Interesting 'official' poop from the man himself (Herr Haible):
> MOTM-440 genealogy (;->)
>
> The first Prophet 5's were based on SSM synthesizer chips (later
> versions used CEM chips), the filter using the first (and IMO best
> sounding) SSM filter chip, the SSM2040.
> (Later SSM chips, like the SSM2044, are quite different.) The
SSM2040
> was also used in some Versions of the Octave CAT and in the RSF
Kobol
> and
Kobol
> rack. It was quite popular for diy projects at the time as well.
The
> circuits in these synths (around the SSM chip) are all slightly
> different, but they share a certain sound character which I found
very attractive.
>
> So I also built a DIY synthesizer (JH-3) that used a SSM2040
(original
> chip).
>
> Then came the JH-4 which used a discrete version of the SSM2040
> (built
from
> hand selected transistors). I had plenty of time to do A/B tests
> between
the
> original (in JH-3) and the clone (in JH-4), and there is really no
> difference in sound. (No wonder, SSM2040 chip designer Dave Rossum
> himself told me the internals of the IC.) However, the JH-4
featured
> an extra feedback loop which is not possible when you use a real
> SSM2040 chip, so I had a filter that did a true emulation of the
SSM2040, plus some extras.
>
> Next came a MOTM version, which is derived from the JH-4 circuit,
but
> with even better (and quite expensive) components, and some extra
> added
features.
> That's the MOTM-440.
>
> JH.
>
--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, Robert van der Kamp <robnet@w...> wrote:
> On Wednesday 19 November 2003 17:57, Mike Marsh wrote:
> > Hey Robert -
> >
> > The 440 is probably my favorite MOTM filter. It has a
> > 'woody' character to it that is alomost acoustic. The
> > 490 is fatter, but has a limited timbre range, IMO.
>
> Yes, I already noticed the almost acoustic character. :)
>
> > I dunno about the P5, but my guess is that you would be
> > hard-pressed to find a higher quality filter ∗anywhere∗,
> > particularly on a decades old synth. This is the first
> > time I've heard that the 440 was P5- inspired. Is this
> > true?
>
> Have a look at the official 440 page. The way I read it, the
> 440 gives you the P5 rev. 2 filter. Now I never had the
> chance of playing that synth, but if it has five of these
> 440 babies built in... it must sound impressive!
>
> Anyway, who cares. I've got my 440. ;)
>
> - Robert