Random Video: LFO+A-160+A-161+A-138b+monotribe=FUN by Matthias Semmler

This short video popped up on YouTube recently and looks and sounds quite interesting.
It shows a simple patch playing a short sequence featuring an MFB LFO, an A-160/161, an A-138b CV-mixer and a Korg Monotribe.
A bit of flavor is added with the Korg MS20 Mini through a Harvestman English Tear CV-Converter.

Video: LFO+A-160+A-161+A-138b+monotribe=FUN

" Modular Synthesizer on the Installment Plan. The best method to get a great synthesizer, IMHO. Ask if you want to know more."

Uploaded by Matthias Semmler / Ribosom3000

Doepfer A-190-5 Polyphonic USB/MIDI-to-CV/Gate Interface Preliminary Info

Planned to be released in the fall of 2013*,  so more and more details keep popping up on the internet about the A-190-5 four voice Polyphonic Midi to CV/Gate interface.

The prototype of this module already been displayed at MusikMesse 2013 and at Dieter´s latest workshop in Munich, Germany last month.

The first design of the
A-190-5 (then A-190-3)

To keep the price low, the first design of the A-190-5 was based on Doepfer's  MTV16 Midi-to-Voltage Interface with 16 Analog Voltage Outputs ( an OEM/DIY product that is still available)
The 16 outputs of the MTV16 were buffered and connected to 16 jack sockets.
Additional controls (momentary button, LED, rotary switch) had been added compared to the MTV16.

Early last year Doepfer gave up the idea to built the A-190-5 on base of the MTV16.

The new A-190-5 is now a completely redesigned version that contains an LC display (similar to the A-187-1), some control buttons, a USB interface and higher resolution DACs with higher voltage range (probably 12 bit and 0...+10V).
It will have 12 CV and 4 Gate outputs, different modes (e.g. unisono, four-fold monophonic or polyphonic, and different four voice polyphonic modes)

For each voice a pitch control voltage (CV1, 1V/octave standard to control VCOs), a gate output (to control envelope generators) and two additional control voltages (CV2, CV3) are available. The two additional CV outputs can be controlled by Midi velocity, volume, modulation, pitch bend, after touch or free assignable Midi controllers.

Doepfer A-190-5 Final Prototype

The basic modes can selected by means of a momentary switch (probably Mode or Algor.) and is shown in the LC display.
Certain parameters of each mode can be edited (e.g. the midi channel(s), the midi reference note for 0V CV, assigned controllers for CV2 and CV3).
For this the momentary switch Edit/Play is used.
The parameter values (e.g. midi channels) are shown in the display and can be modified by means of the momentary switches 1...4.
In Play mode the LEDs of these four switches display the gate states.

The range of the CV outputs (CV1...CV3) is 0...+10V (i.e. 10 octaves for CV1). The resolution is 12 bit.
The gate voltages are 0/+5V (maybe even adjustable to 0...+10V for non A-100 applications).

The first version of the module will be available around fall 2013 at the price of approximately Euro 300.00* and will include the most important assign algorithms.
Updates and bug fixes can be installed by the customer via the USB interface.

Update September 1:
Dieter Doepfer: " The A-190-5 is still under development. The hardware (pc boards, frontpanel) is ready made but the firmware is not yet ready. But I hope we will release the A-190-5 still this year."

Source: Doepfer Website

*Price and release date are still without obligation !

Drone Patch (Modular Synesthesis Tutorial in 2 Parts) by 4LUNDIN

This interesting set of 2 videos was uploaded to YouTube a few months ago but did not catch my attention until now.
The first part explains how the drone sound in the is made, the second one is just the patch...

Video: Drone patch (modular synesthesis tutorial, pt. 1/2, the Patch)

" Demonstrating a quick drone patch. I'm sick, so don't expect anything very pedagogical. Those into modular synthesis would get a clue anyway. Perhaps I was a bit more absentminded than usual. Please note the weird English accent!
After this video was shot, I recorded a track using the patch of this video, that you may hear what it sounds like in high quality. See pt. 2/2"

Video 2: Drone patch (modular synesthesis tutorial, pt. 2/2, the music)

" The music of this video is recorded using the patch drawn up in the video "Drone patch (modular synesthesis tutorial) (pt. 1, the patch)" ( http://www.youtube.com/edit?ns=1&... )
As for the video to the music of this one. Well, it doesn't suit the soundscape at all, but you gotta nuke something. Ignore it and listen!
All sounds comes from the modular. No multitracking. Additional fx from the Octatrack and mx200 (two of them). Mixed in Cubase. That's it, فقط. "

Uploaded by 4LUNDIN

Doepfer A-172 Min/Max Tutorial Videos by Raul Pena

A new month, a brand new tutorial series by Raul Pena.
Today he started a new series on the Doepfer A-172 Maximum Minimum Selector. Enjoy!

