The ingenuity of prologue goes beyond its analog design. The newly developed multi engine is provided as VCO3, adding digital waveforms and FM. This multi engine, which is equipped with three different sound engines, can be combined with the analog VCOs to expand prologue’s sonic potential far beyond that of a traditional analog synthesizer.

Noise generator

There are four types of noise generator, indispensable for percussive sounds or sound effects. Experience how digital filtering can produce direct changes in the color of the noise.

VPM oscillator

The VPM (Variable Phase Modulation) / FM oscillator was newly developed for prologue. Its metallic and sharp sounds with their complex overtones could never be obtained by analog means. With 16 types of oscillator and the SHAPE knob, you’ll be intuitively guided through complex sound design. Combine these wave shapes with prologue’s gorgeous analog filters, and prepare for sounds you never thought possible.

User oscillator

The user oscillator section lets you load oscillator programs of your own creation. Sixteen slots are provided, and one type of morphing wavetable oscillator is built-in as a preset.

The high-quality digital effects feature pristine 32-bit floating-point processing, and add a further polish to the sound of the prologue. With two effect units provided (a modulation effect and delay/reverb), you can choose from a wide variety such as chorus or ensemble, warm tape delay, or diverse reverbs. The user effect slots let you load effect programs of your own creation.

User-customization

prologue-8

The prologue offers an SDK (Software Development Kit) that allows developers to program, customize and extend the capabilities of the multi-engine and digital effects and is expected to be available for download in the spring of 2018. The prologue provides 16 user oscillator slots and 16 user effect slots, and users can use the prologue Librarian software (also expected to be available for download in the spring of 2018) to load into their prologue new oscillators and effect programs created by developers with the prologue SDK (Software Development Kit).

What types of sound will you create by combining the expanded digital oscillators with analog synthesis? You can create original programs and share code to participate in the user community. Start with sample code provided by KORG. The prologue belongs to you.

 

Voice modes

The prologue provides voice modes that let you freely combine the 16 or 8 voices for performance. The standard POLY mode lets you play chords with up to 16 or 8-note polyphony. MONO mode is ideal for bass using the sub-oscillator. UNISON allows you to generate thick lead tones by sounding all voices in unison. CHORD lets you play chords with one finger. In conjunction with the DEPTH knob, you can use these modes to obtain a variety of effects.

Four voice modes

– POLY: Operates as a poly synth with up to 16 or 8 voices. Turn the VOICE MODE DEPTH knob to switch to DUO mode, in which the instrument operates in unison as a poly synth with up to 8 or 4 voices.
– MONO: Operates as a mono synth with sub oscillator.
– UNISON: Operates as an all-unison mono synth.
– CHORD: Plays chords.

Arpeggiator

The powerful arpeggiator opens up a world of limitless inspiration. It provides a four-octave range, and six arpeggiator types including manual set. From phrases that could not be performed on a keyboard to sequence-like sound designs, the arpeggiator can play a versatile array of roles.

Program sort

The program sort function lets you instantly change the sorting order of the 500 programs. You can sort by category, alphabetical order, use LIKE to view the programs that you marked as your favorites, FREQUENT to sort the programs in order of their frequency of use, or ENVELOPE to sort the programs in order of their envelope shape (note duration). By choosing from eight different sorting conditions, you’ll be able to quickly find the sound that you need, without interrupting the tempo of your rehearsal or production workflow.

Eight program sort methods

– PROG NUM: Sort by program number.
– CATEGORY: Sort by program category.
– ALPHABETICAL: Sort programs alphabetically.
– LIKE: Sort by programs that you “liked.”
– FREQUENT: Sort by how frequently you used the program.
– ENVELOPE: Sort by envelope shape.
– RANDOM: Sort randomly.
– LIVE SET: Sort programs registered in a live set.

Japanese-made natural touch keyboard

The attention to detail expected of a flagship extends to prologue’s playability and design as well.

The keyboard is a high-quality Japanese-made natural touch keyboard, providing the same superb touch and feel as on KORG’s high-end workstations, and allowing a high degree of expressive power.

prologue’s body emanates beauty and the presence of a boutique synth, and newly redefines the look of a classic synthesizer. The black aluminum front panel features the same curvature as the minilogue, and sports a beautiful hairline finish. Metal knobs with a sense of weight, diamond-cut silver indices, and oak wood side panels are some of the details that emphasize the high quality of this Made In Japan instrument.

