Arduino and Analog synthesizer CV project

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I've decided to undertake a pet project using an Uno and a Curtis CEM 3394 analog synthesizer voice on chip. I'm ultimately looking to build my own digitally controlled, analog synthesizer instrument.

I'm a software programmer with very little experience in dealing with electrical circuits, and have only worked on a few basic Arduino projects for self study. I'm obviously doing all the reading I can to get a grasp of things in working with components, circuits, and controllers.

For now I have a simple question, before I buy anything can anyone tell me if it's feasible to use a single Arduino Uno to control one or two of these chips to generate synth sounds. According to the CEM3394 documentation:

Ranging between -4 and +4 volts, all eight control inputs are provided with internal very high input impedance, low bias current buffers. Thus interface to a microprocessor system may be accomplished simply with a single DAC, 4051-type CMOS multiplexer, and 8 hold capacitors.
Requiring a bare minimum of other external components, the CEM3394 is ideal for low cost polyphonic or polytimbric musical instruments featuring rich, analog sound.

Here's a schematic of the chip:

I understand you need constant control voltages, which the Uno does not provide without some DAC conversion.

If anyone has any insight it would be greatly appreciated!

Two chips imply 16 analogue outputs. The big problem is the + and - voltage requirement, the arduino will only supply +ve voltages. You are going to need an op-amp on each D/A output, a power supply that is +/- 5V and two 8 Channel D/As.
While feasible it is not easy.

I see, thanks! I'm just wondering if I necessarily need to control every parameter digitally, that is only using a few PWM outputs to control things like VCO frequency and using pots/switches for all the other controllable parameters directly.

Yes that is a much simpler possibility, I don't see why not.

Sorry to bump an old thread but this pops up pretty high on the google results for 3394 schematics and has some laughably bad info that needs to be corrected.

No idea why Grumpy_Mike is talking about needing 16 DACs. It states very clearly in the datasheet—quoted in this thread even!—that you can use a single DAC, a multiplexer, and hold capacitors to distribute control voltages to all the different inputs.

No idea why Grumpy_Mike is talking about needing 16 DACs.

Then learn some electronics then.

that you can use a single DAC, a multiplexer, and hold capacitors to distribute control voltages to all the different inputs.

Sample and hold circuits sag, did you know that?

Sorry to bump an old thread

No your not, you did it to have a pop at me.