Video 1: Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum Basics

" A brief overview of the basic features of the Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum Selector. Short examples of Basic Processing with Sine Waves. Sound and Video by Raul Pena.©2013"

Video 2: Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum Selector-Low Frequency Signal Processing

" A look at processing low frequency signals with the Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum Selector. Different combinations of waveforms and oscilloscope views are featured.
Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 3: Doepfer A172 Maximum Minimum Selector-Audio Rate Signal Processing
" A brief look at the Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum selector for processing audio rate signals.Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 4: Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum-Subaudio and Audio Rate processing Part One

" A brief look at processing mixed signals with Subaudio and Audio Rate signals into the Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum selector. Part one of two. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 5: Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum-Subaudio and Audio Rate processing Part Two

" A brief look at processing mixed signals with Subaudio and Audio Rate signals into the Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum selector. Part two of two. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 6: Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum Selector-Max/Min vs. Ring Modulation

" A short comparison between the effects of the Maximum/Minimum Selector when compared to the Doepfer A114 Ring Modulation module.
Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 7: Doepfer A172 Maximum/Minimum Selector-Fine Tuning CV processing with Max/Min

" The final installment in the Doepfer A172 series. A brief demonstration of how you can utilize Offset to achieve better results with the Maximum/Minimum Selector. Sound and Video 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:

More A-190-4 News

I contacted Dieter Doepfer about the A-190-4 USB/MIDI-to-CV/Gate/ Sync Interface that showed up at a modular synthesizer workshop in Munich earlier this month...
They showed a prototype of a module that wasn't announced yet, and i was glad Dieter had a bit more information.

A-190-4 prototype

He replied to me that the A-190-4 will replace the A-190-1 as the A-190-1 has been developed more than 15 years ago and is a bit old-fashioned and long-winded to operate.

Mainly the missing display has been complained by several customers (i.e. no display of the parameter like midi channel, reference note, scale settings, portamento and pitch-bend range, clock divider, status of the built-in (software) LFO and so on). 

The basic functions of the A-190-4 will be the same as the A-190-1 but the man-machine interface will be better because of the display that shows the parameter value. It will also be equipped with USB. 

The module is still in the prototype state and they expect that it will be available end of 2013 or early in 2014. 

Pricing was not yet available.

At this time Doepfer could not promise that an arpeggiator will be included. 

The programmer of the A-190-4 (Christian Assall) has to decide if this feature will be available (maybe in a future firmware version as the module can be updated via USB)

I guess it does have a little bit more processing power than the original A-190-1, because the 'promised' arpeggiator function on that module never got released.
Last year Dieter already explained to me that there were plans to add an arpeggiator when the A-190-1 was designed about 15 years ago. 

But they found out later that the processor power was not sufficient to add this feature...

Doepfer A-190-4 USB/Midi to CV/ Sync Interface Prototype Revealed at Workshop

A few weeks ago, on July 13, Dieter Doepfer personally appeared at a modular synthesizer workshop in a shop in Munich, Germany, together with a huge Monster Base rack filled with Doepfer modules and an LCB angled basic case with some of the newer modules like the earlier announced A-157 Trigger Sequencer subsystem and the A-190-5 Polyphonic MIDI-to-CV/Gate Interface.

The two-part workshop was very well attended: 50 synth freaks (newcomers and advanced users) followed Dieter Doepfer’s explanations and presentations with enthusiasm.
Although i wasn't there, it can see what an amazing event this must have been; the A-100 modular system explained by its inventor...

The new Doepfer A-190-5 (Polyphonic) and A-190-4  (Mono) MIDI-to-CV converters

A-190-4 prototype

Find the full report and many great pictures at http://greatsynthesizers.com/en/general-en/2013/07/dieter-doepfer-introduces-new-a-100-modules/

Besides all the new A-100 modules there was also a prototype of an A-190-4 USB/Midi to CV/ Sync Interface, that hasn't even been announced yet...
It looks a bit like any other basic Doepfer MIDI-CV converter (like the A-190-1 and A-190-3), but this one has a basic seven segment LED display for showing parameter settings.
I hope that this one does have a (basic arpeggiator function though...

I hope to get more info soon...

Picture by http://greatsynthesizers.com/en/
GreatSynthesizers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatSynthesizers

Random Video: Doepfer A-100 Minimalistic by SampleandHold

To fill up the empty space during my summer break I'd like to present this almost 3 year old video, created by sampleandhold.
It's quite a minimal track, but very laidback with interesting sounds... Enjoy!

Video: Random Video: Doepfer A-100 Minimalistic by SampleandHold

" A simple beat, two oscillators, a ring modulator and a Moog filter and you've got a complete minimalistic setup."

Video uploaded by sampleandhold

PS - I will return soon again with a regular schedule of at least 2 (original) blog-posts a week... or one blog-post every 3 days, thanks for your patience!