Doepfer A-106-5 12dB SEM Filter Special Edition

Temporarily a special edition of the Doepfer A-106-5 12dB SEM Filter is available. It is equipped with a stylish Oberheim-style cream-coloured anodized front panel and black knobs.

A-106-5 SEM
Filter
Special Edition

Module A-106-5 is a 12dB multimode filter that is based on the filter circuit of the Oberheim SEM
module.

The filter is equipped with a band pass output and a combined low/notch/high pass output. 

For this output a control knob defines the relation between low and high pass signal. 

If both signals appear at the same level (i.e. middle position of the Mix knob) one obtains a notch filter. Otherwise the low or high pass signal predominates. 

The module does not feature self oscillation in contrast to most of the other filters of the A-100 system. 

The module generates a distorted audio signal if the level control is set to about 50% (i.e. center position) or more with A-100 standard signals like VCOs.

Inputs: Audio In, CV1 In without attenuator, CV2 In with Polarizer
Outputs: Bandpass Out, Low/Highpass Mix-Out
Controls: Audio Attenuator, CV2 Polarizer, Frequency, Resonance, LP/HP Mix

You can find my review of the original A-106-5 module HERE, 

and find all additional info/demos/etc on the A-106-5 on PatchPierre.Net via http://patchpierre.blogspot.nl/search/label/A-106-5

Doepfer A-106-5 Filter Demo (August 2012, by PatchPierre)

" Short Doepfer A-106-5 Demo by NetPierre
Starts with a sequenced bassline, generated by my Doepfer MAQ16/3 and Doepfer VCO A-110 (saw wave)
Bandpass Mode first,  LP/HP later
A-118 Random voltages added to VC2 input somewhere in the middle.
Drums provided by an Elektron Machinedrum" 

The module will be available in spring 2016

Source: Doepfer.com

Downloadable Frontplate Templates for Doepfer Modules Announced

Doepfer A-168-1, A-110-6, A-110-3, A-121-2 and A-184-1
with custom frontpanel designs

You might have noticed the colorful new frontplates on the Doepfer website recently.
I had almost mistaken them for new Special Editions, but Doepfer clearly writes:

"The custom versions of a few modules featured on the Doepfer website are only a design study made with a self adhesive foil, printed by a color laser printer.

That way the customer will be able to design "his" personal module by printing his design on an self adhesive foil and stick the foil to the module (for this the module has to be dismantled).

There are no plans to offer these versions of the module, but they do plan to offer suitable templates for download."

Knobs in different colors are also still available so your only limit will be your imagination.

I wonder how Doepfer will further develop this idea... i.e. if there could be such a thing as an online Doepfer Template designer tool or such... Hmmm... Nice.

The first examples look very impressive IMO...

Doepfer A-121 Multimode Filter Re-Design

A-121-2 Re-design

We all knew a re-design of the Doepfer A-121 Multimode Filter has been in the pipeline for a while, due to the unavailability of certain chips inside.

Since the beginning this has always been one of my favourite filters, because of it's sophisticated sound and the VC infut for resonance control. Oh, and the multiple simultanuous outputs...

At Namm 2016 Doepfer will present the A-121-2, the successor of the obsolete module A-121.

The circuitry is totally different from the A-121 which used the obsolete CEM3320 filter circuit. 

Module A-121 is a voltage-controlled multi-mode filter with a cut-off slope of -12 dB / octave.

Four simultaneous outputs are available, each with different characteristics: low-pass, band-pass, high-pass and notch (or band reject). 

The cut-off frequency determines the point at which the respective filter effects appear. 

The frequency can be adjusted manually, or by voltage control (Filter modulation, for instance by an LFO or ADSR). 

Two CV inputs are available, whose control voltages are summed. Resonance (Emphasis or Q ) can be adjusted manually, or by voltage control, right up to self-oscillation, in which case it will behave like a sine wave oscillator.

The sound of the new module A-121-2 is identical to filter of the Dark Energy II but has been expanded by the voltage controlled resonance feature (like the original A-121).

Read all about the specs of the original A-121 at http://patchpierre.blogspot.nl/2011/03/filters-ii-121-vcf2-multimode-filter.html

The modules will cost Euro 120.00 and will be available around March 2016

Source: Doepfer.com

Special Designs

Don't go calling or emailing Doepfer right away,
but if DIY-ing is not your thing you might find this next thing interesting:

" In principle Doepfer is able to make special designs, but most customers underestimate the time and consequently the costs for a special design.
Normally there are three steps for a custom design:

Development of the hardware (provided that none of their existing hardware products can be used), development of the software (provided that the design includes a microcontroller) and design of the mechanics (e.g. controls, housing, provided that the customers is not able to built his own case).

The hardware and software design is carried out at Doepfer, i.e. design of the schematics, PCB layout and software.
All mechanical parts of the design - i.e. PCB manufacturing, housing, treatement of the housing like drilling holes, milling slits, varnishing, printing and so on - is carried out by other companies specialized in such things.
Doepfer has no mechanical working place in their company.
The main problem for a special design is that all nonrecurring costs - i.e. design of schematics, pcb layout, programming the software, initial charges for the pcb manufacture, case/housing production and silk-screen printing - have to be payed by one customer only.

Even for a small design these nonrecurring costs reach the few thousands Euro range.
Normally these charges are divided by the number of devices that are manufactured (a few hundred or thousands as a rule).
Please keep in mind all these notes if you ask for a special design.
If you are willing to pay for all these steps of work they might make a quotation for you. "

from the Doepfer FAQ page