2hp VCO // 'Classic' Curtis CEM3340 Eurorack oscillator

Next up in the #2hpTuesdays series of videos on the 2hp Eurorack modules is the VCO module. It's a Curtis CEM3340 based analog oscillator with triangle, pulse and saw outputs, FM, hard sync and PWM and of course tuning and 1v/oct control.
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[@movax20h]

They make really nice series of modules, but I feel half of their modules should be half of the price. 100$ for a simple DC offset level, MIX or LOGIC modules? Ridiculous a bit. They contain electronics worth maybe 1$. Their VCO is 129$, which is acceptable, but still a bit more than I would expect. 100-110$ maybe. Some more esoteric modules they make are however worth their price. Again almost all their modules are the same price, with no regards to how much complexity or work is behind them.

[@blaythessteuer]

"and of course tuning" nice

[@derivativ3]

Introducing me to audio rate pwm was amazing, thanks man !

[@shedskin8]

What about the cem3396? Any available in eurorack?

[@SkullDraizer]

Thanks for brightening out days with synth videos.

[@standudinski]

Ben, you must have spent a fortune on the knurlies alone!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Ace! I have 8HP free and need more VCOs to fit in my case since I have a Batumi quad LFO and 2 VCOs and need to balance these out along with another clock and S&H module. Maybe get few of these 2hp modules or wait for the new Expert Sleepers Disting EX to solve my flawed modular setup?

[@richardadams429]

hey there!..HELP ME!!..this is for anyone really to answer. ive just got the 2hpMIDI and can anyone for the love of god tell me how to make it work with Ableton please? i can find nothing

[@TroyBlackford]

Great overview. I can't believe they can fit all these features into such narrow modules. This would be cool at three times the hp, but as it is, it's insane. I only have their MIDI/CV/Gate/Clk module but it has a billion features in the same tiny frame. And they have a full line of basically anything you could want in a modular setup. Amazing engineering.

[@BrunoWiebelt]

simple is best ... mostly; thanks for this weeks highlight and funny gratulation to 22.222 ;)

[@wajobu]

"...because, why not?"

[@FILML4D4N]

I have the old 2hp OSC. Sin but no pwm. When did that change? The old could not be a CEM3340 vco i guess. Good to know if anybody is looking for an used OSC.

[@derivativ3]

FILML4D4N you can always make a square with pen control by using a comparator and a dc signal into the inputs 😋

[@seancraig5373]

very helpful review--nice sound for such a slim VCO!

[@DivKid]

cheers Sean

[@soundfx68]

To me, it's like a 16-bit C64 which I don't think is a strange analogy - it's like a clean SID with much of the character.

[@Vurt72]

this is nothing like a SID chip..

[@lefunghi6151]

I have to resist the urge to put 5 of those together, but I really don't want to resist it xD

[@DivKid]

small analogue polyphony is definitely appealing

[@NickHchaos]

0:23 instant Sh-101. That's amazing they put it in 2 hp. It's craziness if people actually think the CEm is the best osc out there, really? It's very good for being on a CHIP that's cheap to manufacture and very stable across a wide range. That doesn't mean the sound smoothness and depth can match the components of a carefully put together discrete VCO, like AJH.

[@geoffhanssler9887]

I think the fact that it sounds like the SH-101 is much more the result of the filter next to the oscillator than the oscillator itself

[@NickHchaos]

@@geoffhanssler9887 Well, both. I have a CEM as well an as SH-101 filter, and a discrete oscillator into the 101 does NOT sound like a 101, it is just too smooth--actually this is more like how the SH-2 sounds, which I have and love, since they use some of the best discrete oscillators ever made in a synth. It is one of the most well-kept secrets of vintage mono synths, a way deeper sound than the 101 is capable of.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

@@geoffhanssler9887 True the 101 sounds like the 101 because of the signal path not just because of the VCO. It's a combo of VC,O , F and the A and how hot the signal drives the next part and, I'm sure you guys know lots of factors including factory. calibration.

[@mkkrt]

Ordered one yesterday.

[@tonalaxis]

WOW 😮

[@VictorSteiner]

Just when I thought about buying this for my „mainly control only but also want 3 soundsources but don‘t have a lot of space“ skiff :P So 3 of these and a lot of fiddling with small knobs that are too close together or a Doepfer Quad VCO that is cheaper but needs a lot more space.

[@RobotHottdog]

VictorSteiner space them apart or put them in your rack the makes sense.

[@DoctorKarul]

See Mr Doepfer's recent interview on Molten Music Technologies #TSR19 . He explains a little of the new quad modules, they have shared controls so you can modulate all 4 together, without multing your cable into 4 2hp oscs.

[@VictorSteiner]

Karl Stamm have seen that one, thnx. I would use it as 3 voices with my René. The Doepfer doesn‘t normalize to every not-plugged in 1/V, it just has the „for all“ control, right? So I couldn‘t do 2x2 oscillators with only 2 cables?

[@leonardovelazquez1029]

I love this little vco! I like the sound of it way more than I like the sound of my larger more expensive vcos (dpo, dixie 2). It sounds closer to my moog, is there another vco like this but with more features?

[@starkindlerus]

The Doepfer A-111 series oscillators are mostly based on the same chip I believe.

[@leonardovelazquez1029]

David thank you, that looks great, just hard to say if the sound will be as raw and rich from the videos I’m seeing

[@MusicwithLisp]

@@leonardovelazquez1029 as is the electrosmith 3340. I'm trying to pick one of these!

[@RobotHottdog]

Is this the same as the old version with a sine wave?