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Prophet~5 Tutorial: Radiohead, Aphex Twin, Japan

I had an opportunity to borrow a vintage Prophet~5 rev3.2 for a short while and, as I've done lots of videos on the Prophet, I thought I'd take the opportunity to create a tutorial showing three of my favourite uses of this classic synth.
0:00 Intro
0:53 Everything In Its Right Place Demo
1:21 Everything In Its Right Place Breakdown
3:21 Rhubarb Demo
3:53 Rhubarb Breakdown
6:39 Ghosts Demo
7:13 Ghosts Breakdown
9:15 Summary
10:05 Outro Jam
Note: Admittedly I'm busking the parts a bit as the video was more about the sounds, so excuse any not-quite-right chords etc.
The principals showns in the video will all work with a Prophet~5/10 rev4 reissue or a plug-in such as Repro-5 or the Arturia Prophet~V. They are also applicable to other synths that can replicate the architecture of a Prophet~5 (many synths can).

Пікірлер: 602

  • @thebreakfastmenu
    @thebreakfastmenu2 жыл бұрын

    That Everything in its Right Place could have been the actual recording. That was so spot on

  • @marczynsky

    @marczynsky

    8 ай бұрын

    The sound is perfect, but the notes on third chord seem incorrect.

  • @nonideal

    @nonideal

    5 ай бұрын

    It's just two notes on the right hand rather than the three he played I believe@@marczynsky

  • @toaster3082

    @toaster3082

    5 ай бұрын

    @@nonideal And he added fifths in the left hand

  • @RhymesWithCarbon

    @RhymesWithCarbon

    2 ай бұрын

    Exactly. That's the sound. That's it. I've watched so many covers and it's real close but it's not..... it

  • @MrJdT65

    @MrJdT65

    19 күн бұрын

    It really made me stop in my tracks, what a sound!

  • @Hainbach
    @Hainbach2 жыл бұрын

    Goosebumps when you played Everything in its right place, even after having been through the Reddit memes.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Someone else was just telling me about that. I'm not on reddit so this is a total coincidence, but quite a funny one. 🙂

  • @teddyn3051

    @teddyn3051

    2 жыл бұрын

    same, hainbach. beyond all the memes it still is an absolutely magical melody. and played on a prophet... it’s otherworldly

  • @thb-music

    @thb-music

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AlexBallMusic "I'm not on reddit" - That's.... probably for the best.

  • @popefrancis1629

    @popefrancis1629

    2 жыл бұрын

    Whats the meme?

  • @tweer64

    @tweer64

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@thb-music Why?

  • @adambutler2465
    @adambutler24652 жыл бұрын

    Those Rhubarb chords are heart wrenching

  • @natura808

    @natura808

    Жыл бұрын

    Reminder about eternal and finite and beauty of both… just my personal interpretation.

  • @tomfenn7149
    @tomfenn71495 ай бұрын

    Japan must be one of the most underrated 'pop' bands of the 1980's. 'Gentlemen take Polaroids' is a timeless recording. I still listen to it and love it today as much as I did when it completely ripped my head off all those years back. Utter genius, and so pleased you mentioned them too!

  • @HanHuman
    @HanHuman Жыл бұрын

    The Prophet 5 has a rumble in the bass that is unmatched. This thing is alive.

  • @theboofin

    @theboofin

    Жыл бұрын

    An Oberheim has more bass though.

  • @HanHuman

    @HanHuman

    Жыл бұрын

    @@theboofin Possibly.

  • @FreshPrinceOfEnid
    @FreshPrinceOfEnid2 жыл бұрын

    Thrilled you included Japan along the usual suspects, was hoping you'd find a YMO/Sakamoto track to throw in as well!

  • @simonhodgetts6530

    @simonhodgetts6530

    2 жыл бұрын

    Right on synth brother! I always found it surprising that YMO only used American synths in their early days. Ryuchi Sakamoto played the Prophet and a Polymoog on the early concert recordings, alongside an Arp Odyssey. There was also an Oberheim 4 voice in the line up, played by Akiko Yano. Bass was another Arp Odyssey.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    I've got a video coming on the esoteric Roland MC-4 that YMO used, so that will drift into their world a bit.

