At the Summer NAMM show today, Dave Smith Instruments introduced the DSM01 Curtis Filter module, their first modular synth offering, designed to work with Eurorack systems. Often described as 'saturated', 'brash' and 'powerful', the Curtis filter is an integral part of the sound of many synthesizers created by Dave Smith, including the Prophet 5, Mopho, and Prophet 12, as well as synths such as the Oberheim Xpander, PPG Wave, Korg MonoPoly, Waldorf Wave, and many others.
Taking it's name from the original filter chip designed by the late Doug Curtis, the DSM01 provides both a switchable 2- or 4-pole (-12dB or -24dB per octave) low-pass filter and a VCA. The module is a standard 8HP wide, Eurorack-format device with interconnections made using 3.5 mm jacks.
A carefully designed set of inputs and parameters allows voltage control of filter frequency and resonance. The module also provides its own VCA and features two separate outputs for the filter—one pre-VCA and the other, post-VCA. A unique feature of the filter is a Boost function that introduces harmonic distortion into the signal for more aggressive coloration.
The DSM01 module will be available in August of 2014 with a street price of $179.