Doepfer A168-1 PW/PWM-Generator Announced

Doepfer Announced another new module last week...

Module A-168-1 is a pulsewidth modulation generator (PWM Module).

It derives a rectangle signal with adjustable pulsewidth from an external triangle, sawtooth or sine wave. 

The external signal can be an LFO, VCO or any other signal with falling/rising slopes (e.g. ADSR). In addition the pulsewidth can be modulated by a CV signal (e.g. LFO or ADSR). 

The typical application is the generation of a rectangle signal with PWM from VCOs or LFOs which do not yet have this feature (e.g. A-110-4, A-145, A-147-2, A-143-4, A-143-9).

The module is equipped with these controls and in/output:
- Manual PW control (PW)
- PWM CV Input with attenuator (PWM)
- Signal input (In)
- Output with LED control (Out)
- Inverted Output with LED control (/Out)
- Internal trimming potentiometer for PW (is adjusted for symmetrical 50:50 rectangle when the manual PW control is at center position)
- Internal trimming potentiometer for PWM range (is adjusted so that the manual PW control covers the full PW range 0 ... 100%)
- The trimming potentiometers are required to adjust the module for best operation for signals with different DC offsets (e.g. unipolar/bipolar signals) and different signal levels.

Normally the module is assigned to another module because the trimming potentiometer have to be readjusted when the input signal changes (unless the signals have nearly the same DC offset and level)

(planned for November 2015, price ~ Euro 50.00, price and release date are still without obligation)
Source: http://www.doepfer.de/a1681.htm

Colored Doepfer Knobs

Yay... Doepfer decided to produce and sell knobs in multiple colors.
The modules are still delivered with grey knobs.
Because of logistic reasons it's not possible to deliver modules with different colored knobs, but the customer is able to order the knobs separately and replace the grey knobs by the new ones as the knobs are simply plugged on the potentiometer shafts.

The colored rotary Knobs, diameter 15 mm, height 15 mm, for 6 mm axis with 18 teeth, can be used also in other products like MAQ16/3, Dark Energy or Dark Time.

You can find the new knobs on the price list in the Doepfer website's spare parts section...

Random Video: Quaslynt by @Monotrome

Monotrome uploaded an interesting experimental video to YouTube... (and to Vimeo, too: https://vimeo.com/97056588)
Spoiler Alert: there's a bonus cat hidden in the video! 

Video: Monotrome - Quaslynt

" Live recording of a patch I've been playing with for the last couple of days. It's not exactly for easy listening, I guess. Includes a hidden bonus cat!
Gear used:

Eurorack modular
- Mutable Instruments Braids (in META mode, switching between PLUK and DRUM)
- TipTop Audio Z3000, wave-shaped by a ...
- Doepfer A-110
- MakeNoise STO (FM'd by Doepfer A-110)
- ALM Busy Circuits Pamela's Workout in bank switching mode
- MakeNoise René
- MakeNoise Function
- MakeNoise Optomix
- MakeNoise Teleplexer
- Doepfer A-183-2 (for attenuating and off-setting the bank-switching CV that goes to Pamela's Workout)
- ... and lots of little helpers

MFB Urzwerk (used for CV modulation source and as gate sequencer)
MFB Nanozwerg
EHX Deluxe Memory Boy delay pedal

Filmed with iPhone 5 and iPad 3, edited with iMovie.
Enjoy!
http://www.monotrome.org/"

Video uploaded by Monotrome

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/monotrome

MusikMesse 2014 Alex4 Booth with Dieter Doepfer

Once again, SonicState has made a nice video from the MusikMesse booth of European Distributor of analog synths and Eurorack modules Alex4.

Alex4 Booth, picture by Marko Ettlich

The Alex4 Distribution booth with the big tagline "...you like Synths?" included MFB, KOMA, Doepfer, and Meeblip anodes, amongst other smaller (European) brands.

The SonicState booth-tours are almost an annual ritual, often with owner Andreas Schneider (from SchneidersBuero /SchneidersLaden) showing the whole booth and some of the new goodies...
This time Dieter Doepfer shows the new stuff, focussing on the Dark Flow, the stand-alone version of the A-157 Trigger Sequencer (Mini Schaltwerk) and some of the OEM/DIY products.

