New Doepfer High End VCOs A-111-2, A-111-3 and A-111-4 Thru-Zero Announced

Doepfer has announced two new High End VCO's at the Superbooth event in Berlin (March 31st - April 2nd, 2016)

The A-111-2 is based on the CEM3340 Rev G chip
There was a close cooperation between Doepfer and OnChip since 2015 regarding to the new re-issue of the CEM3340 and they received the first samples in January during NAMM for development.
The first production batch of the CEM3340 Rev G arrived 2 weeks ago and the production of the A-111-2 has started during the next few days (they are still waiting for the latest front panel and pcb samples). 
Doepfer expects the first modules to be finished around the end of July/August. 
The A-111-3 is also based on the CEM3340 Rev G ,and Doepfer is working on a Thru-Zero VCO based on the CEM3340 Rev G too (module A-111-4).

The Doepfer A-111-2High End Voltage Controlled Oscillator II is the successor of the obsolete High End VCO I A-111-1 and here are the most important features of the planned module:

Triangle core, min. 15 octaves pitch range (typ. 0.5Hz - 20kHz)
perfect 1V/octave tracking over min. 12 octaves (typ. 5Hz - 20kHz)

Exponential frequency controls and inputs:

Tune (~ 1 octave range)
Fine (~ 1 semitone range)

A-111-2 Prototype June 2016

Octave (range switch with 6 positions)
1V/octave CV input
XFM input with attenuator
access to bus CV (via jumper, optional)

Linear frequency controls:
LF (manual linear frequency control: fully CW = standard setting for usual VCO applications, fully CCW: close to 0Hz frequency)
LFM input with attenuator, DC coupled

Pulsewidth controls for rectangle output:
PW (manual pulsewidth control from 0%/output = fixed at "low" state up to 100% / output fixed at "high" state)
PWM input with attenuator
Hard Sync input
Soft Sync input
Waveform outputs:
Sawtooth
Rectangle (with PWM)
Triangle
Sine
Nearly "perfect" waveforms (no glitches)
High end triangle to sine converter with excellent sine waveshape (thanks to Tim Stinchcombe who recommended this circuit)

14 HP Width

Price: about Euro 250.00
Available: spring/early summer 2016

The other new High End VCO  is the A-111-3 High End Precision VCO with a panelwidth of just 4HP.
Essentially it's the same basic circuit as the A-111-2 but with reduced features:

A-111-3 High
End Precision
VCO

Triangle core, min. 15 octaves pitch range (typ. 0.5Hz - 20kHz with appropriate external CV)
Perfect 1V/octave tracking over min. 12 octaves (typ. 5Hz - 20kHz)
Exponential frequency controls and inputs:
Tune (~ 1 or ~ 10 octaves range, selectable via internal jumper, maybe different ranges in the final version)
1V/octave CV input
XM input with attenuator
access to bus CV (via jumper, optional)

Linear frequency controls:
LM input with attenuator, DC coupled

Pulsewidth controls for rectangle output:
PW (manual pulsewidth control from 0%/output = fixed at "low" state up to 100% / output fixed at "high" state)
PW input (without attenuator)
Sync input (selectable hard or soft sync via internal jumper)

Waveform outputs:
Sawtooth
Rectangle (with PWM)
Triangle
Nearly "perfect" waveforms (no glitches)
Only 4HP wide panel

Price: about Euro 150.00
Available: spring/early summer 2016

All features, specifications, prices, date of delivery are still without obligation
Source: http://www.doepfer.de/home_e.htm

Doepfer A-111 High-end VCO 2 Video Tutorials by Raul Pena

For his next Doepfer tutorial video series, Raul Pena returns to the classics...

A-110 Standard VCO vs A-111 High-end VCO(2)

Module A-111-1 (VCO2) is a voltage controlled oscillator. 

The VCO has a range of about 12 octaves, and produces four waveforms simultaneously: pulse (rectangle), sawtooth, triangle and sine waves. 

The VCO's frequency is determined by the position of the range switch, tune and fine tune controls, and the voltage at the two pitch CV inputs, CV 1 and CV 2. Footage (the octave of the fundamental) is set by the Range control, which has seven octave steps. 

The Tune control is used for coarse tuning, and the Fine control for fine tuning of the VCO pitch. 

The A-111 can be modulated by both exponential and linear FM (frequency modulation). 

You can control the pulse width of the square wave either by hand, or by voltage control - Pulse Width Modulation, or PWM for short.
The A-111 also has inputs for Hard Sync and Soft Sync.

As the special circuit CEM3340 used in this module is no longer available the module has to be discontinued.

