I bought the rev 2 primarily for the ease of use - and it certainly is easy to use. assigning modulation is as simple as pressing a button and moving a knob and voila you've linked your modulation. I would think for a novice user wanting to get into programming the REV 2 would be a prefect laboratory for learning.
As I stated "its not a summit" which I already have and yes I love it - it is truly a powerful monster, and it sounds admittedly a little better than the REV2 - BUT creating on it is not at all as straight forward as the REV2 and the mod matrix, while powerful, is far more complex with plenty of menu diving - it is nowhere near as straight forward as the REV2. I WOULD NEVER feel as comfortable changing mod parameters in the menu during a live performance on the Summit but the REV2 is so simple that I have done things live I would never dream to do before changing modulations etc.
It's also a little smaller than the Summit .
WISH LIST - I wish the REV2 had dedicated OSC volume knobs - I wish it had a little larger LED screen and that the screen navigation was geared more to buttons instead of knobs - I wish it had an assignable button display for at least a bank of patches.
Otherwise I'm very happy to add the REV2 to my live set up it is fun, sounds great, and is very easy to get around in.

I researched synthesizers for months prior to buying the Prophet REV 2 Synthesizer by Sequential and I couldn't be happier. Being my first synthesizer it took me a while to learn all the features. However, while taking a waveform synthesis course by Audible Genius named "Syntorial," I was using the synthesizer to it's full potential within a couple weeks. It does everything I could possibly imagine. Not only does it come with 4 banks of sounds, hundreds of wonderful sounds, there's another four banks of duplicate sounds to use for tweaking the existing sounds or creating new sounds, and saving them in banks U1 through U4, without having to worry about overwriting the existing sounds. Honestly, I am blown away by this thing! RIP Dave Smith. You will be missed but always remembered for your contribution to the world of synthesizers and MIDI. ~MIDISynthMinds

I know there's lots of fuss about this synth and where it sits in the Sequential catalog, but 16 notes of analog goodness is too good to pass up!

If you're worried about the people who say it sounds cold / not warm enough, etc, search for Voice Component Modeling (VCM) and check out the Rev2 demos using that technology. It makes this as "warm" as any synth out there.

I'd always wanted a Prophet 5 after hearing them used on songs by The Cars, Split Enz and a lot of other bands from the 80's. The P5 was always out of my price range. Then decades later, the Rev2 came out, and it was affordable, but still expensive. So, I decided to take the plunge.

I kinda have a love-hate relationship with it. It's well built, the key bed is very nice (first "semi" weighted keyboard I've ever owned). And it does have a good sound engine in it. Love being able to get the sounds of Greg Hawkes, Geddy Lee, Vangelis, Gary Numan, etc.

I bought some aftermarket sound packs, and I was using Midi-Ox as an editor. But, one of the sound packs I got wanted to use the same bank as another one, so I had to purchase a different editor from a software programmer, who wrote a Rev2 editor. I was able to reassign one of the sound packs to a different bank and have both sound packs available on the Rev2. This worked fine until I had to replace my laptop, and now my new laptop doesn't seem to want to work with the Rev2. Not sure what's going on.

Some gripes about the Rev2. First off, why couldn't Sequential/DSI have included an editor with the synth? Roland supplied a CD with an editor with my Juno-D, so I don't understand why the Rev2 couldn't have come with one as well.

I wish the Rev2's sounds were arranged in logical groupings. Instead, things are all over the place. Other synths I've owned have had similar sounds in banks together, so it was easy to find a sound. This would have required the unit to have more banks than it has, but I don't see why that would be a big problem.

Far too many of the presets (including a lot of the aftermarket ones) seem to linked to the arpeggiation function. I'd have rather had more standard sounds, as well as really "out there" otherworldy sounds. I guess a target market is the EDM market, and I'm more of an old-school pop, rock, psychedelic, progressive rock fan.

Another thing I don't understand is why when you power off, and back on, that the Rev2 doesn't remember the last preset you were using, but instead defaults back to the first preset in the bank.

