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The Prophet 64 is neither an ordinary SID synthesizer
or a TB-303-Prophet 5/10/one emulator. It does however apply a 303
approach on pattern sequencing as well as Sequential Circuits-like
sound editing layout. The original version was developed in 1996
and kept within an inner circle of users. Now, eight years later,
everyone has the opportunity to possess it's full potentials as
prophet64.com keeps the software alive and publically available!
The sound circuit of the C64 (SID) has certainly
left it's print in the history of computer music. Compared to the
contenders on the home computer market in the 1980s it totally wiped
out all competition. However, when used as a stand alone synthesizer
things get in a different perspective. The demands and expectations
are now in the same field as the true monster machines of the C64's
era: The MOOGs, Oberheims, Sequential Circuits etc. The most obvious
thing degrading the SID 6581 is the poor filter response. Being
the most important component in a subtractive synthesis you cannot
live with a low performance VCF when tweaking that latest masterpiece..
In the late 80s the trusty SID 6581 was upgraded to the SID 8580.
Many people claim the old 6581 sounding better but that is not
true. What is true is that inspite many of the 6581's flaws still
being there, the filter had a major upgrade. Not kicking any serious
butt at least it finally makes the SID useful as a "real"
synthesizer circuit.
To find out what chip you've got in your old boxy friend from
the 80s (hopefully without the Miami Vice-haircut) you'll just
have to open it up and take a peek (be careful not to break anything!).
The SID 6581 has a printing on it saying "6581" where
the 8580 says "8580". With the Commodore 128, there's
no question. They were all built with 8xxx chips.
Side note: The SID manufacturer's production line was apparently
a tad inconsistent resulting in no SIDs sounding exactly the same.
Because of this, there's a slight possibility that some 6581s
might have acceptable filters.
Go to: http://www.prophet64.com/
for more information.
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FEATURES
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PROPHET 64
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PROPHET 64 TB-edition
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- 2 VCO's, 1 LFO, VCF Envelope, VCA Envelope, Low/High/Band-pass
filter, External source filtering
- Oscillator Sync, Ring modulation, SCI Prophet-like sound
editing
- Assigned keys for all sound parameters for swift access
- Tweak parameter values with either joystick or potentiometer
(game paddle)
- REAL TB-303 pattern editing
- Constant slide
- Shuffle ("swing")
- 16 patterns
- Chain play up to eight patterns
- Advanced Random Composer (A.R.C.)
-enter parameters and lay back as it creates the patters
for you (you need to see it to believe it)
- Load and save your sounds and patterns to disk
- SYNC 24 input (S24-64) for use with MIDI
- Play patterns with internal or external sync
- "Check ports" function for testing S24-64 interface
and potentiometers
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- Light-weight version of Prophet 64 with only TB-303 sound
parameters
- Made for the SID 8580
- Aimed at users that only want the TB-303 sound
- Assigned keys for all sound parameters for swift access
- Tweak parameter values with either joystick or potentiometer
(game paddle)
- REAL TB-303 pattern editing
- 3D buttons
- Constant slide
- Accent
- Shuffle ("swing")
- 16 patterns
- Chain play up to eight patterns
- Advanced Random Composer (A.R.C.) with extended option
for accent
- Load and save your sounds and patterns to disk
- Reads Prophet 64 1.2 files
- SYNC 24 input (S24-64) for use with MIDI
- Play patterns with internal or external sync
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