Maxim (was: Sockets)

[Arthur Harrison]

-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Czech <martin.czech at intermetall.de>
To: theremin1 at worldnet.att.net <theremin1 at worldnet.att.net>
Cc: synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl <synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl>
Date: Friday, December 04, 1998 12:27 AM
Subject: Re: Maxim (was: Sockets)


>SNIPPED
>
>> I worry, to, about the Exar XR-2206 function generator IC, a
>> single source item.  Exar claims that it is their "biggest selling"
>> IC, but I don't trust that it will last forever.  Another worry is the
>> CA3096 transistor array, which seems to just barely hold on
>> from the old RCA days.  But it is now a Harris part, and I wouldn't
>> trust them to keep anything that doesn't make huge profits.
>> 
>> -Art  
>> 
>
>Some people on this list believe in using "standard parts", whatever
>the definition for this may be.
>
>And with some reason.
>
>But there is no way to decide, if e.g. a 741 or a 3080 will be still
>available during the lifetime of our instruments.  Using CEM stuff is
>a risc, SSM may be less, if you have a second source even lesser, but
>there is no reason to refuse designs with scarce parts, if they make
>good use on unique properties, I think.
>
>m.c.
>

Oh yes, I totally agree, especially when you consider what you'd 
have to do to make a octal SH from op amps and fet switches!

The Exar part I mentioned, for example, has a benefit in that it 
can be used as a VCO (albeit a rather non-linear one) and a 
VCA with about 55dB of dynamic range.  This part, therefore, 
is great for "synthetic" theremins.  The alternative is a VCO made 
of an LF353, a LM311, a CD4066, a CA3096 for the sine shaper, 
and two LM13600s, one for a tracking VCF to clean up the sine and 
the other for the VCA.  Lotsa parts!

-Art