SYSTEM A
Contents
1. Fig 1 Connecting the ribbon cable to the module O Now join the free end of the ribbon cable see 2 in Fig 2 to the nearest available position on the system bus board see in Fig 2 A Again ensure that the coloured marking on the ribbon cable is at the bottom of the module s connector see in Fig 1 and that the connection is perfect and pushed fully home not at a slight angle Failure to check this may again result in disaster 36 bus board C1 F Fig 2 Connecting the ribbon cable to the bus 0 0 o board Now fix the module solidly in its case Re connect the A 100 MNT s power supply and then switch on the mains again Test out the newly installed module If it doesn t seem to be working as expected imme diately disconnect the system from the power sup ply again 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 to the bus2. 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 System A 100 QOEPFER Fuse values for different mains voltages and power supplies Type of power supply A 100NT12 A 100PSU2 f standard power supply 650 mA output power supply with ring core toroid Mains voltage current transformer and 1 2A output current 115V 250 mA time lag slow blow 630 800 mA time lag slow blow 230V 125 mA time lag slow blow 315 400 mA time lag slow blow DHEP FER 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 busses the internal power supply and the main electrical supply socket 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 fo
3. Jo aa AA Fig 4 Example of a personal patch sheet 3 Signal flow in the A 100 3 1 The Principles of Voltage Control What makes analogue synthesizers and modular sy stems in particular special is that the important para meters 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 produ ced 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 The 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 System A 100 3 A 100 signal flow CV Input CV Input Out 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
4. This instrument can without any external amplifica tion 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 System A 100 Important safety notes 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
5. uni or bipolar CV output 27 QOOEPFER System A 100 8 Module Overview Module A 175 A 176 A 177 1 A 177 4 A 178 A 179 A 180 A 181 A 182 A 183 1 A 183 2 28 Description Dual Voltage Inverter two independent analog voltage inverter with displays CVS Control Voltage Source 3 manual adjustable control voltages External Foot Controller I module no longer available interface module for 2 foot controlers and one double foot switch External Foot Controller Il still under development simple interface module for one foot controller and one double foot switch Theremin Control Voltage Source variable voltage gate source controlled by hand movement Light Controled Voltage Source module no longer available variable voltage gate source controlled by light intensity Multiples 8 fold multi connector may be splitted into two 4 fold multi connectors Multiples II two multiples with 3 5 mm and 1 4 mono and stereo sockets Switched Multiple leight sockets that can be switched to one of two busses or turned off Dual Attenuator still under development two simple passive attenuators Offset Generator Attenuator Polarizer still under development generates an offset voltage that is added to an attenuated or inverted input voltage Amplifier still under development simple DC coupled amplifier with adjustable gain max gain can be swithed to 1 2 or 4 Bus Access
6. 4 HP B8 8 HP B42 42 HP B84 84HP A 100B84P Back panel for power supply Punched ready for power supply installation with switches safety fixings and power supply connection cable Patch lead Leads with two moulded 3 5mm plugs C30 30 cm C50 50 cm C80 80 cm C120 120 cm continued on next page Subject to change without notice 15 5 Accessories System A 100 QOEP FER Description A 1000PM A 100 User Manual Contains detailed description and instructions for use of all the currently available modules It is included when you buy a complete system A 100BS1 BS2 MS When buying individual modules or frames you have to order the manual separately If you order the manual in ad vance the price for the manual will be credited when ordering a complete system later not only a single module A 100SM 16 A 100 Service Manual Contains the schematics silk screens parts lists assembly test basic principles and adjust ment instructions of all currently available modules The words e g assembly instructions are in German language but schematics components overlays and parts lists are international Available only to A 100 customers Subject to change without notice System 6 Items included as standard The following parts are included in each order A 100BS1 BS2 MS Basic Systems Rack system basic frame completely assem bled including two system bus boards
