I own an OB-6 and have extensively played on the Prophet-6. My findings: - The tonal difference is obvious: P6 is more mid-rangey while the OB has both more high fizz and low end, this makes it sound as the OB has more "body". - VCOs are completely different: the triangle on the P6 for example sounds more like a sine while the same waveform on the OB is classic fizzy vintage triangle. This is not due to filtering. Speaking of which, only one VCO can do triangle on the OB, while both on the Prophet can. This, with the differences in the subosc (triangle in Prophet vs. Square in OB), give the Prophet an edge on mellow, thin textures while the OB is enhanced in fatness and lower end. - There is a certain natural drift happening in the OB VCOs even with detune (slop) set to minimum. This looks intentional to achieve a more pronounced vintage tone. The same settings on the P6 make the pitch sound precise and perhaps more "japanese" analog. - The lowpass in the P6 is self resonant, thus good for percussive and effects but the SEM filter on the OB sounds more musical for pads and strings. I find self-resonant to be of limited use in polysynths but maybe less so in mono synths for leads and bass. - There are several advantages in the OB architecture: the PWM 1 and 2 can be independently modulated while in the P6 both are affected at the same time in the same way. For example, you can set the OB to VCO1 square+VCO2 PWM or even modulate VCO1 PWM with Filter ENV while using the LFO to PWM VCO2. This is impossible in the Prophet-6. - The same principle to OB-6's PWM modulation is applied in the Prophet-6 architecture for the filters: you can modulate the HP and LP independently. However this makes the Polymod section less useful because you already have a filter envelope mod outside of Polymod, independent for each filter too. Kind of redundant. - On the OB you can not only modulate the LP-notch-HP transition state but also the BP state. Physically it's an on/off switch but you can modulate it as it was continuous. This makes a wonderful pulsating effect for pads. - As a general rule: Prophet 6 tends to sound more focused, OB-6 more dreamy (if that makes sense). But you can make the OB come into "focused sounds" while it's harder to make Prophet 6 as much dreamy as the OB. However, if you need to cut through the mix the Prophet will do that better due to mid-rangey tone. - You have to like the classic OB tone to really consider the OB-6, cause that's where it's uniquely good at. There is no modern synth as good as this making those type of sounds. If you're more into precise, roland-ish sounds the Prophet makes that even better (although it's easy to nail some classic Juno strings and bass with the OB too). - Finally: don't trust UA-cam synth demos too much, there's a lot of nuances and frequencies lost. The sound here is always more flat than the real thing. This synths are so much wider that they seem here.
Buy used if you can. If you can pick one up for a decent price you won't lose money if you change your mind. For songs with Oberheims, there's just too much. Oberheims have been sampled in house and drum'n bass records for decades. They are pad machines but they do almost anything if correctly programmed. The unison sound of the OB-6 absolutely rips everything I've heard before, maybe on par with the Polysix unison bass which is outrageous. Currently there's a lot of Oberheim influenced music in synthwave genres. Look for Com Truise (Oberheim Matrix galore), The Midnight, Timecop1983 and so on.
autoy hi this is helpful I’m looking at another synth generally I’ve bought into the features and flexibility of synths but I’m drawn to the ob6 mainly because it’s simple but I’m looking for something special ‘ so far what I’ve heard appeals to me I love pads and warmth - so are my instincts correct in that the ob6 is special rather then feature rich but no soul
Thats great, but do you own the the Prophet 6 too? This is what we NEED to know. If I'd just made the jump between the 2, then I'd be saying the same thing about the one I'd chosen.
I’ve owned both and chose to keep the OB6. Not because I don’t like the P6, but the fact that I don’t think there will ever be a collaboration between Tom and Dave again. They have really made a one of a kind instrument! And of course the Sequential P5 rev 4 just dropped. Deep down I think we were all looking for that prophet 5 sound when the P6 was introduced
@@rwesreal I've owned both and chose to keep both. VERY different in some ways but some overlap. Until you stretch them. Can't afford a new P10 but wish I could. Did have an old P5 once but it broke as they usually do.
Also, complete disclosure of my esthetic biases, I love the eighties, and to me Oberheims have a sound that is more distinctly eighties in comparison to the Prophet, whereas the Prophet sound seems "timeless" in a sense.
Probably because it was used on more hits like Jump and Tom Sawyer/Subdivisions. Prophet was more common, but I can't think of as many instances where it took center stage to the degree of those tunes. Talking Heads, but mostly only live when Bernie took point. I think the Prophet has also lasted more, getting a resurgence in the 00s. It's a bigger name, so people have latched onto it across more eras.
The differences are most obvious in the filters. I've owned a Prophet 600, had extensive time playing on an OB-X, and I currently own a Matrix 6. From my experiences, I can objectively say that the type of filtering you get with an 12db Oberheim style filter is wider, glassier, smoother, less gritty, and a bit more etherial, but you need to be coming to an Oberheim machine with that type of aesthetic sensibility in order to really appreciate it.I also love the Prophet sounds, and was able to get a lot of these tone types overall with my P600, but the tonal quality of the filters lends to a more reductive way of creating- in other words, the tones from the filters can be very raw and neutral sounding in quality which is good for precision-for example, when you need to do things like replicate acoustic instruments such as strings, and even work on sound effects. The Oberheim sound lends itself more to getting lost in a more nebulous, floating world and finding more happy encounters along the way, because there is just something about the tonality of the filters that drags you along on an unplanned, open ended journey. To me, the tonality differences between the two instruments could ultimately dictate your workflow depending on what types of sounds you are looking to create.
Having had both for testing my choice landed on the Prophet, for cutting through mixes when there are alot of instruments in a track. But in the end I'd say it comes down to personal preference. I love my Prophet, it plays nice with my Moog matriach, sits great in a mix, but if you are on the bench about these, you can't go wrong with either. Fab synths. Had i had the money I would own them both.
