I have mentioned before that my main synthesizer is the Dave Smith Instruments Prophet ’08.  I use it as my “goto” sound source, and also as my MIDI controller for my software instruments.  I think it sounds amazing, especially recorded through high quality preamps.  I love it so much, that I’ve even expanded my studio with a Mopho, which is just an amazing bass synth machine, the most easy to manipulate and creative I’ve ever owned.

Dave Smith just expanded the Prophet ’08 line again, this time with the Prophet ’08 PE edition.  The PE stands for Pot(entiometer) edition.

Dave Smith Instruments Prophet '08

Visually, the PE edition seems identical to the standard, “RE” (rotary encoder) edition.  For those who aren’t clear about the difference between encoders and potentiometers (hereafter called “pots), here’s a very quick summary:

Endless rotary encoders spin endlessly (surprised, eh?).  This makes them great for “universal” applications.  For example, if you want to use your P08 as your MIDI controller for software instruments, for example, rotary encoders are great.  Since there is no “beginning” and “end” point, they can be used to send messages to control any value.  The knob can control the cutoff frequency of the P08 when playing a P08 sound, then to switch between waveform selections in a software synth, etc.

The disadvantage is that there is no “end” to let you know when you’ve reached a maximum value.  In the example above, controlling waveform type, there really is no end, so this isn’t a problem.  But with filter cutoff, there’s no physical feedback when you’ve reached the maximum cutoff value—you can keep spinning the knob, but you won’t be changing values anymore.

Pots have only about a 270-degree arc, so they have a “beginning” (full counter clockwise) and an “end” (full clockwise).  This is fantastic for, as above, filter cutoff.  When you reach the maximum value (full clockwise), the knob will physically stop turning.  This is a great physical feedback, and really lends itself to live performance.  As you already can see, however, the disadvantage of not being endless is that it makes the knob less suited to control other instrument parameters that aren’t endless.

Dave Smith generally does things very thoughtfully, and the P08 PE version comes with a mix of pots (38) and encoders (14) so it seems like the best of both worlds.  You’ll have pots for a more “traditional” control of parameters that will benefit from it, and encoders for control of parameters without min/max values.  From the listed prices, it seems like there’s about a $100 street price premium for the PE version, but for those who want pots, this isn’t much to ask at all.

My gut feeling is that this was a smart move.  DSI’s press release says that this was done due to popular demand, and I believe it.  A lot of synthesists prefer pots to encoders.  Does this make me want to sell my P08 and get a P08 PE?  Not sure if it’s worth replacing an existing P08 for the PE version, but if I were getting a new Prophet 08 right now, I might very well buy the PE version.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I believe that as the decades roll on, the Prophet ’08 will earn it’s place as a “classic” analog synthesizer, and the P08 Pot Edition is just another step in that path.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted here—I’ll spare you the boring details, but I’m finally back, and there will be a lot more action in this blog and on the Ember After site in general from now on.

I thought I’d restart the Geartalk blog by mentioning a forthcoming guitar from Gibson that has really fired up—pardon the pun—my imagination: the Dark Fire Les Paul Guitar.

Gibson Dark Fire

I play guitar synth, and I love piezos mixed with electric pickups.  This guitar has piezos and 13-pin MIDI-ready capability.  I’d love to be able to record a really clean direct guitar, but the current crop of USB guitar cables aren’t really up to professional use.  This guitar has FireWire.  It’s got automatic electronic tuners for instant tuning or alternate tuning.  Read Gibson’s teaser text, this guitar looks like it’s got the goods.  And like Fender’s VG Strat, when push comes to shove, this is a Les Paul, so you can just play it like an LP and forget about the technology if you want to.

I’m willing to bet that this beautiful guitar will come with a really ugly price.  Of course, as a left-handed guitar player, I have nothing to worry about—they won’t make a lefty anyway.  Still, its great to see a major manufacturer developing a guitar that tries to push the envelope and offer guitarists some modern technology in a classic package.  I hope this guitar does incredibly well for Gibson, and takes the instrument that much further.  I’ll definitely be watching how it is received when its officially on the market.

One of the cool things about my job, is I get to try out a lot of gear. Sometimes it’s so I can use that information in books that I’m writing or editing. Other times, its so I can review it for a magazine. So here’s where I get to write the details and opinions that don’t make sense for the project, but might still be of interest.

I’ve been loaned the DigiTech GSP1101 for a book project I’m editing—the forthcoming addendum to Digital Guitar Power by Marc Schonbrun, which if you’re interested in the start of the art in guitar tech, I highly recommend.

I will also be reviewing this unit for a magazine review, so that’s where you’ll find my complete thoughts. I’ll let you know when that’s going to appear

The GSP1101 tries to shove a lot into a single rackspace box. Modeled amps, cabinets, and effects, lots of I/O options so you can use it direct into your computer, a PA system, in front of an amp, in the effects loop of an amp, or using the “Four Cable Method” in which you plug your guitar into the GSP1101, then the send from the loop of the GSP1101 into the front end of your amp, the send from your amp’s loop into the return of the GSP1101, and the output of the GSP1101 into the return of your amp’s loop.

It also comes with a software editor, so you can connect it to your machine via USB and do all your editing with a nice big computer (or laptop) monitor. I’m a big fan of computer editors, and this one was organized and worked very well.

I’ll have more to say in depth about my opinions in the full review, but for now, let me just say that if you’re interested in a hardware rackmount modeler, keep this one in mind!