I've also occasionally noticed a strange audio anomaly on the Rev2. After it's been in use for a while, there seems to be a weird audio "artifact" sound in the background. This can be fixed by powering off and back on, but again, then the Rev2 goes back to the first preset in the bank, and if you made any modifications to the preset you were using, you lose the changes of course.

All in all, I'm kinda on the fence about recommending the Rev2. I sometimes wish I'd done a little more comparison shopping before getting it. There were a number of other similarly featured units out there in the same price range. But, it is a well-built unit, and it's "pretty". It's nice to have a bunch of knobs to change sounds, rather than relying on scrolling through a menu system and having a handful of multi-function knobs.

I've had this synth for a while now, but haven't really taken the time to explore what it can really do. I get the impression that if I would really dive in to it, I'd probably appreciate it a lot more.

I've been playing the Rev 2 16 voice synth since January of 2022 and I am blown away by this synth every time I sit down to play. It is perfect! What's even more amazing, is how easy it is for newbie synth players to make the Rev 2 their new hobby, even if they've never sat down and played a piano before. It makes no difference. You will still be able to produce great sounds and melodies that can then be used to create songs that are worthy of the top 10 charts. In my opinion, every living person should own one.

I've had this for about a year. Its my first analog synth; Its been a great addition to my home studio. The sonic landscapes it can create are endless

I was in the market for a newer true analog synth. This is the one.
I was originally completely disappointed trying the Modal Cobalt8x and Sweetwater was great in trying to send a second that was still disappointing and they took both back.
I received my Prophet Rev2 16 voice yesterday and this just blows "virtual" analog out of the water. Completely what I was looking for. 61 key poly synth with phat monophonic sounds. This coupled with my Nord Stage 3 is all I need for gigging now (though I may throw in some of my vintage gear at times - thinking of coupling my RedSound DarkStar with the Prophet).
I absolutely recommend this synth if you're in the market for that analog sound that your rig may have been lacking and taking care of antique gear isn't in your wheelhouse. Don't waste your time on virtual analog.
The Gator GTSA-KEY49 TSA Series Keyboard Case fits this synth like a glove if you don't want extra space for pedals, etc (I personally don't).

*DISCLAIMER*
Sweetwater support has been exceptional as usual! I will continue to purchase from them due to their excellent service.

They offered to replace the first new product after I showed clear evidence of cosmetic manuf defects with the powder-coating as well functional issues with several of the knobs being very loose and wobbly. While the replacement unit did resolve the cosmetic issues, the CUTOFF knob was very loose and wobbly out of the box. There was some slight wobble play in the others, but almost all of them were significantly tighter and acceptable. After further research it seems the knob quality can be hit or miss so I'll have to live with the unit I have. If they could make this right I would happily increase the score but their response is that it is within their own quality spec.


Sound Quality
5
Very satisifed.
Not much for me to say here given all the other reviews and how descriptive they can be. You can get some very blissful sounds out of it if you spend your time with it or look into purchased presets. Plenty of decent stock presets that are good starting and learning points too.



Design & Build Quality
2
Not horrible, but unacceptable given the price.
The design and material selection is high quality but the manuf quality or QC standards are inconsistent. I own several other synths and controllers that cost less than half of this with more consistent quality. A one-off substandard unit I can completely understand, but receiving a replacement with 1 of 2 of the same initial problems would be why I'd be hard pressed to purchase another product from Sequential for the time being. A shame given how fantastic this instrument sounds.

Adding to that, others have reported the same knob issues, with some fortunate that their replacement was within acceptable standards given at the $ price-point.




Features & Playability
4
Good
I like the layout of most of the controls and the modulation capabilities are very nice overall.
The Curtis filter took some getting used to but what can sound harsh at first can still be tamed.
The effects are OK, they add to the basic sound structure, but I prefer external effects for the real polish. This is completely fine because the sound from this instrument at it's core can just be so full and pleasing without effects if you are utilizing the mod capabilities.

