Doepfer A-197-3 Controller for RGB LED Stripes

Interesting that Doepfer's latest modules include some cool small, nifty non-musical utility modules.

Last time they announced the 4 x USB eurorack power supply, and now this one:

" Module A-197-3 is a control unit for RGB LED stripes. The LED stripe is glued e.g. to the inner edges of the cases A-100P6/P9/PMS6/PMS9/PMS12 to illuminate the modules and patching statically or dynamically. Especially during live events the dynamic illumination in sync with the sound is an eye-catcher. Each color (red, green, blue) has available a manual control for the background brightness and a CV input with attenuator that enables the dynamic brightness controlled by other control voltages of the modular system. For example 3 envelopes can be used which also control the loudness or filtering of sound processing modules. But even other control applications are possible, e.g. LFO, random voltages, clock/gate/trigger signals, sequencer, Midi-to-CV.

These are the most important features of the module:
Control module for static or dynamic control of RGB LED stripes with up to 1m length (so far only this length has been tested, with a sufficient external power supply even longer stripes should be no problem)
Manual controls for red, green and blue (small potentiometers without knobs)
CV inputs with attenuators for red, green and blue (small potentiometers without knobs)
Note: the CV inputs are planned for CV signals (e.g. envelope generators, LFOs), not for audio signals with frequency selective processing like lighting consoles
Control LED for each color
supply via the built-in power supply of the case or external (wall-art) supply to avoid the additional current consumption for the LED stripes
(the LED stripes do not require a high quality supply like those built into the A-100 cases)
the external +12V can be connected via a socket at the front panel (i.e. the additional supply is located outside the case) or inside to the pc board (i.e. the additional supply has to be installed inside the case by the customer)
required max. current with 1m RGB LED stripes: about 800 mA @ +12V (all three colors full brightness)
the top left edge of the front panel features a gap for the lead-trough of the LED stripe cable. Therefore the module has to be mounted at the left edge of the case: top left if only the top edge of the case is used to glue the LED stripe, middle left or bottom left if the LED stripe is glued like a reverse "U" to three edges of the case
The pc board is equipped with a pin header which is used to connect the standard LED stripe that comes with the module

In addition the pc board is equipped with a second pin header with 1/10" grid which can be used to connect other LED stripes than the standard type. A suitable female connector with 30 cm long cables with open ends for free wiring is included.
The module is suitable only for LED stripes with 12V power supply and common anode (+12V) with 4-wire cables (+12V/R/G/B).
A suitable 1m long RGB LED stripe is added for free. Due to possible problems during installation (e.g. improper glueing/removing or folding of the stripe) it is not covered by warranty but should be treated as a free add-on.
An external 12V supply has to be ordered separately if required (5.5/2.5 mm connector, plus = center)."

Release date: early in 2019

Source: Doepfer.de

Edit 7/1/2019 Added Video: The module is shown in action (around 6.40) by Dieter Doepfer himself, filmed a few weeks ago at SchneidersLaden/ Berlin...

Doepfer 4 x USB Power Module A-183-9

USB Power module prototype

Without any preliminary information Doepfer had one small surprise at the Superbooth event in Berlin last weekend.

Their latest module is a 2HP wide USB Power module.
This module has 4 USB ports directly on the frontplate, and has a LED light at the bottom that shows if the module is active or not.

The module can be used for powering other equipment like a USB-keyboard or any other stuff that uses 5v USB power.
Charging your mobile phone or tablet or powering one of those USB-powered lights or small fans is also possible.

Okay, the idea is not new... but knowing Doepfer this will probably be very competitively priced again.

There's no release date on this module yet (...it doesn't even have a name or number too) , but I guess it will be in production soon.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NTQuN-Gwhw by  JustMusic.de

Edit May 18th, 2018
A-183-9 Quad USB Power Supply will be the name and number.

