New vs. Old Curtis CEM3340 Rev G Comparison

This video is a demonstration of the newly manufactured Curtis Electromusic CEM3340 oscillator IC. A comparison is achieved using the Oberheim OB-8 with half of its 3340s replaced and setting the keyboard in dual mode. Voices 1-4 are the original CEM3340s and 5-8 are the Revision Gs. By assigning the same sound to both splits in dual mode, a comparison can be made by fading between both sounds using the program balance knob.

The signal chain is OB-8 / Neutrik patch bay / Apogee Symphony / Headphone Output / Canon 5D mkiii mic input.

[AlainHubert]

Pretty identical. But not surprising considering they're most probably made from the same original masks.
Thanks for the demo.

[stationstation]

WOW - amazing that you did this. Thank you for taking the time. I can't believe I just came across this video

[emdotambient]

Sound like the real thing to me! Thanks for doing this.

[waheex]

great demo and very interesting comparison, pretty much identical

[AdamTheAd-vancd]

Nice demo, and good to get a good sound comparison no diffrence to my ear and if there was i guess its minisculy negligible. What makes or breaks an oscillators sound in my opinion is down to the attached components and a synths filter. Im very close on employing these badboys to my project .

At aroung 00:35 I could hear just a slight extra harmonic in voices 1-4, the rest is pretty much identical to me. Very good news.

[VTOLKits]

I hear no difference, they sound very good...!

[venusiansky]

I installed Rev G chips in my OB-8. 100% identical. It would be nice if they started producing 3320 and 3310 again.

[pauloespadinha]

Hi,
One question.. does the auto tune works perfectly with the cem3340 version g replacement ?
I heard that is not with ob-xa and some modifications on voice card got to be made..
Have you heard about it ?
Ob8 is a beautifull instrument, what are the main differences with the ob-xa ?
Regards,
Paulo

[zmix]

In the patch demo section, starting at 2:00 it sounds to me that the new chips might have better intonation, could be as simple as calibration differences, however..

[fredweather]

I'm surprised no one here seemed to notice the attack on the newer chips is slightly delayed. The middle to upper register is quite obvious, especially the pulse wave on single notes.

[MadelnMachines]

Are these the same chips used in the newer DSI Prophet 6 and OB-6? I notice DSI says they use discrete VCOs but i'm not sure discrete means discrete anymore and it may be just marketing. The Black Corportation Kijmii and Deckards Dream are using the 3340 reissue as well as the Neutron. I wonder if the Prophet 08 Rev 2 is using the same DCO chips as the Deepmind.

[yashnu]

They don't sound the same to me although close: the original ones have a superposed harmonic variation apparent with the chord sequence whereas the new ones don't have this and appear quite 'stable' and perhaps less engaging. Secondly, I also hear a difference in the upper registers - there seems to be an odd thing happening pitch-wise in the highest notes with the new ones.

[drydessert]

Is knob left original vintage VCOs versus knob right reissue VCO?

[obwanz]

Great comparison! Sound the same to me. I had one rev G installed a few months ago for troubleshooting, and it pissed off autotune. Have had any issues with the rev gs like that?

[vitsedlacek]

Hi Greg, many thanks for the test -- which one is the left side and which one right side of the knob? It sounds very similar, but right side of the knob sounds more rich to me - Not sure which one is which --- title says New vs. Old and description Old vs. New ;) cheers!

[juancarloscarrazon]

Good news!
Maybe with oscilloscope and audio spectrum analyzer you can find some differences but no my ears.

[Vintage_USA_Tech]

Where did you order the chip from I have searched the world over with google and still not turned up who is selling this chip.

[lownrgy]

funny thing, the new one sounds very Xpander