  • @radimkeller4937

    @radimkeller4937

    2 жыл бұрын

    Rt

  • @slayerfiend

    @slayerfiend

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AlexBallMusic YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @kingjellybeans7823

    @kingjellybeans7823

    2 жыл бұрын

    Japan great Stuff Man!

  • @Richcanvas
    @Richcanvas2 жыл бұрын

    As a guitarist I still find this so interesting and educational. Brilliant.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cheers. I'm a guitarist too really, just poke around on the keyboard.

  • @piperfox74
    @piperfox742 жыл бұрын

    Rhubarb is one of my favorite Aphex Twin tunes. Gorgeous.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    I love that the comments section on the KZread upload of it is total existentialism. Brings out something in people. Wonderful piece of music.

  • @jasongravely7217

    @jasongravely7217

    2 жыл бұрын

    It never gets old.

  • @lancepage1914

    @lancepage1914

    2 жыл бұрын

    That gave me goosebumps straight away when played Rhubarb. Richard D. James is the man, and so are you Mr. Ball. Thanks for the video.

  • @toddbernstein3407
    @toddbernstein34072 жыл бұрын

    I wouldn't be surprised if it's also used by Boards Of Canada. The Prophet had that warmth that's a part of their sound.

  • @neolojism

    @neolojism

    2 жыл бұрын

    BOC claim they didn’t have access to expensive synths and most consensus supports they used a Korg Poly 61.

  • @Lobster1496

    @Lobster1496

    2 жыл бұрын

    BoC were prominently using Yamaha CS-70M and CS-80 + Akai Samplers. And of course an orange, yeah that´s right.

  • @Davestitch

    @Davestitch

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Lobster1496 Having trawled thru thousands of sysex banks for the dx7, I was surprised how many analog sounding BoC pads can come from 80s FM

  • @Jez4prez1

    @Jez4prez1

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Lobster1496 SH-101. That is in so much of their music. I would argue perhaps their most used synth. Not just their mono / leads also. You can put 101 in sampler also, or even just use hold function too, to make drone / ambient style pads with it. Try this with a 101, hold, sample and reverse, time-stretch / pitch etc, and you can very easily get warbled pads / drones / leads. There is potential evidence they had CS-70M (based on that being said in a generic Warp write-up when selling album), but zero evidence they ever had a CS-80. Zero evidence they had a Korg Poly 61 too. I wouldn't be surprised if they sampled many/most synths btw. A crapload of Samplers, a guitar+bass, drum kit, SH-101, some crappy digital synths for pads, and lots of multi-tracking, tape, pedals, and other FX/outboard can generate 99% of BoC sounds. And like I said, of all their gear, the most obvious is SH-101.

  • @splintercast8092

    @splintercast8092

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@neolojism It's known that they use the Yamaha CS70M which sell for twice what P5's sell for.

  • @joelk.3917
    @joelk.39172 жыл бұрын

    Yes! Finally someone referring to Japan 🖤❤ Love the video mate!!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    🇯🇵

  • @bowieleijte-officialchanne8387
    @bowieleijte-officialchanne83872 жыл бұрын

    Finally, someone who is kinda popular I guess and a good keyboardist on KZread that actually knows japan in the right way.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cheers. Who doesn't love a spot of Japan?

  • @DonQuiSjot
    @DonQuiSjot2 жыл бұрын

    OMG I can't describe it, but this vintage synth just gives me the chills...

  • @DonQuiSjot

    @DonQuiSjot

    2 жыл бұрын

    so much different then new versions

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@DonQuiSjot A few of us have now done forensic comparisons with two different rev3s and two rev4s. The rev4s are every bit as good. They really sound so close to the vintage counterparts.

  • @ChristopherByrumHarris
    @ChristopherByrumHarris2 жыл бұрын

    Just because I am a nerd for figuring stuff out. I feel like Radiohead used a different synth with stereo outs because you can also hear key tracking in it. There is a live video of Thom playing this song live on a Prophet 08. He definitely has the filter opened up a big and a shorter release but the stereo image is damn near spot on with the studio version. (edit: after a proper deep dive. Nigel Godrich actually captured Thom's midi performance of the opening and piped that into his midi modified Prophet 5 for Thom to tweak settings in real time of his performance. Nigel also tracked Thom playing the opening twice with both performances being slightly different which is why I think I'm hearing key tracking.)

