Showing posts with label Software. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Software. Show all posts

Friday, March 21, 2014

More A-190-4 MIDI-CV/Gate/Sync Interface Specifications

Last year, quickly after the A-190-4 prototype suddenly appeared in the wild, i already contacted Dieter Doepfer about some of the specs of the module.

The Doepfer A-190-4 will be the new replacement for module A-190-1 which is no longer available.
The functions of A-190-1 and A-190-4 are nearly the same (Midi In, Midi Out, CV1, CV2, Gate, Clock, Reset), but the operation of the A-190-4 has been improved because a 3-digit LED display is available.

The current values of all parameters (like Midi channel, reference note, clock divider) can be read back and modified by means of up/down buttons.
In addition A-190-4 is equipped with an USB interface and the external +5V supply is no longer available.

A-190(-1)  MIDI-CV/Sync
Interface
The A-190-1 has 2  DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters)
In the original A-190-1 DAC 1 is 'hard-wired' to receive MIDI note messages and convert them into control voltages available at CV output socket CV 1. This DAC has 12-bit resolution, which gives excellent tuning resolution (in steps of 1/4096th). As a rule, DAC 1 will be used to control VCO pitch.
DAC 2 can be assigned to your choice of MIDI controller. This DAC has 7-bit resolution (1/128th steps).

At the time (almost one year ago) Dieter couldn't tell much about the processing power and if any other functions would be available (arpeggiator? like the A-190-3), but this week I have managed to get a bit more info.
Christian Assall, software developer at Doepfer, was kind enough to explain a few more things about the A-190-4 via e-mail:

A-190-4 Prototype
- "The A-190-4 will have 2 new DACs... Because the development of the A-190-1 was now before more than 15 years, it makes sense to use modern pieces."

- "DAC2 will now also be 12 bit and will have a range of 0 ... 10 + volt ( but can also only use it for velocity/controller and things similar to the A190-1 , but not for pitch/tune controlling like the CV1 - so it's not possible to control two voices - because you also have only one gate ;-) - for polyphonic things we have the A190-5 in development"

About future firmware updates:
- "As the next development in schedule list is the A-190-5 - which is something like a 'great' brother of the A-190-4 - the A-190-4 has in most cases the possibility to inherit his features...
...so it's more a question of what we and the users want and decide to include in a preferably easy to use CV-interface the A-190-4 should be... This also belongs to the topic arpeggiator."

The A-190-1 Arpeg. mode never got released 
About the somewhat hidden arpeggiator-function in the A-190-3:
- " It's more a cost-free present or an eastern-egg like thing than a real feature in my eyes, because it hasn't any dedicated switches or display for that - so I think it's for many users hard to use ...
But if you can - sure you can use it and you can do some arp. things without any additional devices/software ...."

- " We never released this feature in the A-190-1, mostly because of the not optimal user interface, that was not suited in our eyes for additional and such a complex features.
An arp. should have a dedicated/suitable user interface - otherwise it didn't make much sense in my experience/eyes.
Sure also the weak processor power was a reason, not to try with many tricks to get an arp. which is in timing and didn't interfere with the other functions of the module.
So, never to release, was more a matured consideration that came from practical experiences..."

The A-190-1 will be replaced by the A-190-4 from about April 2014.
As of April, the Doepfer BS basic systems will come with an A-190-4 installed...

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Doepfer MAQ16/3 Already Maxed Out

The announcement of the re-issued MAQ16/3 Dark Edition has been warmly welcomed by most people.
It has also triggered the obvious MAQ-update questions again.
Although i am very happy with my MAQ16/3 MIDI Analog Sequencer, i agree that there are still many points for improvements in my, and other people's opinion.
The main issue that i have with the MAQ is basically the limited number of only 30 presets/memories.
It could also help if it had different scale settings, shuffle control and a bigger display for example.

Sadly the new MAQ Dark Edition will not bring any changes in that...

My Doepfer MAQ16/3 with
firmware version V3.61
Back in 2005, Doepfer explained how they already maxed out the capacity of the original MAQ hardware design.

" We discussed several times a "MAQ16/3 Mark II".
The main reason why we did not develop a new sequencer so far (2005) is because we wanted to offer the possibility to upgrade older devices (as for the CV/Gate output
addition from version 3.0).
Most of the suggested improvements would require a hardware change that does not allow to update older devices (e.g. LC display or a second display for more information, additional LEDs to display the step that's value is displayed currently, rotary encoders instead of potentiometers for exact adjustment, and some more)

Maybe there will come a "MAQ16/3 Mark II" at some time but it will not be possible to upgrade the existing MAQ devices because of hardware/mechanical limitations. 
We believe that the existing hardware of the MAQ16/3 is already "exhausted" and it will be a problem to add more features with the existing controls and displays. 
For example the glowing LEDs to show the currently selected row or the usage of the points of the display are already such makeshifts."

What you will get with the new Dark Edition MAQ, is still an awesome and affordable sequencer, that hasn't been available in black for a very long time and that will probably look better in your setup as the recent silver(y) edition... (that will also stay available for now)
Doepfer is being very smart IMO with using their already infamous range of 'Dark'-branded products for this latest edition, and that also makes it nice for the collectors.

Find all features of the recent MAQ16/3 at http://www.doepfer.de/maq.htm