New Tom Oberheim SEM Demo

[900GTi]

I'm gonna buy 8 of these :)

[br0therl0c0]

@900GTi Niiiice! A new 8-voice. Post pics :-)

[900GTi]

@br0therl0c0 ...erm....I was being sarcastic....:/

[MrTank2112]

Well done!

[br0therl0c0]

@MrTank2112 Thank you!

[br0therl0c0]

@buzzsaw1003 No, I just tested this out on my SEM and I don't get any noise at all.  Unfortunately, might be a problem with yours?

[MotionCaptureMusic]

Is the VX-351 CV Expander required to control the SEM from the Old School?

[br0therl0c0]

@MotionCaptureMusic No. The Old School (unlike the other Voyagers) has Pitch and Gate CV outputs on the back of the unit, which will give you basic control. The VX just gives you more CV output options like Velocity, Pressure, Mod Wheel, etc.

[corganb]

@br0therl0c0 So, the SEM "midi though" port could allow one to convert the control voltage signals from the Old School into MIDI data? Then in theory you could record the notes originally generated from the Old School on your DAW?

[br0therl0c0]

@corganb I don't have the MIDI version of the SEM, but no, that's not the way it works. The MIDI version will convert incoming MIDI signals into control voltage signals, not the other way around.

[Sklang32]

Do Want!!!

[br0therl0c0]

@Sklang32 Do Get! (you won't be disappointed)

[kevinnowhow]

Intro of 'The Wait' by Killing Joke at 2:12!!!

[br0therl0c0]

@kevinnowhow Nice catch!

[aw5omeFRAZA]

Wow... more like Tom UBERheim!!

[br0therl0c0]

@aw5omeFRAZA Ha!

[scott2eh]

Hey, quick question; where did you get the patch cables? I'm having trouble finding them!

[br0therl0c0]

@scott2eh Ad Infinitum. Highly recommended! I can't post links here, but go to adinfinitummusic . com

[bigmartin3000]

Oberheim filters are still the best !

[br0therl0c0]

@bigmartin3000 :-)

[papydasy]

that's great ,be cool to run some sequencer to it,

[br0therl0c0]

@papydasy Thanks! Yes, I did exactly that. Check out my "New Tom Oberheim SEM + Dotcom Q119 Sequencer Demo" vid.

[ThroxxOfVron]

The version available with MIDI sports the patch points in the rear according to the info on Tom Oberheim's site.

As to the price: i'm seeing these advertised for $899 on eBay.

That is actually a very good deal considering that this price is actually lower than the 1980's price of $695 quoted in the comment below when adjusted for inflation.

If the US Gov't & the FED hadn't debased the Dollar so significantly in the last 30 years it would be likely be priced below $600

Educate Yourself.

[mistamuthafuka]

@ThroxxOfVron

money doesn't mean anything though...so we suffer

[ThroxxOfVron]

The version available with MIDI sports the patch points in the rear according to the info on Tom Oberheim's site.

As to the price: i'm seeing these advertised for $899 on eBay.

That is actually a very good deal considering that this price is actually lower than the 1980's price of $695 quoted in the comment below when adjusted for inflation.

If the US Gov't & the FED hadn't debased the Dollar so significantly in the last 30 years it would be likely be priced below $600

Educate Yourself.

[hogberto]

thanks - this actually helped me on day 1 with my new SEM patch panel!

[br0therl0c0]

@hogberto Sweet! Glad to hear that. Have fun with your new SEM!

[myleftnutts]

@br0therl0c0 gotta question what is different about the new "SEM" modules and the vintage one's from the 70's,other than the fact the new ones cost more than the vintage one's cost at the time. vintage sem in it's day $695.00,today's sem is $995.00.

[br0therl0c0]

@myleftnutts I don't know anything more than what Tom has stated: He "made the circuitry as close to the original as possible". There are slight differences in the layout of the fine tune controls as well as the BP filter switch. Functionality is the exact same though.

[mattsynth]

Great demo. Good examples of that super SEM Oberheim filter sound. I wish Oberheim would come out with a unit that has both midi and patch panels, not one or the other. Thanks for the demo, I enjoyed it very much.