It's really surprising to me that people are saying the OB-6 is a short-lived or lifeless synth, that shizz is straight one of the greatest sounding synths of all time. In fact I had a two-voice and an OB-6 at the same time and I decided to keep my OB-6 and sell the two voice. I'm NEVER giving that thing up. I think both of these are some of the most beautiful sounding synths ever, they certainly are different, not better or worse. Just different. I have both and will be keeping both forever :)
I have tried both and wound up getting an OB-6 desktop module. I felt the OB-6 tapped into the character of the "Obie sound" and has loads of character. I think both are stellar pieces of gear. If you are looking for a fantastic sounding analog synth that has little to no menu diving these are great. I just wish each had a few more modulation sources.
What I find fascinating is that sound types (bells, strings, percussive plucks) that would be cheesy or thin on a cheap casio or soft synth come off so musical on these instruments. Even though the modulation capabilities are limited, you don't need it because the raw tone is so beautiful.
I have a Prophet 6 and love it. If the OB6 had more of an identity and could do splits and layers like the OBXA I'd be more interested but for me the Oberheim Two Voice Pro exceeds the OB6. The sequencer alone blows it out of the water.
I have a P6 and love its ability to get 70s classic tones (Steve Miller, Pink Floyd, ELP). That being said I like the OB6 too: it has that punchy "Jump" 80s capability (Van Halen, Thompson Twins). But for the full spectrum it seems the P6 has more capability (esp with separate control of hi and low-pass filter settings). When I want the 80s sounding filter I run the P6 thru the Korg MS-20 and it gets close to the OB6 (but not perfect). In the end - if you can afford both you will have all you ever need. If you have to choose one, then it depends on what kind of music you like to play and produce. Either way you won't be disappointed. Also patch creators like AudioAnalog1 have done some incredible pads for sale for about $30 you can upload to the P6 via USB.
Being a keyboard player today is inundation with way too many choices. Go back in time to an era in which keyboardist did far more with less choices. Yes they were surrounded by keyboards because each one did one or two jobs very well. If you wanted a Rhodes sound, you needed a Rhodes, which sounded different that a Wurly. A B3 organ sounded way different than a Vox or Farfissa. Today every major workstation can produce hundreds if not thousands of sounds. Yet keyboards still never seem to get used to more than about 20% of their capabilities. Technology overload
@@ChrisP3000x If they didn't become obsolete after each time they release a new model it would be one thing. But I am not hearing all this technology being actually utilized by most of the people that buy it. Sure you can go out and buy any number of keyboards with 4 lfos, and extra envelopes and dozens of modulation possibilities. Most people barely get through playing presets. Then they will own that synth or workstation until the next model gets released, then go out and buy that one.
5:50 I didn't really get what Daniel said about getting a notch using the separate HPF and LPF on the Prophet-6. Band pass easy with choice of width and two resonances but notch? I guess if you take the HPF cutoff above the LPF cutoff you might theoretically get a notch but there's going to be a lot of attenuation. Actually, no, I think it's basically impossible as I figured originally because you're going to have zero high end and zero low end. The two filters are in series.
A notch simply Inverts the output of a bandpass filter (HP and LP filers sweeping on a constant/single offset, wired in series). It is flipping the entire bandwidth going to the VCA so of course some levels will 'attenuate' and do so quite dramatically.
Great demo, I think it needed to show the tune up process for use on both instruments though as it can be confusing if you demo one yourself in a shop and one is out of tune with its self....yup...I got caught with this one.
It would be interesting to compare the bass registers of both. It was popular belief back in the 80s that the OB stuff in general had more punch, a little rounder at the bottom for funk bass lines. The prophet was about finesse and just crazy parameters to play with. Even the OB drum box was thought to be thicker punchier than the Linn stuff.
From comparing both first hand, the Prophet-6 can have deep bass but the OB-6 just sometimes shocks with completely fuck off bass and it's sometimes unexpected. Also, I finger the square sub oscillator on the OB6 blends into the patch more, whereas on the P6 it's a triangle and often sounds like a separate lower tone. So I don't use the sub much on either but it does blend better on the OB6. The subs can act weird on sync patches especially on the OB6 because they slave to VCO1 and in sync mode VCO1 slaves to VCO2. So the sub can get "confused" or drop out completely and it can be inconsistent between different voices and between different OB6s. That quirk can be used for weird musical effects though.
the qualities of these two works of art compounded with the two voice pro have caused me more of a headache than anything in the world. Yeah, sad, but try and pick one. EEeeeeeh, need to learn what perspective is and probably a higher paying job. I think if pushed the sounds of the prophet are so sublime, I have to call it the indispensable one. And then, if I keep using it as much as I do (playing sequences and arpeggios along with guitar songs), I probably need the other one. BUT HEY, they ain't getting discontinued any time soon, AND I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't put out another game changing synth next year. THIS, was a great demo, thanks! I didn't want to bring back all these dark memories, but that was a hell of a comparison.
One issue that should not escape musicians is that along with the improvements in reliability of modern synths, there is a difference in sound between synthesizers with Discreet components, and modern synths that use integrated circuits to replicate vintage equipment. Some of the frequencies heard in an OBX are not there in the new rendition of Oberheim. However, there is a lot more gained than lost with modern equipment. Some of the harmonics that are lost during sample and hold functions on the new Oberheim's is made up in tuning stability and added capabilities that no one even thought of back in the late seventies and early eighties. Modern synths that are every bit as musical as vintage were made using today's technology and come with a factory warrant. Vintage instruments sound great, but moving them around is just no practical.
either of these would be a luxury choice for synthwave, but i think from hearing a few demos the the prophet 6 might just have better range and verticality particularly for cutting through the mix with lead synth sounds. thats not to say the ob 6 isn't very very nice and will give you a real 80's vibe and punchy bass, i think that the prophet could lend itself to a wider palette of different styles where as the ob6 will shine if you really just want that 80's sound.
