The New Tom Oberheim SEM Thread

Post by **Solderman** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:40 pm

Just wanted to add that I was about to purchase a patch-panel SEM from audiomidi when I realized something:
The patch-panel version lacks any easy way to have both filter key tracking and filter envelope modulation together and have different levels for each. Also, it appears that the patch-panel version does not have portamento.

Therefore, since I don't have any other modular gear to interface with it, and mostly want to do standard musical stuff, I've decided to get the Midi version. My impression was that Tom was wrapping up testing the software as of early March. Anyone ordered the Midi version and received word on a ship date yet?

Dogboy73 · Post by **Dogboy73** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:51 pm

Solderman wrote:Anyone ordered the Midi version and received word on a ship date yet?

This email from Tom to a forum member on GearSlutz. It was posted on the 22nd March;

Just last night I got the final software feature to work. Hurrah! The various parts of the MIDI-CV version are being built now and if the beta testers don't find any additional problems I expect to start shipping production units early next week (just waiting for some cables)

Then it is a matter of where you are on the waiting list at audioMIDI!

tom o.

celebutante · Post by **celebutante** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:46 am

MIDI version should be really soon. I have a proto of it, and the hardware is all done (in other words, the proto doesn't look like a proto). There are a couple of silly things in the MIDI software that Tom has since fixed. Tom was also waiting on me for the owner's manual (I wrote it), and I sent off the MIDI version manual today.

SWAN · Post by **SWAN** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:55 pm

Solderman wrote:Just wanted to add that I was about to purchase a patch-panel SEM from audiomidi when I realized something:
The patch-panel version lacks any easy way to have both filter key tracking and filter envelope modulation together and have different levels for each. Also, it appears that the patch-panel version does not have portamento.

Therefore, since I don't have any other modular gear to interface with it, and mostly want to do standard musical stuff, I've decided to get the Midi version. My impression was that Tom was wrapping up testing the software as of early March. Anyone ordered the Midi version and received word on a ship date yet?

not including key tracking but you can kind of get the best of both worlds by uing the Patch version with a Kenton Pro SOLO or other capable MIDI CV interface...

Post by **Solderman** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 3:42 pm

Regarding portamento, Kenton's implementation in my Pro2000 sounds like a*s. It's too slow or something, even at higher rates. Thing is, a patch-panel version SEM and Kenton converter will allow you to add vibrato with aftertouch, whereas the Midi SEM will not.

I guess I'll be getting the patch-panel version after all, plus a Moog CP-251 for the lag processor.

StepLogik · Post by **StepLogik** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:22 pm

Dogboy73 wrote:
Solderman wrote:Anyone ordered the Midi version and received word on a ship date yet?
This email from Tom to a forum member on GearSlutz. It was posted on the 22nd March;

Just last night I got the final software feature to work. Hurrah! The various parts of the MIDI-CV version are being built now and if the beta testers don't find any additional problems I expect to start shipping production units early next week (just waiting for some cables)

Then it is a matter of where you are on the waiting list at audioMIDI!

tom o.

wow so he is writing the firmware for the MIDI->CV himself. not that i doubt his prowress but I just think that it is kinda odd to reinvent the wheel. that time could have been better spent working on something else interesting instead of a mundane function that very few people are going to want anyway. but i could be wrong - it might turn out to be very popular.

either way - the SEM is giving me horrible, marriage-ending GAS right now.

soundxplorer · Post by **soundxplorer** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:03 pm

Solderman wrote:The patch-panel version lacks any easy way to have both filter key tracking and filter envelope modulation together and have different levels for each.

Mixers and multiples are the glue of a modular and you can never have enough.
The SEM definitely lacks ways to attenuate signals when patching, unless you have other modular gear. But I think that was probably his main goal when creating the patch version - so people could integrate it with other CV gear, not just patching on the SEM alone.

soundxplorer · Post by **soundxplorer** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:17 pm

Solderman wrote:I guess I'll be getting the patch-panel version after all, plus a Moog CP-251 for the lag processor.

Good call. The 251 is impossible to beat for the feature-to-price ratio.
Even if you bought Eurorack or 5U modules to cover all the functions, you'd wind up paying more than the price of a CP-251 before you even got to a case or power supply.

holybalm! · Post by **holybalm!** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 2:54 am

It's not quite right to say that the patch panel version of the sem has no attenuators. There is attenuation for external Filter modulation, external pitch modulation and external PWM, and you can attenate the volumes of the 2 external inputs (not amplify them though)

If, like me you can't afford a CP at the moment, then maybe knock together a box of attenuators and multiples? pretty simple job, all the components are cheap etc. Diagrams are to be founf thru Muffwiggler or Doepfer sites.

For the moment I've been using a cheap plastic passive volume pedal as an attenuator, it's got 2 inputs so I can, for example, set up a pretty wild metallic fizzy FM, and then sweep it in and out with the pedal. or if you wire a 9volt battery to a Jack you can use the pedal as an extra cv source too.

Yatmandu · Post by **Yatmandu** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:48 pm

The long wait for MIDI>CV is over! I just got a call from audiomidi, and mine is shipping today or tomorrow. Mind you, I've been on the list since August 2009

when they were first taking orders. I didn't ask how many orders they had, but it did sound like the midi version was popular enough.

Scories · Post by **Scories** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:51 pm

I've asked them twice to buy a patch pannel version. No reply (!!!).

soundxplorer · Post by **soundxplorer** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:40 am

Scories wrote:I've asked them twice to buy a patch pannel version. No reply (!!!).

Asked, as in email?
They never responded to my email either.
Call them up at 866-283-4601.

Sir Nose · Post by **Sir Nose** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:44 pm

From the moog board:
"by Unfiltered » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:08 pm

Just received an email from Tom Oberheim, he says a new two voice system including keyboard with his new SEM's should be available in fall. ..."

Post by **Solderman** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:54 am

Are you sure that wasn't posted on April 1st?

Scories · Post by **Scories** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:12 am

As the 2-voices is apparently Tom's favourite synth, it's not THAT surprising.

But I have a hard time to understand the advantages of buying a 2 voices over 2 SEM's, unless the 2-Voices are with MIDI & patch-pannel, but that's an other topic.

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