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Lifetime Achievement Award
I was honored to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the MIDI Association at the 2025 NAMM Show for my work with Sequential Circuits. In large part, the award recognized my sound design work for the Prophet 5, since it was the first fully programmable synthesizer. I created the original 40 factory presets for the Prophet 5, and it was quite a thrill when I first heard my sounds coming across on the radio in songs like the Cars’ “Let’s Go” or tracks such as George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog”.
My job at Sequential Circuits included creating all of the factory presets and sequence patterns for every Sequential Circuit product. If you’ve played any of the following, you’ve heard my work: Prophet 5 (original 40 presets), Prophet 10 (dual keyboards 1980 version), Prophet 600, Prophet T8, Prophet VS, Six-Trak, Multi-Trak, MAX, Split-8, Prophet 2000, Prophet 3000, Drumtraks, TOM, and Studio 440.
For more about the award, you can view here: https://midi.org/john-bowen-the-father-of-factory-presets
My Japanese followers please see https://fukusan.com/2025/02/10/johnbowen_lifetime-achievement-award/
New v2.2 OS Released
I am very happy to announce the release of v2.2 Operating System for the Solaris. Information for current owners can be found in the new Owner’s Portal: http://owner.johnbowen.com/downloads.html
NOTE: You must be registered to access the Owner’s Portal. You can access the registration using the Owner’s Portal tab.
All Keyboard Units almost SOLD OUT! We are now sold out of all but one of the planned keyboard units for the coming production round. There are also a small number of the Tabletop/desktop versions remaining. See the Purchase page for more information. THANKS to all who have pre-ordered!
RIP Dave Smith
It is with great sadness to announce that my colleague and friend Dave Smith passed away in June 2022. I introduced myself to Dave in 1976, when I was doing presentations for Moog Music, and asked him if we could make an arrangement where I would promote his Model 800 sequencer. Little did I know what that meant for how my future in synthesis would be forever changed.
Interview video by Espen Kraft
Please go here to see my interview with EspenKraft: https://youtu.be/NJQrTiCezvo
New v2.0.3 OS Released
I am very happy to announce the release of v2.0.3 Operating System for the Solaris. Information for current owners can be found in the Forum: https://forums.johnbowen.com/viewtopic.php?t=17189
Announcing the new Rev 2 Solaris, with all new internal circuit boards! Some companies use the designation Mk II, but with my previous association with the Prophet 5, I thought I’d use the Rev 2 designation instead. The revised boards also provide for the use of the new FATAR PolyAT keybed, which is an option for the Rev 2 Solaris.
We have just sold out all keyboard units from the next production round. There are still a small number of the tabletop/desktop versions remaining, which will use the same updated circuit boards. See the Purchase page for more information. THANKS to all who have pre-ordered!
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New Solaris Rev 2 now SOLD OUT!!
Interview video by Espen Kraft
RIP Dave Smith
It is with great sadness to announce that my colleague and friend Dave Smith passed away in June 2022. I introduced myself to Dave in 1976, when I was doing presentations for Moog Music, and asked him if we could make an arrangement where I would promote his Model 800 sequencer. Little did I know what that meant for how my future in synthesis would be forever changed.
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