For many synthheads, the story of the Prophet is one of the most interesting tales in the world of keys. David Smith began pulling apart and customising Minimoogs in the 1970s, and went on to produce the legendary Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 in 1978. Through a collaborative effort, Alex Ball and a dozen other synth enthusiasts have documented the 40-year history of the Prophet in their video titled, The History of the Prophet Synthesiser.

The 40-year story of Prophet has been retold in detail by Alex Ball and a dozen other synth enthusiasts, in the History of the Prophet Synthesiser.

The video features a comprehensive rundown on every flagship Prophet released, including the Prophet 5, Prophet 10, Pro-One, Prophet 600, Prophet T8, Prophet 2000, Prophet VS, Prophet 3000, Prophet ’08, Prophet 12, Prophet REV2, Prophet 6, Prophet X.

Ball and his collaborators kindly demonstrate the unique tones of each unit, while providing a detailed rundown on how each model was born. From some of the world’s first sequencers to the adoption of MIDI and digital components, the story of David Smith and the Prophet is one of sonic innovation.

“One of the most interesting stories of the synth world is that of Dave Smith and Sequential Circuits. I decided to try to tell some of it via their flagship series, from the Prophet 5 in 1978 to the Prophet X in 2018. With the help of a dozen other people who were incredibly generous and equally excited by their instruments, this film is the result: The History of the Prophet Synthesizer,” states Alex Ball.

Take a look at the video below.