Ok 14:16 scared the shit outta me because I had headphones in and wasn’t paying attention to what was happening. I had to pause and make sure I wasn’t being abducted
At one point he say you can make a notch filter on the prophet 6 please can someone explain as i am very confused by this as i can’t think of a way you can get a HP to LP to start in the middle like a notch does.
While in general I prefer the softer tones the P6 seems to be more capable of, I was seriously surprised by both of their ability to create some really cool sound-design-like patches. Seems as though the OB6's filter really handles noise well.
I wish all synth demos was like this!!. Just a droning note so we can hear the tone of the OSC and the filter. Wonderful, thank you Sir. But what is up with Dave smith....the inventor of midi still having stepping filters in 2016..hahahah...incredible. just up the rez on ALL the knobs to 16 bit already....How about some LSB MSB like on the pitch wheel..how hard can it be!...seemed like the OB6 was less steppy though! (maybe less resonance) And i think stepped VCO to pitched notes is a BIG fail also. Other than that, Monster synths!! OB-6 is my fav.
Actually both synths support either CC standard for 128 steps or NRPN CCs for 14bit resolution in all parameters. What it sounds to you as stepping mighty be the fundamental frequencies enhanced by self-oscillating resonance in the P6. These filters shouldn't step. VCO to pitched notes is exactly how it works in the classic OBs (even OB-X) and it works wonderfully. You can still modulate continuous with any modulator if you wish to.
Hi Magnus, To me, one of the biggest differences in synth filter brands is that, when resonance is turned up enough to really hear it (but not fully self oscillating), some filters let you hear the sweeping resonance as a continuous sweep of pitch. Other filters exaggerate the existing harmonics of the VCOs, which makes it sound like it's "stepping". But it really isn't. It's that the resonance sounds out as it passes each of the pitches in the overtone series. Each type of filter has its uses, but personally, I love sweeping though the harmonic bumps into a ping-pong delay.
i know what you mean...love those overtones also, i dont think this sounds like that though. would it really sound like this with max resonance and a LFO modulating the cutoff at the same slow speed you modulated by hand?
Ok. Thank you for the video. I have decided which one i want. Both of them. Now the next step will be: Can anybody help me with money to get both of them?
17:45 - reminds me of early 90s hardcore tracks. Anyone know which preset this is and if it's doable on the OB6? Looking to get either a P6 or OB6 in a few months and the OB6 is slightly edging it.
Prophet 6 all the way. Have owned Rev2, OB-6 and now Prophet 6. Wish I'd just gone for Prophet 6 first, sold the other two. Don't miss them (much) but they are nice. P6 is just amazing though, way more depth/scope/body and records way better.
I prefer the OB-6 filters. The 12db filter has a more interesting sound with many overtones. In general the OB-6 sounds smoother and more 'vintage' to me.
Yeah, the OB-6 does indeed sound a bit more 80s then the Prophet 6. To me however the Prophet sounds more 'modern' because it also doesn't sound like synths from the 70s. it's to stable for that I guess. I however like that 80s analog polysynth sound :)
I like the look of both of them, but I vibe with the P6 a little more. The blue lines on the OB are a little more 80s though. As far as I can tell, there's no velocity to filter env depth on the P6, like for touch wah type sounds...if the P6 had that and sweepable notch mode on filter, I'd probably go with just that. Both so good.
Hi James. On the both the OB-6 and Prophet-6, when a VELOCITY button is pressed, the AMOUNT knob next to it sets the Velocity to that Filter's Env Depth (either positive or negative). Thanks for watching!
It's a toss-up for me. I resonate more with the Prophet interface and look, for sure. In theory, I think the Oberheim has a "softer" vibe, but when in a mix, it's easier to make the Prophet pop more. But lets be realistic, these synths are bros. The differences are noticeable but subtle in the grander scheme of things. They're not ladder filters, or MS20 filters. They're both Curtis-designed but with their own unique tone. I think you could pop Jump on a Prophet, and Burning Down the House on a OB-6, and the crowd would still go nuts!
Para mí los Dos estan por igual, ya que el Prophet6 no puede tirar los mismo sonidos del todo que tiene el OB-6 pero tampoco el OB-6 al Prophet6. PD. En el final fue una pena que no mostrara mas sonidos del OB-16 porque tiene mejores sonidos calidad si lo sabes mezclar bien.
The Prophet 6 has the original banks from the Prophet 5 programmed in already and they are dead on. Rev2 is great but its just a P08 with effects and upgrades.
I've owned Rev2 and Prophet 6. The Rev2 isn't very close. Prophet 6 nails it 90% of the time. Also had OB-6 and didn't like it's fizzy sameness on all types of sounds. Prophet 6 is definitely the best all round for me, the only one I kept! SSM remake filter in it (not curtis).
Neither. I owned a prophet 5 it can not do soft sounding tones. It sounds very boosted in the midrange and sounds like u could score some old 70s slasher films.
@@SpikedCollar666 Apparently Dave Smith synths use gain staging, and as a matter of personal taste, he likes to push the oscillators until there's a subtle hint of distortion. That's why a P6 coming from the factory doesn't sound as silky smooth & creamy as the P5, and why the P6's tones also have that extra midrange bite you mentioned. Many users have lowered the oscillator levels to around 50% to 60%, and found that the P6 does sound very close to the P5. There are a few vids on YT that discuss this & do a comparison between the P6 & P5 with the oscillator levels turned down. Check them out. :)
Hi octopus34, the OB-6 has Tom Oberheim's signature painted on the back of the unit. He also signed this one personally with a silver Sharpie along with Dave Smith. Thanks for watching!
