Can we make a modern reproduction of the classic top octave generator / top octave synthesiser chips of the 1970s, as used in classic string synths and combo organs? What would be involved? Can we improve on the originals in any way? This page is a summary of what I learned by doing it. A […]
This post is a place to gather my thoughts about one of the most important parts of synthesizer design: the timbral evolution of sounds. It also presents the results of my analyses of some classic synth sounds. There have been many methods developed over the years to achieve timbral evolution. The voltage-controlled filter is the first […]
To celebrate the 2016 return of the CEM3340 chip, I thought I’d do another page in my series looking at how various synths implemented classic synth chips (the others being CEM3320 Filter designs and SSM2044 LP Filter designs). This is especially useful right now, since many people have bought a few CEM3340s or V3340s or AS3340s for their […]
The Roland SH-101 is a late-era analogue monosynth which uses a microprocessor to perform keyboard scanning and various related functions, much like the Sequential Pro-One. Since the original uP is a 40-pin DIP, it would be possible to replace it with a more modern 40-pin DIP uP, like the PIC 16F777, or with a modern […]
Like my SSM2044 page, this page is a look at how various synths implemented the CEM3320 filter, with the datasheet design as a reference standard. Whereas the SSM2044 is a dedicated lowpass filter, the CEM3320 is just a set of filter building blocks. In this respect, it is more like the earlier SSM2040. The CEM […]
This page is a look at how various synths implemented the SSM2044 filter, with the datasheet design as a reference standard. I’ve redrawn all the schematics to make comparisons very easy. First, the datasheet design. The datasheet suggests using the two differential inputs (+audio and -audio) as individual oscillator inputs for a two-oscillator synth […]
This page is intended to be a look at some of the key technical aspects of the B3 Hammond organ that contribute to the “Hammond sound”. My personal slant is towards copying this sound using other technology. Perhaps one day I’ll build a “clonewheel” organ, but then again, Clavia might have nailed it! Still, building […]
I heard about this and could find little about it, so I started to investigate. Phase Distortion is one of those forgotten synthesis techniques that someone once built a few instruments with, and then abandoned. In the case of PD, Casio were unlikely synth pioneers to start with, and after a brief flirtation they gave […]
This page is an overview of two techniques for creating wavetable oscillators. Contents DDS – Korg DW series and similar Variable sample rate – PPG Wave and similar DDS – Korg DW series and similar The Korg DW series use a DDS oscillator scheme. Korg called it ‘DWGS’ for ‘Digital Waveform Generator System’ in the 80’s style […]
This page is a brief look at the technology of the Roland Juno series digitally controlled oscillators. The specific scheme presented here was introduced in the Juno 106 in 1984, but the same basic DCO design turned up in many Roland instruments through the 1980s (including the JX-3P, JX-8P, JX-10 and the MKS modules based […]