7. Module module for access to bus signals CV and gate Precision Adder Bus Access high precision CV adder 0 1 with four inputs and optional access to bus CV 8 Module Overview System A 100 QOEPFER Module A 187 1 A 188 1 A 188 2 A 189 1 A 190 1 A 190 2 A 191 A 192 1 Curr 5V Description Gate Trigger Combiner 7 inputs that are OR wired to the output mainly for combination of gate trigger signals Voltage Controlled DSP Effects Module still under development DSP based effects module with four voltage controlled parameters BBD Module BBD module available with 6 different BBD circuits from 128 to 4096 stages Tapped BBD Module BBD module with 6 taps single outputs and two stereo submixers Voltage Controlled Bit Modifier 16 different voltage controlled bit modification effects e g bit cruncher with VC sample rate MIDI CV SYNC Interface MIDI to CV and sync interface MIDI CV Interface low cost MIDI to CV interface with manual glide control and four CV outputs Polyphonic MIDI USB CV Interface still under development Midi CV interface with four CV and gate outputs different monophonic polyphonic modes MIDI CV Interface Shepard Generator module no longer available 16 fold MIDI to CV interface and Shepard generator Voltage to MIDI Interface 16 CV inputs 0 5V are converted into MIDI control change messages CV Gate to Midi USB Interface still under devel
8. one supplied it must have a voltage output of about 7 to 9 V AC and a capacity of at least 300 mA If you connect an external power supply which produces direct current DC the A 100 MNT simply won t work Both the A 100 MNT and any connected modu les must be firmly fixed into a proper casing Any sort of flying construction is absolutely dis couraged because if two conductors from separate modules accidentally make contact for instance if the bus bars from one module ended up touching another module s bus bars damage will almost certainly re sult In cases like that the DOZPFER guarantee is definitely void 33 9 Appendix System A 100 9 3 2 A 100 MNT Overview i TN 00 n y A 100 MINI BUS POWER SUPPLY 1H4OO1 IT f i 7 45 HA GATE a zi cy PW 5 ci cZ 124 14001 2x 14001 Ta GND A 100 7 MES a IHN END SYSTEM W i 12V 13 LI 12V CONTROL STA ST3 STH cee M LED De o o Controls In Outputs LED LED indicator for 12 V supply 0 BU1 Input for external power supply 7 LED LED indicator for 12 V supply 9 V AC ST1 ST4 Bus output sockets for four modules 34 UHEPFEA 9 3 3 Controls indicators LED e LED LEDs and 28 indicate that the power supply is working properly Once the MNT is connected both LEDs sh
9. outputs of the 5V supply ground and 5V to the system bus board which requires the 5V supply 29 9 Appendix System A 100 QOEPFER 100p 16V 1080p 164 B AC1AAA tothe GND 7 ji HI black i lk blue connectors of 1 the bus board i c2 5 8 I ia ee Q TRANSFORMATOR TRANSFORMER 9u a 5R 1 from mains x inlet 5 V red cH 198 DEPFER black or brown A ALOG MODULAR SYSTEM Aiea 5U POWER SU blue Sa noge l J i l J pe eT h aha INANI J 2 asis naazz NOISASN voaztyaoee N ran T T r so 4915 7 hi ugat BIr u 35 E 193 pal z m mor 23 E TALS Jas Oe r a Cae 7 A a wit ans 2 B 3 E gee N T gua wus g z gt p or 9 S i z raor najis ilaci T z pi asis or F asus ae sgazz F a f 9673661 Z NOISHIA I A ddNS Y4M0d us15 T B l U WALSAS YE TINGOW IO TWN Fig 10 NT5 power supply connections 30 UN The yellow green wire is the safety earth connection and must be never replaced by a different colour If you ve been using the AD5 low cost 5V adaptor but are now installing an NT5 you must remove the AD5 before commissioning the NTS 9 2 Installing the AD5 low
10. there are no user serviceable parts in the instrument Refer all repairs to qualified service personnel Contents Contents Important safety notes ii Contents omni e aa ieee ae a iv About this Manual iii aa v Introductions AA IA aA AG ee vi 1 Important notes 1 1 1 Connecting to the electricity supply 1 1 2 Installation saaa eae aada 1 1 3 Care and maintenance 1 2 Overall design 0 0 eee 3 2 1 Introduction cccceeeeeeeeeeteeeeeeeeteeeeees 3 2 2 Installing modules 4 2 3 Interconnecting modules 6 3 Signal flow in the A 100 7 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 System A 100 OOEPFER 4 A 100 BS Basic Systems 13 5 Accessories 2 15 6 Items included as standard 17 7 Further reading 19 8 Module overview assassinii 21 9 Appendix ceeccceeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 29 9 1 Adding a 5 V power supply lt lt 29 9 2 Installing the AD5 low cost 5V adaptor 31 9 3 Using the Mini power supply bus 33 10 Using the modules ZT Because the A 100 is a mod
11. 0 DHE PPE 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 ge neral 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 QOEPFER MUSIKELEKTAQMK AMEH 1 Important information A As well as the important safety notice see ii iii please also read and take note of the following points 1 1 Connecting to the electricity supply 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
12. Q 16 3 MIDI Analog Sequencer To convert up to 16 control voltages in the range 0 5V e g from a Theremin A 178 or Joy Stick A 174 1 or Foot Controller A 177 2 or ribbon controller A 198 into MIDI controllers the CV to MIDI interface A 192 is the right choice 11 3 A 100 signal flow System A 100 QOEP FER 4 A 100 Basic Systems It s not in the nature of modular systems to have hard and fast rules about which modules should be inclu ded But if you re just starting out along the modular path it may be difficult to choose a sensible first set of modules Accordingly we ve designed Basic Systems with all the modules mounted in a rack system and 30 patch leads thrown in as well For an exact run down of the modules included in Basic System 1 A 100BS1 see the table on the right of this page and the illustration on the next page To integrate BS1 it into a MIDI system you would need a separate MIDI interface such as an MCV4 or MCV24 In the Basic System 2 A 100BS2 the MIDI interface A 190 is included instead of A 150 and A 162 We also have available a small Mini System A 100MS See our topic prospectus for details The purpose and function of other modules will be come more apparent as you work with your system and you will be able to decide which extra modules you need for your particular purposes In the future other types of complete systems may be available We are planning an Expansion System con tain
