The Rocktron Prophesy is a rack-mount guitar preamp with built-in effects, which Rocktron describes as a programmable digital and tube guitar preamp with assignable effects1. It sits in a 19-inch rack rather than on a pedalboard, and it is built to replace a amplifier front end and a rack of effects in one chassis: Rocktron calls it three complete processors in a single package1.
The heart of the unit is its preamp section, which offers four channels, each with its own voicing, gain and master controls, plus bass, mid, treble and presence controls on the front panel2. Rocktron says the four voicings produce distortion tones that are very "tube amp like" in their feel and dynamics, with a low end that jumps out of the cabinet and a fretboard feel like playing through a favorite tube amp head1.
The four channel voicings
The four channels are where the Prophesy's character lives. Each is a different take on amplifier history, and each keeps its own gain, master and EQ settings so a player can switch between them without rebuilding a tone from scratch2.
| Channel | Voicing | What Rocktron says it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clean American | Replicates some of the most sought-after clean vintage tweed amps of the late 50's and 60's2 |
| 2 | Texas Blues | A vintage tweed with a bit more "kick" and "bite"2 |
| 3 | Vintage British | A traditional "Plexi Style" tone2 |
| 4 | Mega Drive | Heavy modern tone, covering everything from early Van Halen to Rammstein2 |
For a player coming from individual overdrive and distortion pedals, the idea is that these four voicings cover the main amp styles a gigging player needs, from clean backing parts to high-gain lead work, all switchable from one unit123.
Effects and processing
The Prophesy runs on dual 24-bit, 66MHz DSP processors providing 130mips of processing power, which Rocktron says makes it over 12 times as powerful as its earlier rack processors1. The pre-effects section includes wah, compressor, HUSH noise reduction, pre-EQ, and one assignable effect of the player's choice2. HUSH is Rocktron's own noise reduction, useful in a high-gain rack setup where noise builds across the chain.
The assignable-effect design means the player decides where a given effect sits in the signal path rather than being locked to a fixed order, which is one of the main differences between a rack processor like this and a multi-effects pedal with a fixed chain12.
Connections and power
On the back panel the Prophesy offers front and rear 1/4" mono instrument input jacks, 1/4" left and right outputs, and XLR left and right recording outputs for going straight into a mixer or interface1. MIDI control uses a 7-pin DIN input and a 5-pin DIN out/thru1, the same arrangement Rocktron used across its rack line, including the Rocktron Replifex and the Rocktron Voodu Valve On-Line.
The Prophesy runs on 9VAC at 3.4 amps1. That is an AC supply, not the 9V DC center-negative standard used by most pedals, so it cannot be powered from a typical pedalboard supply or daisy chain. It needs its own mains adapter and a rack space with ventilation.
The Prophesy II and Prophesy 2
Rocktron followed the original Prophesy with the Prophesy II, which Guitar World reviewed in May 2008. The magazine found it essentially identical to the previous version of the Prophesy, introduced a few years earlier, with the major changes being 127 preset locations including 31 endorsee presets and minor faceplate changes4. The endorsee presets break down as 13 from Gary Hoey, seven from Dave Mustaine, six from Jimi Bell and five from Rusty Cooley4.
Guitar World's take on those sounds:
"With this talent lineup, the sounds are obviously aimed at shred heads, and for fans of these players, their impressive [presets] will not disappoint."
The Prophesy 2 product page lists the same dimensions, the same 9VAC / 3.4 amp power requirement, the same MIDI arrangement, and adds Dynamic Tube Replication Technology (DTR) to its feature list5. Input and output impedances match the original at 470K ohms in and under 150 ohms out5.
Where it sits in Rocktron's rack line
The Prophesy is the preamp-centered model in a line of Rocktron rack processors. Where units like the Replifex handle effects and the Voodu Valve On-Line pairs a tube-driven preamp with downloadable presets, the Prophesy puts its four amp voicings first and builds assignable effects around them1. For players who want Rocktron's processing in a floor unit rather than a rack, the company also made the Rocktron Utopia G300.
Videos
RocktronUSA
RocktronUSA
FlyingTex
Questions
Is the Rocktron Prophesy a tube preamp?
Rocktron describes it as a programmable digital and tube guitar preamp with assignable effects. Its four channel voicings are designed to feel tube-like in dynamics and response, using Rocktron's DSP processing rather than swappable tube circuits alone. The maker says the low end jumps out of the cabinet and the fretboard feel is like playing a favorite tube amp head.
What are the four channels on the Prophesy?
Clean American, Texas Blues, Vintage British and Mega Drive. Clean American replicates clean vintage tweed amps of the late 50s and 60s, Texas Blues is a vintage tweed with more kick and bite, Vintage British is a traditional Plexi-style tone, and Mega Drive covers heavy modern tones from early Van Halen to Rammstein.
What kind of MIDI connections does the Prophesy have?
MIDI in on a 7-pin DIN connector and MIDI out/thru on a 5-pin DIN connector. The 7-pin input can carry phantom power from a compatible MIDI footcontroller over the same cable, which is common on Rocktron rack gear, though the maker's listed power requirement is 9VAC at 3.4 amps.
What power does the Rocktron Prophesy use?
The maker lists its power requirement as 9VAC at 3.4 amps. That is an AC supply, not the 9V DC center-negative standard used by most pedals, so it cannot run from a typical pedalboard power supply or a daisy chain.
How big is the Prophesy rack unit?
It measures 19 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall by 8 inches deep, which is a standard two-space 19-inch rack unit. The Prophesy II and Prophesy 2 share the same dimensions and are UL, CSA and CE approved.
How many presets does the Rocktron Prophesy II have?
The Prophesy II provides 127 preset locations, including 31 endorsee presets: 13 from Gary Hoey, seven from Dave Mustaine, six from Jimi Bell and five from Rusty Cooley. Guitar World reviewed it in May 2008 as essentially identical to the earlier Prophesy apart from the new presets and minor faceplate changes.
Sources (5)
- Prophesy Guitar Preamp with effects, Rocktron Corporation, 2024-08-28
- Prophesy, Rocktron Corporation, 2024-08-28
- Prophesy II Guitar Preamp - Rocktron - Technology for Guitarists - rocktron, Rocktron, 2024-08-28
- Rocktron Prophesy II Guitar Processor, Guitar World, 2008-05-05
- Rocktron, Rocktron (www.rocktron.com), 2024-09-24