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for looking into it! That's great.

  • @topofthemornintoya

    @topofthemornintoya

    2 жыл бұрын

    Probably half the P5 recordings ever are probably double tracked. Nothing beats it :)

  • @titovalasques

    @titovalasques

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@topofthemornintoya Seeing that it’s done with guitars and vocals all the time why not prophet-5’s.

  • @davewozere2k9

    @davewozere2k9

    2 жыл бұрын

    They seem to use the 08 for live performances now. I guess they stuck with it after using it for king of limbs staircase.

  • @zachneagle4864

    @zachneagle4864

    Жыл бұрын

    Double possibly triple tracked and then panned for stereo

  • @countorringtonludlow5211
    @countorringtonludlow52112 жыл бұрын

    So glad you included Japan! Prophet 5 is a beast!

  • @smokey5100
    @smokey5100 Жыл бұрын

    The Prophet 5/10 is such a masterpiece of a synth. I love it!! Dave blessed the planet with this one...

  • @MPHORROCKS
    @MPHORROCKS2 жыл бұрын

    Ryuichi Sakamoto created all the backing to Japan's 'Taking Islands in Africa' on just a Prophet 5. Steven Jansen, Japan's amazing drummer, said he felt it actually wasn't a Japan track, pre se, as the group didn't really write it or play much (if at all) on it. But, it certainly drove them to the synth programming heights they achieved on 'Tin Drum'.

  • @adaptedvinyl
    @adaptedvinyl2 жыл бұрын

    This sort of analysis of the synth programming behind well-loved music is like gold dust. Thanks for putting this together. Your best video yet!

  • @cd78

    @cd78

    2 жыл бұрын

    amen

  • @akkudakkupl
    @akkudakkupl2 жыл бұрын

    This is getting sequentially better and better. You have prophetic skills with those keys.

  • @dirkremmington

    @dirkremmington

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thread over...time to go home..LOL

  • @seanthadondontcom

    @seanthadondontcom

    2 жыл бұрын

    5/10

  • @Digiphex
    @Digiphex2 жыл бұрын

    The ghosts of my life . . . grow wilder . . . than before.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    👻

  • @craig7810
    @craig78102 жыл бұрын

    Wow, you've just blown my mind. I always thought that everything in its right place was played on a Rhodes. I didn't know that such tones was achieveable on the Prophet

  • @enparticular

    @enparticular

    2 жыл бұрын

    it sounds rode-ish because they are played in a piano-like way. it's obvious it's a synth in the end part of the song, where they open the cutoff of the filter and sounds super synth-ish.

  • @XavierRadix
    @XavierRadix2 жыл бұрын

    Tin Drum! What a masterpiece of an album that is... The sounds are really spot on, too!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Indeed it is. I someone who named their company after it. :)

  • @XavierRadix

    @XavierRadix

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AlexBallMusic Brilliant!

  • @retro-dademusic6403
    @retro-dademusic64032 жыл бұрын

    Kid A was a masterpiece. Always loved that beginning. Great work Alex!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yep, gotta love an imaginative band being successful enough to keep working. Often it doesn't happen.

  • @GrumpyTim
    @GrumpyTim2 жыл бұрын

    As soon as I saw the title pop up on my phone I thought "Ghosts" (and I hadn't even read the title beyond the "Prophet-5" bit). I've always loved the look of the Prophet-5, it's the perfect image of a vintage synth. Bizarrely I'd always assumed the whole synth sound on Ghosts was from the Prophet-5. I still love it to bits and I'd really like one of those sitting on my desk.......

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    The full story. www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-japan-ghosts?amp

  • @GrumpyTim

    @GrumpyTim

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AlexBallMusic Wow, fantastic article, cheers Alex

  • @glennringer5475
    @glennringer54752 жыл бұрын

    Tremendous!! "more Prophets than the Bible!" LOL. Superb!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    It's been spiritual.

  • @jeffjfindley4802
    @jeffjfindley4802 Жыл бұрын

    Apart from being a great Prophet demo, this is also one of the more useful tutorials I've seen on basic synthesis. Well done as per usual!

  • @ArvidOlson
    @ArvidOlson2 жыл бұрын

    I love how when your talking with your hands, even when off-screen, you can see the shadow so you still have that presence.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Nice to know. Thanks!

