Slightly OT: Anyone want to swap CEMs for SSMs?

[Gavin R. Muir]

Hi Rob,

> hmm, maybe ripe time to start making SMD replacement modules for these
> units...
> If I only knew EXACTLY what the heck is in these suckers, I could prlly make
> it small enough to be just ever so slightly larger than the actual CEM
> chip..
> Anybody know whats on the die?

    This is an excellent idea, even if we could get Mr. Curtis'
co-operation. I've heard that short of an order for 25,000 to 50,000 units,
he won't stamp a new run, and no manufacturer in their right mind would
design a synthesizer which required a run this big. Basically, SMD
replacements shouldn't be seen as competition to OnChip, even though they
own the designs.

    I think that these 4 chips are the ones which are really worrisome
(although there still seems to be a large number of 3020s around). I wonder
how the chip hoarders out there charging nearly $100 a pop will feel about
this though! :-)

    This would be ideal for my purposes, as I (along with any other CEM
based synth owners) could rest somewhat easier that their investment is not
wasted if the silicon goes bad. All this without having to a) spend hundreds
of dollars for something that COULD happen, but may not, or b) ravaging a
poor, totally functional synth for parts. Neither of these are very tempting
to me.

Cheers and Thanks,
Gavin.