Showing posts with label A-190-4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A-190-4. Show all posts

Friday, March 21, 2014

More A-190-4 MIDI-CV/Gate/Sync Interface Specifications

Last year, quickly after the A-190-4 prototype suddenly appeared in the wild, i already contacted Dieter Doepfer about some of the specs of the module.

The Doepfer A-190-4 will be the new replacement for module A-190-1 which is no longer available.
The functions of A-190-1 and A-190-4 are nearly the same (Midi In, Midi Out, CV1, CV2, Gate, Clock, Reset), but the operation of the A-190-4 has been improved because a 3-digit LED display is available.

The current values of all parameters (like Midi channel, reference note, clock divider) can be read back and modified by means of up/down buttons.
In addition A-190-4 is equipped with an USB interface and the external +5V supply is no longer available.

A-190(-1)  MIDI-CV/Sync
Interface
The A-190-1 has 2  DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters)
In the original A-190-1 DAC 1 is 'hard-wired' to receive MIDI note messages and convert them into control voltages available at CV output socket CV 1. This DAC has 12-bit resolution, which gives excellent tuning resolution (in steps of 1/4096th). As a rule, DAC 1 will be used to control VCO pitch.
DAC 2 can be assigned to your choice of MIDI controller. This DAC has 7-bit resolution (1/128th steps).

At the time (almost one year ago) Dieter couldn't tell much about the processing power and if any other functions would be available (arpeggiator? like the A-190-3), but this week I have managed to get a bit more info.
Christian Assall, software developer at Doepfer, was kind enough to explain a few more things about the A-190-4 via e-mail:

A-190-4 Prototype
- "The A-190-4 will have 2 new DACs... Because the development of the A-190-1 was now before more than 15 years, it makes sense to use modern pieces."

- "DAC2 will now also be 12 bit and will have a range of 0 ... 10 + volt ( but can also only use it for velocity/controller and things similar to the A190-1 , but not for pitch/tune controlling like the CV1 - so it's not possible to control two voices - because you also have only one gate ;-) - for polyphonic things we have the A190-5 in development"

About future firmware updates:
- "As the next development in schedule list is the A-190-5 - which is something like a 'great' brother of the A-190-4 - the A-190-4 has in most cases the possibility to inherit his features...
...so it's more a question of what we and the users want and decide to include in a preferably easy to use CV-interface the A-190-4 should be... This also belongs to the topic arpeggiator."

The A-190-1 Arpeg. mode never got released 
About the somewhat hidden arpeggiator-function in the A-190-3:
- " It's more a cost-free present or an eastern-egg like thing than a real feature in my eyes, because it hasn't any dedicated switches or display for that - so I think it's for many users hard to use ...
But if you can - sure you can use it and you can do some arp. things without any additional devices/software ...."

- " We never released this feature in the A-190-1, mostly because of the not optimal user interface, that was not suited in our eyes for additional and such a complex features.
An arp. should have a dedicated/suitable user interface - otherwise it didn't make much sense in my experience/eyes.
Sure also the weak processor power was a reason, not to try with many tricks to get an arp. which is in timing and didn't interfere with the other functions of the module.
So, never to release, was more a matured consideration that came from practical experiences..."

The A-190-1 will be replaced by the A-190-4 from about April 2014.
As of April, the Doepfer BS basic systems will come with an A-190-4 installed...

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

More A-190-4 News

I contacted Dieter Doepfer about the A-190-4 USB/MIDI-to-CV/Gate/ Sync Interface that showed up at a modular synthesizer workshop in Munich earlier this month...
They showed a prototype of a module that wasn't announced yet, and i was glad Dieter had a bit more information.

A-190-4 prototype
He replied to me that the A-190-4 will replace the A-190-1 as the A-190-1 has been developed more than 15 years ago and is a bit old-fashioned and long-winded to operate.
Mainly the missing display has been complained by several customers (i.e. no display of the parameter like midi channel, reference note, scale settings, portamento and pitch-bend range, clock divider, status of the built-in (software) LFO and so on). 

The basic functions of the A-190-4 will be the same as the A-190-1 but the man-machine interface will be better because of the display that shows the parameter value. It will also be equipped with USB. 

The module is still in the prototype state and they expect that it will be available end of 2013 or early in 2014. 
Pricing was not yet available.

At this time Doepfer could not promise that an arpeggiator will be included. 
The programmer of the A-190-4 (Christian Assall) has to decide if this feature will be available (maybe in a future firmware version as the module can be updated via USB)

I guess it does have a little bit more processing power than the original A-190-1, because the 'promised' arpeggiator function on that module never got released.
Last year Dieter already explained to me that there were plans to add an arpeggiator when the A-190-1 was designed about 15 years ago. 
But they found out later that the processor power was not sufficient to add this feature...

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Doepfer A-190-4 USB/Midi to CV/ Sync Interface Prototype Revealed at Workshop

A few weeks ago, on July 13, Dieter Doepfer personally appeared at a modular synthesizer workshop in a shop in Munich, Germany, together with a huge Monster Base rack filled with Doepfer modules and an LCB angled basic case with some of the newer modules like the earlier announced A-157 Trigger Sequencer subsystem and the A-190-5 Polyphonic MIDI-to-CV/Gate Interface.

The two-part workshop was very well attended: 50 synth freaks (newcomers and advanced users) followed Dieter Doepfer’s explanations and presentations with enthusiasm.
Although i wasn't there, it can see what an amazing event this must have been; the A-100 modular system explained by its inventor...

The new Doepfer A-190-5 (Polyphonic) and A-190-4  (Mono) MIDI-to-CV converters

A-190-4 prototype
Find the full report and many great pictures at http://greatsynthesizers.com/en/general-en/2013/07/dieter-doepfer-introduces-new-a-100-modules/

Besides all the new A-100 modules there was also a prototype of an A-190-4 USB/Midi to CV/ Sync Interface, that hasn't even been announced yet...
It looks a bit like any other basic Doepfer MIDI-CV converter (like the A-190-1 and A-190-3), but this one has a basic seven segment LED display for showing parameter settings.
I hope that this one does have a (basic arpeggiator function though...

I hope to get more info soon...

Picture by http://greatsynthesizers.com/en/
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