Doepfer in Black... Vintage Style

Exciting news from Doepfer for this upcoming NAMM2016.

First this:
Finally they decided to release modules featuring black frontpanels with white print and vintage style knobs.
The result is truly stunning... i would love to change all my silver frontpanels rightaway :)
It will also look great with their latest series of Special Edition modules.

Doepfer A-100 System in black, with vintage-style knobs (click to enlarge)

Imagine this with their new colored knobs too... i'm very excited for this :)

So far for these modules vintage versions are planned:
A-110-1 Standard VCO, ƒA-110-2 Basic VCO, A-114 Ring Modulator, ƒA-118 Noise/Random, A-120 24dB Transistor Ladder Lowpass Filter, A-132-3 Dual Linear/Exponential VCA, A-138 Mixer, A-140 ADSR, A-147-2 VCDLFO, A-148 S&H/T&H, A-180-2 2x4 Multiple and the A-190-3 USB/MIDI-to-CV/Gate Interface.
If there are sufficient inquiries they will offer the black panels and vintage style knobs as spare parts.

There are also plans to offer more modules with black panels (e.g. the sequencer series A-154/A-155/A-156).

Each module (old and new ones) will be available in any case in the standard version (i.e. silver-grey aluminium with grey knobs).
But they will offer some modules also in the vintage edition (black front panels with black glossy vintage style knob with metal disc
at the top) or other Special Editions (like the black/yellow A-124 Wasp, the blue/white A-110-4 Thru Zero Quadrature VCO or the (upcoming) cream/black A-106-5). So there is no need to dispute. Simply order the version you prefer.

Angled view (click to enlarge)

After NAMM Doepfer will decide how they will proceed...
 
Update 22/02/2016:
Presumably in April 2016 these modules will follow as vintage versions:
A-112 Sampler, A-138b Mixer, A-154 Seq, A-155 Seq, A-156 Dual Quantizer, A-160-5, A-170 Slew Limiter, A-188-1 BBD and A-199 Spring Reverb.

Likewise the Low Cost Cases A-100LC3, A-100LC6, A-100LC9 and A-100LCB will be available in black coated versions from April 2016. 
The above picture shows the vintage modules mounted into a black A-100LC3. 
More information, prices, picture, release dates will be available about middle of March 2016. 
The surcharges will be in the range Euro 45 (A-100LC3) to Euro 80 (A-100LC9).

Modular Bacon 1-3 by Autotross

Now here's an interesting 'new' series of modular synth experiments/jams created by Autotross.
He created three videos in this series already, the third one was released today, inspired by - and created during the blizard.
Enjoy!

Video 1: Modular Bacon 01: Rainy Resonance

" Patch Notes:Intellijel uVCF in self oscillation modulated by random hits on the Dixie LFO for water drops. MakeNoise MMG with a slightly out of sync Function for the rising tone. Simple 4-note melody from DPO sequenced by Rene. Delay courtesy of Memory Boy."

Video 2: Modular Bacon 02: Derezzed Circuit

" Patch Notes:Sequenced by MakeNoise Rene, which sends a gate every 4 steps to create ghost notes whose prominence is controlled by the envelope's release. Saw and Final output taken from DPO and modulated by a Doepfer Sample and Hold. Kick drum made with Intellijel uVCF. MMG for the filter, Pamela's Workout for clocking, Memory Boy for delay, and Daft Punk for subconcious inspiration."

Video 3: Modular Bacon 03: Blizzard

" Recorded live during today's blizzard, burrrrr!
Patch Notes:
Wind from Doepfer A-118 Noise generator fed through Intellijel uVCF with cutoff modulated by the 118's random volt output. Truck idling and driving away created with MakeNoise DPO's final output jostled about by Function on repeat. Sirens made the same way using the saw output and slower Function modulation.
Stay warm!"

