After the A-124SE Doepfer WASP special edition was announced almost 2 months ago, Doepfer now releases the A-110-4SE Zero-Thru Special Edition module.
From about middle of October a special edition of this Quadrature Thru-Zero VCOs A-110-4 will be available as A-110-4SE.
The special edition is equipped with a blue anodized front panel and white knobs.
The price will be 140 Euro
Blue and white seem to be the colours of the Bavarian flag... #Oktoberfest reference?
A-100SSB is a combination of power supply and bus board with 8 connectors for A-100 modules. Planned for applications with up to 8 modules and a max. current of 380 mA. A-100SSB is available as ready built and tested unit.
A-100SSB Prototype I
These are the most important features:
- wide range mains voltage input 100-240V AC / 50-60 Hz
- IEC inlet on board for the connection of a suitable mains cable (a suitable cable has to be purchased by the customer locally)
- switching supply with +12V/380 mA and -12V/380mA for the operation of A-100 modules up to 380 mA total supply current
- safety cover at the bottom side (covers all elements that lead mains voltage)
- on board fuse
- 8 bus connectors
- LED displays for +12V, -12V and +5V (+5V are available only if e.g. the 5V adapter A-100AD5 is used)
- Dimensions: about 270 mm (length) x 55 mm (width) x 35 mm (height)
- several 3mm holes for mounting the unit on a rear panel or bottom plate
Planned for ca. Oktober 2015 / ~ October 2015 / for ~ Euro 75.00
Raul Pena published new videos demonstrating the A-136 Distortion/Waveshaper Module
Module A-136 is a distortion and waveshaping module with extensive control possibilities. The incoming audio or cv signal is internally divided into 3 sections:
- positive component of the signal with adjustable clipping level (even externally via jack socket) and positive or negative amplification (+/-) of this component
- negative component of the signal with adjustable clipping level (even externally via jack socket) and positive or negative amplification (+/-) of this component
- original signal with positive or negative amplification (+/-)
Different settings of 5 distortion/waveshaping parameters enable a lot of very complex and extreme waveform modifications. The range of modifications reaches from simple soft or hard clipping to completely altered waveforms where the original signal is no longer recognizable.
The sketch below shows only a few examples when using a triangle as input signal.
Applications: audio distortion (especially in combination with filters very interesting), waveform modification for audio signals as well as for control voltages (LFO, ADSR, random etc.).
Video: Doepfer A136 Distortion/Waveshaper Basics and Demos (Full Playlist)
Module A-168-1 is a pulsewidth modulation generator (PWM Module).
It derives a rectangle signal with adjustable pulsewidth from an external triangle, sawtooth or sine wave.
The external signal can be an LFO, VCO or any other signal with falling/rising slopes (e.g. ADSR). In addition the pulsewidth can be modulated by a CV signal (e.g. LFO or ADSR).
The typical application is the generation of a rectangle signal with PWM from VCOs or LFOs which do not yet have this feature (e.g. A-110-4, A-145, A-147-2, A-143-4, A-143-9).
The module is equipped with these controls and in/output:
- Manual PW control (PW)
- PWM CV Input with attenuator (PWM)
- Signal input (In)
- Output with LED control (Out)
- Inverted Output with LED control (/Out)
- Internal trimming potentiometer for PW (is adjusted for symmetrical 50:50 rectangle when the manual PW control is at center position)
- Internal trimming potentiometer for PWM range (is adjusted so that the manual PW control covers the full PW range 0 ... 100%)
- The trimming potentiometers are required to adjust the module for best operation for signals with different DC offsets (e.g. unipolar/bipolar signals) and different signal levels.
Normally the module is assigned to another module because the trimming potentiometer have to be readjusted when the input signal changes (unless the signals have nearly the same DC offset and level)
(planned for November 2015, price ~ Euro 50.00, price and release date are still without obligation)
Source: http://www.doepfer.de/a1681.htm
Quite unexpected, Doepfer announced a black A-124 Wasp filter with yellow knobs today.
This module comes as a limited edition and will be available through your local dealers. (order no. A-124SE)
According to a Doepfer interview with the Sud-Deutsche Zeitung the first batch sold out (to distributors) within 24 hour.
Great marketing-idea by Doepfer IMO, especially to promote the recently announced colored knobs. All kinds of color-schemes are possible now.
