July 21, 2010—FutureMusic issue 229 features a review of the Mopho Keyboard. Calling it "a classic in its own right," FM honors the Mopho Keyboard with its Platinum award. The review is also available online at MusicRadar.com.
And the August issue of Keyboard bestows its KeyBuy award for, among other things, "sound quality, fun factor, and sheer value."
Our thanks to the editors and reviewers at FM and Keyboard for having such great taste!
Organ Donor?
June 9, 2010—Keyboardist/B3 Maestro Jim Alfredson (organissimo, Root Doctor) wrote with some words of praise for the new little guy and was kind enough to send a short demo. Thanks Jim!
"Just wanted to drop a note and let you know how much I'm enjoying my new Mopho Keyboard. This is my first DSI product and it's a great little synth with a big sound.
"Here's a quick and dirty song I composed with it within about an hour of unboxing it. Everything is Mopho except the drums (but the reverberated snare IS Mopho). Added a bit of delay on one sound and light limiting to the mix. Otherwise, it's straight out of the box. No EQ."
June 9, 2010—Soundtower has released a new version of the Mopho Pro editor/librarian with support for both the desktop module and keyboard. Users who already own a license can download the new version from soundtower.com. Licenses for the Mopho Pro editor/librarian can be purchased from DSI's online store.
Custom Graphics For Your Mopho Or Tetra
June 9, 2010—StyleFlip lets you personalize your Mopho or Tetra with your own custom graphics. Check it out at StyleFlip.com.
Custom Case for Poly Evolver Keyboard
June 9, 2010—Kryptonite Cases is offering a custom flight case for the Poly Evolver Keyboard for $385.00, plus shipping (and sales tax in California). The case features 9-ply Hexagrip laminate with double angle extra support extrusion and Penn Elcom quality recessed handles and latches. We worked closely with them to ensure that the fit is snug without putting any pressure on the front panel controls. It is a very nice case. Other options, such as wheels, are available for an additional charge. For more information, contact Kryptonite Cases directly at info@kryptonitecases.com or (831) 335-3353. And, of course, they'd be happy to make cases for any other DSI products.
Mopho Keyboard Gig Bag is Coming
June 9, 2010—The Mopho Keyboard gig bag design has been finalized and bags are ordered. We expect to have them in 6 to 8 weeks. The bag is really nice, with a snug fit, plush padded interior, extra semi-rigid protection for the front panel, and an accessory pocket for the power supply and cables. We don't know the final cost yet, so the price has not been set, but we should know soon.
A Picture Worth AT LEAST 1,000 Words
June 9, 2010—Bernie Worrell is rockin' the Mopho Keyboard and here's what he has to say: "The Mopho Keyboard is another winner for Dave Smith & Associates. I love its compact size especially & the sounds that come out of that small package. For me it's very user friendly even for beginners. The sequence mode is making me get into sequencing more than i have in the past & the layout & feel of the aftertouch while playing the keys is not hard on the fingers. I've already recorded with the Mopho & it's the real MOPHO!!!. Thank You, Dave!!!"
Morgan Page Talks Prophet '08 with FutureMusic
June 9, 2010—Morgan Page is featured in the "In the Studio" interview in the June issue of FutureMusic magazine. The accompanying video in which Morgan talks about his use of the Prophet '08 can be seen below.
DSI Now on Facebook and Twitter
May 20, 2010—Keep up with what's going on at Dave Smith Instruments by joining us on Facebook and Twitter.
The Mopho Keyboard is Now Shipping
May 5, 2010—Dave Smith Instruments has released a keyboard version of Mopho, DSI’s popular desktop synthesizer module. The Mopho Keyboard is a monophonic synthesizer with an all-analog signal path, an expanded user interface, and a full-sized, semi-weighted keyboard action.
From a functional perspective, the Mopho Keyboard does not do anything radically different. It is what most players desire and expect from an analog mono synth. DSI’s goal was ambitious in other ways, though. “It goes without saying that it had to sound good, but we’ve also managed to create a very portable, very playable instrument without sacrificing the performance features people want. And we did it without compromising and resorting to things like smaller, cheaper keys,” said founder Dave Smith. “At the same time, we recognize that the cost of analog synths has long been a barrier for many would-be players, so the challenge was to make the Mopho Keyboard available at a price more people can afford. As I’ve said before, designing synthesizers is great, but it’s hearing what people do with them that makes it really fun.”