Uploaded by Autotross

Autotross on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/autotross

Autotross on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autotross

Using an A-118 to Liven Up A Bassline (Look, No Hands)

One of the main problems that I have when performing live with a modular synth is that i only have two hands.
This new PatchPourri post shows an example how to simply  'automate' a filter with an A-118 Noise/Random Voltage module.
This can add a nice random effect to your basslines, with the right settings, and might be useful in live situations where you can't pay attention to everything.

I don't use the Noise audio-outputs of the A-118 Noise/Random Voltages a lot, but i love using the random outputs of this module.
(I even added a 2nd Random output to this module a few weeks ago - find my blog-post about it HERE)

The patch goes as follows;
A sequence on the MAQ16/3 controls an A-111 VCO sawtooth that goes into an A-121 Multimode filter
A-118 RND output controls the Filter cutoff, the other (copied) A-118 RND output controls the Resonance.
I added an envelope to the A-121 CV2-input to make it a little bit more punchy.

No edits or effects... no hands (just watch the LEDs on the A-118)
All hands were free for simple additional drums from my Machinedrum.

Video: Using an A-118 Random Voltage to liven up a bassline - PatchPourri III by PatchPierre

" Short PatchPierre Tutorial (Look... no hands, just watch the A-118's LEDs)
Equipment used: Doepfer A-100 system,A-118 Noise/RND Voltage and A-121 Multimode BandPass filter plus Roland R8 and Machinedrum"

This principle was also (maybe even better) used in one of my earlier A-120 videos, just keep your eye on the yellow wire.

Doepfer A-118 Extra Random Output Modification

A-118 front panel,
secured and ready
for drilling

In preparation for the next #ModularBattle round, i figured out i had to do something to get a little bit more out of my pretty basic set of Doepfer Modules.

I decided to add an extra Random Output to my A-118 Noise/Random Voltage module, which was quite an easy job.

After i removed the knobs and the sockets i could remove the frontpanel of the module.
I mounted it on a flat piece of (old)wood, and secured it with two nails to avoid the frontpanel slipping away.
With a nail and a hammer i punched a small guide-hole for my drill, and drilled an extra hole for the new mini-jack connector.

To protect the front-plate, you can use an adhesive foil or (painter's) masking tape to cover the front, but if you drill very carefully, and don't wipe but blow the aluminium-scrapes off the module you'll be fine.

A-118 extra random output wiring

The new mini-jack connector was one that i ordered from Doepfer earlier (i have a big collection of mini-jack connectors, knobs and switches - they sell them seperately as spare parts) and the connection with the other random output was made with 2 pieces of wire and my soldering-iron.
The connection was as easy as it looks, and it looks like my soldering-skills are (slightly) improving...

Finished module with
extra random output

Don'be afraid for any CV-loss now that the signal has to be distributed over the two Random busses.
Doepfer confirmed to me that "this just works as a mini multiple and doesn't lower the CV"

Now that the modification is done, the module sends 2 similar (controllable) random voltages to both outputs that i can use for all kinds of purposes throughout my modular synthesizer.

For a modification that was done in less than an hour, it is a nice improvement...

The mods described on this site will most likely void any warranty and, if not done carefully, can damage the circuit board, IC chips, and faceplates.

"The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war." John Lyly's 'Euphues' (1578) #ModularBattle

Doepfer A118 Filtering with A120 VCF Low Pass Filter

More Video from Raul Pena (of http://raulsworldofsynths.com/)
This time almost 45 minutes long tutorials on using the A-118 Noise/ Random Voltage Generator in combination with the A-120 Moog Style Low Pass Filter... creating some interesting wind-effects...

