Doepfer A-100NT5 User Manual
SYSTEM A - 100
Owner’s Manual
doepfer Musikelektronik Gmbh
Important safety notes System A - 100
doepfer
E
Inside the A-100 power supply are dangerous voltages. It is essential to take careful note of the
following safety instructions:
• Before opening up the case or moving a module or
• All empty spaces in the rack must be filled with
• Before use, the top and bottom covers must also be
The instrument must never be operated outdoors but
only in dry, closed rooms. Never use the instrument in
a humid or wet environment nor near inflammables.
Warning:
blanking panel, always take the mains power
supply plug out. This applies equally to removing
or replacing any panel or module.
blanking panels.
properly fixed in place. If modules are permanently
fixed (eg. built into a 19” rack case) then the top of
the highest of the rack systems and the bottom of
the lowest must have their covers properly fitted.
A
Whenever electrical equipment is used, several
basic precautions need to be taken, including the
following:
• Before using any part of the instrument, read the
• The instrument may only be used for the purpose
• The instrument may only be operated with the
• Before opening the case disconnect the power plug.
• All eventual modifications must only be carried out
• The instrument must never be operated outdoors
Important safety notes.
instructions and notes carefully.
described in this operating manual. Due to safety
reasons, the instrument must never be used for
other purposes not described in this manual. If you
are not sure about the intended purpose of the
instrument please contact an expert.
voltage written on the power input on the rear panel.
by a qualified person who will follow the valid safety
instructions. Every modification should becarried
out only at the manufacturer or an authorized service company. Any modification not released by the
manufacturer leads to the extinction of the operation permission.
but only in dry, closed rooms. Never use the instru-
ii
doepfer
System A - 100 Important safety notes
ment in a humid or wet environment nor near
inflammables.
• Do not use this instrument in damp environments,
or close to water.
• No liquids or conducting materials must get into the
instrument. If this should happen the instrument
must be disconnected from power immediately and
be examined, cleaned and eventually be repaired
by a qualified person
• Do not use this instrument in close proximity to heat
sources such as radiators or ovens. Don’t leave it
in direct sunlight.
• This instrument must be assembled or installed in a
19” rack in a way that guarantees sufficient ventilation and air circulation.
• The instrument must not be exposed to temperatures above 50°C or below -10 °C. In use, the
instrument must be at a minimum temperature of
10 °C.
• Keep the top side of the instrument free in order to
guarantee proper ventilation, otherwise the instrument could be overheated. Never place heavy objects on the instrument.
• This instrument can, without any external amplification or in combination with a headphone or speaker
amplifier, produce sound levels which can damage
your hearing. Don’t work at high sound levels for
prolonged periods of time, and don’t ever use levels
which cause discomfort.
• The instrument’s mains power supply lead should
be disconnected if it is not used for any substantial
period. If there is any damage the cables must be
repaired or replaced by an authorized person
• Do not tread on the mains supply lead.
• In disconnecting the lead, pull the plug, not the
cable.
• If this instrument is connected to others, check in
their manuals for connection instructions.
• Make particularly sure that no object falls into the
instrument, and that no liquid gets into it.
• Transport the instrument carefully, never let it fall or
overturn. Make sure that during transport and in use
the instrument has a proper stand and does not fall,
slip or turn over because persons could be injured
• The instrument must be checked and serviced by a
qualified technician in the following cases:
a. the power supply lead or connector is damaged
in any way,
b. an object or fluid has somehow got into the
instrument,
c. the instrument was exposed to rain,
d. the instrument stops working properly or starts
to behave erratically,
e. the instrument is knocked over or dropped and/
or its case is damaged.
• As stated above, there are no user-serviceable
parts in the instrument. Refer all repairs to qualified
service personnel.
iii
Contents System A - 100
Contents
Important safety notes .......................................... ii
Contents ................................................................. iv
About this manual ................................................... v
Introduction ............................................................ vi
4. A-100 BS Basic Systems
5. Accessories
doepfer
....................
