MAQ 16/3 Direction Via MIDI Demo by Nicholas Keller

An interesting video, posted by Nicholas Keller in the Doepfer A-100 group on Facebook shows something about the Doepfer MAQ 16/3 Sequencer that i never really noticed before.

It seems that normally, the MAQ in forward mode would start from the last random step, what can really mess up your patterns.

In his video Nicholas shows that, with some clever MIDI programming, it is possible to get your next forward pattern starting from step 1.

Video: Direction via MIDI

direction via midi from N K on Vimeo.

" This video simply shows that it is possible to switch direction of an Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequence from random to forward with the forward section starting from step 1. Normally, the forward section would start from the last random step. Start from step 1 was achieved with a series of MIDI commands from DAW sequencer (in this case Ableton Live) sent to the MAQ."

Nicholas also added: "This video will probably be part of a future blog post of mine, as right now I am working on some other ones. (you can find his blog at http://www.niroke.blogspot.com)
Also, you might express that the MAQ's functions can all be controlled through MIDI.
For this example, I used Q-control v1.0, which is an Ableton Live project file that contains individual clips for all the MIDI commands for the MAQ. I'm not sure that the website where I found this is still active.
I can email you the file if you can host it. I sent commands for First and Last Step as well as Forward and Random commands.
The First and Last Step commands were necessary to force the Forward version of the pattern to start on Step 1 ( First=1, Last=1). Then at marker 1.1.2 in Ableton (the second 1/16th note) I added First=2 and Last=16 commands."

Uploaded by Nicholas Keller

Follow Nicholas Keller on Vimeo HERE

Modifications I : A-156 Quantizer Follow

A-156 with modification

Yesterday i picked up the spare parts that i ordered from Doepfer; a few switches, 3.5 mm sockets, LEDs and blindplates of different types and sizes. Now that i have them i couldn't wait to start with my first project.

One of my personal little annoyances that i have with the A-100 system are the tiny internal jumpers inside of some modules. Behind these jumpers are sometimes great functions that make these modules a lot more flexible.

Where i can, i will try to replace the internal jumpers with switches on the front on more modules, but i started with the A-156 Dual Quantizer Module.

A-156 after removing all the knobs
and frontplate

This module has two separate Quantizers, one that only uses a semitone-scale and Quantizer 2 that has much more options like minor/major/chord/quint/6th and 7th scales. There is a way to let Quantizer 1 follow Quantizer number 2 by replacing an internal jumper, but why there? It is probably a cost-saving thing from Doepfer's side but there is enough room on the frontplate of the module to place a switch with the same function. You can find a neat step-by-step guide with pictures on how to do this HERE , but it is quite easy.

Wiring the new switch

After removing the frontplate and drilling a hole for the new switch ( there is enough room above or under the printed 'Options Quantizer 2' text ) i could fit a new Doepfer 1-0-1 (on-off-on) switch in the hole and mount it back together again.

A-156 detail close-up

The wiring was quite simple, so even with my mediocre soldering-skills this was a piece of cake for me. The result is a simple and invisible modification that works perfect. Switch down couples the 2 quantizers, switch up puts quantizer 1 in it's original mode.

Okay... a similar result can be obtained with the use of an extra multiplier, but i found this one more adventurous... and rackspace-saving.

Now its time to experiment with the new options that i have. I can think of some nice patches already, but there are also some good suggestions for the use of this module and this modification at Synovatron's blog.