News

Update: April 25, 2008

One of the great joys of making musical instruments is getting to see and hear the artists who use them and we've had the pleasure in recent days to experience a diverse array of music, both live and recorded. Last week we saw (new Prophet '08 Module owners) Ghostland Observatory when they played to a sold out crowd at the Mezzanine in San Francisco. This other l'il ol' band from Texas was dynamic, great fun (Lasers! Cowboy boots! A CAPE!!!), and very gracious. Thanks to Thomas and Aaron for letting us share in the fun.

Then we got to see another sold out show: Hot Chip at the Fillmore with Felix Martin manning the mighty Poly Evolver Keyboard. These guys are a blast and are making some very original and fun pop/dance music. The Poly Evolver is prominently featured on their hit "Ready for the Floor." They also told us they have a Prophet '08 and a Poly Evolver Rack. Thanks to Felix, Al, Alex, and the rest of the guys (Fiona,too) for making us feel welcome and showing us a good time.

Keyboard great and Prophet '08 player Jason Miles (Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson) is playing live dates in support of Global Noize, his latest album project with DJ Logic and many special guest artists. The album is set to be released on 4/29/08 from Shanachie Entertainment. For photos of Jason performing with his Prophet '08, check out the Global Noize Pics page on MySpace.

Jason Miles: Soundcheck at The Highline Ballroom, NYC, 4/7/08

Producer/DJ/remixer/recording artist Morgan Page—whose remixes for Nelly Furtado, Jody Watley, and Delerium all hit #1 on the Billboard Dance chart—sent us his remix of Natalie Walker's "Over and Under," which pretty obviously (in a good way) features his Prophet '08 Special Edition. Morgan tells us, "The Prophet is now officially my go-to synth for everything from major label remixes to original productions." Thanks Morgan! Check out his new album "Elevate," out now on Nettwerk and available for download from .

Marek "Dendy" Dendes, AKA Ray Subject, sent along an edit of his track "Blue Wizard" [blue_wizard_edit.mp3, 5.33MB] (Hmmm, I wonder where the name comes from...?) With the exception of the sampled drums and percussion, all of the sounds were produced with his trusty desktop Evolver. Visit the Ray Subject Web site to download a high bitrate version of the entire track.

Michael Walthius, "The Keyboard Wizard," has been generating a lot of buzz with his demos of the Prophet '08 on YouTube. If you haven't been able to lay your hands on a Prophet, it's the next best thing. Good stuff!

Two of the questions we are asked most frequently are, "What expression pedal will work with my DSI instrument?" and "Where can I get a case for my DSI instrument?" We will soon be offering an expression pedal that works with any of our synths with a Pedal/CV input. It is the same pedal we use for development, so it defintely works the way we expect it to. Due to the weight and cost of shipping, the pedals will only be available for domestic US shipping, directly from us. Watch for an announcement soon.

While adequate "off-the-shelf" cases are available for the Poly Evolver Keyboard, cases for the Evolver Keyboard and the Prophet '08 Keyboard are somewhat difficult to find due to their unusual sizes and people have generally had to resort to getting custom cases made. In 90 days or so, we will have available a case that will work for both the Prophet and the Evolver Keyboard. It is a molded, polyethylene case with wheels, with a 2.25" wide accessory compartment. Because the Evolver Keyboard and the Prophet have essentially the same profile, the case will work for either instrument. A 9" tray is included to fill the extra space not occupied by the smaller Evolver Keyboard and to provide additional storage (and who doesn't need that?). Check back for further information.

Update: March 18, 2008

The Prophet '08 module is in production and begins shipping today. It may take two or three weeks to get from Northern California to where you are, but we'll do our best to fill those orders as soon as possible.

We had a great time meeting many of our international dealers and European customers at Musikmesse. Thanks for stopping by and introducing yourselves. Your enthusiasm for the instruments is greatly appreciated!

At Musikmesse, left to right: Robbie Bronnimann, Dave, Howard Jones.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

We were honored to be presented with the 2007/2008 M.I.P.A. (Musikmesse International Press Award) for Best Synthesizer for the Prophet '08. This year's awards were voted on by 100 magazines from around the world. Thanks very much to the international press!

Dave accepts the MIPA for Best Synthesizer.