Overall Score: 3/5
'It's OK' according to the Sweetwater rating description

I think it it 'Needs Improvement' (2.0) but also 'I like it a lot' (4.5)

Purchased a while back and was debating this or the Roland Jupiter X (both were on sale for the same price). Glad I went with this, for its analog warmth. It makes any sound I want especially those retro 80's synth sounds. Perfect instrument to learn how synths actually work and learn to make your own sounds. Roland uses their success of the last to regurgitate into their new synths which is why I got this one. Plus if I really wanted any of the sounds from the Jupiter X I can just use their cloud VST's which are the same exact thing as what is on the synth.

I have owned the REV2 16 voice for just over a year. It is my first analog synth and I did painstakingly detailed research and testing before purchasing it.

It is an extremely well built and high quality instrument - really feels professional grade. It is extremely versatile in the types of sounds that it can produce. The modulation and routing are so easy to set up and you are able to create complicated and dynamic patches with ease! It is so much more fun to play with than any soft-synth that I've ever owned. The keyboard is really fantastic, I compared it to others and must say that this was a big positive for the REV2 (and other sequential products) over similarly priced competitors. The REV2 sounds amazing, is extremely versatile and is just fun to play with. Some of the music that I'm most proud to have made would not have been possible without this instrument. Its workflow, quality and versatility are absolutely killer and I'd recommend that anyone looking for an analog polysynth consider it.

What you will have to live with: It definitely has a character - If that character is not to your liking then you may be frustrated trying to force it into being something that it's not. The lack of organization of the presets and menu diving for the sequencers are just idiotic - there is a third party software that makes this easier but it's less than ideal.

Issues that are not so bad if you are working with a DAW but still a little annoying: Only one effect per layer. I wish that the filter was more versatile/there were other filter modes - know what they sound like and what they're capable of before you buy (again, this is part of the instrument's character).

Overall: Amazing instrument. When working with it in a studio/DAW environment it is crazy how amazing this thing can sound and the versatility is really fantastic (for the record I don't play live so I cannot speak to that use case). Any song I put the REV2 in sounds better and exploring sounds with it frequently is what starts my song writing process.

I grew up on a Roland Juno-106 followed by a D-50 (with a D-110 and Oberheim Matrix-6R, then an ARP Odyssey and a Rhodes Seventy-Three... anyway) and always dreamed of the legendary Prophet-5. Owning the Rev2 now is more than a dream-come-true. This synth is an ever-growing list of nice touches. First, it feels as good as it looks and it really looks awesome. The controls are deceptively easy to use -- there is most definitely a learning curve to get really proficient but you never have to go menu-diving just to, say, attach a couple of modulation points and find yourself with a _really_ cool evolving sound! And that's the thing -- the SOUND of this 'board just nails it. There are some great factory homages to classic songs done on other Prophets (and related instruments) but there are some really impressive "analogs" of acoustic instruments as well as some _really_ modern sounding patches. This is NOT some one-trick phat-synth pony! I had strongly considered getting a digital synth or perhaps an analog modelling synth, but there is just no substitute for the Real Thing. And I am constantly surprised by just how much the Real Thing can do!

Stunning. Absolutely fantastic instrument. After playing around with a lot of the Korg and Behringer vintage mono clones, I decided it was time I got a real poly. I got the 16 voice. And it is unbelievable. It's so versatile. You can literally make any sound with it. I'm in love with it. I can't stop touching it. Don't tell my wife, but if it came down to her or this synth, I'd choose the synth.

Definitely get the 16 voice. You can stack 2 patches together to make really nice, complex 8 voice patches. The sound is good. It actually sounds a lot like my Juno 6, probably due to the DCO architecture. I’ve never been a huge fan of the Curtis filter sound to be honest, but it works well for this modern type of sound, and I’m finding that I’m starting to like it. I gave it 5 stars because it truly is a perfect, complete product. If you want huge, vintage sounding tone... get a vintage synth or a moog.

I never dreamt of owning a Prophet a year ago, now there's one in my studio. And I have to tell you I absolutely love it beyond any reason. Its so sweet, so brilliant, well designed, simple in programming yet complex in sound, packed with quality presets, that I always smile seeing it in the studio.

Personally I consider Dave Smith a genius on synthmaking. His machines speak to my heart most, they are classy, instantly controllable and exceptionally sounding.

