The Story of SSM and Curtis Electromusic. The soul within the sound of the 80s

video upload by Johnny Morgan Synth Dreams

"A mini-doc on two companies that changed the way synthesizers were designed in the 80s. Both had a incredible impact on the electronic music industry and the sound of music created during that time."

NAMM 2023 - Dave Rossum - Sound Semiconductor

video upload by sonicstate

"At NAMM 2023, Sonic State caught up with Dave Rossum, the founder of Sound Semiconductor, to discuss the company's exciting developments. Sound Semiconductor is a development from SSM, a company that designed synthesizer chips for the first Prophets in the early 1970s. SSM went on to produce chips for professional audio and was later acquired by Analog Devices. In 2016, Rossum, along with Marco Alpert and a little bit of seed capital from Universal Audio, started Rossum Electro Music. At NAMM, they met Dan Parks, who used to run SSM, and talked about the idea of resurrecting the classic SSM chips. Six months later, they started Sound Semiconductor, which includes some resurrections of the classic SSM chips and some new ideas.

Rossum explained that the analog chips give instruments their own unique character, which digital processing cannot achieve. Analog chips have variations from unit to unit, and the designer's job is to make those variations as small as possible while allowing those variations to give instruments their own individual character. Analog distortions are also natural, making them more appealing to the ears than digital algorithms that give aliasing, and Dave told us he finds designing analog chips to be more artistic and enjoyable than designing digital ones.

https://soundsemiconductor.com/"

Full interview: UNO Synth Pro and the SSI integrated circuits: interview with the creators

video by ikmultimedia

"UNO Synth Pro’s first-class analog sound is achieved by combining a superior design architecture with discrete core oscillators and two filters, one of which is based on a new chip from Sound Semiconductor, Inc. SSI was founded by Dave Rossum and Dan Parks, two members of the team that created the famous SSM integrated circuits back in the ‘70s and early-‘80, which revolutionized the development of that era's analog synths. IK’s Erik Norlander speaks with the two about their legacy and uncovers the significance of the new SSI chip inside UNO Synth Pro."

UNO Synth Pro and the SSI chip: interview with the creators

video by ikmultimedia

"UNO Synth Pro’s first-class analog sound is achieved by combining a superior design architecture with discrete core oscillators and two filters, one of which is based on a new chip from Sound Semiconductor, Inc. SSI was founded by Dave Rossum and Dan Parks, two members of the team that created the famous SSM chip back in late-‘70s and early-‘80, which brought the development of the first polyphonic analog synths. IK’s Erik Norlander speaks with the two about their legacy and uncovers the significance of the new SSI chip inside UNO Synth Pro."

SSM Chip Production to Return as SSI Chips under Sound Semiconductor

We have some huge news in. Most of you might be experiencing a slight state of adrenalin induced shock right about now; I admit, much like myself when I read the press release that follows further below. If you have been following synths over the years, and are familiar with CEM vs. SSM chips like me, you know how big this is. For those of you not familiar with SSM, to say they made chips responsible for the sonic character of some of the most revered classic vintage synths out there, would be an understatement. SSM and CEM were the two top manufacturers for chips used in many of the classic vintage synthesizers you have come to love. CEM stood for Curtis Electromusic Specialties and is now Curtis Electromusic, run by the family of the late Doug Curtis. SSM stood for Solid State Music under Solid State Micro Technology for Music founded by Dan Parks. Dan Parks is back, under the helm of Sound Semiconductor, and they will be reproducing new chips. For a full list of what chips were used in various vintage synths, see this Wikipedia article, but I'll just mention a few that used SSM: the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 Rev 1 & 2 (which some say sound warmer than the CEM based Rev 3s), the Fairlight CMI II and IIx, the PPG Wave 2.2 and 2.3, the Octave Voyetra 8 and Cat SRM, the KORG Mono/Poly and Polysix, E-Mu's Drumulator, SP-12, SP-1200, Emulator 1 & II, and Emax, the Buchla 296 Programmable Spectral Processor, the Aeries System 300 modular, and more.

