Sequential Prophet-5 gets an official software remake by GForce — tested

Following GForce’s official renditions of Oberheim instruments, now we’re treated to an official Sequential synth in plug-in form. This Prophet-5 combines painstaking recreations of the various revisions with new features like MPE, a dual-layer architecture, and lush effects. I’ve been testing it and got some behind-the-scenes details from the devs. It’s such a total pleasure to bring that Sequential sound into the box.

The making of Sequential’s all-analog, polyphonic, expressive Fourm

Sequential’s new Fourm is a 4-voice polysynth with an all-analog signal path and polyphonic aftertouch and a price under a grand. To pull it off, Sequential designed an all-new expressive keybed and adapted their signature analog circuitry from the Prophet-5 (and Prophet-10). I spoke to Sequential about their instrument and the engineering that made it all happen.

Peter Kirn - September 23, 2025

Tom Oberheim turns 89 today; a conversation with Tom

Tom Oberheim may be in retirement, but the instruments and his legacy are just getting started. Artists are rediscovering vintage classics, and instruments like the new TEO-5 are taking off. So to celebrate his 89th birthday, here’s a recent conversation with the man behind that famous synth name.

Peter Kirn - July 7, 2025

Oberheim TEO-5: Tom’s legacy, now on desktop, $1399

Peter Kirn - July 1, 2025

Sequential Take 5: Dave Smith’s legacy, now on desktop, $1299

Peter Kirn - July 1, 2025

Oberheim OB-X8 is now a desktop module, in new edition of one of the best synths today

Peter Kirn - May 9, 2023

Sequential Trigon-6: hands-on sounds and impressions of the new polysynth

Francis Preve - November 17, 2022

The late Dave Smith with Tom Oberheim, Marcus Ryle, Tony Karavidas talking OB-X8 design

Peter Kirn - October 26, 2022

Arturia V-Collection 9, feature by feature: a dreamy, futuristic update, new and old

Peter Kirn - June 8, 2022