Rev2 is my main all-round synth and remain it for a long time. It may not produce Moog's fatness in low end (yet give it a try with Unison mode, you'll be surprised), its digitally controlled oscillators may not drift like Oberheim's famous machines, it may not serve you with roughness of Deepmind (to name some other machines I own), but when you need the best sounding, clean, creative and easy to mix pads, sequences, poly synths, leads and some other sounds - go for it, it will never let you down!

Minor complaints about a display being too small, cheap-looking, small and tricky to operate pots (yes, it's true, OSC 2 Freq pot is easy to move unintentionally) and a humble (yet great sounding) fx section.

Anyway, if you need a poly analog all-round, Rev2 seems a great choice.

When Dave Smith Instruments introduced the original Prophet 08 in 2007 I was very intrigued. I got to audition the Prophet 08 in a local music store around that same time and chose it over the Roland V Synth GT as what I was really looking for was that warm analog tone even though the Roland had way more performance functionality. The Prophet was one of the very few new polyphonic analog synths at the time and I loved the fact that it sounded so reminiscent of the the synths from the 1980's that I remember using as a teenager. I absolutely cherish the original Prophet 08 against all it's critics especially as a live instrument as I love running it through analog guitar pedals like chorus and delay.
Since buying the Prophet 08 ten years ago I have collected a variety of Dave Smiths synths such as the Mopho, Tetra, Prophet 6 and OB 6 desktop. When Dave Smith introduced the updated Rev2 with sixteen voices and updated features I knew I would have to buy it at some point, as the only other sixteen voice analog synth in my studio is the Alesis Andromeda.

I have had the Prophet 08 Rev2 for a a couple weeks now and must say the warmth of the synth is exceptional especially with the addition of the sub oscillator. The addition of digital effects is a nice touch that will make the synth more convenient for live use however I wish there was an analog chorus instead of a digital one. The sixteen voices means absolutely lush endless pads and a more seamless sound when in stack mode.

I don't plan on getting rid of my old Prophet 08 anytime soon as it still has it's use. If you looking for a good well rounded polyphonic synth you have a number of choices these days such as the VCO based Korg Prologue which is similar in many ways to the Prophet Rev2 with the exception of all the modulation possibilities and the addition of digital oscillator. The modern DCO synths such as the Prophet can sound just as warm an analog as its VCO counterparts. The best part of the Prophet 08 series to me is it's good generic tone as it can sound like many classic synths without being immediately pinpointed as having a specific sound.

I have to say Sweetwaters service is exceptional. Jonathan Casarow my sales guy for the past few years has always come through when I need him, thank you Jonathan!

I've been a sweetwater customer for 5 years and while I've always been so happy with the service, (Shout out to Chris Sanders!) I've never felt the need to write a review before, but the Rev 2 is such an unbelievable instrument. I'm a piano player by trade getting into synthesis and this machine satisfies my technical and musical side in equal spades.

The modulation matrix can be so complex but just as straightforward. The extra octave makes a huge difference and the keys are truly high quality. I use this on all of my productions now, I take it on the road with me and it's a beast. There aren't enough superlatives to use about this machine.

If you're like the many of us that are debating between this and the Prophet 6, let me try and help you out. The P6 is an amazing synth with beautiful tone, but don't think for even a second that because this one is cheaper, it's a step down in ANY way. It has its own special sound. It can play big beautiful pads, strong leads, but it can go small and quiet and even spooooky (I know, subjective word).

Just get it! You will be happy. I promise!!!

Purchasing the Prophet Rev2 16 voice synth from Sweetwater is like the day I purchased my brand new Indian Chief Classic motorcycle. You might think well what kind of a review is that? Well my good friend Kurt Cripe at Sweetwater knows very well. Because it's something I've dreamed of having for a long time and the experience of finally owning one (in this case the synth) is almost surreal. It is not like owning any other synth because I have owned many different types. I know that this one is going to be with me many years and I will be getting plenty of miles out of it, just like I will with my Indian Chief. These things are not purchases, they're investments. Thanks again to Kurt, who had the Rev2 shipped overnight free of charge, without me even asking. I can always depend on top notch customer service from Sweetwater! And thanks to DSI, for putting together a fantastic synthesizer.