The tone of the P6 is much more beautiful. The OB6 sounds either thin, hollow, raw or harsh in comparison. Only sometimes it can compete. Listen to the strings of the P6, and the resonance patches. Amazing.
OB-6 = Synth for a weekend affair, Prophet 6 = Synth for life! P6 looks way better too. OB-6 sounds VERY VERY weak in this video comparing filter sweeps etc, vs Prophet 6. This is what I found owning them both. OB-6 sounds sweet at first, but is pretty flat/lifeless in music. Prophet 6 has massive range, full body, lots of low end, enough high end and more interesting harmonics (resonance) and better 'bite' when you need it. If people can't hear how much thicker/analog/vibrant the P6 is here then they need better converters/headphones etc (am on Prism here) For me it's no contest, Prophet 6 is amazing. OB-6 is a backwards downgrade from the P6 in the name of one trick 'sweetness' that gets old fast (like a juno). Sounds on the OB-6 always sound similar, it gets quite boring. Prophet 6 can make a universe of sounds with character but never get boring or samey.
Na, OB6 sounds immediatly musical. But we have different tastes obviously I love both, I can afford neither though. If I could get just 1....OB6, if I could get both I would. They compliment eachother very well, and that is the point.
Perhaps quarkyzarky still hopes to get back a used OB-6 for under 1000$ after he sold his former OB-6 😂 Or now he will buy the OB-X8 after he sold dozens of synthesizers🤣 Don’t try to trick us🤪
@@8bitDude0 and what type of music justifies you buying one of these then? I mean, I produce various styles of music, but I will always create house music as well (and started with it). While it's true that some of it is very sample based, and any sampler, or just Ableton alone is enough to create cool tracks, on the contrary to most styles of EDM, analog synths can be used to great effect in various house music styles, ranging from Chicago house and NY style soulful garage to afro-tech. So, if someone has the cash to spend on it, any of these will prove as useful as for any other type of music (and which one depends on what type of house you have in mind). Also, one could argue a Diva or RePro5 will do the job in any other genre as well, so this argumentation is moot.
Something is very wrong with this Demos. I am listening on a high end Headphones and also high end Speakers. The Sound from the OB6 comes in stereo and on the Filter Sweeps you heart 2 different things on the left and the right.
Hi Nedim, both synthesizers have the ability for each program to have its own oscillator spread setting. If LFOs, velocity, and other sources change over time (without resynchronizing at each key press) they can be at radically different values as well as different panning. Thanks for watching!
There i stepping if using the knobs to sweep the filter. The resolution is good, but noticeable, especially with resonance up. The filter can be modulated with no stepping, pure analog, through the LFO or envelop
Dave Smith sure seems to have mastered the art of taking a bunch of analog parts and making it sound DIGITAL. Dan always does the best demos ,so it is in no way on him.I have bought a few products based on his excellent demos. But you can't get blood from a stone or polish a turd.
I own a prophet 6 and it sounds far from digital. Of course, it can be programmed to sound digital but it can go all the other way when you know what you are doing. The VCO's and analog filters (High and low) are the key.
I own an OB-6 and have extensively played on the Prophet-6. My findings:
- The tonal difference is obvious: P6 is more mid-rangey while the OB has both more high fizz and low end, this makes it sound as the OB has more "body".
- VCOs are completely different: the triangle on the P6 for example sounds more like a sine while the same waveform on the OB is classic fizzy vintage triangle. This is not due to filtering. Speaking of which, only one VCO can do triangle on the OB, while both on the Prophet can. This, with the differences in the subosc (triangle in Prophet vs. Square in OB), give the Prophet an edge on mellow, thin textures while the OB is enhanced in fatness and lower end.
- There is a certain natural drift happening in the OB VCOs even with detune (slop) set to minimum. This looks intentional to achieve a more pronounced vintage tone. The same settings on the P6 make the pitch sound precise and perhaps more "japanese" analog.
- The lowpass in the P6 is self resonant, thus good for percussive and effects but the SEM filter on the OB sounds more musical for pads and strings. I find self-resonant to be of limited use in polysynths but maybe less so in mono synths for leads and bass.
- There are several advantages in the OB architecture: the PWM 1 and 2 can be independently modulated while in the P6 both are affected at the same time in the same way. For example, you can set the OB to VCO1 square+VCO2 PWM or even modulate VCO1 PWM with Filter ENV while using the LFO to PWM VCO2. This is impossible in the Prophet-6.
- The same principle to OB-6's PWM modulation is applied in the Prophet-6 architecture for the filters: you can modulate the HP and LP independently. However this makes the Polymod section less useful because you already have a filter envelope mod outside of Polymod, independent for each filter too. Kind of redundant.
- On the OB you can not only modulate the LP-notch-HP transition state but also the BP state. Physically it's an on/off switch but you can modulate it as it was continuous. This makes a wonderful pulsating effect for pads.
- As a general rule: Prophet 6 tends to sound more focused, OB-6 more dreamy (if that makes sense). But you can make the OB come into "focused sounds" while it's harder to make Prophet 6 as much dreamy as the OB. However, if you need to cut through the mix the Prophet will do that better due to mid-rangey tone.
- You have to like the classic OB tone to really consider the OB-6, cause that's where it's uniquely good at. There is no modern synth as good as this making those type of sounds. If you're more into precise, roland-ish sounds the Prophet makes that even better (although it's easy to nail some classic Juno strings and bass with the OB too).
- Finally: don't trust UA-cam synth demos too much, there's a lot of nuances and frequencies lost. The sound here is always more flat than the real thing. This synths are so much wider that they seem here.