  • @KieronEdwards
    @KieronEdwards2 жыл бұрын

    Great video - really appreciate the research you've done into Ghosts - it's so rare to find anyone referencing their work these days.

  • @wilderbeast96
    @wilderbeast962 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful stuff, Alex. I love all the Aphex and Japan stuff you covered. My budgies are freaking out over your ending jam!

  • @Kloppsserialbottlers
    @Kloppsserialbottlers2 жыл бұрын

    Very nice! I still get goosebumps when I hear 'Everything in its right place' begin. One of the coolest riffs of all time, without question.

  • @simonhodgetts6530
    @simonhodgetts65302 жыл бұрын

    I’m just watching the intro, and I’m already excited! The Prophet 5 is possibly the most influential synth of all time. Wonderful piece of kit.

  • @patrickfoster3118
    @patrickfoster31182 жыл бұрын

    That everything in its right place tone is spot on

  • @kgbinfo
    @kgbinfo11 ай бұрын

    When I was a kid and just getting into vintage keyboards and Radiohead was becoming my favorite band, I always thought that sound in Everything in its Right Place was done on a Rhodes. Of course that doesn’t make much sense, what with the gradually opening filter over the course of the song, but that really is a testament to how lively and organic the Prophet sounds. Great video Alex!

  • @rxgueplanet
    @rxgueplanet2 жыл бұрын

    Glad it came in for a cup of tea 🧐🔥

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Me too. It drinks Earl Grey.

  • @homophonia1570
    @homophonia15702 жыл бұрын

    Alex, you are the man! A guy who knows how to talk about synthesizers at the highest level. With exquisite musical taste and a great sense of humor... many youtubers should learn from you and leave their arrogance aside!

  • @finctank

    @finctank

    2 жыл бұрын

    Woah there everyone on synth KZread is lovely so I’m assuming you mean “other” KZreadrs 😄

  • @homophonia1570

    @homophonia1570

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@finctank Unfortunately not all of them are charming, there are some with an excessive ego

  • @carlosserrano3985

    @carlosserrano3985

    2 жыл бұрын

    Spitting truth!

  • @DavidLee07
    @DavidLee072 жыл бұрын

    Great ending track, Alex. Also, thanks for reminding me I need to make that Japan koto-ish patch on my Prophet 600, which I've now done following your lead. Excellent!

  • @heydon9601
    @heydon96012 жыл бұрын

    Please do more videos like this, it's really wonderful to hear such patches be thoroughly explained where whether or not you have a Prophet 5, you can still take those principles and apply them to your own synth patches.

  • @Itscjoy
    @Itscjoy2 жыл бұрын

    Probably the best synth ever made imo

  • @SpikesStudio3
    @SpikesStudio32 жыл бұрын

    So, every time i hear radiohead, i weep. And everytime i hear aphex ambient, i weep. And everytime i hear sylvians wonderment, ah shit, yeah, im too emotional. I get it. Couldnt have picked a better three for me personally. Thanks alex. I own a p6, so am happy with that. Close enough.

  • @alexandermccarthy
    @alexandermccarthy3 ай бұрын

    A more perfect triplet I couldn't imagine. You've outdone yourself again, Alex!

  • @usaroman
    @usaroman5 ай бұрын

    Radiohead synth is spot on. I thought the clicking on the attack was done by chopping the sound wave in software. What an eye opener. Thanks Alex 🎉🎉🎉

  • @billyruss
    @billyruss2 жыл бұрын

    Three of my all-time fave tracks. Beautiful sounds, nicely played 🙂

  • @SynaMax
    @SynaMax2 жыл бұрын

    Rhubarb is one of my favorite tracks from Aphex; I also did a tutorial on how to recreate the pad from "Xtal" on my channel. Can't get enough of your videos, keep up the excellent work!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cheers. Just checked it out

  • @SynaMax

    @SynaMax

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AlexBallMusic Thanks so much for watching it! :D

  • @needfortweed8734
    @needfortweed87342 жыл бұрын

    I appreciate how you explained how you made the sounds that you made, and of course, the outro jam was (as usual) wonderful...

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cheers. A fun lesson for me too, shows the importance of simplicity at times.

