Sequential has announced the Prophet 12 LE, a limited edition variation of the Prophet 12 Analog/Digital Hybrid synthesizer.
The Prophet 12 LE is styled with an arctic white finish with maple end caps. The Prophet 12 LE will be strictly limited to 100 instruments worldwide and will be the last of Prophet 12 line.
“It’s nice to give the Prophet 12 a proper send-off with this special edition,” says Dave Smith. “The P12 was a real milestone for us in terms of pushing the synth envelope. As a hybrid instrument, it gave us a chance to explore the interaction of digital oscillators and analog filters and see how far we could take that idea. It’s still a great instrument and has found its way onto a lot of stages and studios, and into a lot of music.”
The Prophet 12 LE has the same combination of features as the original Prophet 12 — a bi-timbral, 12-voice architecture, with each voice boasting four high-resolution, multi-waveform digital oscillators, a sub-oscillator, analog low-pass and high-pass filters, analog VCAs, four envelopes and four LFOs, and a set of unique Character Effects for sound shaping. Linear FM capability was later added to the Prophet 12 as a software enhancement, giving the instrument even greater depth and making it one of Sequential’s most versatile poly synths.
Pricing and Availability
The Prophet 12 LE will be available in December of 2018 with a US MAP of $2,999. A limited number of standard-finish black Prophet 12s are available while stock lasts.
When I drop heavy coin for a synth, I don’t want the audience to think I’m shredding on an Alesis Ion. No, thank you.
I own an Ion (great synth; if someone wants my Ion, they will have to pry it from my cold, dead hands).
The panel on this limited edition Prophet 12 is Ionesque.
Hahaha! Ugly truth
very pretty. but we’re reaching at this point.
Rather surprised they’re discontinuing the 12; feels like it was a relatively short run. I certainly won’t be parting with mine. Wonderful synth.
It had a short run in part (IMO) because it was an “ultimate” proof-of-concept synth for Dave’s overall world and because it is a major >programmer’s< synth. Several great things seemingly trickled down from the P12. You can also sell only so many units of an instrument that complex @ several thousand bucks per. I'd hope that most of its buyers were synth-savvy enough to give it a good life cycle.
Incoming Pro 2 style poly synth thanks Dave
Wonderful synth, love it to death. You can see how their DSP oscillators evolved from it into the Pro2, and then most recently the PX (even though it lacks wavetables). Their DSP effects came out since then and has also evolved (Pro2, P6, OB6, Rev2, PX, and now PXL), so a lots happened since the P12 (released in 2013!), in such a short time. Dave doesn’t waste ANY time! Hopefully it’s making way for even more innovation on the drawing board 🙂
Taking a note from KORG’s playbook: if it isn’t selling, change the colour 🙂
I sold my P12 because its oscillators simply couldn’t stand up to the P08, but the grit & dirt type knobs are fantastic.
I think it looks nice, but I wish it had reverse black/white keys to really make it pop! The product’s web page has a rear view – it is nice to see it with the Sequential logo.
As for the Prophet-12, I consider it to be a milestone instrument in that it introduced a lot of new tech to the poly world, it is the obvious proud parent of the Pro-2, and it was rightfully DSI’s flagship synth for a long run. It will probably be collectable in about 20 years.
In practice, it suits the experimental deep synthesist well, but leaves the preset tweakers very frustrated. If you’re the type to pull up a factory patch and then make a few adjustments so it suits your needs, many patches will leave you scratching your head because there are so many hidden parameters and multifunction knobs. But building sounds from scratch is AWESOME on this synth – there are so many mod sources and interesting destinations in that matrix, it’s hard not to make beautiful, animated, never-before-heard sounds.
I like the black better, but maybe it looks a lot better in person… I love my prophet 12 and will never sell it. I’ve had it for four years, and it’s still just as inspiring as when I first got it.
I’m a fan of light colored synths. Love my M3-88 and Micrologue. Since my studio is pretty much part of my home, it just feels a lot lighter and less visually impactful.
that would look killer next to my AlphaBase 😉
Don’t think the P12 is out of date, but the P12 keyboard version has always been a bit priced too high compared to other models (and it desktop sibling). Not surprised it goes. My guess is that the PX will be end of life earlier than the REV2 and something else very analog will appear in a year that replaces the P6/OB6 as well as the demand may have dried up for these higher priced instruments. The simple trick is to create new demand by replacing models.
Talked to the guys at Sequential today, as of right now the Prophet 12 Module is NOT being discontinued, only the keyboard.