On Sun, 31 Oct 1999
DAVEVOSH@... wrote:
> i pretty much think basic vco`s,vca`s,eg`s are "solved" problems due to
> things like cem chips. its what is added to that foundation that makes the
> difference and lets a designer focus on other, weirder things. IMHO, of
The thing is, to make the esoteric modules like waveform skewing modules
pay off is to start with ∗good∗ basics. A CEM3340 VCO is a nice device,
yes. Short of buying some of Paul's stock of the long-since-discontinued
chip and making your own VCO, or buying that module from some nondescript
German outfit that has limited quantity due to the same scarcity of
chips, or even digging up some old module's design on the web that used
the 3340--eventually this is going to stop being viable as the chips will
be depleted. (I have 16 of them sitting in a drawer that will never be
used because my Voytra-Eights use them, and I ∗must∗ stock repair parts
for those machines).
This is why modules like the MOTM-300 exist. A really good VCO that
∗does not depend on some critical part that is no longer made∗. Yes,
folks said the same thing when the uA726 went away. But other matched
pairs existed--not the case for a custom IC. In addition, to offer a
modular system means to effectively offer a ∗complete solution∗, not just
nifty modules to fill in the gaps between "stuff I already have".
(Of course, I like VCOs. Lots of VCOs. ;)
--Crow
/∗∗/