Prophet '08 Keyboard Operating Systems

The Prophet '08 Keyboard has two distinct types of processors, Main and Voice, and each has its own operating system.

To check the installed versions in your Prophet '08 Keyboard:

Hold the GLOBAL button and press the LFO 1 button. The Main and Voice versions are displayed.

This is the only accurate method of determining the installed version. The paper labels on the chips are not to be relied upon and the editor software may not display the correct version.

OS Download

The Main and Voice operating systems are available for download in SysEx format. Carefully read the installation notes below before installing the OS to avoid causing any serious problems.

Please note: The Prophet '08 Keyboard and Module operating systems are not the same! Download the module OS from the Prophet '08 Module Operating Systems page.

Installation

The OS can be installed using any of the methods discussed in Operating Systems for DSI Products. When the Main SysEx load begins, the display reads "Main OS Load" and counts down for the duration of the transfer. When the countdown concludes, the display changes to "Writing Now!" As the OS is being written, the front panel LEDs will flash in sequence and then normal operation will resume. Do not turn off the Prophet while the OS is writing!

When the Voice SysEx load begins, the display reads "Voice OS Load" and counts down for the duration of the transfer. When the countdown concludes, the display changes to "Writing Now!" As the OS is being written, the front panel LEDs will flash in sequence and then normal operation will resume. Again, do not turn off the Prophet while the OS is writing.

If you are updating from an early version of the OS, you may have to reset the LCD contrast (Global menu) after loading the new OS. If the LCD is completely blank, press Global and then press + / Yes 10 times. Use PARAM 2 to adjust the contrast.

You may also have to recalibrate the wheels.

1. Turn the mod wheel all the way off (down), and while also holding the pitch wheel off, hold down Global and press the Mod 1 button.
2. Return the pitch wheel to center, and hold Global and press Mod 2.
3. Move the Mod wheel all the way on (up), and while also holding the pitch wheel all the way on, hold Global and press Mod 3.

Important note: If for some reason you decide to revert to a previous version, you must revert the Voice OS before the Main OS.

Troubleshooting

Updating the OS is generally very easy, but occasionally there are problems. The most common symptom is that the countdown stops before the OS has transferred completely. This typically occurs because either the data transfer is overwhelming the synth or because some spurious MIDI data (such as clocks or merged data) is affecting the transfer. In the first case, see if you can reduce the transfer rate and/or buffer size of the program being used to transfer the SysEx data. In the second case, make sure there is no other MIDI data on the buss while loading the OS. In rare cases, MIDI drivers have also been known to interfere with SysEx transfers. If all else fails, check for updated drivers for your interface or try another MIDI interface.