The following is the official press release from Sound Semiconductor:
[note the Dave Rossum mentioned below is, of course, Dave Rossum formally of e-Mu, and now of Rossum Electro-Music]

"NEW SEMICONDUCTOR VENTURE FOCUSES ON ELECTRONIC MUSIC AND AUDIO

First Product is Voltage Controlled Filter for Analog Synthesizers

April 20, 2017 - Sound Semiconductor today announced its formation and first product for analog synthesizers.

Headed by Dan Parks, CEO of 80's chipmaker SSM and former Audio Products Director at Analog Devices and National Semiconductor, Sound Semiconductor will focus on high performance IC's for electronic musical instruments and professional audio equipment. The development team includes previous SSM IC designers; all passionate about music and audio.

Sound's first product is the SSI2144 Four Pole Voltage Controlled Filter, an improved re-issue of the SSM2044 that many believe to be the best sounding synthesizer filter chip ever produced. Developed by original SSM2044 designer Dave Rossum - known for his many electronic music contributions - the SSI2144 utilizes modern process technology for high reliability and low cost. Improvements include lower noise and control feedthrough, better performance of the resonance control circuit, and pin connections optimized for PCB layout. Preservation of the SSM2044's coveted sonic characteristics - a key project requirement - were achieved.

The SSI2144 is now available in sample quantities to interested OEM's, with production quantities in stock by late Spring. The device is offered in a 16-lead Shrink Small Outline Package (SSOP).

Pricing of the SSI2144 is $1.60 at 1000-pieces. Sound Semiconductor intends serve the hobby and enthusiast community through resellers for small volume sales and evaluation boards.

'It's exciting to see the renaissance of analog synthesis,' stated Dan Parks, President of Sound Semiconductor. 'When the idea hit to develop new ICs for this market, it was gratifying to have so much interest from my former colleagues to get involved in this effort.'

A second product is in layout design, with first samples expected by Summer. More information on that product will be forthcoming at a later time.

Sound Semiconductor is composed of musicians and technologists with the goal of developing affordable, high-performance integrated circuits for the electronic music and professional audio markets. For more information, please visit www.soundsemiconductor.com."

Atari 2600 through SSM 2044 VCFs

Atari 2600 through SSM 2044 VCFs from Stikka on Vimeo.
"Atari 2600 with SynthCart and Highly Liquid MIDI interface triggered from Ableton Live, playing SynthCart's preset beat loops, modular synth is gating the rhythm. Signal is split in two, one path is ringmodulated, both filters are also seperately modulated with Midi controllers and a Doepfer MCV4.

What you hear is the first stage in my sound design process: To record audio into Ableton Live, after that everything gets sliced, chopped, warped, mangled and whatnot."
via http://twitter.com/highly_liquid


MIDI2600 from Stikka on Vimeo.
"First clip of my Highly Liquid MIDI2600 interface."

SSM 2038 ICs

via this auction

"# Brand new, never used. Not pulls.
# One money buys all eight of these 16 pin DIP ICs.
# Used in many early analog synthesizers, e.g. Korg, Sequential Circuits, Siel, PPG, Oberheim, CMI Fairlight, Crumar, etc.
# List of which chips used in which synths at: synthtech
# Datasheet available at: maxmidi
# Even if not a direct replacement, circuit can usually be modified to accept these."

Update via Lord Avon in the comments: "You gotta love ebay. The PPG Wave's never used these SSMs, only the SSM 2044."

SSM Data Sheets

Solid State Music data sheet scanned by Loscha. [link to pdf scan] SSM made various synth chips for early analog synths. The 2040 filter chip is one of the most respected filter chips out there. It was used in the Rev 1 Prophet-5. It is included in the data sheets.

ANALOGUE SYNTH VCO SSM 2030

via this auction.
via Stephen

# New Old Stock SSM (Solid State Micro) 2030 Voltage Controlled Oscillator
# Tempco installed
# Tested working with a Rev1 Prophet-5
# SYNTH DIYers - DATA SHEET for SSM2030