DSI’s Andrew McGowan added, “When we released the Mopho module we heard from many people that it was not just their first analog synthesizer, but their first hardware synthesizer. And that after experiencing a real analog synth they finally ‘got it.’ We hope the Mopho Keyboard gives even more people an opportunity to ‘get it.’”
The Mopho Keyboard’s voice architecture is essentially the same as DSI’s Mopho and Tetra desktop synthesizer modules. It features two oscillators, two sub-octave generators, selectable 2- or 4-pole low-pass filter, feedback, and a ton of modulation options, including three envelope generators, four LFOs, and a 16 x 4 step sequencer. It has a full-sized, semi-weighted, 32-note keyboard with velocity and aftertouch and full-sized pitch and modulation wheels. The Poly Chain feature enables expanded polyphony using other DSI synths. For example, combining a Mopho Keyboard with a Tetra results in a very portable five-voice poly synth. Other features include USB and the ability to process external audio through Mopho’s filter and VCA.
The Mopho Keyboard measures approximately 18.65" L x 11.1" W x 3.6" H (47.4 cm x 28.2 cm x 9.1 cm) and weighs under 10 pounds (~4.5 kg).
The Mopho Keyboard offers excellent value for classic analog sound in a modern, space-saving package. It is available now with an MSRP of $879.00 and an MAP of $799.00.
Strange Yellow Keyboard Spotted at The Fillmore...
March 15, 2010—Back in September of 2008, a prototype of the Mopho desktop module made its public debut—quite unexpectedly—with DJ Logic and Global Noize at a concert in Santa Cruz, California. Not to be outdone by its smaller sibling, the Mopho Keyboard appeared onstage with Little Boots at San Francisco's famed Fillmore Auditorium on March 9, 2010. Prototype #4 performed admirably (and loudly!), aided and abetted by keyboardist Christopher Kemsley, whose day-to-day touring rig prominently features a Prophet '08. Thanks to Vic (Little Boots), Lauren, Ben, Chris, Henry, Jack, Elspeth, Ash, and the rest of the crew.
We also had the opportunity to meet Dan Kurtz, another DSI artist, who is a member of supporting act Dragonette.
Mopho Keyboard is Coming Soon
March 15, 2010—It's no secret that a keyboard version of Mopho is in the works—particularly since two working prototypes were shown at NAMM in January! But we haven't posted anything to the site because we knew the finished product would look different from the protos and because we're really busy trying to get it done. If all the various bits and pieces come in on time, we hope to ship mid-April, but we still don't have a "real" one to show you. The image below should be pretty close, though. Click it for a larger version.
The voice architecture and general specs are the same as the Mopho desktop module. Enhancements include MIDI over USB, programmable feedback gain, additional arpeggiator modes, and the ability to set the slew rate separately for individual sequence steps. (Yes, the latter two features will eventually find their way into the other products in the Mopho/Tetra/Prophet family.) It features a semi-weighted keyboard action with velocity and aftertouch. And it has great feeling, soft-touch knobs.
The eagle-eyed among you may find it odd that a monophonic synth has a unison on/off parameter. When paired with a Tetra, Mopho Keyboard makes a very compact, very powerful five-voice poly synth!
We'll have more information and full specs available here on the site as we get a little closer to production.
Poly Evolver Rack is Back!
March 15, 2010—The Poly Evolver Rack is available once again. Originally released in 2004, the Poly Evolver was the second product from DSI (after the Evolver). It ceased production in August 2008, at the end of its initial production run. But there is still a demand for the instrument, so...we made more!
The Poly Evolver Rack is shipping now and available from our online store or your favorite DSI dealer. For more information, see the Poly Evolver product page.
Tetra Makes Beatportal's Top 10
December 3, 2009—Beatportal have named their top 10 DJ technology products for 2009 and Tetra made the cut. How did we do? Check it and see!
Potentiometer Edition of Poly Evolver Keyboard Now Available
November 5, 2009—Dave Smith Instruments has released an updated version of its flagship synthesizer keyboard, the Poly Evolver. The new version boasts 60 potentiometers among its complement of 78 rotary controls. “The response to the pot edition of the Prophet ’08 has been overwhelmingly positive,” said company founder Dave Smith, “so we decided to extend that functionality to the Poly Evolver, as well.” Unlike endless rotary encoders, potentiometers allow the full range of a knob’s values to be accessed in a single turn of about 300 degrees. That simplifies filter sweeps and other more performance-oriented gestures. A kit with potentiometer-equipped panel boards is available to convert older Poly Evolvers.
