Thursday, October 11, 2012

YouTube Tip: MrWogie's Channel

Okay... i was kind of excited when i accidentally landed on THIS obscure YouTube channel, and to be honest... i still am (a bit).

Screenshot of MrWogie's setup
There is not a lot of info accompanying the videos, but YouTuber MrWogie (Wolfgang Giesecke) uploads a lot of analog/modular studies, soundscapes, drones, very cool modular synth improvisations and other interesting analog compositions.
A bit weird for some perhaps, but sonic p*rn for some.

All uploads are mainly audio, but a lot of his videos have a slow slideshow showing some pictures of (assumably) his setup.
His latest videos seem to involve a very nice system (A-100, Dark Energy, Yamaha EMP100 effects, and several PC's running virtual synths).
It sounds like MrWogie is a classically trained musician, you will also find orchestral music in his YouTube stream.

The weirdest thing in my opinion is that these videos hardly have been viewed or played.
I'm sure you'll like them if you're an analog music fan like me.
Here's a preview...one of the least weird ;-)

Video: Sequenc1 by MrWogie


The video above is totally not representative of the the rest... there are weirder, more obscure pieces of art on this channel.
Check out the rest at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrWogie
and his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wolfgang.giesecke.5

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Dark Energy II Coming Soon

It looks like the long-awaited Dark Energy II will almost see the daylight.
Doepfer receives the first batch of pre-serial Dark Energy II models any time now...

After these models are tested and checked (and no major flaws are discovered), the first production-order will be placed and Doepfer can start distributing the first modules.*
A part of that first production-batch is reserved for people who pre-ordered their DEII.

Dark Energy II
To fresh you up, the main differences between the Dark Energy II and the original Dark Energy are:

- 12dB multimode filter with lowpass, notch, highpass and bandpass (instead of 24dB lowpass of Dark Energy I)
- the previous LM control of the filter becomes the filter type control (continuous crossfade lowpass - notch highpass - bandpass)
- the LM function of the filter is no longer available
- the waveform switch is used to select between saw and clipped/distorted saw (in the center position the saw is off)
- the basic waveform of the VCO is saw (not triangle like the Dark Energy I).
- because of the pure analog circuit and the temperature control it takes about 30 minutes until the VCO is in tune.
- the VCA has a exponential scale (not the combined linear/exponential scale of Dark Energy I)

*Via StromKult.de

Sunday, October 07, 2012

Random Video: First Stage of a Modular Synth

I found this informative and interesting video on the web about basic rack/case-building... enjoy!

Video: First Stage of a Modular Synth

" Just started building my Eurorack modular synthesizer. I wanted to demonstrate that building your own "Frankenstein" system is easy to do. This video demos, the set up of the power supply and bus board, and a single VCO module."

Uploaded by kj6bbs (Chris)

Friday, October 05, 2012

Nokia App-Update

Although the platform seems to be slowly dying (i recently made the last changes to it...ever) my FREE PatchPierre app for NOKIA phones ( S40, S60, Symbian ) is still available.

Basically this PatchPierre Mobile application is an RSS-feed(s) reader plus NetPierreTV YouTube videoplayer.

Over 6600 downloads/installs already in 157 countries...
(and more than 1000 downloads of the latest version in the last two weeks)

The app will soon be available for the latest NOKIA Asha Touch devices; the Asha 305/306/308/309/311

You can find all versions of the PatchPierre app in the NOKIA store at
http://store.ovi.com/search?q=patchpierre

Screenshot small
N8 Screenshot by @wonderhelm











Don't worry if you don't own a NOKIA device.
PatchPierre.Net also looks good on your Android, iOS and Windows phone or tablet via the special mobile version of the app at http://oviappwizard.com/mip/plus/list.jsp?&id=184288 (for as long as it lasts), 
or the original mobile version of the blog via http://patchpierre.blogspot.nl/?m=1 , or keep on track with the the RSSfeed in your favorite RSS-reader or applications like Flipboard.

Monday, October 01, 2012

Modular In A Picture Frame

A great idea for a nice modular case can be found on http://groanmaster.blogspot.nl/

This project by Andrew Dobbels involves a real picture-frame and a 208 HP Eurorack with various modules.
You can find the making-of pictures on his site with explanatory texts, so you can build your own.

More pics HERE

Monday, September 24, 2012

Doepfer USB/CV/Gate/MIDI Converters Update

A little bit more info (by Dieter himself) on two upcoming Doepfer modules popped up in the Yahoo Doepfer Usergroup today.

It said that the A-192-2 Dual CV/Gate-to-MIDI/USB Interface is in the starting blocks and will be included with the next (fall 2012) production series.
Module A-192-2 contains two independent CV/Gate-to-Midi/USB interfaces.
Another product that almost reached the production stage is the A-190-5 four voice polyphonic Midi to CV/Gate interface that will probably be included in the last production series in 2012.

The A-190-5 will have 12 CV and 4 Gate outputs, and different modes (e.g. unisono, four-fold monophonic, different four voice polyphonic modes)
The hardware of the A-190-5 module is ready and Christian is working on the firmware.
Though it was planned to use 12 bit DA converters Doepfer thinks about 8 bit converters to reduce the price a bit.
"12 bit converters don't seem to have any advantage because the module only converts 7 bit midi data into CV (no software LFOs or software envelopes or software glide) and in this case 12 bit DACs
are wasted money because the last 5 bits are not used.", according to Dieter.

The estimated price for the A-192-2 is approximately 130 Euro, expect to pay around 300 Euro for the A-190-5.
Price and release date are still without obligation

Find the latest updates on new Doepfer modules HERE

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Doepfer A-155 Video Tutorials by Raul Pena

Last week Raul Pena celebrated one year of Doepfer demo-video-creating with a nice video.
Today he is back with a new series, this time all about the A-155 Analog Trigger Sequencer.

Video 1: Doepfer A-155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer Basics

" Discussing the Basics of the Doepfer A155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer. Sound and Video by Raul Pena"

Video 2: Doepfer A155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer Basics-Notes and Triggers Part One

" Demonstration of Sequencing Notes and Triggers with the Doepfer A155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 3: Doepfer A155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer Basics-Notes and Triggers Part Two

" Demonstration of Sequencing Notes and Triggers with the Doepfer A155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer.Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 4: Doepfer A155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer- Frequency Modulation Tutorial

" A demonstration of Frequency modulation of a sequence on the Doepfer A 155 Analog/Trigger Sequencer with low rate CV signals and audio rate signals. Sound and Description by Raul Pena."

Check out Raul's latest survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K3Z9PVF
Other places to find Raul's World of Synths on the Web
raulsworldofsynths on YouTube
raulsworldofsynths on Vimeo
raulsworldofsynths on SoundCloud
raulsworldofsynths at iTunes
raulsworldofsynths at CDBABY