And last, but definitely not least, MusicPlayers.com reviewed the Prophet '08 and gave it their WIHO (Wish I Had One) award. Thanks!

Update: March 4, 2008

A few quick updates...

The Prophet '08 module is entering the final stages of pre-production and should be shipping by the end of this month

We're preparing for Musicmesse and are looking forward to catching up with our European friends. That means we might be a little difficult to get ahold of from March 10th through the 17th (unless you happen to be at the show), but hang in there. We will be answering emails, just a little slower than usual.

We still get inquiries about the Prophet '08 Special Edition. The SE is not currently in production (and may never be again) and they're getting scarce, but they are out there. If you want one, you can still get one, but you might have to put a little effort into it...

How would you like to work on what is almost certain to be a classic? Dave and Roger are looking for a C programmer and a DSP expert to help with the LinnDrum II. Think you have what it takes? Details are here.

Update: January 29, 2008

We're finally catching up with everything post-NAMM. It was a great show and the response to the Prophets and the LinnDrum II Analog was phenomenal (and a bit overwhelming—we all took turns losing our voices!). There was quite a buzz surrounding the new products and we were very busy. Whew!

To add to the fun, we got hold of the February 2008 issue of Sound on Sound at the show with their review of the Prophet '08. The summary states that the Prophet '08 is "the sexiest little analogue synth I've played in years. It's small, it's light, it's powerful, it's flexible, it's playable, and it's gorgeous." Obviously, we were pleased. Thanks, Sound on Sound! Pick up the February issue for the full review.

One of the most gratifying things about making musical instruments is finding out how people are using them. At the show we found out about some exciting projects using our gear. For the complete rundown (and some photos), check out our 2008 Winter NAMM Show Report.

The entire company (all three of us) had our first opportunity (that we know of, anyway) to see a Prophet '08 used in a live context when White Williams performed recently in San Francisco. As if that wasn't fun enough, opening act Eats Tapes uses a desktop Evolver along with some old, circuit-bent, and/or just plain funky stuff. Thanks to Joe, Gregory, and Marijke for a fun night out on the town.

Update: January 17, 2008

Happy new year! Today is the first day of the 2008 Winter NAMM Show and, for the first time ever, Dave Smith Instruments is introducing two new products. We'll be showing a prototype of the LinnDrum II Analog (previously announced as BoomChik). It doesn't do much yet, but it's finally more than just a nice Roger Linn rendering. As you might imagine, this is a very software-intensive project, so having hardware is just one step towards completion. But it is a step. And those pads with the blue backlighting are mesmerizing! Check out the LinnDrum II Analog product page for more information.

The other product making its debut (also in prototype form) is the Prophet '08 Module. This is a compact, "knobby" tabletop module with a full user interface and all the features of the Prophet '08 Keyboard, minus the keyboard. It also includes rack ears so you can mount it in a standard 19" rack. The suggested retail price is expected to be $1,649.00 and we hope to be shipping in late March.

Also of note is that this NAMM Show marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the Prophet-5 and the 25th anniversary of the introduction of MIDI. If you're coming to the show, stop by booth 6948 and help us celebrate.

Update: December 24, 2007

Thanks to all of you for making our 2007 so great. It's been a lot of fun and we know that at least a few of you will be receiving Prophets and Evolvers from Santa. Some of you must have been EXTRA good! We wish you peace this holiday season and a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year.

The DSI Staff (+ 1): The Dave Smith Instruments Christmas party was held December 11th at Yoshi's in Oakland, California, where we enjoyed good food, good company (pun strictly intended), and the Chick Corea Elektric Band. Pictured (L to R): Dave Smith, Denise Smith, Joanne McGowan, Andrew McGowan.

How about a little stocking stuffer? Maybe you'll find one of these under your tree in 2008!

Update: November 28, 2007

The initial production run of the Prophet '08 Special Edition has come to an end. There are 300 units in all, from serial number 3 to 302. (Serial numbers 1 and 2 are prototypes.) It's possible that there may be another production run in the future, but that is undecided for now. In any event, there will never be a great number of them and if we do make more, the serial numbers will be considerably higher. Thanks for the enthusiastic response!

And, to head off the inevitable can-I-get-red-lighted-wheels-for-my-standard-Prophet question: In a word, no. The wheels and wheel assemblies are different—different mechanically and different sized—which means the top panels and overlays are different, as well.