There have also been some cosmetic changes. “We needed both lined and unlined knobs to distinguish between the pots and encoders, so we’re using Prophet-style knobs,” said DSI’s Andrew McGowan. “And we’ve updated the panel graphics a bit without changing them significantly.” The wood end panels are now made from bubinga.
First released in 2005, the Poly Evolver received multiple awards and has been used extensively by artists such as Nine Inch Nails, The Faint, Silversun Pickups, Van She, and Thursday. An analog/digital hybrid, the four-voice Poly Evolver features four oscillators—two analog and two digital—in a unique stereo voice architecture with a real Curtis analog low-pass filter per channel on each voice. The digital processing does not simply add effects at the end of the signal chain, but is tightly integrated with the analog electronics for tuned feedback, distortion, bit crushing, and synced delays. It can also process external audio and has separate stereo outputs for each voice.
The updated Poly Evolver Keyboard is available now with an MSRP of $2,899.00 and an MAP of $2,599.00. The conversion kit requires nothing more than a screwdriver for installation and is available directly from DSI for $399.00 or factory installed for $449.00.
Introducing Tetra!
August 5, 2009—Dave Smith Instruments today released Tetra, its next-generation analog polyphonic synthesizer. Tetra’s four voices feature a 100% analog signal path and four-part multitimbral operation with individual outputs per voice.
“We’ve been getting the message loud and clear from our customers that ‘smaller is better,’” said company founder Dave Smith. “All our recent products pack a lot of power and functionality into a small package—even the Prophet ’08, which is relatively small for a full-sized keyboard. We’d also gotten a lot of requests for a poly version of Mopho, our analog mono synth, which has been very successful. By following Mopho’s lead and paring the interface down to the essentials, we can keep the price low and provide excellent value. Everybody wins.” Tetra is fully programmable via the front panel or with a free downloadable editor for Mac OS and Windows.
Tetra is basically four Mophos in a very compact (7.9" L x 5" W) enclosure, a sort of mini Prophet with a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve: specifically, a sub-octave generator for each oscillator and feedback. With a street price of approximately $799, that’s like four Mophos for the price of two. And it’s expandable. Tetra can be poly chained with additional Tetras or a Prophet ’08 for up to sixteen-voice polyphony.
Other features include Combo Mode, used to combine four programs into unison or poly “super patches.” Combos can also play four 16 x 4 step sequences—one per voice/program—
simultaneously. In Multi Mode, each of Tetra’s voices responds to a different MIDI channel, making it ideal for complex arrangements and sequencing analog drum sounds. Tetra is the first DSI product to feature USB. “USB is one of the most requested features across our entire product line,” said DSI’s Tracy Wadley, “so it’s great to be able to offer it.”
Tetra’s classic analog sound and unprecedented combination of performance, flexibility, and price make it an outstanding value.
Tetra is available now with an MSRP of $879.00 and an MAP of $799.00.
Mopho Nominated for TEC Award!
July 22, 2009—Mopho has been nominated for a 2009 Technical Excellence & Creativity Award in the category of Outstanding Technical Achievement, Musical Instrument Technology.
The TEC Awards, presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio was established in 1985 to honor outstanding achievement in professional audio production and product innovation. The nominations are made by a panel of more than 100 audio industry professionals. Members of professional audio and sound production organizations, including the Audio Engineering Society (AES), the Producers/Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy, SPARS and the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) will determine the winners via online balloting beginning August 10th.
If you're a Mopho fan and an audio professional, you can register to vote here. Your support is greatly appreciated!
PE Conversions Now Available
June 2, 2009—We are now offering two options for converting standard Prophet '08 Keyboards to the Prophet '08 PE. A kit is available for intrepid do-it-yourselfers or keyboard techs to install. (Read the Prophet '08 PE Conversion Instructions for details.) You can also return your Prophet to us to have the work done. The kit is $249.00 plus shipping. Factory installation is $299.00 plus shipping. Both items can be purchased from our Web store.
Silversun Pickups and the Poly Evolver
June 2, 2009—Silversun Pickups performed for spinner.com's The Interface and the band's Joe Lester brought his Poly Evolver Keyboard along.
