The new Pilve iG00156AP is a clone of the rare IG00156 VCF chips found in Yamaha CS synthesizers, including the CS80, CS60, and more.
Many synthesizer enthusiasts dream of owning an original Yamaha CS-80 or CS-60. Owning one is one thing, but maintaining it is another. That can be a real challenge for some parts.
For example, if the filter breaks, you have to find replacement chips, which are nearly impossible to find these days. You might find some new old stock, but this would be winning the lottery. But now there is good news: Ando Pilve has created a clone called iG00156AP
Pilve iG00156AP
The iG00156AP is a replicant/clone of the Yamaha IG00156 VCF chip. Yamaha used the original chip in their legendary CS-series analog synthesizers, including the CS-80, CS-60, CS-50, CS-30…, and organs from the 1970s and 80s.
According to Ando Pilve, the iG00156AP was carefully re-engineered from the original chip to reproduce its characteristics, properties, and, most importantly, sound.
It has the same size as the Yamaha IG00156 VCF chip and fits into the same footprint without modifications. Real IC pins make it compatible with all IC sockets.
Ando Pilve says it’s the only clone available today that is fully drop-in replaceable and can coexist with original vintage chips in the same synth. The advantage: this chip is readily available, making the CS synths serviceable.
The developer also describes the IG00156 VCF chip as one of the finest-sounding filters ever designed. It combines a linear cutoff voltage control input with an exponential keyboard-follower input, providing the highly musical and natural tone shaping that the legendary CS-series synthesizers were famous for
Ando also offers clones of the IG00158 waveshaper chip and IG00151 VCA. He is also developing voice-chip clones for Yamaha synths.
First Impression
At nearly $80, the clone isn’t cheap, but it’s good news for CS-80 owners and synth repairers who now have a quality alternative to the almost impossible-to-find originals.
Ando Pilve sells the new iG00156AP chip exclusively in the US on Reverb.com for $79,95.
More information here: Reverb
Hopefully we see some DIY projects built around the chip, not just for CS-80 clones, but entirely new instruments too.
and now Uli it should work outx😀
I have a CS-20M in excellent physical condition & working perfectly at the moment. Replacement chips have always been at the back of my mind because of their scarcity. This is indeed good news.
Love the Bladerunner origami unicorn logo! Using a 16/150” SOIC on interposer boards to convert to 300” PDIP format is also very clever!!