Showing posts with label A-180. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A-180. Show all posts

Friday, June 21, 2013

Quick Tip XIII : Improvised Multiples

The bigger your Eurorack gets, the more often you need longer cables.
In case you don't have enough long cables, i would advice you to put an A-180(-2) Multiples module somewhere in the middle of your system so you can extend your cable-reach from there.
A-164-1 as
improvised
Multiple
If you don't have enough multiple modules, you can also look if you have other options.

A-165 Trigger
Modifier Inputs
You should know that some Doepfer modules have multiple in- or outputs that are interconnected in a way that they can act as multiples as well...

You can recognize these in/outputs by the connected line between the mini-jacks.
The A-175 Voltage Inverter  and A-165 Trigger Modifier  are nice examples,  both have two separate channels, so also two multiples.
The A-164-1 Manual Gate module can even be used as 3 separate multiples.
The 2 outputs on the A-119 External Input module are connected together too, as well as the audio inputs on the A-126 Voltage Controlled Frequency Shifter.
A few more Doepfer modules also have this option, let me know in the comments if you find other modules that have this possibility.

This 'trick' works for CV signals and for audio but I should mention that if you use these modules as an improvised Multiple, most of the times you cannot use the module's original functions at the same time.

Friday, November 23, 2012

New Doepfer Announcements

Doepfer released preliminary information about two new modules.

The A-190-8 is a MIDI/USB to Sync interface.
Basically this module divides the incoming MIDI or USB clock messages into smaller steps.
You could see it as a modular version of the MSY2 MIDI-to-SYNC Converter that was announced in December last year, but with multiple simultaneous outputs and added USB support.
Funny that i already posted my idea for a module like this in late 2010 (Read that blogpost HERE)

A-190-8 Prototype 1
The main application of the module is the control of clocked A-100 modules like sequencers, sequencer controllers, trigger divider, trigger sequencer and similar units, but also to trigger/reset LFO's, envelope generators and more.

The A-190-8 will have 10 available outputs which are not yet fixed. 
Preliminary info can be found HERE, and if the users think other combinations of clocks or start/stop/reset outputs would be better, Doepfer can change that because the outputs are generated by the firmware of the processor.

Read some of the user suggestions at the Doepfer Yahoo Usergroup.

Doepfer left out the usual DIN SYNC socket because to create that you only need clock and start/stop on two pins of the DIN socket. 
If there are sufficient inquiries Doepfer may offer a special cable with two 3.5 jack plugs on one side and a DIN plug on the other. 
(For example to synchronize a TB-303)

A-180 Multiples and
a 2 HP blindplate,
the size of
the new A-180-2
For early in 2013 also a slim version of the A-180 Multiples module is planned.
This will be called A-180-2 and will be half the size of a regular A-180.
Because of the only 2 HP width nuts cannot be used to mount the pc board by means of the socket nuts at the front panel. 
Instead of that the PC board is mounted by screws and spacers at the front panel.(pic)

Personally i don't think i want one of those in my system because of how a nut-less module looks, but i can imagine there are people who applaud space-saving modules like this.

There were also a few other announcements/updates:
In December the A-192-2 (Dual CV/Gate-to-USB/Midi interface) will be available and even the hardware of the Polyphonic CV/Gate interface A-190-5 is ready.
"Christian (Assall) is about to program the firmware. But it takes longer than expected  and so the A-190-5 will be available early in 2013."

Special thanks to Bakis Sirros in the Doepfer Usergroup for sharing parts of this info.
Bakis can be found via multiple ways, support him and his band(s) to help the Greece economy a bit:

www.parallel-worlds-music.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Parallel-Worlds/192093934136476
www.myspace.com/interconnectedmusic
www.myspace.com/memorygeist
www.DiN.org.uk
www.vu-us.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

DIY A-180 2 x 4 Multiples Module

Unwired DIY A-180
Okay... Maybe not my smartest DIY-project, but at least i tried;
In one of my earlier posts about Doepfer's pre-punched blindplates i stated that you can easily make your own A-180 Multiples module, and save yourself a little bit of money by making your own.

That last thing is correct; it does save you some money (even a bit more if you shop around for components), but if you count the time putting the parts together you can ask yourself if it was also worth your precious time.

I did order a few of the 4HP width blindplates (punched for 8 socket / identical to A-180 front panel but without printing) and also ordered a bunch of sockets from Doepfer and just had to give it a try.

