Prophet-5 v4 Polyphonic Analog Keyboard

First built in 1978, this synth helped define the sound of '80s pop and electronic music, powering hits from The Cars to Radiohead with its raw analog bite and Poly-Mod magic.

Rev4 faithfully recreates that legacy using two Curtis CEM 3340 VCOs per voice—offering sawtooth, square, and triangle waves with PWM, hard sync, and Osc B doubling as an LFO. Switchable filters emulate the original Rev1/2 (Dave Rossum 2140) or Rev3 (CEM 3320) low-pass designs, both resonant and self-oscillating, paired with dual ADSR envelopes for filter and amp. A global multi-waveform LFO, Poly-Mod routing (filter env and Osc B to Osc A freq/PWM or filter cutoff), and enhanced Unison (1-5 voices with detune and chord memory) unlock everything from thick pads to searing leads. The Vintage knob dials in Rev1-style instability for drift and randomness, while a 61-note semi-weighted Fatar keyboard adds velocity and aftertouch for expressive filter sweeps and volume control. Hands-on controls include pitch/mod wheels, global Glide, and expression pedal inputs, all on a sturdy wood-sided panel measuring 37.5 x 16.4 x 4.9 inches.

Players love its authentic, organic tone that modern polysynths chase but rarely match—warm oscillators and filters that evolve in mixes. The front-panel program selector and 400 presets (200 factory, 200 user) make it instantly playable, though some wish for a deeper menu display. MIDI, USB, CV/Gate, and mono/stereo outs keep it studio-ready.