Watching the J3PO comparison video (from before the Vintage knob was introduced to the P6) I was thinking I slightly preferred the P10, but I have to be honest, in the Loopop blind test I got about 75% right and, more importantly, many of the ones I preferred but got wrong (thought were P10) were actually P6 sounds. All in all, they’re extremely close and in a full mix I probably couldn’t tell the difference.
It’s not very likely someone’s going to be throwing their P5 module (’cos the price difference between P6 and P10 is just too big) at me any time soon, so I’m more than happy to be in the hunt for a P6.
This is very true though, it’s not all about just the sound:
That’s how I was when it first released. I went to troll my local synth shop. When my hand touched the keyboard version and I started playing chords I fell in love with the unit.
That’s been my thinking so far, that just the way it’s designed, the coherence of it all, will be larger than the sum of it. But that also stands the test of comparison, because it’s not like the Prophet 6 is a mess of an interface. My trusty Prophet 12 is a deep, deep entity of sound design. Both the P6 and the P5 are quite flat as far as interface goes, which combined with the vintage tone, is what I’m after.
But the high pass filter, the modulation on the P6 and the sub oscillator, it’s not like they don’t matter.
I know. That adds even more to the confusion. Speaking from that experience, I can say I prefer the Prophet 5 by miles. Not gonna try to understand why, I just do.
But having said that, I do think it’s leaning towards the module all the same. And then, eyeing the P6, which I’m familiar with since before, I am starting to go … really?
yeah man I learned a harsh lesson from not a who but a what, an instrument of all things… I’ve got a Roland ep-30 (some folks call crap e piano)… neither sound or features are extraordinary in any way (however I do enjoy the sounds) but the point Is for some reason it’s been a song writing companion like no other for me and I’ve tried to get myself to get rid of it on numerous occasions and just can’t do it… I’ll use it to write a ton of stuff in my daw and then extract the midi from the audio and drop other instruments into place etc… and rarely use the sounds, but something about this damn thing just feels right, and it’s not the incredible keyboard action cause it doesn’t have incredible keyboard action… if this thing sounded like a Prophet 5 I’d probably lose my mind anyway, it’s just an example
Understood. It’s all workflow and preferences at the end of the day.
I have both a p6 and p10 they compliment each other. One time I used both synths in conjunction with poly chain on my low frequency expander box and had each synth alternate notes on the same patch settings. It can get crazy but I think you need to go back to earth sometimes.
I think the p5 handles the low end and low mids really well. Sometimes when working on a track I need to cover the high frequency too so I use the p6.
With owning both synths and playing at the same time I will and you that you I’ll lose track of your studio time and your weekends will disappear.
Ah, hell. I have my mind set on the Prophet 5. I’ve owned a Prophet 6. So for whatever reason I’m not going to try and analyse, I feel strongly about getting the Prophet 5.
I do enough good work these days to trust my gut on this one. Case closed. Prophet 5 it is.
Woooo - can’t wait to hear some examples. This thread has been interesting lately. I sure hope it doesn’t make me go crazy and sell off a bunch of stuff for a P5 module. I mean, who would want to think about that…
J3PO did this detailed comparison of P6 to P10. Prophet 6 has some performance features that J3PO consider essential to his live shows, like Glide mode.
For me the in-person comparison at the store settled any questions about P5 vs. other analog polysynth - in the one area that matters most to me which is the raw sound. Then again, I’m not a keyboard specialist like J3PO
Yeah, these comparisons, while done in good faith, aren’t that helpful since they don’t really sell the experience that well, which is an essential part of it all.
Since I kind of like my little music lab, I think I’ll go for the module all the same. My little desk of blinking lights and wood end Sequentials.
I can relate. I have a mediocre digital piano, and I kind of resent how much more productive it is as a songwriting tool than more fun instruments like the Analog Keys. But there it is. Piano, there’s a reason…
Yeah, I was surprised how fast that was settled for me once I got the in-person opportunity. I’d seen and played Prophet 6 before in person, but not the Moog One, OB-6, or P12. I figured the experience would be like when I was trying out bows for my electric violin, and it came down to two Codabows - Joule vs. one of the Diamond models - and it took almost 30 min. to decide between the two because I went back and forth between them and had so much trouble deciding.
Nope. Play P5 a little… instant seduction. Play the other synths, ok they sound good too. Come back to P5… oh man this somehow still sounds better…
As regards the P10/5 vs. P6 comparisons, I think no one needs to do any selling for the P10. The size, the build AND the sound all just ooze character and charisma. This is probably obvious to many people here though. I seriously can’t think of a synth more beautiful than the P5/10. So WTF am I doing buying a P6 then? (It’s got its benefits, I keep telling myself.)
By the way, if I’m not mistaken, the comparison video by Starsky Carr hasn’t been linked in the thread yet. It’s P5 vs. P6.
Well the P6 does have a Sub Oscillator, a sequencer, a high pass filter, built in FX, and stereo output. It certainly is a tough decision, and they are both great, so if you decided on the P6, then there is a lot to like there.
I think I’ll be super happy with either. Of the things you listed I’m already pretty well covered for fx and sequencer, also got the Heat for whatever filter needs I might have. So, I can definitely understand the idea of paying more for less (features), if/when the raw tone of a synth is just better on the more expensive one. With the keyboard version it’s A LOT more though, especially as there’ll eventually be a good deal 2nd hand on a P6.
Having again spent some time listening to P5/P10, there are some situations, certain ”riffs” Starsky Carr was playing, for example, where I prefer the behaviour of the P5. I think it was related to round robin sound allocation, close to the end of the video… Plus the self-oscillating filter with FM patch at the end where the P6 was apparently drifting and sounded absolutely horrible.
Well, the P-6 filters are the same topology as the P-5 2040/2140 style, except they’re discrete. The P-5 never had discrete filters. So, depending on your point of view on such things, the P-6 has an advantage there. (Most people seek out discrete circuits when available…)
I think they’re both gorgeous instruments though.
Unless someone comparing the two is very careful to replicate sounds (and not just matching knob positions) the comparison won’t say too much about how close they are. I know that a few patch desigers have said the P-6 is very close, but things like gain and mix settings needed consideration.
The mix and performance is the end result, you could easily argue what really matters is what gets you out of bed to create. Without that, there is no mix.
Seriously though I’d kinda want the keyboard version and there the price difference is just too much.