Doepfer A-180-3 Dual Buffered Multiple Announced

A-180-3 Dual
Buffered
Multiple

Following the many requests in the Doepfer Yahoo-group, Doepfer announced today that an A-180-3 Dual Buffered Multiple will soon be released.

Module A-180-3 is a dual buffered 1-in-3 multiple.

The signal applied to the input socker appears as a buffered signal at the three output sockets. 

Each output has it's own buffer, i.e. the three output sockets are not simply connected to each other. The lower output of the upper unit is normalled to the input of the lower unit. 

That way the module works as a single 1-in-6 buffered multiple provided that no signal is applied to the input of the lower unit.

Application: copying/buffering of control and audio signals.

Update by Dieter: "the prototype pcb of the dual buffered multiple (A-180-3) arrived and has been tested. As expected no problems occured. The
module will be released about September 2015. The price will be the same as the A-138u because it very similar (i.e. Euro 50)"

ps Doepfer is closed from June 20 until July 05, 2015. No shipping, no helpdesk, no repairs during this time.

New Malekko Modules Are Now Shipping

Buffered
Multi

Mix 4

Unity
Mixer

The people at Malekko have been crafting a new series of Eurorack modules from affordable creative synthesis designs to performance tools

They are very happy to announce the first three in this series are now available through your favorite modular retailers!

MIX 4

This 3hp 4-channel mixer is the first to literally fill the odd hp gap - Harvestman users rejoice!
MIX 4 also features DC coupling for mixing low frequency as well as CV.

UNITY MIXER

The 2hp Unity Mixer is a little powerhouse of unity gain mixing capability. 2 sets of 3 inputs (1 out per set) offers up your basic configuration, then hit the SWITCH button to allow for 6 total inputs (1 out). Unity Mixer also supports CV so the SWITCH button makes this module a great option for rerouting combinations of signals on the fly and is perfect for live performance!

PERFORMANCE BUFFERED MULT
The 2hp Performance Buffered Mult features 2 sets of 3 outputs (1 audio or CV signal in with 3 buffered outs) and the SWITCH button allows for a total of 6 outputs without signal loss for on the fly multiplying.

More info at: http://malekkoheavyindustry.com/products/modules/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/malekkoheavy

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.

A-165 Dual Trigger Modifier

The A-165 Dual Trigger Modifier contains two separate and identical trigger modifiers for use with logical / digital levels.
In fact it works pretty similar to the A-175 Dual Voltage Converter, only this module works on Gates, Clock and Triggers.

Each half of this module enables signals, generated by the A-100, to communicate with other instruments (such as an external sequencer), or is simply used for reversing a trigger's polarity.
Whatever signal is patched into the input is inverted by the module, and fed out of the Inv. Out (inverted output) socket.
At the same time, a short trigger signal (of roughly 50 ms) is generated every time an edge of the trigger pulse is sensed (negative as well as positive).
This trigger signal is available at the +/- output.
Two LEDs show the level of signal available at the two outputs.

Because the original and inverted trigger signal are often both needed at the same time, it is possible to use these two inputs as a mini-multiple - using one of them to send the original trigger to another module.

The A-165 manual has a few interesting patch-examples, but i use it the most in combination with my A-160/A-161 Clock Sequencer/Divider combo to mess up my rhythms.

If you are only looking for simple trigger inverters, you might want to take a look at the A-166 Dual Logic module which also has two simple inverters, only minus the  +/- pulse that the A-165 has.

Hardcore Modding the A-182-1 Switched Multiples

I must admit i am not a very sophisticated modifier / solderer.

I don't have an electronic background, find it hard to concentrate at times, and i can easily lose my patience when i'm working on stuff.

I am quickly satisfied with the modifications that i do, as long as my projects look good on the outside and are safe (i.e. no loose wires inside that can cause short-circuiting etc.)

A good example of my somewhat rude approach is my A-182-1 Switched Multiples modification.

Originally this module is a simple passive multi-connector similar to the A-180 Multiples module.

In the A-182-1 each socket is equipped with a 3-position switch that allows to connect the corresponding socket to the internal bus #1 (left position), bus #2 (right position) or to turn the socket off (center position).

A-182-1 Modification detail

I wisely decided to split up the A-182-1 into a 2 x 4 Multiplier, like i did with my A-180 because I found this this modification very handy.

I can now use my modified A-182-1 Switched Multiple for quick switching between my keyboard ( via MIDI ) and my A-198 Ribbon Controller.
For this i split up the Multiple in two halves, the upper half controls the Gate, the lower half controls the pitch ( CV )

More info on this HERE

Okay... I know i could have scraped of some of the wires on the PCB to do this modification, but i wasn't completely sure if that would be enough. To be sure that there were no other connections i just took a junior hacksaw and cut the whole PCB in half. 

As this is a passive module (not connected to the busboard) i thought my mod could hardly go wrong with this.

It might be a bit rude perhaps, but it works!

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 .

Best Friends Forever IV - XL Edition

This next quick patch is a small extension of my earlier Best Friends Forever posts.

Although i don't always use this patch, i do like the simplicity of it, getting me more out of my Slew Limiter.

As blogged earlier, I use the A-182-1 Switched Multiple mainly to switch between my keyboard ( via MIDI ) and my A-198 Ribbon Controller.
For this i split up this Multiple in two halves, the upper half controls the Gate, the lower half controls the pitch ( CV )

The black cables that go into the Switched multiple are for ( quantized ) Ribbon Control if channel 2 is selected, the yellow ones are for keyboard control, via channel 1

The only advantage in this patch is that i am now using both halfs of the A-170 Slew Limiter, the lower ( and more extended half ) for the Ribbon Controller, the upper half for the incoming output of the MIDI-CV Interface.

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.

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

Best Friends Forever I

Van PatchPierre

A few times a year i unwire my whole A-100 system, it's like putting up a fresh canvas. New inspiration, new sounds in this case.

There are a few thing i never unwire, because i use them that much.

My first example is this one; The A-174 Joystick and the A-175 Dual Voltage Inverter.
They both sit neatly next to each-other in my rack, and i always keep the two yellow cables between them connected. What a dynamic duo...

I use my A-174 the most for controlling the cutoff of filters or for controlling the speed of the A-147 Voltage Controlled LFO module

The A-175 is such a simple but effective module, and its inputs are internally linked, so you can use the other socket as a mini-multiple

This allowes you to have both control voltages and its identical inverted voltages available at the same time.