Doepfer A-111 VCO2 Tutorials (Playlist):

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

Random Video: Doepfer A-111 VCO sync demo by Morgan Karlsson

Via the Doepfer A-100 Modular group on Facebook:

Video: Doepfer A-111 sync demo by Morgan Karlsson

" 2xA111 processed through the TTSH. Oscillator 2 hardsynced to Oscillator 1. Intellijel Metropolis synced to the Sample & Hold of the TTSH. The Sample & Hold controlling VCF cut off and Oscillator 2."

Uploaded by Morgan Karlsson

Random Video: Doepfer A-100 Modular System w Legacy Filter Demo by LesIndes

Electronic Music Analog Synthesizer shop Les Indes from Berlin uploaded this long (almost 13 minutes) demo to YouTube.
The video mainly shows off the A-111 VCO and the (discontinued) Doepfer A-121 Multimode Filter...

Video: DOEPFER A-100 Modular System w Legacy Filter

" Featuring: High End VCO A-111 (running out of production), Multimode Filter A-121 (discontinued)"

Uploaded by LESINDES

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/les.indes.3

Doepfer A-111 FM Carillion by @Jakobsweb

Jakobsweb has uploaded an interesting video showing off the FM capabilities of the Doepfer A-111 VCO (linear FM)

Video: Doepfer A-111 FM Carillion by Jakobsweb

" Not a song! This is meant to demonstrate the FM capabilities of the Doepfer A-111 VCO (linear FM).No filter used.
Additional modules used:
A-143-9 Sine VCO/LFO used as modulating VCO, the A-111s are carriers.
A-149-1/2 Quantized/Stored Random Voltages triggering additional pitch CV on the A-111 VCOs.
Synthesis Technologies E560 Deflector Shield adding FM flavour.
Last not least Make Noise Echophone creating addtional echoes.
Doepfer A-131 VCA, A-134 panning module and A-140 envelope for VCA."

Uploaded by jakobsweb

Discontinued A-100 Modules

Good things come and good things go...
There are many different reasons for manufacturers to stop producing certain modules.
Sadly for some people, some components of a few Doepfer modules aren't available anymore.
Some of the special circuits ( or IC's) in the modules have become scarce, or not available at all ( like the original knobs ) , and that has been a reason for Doepfer to discontinue the production of some of these modules.

Another reason to stop producing certain modules is because they just don't or didn't sell... maybe just because they are not very useful (anymore) or they disappeared when newer modules appeared with (almost) the same function(s).

Soon a collector's item?

An overview ( updated February 2012 ) :

A-111 High End VCO  As the special circuit CEM3340 used in this module is no longer available the module has to be discontinued.
/ Sale while stocks last.

A-121 Multimode Filter As the special circuit CEM3320 used in this module is no longer available the module has to be discontinued soon.
/ Sale while stocks last (only 20 left in Januari 2012)
Doepfer recommends the A-106-6 XP VCF, that is based on the filter circuit of the Oberheim Xpander, as a replacement module.

...the A-101-9 Universal Vactrol Controller is the latest addition to the running out/ sale while stock lasts list... more info on this later

The A-111-5 Mini Synth Voice (and the Dark Energy) will also be discontinued because of CEM3394 chip running out... Stock is still available.
More info on this HERE

The following Doepfer modules are not available anymore:

A-123 24dB High Pass was discontinued at the time by poor sales, and the special circuit CEM3320 used in this module is no longer available.

...and another one...

A-126 Frequency Shifter Because the special circuit CEM3382 used in the internal quadrature VCO of the A-126 is no longer available Doepfer had stop the production of this module too.
But they are about to plan a succeeding model ( A-126-2 ) without internal VCO. The advantage of this solution is that even frequencies below 50Hz are available for special beat effects based of frequency shifting at low frequencies.

A-138x Mix Expander - Because of the poor inquiries the production of this module had been stopped too.

A-139 Headphone Amplifier, a 2-channel headphone amplifier with 2 audio inputs (3.5 mm jack sockets) and level controls, common loudness/master level control, 2 headphone outputs (stereo 1/4" jack sockets) - no longer available

A-177 External Foot Controller is now replaced by the A-177-2, a more economical replacement with a little less control (without LEDs and without scale controls), but with almost the same functions.

A-179 Light Controlled Voltage Source is also no longer available as the special circuit CEM3320 used in this module is no longer available. That is why this module also had to be discontinued.

A-191 MIDI-to-CV Interface / Shepard Generator no longer available

A-197 Analog Meter no longer available ( i personally never really expected an analog meter to be very useful, and i guess i wasn't the only one )

A-197-2 Oscilloscope kit no longer available -
I am still looking for an affordable oscilloscope though. I was thinking about something like a MFB VD-01 Videoscope, but sadly there's no budget at the moment...