..............................................
13
15
1. Important notes .................................
1.1 Connecting to the electricity supply ........ 1
1.2 Installation .............................................. 1
1.3 Care and maintenance ........................... 1
2. Overall design
2.1 Introduction ............................................ 3
2.2 Installing modules .................................. 4
2.3 Interconnecting modules ........................ 6
3. Signal flow in the A-100
3.1 The principles of voltage control ............ 7
3.2 Signals in the A-100 ............................... 8
3.3 The System Bus in the A-100 ................ 9
3.4 Integrating the A-100 with MIDI ........... 11
iv
............................................ 3
........................
7
6. Items included as standard
1
7. Further reading
8. Module overview
.......................................
.....................................
...............
17
19
21
9. Appendix .......................................... 29
9.1 Adding a 5 V power supply ................... 29
9.2 Installing the AD5 low-cost 5V adaptor 31
9.3 Using the Mini power supply/bus .......... 33
10. Using the modules
H Because the A-100 is a modular system,
each module has its own separate manual,
which can be inserted into this ring-binder.
doepfer
System A - 100 About this manual
About this manual
This user manual describes the A-100 modular synthesizer system, and explains how to use each section of
it.
If this is your first time using the A-100, please
make sure you are familiar with all the safety instructions (eg. pages ii - iv) and important notes
(chapter 1).
Because of the modular nature of the A-100, this
manual is also designed to be modular.
Chapter 2 (Overall design) describes the physical
make-up of the system - and particularly how to install
the individual modules into the 19” rack.
Chapter 3 (The A-100 signal flow) details the A-100’s
signal path: the basic principles of voltage control, how
to bring MIDI into the equation, and the possibilities for
voltage-controlled modulation.
Chapter 4 describes the A-100 Basic System.
Chapter 5 details accessories.
Chapter 6 explains the standard items included.
Chapter 7 suggests further reading.
Chapter 8 (Module overview) gives a run-down of the
individual modules presently available, and an idea of
their potential uses.
Chapter 9 (Appendix) deals with installing an extra 5V
power supply, for modules such as the A-190 and
A-191.
Detailed descriptions of the individual modules follow, in self-contained chapters, with descriptions,
user examples, and patching aids. W hen buying individual modules, the relevant manual chapters which
are included should be inserted into this ring binder.
In the manual, you’ll find various symbols used:
A
H
➀
❒
P
important user and safety advice
note
... diagram numbering of module controls
... diagram numbering of module in / outputs
next step in a list of instructions
practical hint or tip
v
Introduction System A - 100
doepfer
Introduction
In the A-100, Doepfer have produced a capable and
versatile analog modular synthesizer, built in the style
of the classic modular systems of the seventies.
The renaissance of analog synthesis in the last few
years shows that analog sound production has a vital
place alongside sampling and digital synthesis, and
can produce sounds that are unobtainable by any other
means. In addition to the unique sounds of its oscillators, filters, amplifiers, phasers, frequency shifters,
wave-modifiers, different control sources, and so on,
analog synthesis can provide almost unbounded modulation opportunities, conventional and unconventional - limited only by the number and variety of modules
available.
In designing the A-100, our priorities were: good sound
quality; ease of integration into a MIDI system; diversity
of modules available; and, maybe most important of
all, affordability.
Of course, a modular system doesn’t just have advantages. Creative work with an audio construction kit like
this takes time and practice, especially to start with.
Anyone who wants to be able to check out all its
available sounds at the press of a button will be very
disappointed with a modular system. Each unique
sound has to be puzzled out, and may never be exactly
repeated.
Nor are there any fixed rules for connecting the various
modules. A modular is an open system, in which
practically anything is possible, and that’s where the
fun really starts. Diversity and experimentation - and
sometimes lateral thinking - are the keys to its power.
