Doepfer A-198-2: The Ribbon Controller Gets an Upgrade

After a bit of delay... Doepfer has finally released the new A-198-2 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller module.

The original A-198 was released in early 2003, and  this re-design is a big improvement from that first version.
The new module features a clear backlit screen, and in performance mode you can easily select one of the 9 user programmable Quantize modes that are stored in memory by pressing buttons that will light up when selected. This looks pretty useful in the dark.

Although the new version is 2 HP smaller than the old one, Doepfer still managed to put 2 more connections on the frontplate.
Besides the CV and Gate-signal for the pressure-sensor and the CV and Gate output from the position-sensor there are two more sockets; 
Switching between quantized/not quantized can be performed on the module or via external control voltage input Qnt, which can be controlled from for example a foot switch (module A-177-2) or any other trigger, for dynamic quantize switching while playing.
Switching between retrigger on/off can also be done on the module or via external control voltage input Rtr.

The position CV range across the 60 cm ribbon controller manual is adjustable in 5 steps from 1 octave up to 5 octaves range, while the pressure sensitivity is also adjustable in 7 steps.

The direction of the manual is also selectable.

There is an optional Midi output signal available (instead of the input socket Rtr or via passive breakout module).... I will probably build a simple 2 HP wide breakout panel with a MIDI out socket after my holiday break next week.
All parameters can also be stored nonvolatile (incl. 9 quantizations), but i haven't figured out if there is a way to re-call the factory-settings yet.

The Ribbon manual itself hasn't changed since the update it got in 2005 (it has a more sensible pressure sensor and the improved sensor works even along the entire manual since then).
The (1Kg heavy) metal ribbon controller bar with the pressure-sensitive ribbon feels solid, but the USB connection on it still feels a bit wobbly... I was hoping a new kind of USB connector would be used in newer models. (this is my third Ribbon already)

I don't know yet if there will also be a new version of the (stand-alone) R2M.

The old (left) and the new A-198 

The main reason why I bought this module was mainly because of the space it saves in my mobile eurorack setup. The 2HP less width is a plus, but I also do not need an external Quantizer anymore. I did have the A-156 (Dual) Quantizer in combination with the old Ribbon controller manual, but this combo seems obsolete now.

Ofcourse I do like the new A-198-2, the bright screen, the hands-on control and easy switching between modes, but the settings menu's feel a bit overkill (to me), although these fine-tune settings will probably improve the precicion of the module) .
I would have rather seen a A-156- style quantize selection menu, perhaps even extended with a few new options? (... a 24 steps per octave (24TET) setting is/was the first thing that slipped into mind.) Microtonal music seems to be getting pretty mainstream lately....

All I wanted... 

So, in the end, I’m quite happy with the new A-198-2. 

It does exactly what I was looking for: It saves a little precious space in my portable rack and eliminates the need for a separate quantizer. The extra features and deeper settings may be more than I personally need, but they certainly make the module more versatile.

And the best part is that I now have two Ribbon Controller modules. :) 

The new A-198-2 will stay in the portable rack, while the original A-198 gets a permanent place in the main studio system. That means I can simply move the controller between the two rooms and plug and play, which, for me, is probably the most useful upgrade of all.

Source: https://www.doepfer.de/a1982.htm
....more A-198 posts by PatchPierre HERE 

Theremin: Magic Ceramic Custom Synth

Happy New-Year everybody!
I hope you all had a great holiday season...
I found this one on the web, but it's not really new...

Video: Magic Ceramic Theremin Lamp Doepfer A-178

" The first test of the Magic Ceramic Theremin lamp. 

It was developed as a peculiar piece for the opening of the Exhibition of several ceramists in Gallery Artibrak. from November until 28th of December 2011.

A Theremin is normally step-less, but in this case an A-156 is used as a quantizer..

Small explanation for those who are not familiar:
In this magic piece of ceramic two antenna's are integrated. 

One antenna for the volume and one for the pitch. 

The instrument does not have to be touched. 

The volume can be controlled by your left hand (when approaching it the volume increases), the pitch can be controlled by your right hand (when approaching it, the pitch of the sound goes up). 

 By approaching the antenna's you are influencing the potential difference. 

Just like the antenna of your transistor radio which functions well or not when approaching it.

(Ceramic Art by Mance)

The Magic Ceramic is based on the original Theremin invented by Léon Theremin in 1919. 

That electronic instrument is step-less variable and very expressive. 

It sounds like an opera voice or violin.

This ceramic version of the instrument has a much more variety than it's original. 

You can make the sound stepless or let it be quantized, so that you hear a real tonescale/musical scale. 

The sinus-tone of the Magic Ceramic is quantized (chopped in pieces), and in the way it is presented now only the Minor notes are heard. (like the black keys on a piano) 

In this way the steps between the notes are bigger and easier to distinguish. 

Other possibilities are just Major notes or the complete tonescale, quantized or not. 

There is also a small sampler added, so when you reach the highest note a spoken voice can be heard."
More info HERE

Video uploaded by creativegallerysynth

A-156 Dual Quantizer Tutorials by Raul Pena

Raul Pena has published the first (of 5) episode of his next tutorial video series.
This time it is all about the A-156 Dual Quantiser module.