  • @paulcharlesworth9114
    @paulcharlesworth91142 жыл бұрын

    Another great video, Alex. Thanks. Tin Drum for me next. All about the arrangement, indeed. With planning and intention, more musical than chucking it all in and hoping to control it in the mix, as you stressed before. Everything in its right place. See what you did there, sir!

  • @Johnsormani
    @Johnsormani2 жыл бұрын

    I remember seeing Japan when they were on tour here in the Netherlands , back in 1979. It was maybe the first international band I ever saw live. I still have some ( bad) pictures from that gig. David Sylvian played a Gibson firebird, which I thought was a fantastic guitar to see. Always wanted one and finally got one a few years ago….

  • @_alexxon
    @_alexxon2 жыл бұрын

    Your musical taste are insane!!! And also the demonstration, it’s really enjoyable watching your video. I got a Take5 yesterday as my first sequential synth, and I just love it. Can’t imagine how good Prophet 10 would be.

  • @h2o1969
    @h2o19692 жыл бұрын

    I love Everything and Rub. Masterful reproduction on the sounds. Especially Everything. I still get chills from that song.

  • @ReadAndReturn
    @ReadAndReturn2 жыл бұрын

    Love the crunchy bell sounds that the Prophet's can make. Those tones are probably my favorite sounds to make via my Rev2.

  • @vinylarchaeologist
    @vinylarchaeologist2 жыл бұрын

    4:19 Never ever thought I’d be spending my evening debating with myself the legitimacy of the word “SAWTEETH” 😅

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    🪚🦷

  • @entropybentwhistle

    @entropybentwhistle

    2 жыл бұрын

    “SawFEET!”

  • @Andybaby
    @Andybaby2 ай бұрын

    the outro jam ROCKED!!!

  • @everpuremusic
    @everpuremusic2 жыл бұрын

    There's nothing like a Prophet. And yes, there are many other incredibe, amazing, inspiring and beautiful looking and sounding synths out there. I just got a small Roland Boutique JX-08 delivered in the mail the other day; and even that can do glimpses of what made the Prophet so famous. That brass, those strings, those plucks - the filter... I won't ever own a Prophet 5 old or new, but it's lovely to listen and learn from it!

  • @tonywilbanks3541
    @tonywilbanks35412 жыл бұрын

    Very Cool! Would love to see you take on and present all of the classic sounds in the songs of the 80's.....this and the Juno 6 shaped the era!

  • @ToumalRakesh
    @ToumalRakesh2 жыл бұрын

    You don't have to be a prophet to feel a porno music tutorial coming up soon...

  • @ChrisSmout

    @ChrisSmout

    2 жыл бұрын

    Schmexellent!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    🥒💦

  • @bencetasi9943

    @bencetasi9943

    2 жыл бұрын

    Another Schlänger Bänger incoming :D

  • @cjbcarr1
    @cjbcarr12 жыл бұрын

    damn ......absolutely nailed everything in it's right place. nice!!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cheers

  • @samlatone1763
    @samlatone17632 жыл бұрын

    bro, your ending track might be one of your best compositions! got me bobbin my head with stank face.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cheers!

  • @MeatSnax
    @MeatSnax5 ай бұрын

    Before you even said anything about simplicity, just seeing the panel makes SO much sense why a band like Radiohead would dive so deep into analog synths and electronic sounds. I've tried to get into Analog synth (without committing any real money) and midi controllers but it just feels so much like work to get to a point where I can just play a little song, but this thing just looks like an electric organ which is simply the most fun type of keyboard to mess around with. Like I really respect people who take the time to read the manual and experiment and really put in the time to get to know a piece of equipment, but nothing beats the joy of playing with that big green Line 6 Delay/Looper when you're 16 and everything sounds sick as hell.

  • @paulharley830
    @paulharley8302 жыл бұрын

    I thought for a minute you were gonna do the ring-mod warble sounds in the Ghosts intro (please do one day) . From the moment I heard them on the radio back in the day, I was hooked and wanted to be a synth player. It's still an amazing song, gives me chills even now, incredible to think it got into the top 40 back in the day. It wouldn't stand a chance these days, musicianship and composition skills aren't needed anymore apparently.

