Doepfer A-149-4 Polyphonic Random Voltage Source

[Rigo]

http://www.doepfer.de/a1494.htm

Module A-149-4 generates four triggered random voltages which meet the criteria choosen by several controls and associated control voltage inputs.
Manual controls and control voltage inputs for the criteria selection:

• Octave range (manual control "Oct." and control voltage input "O"): this parameter defines how many octaves are covered by the random voltages (0 ... 10 according to 0 ... +10V, with "Oct." control fully CCW and no external CV only 0V are generated)
  
  Grid (manual control "Grid" and control voltage input "G"): this parameter defines the grid of the random voltages:
  • Octaves (Oct)
    Octaves + Quin (Quint)
    Chords
    Scale
    Semitones
    Quarter tones
    continuous (i.e. stepless)
  Minor / Major (toggle switch "Min/Maj" without center position and control voltage input "M"): this parameter defines in case of chords or scales if the are minor or major. For all other grids this parameter has no meaning
  
  Sixth / Seventh (toggle switch "+6/+7" with center position and control voltage input "67"): this parameter defines if the sixth or seventh is added. It is valid only if Oct, Quint, Chord or Scale is chosen as grid.

The output voltages follow the 1V/octave standard. The generation of a new random voltage at the output (CV Out 1...4) is triggered by the corresponding trigger input (Trig. In 1...4). The trigger inputs are normalled top down. The minimum trigger level is +2.5V (up to max. +12V).
The voltage range for the control voltage inputs O, G, M and 67 is 0...+5V. The voltage at the CV input is added to the voltage generated by the corresponding manual rotary control (Oct., Grid) or switch (Min/Maj, +6/+7).

[nihile_tropes]

interesting, where did you find this?

[Rigo]

And there is also this:

http://www.doepfer.de/a1353.htm

[Rigo]

Though the preliminary name of module A-149-4 is "Polyphonic Random Voltage Source" the applications are not limited to polyphonic structures. It just will generate 4 random voltages with a separate trigger input for each voltage. The type of randomness is controlled by several parameters. Maybe we should rename it to "Multiple Random Voltage Source" to avoid misunderstandings.

And both the Fluctuating Random Voltages and the Chaos modules are not yet dead (as well as the new frequency shifter and the pitch-to-voltage module). But we are able to release only about one new module every two months and have to keep an eye on both the inquiries for a new module and also the developing time for a new module (the development time for the frequency shifter is more than 100 times higher than for the trigger converter/buffer A-183-4).

[smithjohn]

That's good to hear, would definitely want to see more frequency shifters in euro, esp from Doepfer.

The Random module looks interesting too. Kind of makes me wish the A-156 would have similar voltage control over the parameters.

[vytis]

Very useful, great design

[paperCUT]

Most interesting Doepfer module for a while, this is the exact features I've been looking for! The Transient Modules 4R has had zero stock anywhere in the world, having 4 channels with quantizing is a massive improvement to what is really convenient S&Hs. Wish it had bipolar operation, maybe there's time to add it.

[flashheart]

Why do you need -ve voltages for pitch?

[windchill]

Why do you need -ve voltages for pitch?

Isn't that normal with 1V/octave?
You can apply negative voltage to many 1v/oct inputs and the pitch will go down.

[megarat]

I like this a lot. It feels like a different take on the new SSF/Divkid RND STEP, with some excellent new capabilities. Having two or three of these, each with different quantization settings, would provide a powerhouse of random voltages, for no more space than an A-149-1.

I wonder if the grid control is a rotary switch or a continuous potentiometer. I also wonder what the random source is (e.g., sampled white noise, LFSR, digital PRNG, etc.) and how the random voltages are distributed (uniform, skewed, etc.).

[paperCUT]

Looks like normal voltage selection "Octave range .... (0 ... 10 according to 0 ... +10V, with "Oct." control fully CCW and no external CV only 0V are generated)"

I would say the closest comparison to RND STEP is the Transient Modules 4R. It's hard to tell but I'm guessing the RND is pure digital so every sample can be unique, that gives the same result with a total of about 3 parts compared to building multiple, analog noise sources.