Although the user manuals for each module are very
comprehensive, they can’t substitute entirely for a general overview and knowledge of analog synthesis.
Some very good specialised books have been written
on the subject, and although some may be out of print,
it’s crucial to find one or two of them, and learn from
them. With that, the whole world of modular systems
will open up to you, and you’ll suddenly appreciate their
fascination and sheer sonic power.
We hope your A-100 brings you serious pleasure!
July, 2009
doepfer musikelektronik gmbh
vi
doepfer
System A - 100 1. Important notes
1. Important information
A
1.1 Connecting to the electricity supply
•
•
•
As well as the important safety notice
(see ii - iii) please also read and take
note of the following points.
The system A-100 must only be connected to the
mains voltage that is specified at the back of the
A-100 frame (220 V to 240 V / 50 Hz or 110 to 120
V / 60 Hz).
If the fuse has to be replaced only the type of fuse
specified at the back of the A-100 frame is allowed.
If another fuse is used the warranty is void and the
A-100 may be damaged. The fuse is located at the
mains inlet on the back of the A-100 frame
(exception: suitcase version with mains inlet at the
front). To replace the fuse one has to disconnect
the mains cable and remove the fuse holder (e.g.
with the aid of a screw driver). The fuse holder is a
small black plastic part that is inserted into the
mains inlet.
Do not connect the A-100 to a socket or outlet
which is also being used by equipment such as
electric motors, lighting dimmers, etc, which can
cause interference. Use a separate outlet for the
A-100.
1.2 Installation
•
Do not expose the A-100 to rain or moisture.
•
Operation is allowed only in a dry environment in a
closed room but not in the open country.
•
The installation near a large amplifier or other
equipment which uses powerful mains transformers may cause hum.
•
Do not install the A-100 in close proximity to equipment which produces an electromagnetic field
(monitors, computers, etc.), to avoid the possibility
of mutual interference.
•
Use in a dusty environment should be avoided.
1.3 Care and maintenance
•
Apart from cleaning the instrument, no other usermaintenance is recommended, of the modules or
system busses. Internal maintenance should be
carried out only by qualified technicians (see pages
ii - iii: "Important safety notice").
•
For regular cleaning, use a soft, dry, or slightly
damp cloth. To remove dirt, if necessary, use a
cloth slightly moistened with a very diluted mild
detergent. This should be more than sufficient to
clean the instrument. Never use solvents like
petrol, alcohol, or thinners.
1
System A -100
Fuse values for different mains voltages and power supplies
Type of power supply
doepfer
2
A-100NT12
Mains voltage
115V 250 mA time lag (slow blow)
230V 125 mA time lag (slow blow)
(standard power supply, 650 mA output
current)
A-100PSU2
(power supply with ring core/toroid
transformer and 1.2A output current)
630 - 800 mA time lag (slow blow)
315 - 400 mA time lag (slow blow)
doepfer
System A - 100 2. Overall design
2. Overall design
2.1 Introduction
The A-100 modular system is based on a standard 19”
rack system A-100 G into which individual Modules
can be fitted in any chosen layout.
The rack system (see Fig. 1) conforms to the 19”
standard, and consists of two sections each 3U high,
tied together by 6U side panels. It contains two system
1
busses (
main electrical supply socket (
), the internal power supply (2) , and the
3
).
4
1
2
1
84 HP
3
3 HU
Module front panels are all 3U high. Their width is
measured in HP (1 HP = 5.08 mm). The rack system
has a usable width of 84 HP (see Fig. 1). If the
modules you install don’t use up the entire 84 HP, then
you must cover up the spaces with blanking panels.
In each rack system there are two system bus bars
(one for each section), to each of which up to 14
modules can be connected, using ribbon cable. The
bus bar serves to supply power to the modules, and
also to send control voltages etc. to some of the
modules (see Chapter 3).