  • @minimism

    @minimism

    2 жыл бұрын

    Me too! Ah well, we can hope…

  • @silkyglimpses7686

    @silkyglimpses7686

    2 жыл бұрын

    hey i love the the ring-mod warble sounds in the Ghosts intro so what was that effect played on is it possible to patch on a arp 2600 ?

  • @kerzwhile
    @kerzwhile2 жыл бұрын

    What a wonderful flood of memories of the HOURS I'd spend learning my 1st synth, the Six-Trak, just listening to you diddle about on the Prophet! Thank you! 😀

  • @oldvoltage388
    @oldvoltage3882 жыл бұрын

    We're so lucky to have you, Alex. Enlightening as always!

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. 🙂

  • @PotatosPotatoes
    @PotatosPotatoes2 жыл бұрын

    I could listen to Rhubarb all day.

  • @geraldtir
    @geraldtir2 жыл бұрын

    Wow that takes me back. Japan ghosts, One very very clever band. Excellent video as always, thanks for doing this…

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    It's a classic! Cheers for tuning in.

  • @geraldtir

    @geraldtir

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AlexBallMusic ah, your welcome mate…

  • @bonchbonch
    @bonchbonch2 жыл бұрын

    For Everything In Its Right Place, the performed MIDI was played back through the Prophet 5 while the filter knobs were adjusted in real-time, so maybe a different filter performance was recorded for each stereo channel to create the doubled effect.

  • @ZethKeeper
    @ZethKeeper2 жыл бұрын

    I like TIE-fighter sound.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Me too. 🙂

  • @kierenmoore3236

    @kierenmoore3236

    6 ай бұрын

    Me three. Weren’t the TIE sounds for the movie made with elephant (and brass?) samples, reversed … or something like that … ?!! 🙂

  • @sibbyeskie
    @sibbyeskie Жыл бұрын

    WOW. Love that tone for Everything in its Right Place. Spot on!

  • @SamSung-jv3dg
    @SamSung-jv3dg2 жыл бұрын

    You've done some fantastic videos on the history of electronic music and the evolution of the hardware. EIIRP and Ghosts are two of my all time favourite tracks, great to see the keyboard parts recreated, thank you. Good to see Japan getting an airing too, they still have a dedicated fan base but are usually forgotten in the music media, I've never understood why.

  • @clubpresident
    @clubpresident2 жыл бұрын

    Such a fantastic and diverse synth. It reminds me of Junos and their way of fitting into a track in just the way that you need without being obnoxious. Great video!

  • @alfish18
    @alfish182 жыл бұрын

    Oh Marge, we need a Prophet.

  • @airsickgrove
    @airsickgrove2 жыл бұрын

    Not a day goes by without missing my first synth. Everytime you make something about a prophet I weep like a fool. I love them so much... however I am looking to pull the trigger on a rev 4. They're about half the price or less than my coveted 83' 3.2 later converted to a 3.3.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    The rev4 is absolutely brilliant. At least there is a proper Prophet available to those who let them go...

  • @airsickgrove

    @airsickgrove

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AlexBallMusic Ive been ecstatic since they were announced, so glad Mr. Smith did this.

  • @deepseafishmusic

    @deepseafishmusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    I have not been around when the first Prophet was introduced, but I am a proud owner of a Prophet 10 Rev 4. Despite my 26 years of age I have been trading synths for years. The GAS comes and goes, but the Prophet stays, that's for sure. Of all the gear I had it's hands down the synth which sounds best to my ears. What I don't understand is why people seem to want to place a price sticker on everything and then proceed to call it good or bad. I'm not denying that it's expensive of course, but once you hear it, that number just goes up in smoke because it could be anything. What matters is that you have it. Sure, it lacks a few nice to have features like lfo key sync and negative envelope amounts, but the core sound is so juicy that I have no desire to modulate it too much. It's all about those oscillators and that filter. If your budget is limited you can get to more sonic places overall with say something like the excellent Hydrasynth. Pair it with a Moog or a Dreadbox for that low end and you already have a very nice setup for less than the Prophet. But to me it's not about that. Coming from what I have heard and experienced over the years: If I could have only one synth, it would be the Prophet 10. Also Alex you have done a wonderful job at recreating these sounds. I will definitely try them! :)

  • @GizzyDillespee

    @GizzyDillespee

    2 жыл бұрын

    You had a P5 as a first synth??!! You lucky SOB my goodness.

