OB-Xa Eurorack filter comparison

video upload by John Schussler

"This is 20 minutes of me bouncing back and forth between two Oberheim OB-Xa style eurorack filters, trying to hear the differences between them. If you're not deeply interested in OB-Xa filters, you're probably better off moving along.

Still here? Ok. So, these two filters are close but not identical to the original VCF in the Oberheim OB-Xa. They have some improvements here and there, but for the most part are true to the original sound of the Oberheim. (I don't have an OB-Xa, so whether they're exactly the same or not I have no idea.)

As I go through I'm going to first try and get them as identical as possible, then listen to their less identical aspects.

In both cases I'm sticking to the 'standard' model, not the state variable option.

Sorry for the crackles here and there, my interface seems unhappy. They don't get in the way, they're just occasionally irritating."

New AMSynths AM8325 OBIE-XA FILTERS Eurorack Module

Details:

"The AM8325 module is a recreation of the 2 and 4 pole filters in the Oberheim OB-Xa. The filter uses two AS3320 filter chips to produce an amazing sounding VCF. The 2-pole filter is a state variable, reminiscent of the Oberheim SEM, with low pass and high pass outputs. The 4-pole filter is a classic 24dB OTA low pass.

PRODUCT STATUS: IN PRODUCTION
Euro Rack Module: 14HP wide

The filter has two audio signals inputs with level control (OSC1, OSC2), frequency cutoff and resonance controls, along with two frequency modulation controls (MOD and ENV). There is also a dedicated keyboard input for controlling the filter cutoff from a pitch signal.

Front panels slide switches control whether the keyboard pitch CV is ON or OFF, and which filter mode is provided at the output:
2-pole low pass
2-pole high pass
4-pole low pass
There are six 3.5mm jack sockets mounted on the bottom of the panel;
Signal Inputs (x2)
CV Inputs (x2)
Keyboard Input
Signal Output.
The module comes with a 10-pin power cable and a set of mounting screws and washers (M3 silver)."

Priced at £140.00 ~$188.00 US

CLICK FOR MORE »

AMSynths at SuperBooth 2021

video upload by AMSynths

"AMSynths launch re-imagined AM8012 VCF at SuperBooth 2021"

The Prague - New Analog Mono Synth Coming from AMSynths

video by AMSynths

"AMSynths are launching a new analog mono synth called the Prague in May, and here is a video with its features."

NAMM2020 - Introducing the Behringer 2600 (Part 2)

Published on Jan 20, 2020 BEHRINGER

"First look at our 2600 Synthesizer. #NAMM2020"

NAMM2020 - Introducing the Behringer 2600 posts

NAMM2020 - Introducing the Behringer 2600 (Part 1)

Published on Jan 19, 2020 BEHRINGER

With Rob Keeble of AMSynths

Update:

NAMM2020 - Introducing the Behringer 2600 (Part 2)


Published on Jan 20, 2020 BEHRINGER

NAMM 2020 - Introducing System 100 - Behringer Modular Synthesizer

Published on Jan 16, 2020 BEHRINGER

"Introducing eleven new Eurorack compatible modules – all of them authentic reproductions of original “System 100M” circuitry from 1975. With ultra-fat oscillators and creamy filters the sound became famous in the early 80s used by artists like Depeche Mode, Human League, Tears For Fears but also Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and even Aphex Twin.

If you’re into super-fat bass sounds, in-your-face leads or flowing soundscapes, definitely check them out! All modules are incredibly feature rich, have tremendous patching capabilities and a lot of them come with dual function, like:

- 112 dual oscillator with 3 waveforms, PWM and two sync modes
- 121 dual filter with 3-channel mixer per filter
- 130 dual VCA, again with dual 3-channel mixers
- 140 dual envelope has 3 outputs per ADSR plus a built in LFO that can be triggered and phase synced
- 173 gates module comes even with four gates that can switch audio and 6 quad buffered multiples
- 297 has a dual portamento controller plus two independent CV mixers
- 150 brings a ring modulator, 2 noise generators, syncable LFO and a sample and hold generator
- 172 module delivers a 6-step phase-shifter, an analog delay, an LFO and a gate delay
- 305 is an output module a four-band parametric EQ, a 4-channel mixer, line and separate headphone output and even a tuning oscillator
- 182 there is a powerful analog sequencer with either dual 8 steps or 1-16 steps and tempo, portamento and gate time controls
- 110 is a complete synth voice with VCO, VCA and filter in a single module