Buy used if you can. If you can pick one up for a decent price you won't lose money if you change your mind. For songs with Oberheims, there's just too much. Oberheims have been sampled in house and drum'n bass records for decades. They are pad machines but they do almost anything if correctly programmed. The unison sound of the OB-6 absolutely rips everything I've heard before, maybe on par with the Polysix unison bass which is outrageous.
Currently there's a lot of Oberheim influenced music in synthwave genres. Look for Com Truise (Oberheim Matrix galore), The Midnight, Timecop1983 and so on.
guys which one do you think is better for making house music?
Very useful. Thanks.
Jesus Gallego the question is, what is the answer?
autoy hi this is helpful I’m looking at another synth generally I’ve bought into the features and flexibility of synths but I’m drawn to the ob6 mainly because it’s simple but I’m looking for something special ‘ so far what I’ve heard appeals to me I love pads and warmth - so are my instincts correct in that the ob6 is special rather then feature rich but no soul
18:15 Best preset ever, hands down.
Wow, those pads sound thicker than an oberheim 8 voice!
I'm pretty sure that is preset #006 on the OMOM sound set.
www.davesmithinstruments.com/omom-sound-set-for-prophet-6/
lol
Nothing I've heard before comes close to it. It is in it's own league.
You got a genuine LOL from me on that one....haha cheers!
The OB6 is masterpiece... best synth I ever had
Thats great, but do you own the the Prophet 6 too? This is what we NEED to know. If I'd just made the jump between the 2, then I'd be saying the same thing about the one I'd chosen.
I’ve owned both and chose to keep the OB6. Not because I don’t like the P6, but the fact that I don’t think there will ever be a collaboration between Tom and Dave again. They have really made a one of a kind instrument! And of course the Sequential P5 rev 4 just dropped. Deep down I think we were all looking for that prophet 5 sound when the P6 was introduced
@@rwesreal I've owned both and chose to keep both. VERY different in some ways but some overlap. Until you stretch them. Can't afford a new P10 but wish I could. Did have an old P5 once but it broke as they usually do.
@@rwesreal Guess you will be needing the OBX8 then! last and final collab.. RIP Dave Smith.
@@nagchumpalot I know!!! Been drooling ever since I’ve heard it!
after watching all the comparisons I could find and reading in forums...turns out I need both.
Or you could get the Pro 2 which has both filters in one synth.
This is the way
😀
Also, complete disclosure of my esthetic biases, I love the eighties, and to me Oberheims have a sound that is more distinctly eighties in comparison to the Prophet, whereas the Prophet sound seems "timeless" in a sense.
Probably because it was used on more hits like Jump and Tom Sawyer/Subdivisions. Prophet was more common, but I can't think of as many instances where it took center stage to the degree of those tunes. Talking Heads, but mostly only live when Bernie took point.
I think the Prophet has also lasted more, getting a resurgence in the 00s. It's a bigger name, so people have latched onto it across more eras.
The differences are most obvious in the filters. I've owned a Prophet 600, had extensive time playing on an OB-X, and I currently own a Matrix 6. From my experiences, I can objectively say that the type of filtering you get with an 12db Oberheim style filter is wider, glassier, smoother, less gritty, and a bit more etherial, but you need to be coming to an Oberheim machine with that type of aesthetic sensibility in order to really appreciate it.I also love the Prophet sounds, and was able to get a lot of these tone types overall with my P600, but the tonal quality of the filters lends to a more reductive way of creating- in other words, the tones from the filters can be very raw and neutral sounding in quality which is good for precision-for example, when you need to do things like replicate acoustic instruments such as strings, and even work on sound effects. The Oberheim sound lends itself more to getting lost in a more nebulous, floating world and finding more happy encounters along the way, because there is just something about the tonality of the filters that drags you along on an unplanned, open ended journey.
To me, the tonality differences between the two instruments could ultimately dictate your workflow depending on what types of sounds you are looking to create.
That's a very insightful comment
which is better for 80s new wave music like New Order, Depeche Mode, and the Cure?
Having had both for testing my choice landed on the Prophet, for cutting through mixes when there are alot of instruments in a track. But in the end I'd say it comes down to personal preference.
I love my Prophet, it plays nice with my Moog matriach, sits great in a mix, but if you are on the bench about these, you can't go wrong with either. Fab synths. Had i had the money I would own them both.
OB6 - pulling up to a club on a hoverboard
P6 - ripping a bong laying in your garden in a pajama
Choose your fighter
David Macdonald haha! And Funyuns..........looots of Funyuns....
When you put it like that, I need both. 😂
Lmao
Pulls thumb from shotty. Hoverboards don't work on water... unless you've got OB-6
🤣
It's really surprising to me that people are saying the OB-6 is a short-lived or lifeless synth, that shizz is straight one of the greatest sounding synths of all time. In fact I had a two-voice and an OB-6 at the same time and I decided to keep my OB-6 and sell the two voice. I'm NEVER giving that thing up. I think both of these are some of the most beautiful sounding synths ever, they certainly are different, not better or worse. Just different. I have both and will be keeping both forever :)
I have tried both and wound up getting an OB-6 desktop module. I felt the OB-6 tapped into the character of the "Obie sound" and has loads of character. I think both are stellar pieces of gear. If you are looking for a fantastic sounding analog synth that has little to no menu diving these are great. I just wish each had a few more modulation sources.
0:24 Oh I love those Prophet-6 filter sweep harmonics! Actually I think it's the OB-6! The OB-6 sounds like a Rev 2 original Prophet-5 there.
What I find fascinating is that sound types (bells, strings, percussive plucks) that would be cheesy or thin on a cheap casio or soft synth come off so musical on these instruments. Even though the modulation capabilities are limited, you don't need it because the raw tone is so beautiful.
I go with Prothet 6, no doubt
Same. Had both, OB-6 comes over weak next to the P6 and has a much more limited range. Also starts to grate on the high end fizz.