  • @airsickgrove

    @airsickgrove

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@GizzyDillespee yes but in all fairness it blew up after having it a month and it took some time to get it functional again. One thing about vintage gear is its best to open them up and clean them out as they collect dust easily. The previous owner did little to maintain it other than keeping the outside looking almost new... there was a line were the rear panel badging " Prophet 5 " that had a odd slight bent to it. But yeah I was lucky, especially enough to have $1,100 in 1997 at that exact same time... also I had to have a prophet as my first synth for some reason they possessed me... it also took 5 years looking for one as this was just before eBay or at least I didn't hear of eBay til 97'. Found it at a spot that always had an amazing used gear room... a month after getting the prophet they had a Jupiter 8... it was broken so didn't get it.

  • @henryaposto3550
    @henryaposto3550 Жыл бұрын

    You have the best synth demos on the internet period

  • @paul6925
    @paul6925 Жыл бұрын

    One of my favourite sounding synths. Filter sounds so nice

  • @junokarah3495
    @junokarah34952 жыл бұрын

    Finally someone playing Everything In It’s Right Place on an actual P5!! Outstanding!

  • @mathmanmrt
    @mathmanmrt2 жыл бұрын

    many times i've found that working to overcome limitations can unlock one's creativity more than a surfeit of options. the moog grandmother is a relatively simple and limited instrument yet it can produce some glorious sounds.

  • @TonyAndersonMusic
    @TonyAndersonMusic2 жыл бұрын

    This first part of the video caused me to buy a prophet 10. No joke. Thank you.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    I should get commission. ;)

  • @baconfister
    @baconfister2 жыл бұрын

    Such an amazing synth. In the 1980s when I was a young lad, my father-who was well connected within the ad agency biz-was friends with John Mattos, who was the airbrush artist commissioned to produce the magazine and poster artwork for the Pro One, Prophet Five, Prophet Ten, and think the Prophet Remote. I had all the posters on my bedroom walls as a young teenager and hoped to someday own one or all of the synths. It wasn’t until 1988 or 1989 when I randomly hooked up with someone who had a really beat up (lots of gigging) 2/10 cosmetic condition Prophet Five and he only wanted $300.00 for it. I immediately purchased it without even testing it out. What a game changer, as this was the first synth I owned. Countless hundreds of hours noodling around, and possibly 40 or so hours soldering in new key trigger wires (they were the weakness in the otherwise amazing keyboard). I’m pretty sure mine was a rev 2 so wasn’t the coveted rev 3.2. Like an idiot, just a few years later while attending college, I committed a sin: I sold it to someone for the same price-$300.00-I’d purchased it for just a few years before. Still kicking myself in the head about that.

  • @rachelar
    @rachelar2 ай бұрын

    This makes me realize it's Sylvian's vocals that really make the track; it's quite sparse and Zen-like

  • @groundsheet
    @groundsheet Жыл бұрын

    Mike Lindup from Level 42 - Early Tapes etc.. Really impressed me how he used the Prophet 5, pitch bend chords my favourite. Not forgetting George Duke of course.

  • @kevinsturges6957
    @kevinsturges69572 жыл бұрын

    Your musical piece at the end is brilliant. It gives me that feeling.

  • @spencersmith7266
    @spencersmith72668 ай бұрын

    Loved the outro jam, Alex - reminiscent of Level 42, I thought.

  • @BILLYPATRON
    @BILLYPATRON2 жыл бұрын

    I've been looking for almost this exact video so I appreciate it.

  • @Rose_Arcana
    @Rose_Arcana Жыл бұрын

    That outro jam is HOT!

  • @jlindborg1105
    @jlindborg11052 жыл бұрын

    Nice one! I was just waiting for the rhythm guitar and a final blast off grooving.😄 Right up my alley!

  • @greatheightsu
    @greatheightsu2 жыл бұрын

    These are my favourite videos, so awesome watching you play.

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Good to know! Cheers.

  • @sbatty65227
    @sbatty65227 Жыл бұрын

    Even though I have musical talent whatsoever, I do love these videos. Gives me an insight on the way most of the bands in my record collection used their synths. 👍

  • @lefunghi6151
    @lefunghi61512 жыл бұрын

    Man the Super 6 just always sounds so incredibly soft. Next to the P5 one of my bucket list synths. Hopefully they’ll still make them in a few years!

