Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH is a manufacturer of audio hardware based in Gräfeling, Germany, founded by Dieter Doepfer.The product range covers analog modular systems, MIDI controller, MIDI hardware sequencers, MIDI-to-CV/Gate/Sync Interfaces, MIDI master keyboards and special MIDI equipment.
Dieter Doepfer began developing audio hardware with a Voltage Controlled Phaser (VCP) module for the Formant, a do-it-yourself-kit analog synthesizer from Elektor magazine in 1977. Several legendary modular synths followed while Doepfer also focused on the development of MIDI equipment during the 1980s.
In 1992, Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH released the MIDI analog sequencer MAQ16/3 which was designed in cooperation with Kraftwerk.
In the beginning, the company had direct sales and interested musicians would receive a demonstration by visiting other customers since the modular systems were deemed too difficult for typical music shop employees to demonstrate.
Facing greater publicity, Doepfer shifted the distribution to specialized points of sales.
Read more about Doepfer's history at http://patchpierre.blogspot.nl/p/doepfer-keys-interview_30.html
,or find blogposts about their history and historical products at http://patchpierre.blogspot.nl/search/label/Doepfer%20History
Timeline of notable events in Doepfer History
Voltage Controlled Phaser module for the German Formant modular synthesizer 1979
Polyphonic Modular System PMS (quad-modules, like quad-VCO, quad-VCF...) 1980
Voice Modular System VMS (one synthesizer voice with 2 VCOs,2ADSR,1VCF,1VCA
on one board 100x160mm, designed with CEM chips from Doug Curtis/USA) 1982
on one board 100x160mm, designed with CEM chips from Doug Curtis/USA) 1982
Sound Sampler (8 bit voltage controlled sampler with interface and sampling software for Commodore 64) 1984
Loop option, compander and synthesis software for Sound Sampler (FM, Fourier, Waveshaping and so on) 1985
CCU Computer Control Unit for Sound Sampler 1985
CCU Computer Control Unit for Sound Sampler 1985
MIDI master keyboard LMK1 1989
MIDI keyboard MMK2 1989
MIDI master keyboard controller MKC1/2 1989
MIDI master keyboard LMK3 with piano touch simulation 1990
MIDI master keyboard LMK1V2 1990
16 voice MIDI expander SX-16 1990
Drum to MIDI converter DMC-8 1990
Universal MIDI out interface MONA 1990
Doepfer MVP1 MIDI Volume Pedal 1991
MOGLI Glove discontinued - December 1995
Doepfer MAUSI MIDI-Analog / SYNC Interface - September 1995
First batch of A-100 modules: A-110, A-114, A-115, A-116,
A-118, A-119, A-120, A-121, A-122, A-123, A-125, A-128, A-130, A-131,
A-138a/b, A-140, A-145, A-148, A-150, A-160, A-161, A-162, A-170, A175,
A-180, A-190. 1995
First batch of A-100 modules: A-110, A-114, A-115, A-116,
A-118, A-119, A-120, A-121, A-122, A-123, A-125, A-128, A-130, A-131,
A-138a/b, A-140, A-145, A-148, A-150, A-160, A-161, A-162, A-170, A175,
A-180, A-190. 1995
Doepfer A-100 Modular System 1996
MIDI-to-SYNC interface MSY2 1997
MIDI-to-CV interface MCV4 1997
Limited edition (100 units) MS-404 with a green faceplate released 1997
A-126 Frequency Shifter, A-155 Sequencer A-178 Theremin, A-134 Panning,
A-142 Voltage Controlled Decay/Gate - December 1997
MIDI-to-CV interface MCV4 1997
Limited edition (100 units) MS-404 with a green faceplate released 1997
A-126 Frequency Shifter, A-155 Sequencer A-178 Theremin, A-134 Panning,
A-142 Voltage Controlled Decay/Gate - December 1997
A-124 Wasp filter, A-135 VC Mixer and A-138 Distortion/Waveshaper - May 2000
Last MS-404 sold - 2001
Power Supply II introduced 2002
A-108 Filter, A-166 Logic, A-103 Filter, A-104 Trautonium Filter,
A-174 Joystick - Spring 2002
Blue LEDs option for the A-100 - Spring 2002
Doepfer MAUSI MIDI-Analog / SYNC Interface Discontinued - April 2002
A-105 SSM Filter, A-107 Morphing Filter, A-198 ribbon Controller - January 2003
A-154 Sequencer Controller 2004
Last Power Supply I sold - early 2005
A-111-5 Mini-Synth released - May 2009
Dark Energy released - June 2009
Dark Matter first mentioned as Dark Energy-expander - April 2011
Dark Time Analog Sequencer 2011
First mention of a Dark Energy II - February 2012
Dark Energy and A-111-5 Discontinued - February 2012
Dark Energy II prototype shown at MusikMesse - March 2012
Dark Energy II released - October 2012
A-192-2 CV-to-MIDI/USB Converter - January 2013
Dark Flow announced (Dark-style A-157 Trigger Sequencer) 2013
A-100LCB case, A-171-2 Serge VCSL, A-180-2 Multiples,
A-190-5 Polyphonic MIDI-to-CV/Gate, A-190-8 USB/MIDI-to-Sync,
A-192-2 Dual CV/Gate-to-MIDI/USB, New A-130/A-131 VCAs,
A-157 Trigger Sequencer subsystem - April 2013
Doepfer MAQ16/3 Dark Edition announced 2013
Doepfer A-190-4 announced as A-190 Follow-up 2013
Dark Energy II released - October 2012
A-192-2 CV-to-MIDI/USB Converter - January 2013
Dark Flow announced (Dark-style A-157 Trigger Sequencer) 2013
A-100LCB case, A-171-2 Serge VCSL, A-180-2 Multiples,
A-190-5 Polyphonic MIDI-to-CV/Gate, A-190-8 USB/MIDI-to-Sync,
A-192-2 Dual CV/Gate-to-MIDI/USB, New A-130/A-131 VCAs,
A-157 Trigger Sequencer subsystem - April 2013
Doepfer MAQ16/3 Dark Edition announced 2013
Doepfer A-190-4 announced as A-190 Follow-up 2013