Video: MESSE 2014: Dr Doepfer's Dark Flow

" MESSE 2013: Dr Doepfer's Dark Flow - Astronomy inspired trigger sequencer "

Uploaded by

http://www.sonicstate.com/ 

On Twitter via https://twitter.com/sonicnick

Another nice Alex4-booth impression by Dutch Interface Magazine also popped up on YouTube:

Video 2: Musikmesse 2014 vol 5: Alex 4s Do You Like Synths?

Video uploaded by InterfaceNLvideo

Doepfer A-100 Xmas Edition

The coolest Christmas module comes from the Doepfer website:

" Season's greetings and best wishes for the New Year to all our customers and business partners ! "

- Doepfer

" ...We are closed from December 21st, 2013 until January 06th 2014.

During this time no order processing, no shipping, no email or phone support, no receipt of goods, no repairs and so on."

NAMM 2013 Preview

Dieter Doepfer and Bob Moog at NAMM 2002

NAMM 2013 in Anaheim, California will kick off tomorrow.
From January 24-27 many exhibitors from all over the world will show their latest in music technology.

Some manufacturers already announced the new synthesizers that they will be display at NAMM;
I believe i am the most excited by the previews that i've seen from the Moog Sub Phatty, a new analog synthezizer from Moog (around 1100 USD) and the rumors of a Korg MS-20 re-design.
According to this rumors Korg will show a revamped Korg Legacy MS-20-style controller, but with fully analog circuits, featuring mini 1/8"  instead of 1/4" jacks and equipped with MIDI and MIDI over USB.
The rumored price will be around 800 USD.

I haven't seen many spectacular new eurorack announcements yet (besides the new Pittsburgh Modular modules and cases, and the 4ms modules), but there will probably be some new and interesting devices out there.

Dieter Doepfer and Bob Moog
at NAMM 2002

The Bob Moog Foundation (BMF) will also be at NAMM 'to celebrate the indelible nature of the synthesizer pioneer’s legacy'.
Beginning on Thursday January 24, NAMM attendees will have opportunities to see and hear demonstrations of vintage Moog instruments and explore rarely seen archival material from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives.
More info about this at the BMF Website.

Have fun if you are going, i wish i could be there too.
Maybe i'll try to be at the next MusikMesse in Frankfurt, Germany (April 10 to 13, 2013) , but nothing is sure yet.
I also have a regular day-job, you know...

Feel free to send interesting (eurorack modular) synth-pictures if you have them, thanks in advance!
The best place to find all the latest NAMM news is at Matrixsynth.

Find more info about NAMM 2013 at http://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2013

Pictures via the Doepfer Facebook page

Quick Tip XII : Multifunctional 2HP Blindplate

Picture via @cymatics

 "...don't stir your teas and coffees with cheap, thin-feeling plastic swizzle sticks, for a truly analog stirring experience, impart the rich, metallic notes of a Doepfer 2hp blanking panel to your brew..."

Instead of using those cheap throw-away plastic coffee (or tea) swizzle sticks you can also use a simple 2HP blind-plate to stir your favorite drink of course...

It is a relatively environmental-friendly option too, because you can use it over and over again...
Just a quick wipe and it is clean again and ready for re-use.

Happy April 1st!

Video: Charlie Chaplin Through a Doepfer Vocoder

As one of my earliest Quick Tips i suggested to test your Vocoder with recorded spoken word.
In that way you don't have to hold a microphone or constantly keep an eye your audio-levels.
The audio-example that went with that post wasn't that special, but here's another short but nice demonstration, uploaded by YouTube user WorksLimited.

Video: Charlie Chaplin through a Doepfer modular A-100 Vocoder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH1NlbDhPRQ
"Charlie Chaplin speech from The Great Dictator, slowed down about 10% and run through a Doepfer Vocoder. The results compare very favorably to units like the Synton and Sennheiser (in my humble opinion)."

Uploaded by WorksLimited

Quick Tip IX : Record Everything

Video's like these (by marihutten on a pretty big A-100 system) remind me to always record everything you can, on video or at least in audio.
If you only knew how often i regretted not recording that last jam, demo or interlude, it often turns out you miss the best things...
Or is that just my bad luck?
Other benefit is the ability to review your recording later, by yourself or by others... you might be surprised by the reactions from different listeners...
Or how about using snippets of your recordings in later projects?
Possibilities are endless, your limit is your imagination...

