Dave Smith Instruments Prophet '08

Back in 2007, this synth kicked off a revival of true analog poly synthesis, blending the soul of vintage Prophets with fresh tricks that made it a game-changer for hands-on sound design.

At its core, it packs two digitally controlled oscillators per voice—delivering saw+triangle mix, variable-width pulse waves down to super-narrow widths, and noise—feeding into legendary Curtis low-pass filters with switchable 2-pole or 4-pole modes, full resonance, and keyboard tracking for everything from subtle warmth to screaming leads. Eight voices of pure analog signal path shine through three snappy envelope generators (filter, amp, and a free-running third for modulation mayhem) plus four LFOs, all tied into a deep mod matrix with over 40 destinations. The compact 5-octave keyboard with velocity and aftertouch sits under pitch/mod wheels, surrounded by knob-per-function controls (pots on the PE edition for that tactile vintage feel), a 16x4 gated sequencer, arpeggiator, and 256 layered programs—split or stack 'em for bitimbral bliss. Oiled mahogany sides and a slim 34.8-inch frame make it road-ready, with stereo outs, full MIDI DIN, USB, and per-oscillator glide.

Players still swear by its rich, instantly recognizable tone—fat basses, phat pads, and Oberheim-esque brass that needs no effects to punch. The hands-on interface and reliable build win for live tweaks, though some wish for onboard reverb or deeper bass via a sub-oscillator, and MIDI backups feel dated now. It's a no-fuss analog workhorse that holds up beautifully.