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Chapter 3: Programming the Prophet X
Sequential
Prophet X User’s Guide
Synthesis 101: Synth Bass
Chapter 3: Programming the
Prophet X
With its large and expandable sample library and full synthesis capa-
bilities, the Prophet X can produce a vast spectrum of sounds. While the
factory programs give you some idea of its scope, if you only make use of
its presets, you’re not really using the Prophet X to its full potential. The real
excitement is in creating sounds that are uniquely your own.
This chapter provides some brief tutorials, first with fundamental synth
elements, then with the sample playback features, and finally combin
-
ing both. While there isn’t enough space here to cover how to use every
Prophet X function, the examples will help you get familiar with some basic
concepts. Making sounds you’ve never heard before can be very rewarding.
Synthesis 101: Synth Bass
Some of the best synth bass sounds consist of a single oscillator, a bit of
filter resonance, the right envelope, and not much else. So let’s start with
the Basic Program and go from there.
Short Version
To create a classic synth bass:
1. Press the
global
button.
2. Use Soft Knob 1 to navigate to
basic
program
and press Soft Button 1
(
write
now
). As a shortcut: hold down the front-panel
transpose
down
button and press the
hold
button.
3.
Set filter
cutoff
to 40 (refer to the main display).
4.
Set filter
resonance
to 100.
5. In the
envelopes
section, set the Filter Envelope’s
env
amount
to 50.
6. Play a low note on the keyboard. Instant synth bass!
7. Experiment with the Filter Envelope’s
env
amount
and
decay
settings.
Long Version for Those Who Like Explanations
Here’s a more detailed version that provides insight into the process.
You’ll start with the Basic Program, then learn how to choose an appro-
priate oscillator waveshape, how to use the filter, how to use the enve
-
lopes, and how to use Unison to fatten things up.
In the Basic Program, only Oscillator 1 is audible. Its waveshape is set to
sawtooth and its level is 127 in the
mixer
. (Oscillator 2 level is set to zero
and Instrument 1 and Instrument 2 don’t have an instrument selected.)
To start with the Basic Program:
1. Press the
global
button.
2. Use Soft Knob 1 to navigate to the
basic
program
command, then press
Soft Button 1 (
write
now
). As a shortcut, hold down the front-panel
transpose
down
button and press the
hold
button.
Each of the waveforms have their own unique sound:
• The sawtooth waveform is a good starting point for sounds because it
has plenty of harmonics. This gives you a lot to work with in terms of a
raw sound that you can filter and modulate.
• The pulse (square) wave is a good starting point, too, but sounds differ-
ent than the sawtooth, because of its different harmonic content. The
sawtooth has even-numbered harmonics and the square wave has odd-
numbered harmonics. (Google this if you want to learn more.)
• The sine wave has no harmonics. It’s useful used alone for its pure
tone, or in combination with another oscillator or sample(s) to reinforce
the fundamental pitch of a sound and add weight.
• The super sawtooth is a stacked version of the sawtooth and sounds
very thick when you use the
shape
mod
knob to detune it. It’s great for
brass, strings, and classic dance music sounds.
To listen to the various oscillator waveshapes:
1. In the
oscillators
section, the Sawtooth waveform is selected by
default. Play and hold a note, then press the
shape
button to step
through the various waveshapes. Notice that is it possible to select no
waveshape at all.
2. Select the sawtooth waveshape.
Summary of Contents for Prophet X
Page 1: ...Samples Plus Synthesis Hybrid Synthesizer ...
Page 7: ......