Video: Clock Divider and FM on Doepfer (11:23)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe51is2ltu8


" My first try with the clock divider on the Doepfer. Too bad I forgot filming the third patch I that I created during that session that was an ADSR that went through an Audio Divider that went through the clock that later went through a morph filter. Sounded sick.
This one sounds kinda boring but I was trying something simple with 3 VCOs of triangle waves to see if I got the gist of the clock divider."

Uploaded by marihutten on 2/2/2012

Eurorack Modular Guitar Filter Fuzz LFO

I love the Eurorack DIY scene.

Although there are a lot of video's without any clear explanation, some video's are simply amazing.
Youtube user mmdroid has put guitar-strings in his Eurorack.

Electric guitar-strings use the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals.

It looks like 2 Dual-Coil pickups were used in this project.

Double-coiled or "humbucker" pickups were invented as a way to reduce or counter the unwanted ambient hum sounds. 

Humbuckers have two coils of opposite magnetic and electric polarity. 

This means that electromagnetic noise hitting both coils should cancel itself out.

Video: 19zoll Gitarre
http://youtu.be/xIzoU482Nok


" modular guitar filter fuzz lfo "
Uploaded by YouTube user mmdroid

Special Designs

Don't go calling or emailing Doepfer right away,
but if DIY-ing is not your thing you might find this next thing interesting:

" In principle Doepfer is able to make special designs, but most customers underestimate the time and consequently the costs for a special design.
Normally there are three steps for a custom design:

Development of the hardware (provided that none of their existing hardware products can be used), development of the software (provided that the design includes a microcontroller) and design of the mechanics (e.g. controls, housing, provided that the customers is not able to built his own case).

The hardware and software design is carried out at Doepfer, i.e. design of the schematics, PCB layout and software.
All mechanical parts of the design - i.e. PCB manufacturing, housing, treatement of the housing like drilling holes, milling slits, varnishing, printing and so on - is carried out by other companies specialized in such things.
Doepfer has no mechanical working place in their company.
The main problem for a special design is that all nonrecurring costs - i.e. design of schematics, pcb layout, programming the software, initial charges for the pcb manufacture, case/housing production and silk-screen printing - have to be payed by one customer only.

Even for a small design these nonrecurring costs reach the few thousands Euro range.
Normally these charges are divided by the number of devices that are manufactured (a few hundred or thousands as a rule).
Please keep in mind all these notes if you ask for a special design.
If you are willing to pay for all these steps of work they might make a quotation for you. "

from the Doepfer FAQ page

Quick Tip VII : Battery Check

In the A-112 VC Sampler /Wavetable Oscillator and some other devices rechargeable batteries (accumulators) are used for memory backup of preset data.
These electronic parts have a limited lifespan and have to be inspected at least every two years.

A-112 VC Sampler /Wavetable
Oscillator battery

Before the inspection the device has to be disconnected from mains voltage !
If the battery has a leak or if the measured voltage of the battery differs more than 10% from the target voltage the battery has to be replaced.
The target voltage (2.4V or 3.6V) and is printed on the battery.
The replacement should be carried out by qualified personnel only. 
The old battery has to be removed (desoldered) and the new one put in (soldered).
If you are able to carry out the replacement yourself you can purchase the rechargeable battery as a spare part from a supplier in your country. Any other rechargeable battery with the same voltage (e.g. 3.6V) can be used provided that it fits mechanically.

It is not allowed to put the old battery in the normal garbage. Please forward the old battery for recycling to a suitable receiving office.

The following Doepfer devices are (or have been) equipped with a rechargeable battery for memory backup:
2.4V rechargeable battery: LMK3/LMK3+
3.6V rechargeable battery, grid 10 x 20 mm.:
used in d3c, MCV24, A-112 VC Sampler /Wavetable Oscillator, Schaltwerk and Regelwerk.
Available e.g. from GP (3GP-60) or Varta (3/V80H), in Germany e.g. from www.reichelt.de (order no. 3GP-60), in USA from www.mouser.com (order no. Varta 3/V80H / 672-55608303059)

More info HERE

A-100 Knobs Change

Special announcement from Dieter Doepfer, in the Doepfer Yahoo Usergroup:
Updated Feb. 13, 2012, see below...

" I just wanted inform you that the knob manufacturer (ReAn Sulzer / Switzerland) has stopped the production of the knobs that were used in the A-100, MAQ16/3 and other products. 