On its own, it is a phenomenal instrument and it should be looked at as such. Outstanding build quality. The REV2 a really cool synth for the money, with a ton of nice features, real analog, nice (great) looks, and lots of fun onboard. The keybed feels like a light action Fatar TP-9S/TP-7S responsive and fast. The sequencer is fantastic, the ability to play two sequences and play on top of that is a boon to my workflow. The ability to modulate whatever with whatever is another strong point.

I like this synth because it slots in and rounds out everything in my tracks. The REV2 is a very capable synth for a great price, with a great build and feel, one that can do some advanced sounds or very simple 80's DCO and near VCO type sounds too. You can also load the original Prophet 8 patches in for those compositions that may require a 08 Prophet preset, or, custom patch in the mix.

For the knob twisters, it has knobs akimbo. Twist away. I find the patch making process on the REV2 intuitive and easy. I have created a song that would not have existed if the REV2 had not of come into my studio. If you like presets, it has plenty of them. In fact, some of the names are pure comedy gold. One patch, in particular, can be used to make some hilarious backing vocals.

As always Jeff Law, my Sales Engineer provided exceptional service and answered all of my questions and I had the REV2 in plenty of time for a studio session. Thank you Jeff, and, thank you, Sweetwater!

I couldn't be happier with my new Rev2. I've always wanted a Prophet, and finally pulled the trigger. I just got the board today, so had to come up for air long enough to write this review LOL. I've been diving through presets all afternoon and evening, tweaking this and that, and hearing so many sounds that evoke hit songs or original ideas. YouTube videos don't do justice to the fat and beautiful patches you'll hear from the Rev2, which will sit well with my Kurzweil PC3 and Hammond SK1...a perfect trio. I can't wait to get it into the band mix! A big shout-out to Mason Moss and all the crew at Sweetwater for their excellent service. If you're on the fence about this board, go for it...I really think you'll love it!

The flexibility on this synth is stellar. If you're into sound design, you'll enjoy it's mod matrix capabilities. Very smooth sound and also powerfull. This synth complements my OB-6. Dave Smith produces quality instruments with characteristic tone. You know when you hear one. The keyboard is smooth and has after touch which I find is a must for my keyboards. I haven't had any issues and DS support is quick and courteous. Very helpful when I updated the firmware.

Decided I needed a poly analog synth after buying a Moog last year and getting hooked on analog gear. Looked into Rev 2 and this 4 star overall review slowed me for about a month of purchasing due to concern. After doing my research (listening to various prophets, other synths, many reviews on youtube, etc) I went with Rev 2 and LOVE it. It's 16 voices, sweet sounding, and you can hear the prophet legacy all the way through.

The modulation is insane, the Curtis filter sounds good and brassy (listen to demos if you need reassurance). The pads you can make with this thing, the stock presets to learn from, the osc modulation, the slop knob, the shape mod, the extra envelope, the 4 LFOs, and really everything about this is great for writing and producing great music and sound design. It just makes beautiful noises any way you want them.

Also, Sweetwater customer support was unbeatable. They called me 30 minutes after I ordered just to check in and left me contact info via email. They answered some questions over the week I waited for the synth, then called again when the item arrived. they even emailed me with several people to contact including someone to contact if I wasn't happy with my rep. Shawn was great so no need - but that's they kind of company you deal with if you buy from them.

As to the few low reviews I would add some thoughts:

Larry gives a 1 because you can't load a program into layer B. "Customer" upped the ante to bring down the avg review score adding a 3. This person didn't even buy the thing but gives a 3 and thanks Larry for the head's up that you can't load program B presets. I have a rev2 and I CAN load a different layer B for sure. You just click "edit layer B" and using the "misc programs" know you'll find your way. It works. Not to say it always worked - it's a year later so no disrespect to Larry. But I also wonder if that point belongs to drag a great 16 voice synth from a 5 to a 1.