With the NAMM show fast approaching, inquiries about the drum machine are increasing. The standard response is, "We hope to have something to show at NAMM in January, so you can expect more details then. It should ship in mid-2008." Dave and Roger are up to their necks in it, burning the midnight compact fluorescent lamps to have it ready in time.

Update: October 25, 2007

Accolades for the Prophet '08 are beginning to roll in. Just 2 months ago, Keyboard ran a feature article on Dave and the development of the Prophet '08 that included a photo of one of the prototypes on the cover. Then the November issue shows up and there are two DSI keyboards on the cover!

OK, maybe it's not super obvious, but Bernie Worrell's Poly Evolver Keyboard is hiding behind the Prophet '08. The '08 gets a glowing review and becomes the latest DSI product to earn a Key Buy award. Thanks to Francis Preve and everyone at Keyboard. Check out the review.

From the Oops Dept.: This really belongs on the Support page or the FAQ, but since those pages are still waiting for their makeover, it's news for now. We've had a few anxious calls and emails from new Prophet '08 owners who are hearing a marked difference in volume levels between the voices. After scratching our heads and puzzling over this, we determined that they were only using the "Left/Mono" output. Well...um...despite what it says on the back panel, the Prophet '08 doesn't have a mono output. The silkscreen is incorrect on the initial production run. But hey, look at the bright side. Maybe it'll make your Prophet '08 more collectible! (A Rev. 1 Prophet '08?!!!) Of course, you can create patches with the Pan Spread parameter turned off and no modulation routed to the panning, in which case the left and right outputs would be identical, but several of the factory presets are designed to take full advantage of the stereo outputs.

Update: September 10, 2007

The Prophet '08s are shipping in greater numbers, but we stilll have far more orders than synths, and that will probably be the case for a while. This first batch seems to be flying out of the stores fairly quickly, so if you're looking to check one out, your best bet is probably to talk to your favorite retailer and maybe they'll give you a "heads up" when they have one.

We've gotten a suprising number of emails from people asking if the introduction of the Prophet '08 somehow signals the demise of the Evolver product line. The answer is an emphatic "no!" There are just more Dave Smith instruments to love.

Check out this picture of composer, producer, and keyboard great Jeff Lorber in his studio with a very conspicuous Poly Evolver Keyboard. Jeff has been playing Dave's instruments for almost as long as Dave has been building them. Jeff's latest is "He Had a Hat" on Blue Note Records.

And, in the photo below, a mysterious figure lurks in the background while a Prophet '08 Special Edition gets a workout from attendees at the Analog Heaven Bay Area gathering on September 9th in Oakland, California (proving that both Dave and Prophet '08s actually exist).

Update: August 31, 2007

The Special Editions are shipping! Production is under way and several of them have gone out to dealers and distributors in the last couple of days. We're getting them out as quickly as we can, but that's still not going to be quick enough for some of you, so we thank you for your patience. We've gotten lots of inquiries about waiting lists and direct sales. As a (very) small company, it's taking a fairly monumental effort just to fill existing orders, so your best bet is to contact your favorite retailer and find out what you can do to get your hands on one. It's very gratifying to know that so many of you are interested!

Keyboard Magazine has added several interview clips to their KeyboardMag.tv site. The clips give some insight into Dave's development philosophies and process, and provide a sneak peak behind the scenes of the latest DSI projects. See the pile (literally) of keyboards! Marvel at the Minimoog that started it all! Hear Dave's massive Tannoy monitors make mincemeat of the puny video mic!

Update: August 27, 2007

The response to the Prophet '08 has been overwhelming (and overwhelmingly positive) and we're scrambling to keep up with all of your orders and inquiries. For those of you wondering why it hasn't appeared on our online order form yet, we have far more orders than we have synthesizers at this point, so we need to fill those before we begin to sell them directly from the site. It may be weeks or even months before we are able to offer them for direct sale.

As for the Special Edition, Dave signed the overlays for the initial run of 200 instruments last week.

The Special Edition begins shipping this week! Want to know what the first one looks like? Check it out! In addition to the previously announced special features (red lighted wheels, leopardwood end panels, signed comemorative overlay), the Prophet '08 Special Edition will include the Soundtower editor/librarian for Windows and Mac OS X and a copy of the "Dave Smith: Synthesizer Pioneer" DVD.