By Popular Demand: Introducing the Prophet ’08 Pot Edition
May 20, 2009—Since the release of the Prophet ’08 in August 2007, we have received numerous requests for a version with more “vintage-style” controls. The standard Prophet ’08 primarily uses rotary encoders for its front panel controls, but some customers prefer potentiometers (AKA “pots”) like those used on the vintage Prophets, particularly for the more performance-oriented parameters like filter cutoff and resonance. The new Prophet ’08 Pot Edition offers an alternative with 38 of the 52 front panel parameters controlled by pots; rotary encoders are still used for the remainder of the controls. (List of parameters and their control type.)
So, what’s the difference? The features and functionality of the non-pot and pot versions are exactly the same. The difference is strictly in the controls themselves. Encoders are “endless”—they have no minimum or maximum limit. The advantage to that is that when you edit a preset parameter, the change begins at the preset value and increases or decreases, depending upon the direction turned. Pots typically have about 270° of travel and have definite limits. The advantage to that is that you know, by feel, where the minimum and maximum limits are and you can sweep through the entire value range in less than one full turn.
The Prophet ’08 PE features three edit modes for the pots: Relative, Passthru, and Jump. In Relative mode, the value change is relative to the preset value. In Passthru mode, turning the pot has no effect until after the edited value equals the preset value (that is, until the edited value “passes through” the stored value). Jump mode uses an absolute value based upon the position of the pot when edited; turn a pot and the value jumps immediately from the stored value to the edited value.
The Prophet ’08 PE melds the best of the “old school” with the modern features and affordability of a new generation.
The MSRP of the Prophet ’08 Pot Edition is $2,309.00 and it is available now. Photos and more information will be available on the site very soon.
End of '08 Update
December 24 , 2008—Those of you who are paying attention (and we know there are at least a few of you…) may have noticed a relationship between how often the site gets updated and how busy we are. In fact, you might even be able to speculate when we’re getting ready to release a new product by the general lack of activity here. The absence of recent updates can mainly be attributed to the annual distraction of preparation for the NAMM show. We won’t be showing or announcing any new products this year (unless you count Mopho, which continues to fly out the door and is still backordered), but it takes a lot of work to get ready anyway. If you’re coming to the show, please stop by booth 6948 and say hello.
And, since we’re talking about NAMM and new products, you might ask, “What’s happening with the LinnDrum II?” Dave and Roger have been hard at work on the new design of LinnDrum II and now have a better idea of the ship date, which we currently estimate to be during the third quarter of 2009. We wish we could ship sooner but there's still a lot of work to do and it's important to us that we get it right. As a result, we don’t anticipate showing it—in any form—at the NAMM show. Thanks so much for your patience. We think it will be worth the wait.
In Mopho news, there is a new version of the OS that squashes a few annoying bugs. Go to the Current OS page for details. Also, the Mopho Pro editor is now available. Additional features include patch librarian functionality, program genetics, phantom banks, and automation for the sequencer section. We are also pleased to announce that Soundtower is working on VST and AU support with a projected release sometime in Q1 of 2009.
2008 has been action-packed, but fun. The Prophet ’08 received numerous honors and that is extremely gratifying. Mopho has already racked up a couple, as well (though only one we can talk about right now…). And Future Music has had the Prophet as the #1 recommended hardware synth on their gear chart for several months running. (Mopho just appeared in the latest issue at #4!)
Last, but not least, the ranks of DSI employees have swelled by an astonishing 33% in 2008. That’s right: there are four of us now. Chris Hector (AKA “the new guy” and “the young guy”) has joined us as Audio Engineer. Chris has already proved his worth by filling some significant “knowledge gaps” at DSI. Welcome, Chris!
Thanks to all the faithful for your continued support and to all of you who have more recently taken the DSI plunge. We literally couldn’t do it without you. We hope you have as much fun with our instruments as we have making them. All of us at Dave Smith Instruments wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2009.
Left to right: Chris Hector, Andrew McGowan, Joanne McGowan, Dave Smith, Denise Smith
Mopho Honored
December 24 , 2008—There is a very complimentary review of Mopho in the January issue of Keyboard and we’re honored to have been given a Key Buy award. Thanks to everyone at Keyboard!