Video 1: Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Basics

" Description and Overview of the Modes of Operation of the Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Module. A basic demonstration of the Major, Minor, and Chord modes. Continued in Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Modes of Operation Part Two. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 2: Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Modes of Operation

" Description and Overview of the Modes of Operation of the Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Module. A basic demonstration of the Major, Minor, and Chord modes. Continued in Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Modes of Operation Part Two. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 3: Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Modes of Operation Part Two

" Continuation of the Modes of Operation of the Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer Module. A basic demonstration of the +7,+6 and quint modes. Next Video Doepfer A156 More Voltage Sources, Transposing, and using triggers. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 4: Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer More CV Sources, Transposing, and Triggers

" Continuing Exploration of the Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer. This section examines using an Envelope as a CV source for the quantizer, transposing quantized sequences and triggers. Next Video Doepfer A156 More Voltage Sources, Transposing, and using triggers Part Two. Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

Video 5: Doepfer A156 Dual Quantizer More CV Sources, Transposing, and triggers Part Two

" This section continues examining transposing quantized sequences and triggers.Also demonstration of quantizing a modulated CV source.Sound and Video by Raul Pena."

More videos will be added after they appear online.
Don't forget to check out Raul's website at http://raulsworldofsynths.com/

Random Video: Doepfer A-100 Manual Arpeggios

You might already know that the A-156 Dual Quantizer is one of my favorite modules, you can read more about that module and my modification HERE and on the Synovatron blog.
I recently found this video on YouTube, by someone who also seems to have fun with it.

Video: Doepfer A-100 Manual Arpeggios
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A31ZpPVqRHI

" A patch on the Doepfer A-100, featuring the A-156 Quantizer "

Uploaded by JWolfMusic

Modifications I : A-156 Quantizer Follow

A-156 with modification

Yesterday i picked up the spare parts that i ordered from Doepfer; a few switches, 3.5 mm sockets, LEDs and blindplates of different types and sizes. Now that i have them i couldn't wait to start with my first project.

One of my personal little annoyances that i have with the A-100 system are the tiny internal jumpers inside of some modules. Behind these jumpers are sometimes great functions that make these modules a lot more flexible.

Where i can, i will try to replace the internal jumpers with switches on the front on more modules, but i started with the A-156 Dual Quantizer Module.

A-156 after removing all the knobs
and frontplate

This module has two separate Quantizers, one that only uses a semitone-scale and Quantizer 2 that has much more options like minor/major/chord/quint/6th and 7th scales. There is a way to let Quantizer 1 follow Quantizer number 2 by replacing an internal jumper, but why there? It is probably a cost-saving thing from Doepfer's side but there is enough room on the frontplate of the module to place a switch with the same function. You can find a neat step-by-step guide with pictures on how to do this HERE , but it is quite easy.

Wiring the new switch

After removing the frontplate and drilling a hole for the new switch ( there is enough room above or under the printed 'Options Quantizer 2' text ) i could fit a new Doepfer 1-0-1 (on-off-on) switch in the hole and mount it back together again.

A-156 detail close-up

The wiring was quite simple, so even with my mediocre soldering-skills this was a piece of cake for me. The result is a simple and invisible modification that works perfect. Switch down couples the 2 quantizers, switch up puts quantizer 1 in it's original mode.

Okay... a similar result can be obtained with the use of an extra multiplier, but i found this one more adventurous... and rackspace-saving.

Now its time to experiment with the new options that i have. I can think of some nice patches already, but there are also some good suggestions for the use of this module and this modification at Synovatron's blog.

Best Friends Forever IV - XL Edition

This next quick patch is a small extension of my earlier Best Friends Forever posts.

Although i don't always use this patch, i do like the simplicity of it, getting me more out of my Slew Limiter.

As blogged earlier, I use the A-182-1 Switched Multiple mainly to switch between my keyboard ( via MIDI ) and my A-198 Ribbon Controller.
For this i split up this Multiple in two halves, the upper half controls the Gate, the lower half controls the pitch ( CV )

The black cables that go into the Switched multiple are for ( quantized ) Ribbon Control if channel 2 is selected, the yellow ones are for keyboard control, via channel 1

The only advantage in this patch is that i am now using both halfs of the A-170 Slew Limiter, the lower ( and more extended half ) for the Ribbon Controller, the upper half for the incoming output of the MIDI-CV Interface.

Best Friends Forever III

My next unseparable combo is a threesome this time.

This is another essential combination for me, because i use my A-198 Trautonium/Ribbon Controller a lot to control my A-100 system.
The yellow patchcables between these modules always stay connected whenever i start a new patch.

The Voltage Control output ( pitch control ) of the Ribbon Controller goes straight into the A-156 Dual Quantizer.
This module divides the signal into various little steps that provides many different possibilities to scale the notes that are played, allowing the player to play more accurate notes and scales.

Note that I use the lower and more extended half of the Dual Quantizer.
The upper half has less functions and can only divide the signal into steps of 1 /12th Volt = 1 Volt per Octave


Last in the line is the A-170 Dual Slew limiter. With this one i can add a subtile portamento to the signal.

Again, only the lower half of the module is used in this patch, because this half has more possibilities.
The slewrates are adjustable from low to mid or high, and it has separate controls for rise and fall times.

This patch gives me all the control that i need, and i cannot do without any one of these in my live-setup.

Happy Knobbing II - Colored Switches

I finally found what i was looking for for a long time.

A year ago ( or so ) i saw an A-100 system with colored switches on it.
For a long time i have been looking for them too, and now finally i found them and ordered them. ( pretty easy after all, via Conrad )

They are just small plastic mini-sleeves, and they fit perfect on the A-100's switches.
They also provide a little bit more grip and make the switches easier to handle.
I ordered them in all the four available colors ( green, black, yellow and red ), so i can sort of 'color-code' the system as much as possible. Not sound-improving, but just nice eye-candy... again.