MOTM

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