And Beat in Germany has given Mopho a score of 5 out of 5 and a "Beat Emphehlung der Redaktion" award. (We're pretty sure that's a good thing.) Thanks, Beat!
Late Show Mopho
December 24 , 2008—Super Diamond appeared recently on The Late Show with David Letterman and keyboardist James Terris had a very conspicuous little yellow device sitting on his mystery Moog (we know what the keyboard really is, but we’re not telling). As far as we know, it’s Mopho’s first national television appearance. If anyone is still wondering why it’s yellow, the photos below ably demonstrate our reasoning (click for larger images).
James has also kindly submitted a terrific bank of Prophet ’08 programs that we’re offering as a free download. There is a little bit of everything in there and some really nice examples of what can be done with the onboard sequencer. Don’t say we never gave you anything. Thanks James!
Mo' Mopho News
October 6, 2008—The response to Mopho has been astonishing. They are selling faster than we can make them, so we appreciate your patience. Because they are currently backordered, we have not yet begun to sell them from our Web store. We're doing our best to fill the existing orders as quickly as possible.
Hot Chip's Felix Martin wrote to give us some first impressions: "We're very proud to be the first official owners of the Mopho! It certainly is a powerful little box with an incredibly immediate, rich sound. The first time I got it hooked up and run through a big PA, I cranked up the Sub Oscillators and they sound absolutely amazing—gives Joe's Voyager a run for its money! I have already programmed some sounds and sequences...will send over a photo of it in my little machine world once it is fully integrated. I hope it's a success and that it finally convinces people to stop paying hundreds of $s for bashed up tb303s. I really do like this little machine, it's a great thing to have on the tour bus and on stage as well."
Andrew Everding of the band Thursday has already used Mopho on the band's upcoming release. That's the first report we've had of someone recording with it and we're really looking forward to hearing it!
Andrew Everding: "He seemed like such a nice young man, always kept to himself..."
Dave Featured at AES Panel Discussion
October 6, 2008—Dave, Roger Linn, Tom Oberheim, and Don Buchla took part in a panel discussion at the AES convention yesterday, moderated by Gino Robair of Electronic Musician. The topic of discussion was "The Evolution of Electronic Instrument Interfaces: Past, Present, Future." (Photos courtesy of Michael Barber.)
AES Panel (L to R): Tom Oberheim, Dave, Don Buchla, Roger Linn
Synth mofo
(in the best possible way) meets Mopho synth
Prophet '08 Wins TEC Award
October 6, 2008—Wow! The awards keep coming! This past Friday we were very honored to be presented with the 2008 TEC Award for outstanding technical achievement in the Musical Instrument Technology category. Thanks to the Mix Foundation and especially to all those Mix subscribers who voted for the Prophet '08. It really means a lot and we're very grateful.
Prophet '08/Evolver Keyboard Cases Are Finally Here!
October 6, 2008—We know some of you have been waiting a long time and we appreciate your patience. The initial sample we received needed a few tweaks, so we went back to the drawing board and came up with something we think everyone will be happy with. The only feature change from the previous announcement is that the final case has no wheels. (We didn't think they were necessary—the case is very light and maneuverable without them.)
The cases are available direct and can be purchased using our Web order form. Cost is $299 plus $20 shipping and handling in the US ($40 to Canada). Shipping outside the US and Canada is available but, due to the size of the case, costs at least $100. (Shipping to some countries or certain locations within some countries may be more.)
October 6, 2008—One of the great joys of making musical instruments is when somebody uses them in a way that would never have occured to us. J and DJ Quest of The Opposite of Faith are using an Evolver as a synth, controller, and signal processor in a truly unique way. Check out their online press release.
Evolver or Pro-One?
October 6, 2008—With the wealth of features and digital goodies packed into the Evolver desktop, it might be easy to overlook the fact that the Evolver is a great little analog synth. Evolver owner Hans Laubreiter makes a pretty good case for the Evolver as a Pro One surrogate with his take on the Yazoo classic "Don't Go."
Say Hello to My Little Friend...Mopho is Shipping!
September 24, 2008—The cat is out of the bag, and it's yellow. It's not exactly a well-kept secret any more, but we have a new addition to the family: a little analog mono synth called Mopho. According to Dave, "The challenge was to deliver the renowned sound quality of a single voice of the Prophet ’08 in a package that would be affordable for a much broader group of players and recording artists without sacrificing the performance features so important to making an analog synth really sing.” To achieve that end, the user interface was pared down to certain essential controls and four user-assignable controls per program. The assignable parameters can control any of Mopho’s parameters, so the synth is fully programmable from the front panel. Mopho also includes a basic software editor for Mac OS or Windows.
