SCI – Sequential Circuits Synthesizer

the first one (3.1) added the edit mode as we know it today (change parameter when turning the knobs) and the tape interface (compact cassette) and other little things
3.2 was minor changes
3.3 changed it to 120 presets to be saved instead of 40 but you can not store them in one go to tape without copy..

some are MIDI-retrofitted, some aren’t..

this synthesizer was the first „real“ 5 voice synthesizer (after the 4voice from oberheim and others..)

interesting: the so called poly mod. for making the sound more interesting ;)

see the left section? this is the key to the prophets..

pic by/thx to Rob Schweizer

chips inside the Prophet 5 and all other models are listed here

the „cheaper“ version of the Prophet 5…

the parameters were more „stepped“ and some mod routings have been removed compared to the Prophet 5 but it was much cheaper and had to compete with the polysix and other poly synthesizers in the 80ies..

anyway it still sounds comparable..the difference:
it has no noise generator and pwm is missing in poly mod section.

the 1983 released Prophet 600 was the first midi equipped synth to talk to the jupiter 6 (same time) in omni mode and later ones in poly mode.. (very few)

the weak point on the Prophet 600 is the keypad like the sitraks keypad this is the weakest thing to check for before getting one..

the SCI ProOne (Pro1)

basically one voice of the p5,so it’s monophonic.

Powerful Oscillators but a quite low quality of the construction itself. very easy and a Sequencer and Arpeggiator is also on board. it was the post poly-synth era, so they did it to make a solo synth that normal people could afford..

chips inside the P5 and all other models are listed herefind more Pro One info on unease

above pic by theo bloderer @ bluesynths.com
very large SCI Pro One image click this one:

want to read the inscription? enlarge? vergrössern?.. alle beschriftung lesen? pic by/thx to Rob Schweizer

another one by myself..

it is simply a dual keyboard dual Prophet5 boards for 2×5 voices…

the PROPHET 10 is quite rare, possibly it was too much.. ;)

3 Versions of this were made..
since this is a P5 related synth but doubled it also reflects the P5’s rev versions in another way..

the first one was a rev1 „doubled“, the 79 version of course was more close to a rev 2 p5 (doubled)..

perhaps the early one was only double voices but not „multi timbral“ style..

it is mainly a velocity equipped dual prophet 5. no more , no less. to my ears it is a bit thinner than a p10 or p5 but more expressive (velocity and pressure)

more about evolver here

kleiner deutscher impressions-bericht zum evolver..

a keyboard EVOLVER with knobs 5oct. ist ready for NAMM 2005

all EVOLVERs use Curtis Chips which seem to be produced for Dave..!

Want to see the Evolver Keyboard Board?
find pics here:
board
overview
voiceboards
voiceboards_b
singlevoice
panelboard
keys
wheels
midiboard

thanks for board pics to Bluescreen/St.Trippler

more – go here: (DaveSmithInstruments)

some audio (my amazona review): it CAN sound soft, too (unlike the opinion of some..)

evo#02.mp3 (glitch warp sounds)

evo#05.mp3 (harder..)

evolver_analog_pack.mp3
synthpop?

evolver_uuu#12.mp3
strange dark pad

PEK (poly evolver keyboard)

there is also the 1U rack with 4 evolvers inside „poly evolver“ to show up in 2004. it is controlled by … an evolver! yes! you need to use one to edit the rack or software, very BIG sound!.. so this is the 4 voice polyphonic EVOLVER!

monophonic keyboard MEK: (pic thx to docT / trippler.net)

EVOLVER..

a nice 8bit (!) sample playing drum machine.

it’s one of those that can be burned by the Oberheim Prommer

can be clocked and has midi (SCI were the first ones introducing midi those times..)24dB/oct. filters on board, 11 sounds, 6 voice polyphony.

listen to it:
DrumTraks_Demo.mp3

listen to it:
DrumTraks_Demo.mp3

Sequential TOM
fixed samples but can be played backwards and pitched, 1985 this added a lot to variety..

one of the first mono mode midi synthesizers.
6 voices. and a very simple sequencer.

todays view: you can switch it to double mode and tune up the LFO for nice FM filtering..

it’s only one VCO per voice, thats why it’s better to go to dual mode.. stable but you need a nice info about the progging stuff (midi and stuff is progged by those numbers on the right side!.. the parameters are printed on the case.. but the midi stuff isn’t..)-eg: double mode is track rec & select 2

-midi clock input: speed full left

-prog change enable/disable: ctrl rec.+1

-local on: track rec.+7
-local off: track rec+8

-wheel/param.change: ctrl rec.+4

-dump to midi:ctrl rec+2
-dump all 100: ctrl rec+9

dump seq: ctrl rec+0

midi modes:
omni on: track rec+1
poly on: track rec+3
mono on:track r.+4
good to know, huh?

the sequential TOM and MAX were also part of a „system“. the Commodore C64 as a sequencer was used at that time!

the max is more like an „expander“ and it can beedited via software (c64: the SCI 920 software will do it.. or sounddiver from emagic today!) it’s (beside no real editing) the same as a sixtrak.

the 4time polyphinc TOM was a more advanced drumtraks (well, it also looks like a more coloured drumtraks,too) ;)
why? more parameters! (tuning per instrument)

the later (1986) studio 440 was the top model and sequencer and was more like the mpc60 then just a „drum machine“.. 12bit sampling (44.1khz max.) and filter (no reso)! max memory: 512KB RAM. 8 voices. and „swing“.

8 voices in here..

chips inside the P5 and all other models are listed herethis is THEEE SCI machine.. using vector synthesis (4 DCOs that can be controlled by env or/and joystick – advanced in the korg wavestation) has real analogue filters with resonance (unfortunately the wavestation had no resonance parameter at all)

the ENVs could be looped and the user had the chance to make some spectra (additive!) for use as one of the DCOs..
yes, this is a hybrid synth.. the evolver (above) has the same waves and hybridness, but is far more extended..

there is a rack and key version available.

the strange rack stuff is the SCI FX systems which had CEM 3360 for phasing , delay etc.

not too many made… less then 10.

Dave was involved in the Korg Wavestation (see Korg Section) Project and some even more exiting projects, but in fact the wavestation was the final buyble „product to buy“..

Dave Smith started SEER SYSTEMS and did the „REALITY“ software synthesizer. I did not sell well and was Win only.. Dave went back to hardware and presented the Evolver and Polyevelver after that.