13. SYSTEM A 100 Owner s Manual Important safety notes AN Warning Inside the A 100 power supply are dangerous vol tages It is essential to take careful note of the following safety instructions Before opening up the case or moving a module or blanking panel always take the mains power supply plug out This applies equally to removing or replacing any panel or module All empty spaces in the rack must be filled with blanking panels Before use the top and bottom covers must also be 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 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 System A 100 DIEPEER AA Important safety notes Whenever electrical eguipment is used several basic precautions need to be taken including the following Before using any part of the instrument read the instructions and notes carefully The instrument may only be used for the purpose 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 The instrument may only be operated with the voltag
14. ark New Jersey 1980 ISBN 0 8104 5773 3 Only the books whose ISBN numbers are followed by an asterisk are definitely in print as of Dec 1996 19 7 Further reading Specialist books in German Dellmann Thewes Synthesizer Handbuch Musik Media Augsburger Druck und Verlagshaus 1985 Enders Die Klangwelt des Musiksynthesizers Franzis Verlag Munchen 1985 ISBN 3 7723 7761 0 Chapman Formant Musik Synthesizer Elektor Verlag Aachen 1979 ISBN 3 921608 10 4 Aigner Formant Musik Synthesizer Erweiterungen Elektor Verlag Aachen 1981 ISBN 3 921608 19 8 Becker Synthesizer von gestern Musik Media Ver lag Augsburg 1990 ISBN 3 927954 00 4 Becker Synthesizer von gestern Vol 2 Musik Me dia Verlag Augsburg 1995 ISBN 3 927954 01 2 Specialist magazines The following useful magazines can mostly only be found second hand or may possibly be available in some libraries for photocopying articles Elektor Elektor Verlag Aachen 20 System A 100 QHEP PER Elrad Heise Verlag Hannover Electronic Musician Polyphony Publishing Co Oklahoma City USA Electronics and Music Maker Music Technology Cambridge England Polyphony Polyphony Publishing Co Oklahoma City USA Synthesource Curtis CEM house magazine Video A very good introduction to the basic techniques and programming methods of digital and analogue synthe sis can be found in the 120 minute video The Se crets of Analog an
15. cost 5V adaptor The AD5 can be used for the 5V power supply as long as the following applies e The current for the modules that require a 5V supply doesn t exceed 100 mA e g only one A 190 or A 191 e There is enough current handling still available on the 12V supply to cope with the current require ments of the 5V modules The AD5 adaptor can be connected to any available 16 way socket on the system bus board see Fig 11 This will feed 5V to modules on that bus as long as their current requirements don t exceed 100mA System A 100 9 Appendix up 4 q A Da gt ip tp at d red mark Fig 11 Connecting the 5V low cost adaptor system bus board AD5 heat sink To install the AD5 do the following Isolate the A 100 rack from the mains power sup ply by removing the main plug O Carefully insert the AD5 into a free socket on the bus board AN Make sure that the ADB is the right way up and aligned correctly with the bus socket The correct position is shown on a sticker with the arrow pointing upwards and the red mark at the bottom see Fig 11 31 9 Appendix 32 System A 100 The fins of the heat sink should be facing to the right It s vital to make certain that the 16 way plug and socket marry exactly and aren t displaced up or down a pin or to the left or right If they are misaligned the adaptor and o
16. d Digital Synthesis by Steve de Furia VH017 Warner Bros 8 Module Overview 8 Module Overview as of July 2009 Module A 101 1 A 101 2 A 101 3 A 101 9 A 102 Current mA 30 20 50 40 30 Current 5V mA System A 100 QOEPFER The following table may be used for planning and arranging an A 100 system regarding to need of space and current Description Vactrol Steiner Filter Vactrol filter with different inputs for low band highpass Lowpass Gate Combination of lowpass and VCA with vactrol vactrol LED LDR combination 12 Stage Modular Vactrol Phase Filter Modular phaser with separate in outputs for each stage and 2 polarizers Dual Universal Vactrol Module 4 voltaged controlled resistors for modification of other modules Diode Lowpass combined manual A 102 A 103 voltage controlled 18 dB low pass with diodes as frequency controlling elements 18 dB Lowpass combined manual A 102 A 103 A 103 8 30 j voltage controlled 18 dB low pass with TB303 type transistor ladder Trautonium Formant Filter A 104 20 30 Quad Low Band Pass Filter as used in the so called Trautonium see A 113 A 105 8 20 7 SSM 24 dB Lowpass combined manual A 105 A 122 voltage controlled 24 dB low pass with the legendary SSM2044 circuit X treme filter A 106 1 14 40 7 voltage controlled MS20 filter clone low highpass simultaneously clipping controls SEM filter A 106 5 8 30 7 voltage con