Great comparison and review
I have a Prophet 6 and love it. If the OB6 had more of an identity and could do splits and layers like the OBXA I'd be more interested but for me the Oberheim Two Voice Pro exceeds the OB6. The sequencer alone blows it out of the water.
I have a P6 and love its ability to get 70s classic tones (Steve Miller, Pink Floyd, ELP). That being said I like the OB6 too: it has that punchy "Jump" 80s capability (Van Halen, Thompson Twins). But for the full spectrum it seems the P6 has more capability (esp with separate control of hi and low-pass filter settings). When I want the 80s sounding filter I run the P6 thru the Korg MS-20 and it gets close to the OB6 (but not perfect). In the end - if you can afford both you will have all you ever need. If you have to choose one, then it depends on what kind of music you like to play and produce. Either way you won't be disappointed. Also patch creators like AudioAnalog1 have done some incredible pads for sale for about $30 you can upload to the P6 via USB.
Being a keyboard player today is inundation with way too many choices. Go back in time to an era in which keyboardist did far more with less choices. Yes they were surrounded by keyboards because each one did one or two jobs very well. If you wanted a Rhodes sound, you needed a Rhodes, which sounded different that a Wurly. A B3 organ sounded way different than a Vox or Farfissa.
Today every major workstation can produce hundreds if not thousands of sounds. Yet keyboards still never seem to get used to more than about 20% of their capabilities. Technology overload
What was your point? You want less choice?
@@ChrisP3000x If they didn't become obsolete after each time they release a new model it would be one thing. But I am not hearing all this technology being actually utilized by most of the people that buy it. Sure you can go out and buy any number of keyboards with 4 lfos, and extra envelopes and dozens of modulation possibilities. Most people barely get through playing presets. Then they will own that synth or workstation until the next model gets released, then go out and buy that one.
Can you say that the oberheim has a more powerful sound but the prophet is more versatile?
Excellent demo. Thank you.
Great demo, was actually looking for a comparison of these two, thanks Sweetwater!
Also - "You think I'm fuckin' around here!? Mark it zero!" ;)
5:50 I didn't really get what Daniel said about getting a notch using the separate HPF and LPF on the Prophet-6. Band pass easy with choice of width and two resonances but notch? I guess if you take the HPF cutoff above the LPF cutoff you might theoretically get a notch but there's going to be a lot of attenuation. Actually, no, I think it's basically impossible as I figured originally because you're going to have zero high end and zero low end. The two filters are in series.
LP \ / HP | See the notch?
@@guysmiley7289 Nice illustration. However, if both filters are in series, it won‘t work that way. High frequencies will never reach the HPF.
@@RayyMusik and in parallel ?
A notch simply Inverts the output of a bandpass filter (HP and LP filers sweeping on a constant/single offset, wired in series).
It is flipping the entire bandwidth going to the VCA so of course some levels will 'attenuate' and do so quite dramatically.
@@shaft9000 I know how a notch filter works. Thanks for the lesson.
Great demo, I think it needed to show the tune up process for use on both instruments though as it can be confusing if you demo one yourself in a shop and one is out of tune with its self....yup...I got caught with this one.
It would be interesting to compare the bass registers of both. It was popular belief back in the 80s that the OB stuff in general had more punch, a little rounder at the bottom for funk bass lines. The prophet was about finesse and just crazy parameters to play with. Even the OB drum box was thought to be thicker punchier than the Linn stuff.
From comparing both first hand, the Prophet-6 can have deep bass but the OB-6 just sometimes shocks with completely fuck off bass and it's sometimes unexpected. Also, I finger the square sub oscillator on the OB6 blends into the patch more, whereas on the P6 it's a triangle and often sounds like a separate lower tone. So I don't use the sub much on either but it does blend better on the OB6. The subs can act weird on sync patches especially on the OB6 because they slave to VCO1 and in sync mode VCO1 slaves to VCO2. So the sub can get "confused" or drop out completely and it can be inconsistent between different voices and between different OB6s. That quirk can be used for weird musical effects though.
the qualities of these two works of art compounded with the two voice pro have caused me more of a headache than anything in the world. Yeah, sad, but try and pick one. EEeeeeeh, need to learn what perspective is and probably a higher paying job. I think if pushed the sounds of the prophet are so sublime, I have to call it the indispensable one. And then, if I keep using it as much as I do (playing sequences and arpeggios along with guitar songs), I probably need the other one. BUT HEY, they ain't getting discontinued any time soon, AND I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't put out another game changing synth next year. THIS, was a great demo, thanks! I didn't want to bring back all these dark memories, but that was a hell of a comparison.
One issue that should not escape musicians is that along with the improvements in reliability of modern synths, there is a difference in sound between synthesizers with Discreet components, and modern synths that use integrated circuits to replicate vintage equipment. Some of the frequencies heard in an OBX are not there in the new rendition of Oberheim. However, there is a lot more gained than lost with modern equipment. Some of the harmonics that are lost during sample and hold functions on the new Oberheim's is made up in tuning stability and added capabilities that no one even thought of back in the late seventies and early eighties. Modern synths that are every bit as musical as vintage were made using today's technology and come with a factory warrant. Vintage instruments sound great, but moving them around is just no practical.
great video, but not making my choice any easier lol. harder if anything
either of these would be a luxury choice for synthwave, but i think from hearing a few demos the the prophet 6 might just have better range and verticality particularly for cutting through the mix with lead synth sounds. thats not to say the ob 6 isn't very very nice and will give you a real 80's vibe and punchy bass, i think that the prophet could lend itself to a wider palette of different styles where as the ob6 will shine if you really just want that 80's sound.
Prophet all day. I love both but the Prophet is a Swiss Army knife.