Note: The module requires an A-100 case with built in power supply A-100PSU3 ! Only this A-100 supply has the required +5V available.
Doepfer does not recommend the usage of an older A-100 case with A-100PSU2 as this would require the +5V adapter A-100AD5 and the max. current would be limited to 100mA.

Doepfer A-100SSB Small Power Supply/Bus Announced

A-100SSB is a combination of power supply and bus board with 8 connectors for A-100 modules. Planned for applications with up to 8 modules and a max. current of 380 mA. A-100SSB is available as ready built and tested unit.

A-100SSB Prototype I

These are the most important features:
- wide range mains voltage input 100-240V AC / 50-60 Hz
- IEC inlet on board for the connection of a suitable mains cable (a suitable cable has to be purchased by the customer locally)
- switching supply with +12V/380 mA and -12V/380mA for the operation of A-100 modules up to 380 mA total supply current
- safety cover at the bottom side (covers all elements that lead mains voltage)
- on board fuse
- 8 bus connectors
- LED displays for +12V, -12V and +5V (+5V are available only if e.g. the 5V adapter A-100AD5 is used)
- Dimensions: about 270 mm (length) x 55 mm (width) x 35 mm (height)
- several 3mm holes for mounting the unit on a rear panel or bottom plate

Planned for  ca. Oktober 2015 / ~ October 2015 /  for ~ Euro 75.00

Source: http://www.doepfer.de/A100SSB.htm

LCF Industries Arp-8 Eurorack Arpeggiator

LCF Industries
Arp-8 prototype

LCF Industries uploaded a video of the Arp-8 arpeggiator prototype to YouTube.

Price and availability are still unknown, but the features are pretty impressive...

" Something was missing from my growing modular. I couldn't figure out what it was. Then after playing with a Polysix for a while it hit me; An arpeggiator!

So using the MIDI-CV Converter I made, I started playing around with the code a bit. And then a couple of hours later I came up with a pretty decent arpeggiator. It didn't have much control (only the two switches) but it worked! So the next step was to expand on it but still keep it as small as possible.

Octave knob: Selects between a 1-4 octave range
Rate knob: If synced with a MIDI clock, it will divide the tempo accordingly; 1-1
1-2
1-4
1-8
1-8T
1-16
1-16T
1-32

V/Octave Out
Hz/Volt Out
Gate Out
Clk In: Bypasses MIDI-clock messages and uses an external clock source.
Directional switch: Up, Down, Up/Down
Sync Switch: If no external clock source is available (MIDI or analog), flipping to the FREE position will prompt it to use it's own internal clock. Use the Rate knob to increase the speed.
Arp / Mono Switch: Turns the arpeggiator into a simple single-channel MIDI-CV converter."

Video:Arp-8

" MIDI Controlled Arpeggiator
http://lcf-industries.blogspot.com "

DIY Projects I : The Beginning

I bought my first prototyping board (or breadboard) and some jumper-wires last week, it's time for me to start learning about electronics and electonic circuits.

The board i got was of the Velleman brand, and to be sure i had enough room on it i bought one of the bigger boards, still for under 20 Euro's.
I also bought a small Velleman Voice Changer Kit (MK171 - 9,95 Euro) , the only audio-related DIY-project i could find to experiment with. Like i said earlier this stuff is quite new to me, and my first attempt will be the mounting of all the parts of the kit onto the breadboard. This seems like a good practice for me to learn more about the components and their functions.

I did learn a lot on YouTube last weeks about the basics of breadboarding and electonic components, and there are a few good (and free) tutorials on the MIT OpenCourseware site ( both video's from lecture 12 are highly interesting and deal with basic sound creation with electonics ) The 559 pages thick lecture notes PDF  that completes this course is also free available at the site, and features the whole course on paper.

The kit is a voice changing kit that can basicly changes your voice into a high, low or robotvoice. I haven't heard yet how it will sound, but the idea and basic modification possibilities are looking great.

I see this as a sort of a side-project, that will hopefully merge into my A-100 system at one point and i'm looking forward on how it will sound. I'll keep you updated.