[megarat]

The RND STEP alleges to have two analog pink noise generators per channel, for six total, so it’s not digital. It also has the sample and hold for each channel, which this A-149-4 doesn’t have, so perhaps it wasn’t the best comparison. But most people seem to be excited about the RND STEP’s ability to generate random voltages on demand, which is exactly what this new Doepfer module is all about, plus this one has the configurable quantizer and the attenuator in the form of the ”octave range” control, which are the next two features that I would personally hope for.

So I’m pretty psyched by this. I’m currently trying to determine if it’s feasible to pull my A-149-1/2 and replace it with a few of these.

[Sync]

The A-149-4 looks perfect for me. I'm currently using the Argos Bleak to do some things that it looks like this can do better and more performant, as well as taking up way less space in my rack. Sign me up, I'll be picking one of those up as soon as it's available, it's a no-brainer.

[DigitalCrickets]

From the man himself,

"The A-149-4 will be not released in the version which is described so far on our website (http://www.doepfer.de/a1494.htm). Based on many recommendations by users the rotary controls will be cancelled and replaced by illuminated momentary buttons which are assigned to the functions (e.g. octave, quint, cord, scale, semi ...). That way it's possible to address a function directly. Using rotary controls seems to be not the ideal solution for this application (e.g. because one cannot jump between different values directly and one has to pay attention to find the correct position of the rotary control). And most users mentioned that CV control is not essential as the module is used mainly as a live tool in combination with the new illuminated buttons.

We are about to rework the complete user interface (i.e. front panel). The lower section (i.e. four trigger inputs and four CV outputs) will remain unchanged. But the upper section will look totally different (many illuminated momentary buttons instead of the two rotary controls). I suppose that the prototype of new version will not be ready before early in 2021.

Best regards
Dieter Doepfer"

[deftinwulf]

That's awesome. Sounds like a fantastic change to the design. Looking forward to seeing the final product!

[Sync]

That's awesome. Sounds like a fantastic change to the design. Looking forward to seeing the final product!

I agree, this is my most anticipated new module!

[docile fossil]

alas, spring 2021 has come and gone!

doing some forum diving - i feel like there's some crossover between this and the brain seed. i'm going out on a limb to suggest the doepfer will be a digital design, which could potentially leave a door open for alternate firmware/updates. i could see some benefits assigning each output a grid setting, and the brain seed's record/loop functionality sounds fun here too. inputting nintendo cheat codes on 4hp doesn't sound like fun. honestly, 8hp for that much super-s&h power is cheap.

[transistorresistor]

wow this module looks super cool, will be looking forward to this.

[Rigo]

Now it is listed for september (without obligation), together with some others ...

http://www.doepfer.de/a1262.htm (frequency shifter)
http://www.doepfer.de/A138f.htm (Dual Three-Way Crossfader)
http://www.doepfer.de/A1792.htm (Light Controlled Voltage Source II)
http://www.doepfer.de/A1824.htm (Dual Rotary Switches)

[nihile_tropes]

The frequency shifter will be the real star among these new modules.

[megarat]

I really dig the new design of this module:

The button grid looks to be pretty tight, but I think it would be manageable, even for playing it on the fly. I wonder if the knob control is a continuous pot or a rotary switch.

[paperCUT]

Looks fantastic. The description seems to suggest it's a pot, it's a parameter that could do with external modulation.

[Rigo]

Release date: end of September 2021 (without obligation) Because of procurement problems for some parts we cannot specify a reliable release date
All specifications are still preliminary and without obligation !

[1n]

Might get this and switch out RndStep for a while.

Random Seed was out of production by the time I started a eurorack case and I've decided this could be 'RndSeed'

Edit: and maybe this could replace Marbles... for the stuff I do, not in general

[Rigo]

Because of procurement problems for some parts we cannot specify a reliable release date . But we hope that the module will be available spring 2022.
All specifications are still preliminary and without obligation !

Not getting any closer