17. e control possib Voltage Controlled Wave Multiplier waveform multiplier with 4 VC parameters Multiples Harmonics Folding Symmetry Voltage Controlled Wave Multiplier Il makes one sawtooth VCO sound like five VCOs four VC algorithmic phase shifters 8 Module Overview Module Width Curr Curr 5V Description A 141 A 142 A 143 1 A 143 2 A 143 3 A 143 9 8 10 20c System A 100 QOEPFER Mixer mixer for audio or control voltages a linear or b logarithmic controls or c polarizing mixer Manual Crossfader Effect Insert Module manually controlled crossfader and module to insert external effect units Quad Three Way Crossfader Mixer Polarizer four separate three way crossfader i e fading between 3 different input signals 4 x 4 Matrix Mixer still under development matrix mixer with four inputs and four outputs each row can be switched to uni bipolar Mix Expander lexpanding unit for A 138a b expands the number of available inputs to 9 Headphone Amplifier module no longer available stereo headphone amplifier with separate level and common loudness control ADSR Envelope Generator lenvelope generator with 4 parameters attack decay sustain release retrigger function VC ADSR Voltage Controlled Envelope Generator voltage controlled envelope generator with 4 voltage controlled parameters VC Decay voltage controlled envelope generator with one voltage controll
18. e written on the power input on the rear panel Before opening the case disconnect the power plug All eventual modifications must only be carried out by a qualified person who will follow the valid safety instructions Every modification should becarried out only at the manufacturer or an authorized ser vice company Any modification not released by the manufacturer leads to the extinction of the opera tion permission The instrument must never be operated outdoors but only in dry closed rooms Never use the instru 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 ventila tion and air circulation The instrument must not be exposed to temperatu res 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 instru ment could be overheated Never place heavy ob jects on the instrument
19. ed decay Complex Envelope Generator Quad AD Four daisy chained AD type envelope generators with polarizing mixer Quad ADSR Four ADSR envelope generators with EOA EOD EOR gate outputs and retrigger feature Quad LFO Four LFO modulation oscillators with triangle rectangle and saw outputs range switch Quadrature LFO VCO voltage controlled LFO VCO four sine outputs with 90 degrees phase shift between e a 25 QOOEPFER System A 100 8 Module Overview Module Width Curr Curr 5V Description A 145 A 146 A 147 A 148 A 149 1 A 149 2 26 8 Morphing Controller control voltage modifier to obtain morphing effects in combination with A 135 LFO 1 modulation oscillator with 5 waveforms LFO 2 modulation oscillator with 2 waveforms and waveshape control VCLFO voltage controlled modulation oscillator with 4 waveforms Dual S8H two independent sample 8 hold devices Quantized Stored Random Voltages Replica of the legendary Buchla module Source of Uncertainty part 1 Digital Random Voltages lexpansion module for A 149 1 generates 8 digital random voltages gates high low Dual VCS Voltage Controlled Switsches two independent voltage controlled switches Quad Sequential Switch electronical rotary switch with 4 positions Voltage Addressed Switch electronical 8 fold rotary switch with voltage controlled addressing Enhanced Sequencer Controller Expansion module fo
20. for the LFO and from 0 V to 8 V for the ADSR UHEPFEFEA Trigger or Gate Signals which start a process or function are typically from 0 V to 5V or OV to 12 V with the trigger occurring as the leading edge of the waveform shoots up from 0 V to 5V 12 V The A 100 modules usually output 12V but the corresponding inputs of A 100 modules e g Gate Clock Reset will also work with lower levels typ 5V These definitions of the various signals and the di stinctions between them sound sources and modula tion sources are right in principle but a modular system like the A 100 often makes a mockery of them In a modular set up all of the modules produce volta ges and can be used as control voltages or triggers thus blurring the distinction between the various types For example the output from an LFO can be used as an audio signal as a control voltage for a VCF or VCA or as a trigger signals for a sequence It s just about true to say that anything can be modula ted by anything else so that a modular system gives the musician extraordinary flexibility and individuality System A 100 3 A 100 signal flow 3 3 The System Bus in the A 100 The A 100 s System Bus supplies power to the modu les It also carries the internal control system INT GATE and INT CV which some of the modules such as the VCO A 110 or ADSR A 140 can tap into You can choose whether these modules receive these signals by alterin
21. g an internal jumper 1 7 8 14 00 oo oo CH E HO INT Gate co cho OF CH CH INT CV oo oe oo CH DO 5V oo CHI CH o 12V oo oo CHG DO oO oo oo g HHH GND oo oo Ho H4 oo oo 4 HH 12 V Fig 7 The A 100 system bus If you use the A 190 MIDI CV Interface in your sy stem when you press a key on your MIDI keyboard the gate and CV1 signals from the A 190 will be sent via the INT GATE and INT CV to all modules on the bus The INT GATE and INT CV signal busses can be split into two equal halves by removing jumpers J1 and J2 see Fig 7 so that for each whole bus you can have two separate CV GATE subsystems 3 A 100 signal flow System A 100 QOEP FER If on the other hand you d like to have the same internal CV and gate available on two busses at once you need to link the two together with the special CV gate leads the A 100 BC This is how you go about it O Remove the A 100 from the electrical supply D Remove Jumpers J1 and J2 see p 9 from the upper see Fig 8 and lower see Fig 8 system bus boards Replace the jumpers with the special CV gate leads A 100 BC see Fig 8 DJ VAN Make absolutely sure that you connect the leads cor
