Oberheim SEM
The Oberheim SEM is a early product of Oberheim around the mid '70s. It was originally designed as an add on module to a Moog or Arp synth, in which it was packaged in a stand alone enclosure that had patch points for interconnectivity (if such a word exists). Shortly after it was bundled in groups to create some of the first polyphonic synthesizers (2-Voice, 4-Voice and 8-Voice). In this design each SEM functioned as a single voice of polyphony, so the 4-Voice, which had 4 voices of polyphony, had no less than 4 SEMs contained in it's synth chassis. Each SEM contains 2 VCOs, so an 8-Voice in unison mode could produce 16 oscillators of fatness. Currently SEMs are commonly used as "building blocks" for custom made modular synths.
Close up of the SEM VCO section
Close up of the SEM VCF section
Average Advertised Price: For an individual SEM, $400 - a bit more for a fully enclosed stand alone unit. A 2-Voice with SEMs would would run around $900 to $1100, a 4-Voice around $1400 to $1800, an 8-Voice would be a pretty penny.
Jetboy's Humble Opinion Of Worth: The above figures are about right.
Jetboy's Review - Awesome module with a ton of design flexibility - patch it out, hook it up to other synths, rack mount it, you name it. Very rich analog sound - audio chocolate!