#NAMM2020"

Update: Word is this might be an AMSynths joint project. From their website:

"Behringer Partnership In June 2019 I joined forces with Behringer to design analog synthesizers that will be manufactured in China and sold to customer across the world. I am working on a number of projects which I will let Behringer announce when they are ready. AMSynths is continuing to grow with more Euro Rack modules being manufactured, as well as complete synthesizers like the SH05 and Jupiter One. In 2019 I started to restore vintage music gear, and you will see the repair stories in my Blog. I am also creating videos of my modules and the vintage synths that they emulate."


Update: some product sheet scans in in via Soviet Space Child and a note on one of the forums from Uli.

"I like to share with you the initial drafts of our M100 Eurorack Series.

These are 13 MID's or concept documents we create for every single product as part of our PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) process before we hand them over to our R&D departments for development.

We haven't decided yet which of these modules we will actually produce as it is important that we achieve a certain production volume.

As usual do we appreciate your valuable feedback which will give a better indication of validity of these products.

Thanks!

Uli"

Modules:

SYSTEM 100 140 DUAL ENVELOPE/LFO
SYSTEM 100 112 DUAL VCO
SYSTEM 100 121 DUAL VCF
SYSTEM 100 130 DUAL VCA
SYSTEM 100 131 MIXER/OSCILLATOR/HEADPHONE AMP
SYSTEM 100 132 DUAL CV/AUDIO MIXER & CV GENERATOR
SYSTEM 100 150 RING MOD/NOISE/S&H/LFO
SYSTEM 100 165 DUAL PORTAMENTO CONTROLLER
SYSTEM 100 172 PHASE SHIFTER/AUDIO DELAY/GATE DELAY/LFO
SYSTEM 100 173 QUAD SIGNAL GATE/PATCH BAY
SYSTEM 100 174 PARAMETRIC EQ
SYSTEM 100 110 VCO/VCF/VCA
SYSTEM 100 182 Analog Sequencer

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SSM2044 Compared to SSI2144 at Resonance

Published on Aug 18, 2018 AMSynths

"SSM2044 VCF chip with resonance varied from minimum to maximum, so a comparison with the SSI2144 chip can be made."

SSI2144 at Resonance

Published on Aug 18, 2018 AMSynths

"SSI2144 VCF chip with resonance varied from minimum to maximum, so a comparison with the SSM2044 chip can be made."

AMSynths AM8400 Jupiter-4 VCO Clone Waveforms

AM8400DemoMovie Published on Mar 11, 2018 AMSynths

"Quick demo of the various wave shapes from my Jupiter VCO clone, note the sawtooth waveform, is composed of curved steps."

via AMSynths:

"This is replica of the VCO in the Roland Jupiter 4, their first polyphonic synthesizer introduced in 1978. The original VCO is a unique design based around a 555 timer and a CMOS divider chip, which was not seen in any other synthesizer. The Jupiter 4 is famous for its powerful sounds and efficient controls. The constraints of microprocessors in 1978 mean there were only 16 sliders that could be memorised, which limited the functionality of the VCO to 4 octave range and 3 waveforms.

This VCO is the sound of early Human League and Depeche Mode albums.

Detailed Description

The AMSynths circuit is very close to the original except for a new Tempco based matched transistor pair rather than the obsolete heated uA726 chip, as the exponential generator and variable slider controlled Pulse Width rather than a 4-way switch.

The waveform shapes are created from the 555 timer which generates square waves that are divided down for the lower ranges. These square waves are used for the square wave output and are perfect and stable 50/50%. They are also approximated into a sawtooth which has as many steps as the range (16′ has 16 steps, 2′ has just 2 steps). The sawtooth wave is therefore not perfect and is made up of steps, this creates a different sonic shape as you change octave. The pulse width wave is created from the sawtooth rather than the square wave, and therefore has some variability in width, rather than being totally stable. Adjusting pulse width is effectively quantised by the sawtooth steps and jumps from one setting to the next rather than being smooth.

