Doepfer A-149-3 Fluctuating Random Voltages

I am slowly catching up with the Doepfer announcements that they did at SuperBooth earlier this year, but one of them, the long awaited Doepfer A-149-3 Fluctuating Random Voltages seems to be ready for shipping right now.

In an online poll in the old Doepfer Usergroep over ten years ago about 
the earlier A-149 1/2 combo was voted as Users' Favorite Doepfer Modules 

A-149-3 is a new third module of the A-149-x range, based on the "Fluctuating Random Voltages" by Buchla.
Buchla avoided calling it a “noise” or “random” module — he preferred the mystical, poetic “Source of Uncertainty"

Basically it is a random voltage generator that features Quantized Random Voltages (stepped, like a broken sequencer) and Fluctuating Random Voltages (smooth, like a stoned LFO), offering both jagged and fluid unpredictability.

Used by pioneers like Morton Subotnick, the Source of Uncertainty helped shape electronic pieces that felt alive and organic

Compared to the historic original a lot of functions have been added in this module.

The user has access to virtually all internal signals (e.g. Noisy Triangle or S&H) and there are a lot of adjustable parameters which were fixed in the original like the frequency and noisiness of the internal triangle oscillator, the correlation of the S&H and manual or automatic frequency control of the S&H clock oscillator.

A-149 Internal Structure Schematics

The fixed internal connections of the original are wired to sockets in the A-149-3 and can be used also individually as the connections of the original are realized as normalled sockets. 

That way e.g. the S&H or slew unit can be used independent from the other units.

The Source of Uncertainty continues to ripple through modular design today.

Already other options were available to get this typical west-coast-style module into Eurorack.

TipTop clones like 266t, 266e, or modules inspired by its concept like Mutable Instruments Marbles

While I do have other modules on my want-list that I have to get first, this will probably end up in my rack at some point... next to it's precursors A-149-1 and 2.

Those were a lot of fun to experiment with and I expect this will be a lot of fun too.

Source and more info:
https://www.doepfer.de/A1493.htm

Quick Tip XII : A-149-1/2 Connection

Since i recently own an A-149-1/2 Quantized/Stored Random Voltages combination i thought it would be a good idea to spend a few blogposts on it.
Sadly something in my mixing-desk popped yesterday, so i can't make any demo's of it right now (or even listen to loud music...) I hope fixing it will not take too long... or cost too much :-(

This first post is very basic, but i have seen the question on how to connect these two modules pop up on forums several times.
This can also be found in the A-149-2 Manual (PDF), but i guess this post (and picture) will provide all the info you need.

The A-149-2 must be placed directly next to the A-149-1 module (I prefer it on the right side as it seems more logic to me)

A-149 connection - A-149-2 on top, A-149-1 below that
The inter-connecting ribbon is the right one,
the ones on the left should be connected to the busboard

The special connecting ribbon cable is equipped with 10 pin female connectors on both ends.
Join the two modules with the supplied 10-way ribbon cable.
Make sure that the ribbon cable is not twisted, and that the colour-coded section is oriented the same on both modules.

One of the female connectors is already connected in the factory to the pin header labelled "JP2 TO A-149-1 EXPANSION CONNECTOR" on the A-149-2 pc board.
The second female connector of this cable is used to establish the connection between A-149-2 and A-149-1.
This female connector is put on the pin header labelled "JP5 EXPANSION" on the main board of the module A-149-1.
For both modules the cable has to be the same polarity (i.e. red wire to bottom for both modules).

Pay attention not to damage any of the parts on the boards.

Doepfer Gifts - Full Disclosure

Doepfer mug-shot

Back in January i received an e-mail from Dieter Doepfer himself in reply to a few questions that i had in preparation for a new blogpost.

Doepfer customer service has always been good, and Dieter always tries to personally answer his emails the same day. 

He is always willing to help me out with my retro-product-questions.
Besides the answers to my questions, he also had another nice announcement.

" Hello Pierre,
that's really a nice collection of our history products. 

When I have the time I could scan all the old documents I still have.
I think this will help you to continue the excellent work.
As you agreed that we link to your page I'm willing to offer some compensation for your job.
Publishing these details will also help us because sometimes customers ask for something like that.
Let me know if you are interested e.g. in a free A-100 module or similar."

Thank you, Dieter

...and last week, my package finally arrived.

They sent me a beautiful black-and-white Doepfer mug and an A-149-1/2 Quantized/Stored Random Voltages combination,  great modules that were high on my wishlist.

Doepfer mug and A-149-1/2 combo

I am very thankful for these gifts, and i see it as a recognition for (over) three years of blogging about modular synthesizers here at PatchPierre.Net.

I also feel that i have to mention these gifts from Doepfer here, as some kind of disclosure.

I will (of course) write one or more blogposts about my new modules, and i will keep on bringing you all the Doepfer news in the future.

Not much will change by these gifts, but i will stay the Doepfer fanboi that i always have been...

Raul Pena's A-149 Random Controlled Voltages Tutorials

Raul Pena is back once again with some very interesting tutorials on the Doepfer A-149 RCV module.

Video 1: Doepfer A149-1 RCV Quantized Random Voltages

" Description and Demonstration of the Doepfer A149-1 RCV Quantized Random Voltages.Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 2: Doepfer A 149 RCV Stored Random Voltages

" Part Two in the Doepfer A149-1 RCV Series.Exploration and Demonstration of the Stored Random Voltages section of the Doepfer A149-1 RCV. Sound and Description by Raul Pena."

Video 3: Doepfer A 149 RCV Modulation of Quantized and Stored Random Voltages

" Part three in the Doepfer A149-1 RCV series. Explanation and Demonstration of Modulation in the Quantized and Stored Random voltages sections."

As soon as more episode appear online i will add them to this blogpost
Don't forget to check out Raul's site at http://raulsworldofsynths.com/