Update: August 20, 2007

The rumors are true. (Well, most of 'em, anyway.) Dave has emerged from his underground lair (the Dave Cave?) with a fresh take on a classic, the all new Prophet '08. It is an eight-voice synthesizer with a 100% analog audio signal path. And it will be shipping very soon. For details, check out the Prophet '08 product page.

Following hot on its heels will be the Prophet '08 Special Edition, each of which will be hand-signed by Dave and which will feature lighted wheels (RED!) and exotic leopardwood end panels.

And for those of you who are wondering what happened to BoomChik, stay calm. Do not panic. Development is progressing nicely!

Update: June 11, 2007

No new is good news?

The lack of development here on the Web site stands in stark contrast to what's actually going on behind the scenes, so I'll attempt to fill you in on some details.

Dave and Roger are hard at work on BoomChik and it has—ahem—evolved considerably since making its limited and thoroughly virtual appearance at NAMM and online. There are still some major design decisions to be made and it won't see the light of day until sometime next year, but we think it will be worth the wait. I've been privileged to see some of what they're working on and, for whatever it's worth, I'm excited by the possibilities.

The Mono Evolver Keyboard was honored with yet another great review. The May 2007 issue of Electronic Musician gave it 5 stars and elevated it to "hot pick" status. "The Evolver Keyboard's superb sound quality, terrific controller layout, and high-quality keyboard action make it a synthesist's dream. Add to that a reasonable price point and its ability to control other Evolver synths, and the Evolver Keyboard earns a perfect score." Read more on the EM Web site.

Do you want your Dave TV? No, I'm not talking about those old David Lee Roth music videos. Mel Bay and WBA Productions have released "Dave Smith: Synthesizer Pioneer," the latest installment of the "Instrumental Innovators" DVD series. The DVD features Dave at home talking about his work as a synth designer and covers his entire career in the music industry, from Sequential Circuits to Dave Smith Instruments. Roger Linn and Tom Oberheim join Dave for a candid and lighthearted look back at the industry and the impact their instruments have had.

This is a region-free, NTSC DVD and should play in most recent DVD players regardless of location. If you're not sure, check to see if your player is NTSC compatible. (Generally speaking, if you have a PAL player capable of playing DVD-Rs, it will probably play NTSC-format DVDs, as well.) It is now available for order on the Orders page.

Another change that some of you may already have noticed is that Dave now has some help: me. I'm Andrew McGowan and I've worked with Dave at Sequential, Yamaha, Seer Systems, and now DSI. I've already become acquainted with quite a few of you at NAMM and via email and look forward to assisting you in the future. Among my many duties is designing and building a new Web site, so be on the lookout. It's coming (reasonably) soon.

Until next time, happy evolving!

Update: February 2, 2007

Yes, it's been a long time since I've updated the site. The Evolver synths continue to grow in popularity and get great reviews. Also, we announced a new gem in the works at the NAMM show last month, a new drum machine tentatively called BoomChik. I am designing this with Roger Linn, the undisputed king of drum machines, who not only invented them back in the late 70s/80s (LM-1, Linndrum, Linn 9000), but also designed the MPCs that just about everyone uses now.

We're about a year away from production, so it's currently in the vaporware, uh, I mean, computer simulation stage. The image above is the current vision, though it will likely go through a number of changes over the year. We will update the website every few months with the latest status, so in the meanwhile please don't ask about features or specifics on the design - it's all subject to change anyway! As far as price, best guess is $1000 - $1500 range. We're shooting for the lower, but we all know how that can go.

Basically, it is meant to be a drum machine, not an MPC. It will have both real analog percussion and normal sample playback, plus a bunch of novel processing. The idea is to produce sounds with some real, unique personality, different from everything else out there. Those of you with Evolvers can likely imagine what sounds will be possible, but it should go beyond that also.

Stay tuned!

Update: July 21, 2006

The first couple Evolver Keyboard reviews are in, and we are 2 out of 2 with awards! The August Keyboard gives it a Key Buy award - check out the great review: on their website with some sounds samples here, or a pdf file. Also, MusicPlayers.com gave the keyboard a WIHO (Wish I Had One) award - their review is here.