Featured Artist Luke Neptune
Gear Used
Luke Neptune is an award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and composer from Blackpool UK. He specializes in House, Disco, Funk, and Soul, and composing music for independent films. As a producer and songwriter, Luke has released on such labels as CR2, Slave Recordings, Maison records, and Apartment Sixty Three, and has had air play and Radio One’s Dance Anthems show. He has worked with acts such as D- Ramirez, Pianoman, The Dream Frequency, Reload, Ryan Barton, Leanne Brown, and Dancing Divaz.
We chatted with Luke about how he’s using the Prophet-6® and OB-6®.
What made you choose the Prophet-6 and OB-6?
“I’ve been collecting synths now for about 20 years but I’ve never actually owned a VCO-based poly synth and have always lusted after one. When I heard the demos of the Prophet-6 and OB-6, the sound instantly connected with me. They sounded so familiar to me, like the sound of my youth. I’m a big fan of the vintage sound, and to my ears they certainly have that classic sound. I have to confess I was also very much seduced by their looks. They just look so cool.”
How are you using them?
“I’m using them both for studio and live work. I just love taking them to a show to blast through a big PA system. It’s a ridiculous amount of fun. The audience often seem to really appreciate the fact that they have been brought out to perform live for them. In fact, after a show, it’s not unusual for the Prophet-6 and OB-6 to get more compliments than me!
For studio use, I find them both a dream to work with. They sit in a mix as well as any synth I’ve ever owned. But the main thing I love about them more than anything is the inspiration they bring about. They really do inspire song writing, which for me is worth its weight in gold.
What’s one of your favorite things about them?
“My favourite thing on both synths is the Unison button. There’s something a bit special about unison on a VCO poly synth. I also love how the same button also does chord memory. Just play a chord, press unison, and you have instant rave chords. I really dig that effect and use it a lot, both in the studio and onstage.”
What do they give you that other instruments might not?
“They give me sounds I’ve been searching for for years. I make a lot of disco and funk inspired by what was going on in the late 70s and early 80s and they give me those classic sounds. I’ve tweaked them into sounding like real funk machines.”
Any interesting tricks or techniques you’d like to share?
“One thing I like to do to most of my patches to give them a lusher, more classic/vintage sound is to set Slop/Detune to about 10 o’clock, VCO 2 to 1 o’clock, Noise to about 11 o’clock, and add a tiny bit of distortion. I find doing this just makes things sound bigger, wider and generally more interesting. It’s only a subtle change, but one that always puts a smile on my face.“
LINKS
MORE ABOUT THE PROPHET-6 AND OB-6
For more information, check out the Prophet-6 product page here. Check out the OB-6 product page here.
Find your local dealer for Prophet-6/OB-6 pricing here.
If you’re using your DSI synth in interesting ways, tell us about it. Contact us at .