22. ics it also includes a huge number of patches and practical tips It s easy to read instructive and very well organised If your bookstore has trouble ordering a copy then try the publishers In Europe try McGraw Hill Publishing tel 44 0 1628 502500 or Susurreal tel 44 0 1363 774627 who had copies at 25 including postage in late 1996 Vail Vintage Synthesizers GPI Books Miller Free man Inc San Francisco 1993 ISBN 0 87930 275 5 A background read rather than great technical help System A 100 7 Further reading Synthesizer Technique ISBN 0 88188 715 3 and Synthesizer Basics ISBN 0 88188 714 5 revised re prints of very useful and authoritative articles from Keyboard magazine by Moog Rhea Milano Coster Duke Powell Gleeson DeFuria Anderton et al Crombie The Synthesizer amp Electronic Keyboard Handbook ISBN 0 330 28681 1 and The New Com plete Synthesizer ISBN 0 7119 0701 3 The latter especially is a good general introduction Trythall Principles and Practice of Electronic Mu sic 1973 ISBN 0 448 40002 6 an early classic Forrest The A Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part One A M ISBN 0 9524377 0 8 and Part Two N Z ISBN 0 9524377 1 Susurreal England tel 44 0 1363 774627 fax 44 0 1363 777872 email pforrest mail eclipse co uk A background read rather than great technical help Chamberlin Musical applications of microproces sors Hayden Book Company Rochelle P
23. ing nearly all modules not included in the Basic Systems a Vocoder System and a Sound Processing System without VCO s for external audio signals System A 100 Pos Quantity Module 4 A 100 Basic System Function A 110 VCO A 114 Dual Ring Modulator A 115 Audio Divider A 116 Waveform Processor A 138b Mixer log A 120 VCF 1 24 dB Low Pass A 121 12 dB Multimode Filter A 130 VCA lin A 131 VCA log Noise Random Dual Sample amp Hold LFO Clock Divider Clock Sequencer Multiples Mixer lin Dual Slew Limiter Dual VCS Dual Trigger Delay ADSR 13 4 A 100 BS Basic system System A 100 Part System A 100 5 Accessories Description A 100BUS Separate system bus One bus board with 14 connectors for connecting modules 3 control LEDs 12 12 5V A 100AD5 5V Low cost adapter Additional power supply producing 5 V 100 mA can be connected to any free socket on the system bus board For modules which require 5V eg A 113 190 191 This is a cheaper al ternative to the NT5 5 V power supply A 100NT5 Separate 5 V power supply 5 V 500mA additional power supply assembled and tested A 100PSU2 Separate 12 V power supply 12 V 1200mA additional power supply assembled and tested Blanking panels back panels B1 1 HP B2 2 HP B4
24. ith white and adjustable colored noise random voltage External Input Envelope Follower Input module for external audio signals includes envelope follower and gate generator A 120 30 VCF 1 24 dB Low Pass 1 voltage controlled 24 dB low pass Moog type 22 8 Module Overview Module A 121 A 122 A 124 A 125 A 126 A 127 A 128 A 129 1 A 129 2 A 129 3 A 129 4 A 129 5 30 Curr 5V System A 100 QOEPFER Description VCF 2 12 dB Multimode Filter voltage controlled 12 dB multimode filter low pass high pass band pass notch VCF 3 24 dB Low Pass 2 combined manual A 105 A 122 voltage controlled 24 dB low pass with CEM3320 Oberheim type VCF 4 24 dB High Pass module no longer available voltage controlled 24 dB high pass VCF 5 12 dB Wasp Multimode Filter reproduction of the strange multimode filter used in the EDP Wasp Synthesizer VCP Voltage Controlled Phaser voltage controlled FET based phase shifter with resonance VCFS Voltage Controlled Frequency Shifter voltage controlled analog frequency shifter VCRF Triple Voltage Controlled Resonance Filter 3 independent voltage controlled band pass filters with 3 LFOs Fixed Filter Bank filter bank with 15 band filters Vocoder Analysis Section Analysis section of the modular vocoder Vocoder Synthesis Section synthesis section of the modular vocoder Vocoder Slew Limiter universal 5 fold vol
25. lified electrician or technician e If no suitable expert is available the rack must be sent to a service centre or direct to Doepfer Musikelektronik for the power supply to be fitted e Danger Before installation and connection of the power supply it is essential that the whole rack is isola ted completely from the mains current System A 100 9 Appendix The 5V power supply needs to be mounted near to the main power input on the blank upper back panel with four stand offs nuts serrated washers and bolts Newer back panels about since summer 1999 are already equipped with 4 monting holes required for the 5V supply For back panels manufactured earlier the 4 holes have to be drilled to receive the power supply fixing bolts from 3 to 3 5mm The NT5 connection diagram Fig 10 is on the next page Check again that the rack is totally disconnected from the mains power supply then O Remove the two 115 230V mains cables normally blue and black or brown cables from the 12V power supply mains input and reconnect them to the corresponding mains connectors on the 5V supply The case shield GND cables connections remain unchanged as the shielding is connected directly to the metal frame the yellow green cable 9 Join up the two parallel connectors from the 5V mains input to the mains input of the 12V supply using the correct wires from the blue and black or brown ones supplied O Connect the two low voltage