We tried to buy the productions tools from ReAn as they are no longer used. But ReAn was not willing to sell the moulds.

We are about to find another manufacturer who is able to produce a copy of the knob but I'm not sure if the copies will look exactly the same. 

I assume that all modules manufactured until end of this year will still be equipped with the original ReAn version of the knobs. 

But from early in 2012 the modules will be delivered little by little with the new knobs. 

We will try to get new knobs that look as close as possible to the old ones but I'm not sure if there may be a small noticeable difference...

...Sorry - but we will try to continue with the A-100 as it is (same knobs,same panels). It's all a matter of taste. 

And if we change to other knobs I'm quite sure that many other customers would complain. 

If someone wants other knobs he may replace the knobs as the 6 mm 18 theeth shaft is a standard. 

From my point of view continuity is important for a product like the A-100 system. 

I would probably change some things if I could put the wheel of history into reverse (but not the knobs, the panels and the printing as I still like them). "

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

Update Feb 13, 2012:
" There is still some "fine adjustment" to do (exactly the same "grey", exactly the same width of the marker and so on). 

At first sight the samples of the new knobs look identically but if you compare an old and a new knob next to each other you see some minor differences (grey color and line width). 

But I'm confident that the manufacturer will be able to change these small details."

SiteTip IV : Doepfer Convergence Group on Soundcloud

If you are interested what kinds of sounds other Doepfer users make, or just want to be inspired, you can always go to the Doepfer Convergence Group on Soundcloud.

This site contains very interesting creative compositions made mainly on a Doepfer A-100 Analog Modular System.

The group is moderated by James Bragg (AKA HyperDust), a synthesizer player and producer from Bristol UK who has played in various bands since the early 1980's and who's musical styles have varied over the years from New Romantic, Rock, Rock/Dance, Trance and various electronica.

" I've been building up 2 suitcases of modules over the last 5 years. I love their immediacy but also their temporary nature.
There is a type of Japanese painting where you paint with water on a special stone. It can look beautiful but after a short time it dries and is gone forever. A Doepfer modular is a bit like that. I'll never get that sound again - you just have to live in the moment. Celebrate the now. We spend too much time worrying about the future, and regretting aspects of the past."

The group has 49 members, and 18 tracks already have been contributed by 10 different musicians.
Some of these are complete songs but it also includes long live-improvisations and weird soundscapes.

Definitely worth a listen, if you have some spare time... Here's a quick preview, just to give you an impression;

 biofeedback no.9 by cubistic microsonic 

Black, The New Silver

Like it or not; It looks like Doepfer is slowly changing the main colors of their products into the new black and white color-scheme.
It all started with the Dark Energy synthesizer and the Dark Time sequencer, and recently they changed the case-colors of their USB/MIDI interfaces MSY2, MCV4 and Dark Link.

The first (and probably only) A-100-related new black thing is Doepfer's Ribbon Controller ( The R2M control box and the manual, not the A-198 module itself )
As of June 2011 the cases of this Ribbon Controller will be black with white printing instead of the old silver-grey look.

I like this move towards black from Doepfer because it does make these instruments and boxes look slick(er).
It is probably cheaper too for them to produce, but i'm not sure of that ( and doesn't really matter to me).

But what will be next..? Will they also change the A-100's front-plates?
I guess (and hope) not... that will seriously mess up the overall view in my opinion, although i do like the black and white look from the vintage Moog and Roland modulars.
Fact is that those modules are far better readable due to the high contrast, but i don't think they should apply this to the older A-100 modules. ( but íf Doepfer ever comes up with a range of specific drum-modules i wouldn't mind them being black and white because this can be seen as a separate (sub-) system... )

Most Wanted - Future Modules Update

It is always good to keep an eye on the posts from the Doepfer Yahoo Usergroup.
Not only to get answer to all the A-100 questions you have, the DIY-tips, and the interesting module discussions but also for Dieter Doepfer's own input, troubleshooting and the occasional company updates.
In one of his latest posts he announced a few interesting 'new' things on Doepfer's to-do list, including a few that are not yet on Doepfer's Future Module page.

The ones you can already find on that page are the A-190-5 polyphonic USB/Midi-to-CV/Gate interface, the A-142-4 Quad Decay, A-195-1 Pitch-to-CV/Midi/USB interface, A-192-2 CV/Gate to Midi interface, A-143-4 Quad VCO/VCLFO and the A-100 touch keyboard.