Fig. 1: A look inside the A-100 G rack system
The rack system power supply produces voltages of
+12 V and -12 V and can put out a maximum current
of 650 mA. In setting up a modular system, make sure
that the total current required by all the modules doesn’t exceed this maximum. If it does, then a second
power supply (see Accessories) will need to be instal-
led (at position
power supply should be sufficient for a rack system.
4,
Fig.1). As a rule, though, one
3
2. Overall design System A - 100
doepfer
2.2 Installing modules
A
Important:
Before you install a module into the rack
system:
D
Calculate the total current requirement
of existing modules plus the new mo-
dule/s.
D
Check that this total is less than 1200mA.
D
If it is, the existing power supply is fine.
D
But if the total current requirement is
more than 1200 mA, you must install a
second power supply (see Accessories)
before installing the module/s. Follow the
installation notes that come with the second power supply.
H
Once you’ve checked that there is sufficient current in
reserve for the extra module/s, there’s nothing to stop
you going ahead and installing them. Read on!
D
D
Ignoring this warning can result in damage to
your system, and will void your guarantee!
First of all, take the A-100’s plug out of the wall
socket.
Plug the supplied ribbon cable into the module’s
1
bus socket (see
16-way, but some modules only have a 10-way
cable. Look carefully at the cable, and then press
the appropriate connector onto the module’s bus
2
pins (see
A
in Fig. 2).
Check very carefully that it is connected so
that the coloured marking on the ribbon
cable is at the bottom of the module’s
connector (see
connection is perfect, and pushed fully
home, not at a slight angle. Failure to
check this may result in the module’s instant
destruction as soon as the power is turned
back on.
in Fig. 2). As a rule, the cable is
3
in Fig. 2), and that the
4
doepfer
System A - 100 2. Overall design
Bus Board
Fig. 3: Connecting the ribbon cable to the bus
board.
Fig. 2: Connecting the ribbon cable to the module
D
Now join the free end of the ribbon cable (see
Fig. 3) to the nearest available position on the
1
system bus board (see
A
Check very carefully that it is connected so
that the coloured marking on the ribbon
cable is at the bottom of the bus connector
3
(see
home, not at a slight angle. Failure to
check this may result in the module’s instant
destruction as soon as the power is turned
back on!
in Fig. 3), and it is pushed fully
in Fig. 3).
2
in
H
D
D
D
When you’re installing extra modules, it may
be necessary to take another module or two
out, to allow you easier access to the bus
board.
Place the module carefully into the space in the
rack, and fasten it firmly in place with the supplied
screws. Put back any covers or blanking plates,
and screw them in firmly.
Now plug the system A-100 back into the main
power supply, and switch it on.
Test out the newly installed module.
If it doesn’t seem to be working as expected, im-
mediately disconnect the system from the power
supply again.
5
2. Overall design System A - 100
VCO
A-110
STANDARD VCO
In this case, double-check the connections, making
completely sure that the ribbon cable is the right
way round where it connects to the module and the
bus.
Once your system is assembled and operational, you
should make use of the the patch sheets which come
with each module.
Photocopy the patch sheets for each of your modules,
cut these out, and stick them onto a sheet of paper in
the order in which they occur in your system (see Fig.
4). Then photocopy this sheet, and use the copies to
note down good settings and patches.
2.3 Interconnecting modules
For connecting modules to each other, you need
3.5 mm) patch leads. You can
mono mini-jack (∅∅∅∅
obtain patch leads from us (see Accessories in chapter 5) in different lengths.
SYNC
CV 1
CV 2
PW CV 1
PW CV 2
A-110
SYNC
CV 1
CV 2
PW CV 1
PW CV 2
0
0
0
010
VCO
STANDARD VCO
0
0
0
0
-2
Range
0
+2
Tune
10
CV 2
10
PW
10
PW CV 2
-2
Range
0
+2
Tune
10
CV 2
10
PW
10
PW CV 2
10
NOISE /
A-118
RANDOM
Whit e
0
Colored
0
0
0
Rand om
Control
-
+
Random
Output
A-145
Reset In
LFO
0
Frequ.
