From Caloroso Sent Tue, Aug 10th 1999, 23:44
From Caloroso Sent Tue, Aug 10th 1999, 23:44
Doug ducks: > <ducking for cover> > > So what's so good about CEM 3340's.. is it that they don't make them > anymore?? I have a Jp-6 (12 cem 3340's) and there's nothing too > spectacular about the VCO's to me. > > <hiding in heavily reinforced bunker> > > My micro modular kicks the Jp-6's ass. > > <waving white flag> > > So.. what's so good about 'em? > <shooting smiley icon in white flag> Your age is showing :) Try to consider the machines before the 3340's time. What's so good about CEM3340s? It's widely considered the best analog VCO on a chip. (1) It has on-board temperature compensation. Before the 3340 getting a VCO to stay in tune in a hot chassis was the biggest engineering challenge of the day. Ever try to get a Minimoog or an SSM-based Rev 1/2 Prophet-5 to hold its tuning over four hours? Before anyone jumps in yelling that their 3340-based polysynth doesn't stay in tune (Memorymoog, OB8, Rev 3 Prophet-5, etc) keep in mind that those tuning troubles are from outside influences and are not 3340-related problems. (2) It was compact and eliminated a lot of circuitry, thus permitting more complex system designs at less cost, hence the JP-6. Every conceivable VCO function of the day was available right at the pins, linear/exponential control inputs, sync, three simultaneous outputs, etc. And the fact that all components being on the substrate contributed to its stability. (3) It was easy to prototype a design with it. Many experimenter kits were sold with 3340s. So there's nothing spectacular about a JP-6's 3340 VCO? That's only part of the recipe, you're forgetting the VCF, impedance mismatching/distortion between stages, etc. A Memorymoog with one oscillator will smash a JP-6 flat :) Sure, the micro modular kicks the JP-6's ass - that's the Clavia bad ass filter barking at you. But the micro's oscillators are virtual, so technically they aren't VCOs. I think the other thing to consider is that the best and most abundant one-knob-one-function polyphonic machines were mostly 3340-based. The micro and others has a bank of knobs that perform multiple functions, and it's a compromise programming-wise. I found I am most productive with a panel full of knobs. Virtual analog machines with a panel full of knobs (Supernova, Virus, Q, etc)) aren't there yet as far as sound, but they're getting close. I played with a Supernova version 2 and it's just as fast to dial in a sound as a Memorymoog but the sound can't compete with a genuine analog circuit. MC Analog Diehard - SAVE THE CEM3340s! DON'T DO IT! http://www.doepfer.com/cem3340.htm - BOYCOTT ROLAND! http://www.dennishoulihan.com/ "Do not take the OBMx swimming or play it in the rain" - warning label on rear of OBMx Opinions (and mistakes) expressed herein are my own and not those of my employer.