SEM with analog patch panel--no midi. (Click for big picture.)

SEM with MIDI in & MIDI to CV panel. (Click for big picture.)

Click to see my talk at the at the recent Red Bull Music Academy in Boston.

Welcome to my new website! Yes, it's true: I am back in the synth business and to start out I have reissued my very first analog synth-- the Synthesizer Expander Module (SEM). The new SEM is pretty much the same as the original, that is to say 100% analog! True voltage controlled oscillators, the classic SEM multi-mode filter, analog VCA, analog envelope generators and LFO. Did I say it is 100% analog? In fact, I made the circuitry as close to the original as possible.

This initial release of the new SEM consists of three versions:

1) SEM with Patchpanel. All internal SEM connections are brought out to 3.5mm minijacks - all 33 of them, as shown in the top photo. The basic connections are a one volt per octave VCO control voltage and a standard 0 to +5 gate signal. On this version of the SEM, there is no MIDI input. The U.S. price is $899. For additional details, go to the website of our U.S. dealer: audioMIDI.com. Click here.

2) SEM with MIDI to CV Converter as shown in second photo. This version includes a high precision MIDI to CV Converter that has been specifically designed to allow MIDI to control the SEM, and has additional features that make use of the SEM's external inputs. Some of the features of the MIDI to CV Converter are:

• Select MIDI channel, controller number and bend range

• Select note assignment modes: latest, high note and low note priorities

• Select note re-trigger, filter track, LFO reset

• A second independent control bus allows velocity, controller data or channel pressure to modulate either or both VCOs, the filter and the VCA

• Transpose function allows different keyboard controllers to utilize the complete MIDI note range

• Analog portamento

• Input preamp gain control - allows an external audio input to be processed thru the SEM

• High precision A-440 Hz tune signal

• Control voltages and gate are bought out to rear panel connectors so MIDI to CV function can be used with other CV/Gate gear.

The U. S. price is $899. Again, for additional details check the audioMIDI website. Click here.

3) Basic SEM module with no case, power supply or supplemental module. Good for drop-in replacement of original SEM in older Oberheim polyphonic systems. The U. S. price is $599. Click here for product details at audioMIDI.com.

Dealers:
            Australia:      www.awave.com.au

            Germany:      www.schneidersladen.com

            Japan:           www.mi7.co.jp

            Italy:             www.scolopendra.it

            U.S.A.            www.audiomidi.com

While you're here, please sign up for my email list by simply sending an email to:

tom (at) tomoberheim (dot) com

and I'll keep you posted with any significant news. Don't worry-- I won't share your private email address with anyone for any reason.

Thanks for stopping by!

- Tom Oberheim