" The frequency of the input signal (preferably the rectangle output of a VCO) is divided by an integer factor N (N = 1, 2, 3, 4 ... up to 32). N can be adjusted manually and modulated with an external control voltage (e.g. from LFO, ADSR, Random, MIDI-to-CV, Theremin, Light-to-CV, analog sequencer) with attenuator.
The control input has polarizing function, i.e. the manually adjusted dividing factor can be modulated upwards or downwards. The basic idea of a polarizer is described in the modules A-133 Voltage Controlled Polarizer and A-138c Polarizing Mixer.
A-163 Frequency Divider
The output waveform is rectangle with 50% duty cycle. Unlike the A-115 with fixed dividing factors
Applications: dynamic voltage controlled frequency division of audio signals or modulation signals. More details concerning frequency division of audio signals can be found in the Trautonium or A-113 information.
Inputs: CV In, Audio In (rectangle)
Output: Audio Out (resp. rectangle modulation CV out after modification)
Controls: Manual N, CV attenuator
After a small modification (a capacitor has to be shortened or replaced by a wire for DC coupling) the A-163 can be used for low-frequency control signals too.
Remark: From 2007 the module is equipped with an additional jumper at the bottom side of the pc board. This jumper is used to select DC coupled (jumper installed) or AC coupled mode (jumper removed).
If the module is used to divide slowly changing signals (like clock, trigger, gate or rectangle signals of an LFO) the DC coupled mode has to be selected. For audio signals the AC mode is recommended."
(2, 4, 8, 16) the dividing factor of the A-163 is voltage controlled and can be any integer value between 1 and about 20 (but only one output). In contrast to A-113 the dividing factor of the A-163 is voltage controlled and the output waveform is rectangle (the A-113 has 4 sawtooth outputs with 4 adjustable but not voltage controlled dividers).
Video: Doepfer A-163 Voltage Controlled Frequency Divider (Full Playlist)
" A short overview of the basic features of the A-163 VC Frequency Divider. A short audio demonstration is provided.
Following the many requests in the Doepfer Yahoo-group, Doepfer announced today that an A-180-3 Dual Buffered Multiple will soon be released.
Module A-180-3 is a dual buffered 1-in-3 multiple.
The signal applied to the input socker appears as a buffered signal at the three output sockets.
Each output has it's own buffer, i.e. the three output sockets are not simply connected to each other. The lower output of the upper unit is normalled to the input of the lower unit.
That way the module works as a single 1-in-6 buffered multiple provided that no signal is applied to the input of the lower unit.
Application: copying/buffering of control and audio signals.
Update by Dieter: "the prototype pcb of the dual buffered multiple (A-180-3) arrived and has been tested. As expected no problems occured. The
module will be released about September 2015. The price will be the same as the A-138u because it very similar (i.e. Euro 50)"
ps Doepfer is closed from June 20 until July 05, 2015. No shipping, no helpdesk, no repairs during this time.
The A-166 is a Dual logic module with 3 inputs for each unit.
The logical states of the inputs ("1" = high / "0" = low) are linked together in 3 ways: AND, OR, EXOR (exclusive OR). The three functions are available simultaneously at three outputs with LED display of the output states.
Additionally two inverters are avaliable to obtain the inverted functions NAND, NOR and NEXOR.
The sockets of each triple unit are "normalized", i.e. the switched contact of socket 2 is connected to input 1 and the switched contact of socket 3 is connected to input 2.
Provided that no plug is inserted into socket 1 resp. socket 2 the socket is connected to the input above it.
This simplifies the usage of the module when only 2 signals are combined. E.g. the logic functions AND and OR have different neutral input levels ("1" is the neutral state for AND, "0" is the neutral state for OR).
Here's the playlist , future videos will be added automagically every week on Thursday or Friday.
Yay... Doepfer decided to produce and sell knobs in multiple colors.
The modules are still delivered with grey knobs.
Because of logistic reasons it's not possible to deliver modules with different colored knobs, but the customer is able to order the knobs separately and replace the grey knobs by the new ones as the knobs are simply plugged on the potentiometer shafts.
The colored rotary Knobs, diameter 15 mm, height 15 mm, for 6 mm axis with 18 teeth, can be used also in other products like MAQ16/3, Dark Energy or Dark Time.