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New Jupiter-6 VCF Eurorack Filter Clone In-Depth Demo

Published on Aug 29, 2017 gstormelectro

"Audio and Video by G-Storm Electro c.2017

In this video I do a more in-depth demo with my Jupiter-6 VCF multi-mode filter clone eurorack module. It's a very colorful filter that gets more interesting with more complex signals you feed into it. It also has an aggressive nature that comes out when the inputs are overdriven.

Two different oscillators can then be mixed together. A sawtooth oscillator is used, a square/PWM wave is used. Different filter modes can be selected: 4-pole lowpass, 2-pole bandpass, 4-pole highpass. Also, two different control voltage modulations can be mixed together to change the frequency. I run a decay envelope from the Bastl Skis along with a triangle LFO, then I use Sample-and-hold. The oscillators are coming from my Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizer Box. Recorded direct to Tascam DR-05 from my Mackie mixer, no effects, no normalization. Beware some low and high frequencies, so watch your levels while listening to the demo."

You can find additional demos here.

New AMSynths AM8144 "Fat Keys" VCF SSI2144 Based Eurorack Filter Module

via AMSynths

"This module uses the SSI2144 chip to provide a 24dB Low Pass voltage controlled filter. This is a new chip based on the original SSM2044 from 1980. It is a cascade filter designed by Dave Rossum and Ron Dow, and re-issued by Dan Parks at SSI. It emulates the Moog ladder filter but with improved accuracy and lower noise using current mirrors.

This is a warm sounding filter with smooth frequency control and a resonance that gradually increases up to full self oscillation, a sound very reminiscent of the mid 1980's.

There are front panel controls for adjusting the Cutoff Frequency and Resonance as well as the level of 2x control voltages and 3x audio signal inputs. We have used high quality control knobs on the AM8144, a new atheistic for AMSynths modules.

There are six 3.5mm jack sockets on the right of the front panel;
3x Audio Signal Inputs (10V peak to peak)
2x Control Voltages (0V to +5V)
Audio Signal Output"

Roland Jupiter-6 Synthesizer Filter VCF Build - Demo 02

Published on Feb 21, 2017 gstormelectro

"Audio and Video by G-Storm Electro c.2017

Just kick back and enjoy these wicked analog multi-mode filter sounds. Lots of little sweet spots on this filter, if you skip around you might miss something really good. It definitely has that Roland sound.

Today I am demonstrating the Jupiter-6 filter clone I just finished building. See demo #1 for all the details. Basically the circuits and chips are the same as demo 1 breadboard test, just now they are stuffed into a 10HP eurorack module w/ some illuminated sliders."

Part 1 here.

Roland Jupiter-6 Synthesizer Filter VCF Build - Demo 01

Published on Feb 7, 2017 gstormelectro

"Audio and Video by G-Storm Electro c.2017

This video demos a Roland Jupiter-6 synthesizer clone filter VCF. This breadboard build took two days, and for me is the largest one I've built yet. Does this circuit sound as good as the original? You be the judge. Anyway, I really wanted to hear what it sounded like before deciding about building my own module.

I came across schematics for the Roland Jupiter-6 at amsynths.co.uk. They actually sell completed modules and PCBs, however they seem to be perpetually out of stock. This will be a nice companion multi-mode filter to go next to my SEM module. IMHO the SEM sounds buttery and creamy, and the Jupiter-6 is a complete savage with outrageous low end."

Update:

CLICK FOR MORE »

"Celeroid" (AM8012 ARP 2600 filter vs Juno106)

Published on Feb 20, 2016 Peter Maas

"Celeroid, atmospheric intermezzo to get used to the AmSynth AM8012 Filter.

VCOb and Rubicon go into the Filter, Filter goes into Oakley ARP2600 VCA. Maths used for envelope duties. Sequenced by the Future Retro Mobius.

Pads from the Juno 106 with some Shimmer reverb from valhalla."

ContinuumViolModular3

"Some spacemusic noodling on a Haken Continuum and Eurorack modular synth. Testing out a new to me AMSynths AM3060, Doepfer A130, and Evaton Technologies CLX module -> Turing Machine. Delay provided by TipTop Z-DSP Dragonfly Delay.

