This is a page for collecting ideas on how to build a synth based on the Curtis Electromusic Specialties CEM3396 IC chip, controlled via PIC of course. This chip is for example used in the Oberheim Matrix-1000 synth. It is out of production, but can be found at ebay from time to time.

First please take a look at the CEM3396 data sheet.

try contacting marcus at: cheetahrepairs@lycos.co.uk The CEM3396 is £6.50 each or a complete set of 6 for £32.00.

I dealt with him whilst repairing one of my two matrix 1000's This is an excellent sounding chip & would benifit highly from the Thorsten Treatment :)

See: http://www.maad.net/ms6/index.html Contact: kristofer@maad.net

This guy has patched up the firmware of an old matrix 1000 clone by cheetah, known as the ms6; to work properly ..amoungst other things. He also is in the process of rewriting a firmware for the module from scratch; and may have already made some progress… I guess this might be someone worth talking to on furthering the MIOS effort to utilise the CEM3396; Im sure he will have plenty of insight to offer.

Oh, and he's selling 3396's on his webshop too.

See his links page for other 3396 things: http://www.maad.net/ms6/index.html

And found on the above links; Heres another guy whos hacked the firmware.. http://www.butoba.net/homepage/ms6.html

oh and one final place that has a handful of cem3396's: http://www.synthtech.com/cems.html

I have done the damned hard groundwork for the hardware nessursary to turn a humble cem3396 chip into a multimode filtered monster, like the Xpander & M12. Sofar, i have created a Beta pcb layout to facilitate this, however if this project is to happen sooner, rather than later; volinteers for making the code happen are needed. otherwise, its where and when i get the time myself to do anything further with it.

see here: http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php/topic,13770.0.html

volinteers ? :)