Ok 14:16 scared the shit outta me because I had headphones in and wasn’t paying attention to what was happening. I had to pause and make sure I wasn’t being abducted
At one point he say you can make a notch filter on the prophet 6 please can someone explain as i am very confused by this as i can’t think of a way you can get a HP to LP to start in the middle like a notch does.
While in general I prefer the softer tones the P6 seems to be more capable of, I was seriously surprised by both of their ability to create some really cool sound-design-like patches. Seems as though the OB6's filter really handles noise well.
I wish all synth demos was like this!!. Just a droning note so we can hear the tone of the OSC and the filter. Wonderful, thank you Sir.
But what is up with Dave smith....the inventor of midi still having stepping filters in 2016..hahahah...incredible. just up the rez on ALL the knobs to 16 bit already....How about some LSB MSB like on the pitch wheel..how hard can it be!...seemed like the OB6 was less steppy though! (maybe less resonance) And i think stepped VCO to pitched notes is a BIG fail also. Other than that, Monster synths!! OB-6 is my fav.
14bit i mean...common!!!
Actually both synths support either CC standard for 128 steps or NRPN CCs for 14bit resolution in all parameters. What it sounds to you as stepping mighty be the fundamental frequencies enhanced by self-oscillating resonance in the P6. These filters shouldn't step.
VCO to pitched notes is exactly how it works in the classic OBs (even OB-X) and it works wonderfully. You can still modulate continuous with any modulator if you wish to.
Hi Magnus, To me, one of the biggest differences in synth filter brands is that, when resonance is turned up enough to really hear it (but not fully self oscillating), some filters let you hear the sweeping resonance as a continuous sweep of pitch. Other filters exaggerate the existing harmonics of the VCOs, which makes it sound like it's "stepping". But it really isn't. It's that the resonance sounds out as it passes each of the pitches in the overtone series. Each type of filter has its uses, but personally, I love sweeping though the harmonic bumps into a ping-pong delay.
i know what you mean...love those overtones also, i dont think this sounds like that though. would it really sound like this with max resonance and a LFO modulating the cutoff at the same slow speed you modulated by hand?
Magnus Andersson no stepping on the filters.
Ok. Thank you for the video. I have decided which one i want. Both of them. Now the next step will be: Can anybody help me with money to get both of them?
17:45 - reminds me of early 90s hardcore tracks. Anyone know which preset this is and if it's doable on the OB6? Looking to get either a P6 or OB6 in a few months and the OB6 is slightly edging it.
great comparison!
OB 6 all the way , got to have one next year
Prophet 6 all the way. Have owned Rev2, OB-6 and now Prophet 6. Wish I'd just gone for Prophet 6 first, sold the other two. Don't miss them (much) but they are nice. P6 is just amazing though, way more depth/scope/body and records way better.
quarkyzarky no
quarkyzarky troll
nice test...it would be nice to take off this kind of "stereo" fx (short st delay, pan spread or whatever it is) for a more neutral comparison
Love both but for new wave 80s 90s synth music, what would be the best one to get and why?
prophet 6 probs..Its a bit smoother, less grit! If you want that british newwave sound you cant go wrong with the p6!
But if you want the grit, OB-6
@@Ampher03 hmm that is tough well I do like harder grit so OB6 would have slight advantage
I prefer the OB-6 filters. The 12db filter has a more interesting sound with many overtones. In general the OB-6 sounds smoother and more 'vintage' to me.
Now seeing the last part of the video with the patch examples I do have to say that I generally like the patches better from the Prophet 6. Hmm.
I personally think the Oberheim sound overall is more distinctly eighties. There is something more timeless about the Prophet sound.
Yeah, the OB-6 does indeed sound a bit more 80s then the Prophet 6. To me however the Prophet sounds more 'modern' because it also doesn't sound like synths from the 70s. it's to stable for that I guess. I however like that 80s analog polysynth sound :)
I like the look of both of them, but I vibe with the P6 a little more. The blue lines on the OB are a little more 80s though. As far as I can tell, there's no velocity to filter env depth on the P6, like for touch wah type sounds...if the P6 had that and sweepable notch mode on filter, I'd probably go with just that. Both so good.
Hi James. On the both the OB-6 and Prophet-6, when a VELOCITY button is pressed, the AMOUNT knob next to it sets the Velocity to that Filter's Env Depth (either positive or negative). Thanks for watching!
@@sweetwater oh I see it! Thnx
It's a toss-up for me. I resonate more with the Prophet interface and look, for sure. In theory, I think the Oberheim has a "softer" vibe, but when in a mix, it's easier to make the Prophet pop more. But lets be realistic, these synths are bros. The differences are noticeable but subtle in the grander scheme of things. They're not ladder filters, or MS20 filters. They're both Curtis-designed but with their own unique tone. I think you could pop Jump on a Prophet, and Burning Down the House on a OB-6, and the crowd would still go nuts!
Para mí los Dos estan por igual, ya que el Prophet6 no puede tirar los mismo sonidos del todo que tiene el OB-6 pero tampoco el OB-6 al Prophet6.
PD. En el final fue una pena que no mostrara mas sonidos del OB-16 porque tiene mejores sonidos calidad si lo sabes mezclar bien.
If you want the Prophet sound, go with a Prophet 6. If you want the Oberheim sound, go woth the OB-6.
like your vids
Sooo what is closer to the Prophet 5? The prophet 6 or the rev2? What can immitate those sounds to the best of its ability?
The Prophet 6 has the original banks from the Prophet 5 programmed in already and they are dead on. Rev2 is great but its just a P08 with effects and upgrades.
I've owned Rev2 and Prophet 6. The Rev2 isn't very close. Prophet 6 nails it 90% of the time. Also had OB-6 and didn't like it's fizzy sameness on all types of sounds. Prophet 6 is definitely the best all round for me, the only one I kept! SSM remake filter in it (not curtis).