Another 2 reviews had some issues with quality. One of these reviews (Rick) doesn't seem to own the synth. Instead - he cites various forums where people say they had this or that issue.

If these issues are concerning you then buy with Sweetwater. They have QC and they back up what they sell. Here is what they said about quality:

in first 30 days, "if something arrives damaged, we usually just send out a new one with a pre-paid shipping label for the defective item to be sent back to us (depending on inventory)."

I would suggest this synth if you are into analog. You won't regret it. And use Sweetwater - they blew me away with their service. Don't let the couple bad reviews here sway you - its all going to work great. DS is a legend.

First of all a shout out to Miles Patterson at Sweetwater....he"s a smart and knowledgeable
Sales Tech that went several extra miles to get this amazing instrument to us.thanks!
The Prophet is like no other synth....powerful....huge....quiet...delicate and everything
Your imagination can create. We found this Prophet 16 to be a blast to play and truly inspirational
For composers . The sounds are clear and magnificently designed and cover so much territory.
The keyboard is rock solid and the build quality is top pro.
We try to buy American instruments made here and with Dave Smith dedicating his whole
Life into designing incredible instruments this seems to be the culmination of his design genius.
Don"t pass up on this beauty it is an instrument you will never sell and it can continue to make
you smile throughout your career.

Ill admit, the Rev2 took awhile to grow on me. This is my first poly. At first, I was slightly disappointed by the lack of low end fatness, and the shrill quality of the oscillators, as well as the somewhat narrow "sweet spot" of the filter. With that said, boy has this thing grown on me. All of the above shortcomings are really just the character of the synth. Its not a polyphonic moog... Once you learn to program this thing it is an absolutely massive analog monster, with tons of modulation to boot. Honestly, its a great deal for what it is and has a lovely, ethereal sound. It can sound HUGE and even Oberheimy which is glorious. As much as I want to fuel my GAS with another polysynth, I feel guilty even thinking about it because this covers all the bases for a polyphonic analog . Even waveshape modulation! Very cool stuff indeed.

I've always admired Dave Smith's past instruments like the Prophet 5 for example, but was really hesitant for a long time about purchasing one of his synthesizers. After receiving the Prophet REV2 16 voice, and after playing it for that first half hour, the thought that kept repeating itself in my mind was "Why did I wait so long to get one of these?" I've been playing piano and keyboards, for over 37 years, and in my experience, an excellent instrument inspires you to create. Plain and simple, you can obsess about features and draw comparisons to other synths of course, but the sound and feel of this instrument reminds me of why I love to play synthesizers, and the pure fun you can have playing them. Dave Smith and his team have created another great synth, one that is a welcome addition. Thanks to Sweetwater as always for their great service, and quick delivery, and to Greg Savino for his constant professionalism, which is much appreciated.

1 - Noise floor higher than any of my synths, short cable and expensive ups helps a bit,
also noise floor drops after bunch of keys (almost all of them) are triggered.
Most of the noise low hum at 64Hz, some above 8kHz as well, average noise is higher
than any of my synths about 10db.

DSI support after analyzing my audio files answered it's normal and totally fine.

2 - Mod Wheel was covered with some glue like substance and then dart pealing off with
rubber coating, doesn't look nice.

DSI support sent me new Mod Wheel really fast, now i have to replace it by my self.

3 - TRACK rotary switch knob on the SEQUENCER panel appeared to be glitchy,
especially when turned counter clockwise - it jumps thru two values instead of one, sometime tree
doesn't mater how slow and with what intervals I turned it.

DSI support - waiting for replay on that one.

4 - Some of the POT's really tight some loose.

5 - Almost all knobs off centered and as consequence wobbly when turned.

Sound is pretty boring and nothing exited about it but still better than any virtual synths.
Didn't return that synth yet just because of the great Fatar keybed with aftertouch.

This really is a feature packed, well built synthesizer. In fact, I loved everything about it, except for the Curtis Filter sound. To me, the filter is too harsh, and seems to have a very small sweet spot. Also, it only has a Low Pass Filter, analogue that is. It does have a High Pass Filter as an effect, but I don"t like dedicating an effect to being a HPF. You also only have 1 effect per layer.

