Most Wanted VII: A-1?? Speech Module

Time to get one of my earlier segments off the shelf.

Since i first started to write this blog, i have posted quite a few 'Most Wanted' posts about modules i would really like to see being made by Doepfer.

In some cases i even did some predictions and/or wild guesses which proved to be not that far from what has come out of the hands of Doepfer lately.

For example... Take a look for example at my blogpost from December 2010, and compare it with the details on Doepfer's forthcoming A-190-8 MIDI-to-Sync Interface module.

A-1?? Speech module,
announced in the 2008 Doepfer brochure

I really wish i could tell you more about this one too, but i can't...

The A-1?? Speech Module was first mentioned in the 2008 A-100 brochure, as a 'synthetic human voice moduled controlled by CV/Gate or MIDI' 

I often wondered what this module would be like, and I have been waiting for more info about it ever since.
My hopes were that it would be a module with a SpeakJet chip inside, just like FLAME's Talking Synth, a module that has always intrigued me...
The variety of the SpeakJet chip ranges from speech-like sounds and synthetic robot voices (as well as beeps and alarms), to retro-style sci-fi sounds.
Due to the structure of the Speakjet (with its complex sound synthesizer, preset sounds and serial interface) it offers an impressive range of possibilities. The SpeakJet is not sample based as you might think, it has its own sound engine.

Video: Speakjet Chip Demo Mode

" In this video I demonstrate the Speakjet chip in demo mode in which you can hear all the pre-loaded vocal and sounds that the chip outputs in demo mode.
FYI: I used the mic connection instead of the 120ohm speaker that they recommend since you can barley hear the chip(in demo mode w/o an amplifier)!"

Uploaded by sergiolcjr

To be honest, i don't even care what speech-chip the A-1?? will have inside, the thought alone of bringing synthesized speech into a Eurorack modular is a good thought.
In my opinion it is hard enough nowadays to invent original and new truly analog modules, so i would welcome the use of more digital chips and circuits integrated in a CV/Gate-controlled modular environment.

Sadly enough, this module disappeared in all later Doepfer brochures.

I will investigate this further and post more about this module later... i hope... ;-)

A few days after posting this Dieter replied to my blogpost;
" The response to the announcement of the speech module was very poor.
And as there is already a similar module available from another manufacturer (Flame Talking Synth) we decided to stop this development and focus on other new modules." 

Find all my earlier 'Most Wanted' posts HERE

Future Modules Update

Last week, Dieter Doepfer took the time to answer some questions in the Yahoo Doepfer A-100 Usergroup on the state of the new modules that will be released this year. I did mention most of them earlier, so no big news this time, but some really informative background info.

About the A-190-5 (four voice polyphonic Midi to CV/Gate interface):
" The new A-190-5 prototype (version with LC display) is on my table since a couple of months. But we did not continue because of some more important projects (e.g. Dark Time, Dark Energy II). I think we will be able to finish the hardware until summer (end of summer is in September :-) but I don't think that the final firmware with all planned modes will ready at that time. But we plan to add the firmware update feature via the USB interface."

Doepfer A-157 Trigger Sequencer, as shown at
MusikMesse 2012. Picture by @Cymatics

A-157 Trigger Sequencer -update:
" We are working on the A-157 right now. The new button/LED board with 16x8 is already made and tested. But we are about to redesign the control board as we determined that the microcontroller used in the first prototype (the pictures with the 8x8 board) is not powerful enough for all planned features. In addition the manufacturer announced the discontinuation of the chip. So it will still take some time until the module is ready."

He continued:
" I hope that these 3 new modules will available during this year: A-192-2 /CV/Gate-to-Midi/USB converter), A-190-5 (polyphonic USB/Midi-to-CV/Gate interface), A-157-1 (16x8 LED/button board with 8 trigger outputs), A-157-2 (control board #1 for A-157-1).
But I'm not sure about the order of the release dates.
Probably the A-192-2 will be the first one as the development is nearly finished (we have to built one more prototype and hope it will be the last one).

We (also) think about a "real" ASR (analog shift register) module because the A-152 cannot be used as ASR in all applications.
But this has no priority at the moment and is not yet mentioned in our list of planned modules."

Note: Please don't call or mail them too often at Doepfer about release-dates or updates of future modules. The Doepfer website is updated very regularly, so you will find all the latest info THERE...