[br0therl0c0]

@mattsynth Thanks Matt! I agree both options together would be nice, but I think a decent MIDI->CV box will get you the same functionality of the MIDI version, and you could use it with the Patch Panel version for the ultimate flexibility.

[loverickbass]

What kind of stand do you have the SEM in?

[br0therl0c0]

@loverickbass An old school Ultimate Support A-Frame. I've added some extra support bars for the SEM.

[br0therl0c0]

@dkassulke31989 I have no experience with the French Connection, but from reading about it online it sounds like a perfect match for the patch-panel SEM. You have all the CV outputs you need, and they're even the same size (1/8" jacks). All the voltages seem compatible as well.

[mdykehouse]

Nice Demo! I already own the patch panel SEM and I have been thinking about picking up a second hand old school and I have a question. Do I need the VX-351 CV Expander to connect the two? I am using a MOTU soundcard and Expert Sleepers Silent way to sync my SEM to my computer. Can't I then connect the SEM to a Voyager? Sorry I am new to CV....and thanks for any help!

[mdykehouse]

Nice Demo! I already own the patch panel SEM and I have been thinking about picking up a second hand old school and I have a question. Do I need the VX-351 CV Expander to connect the two? I am using a MOTU soundcard and Expert Sleepers Silent way to sync my SEM to my computer. Can't I then connect the SEM to a Voyager? Sorry I am new to CV....and thanks for any help!

[br0therl0c0]

@mdykehouse Thanks!

No, you don't *have* to use the VX expander. If you want to control the SEM from the OS, you can simply use the pitch and gate CV outputs on the back of the keyboard. If you want to control the OS from your computer, you can use the CV inputs on the back of the keyboard.

The VX provides several extra CV outputs (no inputs) which are ideal if you want to use the OS keyboard/wheels to control the SEM (velocity, pressure, pitch bend, etc.) Makes patching a lot more fun!

[anoteoftruth]

I might just get the midi/cv panel version and use it with my Little Phatty :D

[br0therl0c0]

I bet they'd sound great together.  Go for it!

[Metamusik]

@anoteoftruth I still say it's better to go for the patch panel... Midi/cv converters are a dime a dozen, in contrast you either have patching capability or you don't.

[MrAeterna]

great video, i have the same setup.

best regards

[br0therl0c0]

Thank you! These synths are so much fun to play together, I can only imagine you love your setup as much as I do.

[Fabiohammond]

Oh my God!!!

I learned that only the Voyager Old School has CV - GATE outputs.

All the other Voyagers don't have and need the VX-351 for have it! It's incredible and stupid for a synth that cost all those money!!!

[br0therl0c0]

You're right Fabio, I apologize. Since my Old School has those CV outputs, I assumed all Voyagers did, but I guess they don't.

Don't forget though that there will be a MIDI version of the SEM that you could use with a regular Voyager without buying the VX-351.

[Rhythmicons]

@Fabiohammond If you buy your Voyager from the right place (novamusik) then you can get your vx351 thrown in for free. For example, I got my Select Series and vx351 for 2,999.

[Fabiohammond]

Hi!

Is possible to play the Sem Module by the Moog Voyager without the VX-351?

Fabio

[br0therl0c0]

Hey Fabio. Yes, absolutely. The Voyager has Pitch and Gate CV outputs right on the back of the keyboard that can plug straight into the SEM.

[Fabiohammond]

So I watch in my Voyager, it has a pitch control input, a S&H Gate and a Env Gate, but not OSC gate or CV.

Can you check with your, combining it with the SEM module without VX-351 and let me know wich input or output I have to use?

Sorry for my english, (but I'm Italian), I hope you can understand my questions :-)

Thank you!!!

Fabio

[Neocron]

Hi, I also have a Voyager. Did you have any tracking Problems with the Voyager playing the SEM ?

[br0therl0c0]

No problems at all, the Voyager seems to generate perfect 1 Volt/Octave (contrary to some info that's floating out there on the internet)

[Dogboy73]

Sounds great. Thanks for the posting these vids. I recently ordered a MIDI>CV version of the SEM. I think Tom is still testing this version so will be a while before I get mine. Looking forward to it though. It sounds like it will compliment my Neptune 2 well. The SEM sound nice & raw but also smoother & warmer, which I really like.

