To synth addicts, the new Pro 2 from Dave Smith Instruments will look rather familiar, bearing many of the aesthetic and ergonomic traits of the larger Prophet 12, reviewed in November 2013 (http://sosm.ag/nov13prophet12). The Pro 2 is quite a different animal, though. While it is primarily designed as a monophonic synth, it also has a four-voice paraphonic mode that allows control over the envelope of each oscillator individually.
The synth uses four main oscillators and a further sub oscillator. They can each produce either simple or complex waveforms and can be used to modulate each other for both AM and FM sounds.
It sports two filters, the first of which is a four-pole low-pass type inspired by the filter on the classic Prophet 5. The other filter is a two-pole multi-mode filter, inspired by the Oberheim SEM, and offers low-pass, band-pass, high-pass and notch filter types. Each of the filters have their own controls and envelopes and they can be used in series, parallel or anywhere between the two. In addition, two of the four oscillators can be routed through Filter 1 with the other two oscillators routed through Filter 2.
When crafting a sound, there are plenty of tools available — four loopable envelope generators, four LFOs that can be synchronised, a sixteen-slot modulation matrix and an arpeggiator. There’s also a ‘character’ section that adds control over low and high frequencies, as well as two forms of distortion — bit and sample rate reduction, and tape saturation emulation.
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Pro 2, on paper at least, is its sequencer which provides up to 32 steps and 16 tracks, with real-time input, rests and variable-length sequences. The extensive control afforded by the sequencer extends to the all parameters in the synth’s modulation matrix. It can also be synced to MIDI clock or external input.
On the subject of external input, the Pro 2 is quite capable of processing external audio sources such as guitar or bass, and can also interface with modular synths thanks to four CV I/Os and a gate output.
The Pro 2 is well provided for when it comes to delays, with four available. The first three are digital delays with high and low-pass filters, while the fourth is a digital emulation of a bucket-brigade delay for a more analogue sound.
The Pro 2 has a three-and-a-half octave, semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keyboard adds extra expressive control with aftertouch. Even more expression can be squeezed out of the synth with its two location and pressure sensitive touch sliders, which join familiar pitch and modulation wheels.
The new monosynth from Dave Smith Instruments will retail for $1,999 in the US and they will be shipping in late July.