The Sequential Prophet 3000 was a groundbreaking 16-bit, 8-voice sampling system designed exclusively as a rackmounted unit. Released in 1987, it was remarkably innovative for its time, offering stereo sampling capabilities nearly two years ahead of competitors like Akai's S1000 and pursuing Roland's best ideas condensed in their S50/ S550 sampling eco-system.
The standard 2Mb model could sample at 32kHz, 44.1kHz, and 48kHz, providing up to 10.6 seconds of stereo sampling at the highest rate. Its most notable features included the ability to pan eight voices across the stereo image, route voices to individual outputs, and use advanced sampling techniques like automated looping and automatic keyboard mapping.
The Prophet 3000's LCD remote display was revolutionary, allowing users to visualize waveforms, set loop points, and monitor input signals through A/D and D/A convertors before sampling. A strangely similar graphical&menu interface could be found in the Korg Wavestation a bit later.
The Prophet 3000's crossfade looping function and digital loop-compressor were particularly sophisticated, enabling smoother sample loops compared to contemporary instruments.
Despite its technological prowess, the instrument faced significant challenges. Poor MIDI implementation and operational glitches plagued early models. Additionally, Sequential was experiencing severe financial difficulties, which ultimately led to Yamaha acquiring the company in January 1988.
Yamaha's purchase effectively killed the Prophet 3000's potential. Only about 250 units were produced, with most having 2Mb memory, but it is a known fact that 4 Mb and even 8Mb could be fitted. In the UK, high pricing (£3,795) limited sales, while in the US, prices remained more reasonable. Yamaha's primary motivation was acquiring Sequential's engineering talent and, probably, removing a potential competitor to their own TX16W sampler.
Intriguingly, the article reveals plans for unrealized models: the Prophet 3001 (an expansion chassis potentially offering up to 32 voices, but never released) and the Prophet 3002 (a proposed SCSI-based multitrack recording system similar to early Pro Tools concepts).
The Prophet 3000 represents a poignant moment in music technology history—an innovative instrument that was tragically close to market dominance but ultimately became a victim of corporate acquisition and financial instability. As the text concludes, it was "one of those musical instruments which very nearly 'made it' to the top, and perhaps really should have."