Never content simply to repeat himself, Dave wanted Mopho to be more than just a monophonic Prophet: “I wanted to give it a character of its own, something to distinguish it from its big brother.” Each of the oscillators has a suboctave generator; oscillator 1’s is one octave down and oscillator 2’s is two octaves down. Mopho also features an external audio input that allows processing of external audio sources as well as the ability to mix the output back in pre-filter for feedback effects. By varying the mix amount, feedback effects can range from a subtle distortion to completely trashed. “It has taken on a life of its own,” enthused Dave. “It’s an inexpensive, feature-rich mono synth
that really excels at basses and big, fat lead sounds.”
And it's just plain fun to play with. Need proof? Mopho made its live debut Saturday, September 13 in Santa Cruz, California. We took a prototype to show the members of Global Noize, including Jason Miles (who was playing his Prophet '08), Bernie Worrell, and DJ Logic. DJ Logic liked it so much he used it at the gig! And when we took two production units to the Treasure Island Music Festival this past weekend, Hot Chip's Felix Martin and Al Doyle bought them on the spot, becoming the first official Mopho owners.
Suggested retail price is US$439.00. For more information, go to the Mopho product page.
Hot Chip's Felix Martin, known synth abuser, and his accomplice.
Dave Smith In-store at RobotSpeak
September 19, 2008—Dave will be making a rare in-store appearance at RobotSpeak in San Francisco at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 3rd. If you're in town for AES (or just in town) stop by to see Dave and get the lowdown on what's up at DSI.
A Farewell and a Price Increase
June 2, 2008—As of June 1st, the Poly Evolver Rack is no longer available. The current production run had reached its end and we made the difficult decision not to do another one.
We have also had to raise the price of the Evolver Desktop $50, due to greatly increased costs. We still think it's a bargain at a US MSRP of $649.
Why We Like Thursday
May 22, 2008—Andrew Everding of the band Thursday is our kind of guy. Performances feature his Poly Evolver Keyboard, but he also owns an Evolver, an Evolver Keyboard, and a Prophet '08. When he's not busy running all over the planet with the band, Andrew tells us he has been using his DSI gear for commercial work. So if you're agonizing over which Dave Smith instrument to get, just follow Andrew's lead and get one of everything! Just kidding. Sort of...
Prophet '08 Nominated for TEC Award
May 21, 2008—The Prophet '08 has been nominated for the 2008 TEC Award for outstanding technical achievement in the Musical Instrument Technology category. Founded in 1985, the TEC (Technical Excellence & Creativity) Awards is the foremost program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. Presented annually by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the TEC Awards honor the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, films, TV shows and live performances. The Poly Evolver Keyboard was honored with a nomination in 2006 and Dave was inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame in 2005. The 24th Annual TEC Awards ceremony will be held October 3, 2008 in San Francisco to coincide with the AES show.
Expression Pedals Now Available
May 16, 2008—Expression pedals are now available direct from DSI. These pedals are compatible with all DSI products that have pedal inputs (and probably most other manufacturers' products, as well). We are only able to offer them to customers in the US and Canada at this time, as the shipping costs make them prohibitively expensive elsewhere. They sell for $39.99 plus shipping and handling.
Hot Chip's Felix Martin and his Poly Evolver are "Ready for the Floor"
April 25, 2008—Last night we all attended the sold out Hot Chip show 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 told us they also 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.
Jason Miles: Prophet '08 Makes Global Noize
April 25, 2008—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
Morgan Page's "Go-To" Synth
April 24, 2008—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 iTunes.
Ray Subject and the "Blue Wizard"
April 24, 2008—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 title 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.
The Keyboard Wizard Meets the Prophet
April 24, 2008—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!
Coming Soon: A Case For Your Prophet/Evolver Keyboard
April 24, 2008—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.
Ghostland Observatory: Close Encounters with the Prophet '08
April 18, 2008—One of the great joys of making musical instruments is getting to see and hear the artists who use them. Last night 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.
April 24, 2008—Producer/DJ/remixer/recording artist 