26. odules the relevant manual chapters which are included should be inserted into this ring binder In the manual you ll find various symbols used AA important user and safety advice IZ note diagram numbering of module controls 0 diagram numbering of module in outputs g next step in a list of instructions C practical hint or tip Introduction 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 oscilla tors filters amplifiers phasers frequency shifters wave modifiers different control sources and so on analog synthesis can provide almost unbounded mo dulation opportunities conventional and unconventio nal 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 advan tages Creative work with an audio construction kit like this takes time and practice especially to start with vi System A 10
27. one 12V 650mA power supply internal power cables All modules specified for the System BS1 BS2 or MS completely assembled tested and mounted into the frame 30 patch leads for A 100BS1 and BS2 15 patch lead for A 100MS External power lead Complete instruction manual containing the ma nuals of all modules 5V supply is not included only the 5V low cost adapter for A 100BS1 and MS A 100 6 Standard items included A 100G3 G6 Rack System 3HU 6HU e Rack system completely assembled including two system bus boards one 12V 650mA power supply internal power cables e External power lead e 5V supply is not included A XXX any module e Module A XXX e Ribbon cable for connection to the system bus e Fixing screws The instruction manual is not included when ordering a single module or frame In this case the complete instruction manual has to be ordered additionally 17 6 Standard items included System A 100 QOEPFER UHEPFEA 7 Further reading The resources in the following list should help you increase your knowledge of analog synthesis and the skill with which you can use modular systems like the A 100 Specialist books In English Allen Strange Electronic Music Systems Techni ques and Controls 2nd edition Wm C Brown Co Publishers lowa USA ISBN 0 697 03602 2 This book by Allen Strange is very comprehensive and thoroughly recommended because as well as all of the bas
28. opment converts CV Gate signals into Midi note messages Pitch to CV Gate Midi USB Interface still under development converts clean monophonic audio signals into CV Gate Midi UBS 29 QOOEPFER System A 100 8 Module Overview Module A 197 2 A 198 A 199 30 Width Curr Curr 5V Description Phase Locked Loop Module PLL linear VCO 3 phase comparators lowpass in the form of a so called PLL circuit Analog Meter module no longer available Analog display moving coil instrument with back light 3 display modes LCD Scope available only as kit without the scope kit to install a Velleman LCD scope into the A 100 system Trautonium Ribbon Controller Trautonium manual resp ribbon controller made of module manual Spring Reverb electronically simulated reverb by means of 3 spiral springs 8 Module Overview System A 100 QOEPFER 31 QOEPFER System A 100 8 Module Overview 32 QHEP PER 9 1 Adding a 5V power supply Some A 100 modules for instance the A 113 A 190 or A 191 need an extra 5 V power supply as well as the standard one You can provide this with the A 100 NT5 5 V supply or in certain circumstances you can use the 100 AD5 5 V adaptor see 9 2 AA If you are considering installing and connecting the NT5 it s crucial to take note of the following safety instructions e The installation and connection of the NT5 must only be carried out by a qua
29. ould come on A If both LEDs don t come on first of all check that mains power is available at the socket which the MNT power supply was connected to then that the mains adaptor is actually putting out voltages and that a DC adaptor hasn t been used by mistake If both these points are checked then the MNT must be defective The same applies if just one of the LEDs comes on 9 3 4 In outputs 0 BU 1 This is the socket to which the plug from the external power supply is connected System A 100 9 Appendix ST1 ST4 The sockets labelled on the diagram on p 2 are where the modules are connected So to connect modules up to the MNT O Disconnect the power supply lead from socket 9 D Connect the ribbon cable supplied with each module to the modules bus connector see Din Fig 1 As a rule this is 16 way but on some modules it s only 10 way Check that the cable connector is oriented correctly see in Fig 1 and press it on to the module s bus pins A Be very careful to ensure that the coloured marking on the ribbon cable is at the bottom of the module s connector see in Fig 1 and that the connection is perfect and pushed fully home not at a slight angle Failure to check this may result in the modu le s instant destruction as soon as the power is re connected 35 9 Appendix System A 100 QOEPFER components side 7 aS m j
30. r A 155 adds additional running modes and features to A 155 Analog Trigger Sequencer 8 step analog and trigger sequencer Dual Quantizer two control voltage quantizers with special selection features 8 Module Overview Module A 160 A 161 A 162 A 163 A 164 1 Curr 5V System A 100 QOEPFER Description Clock Divider frequency divider for clock gate signals Clock Sequencer clock sequencer expansion for clock divider A 160 Dual Trigger Delay two independent trigger delay devices Voltage Controlled Divider divides the frequency of an audio signal by an integer factor controlled from a CV Manual Gate Module three manually generated gate trigger signals Dual Trigger Modifier two independent trigger modifiers inverter transition edge detector Logic Module dual module with logical AND OR EXOR combinations 2 logical inverters Analog Comparator Offset Generator Subtractor compares the difference of two voltages with fixed value and generates a gate from this Dual Slew Limiter two independent portamento controllers or integrators VC Slew Limiter voltage controlled portamento controller integrator Maximum Minimum Selector selects from up to 4 analog inputs the maximum and minimum voltage Joy Stick module with 2 separate CV outputs controlled by the X Y position of the joy stick Wheels Module still under development 2 wheels factor setting one with one without reset spring
