Dave Smith InstrumentsPro-2 Paraphonic Hybrid Synthesizer

Dave Smith Pro 2

Dubbed “the most powerful monosynth” in existence by its creator, the DSI Pro-2 certainly lives up to its reputation. The synthesizer is a robust monophonic/paraphonic hybrid that shares many similarities with the Prophet 12, while maintaining some distinct differences. By combining the precision and stability of digital oscillators with the characteristic warmth of analog filters, the Pro-2 is capable of creating massive sounds without the problems caused by traditional analog oscillators.

The Pro-2 features two voices, each with two DSP-based oscillators, for a total of four digital oscillators, plus one triangle wave sub oscillator to massage that low end. These oscillators are then routed through two analog filters: the first is a 4-pole lowpass inspired by the Prophet 5. The second is a state-variable SEM style filter inspired by Tom Oberheim, and switchable between lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and notch. Both filters can operate either in series or parallel.

Since the Pro-2 has two voices with dual oscillators routed through a single filter and envelope section, it can function as a Paraphonnic synthesizer, which means it is capable of simulating polyphony. All this in addition to four delays and five superb digital effects sourced from the Character section of the Prophet 12, make the Pro-2 a formidable synthesizer.   

The Pro-2 also functions as a mini-workstation thanks in part to its powerful 32-step, 16 track sequencer—featuring real time note recording and the ability to program both rests and sequences of varying length.  The Pro-2 can easily be synced by an external MIDI clock, and external audio signals can be routed through its filter and FX sections.

If you’re a Eurorack enthusiast, the Pro-2 will fit in comfortably with your setup. The unit’s 4 CV ins and 4 CV outs make it optimal for interfacing with a Eurorack environment. The Pro-2 is more than capable of functioning as a central controller, as it offers convenient routing of oscillators, LFOs, and envelopes via its CV outputs.

Finishing off this marvelous beast of a synthesizer is a keyboard section featuring a three-and-a-half octave, semi-weighted keyboard complete with velocity and after touch.

Pro 2 Features

• Four DSP-based oscillators plus one sine wave sub oscillator
• Four oscillator classic wave shapes (saw, square, triangle, sine) per oscillator
• Twelve selectable complex shapes per oscillator
• 13 Superwaves
• Three noise types per oscillator: white, pink, violet
• Shape modulation/pulse width/superwave detune amount
• Oscillator cross modulation: frequency modulation (FM) and amplitude modulation (AM)
• Hard sync, individual Glide, Oscillator Slop
• True 4-voice paraphonic mode with individually-gated envelopes per oscillator
• Five high-quality digital effects
• Girth and Air are high and low shelf equalizers with harmonic excitement. Useful for thickening and/or adding air to the signal
• Hack and Decimate are sample and bit rate reduction algorithms which can add subtle grit or completely trash the signal. It's harsh yet musical
• Drive is a soft saturator for adding soft distortion and harmonic content to the signal
• Dual analog filters operate in serial or parallel
• Filter 1 is a 4-pole resonant analog low-pass filter inspired by the original Prophet-5 filter
• Filter 2 is a 2-pole resonant analog state-variable filter inspired by the Oberheim SEM filter and can be continuously varied between low-pass, notch, and high-pass operation, with an optional band-pass mode
• Oscillator Split allows oscillators 1 & 2 to be sent to Filter 1 and oscillators 3 & 4 to Filter 2
• Tuned Feedback
• Three-tap syncable delay with feedback and amount controls, pan, and high-pass and low-pass filtering, all per delay
• A separate fourth delay is a digital bucket-brigade delay (BBD) for analog-style effects
• Five Delay + ADSR envelopes (Filter 1, Filter 2, VCA , and two Auxiliary envelopes)
• Auxiliary envelopes 4 and 5 freely assignable to multiple modulation destinations
• All envelopes can repeat/loop
• Four syncable LFOs with phase offset and slew per LFO
• 16 x 2 modulation matrix with over 50 mod sources and over 140 mod destinations
• Parameters that can be sent to CV outputs include oscillators, LFOs, envelopes, sequencer tracks and any other source within the modulation matrix
• Mod Matrix runs up to audio rates
• Gate Out for triggering external CV-compatible devices; any CV in can be used as a gate input
• Four 1-volt-per-octave control voltage inputs and outputs for interfacing with modular synths and other CV-compatible devices
• Modulation assignment buttons enable quick and easy modulation routing
• Mod Matrix runs up to audio rates
• Advanced step sequencer provides up to 32 steps per sequence and up to 16 tracks
• Supports real-time input, rests, and variable-length sequences
• Syncs to MIDI clock and external audio and CV input
• Sequences can control not only oscillator pitch but any parameter in the modulation matrix
• Sophisticated arpeggiator with up, down, up+down, random, assign modes
• Supports real-time input, rests, and variable-length sequences
• Re-latching arpeggiation
• Programmable Distortion: Stereo analog distortion