Range
L
M
H
Blue
10
Red
10
Rate
10
Leve l
10
Frequ.
10
A-120
LOW PASS FILTER
CV 1
CV 2
CV 3
Audio I n
Audio Out
A-140
Gate
Retrig.
Output
Output
Invers e
Output
HLM
Time
Range
VCF 1
Freq.
10
0
CV 2
10
0
CV 3
010
Lev.
10
0
Res.
10
0
ADSR
A
0
10
D
10
0
S
0
10
R
10
0
ADSR
Control
doepfer
VCA-LIN.
A-130
CV 1
CV 2
Audio In 1
Audio In 2
Audio Out
A-13 8
Input 1
Input 2
Input 3
Input 4
Output
lin
0
0
0
0
0
MIXER
0
0
0
0
0
Gain
10
CV 1
10
In 1
10
In 2
10
Out
10
exp
In 1
10
In 2
10
In 3
10
In 4
10
Out
10
Fig. 4: Example of a personal patch sheet.
6
doepfer
System A - 100 3. A-100 signal flow
3. Signal flow in the A-100
3.1 The Principles of Voltage Control
What makes analogue synthesizers (and modular systems in particular) special is that the important parameters of the sound sources (VCO, noise, etc.) and
modifiers (VCF, VCA, etc.) can be altered not just by
hand, but by voltage control.
This principle was turned into reality by the “father of
the analogue synthesizer”, Robert Moog, who produced the first commercially available synthesizer in the
sixties. It gives vast flexibility and the potential to
make sounds that have never been made before.
Fig. 5 shows the principle of voltage control, with
examples of control voltages affecting a filter (VCF)
and an oscillator (VCO).
In the case of the VCF, the parameter which is being
voltage-controlled is the Cut-Off Frequency f
amount of control voltage input present changes the
cut-off frequency, and thus the frequency of the signal
that the VCF lets through - see the shaded area in the
diagram.
. The
c
Input
CV
Out
Low Pass Filter
CV Input
f
c
Fre q . Fre q .
Output
f
c
f
c
CV
tt
VCO
Pit ch
CV Input
Output
Fig. 5: The principles of voltage control
In the case of the VCO, it’s the pitch which is control-
led by a voltage: an increase of 1 volt corresponds to
an increase of one octave in the pitch.
With a sudden change of voltage, the pitch changes
suddenly, while with a smoother, continuous change,
portamento is created.
7
3. A-100 signal flow System A - 100
doepfer
As well as modules which can be affected by voltage
control, there are other modules like the ADSR and
LFO which themselves produce voltages to control
other modules.
Usually, these modules need a Trigger Signal to bring
them into action. For instance, a GATE Signal, corre-
sponding to a key being pressed on a keyboard, can
set off an ADSR, which then puts out its variable
voltage “envelope” to affect other modules (see Fig.
6).
GAT E
ADSR
CV O ut
GAT E
+ 5 V
0 V
CV Out
On
Off
Fig. 6: The envelope generated by an ADSR
3.2 Signals in the A-100
In the System A-100 there are three types of signal:
• Audio Signals
• Control voltages
• Trigger voltages
Audio Signals are produced by the sound source
Modules (such as VCO or NOISE), and lie in the range
from -5 V to +5 V (10 V
let you use external Audio Signals (e.g. Microphone,
Electric Guitar, Keyboard).
H
t
To interface satisfactorily, the level of external Audio Signals must be brought up to the
A-100’s operating level.
Module A-119 (External Input), is ideal for
this job, having among other things an internal pre-amp, and two inputs of different sensitivity.
t
Control voltages, as produced by modulation sources
like the LFO and ADSR, are typically from -2.5 V to
+2.5 V (5 V
) for the LFO, and from 0 V to +8 V for
SS
the ADSR.
). The System A-100 can also
SS
8
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