  • @Mark_Ocain
    @Mark_Ocain2 жыл бұрын

    "When too many Prophets are barely enough .." 🤣 Great prezo, Alex!! Greatly enjoyed this!!

  • @Nicccolas
    @Nicccolas2 жыл бұрын

    Great vid Alex! I think Rhubarb was done on an Oberheim Matrix 1000 but the patch you have here sounds amazing

  • @balloonhead61

    @balloonhead61

    2 жыл бұрын

    do you know what reverb?

  • @antoniog2854

    @antoniog2854

    2 жыл бұрын

    Do you know the patch#?

  • @skarajmusic

    @skarajmusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    I saw a post/comment saying it was done on a CZ-1000, no idea if that's true or not.

  • @Nicccolas

    @Nicccolas

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@balloonhead61 It was ran through an Alesis Quadraverb II, not sure on the patch but the hearsay ive read says that it was likely a couple patches layered, played through a room or plate reverb on the quadraverb, and then slowed down on tape

  • @Nicccolas

    @Nicccolas

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@antoniog2854 No sorry mate, but I do believe it was a couple of them layered together

  • @ManCalledMif
    @ManCalledMif2 жыл бұрын

    Love everything in its right place. Even better heating the isolated synth part 🙌🏼

  • @5amJones69
    @5amJones692 жыл бұрын

    I actually treated myself and listened to rhubarb before you played it. Thanks. It had been ages.

  • @amonster8mymother
    @amonster8mymother2 жыл бұрын

    So far watching your videos has not ensued a slap in the face.

  • @RichardDenRooyen1973
    @RichardDenRooyen19732 жыл бұрын

    that first sound.... o. m. g. beautiful, and so simple....

  • @AlexBallMusic

    @AlexBallMusic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, great lesson in the importance of pure tone.

  • @andrefelixstudio2833
    @andrefelixstudio28332 жыл бұрын

    It’s amazing what you can get with a cup of tea excellent nicely done!

  • @jimmoore6514
    @jimmoore6514 Жыл бұрын

    This is so good. Great video and great playing!

  • @NeonShadowsx
    @NeonShadowsx2 жыл бұрын

    Japan is one of my favourite bands! Awesome breakdown!

  • @georgeshields9672
    @georgeshields96722 жыл бұрын

    REST IN PEACE DAVE SMITH

  • @Robinbermann
    @Robinbermann2 жыл бұрын

    Oh my god, the rhubarb patch so goood:

  • @brazni
    @brazni2 жыл бұрын

    Such great songs to demo such a great synth. Lovely walkthrough of the setup to get those textures

  • @adolfnoise4673
    @adolfnoise4673 Жыл бұрын

    thank you very much. I love this rhubarb sound, and hey I have a PolyEvolver, so I will go program that now. May even get rhubarbier than on the 5.

  • @GNeuman
    @GNeuman Жыл бұрын

    So happy to have grown up in the late 70s and early 80s...all this fantastic music. Just look at the UK charts in 1979, there was almost every imaginable genre and some completely new ones during the course of that year. Seriously thinking of selling my Prophet 6 and getting the reissue Prophet 5...opinions anyone? Alex, super demo showing sound-sculpting on the Prophet 5, there's not that many people around who can do this to this skill level.

  • @espacomultiplo
    @espacomultiplo10 ай бұрын

    Incredible synth, sounds and play!!!

  • @DoctorJezz
    @DoctorJezz2 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant as always Alex - you totally highlighted one of the things that always irked me about my P5 Rev 3 - the fact that the subtle positioning of the mod wheel was always so absolutely crucial to many of my favourite (otherwise) stored patches - also the fact that such small alterations anywhere produced such subtle but critical changes to the sound. It's something I've not really had to adjust to to such a degree on other synths. Maybe I just like a blunt instrument that has joysticks/buttons (JP8/Juno etc) and basically sounds as you'd expect, only more or less so when you change parameters. I suspect it was my own weaknesses and expectations that made me let my P5 go. Still - no regrets for me and great to see how you and others make these instruments shine. Always love your perspective - thanks so much once again ☺👍👍 Just edited to say, I still love my Pro One, so I'm happy with those adjustments without the presets - like I say - probably my weakness!