31. r 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 System A 100 2 Overall design ooo U0eccooo etto aja aa e oto ooe ttt i a ee eS Ka 43 aed 3 HU j Ca kada Denes 0 Deere Aaaa aaa Dee nee O OIG ee aoa 7 WAA iene ag Ag ag ag ALT AA an gag at AT LI Ln ae ae ag ae ALL Ln aa aca aana a aa AA EE 1 EE eccoli aa DUSSSCS0 eee ee ae en m 84 HP 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 does nt exceed this maximum If it does then a second power supply see Accessories will need to be instal led at position Fig 1 As a rule though one power supply should be sufficient for a rack system 2 Overall design 2 2 Installing modules A Important Before you install a module into the rack system Calculate the total current requirement of existing modules plus the new mo dule s O Check tha
32. r the power supply may be damaged imme diately you switch on 9 3 Using the mini power supply bus 9 3 1 Introduction The A 100 MNT Mini power supply bus is compo sed of a miniature power supply and system bus with connectors for four modules It s designed to be used with a small set up of just a few modules in your own custom designed case The idea is that then you can use individual A 100 modules for instance the filters the filterbank fer quency shifter sampler MIDI interface etc as free standing pieces of equipment which can easily be integrated with your other instruments or recor ding equipment The power supply provides the usual A 100 system requirements of 12 V and 12 V and an additional 5 V supply for the few modulses for instance A 190 A 191 which need it The maximum current loading capacity totals 100 mA for 12 V and or 50 mA for the 5 V supply The sytem bus provides connections for four System A 100 modules As well as the power supply it also carries INT CV and INT GATE connections see System A 100 9 Appendix A 100 manual main introduction chapter 3 The A 100 signal flow The A 100 MNT is supplied as standard with an exter nal power supply which has to be connected to the socket on the MNT s circuit board A The external power supply s transformer sup plies alternating current AC If you want to use another power supply instead of the
33. rectly joining up the upper INT CV with the lower INT CV and the upper INT GATE with the lower to avoid possible damage when you switch back on Fig 8 Making a common INT CV and INT GATE signal path between the upper and lower busses 10 QHEP FER 3 4 Integrating the A 100 with MIDI To link the A 100 into a MIDI system you can use external MIDI interfaces like our MCV4 MSY2 or MCV24 The MIDI CV SYNC Interface A 190 1 is a MIDI to CV Gate Sync interface with the following outputs e CV 1 for pitch control 12 Bit e CV 2 any MIDI Controller 8 Bit e Gate e Clock e Start Stop The A 190 automatically sends pitch control CV and gate information out on the INT CV and INT GATE busses Another solution is the usage of the low cost MIDI CV Interface A 190 2 which has one Gate and four CV outputs available Another suitable MIDI CV Interface for A 100 was the 24 channel MCV24 a 19 rackmount with its own power supply As the MCV 24 is no longer in production you will have to try to find a second hand unit System A 100 3 A 100 signal flow VC Modules like the A 141 VC ADSR and A 147 VC LFO can be controlled via the A 190 1 or A 190 2 so that for instance a continuous MIDI controller can alter envelope parameters in real time Since these controllers can be recorded by a MIDI sequencer VC modules are effectively programmable Analog sequencing can be provided by the A 155 or the external MA
34. ribbon cable see in Fig 3 to the nearest available position on the system bus board see in Fig 3 Check very carefully that it is connected so that the coloured marking on the ribbon cable is at the bottom of the bus connector see in Fig 3 and it is 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 System A 100 2 Overall design Paroa ya Bus Board AA Fig 3 Connecting the ribbon cable to the bus board Ey 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 2 Overall design System A 100 DOUEPFER A 110 vco A 118 NOISE A 420 VCF 1 A 130 VCA LIN A STANDARD VCO RANDOM LOW PASS FILTER In this case double check the connections making SYNC AA Range White wo ova NA r e Jo A o o a Z N me ae completely sure that the ribbon cable is the right 4 A OF 0 a
35. smoother continuous change portamento is created 3 A 100 signal flow 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 System A 100 GATE GATE CVOut sy Oo ADSR o ov jOn Off CV Out uo HN A 4 if Lif b 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 e Audio Signals e Control voltages e 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 Vss The System A 100 can also let you use external Audio Signals e g Microphone Electric Guitar Keyboard Ey To interface satisfactorily the level of exter nal 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 inter nal pre amp and two inputs of different sen sitivity Control voltages as produced by modulation sources like the LFO and ADSR are typically from 2 5 V to 2 5 V 5 Vss
