Dave Smith Instruments

the sounds beautifully, placing them
into many varied, yet always musically
relevant contexts. Build quality is
holding up great with everything still
feeling and looking like new and DSI
have also updated the OS regularly,
with the latest update bringing several
new velocity curves which have
improved playability greatly.
The ‘downsides’ I’ve found are
minor. Firstly, detuning via the Osc 2
fi ne-tune dial (and Slop) sounds too
controlled for my liking – almost like
the OS is pulling the tuning in too
much and I’d like this loosened up a
bit (as it has been on the OB-6),
especially as the fi rst few mms of
travel on the Osc 2 detune dial don’t
really do much, resulting in an ‘all or
nothing’ type of detuning (I’d really
like some more subtle range on that
dial). Next up, as I mentioned in the
original review, while I love the
complete lack of menu diving (for
gigging especially), having such a
basic display is sometimes frustrating
(ie, no patch naming). Yes there’s
direct patch access (ten patches in
DeepMind 12 or on a Roland JD-XA);
and a dedicated assignable second
LFO is also something I wish the P6
had (I use this a lot on my JD-XA).
Perhaps DSI could designate pitch
wheel as another assignable source
for controlling the effects or fi lter
while still controlling the LFO depth
from the mod wheel? Thankfully, the
Polymod and X-Mod sections (on the
P6M and OB-6M respectively) really
help to take your sounds into
other-worldly territory.
Now onto the P6 module
specifi cally (and most of this can be
front of you at any one time) but it’s
still hard keeping track of your presets
by number, though obviously this isn’t
going to be getting changed as it’s a
hardware limitation. Further, since
the P6 launched, other analogue
polys have entered the market with
more comprehensive mod facilities,
so the P6/OB-6 do look a little basic
in terms of modulation facilities/
control, especially considering their
price. For example, you can’t control
either modules’ effects via a mod
wheel, aftertouch or a pedal (as you
can on the upcoming Behringer
POLY-CHAINING AND LAYERING
One of the biggest appeals of these new modules (apart from their size and price) is the
ability for existing Prophet-6 or OB-6 owners to add a further six voices easily with just a
MIDI cable. This is a signifi cant extra expense but once you hear a 12-voice Prophet-6 or
OB-6 (layered or poly-chained) it’s very hard not to cave in if you have the cash and, if not,
once you’ve had a taste you might have to sell something else to fund it! To set up a P6 or
OB-6 with the module version, connect the keyboard’s MIDI out to MIDI in on the module,
set the keyboard mode to BTH (both) for layering or PLY (poly) for poly-chaining and you’re
set (just be sure to match
your patches on each unit
fi rst). All voices will be
divided up smoothly
between the keyboard/
module. Having either of
these synths playing
12-voice poly-patches is an
inspiring experience,
though it would be great if
eventually DSI made an
all-in-one 12-voice version
of either of these synths
with additional mod
facilities. For now though,
the keyboard plus module
is a great solution to
this pipedream!
THE ALTERNATIVES
Prophet-12
Module £1,668
The powerful
Prophet-12 hybrid
synth in a desktop/
rackmountable unit.
12 voices, with
streamlined control,
the P12M features
four digital oscillators
with FM, character
effects, analogue
LPF and HPF, plus
analogue delay.
www.davesmith
instruments.com
Modal 002R
£2,395
Modal are a relatively
new UK company
but they make killer
synths! The 002R is
a 12-voice, 12-part
multi-timbral hybrid
architecture
racksynth, using
digital oscillators/
analogue signal path.
www.modal
electronics.com
Nord Lead A1R
£928
The Lead A1
harnesses a lot of
power but with a
simplifi ed interface
designed for
quick/intuitive
programming.
Features 26 voices,
virtual analogue
engine, delay
and reverb FX,
plus 4-part
multi-timbrality.
www.nordkeyboards.
com
Once you hear a 12-voice
Prophet-6 or OB-6 it’s very
hard not to cave in if you
have the cash
Reviews | DSI OB-6 and Prophet-6 Modules
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