The Haken Continuum is using a slightly modified VlnVlaCelBass patch, with the expression pedal mapped to reverb time.

Live performance, excerpted from a longer noodling session."

Arp Resonant Rain (Arp 2600, Mirage Filter, Hawk HA-30, Evans SuperEcho SE-780)

Published on Jul 15, 2015 Ben Burling

"Arp Resonant Rain
Made with Arp 2600, AM Synths Mirage Filter, Hawk HA-30 Analog Echo Unit, Evans SuperEcho SE-780. Compression LA-2."

New AMSynths Aqua Synthesizer In the Works

Some details via AMSynths

"The Aqua is a complete analog synthesizer inspired by the mono-synths of the 1970’s. A single VCO with sawtooth, pulse and sub octave square waveforms drives a 4-pole Low Pass Filter, which is connected to a final VCA with ADSR envelope. Noise, S&H and an advanced LFO complete the configuration. The synthesizer is analog with CV inputs for keyboard CV, gate and trigger – there is no MIDI. The Aqua is based on two PCB’s; one for the potentiometers and switches and a second for the analog circuits. The PCB’s mount to a powder coated and silk screened steel front panel designed by AMSynths.

Detailed Description
The Aqua is an all new design that uses modern components.

One wide range VCO with precision power rails, sawtooth and square waveforms.
-1 and -2 octave sub-oscillator waveforms.
VCF 8075 4-pole Low Pass Filter with matched transistor arrays.
CMOS based based ADSR with x0.1 and x1 timing switches.
S&H, Noise and high quality LFO with frequency LED and delay control.
VCO Range rotary switch provides 32′,16′,8′,4′ and 2’octaves.
VCO Fine Tune rotary potentiometer.
High Pass Filter with 4 modes including Bass Boost.
Portamento slide potentiometer.
Robust power connectors for +/-12V on PCB.
Non-illuminated 45mm slider potentiometers with plastic slider caps.
High quality metal baton slide switches.
3.5mm jacks sockets for inputs and unbalanced output, all mounted on PCB.
Pitch, Gate and Trigger 3.5mm jack socket inputs plus a variety of patch points.
NO MIDI input, please use a MIDI to CV with gate & trigger (e.g. Kenton).
Product Details

Stage 1: The Aqua will be available as an unpopulated PCB’s with a professional EuroRack front panel, customers need to buy and fit the components, AMSynths provide any hard to find parts. The Panel is rack mounted into a standard 3U 84HP EuroRack with rails within the customers case. The Aqua is powered via 12V using a standard Doepfer power socket.

Stage 2: The Aqua will also be available as a completed synth in EuroRack with all parts fitted and the synth tested.

There are no plans to sell the Aqua in a metal case with a mains power supply, and customers can design their own cases. Pricing and BOM will be announced when the PCB and Panel have been finalised."

AMSynths Jupiter 8 filter

Published on Apr 14, 2015 cane creek

"First test of AMSynths Jupiter 8 filter"

Brief NSFW flash at 2:42.

AM4023 Lowpass Filter (ARP Odyssey clone) demo

Published on Mar 9, 2015 alternatingbitmusic

"Mini demo of the Analog Metropolis 4012 LP Filter, a clone of the ARP 4023 2-pole 12dB low pass filter in the ARP Odyssey built by Synthcube. This demo is run through a bit of delay effect for extra flavor."

HAL Revealed

This one in via rosynth.

Now we know what was behind the red eye in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Rosynth messing around with his eurorack system in his studio.

Click and zoom for the full size shot.

"Analogue Systems Sorcerer keyboard/cabinet with RS-15 power supply + Moog MIDI CV GATE interface + the following modules:

Tiptop uZeus (for extra power!),
Elby Designs ED-115 SH Noise,
Intellijel: Rubicon + Dr. Octature + Corgasmatron + uVCA,
Frequency Central Wave Runner + System X envelope (x2),
Analogue Systems RS-20 Ring Mod, RS-95 VCO, RS-500E EMS SYNTHI filter, RS-100 Moog Style Low Pass filter, RS-230 CV Buffer, Mod Wheels,
YuSynth Minimoog VCF,
AMSynths 8328 the MIrage filter + 8109 JP8 LPF,
Doepfer A-124 Wasp filter"