Doepfer Help

[ahammer]

This is a dumb question for all of you who know anything about modular synthesis...I just got a doepfer eurorack with a bunch of modules designed for processing external audio (a-119, a-106, 1-136, a-137, 1-119, harvest man's malgorithm, a-147). I was messing around with it for a bit, outputting drum and keyboard tracks from logic, and the results were embarrassing. It was a low-fi crunch with lots of hiss. I don't know much about these things, nor do I know anyone who has one. Can someone give me some pointers about getting started? Thanks.

[Beermaster]

Without knowing what thoes modules actually are its hard to give an accurate answer but I'll give it a go.

As you've probably guessed a modular has to be set up to work properly and you need to think of two separate streams of data: Signal and Control. Signal flow is fairly straight forward, sound goes in one place comes out of another gets patched to the in of another modules comes out...etc etc. - Once you have this sussed out then you should be getting a signal out of the end ( if all of the relevant dials are set up correctly ) - the sound coming out at the end of this may well have been modified by the modules you've sent it through but the result will be static. Filters and bit crushers etc etc are just processing the sound by the fixed position and settings of the dials - a static non moving process. You can sweep through the settings by manually changing the dials as the sound passes through OR you can set up a Control voltage signal and create dynamics ! - in the case of the filter you really need to get the cutoff frequency moving by sending it say a slow sine wave to its CV in. Likewise the Malgorithm needs a good bit of CV in to get the best out of it,

If its rhythmic stuff you're wanting to process then it may be that you'll need something that will allow you use the Doepfer in sync with the BPM of the tracks you're sending it - there are many ways of doing this from MIDI-CV. Envelope Followers, triggers and dividers etc.

Modulars are not the simplest things to get your head around and even when you do know what you're doing by the nature of the beast there are millions of option and variations to chose from !

Have Fun !

Beer

[chrisso]

As above, having sold my Doepfer system several years ago, the module numbers mean nothing to me.
Do you have an audio input module?

The results you describe sound like you aren't getting enough audio level into your modules (via an audio input). But as Beer rightly points out, it's hard to pinpoint any other problem from a distance.
Audio processing with a modular system is pretty straightforward, but it helps if you have at least one audio input module and an output module (VCA).

[Steveo]

Start by plugging the audio source into each module in turn and listening to the output and get an understanding of whats happening and what each module is doing to the audio signal until you get more familiar.

Some modules are designed primarily as voltage processing units ( signal modulators ) so may not be useful for processing audio.

You can download information on each module from Doepfers website.....these usually give you some examples of how to use the modules .

It takes a while to get used to Modular gear but once you have a basic grasp, the possibilities start to become mind numbing !

By the way the Doepfer A-119 is a pretty poor midi-cv unit , fine for note on / off stuff but poor for midi clock , getting the clock divisions right is a black art despite what Doepfer say.

[markusE]

I've read good things about the doepfers effects. I have some preset synths like a matrix-1000 that could be nice to run thru them. What set-up do you guys think would be good for this purpose?

[Reptil]

yes, you'll need at least the input module to get the signal to the right voltage. it will rectify the waveform too (so it will be on the positive voltage axis, contrary to the signal from the DA converters)
don't use the balanced input. the impedance is for microphone signals.
all of that is on the doepfer site as well.
the vca in the doepfer system is not bad but don't expect fat quality either. it ain't no API
I'm looking for other options myself to fatten up the output signal before balancing.

the midi module I got (before buying the MCV24) to output the correct clock - but I had to hire a voodoo priest AND 3 wicca witches to get it working. (and a lot of chicken blood, entrails, crow's feet, and little furry things..)

I'm not in the studio, and don't remember module numbers. the overall sound of the doepfer is IMO a (tiny) bit gnarly kraftwerk type. the filters (most) are excellent.
for moogish warmness, add a moogerfooger.

***************"=)
congrats
you just have entered a new addiction.
WORSE than 500 series lunchbox modules.

[markusE]

It says on the doepfer website: "For audio signals, you would normally use the exponential VCA (A-131), and for control voltages, the linear VCA (A-130)."

So this means that if I would like to use the filters and effects on preset synth sounds, I need two A-131 modules for in and out?

[chrisso]

The VCA is usually the final stage of the process.
It is like an output, although there are other ways of going about things. You don't even need a VCA to process a drum loop with a filter for example.
If you want to process stereo sounds, then 2 x audio compatible VCA's would be useful.
You also need 2 x input modules like the A-119 External Input / Envelope Follower.

[Radioking]

Chris is right you need the A119 Input module. A really useful bit of gear that will also generate an envelope and a gate signal from the incoming audio. If you haven't got one already you need to get one (or two).

Andy

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