Korg Prophecy SSP-1
Solo Synthesizer (1995)

A complex machine with virtually infinite sounds based on MOSS technology: a mix of virtual analog and acoustic emulation.

KEYBOARD 37 velocity keys with aftertouch.
The main panel features a 40 X2 lines display, 7 knobs and 40 push buttons. In addition 5 assignable knobs for real-time parameters, 2 wheels for pitch bending and modulation with an extra special 3-axis wheel with ribbon control.


Back panel terminal connectors:
- card slot for memory card
- stereo signal out
- Midi interface
- input for special EC-5 external controller
- footswitch input

 

TECH CPU UPD-70433GD + H8 (3003) manage 1 voice based MOSS Multi Oscillator Synthesis System - MOSS synthesis is complicated but offers great sonic possibilities aimed to emulate modelled acoustic brass and reed instruments. A Prophecy patch can be created using 4 elements:

- MOSS digital oscillator 1 (5 v.a models) - MOSS digital oscillator 2 (same models) - digital white noise - suboscillator 4 shapes: sinewave, square, sawtooth and triangle.

 

 

MOSS OSCILLATOR each digital MOSS oscillator can be set to 1 of the 7 V.A models: 4 Virtual Acoustic sound generations + 1 special VA "APM" with 3 submodels. Here's detail about it:

Virtual Acoustic   APM Standard Osc is a virtual analog emulation of traditional analog synthesis based on DSP basic waveforms: sawtooth, triangle and rectangular with variable width. Comb filter Osc is a comb generated filter, feedback loop with lowpass filter that extracts harmonics contents out of a white noise. VPM frequency modulation based on simple 2OP Operators structure modulated by waveshaping process: a waveform amplitude distortion that alters the harmonic spectrum contents, previously implemented 01W synthesizer. Modulation Osc is a classic modulation processor able to create ring modulator, frequency sync and crossmodulation between oscillators.   Acoustic physical modeling (APM) acoustic instruments physical recreation characteristics like air pressure into reed or brass instruments with variable sound articulations and expressions controls.This physical modeling generates 3 submodels: pluck, reed and brass. APM Pluck Osc an ihnarmonic generation of plucked waves like guitar of bass models. Typical parameters are: pluck attack intensity, based on finger to plectrum, bridge simulation with variable inharmonic contents. APM Reed model emulates reed instruments characteristics e.g air pressure, noise and modulation or breath. 13 reed templates ready to go including oboe, saxophone and recorder. APM Brass model offers 3 main parameters definitions: - Pressure defines the breath strength - Lip simulates the lips tension on the instruments changing the sound color. - Bell attenuates the tone signal, like muted brass instruments.

 

 

MOSS ALGORITHMS Tsound generators can be chained in pair following 12 algorithms:

Alg. OSC1 OSC2 1 Standard OSC Standard OSC 2 Standard OSC Comb Filter OSC 3 Standard OSC VPM OSC 4 Standard OSC Modulation OSC 5 Comb Filter OSC Comb Filter OSC 6 Comb Filter OSC VPM OSC 7 Comb Filter OSC Modulation OSC 8 VPM OSC VPM OSC 9 VPM OSC Modulation OSC 10 APM Brass OSC  * 11 APM Reed OSC  * 12 APM Pluck OSC *

TECH: *Acoustic physical modeling APM cannot use combinations for DSP limit.

LFO up to 4 delayed digital modulators, frequency range from 0 to 60 Hz also syncable to external Midi clock like sequencer or drum machines. A vast array of 26 LFOs shapes with variable start phase offset.

Hear LFO modulator

ENVELOPE up to 6 EGs, 4-segments structure + 5 time levels:
The Prophecy response also features 8 dynamic curves.

- EG 1 is routed to amplitude - EG 2 is routed to pitch - EG 3-4-5-6 are freely assignable to *quite* any parameters

FILTER features 2 identical filters at -12d/B octave combined in both serial or parallel way.
Each filter can be set to a 1 of 3 filter modes:

- lowpass - highpass - bandpass and reject Hear resonance filter

ARPEGGIATOR 5 preset patterns, adjustable velocity and gate length and 3 directions: up, down and random.

SYNC Both arpeggiator and LFO can be synched to external Midi clock, but it is reported that earlier Prophecy operating systems OS have some tempo issues.

EFFECT DSP generates 7 models: distortion, wah, EQ, chorus, flanger, delay and reverb.
Hear Flanger

 

MEMORY;
- 128 editable memory patches
- 1 custom arpeggio slot
- 64 others on S-Ram card model Korg SCR-512.

-LEFT -BATTERY REPLACEMENT a cr2032 3V in a battery holder, quite easy.

CARD EXPANSION some different models were available, but they are basically plain sysex you can find on the net, we will soon share the file (DOWNLOAD) as these cards are no more available on the market.

Model Title Pic Download KORG PHC-11 "Analogue & Vintage " n/a n/a KORG PHC-12 "Modern Models" n/a

 

OS DOWLOAD Last eprom sets (2) are OS #20. firmware update - A very NICE gift from Edward dtech.lv

DOWNLOAD -TMS 27C240-10 + TMS 27C210A-10 OS DUMP package V1.6 + V2.0

 

CUSTOM the Prophecy seems to be widely used in eastern Europe countries (the amza) and Balkans, appreciated for matching some typical music with different scales interval tones.
Below custom model with :

touch keyboard by Ken Mc Beth	funny accordion keys

 

PROPHECY EDITORS:
- Soundquest (PC/MAC commercial) PIC
- Progenie (old PC OS , commercial) PIC
- Prophy (Atari ST / Falcon, FREE) PIC
- CTRLR panel (open source, FREE) pic below

 

RELATED FAMILY:

	Z1 polyphonic brother with more APM modeling models, enhanced analog emulation with progressive waveforms. The big polyphonic brother totally obscured the Prophecy.
	SOLO-TRI board optional adds MOSS synthesis to Trinity keyboards.

 

VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION no official Korg plugin, however some physical modeling synthesis plugin VST - also some free and commercial samples set:

rhythm lab

35 MB free sample pack

AUDIO DEMO

	factory song with flute, moog
	digeridoo
	flangered
	padlayer
	various electronic sounds
	full prophecy track + loops kindly sent by Federico Pasiecznik- thanks!
	full prophecy track + loops kindly sent by Federico Pasiecznik- thanks!
	please do send some of your Prophecy audio clips :)

VIDEO SELECTION Product Overview patches DEMO

MANUAL

SERVICE MANUAL

-More demo -FREE samples collection

original Brochure

original advert

the prodigy