[br0therl0c0]

No problem, glad you liked them, and congrats on buying yours! Hope the MIDI/CV versions get shipped out soon. I know a lot of people are eager to get them, and I'm looking forward to hearing some more reviews and demos.

[kennykeyboard]

I also have one on order from Oct 25. I wrote to TO complimenting him on his progress. He is still trying to debug the software. Meanwhile he is cranking out the patchpanel versions. Yes, we like our Obies.

[br0therl0c0]

I know people are anxious to get their MIDI versions. I hope he works the bugs out soon, but in any case you've got to love that Tom Oberheim is building these beauties again.

[kennykeyboard]

Apparently, lots of people are bugging him. He said that none of us would be happy if he let them go as is. Also consider that a Phatty 2 and a SEM will cost about the same as a Voyager.

[TheMilford]

Does the Mini have a CV out? Or can you just use a tone to work the SEM?

[br0therl0c0]

Yes, the Voyager has CV Pitch and Gate out.

[SWAN909808]

How is the 12db Low Pass filter? Im considering swapping my Moog Source with one of these because the Source - whilst I love the sound - is a little limited...

[br0therl0c0]

What can I say besides it's the legendary Oberheim filter? Originally designed to compliment the 24db filter in the MiniMoog (not replace it). The multimode functions are very cool too, I especially like being able to blend between LP and HP modes. Personally I wouldn't replace a Moog w/ a SEM, but they sure do sound nice together :-)

[PhotoAnimationGuy]

can you play jump

[gencom]

Hi Brotherloco,

Sure that's helps so many many thanks for your answer and great demo you did there.

Regards.

[gencom]

Hi,

I need your help!

Well, i leave in France and i was wondering if this new SEM has like the original one an attached power socket or an input for classic external wall-wart power supply. Because i tried to find this information but there's nothing so i saw the video of Tom Oberheim himself at the conférence and it seems that the new SEM is plugged to an external wall-wart but i'm not sure. Could you please let me know? oh, i also need the voltage. Thanks in advance!

[br0therl0c0]

Howdy gencom. Yes, it's an external wall wart power supply that plugs into the back. The output voltage is 24V. Check out my SEM photo set on flickr, I took a few pics of the power supply and the back of the SEM.

I can't post the link in the comments, but I added it to the description of the video on the right.

Hope that helps!

[hogberto]

it doesn't sound much like a piano.

[petersedin]

can this do chords?

[br0therl0c0]

No, this is a monophonic synthesizer, exactly like the original. Although if you wanted to, you could tune the 2 VCO's to different pitches, and control them from 2 different CV sources.

[BitSnapper]

Thank You so much for posting this - I ordered one today and I think, i cannot sleep the next days. Great machine for a very nice price. It seems to sound much....more spectacular than my voyager. (And my old Model D,too).

[br0therl0c0]

You're welcome. Hope your SEM shows up soon so you can get some sleep (or stay up all night playing with it!)

I wouldn't say it sounds better than the Voyager, but it is a different "more raw" beast, and compliments it very well. Just as the 70's synth gods intended :-)

[peterkadar]

THANK YOU for posting this. It sounds great! I've been thinking about getting one.

[br0therl0c0]

You bet! Hope it helps you decide. I'm going to try to post another video this weekend with more sounds and patches.

[CTRLSHFT]

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for making this, i've been dying for a demo on the new SEM. sounds fantastic, very different from the SEMblance/Telemark demos.

[br0therl0c0]

Awesome, I'm glad you found it useful!

[ovuori]

Very good demo. Thank you for sharing this!

[br0therl0c0]

You're welcome, glad you liked it!

[PhotoAnimationGuy]

2:17 is off da chain

[br0therl0c0]

I love the sound of the resonant high pass filter, very different from what you get out of the Moog. Riff courtesy of a certain British post punk band...

[narudh]

i wish it was a 'sound' demo rather than the function demo

it sounds absolutely great nonetheless and i'd like to hear MOARRRRRR

[br0therl0c0]

Yeah, hopefully you can still get a sense of its sound from my noodling (and through youtube audio quality). I promise to try and do more :-)

[Moogulator]

thx for sharing this.

[br0therl0c0]

My pleasure.

[TheRadarMonkey]

yay you win, first sem demo

[br0therl0c0]

Well, at least on youtube :-)