Prophet-X will give you a lot of options for layering interesting, multi-instrument samples. The X also has some really nice choral samples (e.g., children, male, female). If you're more of a player/gigging musician, the P5/10 really sounds the business in the poly-analog role.

I actually agree here. Most analogue synths excel in a range of character sounds some more, some less. I used to think the OBXa was the best rounded in this category back in the early 90s.. it still is “rounded” with a LOT of character sounds, but after having a P10 I can concur, it is a perfect perfect synth, simply because it covers everything so well, not just well rounded but in each case with character that meets or exceeds every analog I have tried or listened to.

I’d suggest the Prophet X as well. Why?

There’s your analog poly, and hybrid. No need for a Prophet 10, unless you really want that specific sound.

There’s your Moog filter, plus you can run it as a paraphonic synth. Even full polyphonic if Marc Doty’s around.

The X has a totally different filter. It’s really buttery. You don’t have a VA or a sample playback synth, and there you go.

The other synths are awesome, don’t get me wrong, but the X is the one that’s farthest from what you own.

I'm just curious, what in your opinion makes the Prophet more perfect than the Ob-x8? To me it's a really tough call, and the new OB does seem to be its only competition for "perfect analog polysynth" that's less than 5k (Mmmmaybe the Andromeda A6 but the issues with parts/repair and headache inducing workflow scare me off from that).

However the Memorymoog seems to sometimes be put in the same category of vintage "holy grail" synths along with the Jupiter 8, Cs80, original Ob-x etc. and obviously the Trigon is the closest thing to that right now.

Well like I said I probably wouldn't keep the Prologue if I got the Prophet (although I would miss it's hybrid sound capabilities and 16 voices), and probably wouldn't keep the poly d if I got the Trigon, but yeah the Prophet x is the least redundant with what I already have. I suppose with the Prophet 5 add-on from 8dio it could do a pretty good p5/p10 impression as well

That's 100% about my personal tastes. Nothing more.

Some of my opinions are slightly more objective. For example, saying that the Prophet-5/10 rev4 does a better job of emulating an old Prophet-5 than the Prophet-6 does emulating a Prophet-5: that's subjective, but objectively an exact replica of a thing will sound more like that thing than another thing. But my saying "I don't like the OB-X8" is 100% subjective.

I can appreciate the craft that went into the OB-X8, and can understand that the OB-X8 can be viewed as the perfect distillation of the OB-X, OB-Xa, and OB-8. The OB-X8 has a properly large form factor, the controls feel great, and it seems like a classic Oberheim polysynth. If you are into Oberheims, the OB-X8 seems like a dream keyboard.

The truth of the matter: I don't think that I LIKE Oberheim polysynths. I don't get them. The workflow doesn't resonate with me, and the sound isn't really to my tastes. I love the sound of the SEMs, and still kick myself for not buying a Two Voice back in 2017. But the Oberheim polysynths don't inspire me.

The Prophet-10, on the other hand, feels like it is part of my DNA. I had a Prophet-5 in the 90s, and I feel instantly at home on the Prophet-10 - but the Prophet-10 sounds BETTER than my Rev 3.3 and does a lot more. Still, this is all about my own personal tastes and experiences, not some universal truth about synths.

Having the P5R4 and T6 as well, you’re totally spot on, in my opinion and with my ears. I’ll never part with either. Neither is in any way redundant.

Well deserved you! In any event. A real contributor, with talent.

I searched for the orchestra in a box with Roland synths for many years, you know, the one synth that can “do it all.” In the end, I’ve ended preferring pure synthesis and electronic synthesis sound over any emulation hodge lodge with brass and piano samples onboard.

I know it’s oversimplifying the PX (and Nord Wave series) to say that; they both excel at sampling with synthesis. But that just isn’t my bag any more. You need that if you’re playing many different parts in a live gig, in a group, more than anywhere else. I don’t do that.

I do sometimes need to cover a lot of instrumental parts in gigs lately but as far as "orchestra in a box" both my Hammond and Viscount have decent collections of sampled acoustic/orchestral/miscellaneous sounds, though obviously not as good as what the Prophet X offers (at least in terms of quality and manipulation).

I'm pretty impressed by the sounds using the various classic analog add-on packs from 8dio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vktQ4uFamdA

This is starting to make me lean slightly more towards the Prophet X. I do love me a fully analog synth but I'm not a purist by any means and these sample packs plus genuine VCFs and VCAs seem to be able to get you pretty damn close to the sound of a real Prophet 5 (Haven't been able to find any demos of the Ob-x or Model D packs but would be intrigued)

I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about the PX with 8DIO’s painstaking work. @ LadyGaia here has worked extensively with it, has both a great ear AND tech brain (very rare), and can confirm from actual experience.

If you're really attached to elements of the prologue 16, a minilogue xd will get you most of the way there, provided that you're comfortable with using another full-size keyboard to control it, if you need to.

Right now, you lack a legit analogue polysynth. You should not limit your choices to the three synths you've listed; you might find, for example, that the Prophet-6 is sympathetic to what you're looking for, or the Moog Grandmother or Matriarch, for that matter.

How is the prologue not a "legit" analog polysynth? Do you mean "top tier" or are you referring to the minor controversy over the non-bypassable AD-DA conversion? I get that the minilogue has some things the prologue is missing but 4 voices and 37 keys is a major downgrade from 16 voices, 61 keys etc.

I'm sure those are great synths but if i were to pick one of the sequential 6 series it would be the trigon: the prophet 6 would probably just make me wish i had the prophet 10, likewise with the ob6 vs obx8. The trigon doesn't have a superior "big brother" and its closest comparison is a notoriously unreliable and extremely expensive vintage instrument.

Also the grandmother and matriarch are both paraphonic aren't they? If i were to replace the poly d with legitimate moog i think i'd go for the sub37.

i would simply go rev4

for a flat out synth i see no reason not to - it is extreme beauty and just timeless

based on your OP though i would spring for the X - it brings what you do not already have and surely that is what it is all about

This is weird logic. If the P5 is out your price range, and you are looking for a "Sequential" synth, P6 should be absolutely on your radar. Seems to be trash now that the P5 is back out, but go back and read what people say about it at the time. Some even prefer the P6 to the P5.

I just got a P6 module and it sounds fantastic. The P5's mono output and 5 notes ultimately were both deal breakers for me.

Trigon is more a Moog than Sequential.

Not really. Trigon has a Moogish architecture, but its sound is more in the 6 family than anything else, and it’s usually within spitting distance of the P5R4 and Take5. Very much a Sequential sound.