36. 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 System A 100 1 Important notes 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 transfor mers may cause hum Do not install the A 100 in close proximity to equip ment 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 user maintenance 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
37. t this total is less than 1200mA O If itis the existing power supply is fine O 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 se cond power supply System A 100 DIEPEER RE Ignoring this warning can result in damage to your system and will void your guarantee 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 O First of all take the A 100 s plug out of the wall socket O Plug the supplied ribbon cable into the module s bus socket see in Fig 2 As a rule the cable is 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 pins see in Fig 2 A 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 in Fig 2 and that the 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 Component Side ay 1 a Fig 2 Connecting the ribbon cable to the module Now join the free end of the
38. tage controlled slew limiter attenuator offset generator SLC Slew Limiter Controller controller module for slew limiter function of A 129 3 VUV Voiced Unvoiced Detector module for recognition of voiced unvoiced speech 23 QOOEPFER 24 System A 100 8 Module Overview Module Width Curr Curr 5V Description 8 20 VCA Voltage Controlled Amplifier voltage controlled amplifier with linear response A 132 1 A 132 2 A 134 1 A 134 2 A 135 1 A 135 2 VCA Voltage Controlled Amplifier voltage controlled amplifier with exponential response Dual Low Cost VCA two simple voltage controlled amplifier with linear response Quad VCA four VCAs with independent inputs and outputs common loudness level control Dual linear exponential VCA two separate VCAs with selectable control scale switch linear or exponential Dual Voltage Controlled Polarizer two special VCAs with positive and negative inverting amplification VC PAN Voltage Controlled Panning Crossfader module for voltage controlled panning or crossfading Dual VC Crossfader Two separate voltage controlled crossfaders VC MIX Voltage Controlled Mixer 4 separate VCAs with common output VCF VCA Panning subsystem still under development subsystem with VCFs with VCQ VCAs and VC panning units with common stereo output Distortion Waveshaper distortion and wave shaping wave modifying module with extensiv
39. trolled 12 dB filter SEM type lowpass notch highpass with mixer bandpass XP filter A 106 6 12 50 voltage controlled filter XP type with 15 different filter types A 107 26 200 R Multitype Morphing Filter voltage controlled multitype filter with 36 different filter types and morphing feature 21 QOOEPFER System A 100 8 Module Overview Module Width Curr 5V A 108 A 109 A 110 A 111 1 A 111 5 A 119 12 20 10 30 6 12 24 48 dB Low Pass Band Pass voltage controlled low pass ladder type with 4 different slopes and bandpass Voltage Controlled Signal Processor combination of 24 dB low pass VCA and panning unit CEM3379 based VCO Standard voltage controlled Oscillator with 4 different waveforms hard sync input VCO High End like A 110 but improved waveforms linear FM input soft sync input Synthesizer Voice miniature synthesizer voice with VCO VCF VCA ADSR and two LFOs SAMPLER 8 bit sampler and wavetable oscillator Submarmonic Generator Sound Generation unit as used in the so called Trautonium 4 subharmonic oscillators Dual Ring Modulator 2 separate ring modulators Audio Divider frequency divider for audio signals rectangle waveforms WP VC Waveform Processor module for dynamic waveform modification DNG 808 Digital Noise Random Clock 808 Source digital noise and clock generator 808 like sound source Noise Random lanalog noise generator w
40. ular system each module has its own separate manual which can be inserted into this ring binder QOEPFER About this manual This user manual describes the A 100 modular synthe sizer 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 in structions 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 System A 100 About this manual 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 fol low in self contained chapters with descriptions user examples and patching aids When buying indi vidual m
41. ye 2 f o 10 eg 0 10 way round where it connects to the module and the ala za GA bus a e S Q e Queo Jai J o 10 0 10 0 e cv2 pow Rate cv3 FA Audio In 1 uu ff X N ip N f ae AI NA S A pee A ia Once your system is assembled and operational you jw i aa should make use of the the patch sheets which come aan ee ay tev J m2 etr f N AZA gt a D a a Na with each module D ie a o 40 udio Oui pa io a ee Cs Res e out Photocopy the patch sheets for each of your modules random EN 9 ag cut these out and stick them onto a sheet of paper in ne TL A N AN Output 0 the order in which they occur in your system see Fig Ac1 10 Gay A 145 LEOR A 140 ADSR A 138 ee 4 Then photocopy this sheet and use the copies to sync A Range Gate A input s yo eS fi N ma fi N note down good settings and patches e y Se s Jm cv1 ie 0 10 0 10 a f Nme a Retrig 2s Input 2 pe Q A Ors BS o D D 4 Ya cv2 E Si 0 ia De tf N m j ev2 __ A Output za Input 3 am 2 3 Interconnecting modules maai IJE e A Aa gt YA P a 5 EA For connecting modules to each other you need T O A ouet A ea A mono mini jack 3 5 mm patch leads You can Bate e no NOO S aa A Ai o j inverse 5 i obtain patch leads from us see Accessories in chap ad a 4 Output BA ter 5 in different lengths OOOO gt oa E Ou O conoi
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