You can find the new knobs on the price list in the Doepfer website's spare parts section...
The VCO has a range of about 12 octaves, and produces four waveforms simultaneously: pulse (rectangle), sawtooth, triangle and sine waves.
The VCO's frequency is determined by the position of the range switch, tune and fine tune controls, and the voltage at the two pitch CV inputs, CV 1 and CV 2. Footage (the octave of the fundamental) is set by the Range control, which has seven octave steps.
The Tune control is used for coarse tuning, and the Fine control for fine tuning of the VCO pitch.
The A-111 can be modulated by both exponential and linear FM (frequency modulation).
You can control the pulse width of the square wave either by hand, or by voltage control - Pulse Width Modulation, or PWM for short. The A-111 also has inputs for Hard Sync and Soft Sync.
As the special circuit CEM3340 used in this module is no longer available the module has to be discontinued.
MusikMesse 2015 in Frankfurt took off today, with the Roland modulars/modules as the most talked about eurorack releases. Read all about that on the other blogs ;-)
Pretty refreshing to see this year are Felix' (The Tuesday Night Machines) excellent video-reports from the floor... Here's his playlist, enjoy!
(it looks like he is still adding episodes at the time I write this, so feel free to chech this blogpost again tomorrow or later this week)
While I was gone, Raul Pena kept on making new A-100 video tutorials.
Here's the next series (now presented here as a playlist instead of weekly updating a blogpost), showing you all the ins and outs of the A-106-5 SEM Filter.
A-106-5 12dB
SEM Filter
Module A-106-5 is a 12dB multimode filter that is based on the filter circuit of the Oberheim SEM module.
The filter is equipped with a band pass output and a combined low/notch/high pass output.
For this output a control knob defines the relation between low and high pass signal.
If both signals appear at the same level (i.e. middle position of the Mix knob) one obtains a notch filter. Otherwise the low or high pass signal predominates.
The module does not feature self oscillation in contrast to most of the other filters of the A-100 system.
The module generates a distorted audio signal if the level control is set to about 50% (i.e. center position) or more with A-100 standard signals like VCOs.
Inputs:
Audio In, CV1 In without attenuator, CV2 In with Polarizer
Outputs:
Bandpass Out, Low/Highpass Mix-Out
Controls:
Audio Attenuator, CV2 Polarizer, Frequency, Resonance, LP/HP Mix
Qu-Bit Electronix has published more info and a video about their latest module, the Nano Rand.
"Nano Rand is a sample and hold, noise source, and random voltage generator in 4 HP.
It takes inspiration from and improves upon the analog concept of a random voltage module; moving forward in leaps and bounds into the digital domain.
At its core is an 8 bit microcontroller which allows for an extremely versatile, and more importantly, musical type of random.
- 4 switchable random voltage algorithms
- Can be internally or externally clocked
- Random gate source that generates musical derivatives of incoming clock
- Generates random frequency audio rate square waves allowing it to be both audio and control source
- Random voltage can be unipolar or bipolar
Doepfer has published another (4th?) collection of new prototypes of the A-157-1/2/3, and seem to be preparing it for a NAMM 2015 lauch...
I have been following this project since February 2011, and i am still looking forward to this one...
The graphics have changed, the A-157-1, the main trigger part with 160 buttons and 160 leds, has a nice black-and-silver colorscheme, and the function buttons on the right side have been labelled now...
The full subsystem will still contain several modules:
- The LED/button matrix module A-157-1,
It seems to feature some nice functions like Invert Row (when shift left and right are operated simultaneously) have been added for each row, plus mute and select for each track, shift pattern, first/last step and different running modes (fwd/back/pendulum/random)
- The trigger output module A-157-2
The A-157-2 provides single outputs for each track
- , and one of the control modules (A-157-3, A-157-4 ...)
A simple controller with basic functions like start/stop, reset and clock, which can be controlled via input triggers or the dedicated push-buttons.
Release date: ~ early in 2015 (NAMM!?)
(only A-157-1 ... 3, so far there is no release date available for the planned module A-157-4 and the stand-alone unit Dark Flow!)
Update January 16 2016:
Dieter in the Doepfer Yahoo Usergroup:
"The A-157 are now in production and the first batch will be shipped ~ middle of February. But it depends upon the orders of your dealer when they arrive at your dealer. As far as I know the first batch is already sold out."