Yotam Cohen neither
Neither. I owned a prophet 5 it can not do soft sounding tones. It sounds very boosted in the midrange and sounds like u could score some old 70s slasher films.
@@SpikedCollar666 Apparently Dave Smith synths use gain staging, and as a matter of personal taste, he likes to push the oscillators until there's a subtle hint of distortion. That's why a P6 coming from the factory doesn't sound as silky smooth & creamy as the P5, and why the P6's tones also have that extra midrange bite you mentioned.
Many users have lowered the oscillator levels to around 50% to 60%, and found that the P6 does sound very close to the P5. There are a few vids on YT that discuss this & do a comparison between the P6 & P5 with the oscillator levels turned down. Check them out. :)
6 or six ?
Whose is the 3rd signature on the OB6? Tom Oberheim, Dave Smith and ???
Hi octopus34, the OB-6 has Tom Oberheim's signature painted on the back of the unit. He also signed this one personally with a silver Sharpie along with Dave Smith. Thanks for watching!
Lucky bastard
That's Dave Smiths mum
The tone of the P6 is much more beautiful. The OB6 sounds either thin, hollow, raw or harsh in comparison. Only sometimes it can compete. Listen to the strings of the P6, and the resonance patches. Amazing.
suffpapst incorrect
it sounds so industrial
Idkkk man the OB-6 has more depth. The P6 is a little flat sounding
OB-6 = Synth for a weekend affair, Prophet 6 = Synth for life! P6 looks way better too.
OB-6 sounds VERY VERY weak in this video comparing filter sweeps etc, vs Prophet 6. This is what I found owning them both. OB-6 sounds sweet at first, but is pretty flat/lifeless in music. Prophet 6 has massive range, full body, lots of low end, enough high end and more interesting harmonics (resonance) and better 'bite' when you need it.
If people can't hear how much thicker/analog/vibrant the P6 is here then they need better converters/headphones etc (am on Prism here)
For me it's no contest, Prophet 6 is amazing. OB-6 is a backwards downgrade from the P6 in the name of one trick 'sweetness' that gets old fast (like a juno). Sounds on the OB-6 always sound similar, it gets quite boring. Prophet 6 can make a universe of sounds with character but never get boring or samey.
quarkyzarky troll
Na, OB6 sounds immediatly musical. But we have different tastes obviously
I love both, I can afford neither though.
If I could get just 1....OB6, if I could get both I would. They compliment eachother very well, and that is the point.
You gotta be kidding... The SEM filter puts the P6’s to shame
The steps in the filter of the P6 are more noticeable. Very lame
Perhaps quarkyzarky still hopes to get back a used OB-6 for under 1000$ after he sold his former OB-6 😂 Or now he will buy the OB-X8 after he sold dozens of synthesizers🤣 Don’t try to trick us🤪
guys which one do you think is better for making house music?
Andres gualtero ob-6 but you shouldnt spend 2000 dollars to make house music. It can be done way cheaper. Especially with soft synths
@@8bitDude0 what if he's rich?
@@phantommagnolia Then that's his financial decision. And a dumb one because there is better synths for that.
@@8bitDude0 Okay, what is, in your opinion, the use fot these synths then?
@@8bitDude0 and what type of music justifies you buying one of these then? I mean, I produce various styles of music, but I will always create house music as well (and started with it). While it's true that some of it is very sample based, and any sampler, or just Ableton alone is enough to create cool tracks, on the contrary to most styles of EDM, analog synths can be used to great effect in various house music styles, ranging from Chicago house and NY style soulful garage to afro-tech. So, if someone has the cash to spend on it, any of these will prove as useful as for any other type of music (and which one depends on what type of house you have in mind). Also, one could argue a Diva or RePro5 will do the job in any other genre as well, so this argumentation is moot.
Something is very wrong with this Demos. I am listening on a high end Headphones and also high end Speakers. The Sound from the OB6 comes in stereo and on the Filter Sweeps you heart 2 different things on the left and the right.
Hi Nedim, both synthesizers have the ability for each program to have its own oscillator spread setting. If LFOs, velocity, and other sources change over time (without resynchronizing at each key press) they can be at radically different values as well as different panning. Thanks for watching!
SweetwaterSound thank You Sir! Say hi to James.
KICK-ASS VIDEO M8
Too bad that the filters in DSI are stepping filters. You can easily hear the steps when moving the knob like in minute 4:00
I always wondered why people disliked Curtis filters but this illustrates that point really well
You're not hearing "stepping". You're hearing the filter sweep through the harmonics.
Sorry for the last comment Sweetwater
Why do the resonance filters step on both? Not something I would expect from ~$2,400+ synthesizers.
stepping? are you dumb? those are harmonics in the frequencies that come out with the filter.
There i stepping if using the knobs to sweep the filter. The resolution is good, but noticeable, especially with resonance up. The filter can be modulated with no stepping, pure analog, through the LFO or envelop
or the mod wheel
It is stepping but it disappears when you use anything but a knob to control the filter. Even a footswitch
Dave Smith sure seems to have mastered the art of taking a bunch of analog parts and making it sound DIGITAL. Dan always does the best demos ,so it is in no way on him.I have bought a few products based on his excellent demos. But you can't get blood from a stone or polish a turd.
I own a prophet 6 and it sounds far from digital. Of course, it can be programmed to sound digital but it can go all the other way when you know what you are doing. The VCO's and analog filters (High and low) are the key.
Michael N ??????
"Let me take minutes to show you in non-musical context"....snore
Prophet 6 still sounds better. OB sounds thin and digital. Not sure how they made an analog synth sound digital. Really disappointed.
Anthony B I own both, and you could not be farther from the truth.