The original A-126(-1)

I already blogged about the forthcoming A-157 Trigger Sequencer (not much info on the Doepfer site, only in a NAMM 2010 brochure), but the update of the A-126 module was new for me.
The A-126-2 Frequency Shifter II will be a redesign of the old module. 

Because of availability of the special circuit CEM3382 used in the original module's internal quadrature VCO, the 'original' A-126 is no longer available and they had to stop the production of this module. 

It looks like Doepfer is now working hard on a succeeding model without an internal VCO.

Other modules that were mentioned were a VC Slope Generator ( no specs or further info available, but maybe something like the Serge Universal Slope Generator ?- i'm only guessing !), a Master Clock module/synced LFO, the A-100 bus board V2 with some Analoge Systems connectors ( no more Analogue Systems-to-Doepfer adaptors necessary? ), and an A-100 miniature power supply redesign 

Besides that, Dieter posted that they are also still working on various non-A-100 Doepfer products like the Dark Matter (Dark Energy expander with Noise, S&H, a second VCO, Multimode-VCF, additional waveforms and maybe some other effects), the Dark Link, and an expansion board for the DIY Synth. 

" ... still on our to-do list. But I can't say in which sequence the planned products will be released."

Note: Please don't call or mail them too often at Doepfer about release-dates or updates of future modules. The Doepfer website is updated very regularly, so you will find all the latest info there...

Analogue-Systems-to-Doepfer Adaptors

Ever thought of installing Analogue Systems modules in your Doepfer Eurorack (or the other way around) without much trouble?

Tony from Synovatron came up with a few nifty solutions for that;
His latest 'inventions' are small adapters that allow you to simply plug directly into your  AS or Doepfer module, or that fit the connector on the module's PCB.

Installing is as easy as it looks;
 Note the red stripe - just line up the Doepfer cable's red stripe with it.
 The adaptors are also marked with pin 1 and have an orientation mark so pin 1 goes to the top (in fact to pin 1) and the red stripe goes at the bottom.

The order code for the socket-to-socket version (left) will be ASM2DB Adaptor (or Analogue Systems Module to Doepfer Bus Adaptor). The code for the plug-to-plug version (at the right) will be DM2ASB Adaptor (or Doepfer Module to Analogue Systems Bus Adaptor).

More info at http://synovatron.blogspot.com

Filtering

A filter is a device for eliminating selected frequencies from the soundspectrum, and in some cases to emphasize the level of other frequencies.

Lowpass filter: Removes frequencies above its cutoff frequency

Highpass filter: Removes frequencies below its cutoff frequency

Bandpass filter: Only allows frequencies to pass through above and below a specified range

Notch filter: Allows frequencies to pass between specified ranges ( = Band-Reject filter )

A Question of Cables

Doepfer sells  patch-cables for the A-100 system (3.5 mm plug mono jack) in many different colors and sizes.
The latest addition to the Doepfer assortiment are the orange 50 centimeter patchcables with angled plug on one side. 

The prices are fairly acceptable, and the more you buy ( at once ) the cheaper they get each...
Sizes vary from 15 (yellow), 30 (black) , 50 (grey), 80 (red) , 120 (blue) to 200 (green) centimetres, but i wish they also had other lengths. (...and colors)

Let me know in the comments if you know a place where they sell patch-cables in other colors or lenghts, it will be appreciated.
Purple ones would be nice... but not too long... ;-)

Missing A-100 Manuals

One of Doepfer's other great services is their Manuals Download Page.
It is a fine resource for all A-100 users because the manuals are full of patch-examples, interesting tips and insights.
So far i downloaded and printed all the manuals that are available.

The manuals of the modules that I own are kept in my selfmade binder,
I keep the others in a seperate binder, but always close to my setup...

What i would like to see is that Doepfer will continue publishing these manuals.
The manuals of their latest modules are sadly not yet available on their page. I do understand that it is quite a bit of work, and that manuals cannot always be released on exactly the same release-date as the module itself, but even some of the modules released in 2008 still don't have a manual :-(

I hope Doepfer just forgot about the manuals and that they are working on it. I also hope i'm not the only one missing them, even the manuals for the less complex modules can be very useful...

Click 'read more' for a list of missing A-100 manuals of released modules ( September 2011 )