On the plus side, it is well built, feature packed, with a very nice Fatar keybed, and plenty of modulation possibilities. 4 LFOs per voice is awesome! I also like the OLED screen, which has a great viewing angle, and looks pretty cool on the Rev2. This really is a great synth, it just wasn"t the sound palette I was looking for. I found that sound palette in the Dave Smith Instruments OB-6. I ended up returning the Rev2 and getting the OB-6 instead.

I think this a great "bang for your buck" synthesizer. If the tone palette is to your liking, you cannot go wrong with the Rev2. It is quite a good value.

Really like this synth so far.
Regarding some reviews telling you can't load any program to layer B.. you can. It's done via "Misc Params" button while in "Edit Layer B" mode.

I wish maybe encoders were a bit sturdier, also delay and reverb sounded better, but that's all. Programming is easy, sound is analog. If too pricey look for the 8-voice desktop.

I own a vintage Minimoog D, a DSI OB6 (module version), an Oberheim Matrix-6, and a Behringer DeepMind 12, and my new Prophet REV2 (16 voices) addition from DSI fits very nicely in there.
It has more than enough polyphony for extra long envelope times without any voice stealing. It has variable waveforms, really intuitive modulation assignment, etc etc...

But more than anything else, Dave Smith has done something to the sound, when compared to the Prophet08. It's, well, better. Even though it uses the same Curtis chips, they've removed the annoying "coloring" that plagued the P08. So this synth shines. And considering that this is probably a direct reply from DSI to Behringer's DM12, I'd say mission accomplished. A 16 voices analog synth for this relatively low price, with that build quality ? Can't beat that.

That's not to say that I'll get rid of my DM12 now that I've got a REV2, because they both sound very different and I like both equally. The REV2 adds to my toolbox in spades.

Can't go wrong with this one. But don't take my word for it, go try one for yourself if possible. I'm sure that you'll probably be impressed.

The modulation section is so easy and so expansive. The presets are incredible and such a great learning tool. I wish there could be two effects per layer but whatever! It's so nice to have a new baby to come home to. It's already inspired numerous new productions.

Definitely highly recommend this board.

I've had this amazing instrument for a couple weeks and its amazing. Build quality, sound, keybed, features, all are top notch. The arp is endlessly inspiring, and having the effects and sequencer make this feel like all you need. In the process of selling most of the rest of my synthesizers because of how blown away I am. And wanted to reiterate that you could swap out patches on splits.

Quite frankly the best instrument I've ever owned. It's built like a tank and most importantly it sounds out of this world.

P.S. There was an update quite some time ago that allows copying layers between patches. So the "issue" earlier reviewers were complaining about has been amended. Also it's unfair to write reviews if you haven't actually played the instrument and instead are basing your opinion off of forums. There are indeed some faulty boards (as to be expected with any new product launch), but it is NOT technical in any way shape or form to replace it. The customer support over at DSI is second to none.

The Rev 2 gives you 16 voices of polyphony .. unheard of back in the 80's when I was working with synths like Roland Jupiter 8, Oberheim OBXa, and Juno's. The ability to layer 2 presets and still have 8 voices of polyphony is very useful for big pads. Its got great modulation routings, and minimal but useful effects. Some complain about its use of the Curtis filter .. but that filter has been around a long time and is on a lot of various synths of the 80's, and is on countless records, don't let the internet critics sway your decision .. play one yourself and decide (I personally like it). The reason I'm only giving one star is quality control. The voice boards are bad on some of these leaving the factory as witnessed in the Dave Smith forum. To their credit they will send you a new voice board (if you give them a $200.00 deposit), but you have to then become the technician to replace it .. completely rediculous for a brandnew 2k American made synth. There are documented cases too of jumpy encoders, and in at least one case the customers unit came with oil on the outside of the unit (supposedly from the keybed leaking during hot weather shipping), thats inexcusable. If DSI can source a new run of voice boards and do a proper burn in and quality check great, but until then caveat emptor (unless you don't mind cracking open your brand new synth and playing keyboard tech.) It does sound really nice when you get a non-problematic one.