Specs:

Keyboard

prologue-8

49 keys (Natural touch keyboard with velocity)

Sound Generation

Analogue sound generator + Multi digital sound generator (Noise, VPM, User)

Maximum Polyphony

prologue-8

8 voices

Programs

500 voices (more than 250 preload, 250 user programs).
Each program provides a program sort function that includes voice mode and timbre settings, and allows up to 8 × 4 banks of live set programs to be registered.

Voice Mode

4 (POLY, MONO, UNISON, CHORD).
The VOICE MODE DEPTH setting allows different parameters to be varied for each mode.

Timbres

Max two timbre (Main timbre, Sub timbre)
Layer, crossfade, and split settings are possible.

Arpeggiator

6 types (Manual, Rise, Fall, Rise Fall, Random, Poly Random).
Tempo and note range can be changed

Program Sort

8 (PROG NUM, CATEGORY, ALPHABETICAL, LIKE, FREQUENT, ENVELOPE, RANDOM, LIVE SET)

Main Synth Parameters

VCO1

WAVE (SAW, TRIANGLE, SQUARE), OCTAVE, PITCH, SHAPE

VCO2

WAVE (SAW, TRIANGLE, SQUARE), OCTAVE, PITCH, SHAPE

MODULATION

PITCH EG (ALL, VCO1+2, VCO2), PITCN EG INT, SYNC, RING, CROSS MOD DEPTH

MULTI ENGINE

NOISE/VPM/USER, OCTAVE, TYPE, SHAPE

MIXER

VCO1, VCO2, MULTI

VCF

CUTOFF, RESONANCE, EG INT, DRIVE, LOW CUT, KEYTRACK

AMP EG

ATTACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN, RELEASE

EG

ATTACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN, RELEASE

LFO

WAVE (SAW, TRIANGLE, SQUARE), MODE (FAST, SLOW, BPM), RATE, INT, TARGET (PITCH, SHAPE, CUTOFF)

Main Effect Parameters

MOD EFFECTS

OFF/ON/SELECT (CHORUS, ENSEMBLE, PHASER, FLANGER, USER), SPEED, DEPTH

DELAY/REVERB

OFF/DELAY/REVERB, TIME, DEPTH

L.F. COMP (prologue-16 only)

OFF/ON, GAIN

MULTI ENGINE

Noise Generator

4 types

VPM oscillator

16 types

User oscillator

16 slots

MOD EFFECTS

CHORUS

8 types

ENSEMBLE

3 types

PHASER

8 types

FLANGER

8 types

USER

16 slots

DELAY/REVERB

DELAY

8 types

REVERB

8 types

Controls

Wheels: Modulation wheel that can modify different parameters for each program, pitch wheel
Knobs: PORTAMENTO knob

Display

Main

Real-time OLED oscilloscope provides visual feedback of parameter changes

MULTI ENGINE section

7 segments x 6 digit LED display

Input/Output connectors

Headphone jack (Stereo phone jack)

OUTPUT L/MONO, R jacks (monaural phone jack unbalanced)

SYNC IN jack (3.5 mm [1/8″] mini jack, maximum input level 20 V)

SYNC OUT jack (3.5 mm [1/8″] mini jack, output level 5 V)

MIDI IN jack

MIDI OUT jack

USB B jack

EXPRESSION jack

DAMPER jack (half damper is not supported)

Power Supply

AC Power Supply terminal

Power Consumption

prologue-8

23 W

Dimensions (W x D x H)

prologue-8

709 mm x 348 mm x 118 mm/27.91″ x 13.70″ x 4.65″

Weight

prologue-8

7.5 kg/16.53 lbs.

Included Items

AC power cable

Accessories (sold separately)

Soft Case

SC-PROLOGUE soft case (For prologue-16/prologue-8)

Sync Cable

SQ-CABLE-6 Sync cable

Damper Pedal

DS-1H damper pedal

Pedal Switch

PS-1 pedal switch, PS-3 pedal switch

Expression/Volume Pedal

XVP-20 Volume/Expression pedal, XVP-10 Expression/Volume pedal

Foot Controller

EXP-2 foot controller