Tom Oberheim plans to bring back the TVS-Pro in the form of the TVS Pro Special Edition. The TVS-Pro Special Edition consists of a 3-octave keyboard, sequences and two Synthesizer Expansion Modules (SEM). The two modules are flexibly assigned to the keyboard, sequencer, etc. Designed by Tom Oberheim and manufactured by Marion Systems. Gordon Reid reviewed the original Two Voice Pro in Sound on Sound (July 2016).
To my ear, Tom Oberheim, OB-Xa and Curtis Electromusic Specialties (CES) are synonymous. And that brings me to today’s offerings from CES circa 1981.
OK, OK, Dave Smith, Prophet-5, Pro-One, and Curtis Electromusic Specialties are synonymous, too. Pro-One (CEM 3340, CEM 3310, CEM 3320) — wish I had that one back… 🙂
Doug Curtis was an analog synthesis circuit genius and founded Curtis Electromusic Specialties (CES) in 1979. Doug’s fertile mind and CES produced what is arguably the most successful line of commercial integrated circuits (IC) for analog synthesis.
I’m happy to share my collection of CES brochures, data sheets and schematics, all in PDF:
- CES Corporate Brochure
- SynthSource Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 1, Winter 1981
- CEM 3310 Voltage Controller Envelope Generator
- CEM 3320 Voltage Controlled Filter
- CEM 3330/3335 Dual Voltage Controlled Amplifier
- CEM 3340/3345 Voltage Controlled Oscillator
- CEM 3350 Dual Voltage Controlled State Variable Filter (preliminary)
- CEM 3360 Dual Voltage Controlled Amplifier (preliminary)
- CEV 3301 Evaluation Board
Unlike data sheets posted at some other sites, these data sheets are complete (not just the first two pages). The preliminary data sheets are hand-drawn — now that’s preliminary!
The SynthSource newsletter contains an interview with Tom Oberheim titled “Giving the musician more for his money.” Doug’s chips made Tom’s successful OB-X synths (OB-X and OB-Xa) physically and economically feasible. The OB-Xa used the entire CES chip line: 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340 and 3360.
The newsletter also announces the CEV 3301 Evaluation Board hosting one each of the CEM 3310, CEM 3320, CEM 3330 and CEM 3340. At that time, PAiA Electronics sold both CES chips and the CEV 3301 Evaluation Board. I bought ’em all. 🙂 The CEV 3301 PDF covers design, construction details, board layout and schematics. I’ve posted pictures (below) of the unpopulated CEV 3301.
Have fun and stay healthy!
Copyright © 2021 Paul J. Drongowski