Mounting the jack sockets was simple though the pre-punched holes. Because i wanted it to be a 2 x 4 multiple i thought it would be smart to turn the both sets of 4 multiples in a different way for easy wiring and a certain balance. (but not really necessary)
The wiring was a bit harder. it's not easy to solder very short wires, especially for a beginner like me. It took ages for me to solder all the sockets together, but i finally got it together and the end result works fine. Be sure you leave no exposed wires on the back, a passive module like the A-180 cannot cause lot of electrical damage but can cause audio or CV 'leakage'.

But... was it worth the 10 Euro's that i  saved by buying the loose components?
For me it just wasn't, but i can image with even cheaper components and connectors or a piece of breadboard instead of soldered wires it might work for you.
Because i still have another pre-punched A-180 blindpanel i will also make the other one.

Not only to work on my soldering skills, but in my opinion you never have enough multiples.

The A-180 front panel without printing is available as a spare part. It can also be used for other DIY modules, for example as a connection unit for other modules that have to be controlled by the universal vactrol module A-101-9 .

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Volts per Octave

The Volts-per-Octave standard luckily turned out to be a quite good one.
A lot of (early) synthesizers manufacturers adapted this standard, 'invented' and popularized by Bob Moog.

Best known manufacturers of early products using the 1V/Oct standard are Roland, Moog, Sequential Circuits, Oberheim and ARP. The big benefit of standards like these is inter-compatibility between products of different manufacturers. It allowes them to communicate better.

The V/Oct standard was wider adapted as other standards, like for example Yamaha and Korg's Hertz-per-Volt standard, that  represented an octave of pitch by doubling the voltage. 
A few synths that use the Hz/V standard are:
Korg: 770, 900-PS Preset, M-500 Micro Preset, M-500SP Micro Preset, Mini Korg, MS-10, MS-20, MS-50, Synthe-Bass, X-911
Yamaha: CS5, CS10, CS15, CS15D, CS20M, CS30
Moog: Taurus I Bass Pedals
Paia: 2720, 4700 Series


The Hz/V standard was used before the log converter was used in VCO's and is essentially linear control as can be found on various signal generators and function generators like those used by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop before they got a VCS3*. There are/were solutions available that convert from  Hz/Volt to V/Oct and vice-versa.  ( like the Korg MS-02 ).

No wonder that the A-100 system uses the V/Oct. standard. You can easily synchronize your system with almost any (old) machine that you have lying around, and most MIDI-to-CV converters use the same standard too.

For example i love using the CV (and Gate) output of my Roland TB-303 to control my A-100 system. The signal arrives at my system via a  A-180 2x4 multiple, so i have 3 copies of both signals available at any time.
Sometimes i use the CV slightly detuned for an interesting effect, sometimes i put it through a voltage inverter first, something that doesn't work out with all your 303-lines because of tuning.

The Gate output (trigger) of the TB-303 can be sent through a delay for some more interesting echo-like effects.
There are so many possibilities for your other gear to communicate with your A-100 with the 1 V/Oct standard... just go ahead and try... and amaze yourself.

*thanks to Tony Steventon for additional info

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Best Friends Forever II

Two other modules i hardly ever unwire are the A-190 MIDI-CV/Sync Interface and the A-182-1 Switched Multiple.
I use this combination to quickly switch between my Keyboard and my A-198 Ribbon Controller to control various sounds.

Like i did with my A-180, i split up the A-182-1 into a 2 x 4 Multiplier.
The lower half handles the Gate signal while the upper half handles the CV/Pitch.

The yellow cables from the A-190 go directly into the Multiplier, and the black cables that go into the Multiplier come (almost) directly from the A-198 Trautonium/Ribbon Controller's outputs, one rack lower.
With the red switches i can now manually decide what instrument i would like to use for the sound i am working on...

If i switch it to 1 it uses my MIDI keyboard, if switched to 2 i can use my Ribbon Controller.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Happy Modding I

One of the easiest, and perhaps the most usefull DIY modifications you can do to your A-100 system is modifying the A-180 module.

Originally the module has 8 interconnected sockets that act as all identical multiples, but like the manual says you can split this into 2 groups of four by removing the soldering bridge in the middle or cutting the board.

The manual doesn't say anything about the warranty if you do this, but just be very carefull.

An easy job, done in a few minutes and like i said very usefull, especially for the smaller systems IMO