Latest update: A-188-1Y BBD Module (256 stages) is also on sale while stocks last


Curious what chip is inside your synthesizer?
Check http://synthtech.com/cems.html and
http://sequencer.de/synth/index.php/Chips_in_Synthesizers

Busboard Access

Updated August 25th 2011

A good patch can sometimes turn out to a whole spaghetti of patchcables.
Luckily Doepfer provided the A-100 system with a subsystem that makes the routing of some Gate and CV signals through the internal busboard-system possible.

It's too bad that not all modules have this ability, but for some modules this is a good way to avoid "over-wiring" your system with patch-cables.

Only modules A-110 (Standard VCO), A-111 (High end VCO), A-111-5 (Mini Synth. Voice), A-140 (ADSR), A-164-1 (Manual Gate), A-185-1 (Bus Access), A-185-2 (Precision Adder) and A-190-1,2,3 and 4 (Midi Interfaces) have access to the CV or Gate signal of the A-100 busboard.

The A-164-1, A-185 (-1 and 2) and A-190 (-1,2 and 3) can be used to "write" the busboard, i.e. they can output the signals to the bus.

The others are able to "read" the busboard, i.e. they pick up the signals CV (A-110, A-111, A111-5) resp. Gate (A-140, A-164-1) from the bus.
The A-111-5 can pick up CV and Gate from the bus. Also the planned A-143-4 Quad VCLFO/VCO will be able to read the A-100's busboard.
For details please refer to the user manuals of these Doepfer modules.

Most of the modules come with jumpers inside that can connect or disconnect the signal from and to the busboard. If other modules should be able to "write" or "read" the bus some of them can be modified. More on this in a future modding blogpost.

Doepfer warns on their DIY-site for shortcircuiting modules and/or busboard, so please take note:
Pay attention that only one module is allowed to "write" to the same bus signal.  If two or more modules write to the bus this leads to a short circuit of the corresponding outputs.
Please let me know if i forgot some modules in the Feedback section of this post, thank you!

Oscillator Synchronizing

Interesting sound-effects can be obtained by the synchronising of (multiple) oscillators.
In a typical setup, one oscillator (master) restarts the cycle-period of the other one (slave) , what results in equal base frequencies on both oscillators. This is called Hard Sync.

The result is an irregular waveform with it's own harmonic spectrum, completely different from 'standard' waveforms

Soft Sync is a more general name for all kinds of oscillator synchronisation.
This form is very similar to Hard Sync, but here the slave oscillator is forced to reset to zero with every cycle of the master regardless of position or direction of the slave waveform, which often generates asymmetrical shapes.

In Soft Sync, rather than resetting to zero, the wave is inverted;  its direction is reversed.
Further variations to the sound can be made by comparing the sounds with different comparison tresholds. For more info see the Wikipedia page on Oscillator Synchronisation
Soft Sync sounds smoother  and distinctly different from hard-sync.
It is difficult to replicate this effect on digital synths, due to aliasing problems.

Soft Sync-like effects can also be created with other modules, for example a phaser or a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) Module.

Never Enough VCO's

The engines or hearts of all modular synthesizers are definetely the VCO's. As main sound source for your patches it seems you never have enough of them.

I own 5 VCO's at the moment, One A-111 High End VCO plus four A-110 Standard VCO's. Ideal for stacking layers of waveforms to make extra- fat sounds, and also very useable for multiple A-100 melodylines

The A-111 is the one i use most because of its extended possibilities. 

This VCO has an extended frequency range, improved waveforms, FM and Soft Sync inputs plus an extra fine-tune-controller. Ideal for controllerfreaks like me. 

It produces sine, triangle, pulse and sawtooth waveforms, which are all derived from the triangle oscillator, what does make it hard to produce perfect sine-waves ( but a little better as the A-110's sine wave )

One of the best things is that all 4 waveforms are all simultanously available at the outputs for your mixing pleasure.

The much cheaper A-110  has less controls and is based on a sawtooth oscillator. All outcoming waveforms of this module are derived from this sawtooth by internal waveform converters. This module also generates sinewaves that are not completely perfect, but to 'normal' ears this is hardly audible

I never noticed, and i guess most of us don't care and never noticed the imperfect-ness of the sinewaves of both modules.

Even on an oscilloscope it is hardly visible that the sinewaves are nothing more than rounded sawtooth-waves.

For a perfect sine wave Doepfer recommends the A-143-9 Quadrature LFO/VCO, another interesting module, that i will highlight in a future blogpost.

Note: As the special circuit CEM3340 used in the A-111 High End VCO module is no longer available the module has to be discontinued. Sales at Doepfer while stocks last !