Most Wanted Update - MSY2 Module for A-100 System

Old Version of the MSY2,
the newer ones are in black

Great news...

It looks like the idea that i posted in December 2010 for some kind of extended version of an MSY2 module for the A-100 wasn't that bad.

In the Yahoo Doepfer A-100 Usergroup Dieter Doepfer recently announced that they "...are working on a modular version of the MSY2 with some additional features ( USB interface, several outputs with different clock dividing factors and polarity and some more )."

The MSY2 MIDI-to-SYNC/Clock Interface can be used to convert Midi clock into analog clock signals.

There is no release date or price available so far.

Most Wanted VI - Special Vocoder MIDI-interface

I read the following text on one of Doepfer's A-129 vocoder system pages a long time ago, but it is still on Doepfer's website;

" A special MIDI-interface for the vocoder system is planned.

The basic functions are a 16-way CV-to-MIDI interface and a 16-way MIDI-to-CV interface (way 16 will be used for other functions like controlling slew-rate or voiced/unvoiced).

The CV-to-MIDI section converts the CV outputs of vocoder analysis into MIDI controllers which may be recorded by a computer sequencer. 

The MIDI-to-CV section converts incoming MIDI controller information into CV's for the vocoder synthesis section. 

Additionally we plan to store some factory and user definable 'vocals' in the MIDI interface so that you may call up complete vocals (like 'a', 'e', 'o', 's', 'sh' and so on) by MIDI program change events (may be we use another MIDI event type for this purpose). 

Thus the vocoder system will become a universal MIDI controlled filter system not limited to the standard vocoder features. "

Okay, i must say that it all sounds impressive and also very useful.
I do hope this module will be taken into production, but i believe this has been
on Doepfer's webpage for a while now, which makes me think that this module will probably never be made.
It might be in the Universal 12 bit AD-processor-DA module plans, because these things do need some processing power but i'm not so sure about that...
With all the announced features you could imagine this would not be a cheap module to make, but we'll see though...

Find more of my 'Most Wanted' posts HERE

Most Wanted V - A-100TKB Touch Sensor Keyboard

Perhaps best known for their non-moving touch sensor keyboards were the Electric Dream Plant Wasp and Gnat ( and the Electronic Music Studios EMS Synthi A * ) synthesizers that were produced during the late seventies/ the early eighties.
Doepfer's Touch Sensor Keyboard was announced a loooong time ago.

There have been many prototypes of this , and there have been many suggestions and discussions, but still there is no final design or release-date in sight.

Prototype #1

The first prototype (2005?) was a sequencer + keyboard all-in-one version, that looked like the original Sherman Filterbank, but with a keyboard with metal plates in front of it.
For their second prototype (2007), Doepfer decided to drop the sequencer, to give the buyers the chance to buy their own sequencer ( if they needed one ). This prototype is still my favorite, with it's 25 metal keys... simple and plain.

Prototype #2

In the first two versions of the TKB the hum noise inducted by the sourrounding mains was used as working principle, but they found that this principle did not work perfect in all cases (changing mains intensity, different mains frequencies 50/60Hz, indoor/outdoor, problems with increasing humidity and some problems more).

The Latest prototype, shown at NAMM 2010, was equipped with 16 uniform metal plates. Here is where Doepfer went for another approach, now with capacitive sensing pads.

Still, this was a prototype, and i bet Doepfer got a lot of feedback, but probably not enough (or maybe even too much) to make a final production-model.

From the Doepfer site: 

" The number, shape and dimensions of the pads can be adjusted to the customers wishes but we will be able to manufacture only one or maybe two versions (e.g. one with a keyboard layout like version 1 and 2 and another with a non-keyboard layout like version 3).

Prototype #3

In any case it is planned to separate the control until (i.e. the potentiometers, sockets, LEDs and so on) from the touch section. The touch section could be like a module (i.e. assembled like a module to the frame) or a separate box with a cable that leads to the control module (or external control box for stand-alone applications).