Video 1 : Doepfer A118 Filtering with A120 VCF Low Pass Filter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vin9o4GpJs8

" Part One Discussing the features of the Doepfer A188 Noise and Random Voltage Source module. Followed by a Demonstration of Filtering white and Colored Noise with the Doepfer A120 VCF Low Pass Filter. Sound and Video by Raul Pena. "

Video 2 : Doepfer A118 Filtering with A120 VCF Low Pass Filter Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZxRsxPLuI4

"Part Two Ongoing Demonstration of Filtering white and Colored Noise from the A118 Noise module with the Doepfer A120 VCF Low Pass Filter. Modulation Capabilities also explored with A147 VC LFO and A145 LFO. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Read more on the A-118 HERE
Read more on the A-120 HERE

Filters V : A-120 24 dB/Oct Low Pass Moog Style Filter VCF1

Perhaps the best known low-pass filter in analogue synthesis was developed by Dr Robert (Bob) Moog in the late sixties.

It was used in the modular Moog synthesisers of that decade, but it got really popular in 1970 with the introduction of the Minimoog.

Moog's 4-pole filter is built with a co-called "transistor ladder" design with a cut-off slope of -24 dB/octave. That’s what gives it its classic, legendary Moog sound.
 Resonance is adjustable all the way up to self-oscillation - in which case the filter behaves like a sine wave oscillator.

The Doepfer A-120 is a very nice Moog emulator, but still most reviews say it doesn't sound 'Moogy' enough.
( i sadly don't have a real Moog to compare and verify that )
Moog's original circuit was flawed because it exhibited a small amount of distortion. Many engineers would have tried to correct this but Moog didn't.
He probably found that the sound was musically pleasing and he was probably right...
Maybe this module just sounds a bit 'too clean'.
It does still have a warm character, and it sounds very impressive in my opinion.
( and definitely unlike any of my other filters ).

Whenever i hear the name Moog i mainly think of great (Minimoog) synth-lead solo's or hand-played fat basslines, but you can also use this filter for wobbly dub-step basslines, sequenced loops and other (housey) basslines.

An interesting and more in-depth study on the Analysis of the Moog Transistor Ladder and Derivative Filters can be found in this PDF by dr. Timothy E. Stinchcombe.

Video : Doepfer A-120 (Moog) Low Pass Filter Demo by NetPierre

" Doepfer A-120 (Moog) Low Pass Filter Demo by NetPierre
created for my blog at http://PatchPierre.blogspot.com
A simple sawtooth wave from my A-110 into Audio in.
An envelope generator signal is sent into CV2, and some noise from the A-118 is fed into CV3.
Drums are provided by an Elektron Machinedrum "

Analog Noise vs. Digital Noise

My Doepfer A-100 system includes 2 Noise different generators, the A-118 Noise/Random Voltage Generator, and the A-117 Digital Noise Generator.

A noise generator is an oscillator that produces an internal noise signal, typically white or pink noise.

Noise Generators produce random signals, containing harmonics on all frequencies, and can be modified into the desired tone. 

The A-118 produces white and colored noise. The white noise is the well-known 'hiss'.

The spectrum for the white noise has the same amount of energy in every section. 

The colored noise output of the module is a mix of blue noise ( high frequency component ) and red noise ( low frequency component )

Noise in the audio spectrum can be used in many ways, most commonly in wind-effects, or in cymbal crashes and hi-hat -sounds.

The A-117 Digital Noise sounds very different and has less control possibillities.

This module has 2 outputs, consisting of mixes of multiple oscillators to re-create vintage Roland TR-808 and TR-606 sounds like the hi-hat, cymbals and cowbell.

One output has a mix of 2 fixed digital oscillators, that can be used as a basis for the distinctive 808 cowbell-sound, the outher output has 6 oscillators to form cymbal and hi-hat sounds.

The Random outputs of both modules can be used as a Control Voltage for all kinds of stuff. I prefer the Analog Noise for that, simply because it has more controllers.

I often use it as a modulation source to add subtle changes in a filter (check out a short example HERE), but these modules can also provide interesing effects in combination with the A-148 Sample and Hold module. More on that in a later post...

Video: A-118 Demo 

A118 Noise and Random voltage generator demo made by @Hawklord2112