Recently I have added the REV2 to my Prophets arsenal. I also have the Prophet 6 and Prophet 12. This synth has the highest voice count in the entire Prophet line and is one of the reasons why I have bought it. I does not sound like a former Prophet 8 like others are insinuating and It has a much larger wall of sound type character, even without reverb or other effects. To my ears, It sounds like you are playing inside a Cathedral. Good job DSI! This one has become my synth of choice and can add lovely, pristine ambiance or aggressive hard edge to any track that needs it!

I’ve had my 16 voice Rev2 for a while now and I am really having fun with the all the modulation possibilities. It makes my old Prophet 600 seem like something out of the stone age. But the basic sound is just as loud and powerful as the 600. There aren’t any professional reviews out there, but the instrument speaks for itself. If you want a powerful analog synth with lots of voices and modern modulation options, I’d say the Rev2 is a pretty good choice. Assigning OSC SLOP to aftertouch is a cool trick. There are also 4 LFOs that you can assign to just about anything. I expected the Rev2 to be pretty sonically limited due to my previous experience with analog synths, but the sound design possibilities of the Rev2 are wide open.

I ordered my REV2 in hopes of transitioning from using software for all of my polysynth work, and I didn't dream that it would replace most of my software. It is an amazing sounding synth even using a single layer with no effects, but stacking sounds and adding in effects adds incredible depth and dimension to it.

The REV2 does not sound like a vintage synthesizer. It sounds very modern and has a bit of "harshness" to it, which I actually like very much. It still sits very well in a mix with my other equipment, and sounds very warm in spite of having a certain crystalline quality to it.

Absolutely killer control, sound, and versatility with vintage to modern sounds. Between the mod matrix, fx, the quick and fun sequencer, and huge sound, this board can cover so much. To top it off, it's light for it's size, and has a smaller profile than other analogs. You don't have the hide the oscillators in effects, they sound great as is. Plus DSI has great tech support. I highly suggest getting the 16-voice so when you layer or split sounds you get 8 voices per side.

Thanks Larry, for that informative review. Not being able to update program spots like you wrote would be a deal killer for me, too. I'll wait for that update that Dave Smith Instruments told you they may do. It seems that the Sweetwater Forums are not being utilized any longer, else I would have commented there.

I received my Rev2 last week, after pre-ordering a few months ago. I am typically not a "sight unseen" kind of purchaser, so I was a little nervous about this leap of faith. I have a few vintage Roland and Korg synths, but I wanted something that could reliably be used for performance. On paper, this synth appeared to be everything I was looking for: analog, 61 key, per-function controls, on-board effects, sturdy modern synth. I can say that, so far, my expectations have been exceeded! Firstly, the sound is absolutely massive, and the presets seem to be well thought out to showcase the instrument's capabilities. The build quality is solid, the keybed/action is very comfortable. The controls are intuitive and immediate, I have yet to crack the manual. I've created a few programs and dabbled with the arpreggiator, no prob at all. I have yet to put the sequencer or some of the modulation routings through their paces, but suffice it to say the level of depth should keep anyone occupied for some time. I know there will be the ongoing debate regarding sound, filter, DCO, blah blah blah. The sound is definitely "bright", for lack of a better term. It's not particularly vintage. But it is powerful. For me, the number of voices, ease of programming, build quality and crystal clear sound make this synth a winner. And thanks to Stuart Niven in Sales who basically called me every week or so to provide an update on shipping status! Sweetwater service is truly unrivaled, purchases large or small get the same royal treatment!

I received my Rev2 last week, after pre-ordering a few months ago. I am typically not a "sight unseen" kind of purchaser, so I was a little nervous about this leap of faith. On paper, this synth appeared to be

Just got my Rev 2 only to find out that you can't load the program of you choice in to a layer location. Whatever the B layer is, you cannot change the program as you could on a Pro-12. You can edit it but not substitute another program. Sure you could start from scratch but what a waste of time. DSI says it may be on a future update.

This makes it unusable for me...taking it back.