As an option we think about a pressure sensor below the keys that measures the pressure applied to the metal plates. The touch keyboard will be probably equipped with outputs for Gate, CV1 (pitch), CV2 (pressure) and Midi.
Due to the nature of the keyboard velocity measurement is not possible and even the Midi output is monophonic only.
Suitable supports to mount the keyboard case into a 19" rack at different positions and angles are planned for the touch version of the keyboard (not possible for the normal version as the width is more than 19"). We also think about a DIY version of the TKB, i.e. only an electronics without the metal plates that can be used to connect any metal plates that have to be added by the user. "

More detailed info on the whole TKB project HERE

* Thanks Marc

Most Wanted - Future Modules Update

It is always good to keep an eye on the posts from the Doepfer Yahoo Usergroup.
Not only to get answer to all the A-100 questions you have, the DIY-tips, and the interesting module discussions but also for Dieter Doepfer's own input, troubleshooting and the occasional company updates.
In one of his latest posts he announced a few interesting 'new' things on Doepfer's to-do list, including a few that are not yet on Doepfer's Future Module page.

The ones you can already find on that page are the A-190-5 polyphonic USB/Midi-to-CV/Gate interface, the A-142-4 Quad Decay, A-195-1 Pitch-to-CV/Midi/USB interface, A-192-2 CV/Gate to Midi interface, A-143-4 Quad VCO/VCLFO and the A-100 touch keyboard.

The original A-126(-1)

I already blogged about the forthcoming A-157 Trigger Sequencer (not much info on the Doepfer site, only in a NAMM 2010 brochure), but the update of the A-126 module was new for me.
The A-126-2 Frequency Shifter II will be a redesign of the old module. 

Because of availability of the special circuit CEM3382 used in the original module's internal quadrature VCO, the 'original' A-126 is no longer available and they had to stop the production of this module. 

It looks like Doepfer is now working hard on a succeeding model without an internal VCO.

Other modules that were mentioned were a VC Slope Generator ( no specs or further info available, but maybe something like the Serge Universal Slope Generator ?- i'm only guessing !), a Master Clock module/synced LFO, the A-100 bus board V2 with some Analoge Systems connectors ( no more Analogue Systems-to-Doepfer adaptors necessary? ), and an A-100 miniature power supply redesign 

Besides that, Dieter posted that they are also still working on various non-A-100 Doepfer products like the Dark Matter (Dark Energy expander with Noise, S&H, a second VCO, Multimode-VCF, additional waveforms and maybe some other effects), the Dark Link, and an expansion board for the DIY Synth. 

" ... still on our to-do list. But I can't say in which sequence the planned products will be released."

Note: Please don't call or mail them too often at Doepfer about release-dates or updates of future modules. The Doepfer website is updated very regularly, so you will find all the latest info there...

Most Wanted IV - A-157 8x16 Step Trigger Sequencer

At NAMM 2010 in Anaheim USA, Doepfer showed a very early prototype of the A-157 8 x 16 Step Trigger Sequencer. There's not much information available about this module, besides the info in the NAMM 2010 News PDF on the Doepfer site. Even Doepfer's own Future/New Modules section doesn't have any info on it.

What we do know ( about the prototype(s) ) is that it will be a 'simple' and affordable trigger sequencer (only 8x8 steps, no preset management).
The final module will be equipped with assigned LEDs (arranged in 8 rows with 16 steps each), 8 trigger outputs and clock/start/stop/reset inputs.
It generates 8 trigger signals that are set by the buttons. The LEDs are used to show the active steps and the external control signals clock, start/stop and reset are used to sync the unit to other A-100 modules (or via suitable interfaces to Midi/USB).

An additional preset management will be added to the final version of the module. At the time Doepfer was also thinking about a low cost version of this module with an 8x16 or 8x32 display (like the left unit in the picture) but with only one row of buttons that had to be assigned to one of the rows in question.
The expected date of delivery of summer 2010 was never made.

In fact i haven't found anything more on the web or in the forums about this module, what the reactions were, or a new expected release date.
They are probably still working hard on perfecting the module. The module shown at NAMM wasn't even finished but did give a nice insight on what they are working on.
I like the idea and layout of the front-panel, but personally i prefer my Clock and Reset inputs at the left side of a module, i guess they will at least change that in the final product.

I'd love to have one in a near future, programming rhythmical stuff will become much easier with a module like this, looking forward owning one, but i am afraid i have to wait a while...

Most wanted III - DIN Sync

The DIN Sync (or Sync24) standard, was introduced by Roland in the 80's for synchronizing sequencers, drummachines and (synth-) arpeggiators. The name Sync24 is derived from the frequency of the pulses, 24 pulses per quarter note (PPQN). A clock signal  of 2.51 V, at 24PPQN, defines the speed of the sequence or drum pattern. The start/stop signal defines if the sequence is running and has a voltage of 0 or +5 Volts. A lot of Roland's products were using this standard at the time, so some have sync-in, -out, or switchable sockets.

