[sdiy] Rare chips on ebay

[Adam Fothergill]

I've been eager for a solution like this for new projects quite a few  
years now, although for the 2044, given all the remaining chips on  
ebay are now just starting to peak up in price.
If someone is brave enough give it a go!  because I really don't want  
to go and buy a bunch of 2044's and smoke them, if I'd feel really  
bad about them not going towards keeping a good vintage synth running  
somewhere.

On a side note, and given I've always wanted a 2040 based p5 but far  
too worried about keeping one running,  I wonder if it would be  
feasible to retrofy a Prophet 08 with some 2040 like circuits ? :)   
Im not totally blown away by the sound of it from the demos, and  
wonder if the 2040 like treatment could bold it up a bit to be more  
like the earlier 5's with the possibility of more modern circuits  
around.  Maybe I should try and get a listen in person sometime.


On 25 May 2008, at 17:39, Tom Wiltshire wrote:

> Eminently do-able, I'd have thought.
> The SSM2040 might be famous, but it isn't complicated. There's  
> 4xTransconductance amps and 4x Op-amp buffers on the chip, and  
> that's about it. No resonance VCA even.
>
> If I were to try a SMD copy, I'd probably start with Analog Devices  
> SSM2164 quad VCA for the transconductance amps, and some basic op- 
> amp for the buffers. I suppose the real trick is getting it to  
> sound right. Still, Prophets will be making noises for some years  
> yet, even after all the 2040's die.
>
> T.
>
>
>
> On 24 May 2008, at 03:47, James R. Coplin wrote:
>
>> Yes, I suspect they will be that expensive.  However, I am holding  
>> out hope
>> that with miniaturization, you should be able to make compatible  
>> discrete
>> replacements for the chips in smt format.  Should be possible,  
>> shouldn't it?
>> Most of the synths have extra space in the carcass so there should  
>> be room
>> for a really small board that would fit over the chip socket.  At  
>> least,
>> that's what I'm hoping.
>>
>> James R. Coplin
>> (郭杰明)
>>
>> ***************************************
>> Work is the Curse of the Drinking Class
>> ***************************************
>>