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.
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
Yay... finally a new filter-module :-)
Last week i treated myself with an A-106-5 SEM Filter.
The A-106-5 is a 12dB multimode filter that is based on the filter circuit of the Oberheim SEM module (Synthesizer Expander Module), Oberheim's first official analog synthesizer that was produced from 1974 to 1979.
On the outside it looks quite like the A-124 Wasp filter, but sound-wise they are very different.
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 sadly does not feature self oscillation in contrast to most of the other filters of the A-100 system.
I had heard some good things about it, and it really sounds incredible.
I do have a slight preference for 12dB filters (like the A-121 Multimode Filter and the WASP filter - two of my favorites), and this one is another great sounding filter module.
The sound is hard to describe but i can say this one sounds fat enough for me (not very thin like most reviews say), and is already in my favorite filter-list.
It does not sound like any of the other filters that i own...
The only thing i miss in this filter module is an CV input to control the resonance, just like the A-121 Multimode Filter or the other Oberheim filter, the A-122 24 dB Lowpass filter VCF3 have.
Video: Doepfer A-106-5 Filter demo
" Short Doepfer A-106-5 Demo by NetPierre
Starts with a sequenced bassline, generated by my Doepfer MAQ16/3 and Doepfer VCO A-110 (saw wave)
Bandpass Mode first, LP/HP later
A-118 Random voltages added to VC2 input somewhere in the middle.
Drums provided by an Elektron Machinedrum
More info on the A-100 and related stuff at http://PatchPierre.blogspot.com "
The A-124 is a special 12dB multimode filter using the filter circuit of the EDP Wasp, a monophonic black and yellow analog synthesizer, that was built around the end of the seventies and manufactured by the UK company Electronic Dream Plant.
I totally love the sound of the A-124 Wasp Filter module. It does have it's own special sound due to the special circuits in it which makes the module sound a little dirty and distorted. This can sound very nice with extreme filtersweeps, i often control the cut-off frequency with the pressure CV from the A-198 Ribbon Controller.
The module has 2 audio outputs; a band-pass and a combined low/notch/high pass output that can be controlled with the 'mix' knob that defines the relative amounts of low and high pass signals.
( middle position is notch )
One downside of the module is the lack of a QCV input like most A-100 filters have, so sadly the Resonance cannot be controlled via an external voltage. You can only adjust this manually.
It would have been nice if the Mix could also be controlled by CV... IMHO
Out of the box this filter can't go into self oscillation, in contrast to most of the other filters in the A-100 system, but modifying for self-oscillation is quite easy;
Soldering a 10k resistor in parallel to R13 (27k) leads to self-oscillation of the filter at the max. resonance setting of the resonance control.*
The first Doepfer filter that i ever bought was the A-121 Multimode Filter. It is a 12 dB/Octave filter, and has multiple simultaneous outputs available; a Low-Pass, Band-Pass, High-Pass and Notch (or Band Reject).
It also has 4 CV inputs, 2 for adjusting the cutoff frequency and 2 for resonance.
This is still one of my favorite filter modules, the multiple outputs are very useful, and i like all the CV inputs. It just gives you so much more control over the filter, and that's what i like most in a module; maximum control.
Although it is 'only' a 12 dB filter it sounds very nice, from very smooth and warm up to quite rough, especially with the resonance turned up ( ...up to self-oscillation ).
Most of the times i patch an A-174-2 Wheels CV into FCV1, and a simple envelope CV to the (adjustable) FCV2. Works fine in most situations.
With some analog or digital noise added to QCV2 to give it a touch of unpredictable resonance you will quickly get a convincing fat bassline.
Together with an A-138 B (exp) Mixer you can easily make some pretty impressive stacked bass-sounds, all with just a single filter-module.
Find A-121 sound examples at Andreas Krebs Blog : HERE As the special circuit CEM3320 used in this module is no longer available the module is discontinued. I believe there are still a few available, but they don't make new ones anymore. Doepfer advices modules like the A-106-6 ( with eight simultaneous outputs! ) or A-107Multi-TypeMorphing Filter as a replacement.