After the wide adaptation of the MIDI standard, the DIN sockets started to dissapear from most instruments. Syncing instruments via MIDI is now handled by the MIDI Beat Clock at a same 24 PPQN rate.

The SYNC plugs look the same as MIDI plugs ( DIN-standard, round with 5 pins ) ,but the pins have a different configuration as the MIDI plugs. The Din Sync standard can only handle clock signals (for tempo) and start/stop signal, so it sends no pitch-control. More info on Doepfer's SYNC FAQ page.

I know the DIN-Sync standard is now close to death. Only a few 'modern' drum-machines still have a SYNC In or Out, like for example the Novation Drumstation that i own.

The idea of a A-100 SYNC converter module doesn't sound bad in my opinion, perhaps a kind (extended) modular version of  MSY2 MIDI-to-SYNC Converter that Doepfer sells? ( A-190-X maybe? )

If i might suggest some extra features, why not add a 16 (or more) trigger outputs (A-160/A161-style) , SYNC-in possibility, reset output(s) and switches on the front for choosing dividing factors.

That, together with a set of MIDI In and Thru, or an internal link possibility  to the A-190, would make an awesome (and not too expensive) module that for example could be used for percussive effects like triggering drumsounds in Sync with your old equipment.

Most Wanted II - Drum Modules

Drum-synthesizers and drum-machines have been around for a long time.
The first analogue drum synthesizers were introduced in the 1970s, and everyone remembers those classic analog and digital rhythm-boxes made by big companies as Roland, Korg, Simmons and Linn.

 The Mid-nineties analogue revival triggered a whole bunch of new manufacturers like MAM, Vermona and MFB (to name a few) to produce (modular) drum synths.
I always wondered why Doepfer hasn't come up with a modular drum series yet.
The only drumsound-providing module they released so far was the A-117 Digital noise/808 Source, a module that only produces two 808 sounds... ehh well... building blocks.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could fit a variation of different Doepfer drummodules in your rack, perhaps an A-117-X series? How about dedicated Basdrum, Snare, Hihats, Cymbal, Clap and Toms modules etcetera, with (dynamic) triggers and CV-controllable functions like decay, tune, attack and so on, so you could use any CV signal ( like from an LFO or ADSR) to change the different parameters. I see a world of interesting possiblities.

In combination with trigger-producing modules like the A-160/A-161 Clock Divider, the A-166 Logic module and/or a sequencer i'm sure modules like this could create very interesting and vivid rhythms. And how about control with one of the forthcoming touch-sensors...? Hmmmmmmm.... Want!

Most Wanted I - A-195-1 Pitch-to-CV/MIDI Interface

If there is one module that i am looking forward to, it must be the A-195-1 Pitch-to-CV/MIDI Interface.
The Doepfer Future Modules page tells us it will be an
"interface for conversion of a monophonic audio signal (e.g. singing, wind or string instrument) into the corresponding pitch CV (1V/Oct.), loudness CV and gate. Simultaneously the values are transmitted via MIDI"

Great idea, you sing, whistle or play a tune into a microphone and your A-100 will follow.

I used to own a Roland CP40 Pitch-to-MIDI converter that did the same, i bought it second-hand, and i saw the potential but sold it later ( and regret it now... kinda )
The CP40 was a small light-weight plastic desktop module, not very expensive at the time and had some basic changeable parameters like Bend, Octave Shift and Expression.
It worked as expected, not completely flawless, but good enough for impressive sounds. Too bad it was MIDI, and not analog.

...and that is why i am looking forward to this forthcoming A-195-1 Pitch-to-CV/MIDI Module ( note: No release date so far )
I bet Doepfer is still thinking hard about how this module should look.
The module has been in and out of the Doepfer brochures over the last years but i recently saw it was also back on the Doepfer Future Modules page now. Are they making progress?
There was a Poll on the A-100 forums a long time ago before i joined them, but at that time there wasn't much response to that, if i am correct.

I hope we will see a release date soon, i am sooo looking forward to this, even more to the Pitch-to-CV conversion than to the Pitch-to-MIDI conversion
Ofcourse the module should have some basic functions like a gain for the input, a slew controller plus some other functions of the CP40, but i trust the engineers at Doepfer... ;) I'll leave that to them, but the "loudness CV and gate" are a good start.