Modular Synthesis, Creative Spaces, and You | Featuring the Doepfer A-155

Today's video is inspired by the Doepfer A-155. In this video, I give a brief history of Modular Synthesis and the Doepfer A-100 system. I'll also give a giant rant about creativity and using modular to find new creative spaces. Finally - I'll demonstrate the A-155 and show off some of it's features.
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The A-155 is a 8-step analog trigger sequencer that can produce analog voltages as well as trigger/gate signals. Think of it as a A-161 module on steroids. It features dedicated switches for Start, Stop, Step, and Reset functions, all of which are operable either by CV or manually via buttons. The sequencer's upper row is specifically geared towards pitch control, while the bottom section features external signal inputs for each step. Additionally, the module features three rows dedicated to triggers and one for gates. There is also a per-step toggle switch that allows users to select whether or not a trigger is active at a particular step.
#modular
#doepfer
#creativity
#synthesizer #ambientmusic #mutableinstruments #makenoisemusic #modularsynth #electronicmusic
#eurorack
#vco

[@oldmossystone]

I love that you are promoting a true philosophy of modular :) that canoe analogy is perfect! Eurorack is getting popular (relatively speaking). That means lots of new users. So a lot of the money is in selling modules to inexperienced users. Many of these folk have experience with DAWs and computer music. That means there is an incentive for manufacturers to produce modules that are attractive to folk with those existing approaches to composition. They also buy small cases, then want maximum functionality in minimum space, so we end up with tiny tiny knobs and poor ergonomics. Great modules like A-155 take a backseat, because for a noob, it seems to be wrong in every way... so funny that for experienced modular players (stevio uses A-155s!), it is perfect in so many ways. Unfortunately, those wizards already have more modules than they know what to do with, so it's the noobs who are driving the market. Even Doepfer have started making tiny cramped modules with terrible ergonomics and titchy weeny trimmer knobs :'-(

[@braintree56]

Thanks. I agree with you. The cost is just so big too that having one or two modules with tons of features and options is appealing to some... It's still such a young format that who knows where it will be in 10/20 years. I'm starting to hear a lot of people complain about the "u" nano modules... So I think sentiment is moving away from from smaller modules. Who knows... It will be interesting to watch though! :)

[@els1f]

I like the idea of a sequencer/clock/modulation source in it's own little portable skiff!

[@braintree56]

I'm currently playing around with ideas for building a larger case. I had originally made that little skiff for making videos so I could pull out a few modules and it would lay flat. But, I thought the same thing! It's like modular squared! Ha!

[@heyitstom69]

Love seeing some classic doepfer videos ❤

[@braintree56]

I'm really enjoying their modules!

[@GeorgeLocke]

Great stuff.

[@braintree56]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jsleeio]

Mostly agree. I've had my A-155+154 for several years and they're my favourites. I do have quite a few other sequencers - Rene v1, Metropolis, a couple of Ladik S-180 gate sequencers (love these!), multiple sets of Pressure Points+Brains, the great touch controller in the Pittsburgh VRL, Pittsburgh KB-1, Pittsburgh Sequencer ... probably others I've forgotten. They all have their ups and downs but the Doepfer is easily my favourite, for mostly the same reasons as you've stated, and I can understand why you'd want more than one. Something I've spent a *huge* amount of time on is trying to recreate Suzanne Ciani's style of improvisation on pre-prepared sequences, where she starts with fixed melodies and slowly alters how much variation is introduced, and just as importantly, where exactly in the melody it is allowed to appear. It's a really interesting exercise and good for your modular brain

[@braintree56]

Oh yeah! I love Ciani's style. I definitely want to try out more sequencers, but something really resonates with me about this one. Steevio was the artist that initially lead me to try these. I love the jazzy aspect of his music. I listen to a ton of jazz and want to incorporate more of that into my modular music.

[@digitalhillbilly8863]

The A-155 was my first Eurorack sequencer. I liked it so much that I got a second one, along with the controller, precision voltage adder and voltage source. Placing those in front of the quantizer allows you to do a quick transposes of the sequence while staying in key. I don’t use it much now but I will never part with my A-155 system. Too much fun and too many memories. By the way, while the Matroplix looks like a successor, the Erica Synth Black sequencer feels like the successor. I think it is the way you can dial in your notes plus one other cv value.

[@braintree56]

That's one reason I love Doepfer modules. There's so much flexibility and options. I agree that the Metropolix feels like a successor - but in a way I feel like it loses some of the Appeal of the A-155.

[@chris5375]

Very good vid 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@braintree56]

Thanks 👍

[@WithTheGrain]

I agree that screens are less fun, but I do use the sq64 because it gives me a cheap way to control 4 parts..

[@braintree56]

I still use mine too. And it's fine. Definitely find it less 'inspiring' or enjoyable than the A-155... certainly.ore affordable!

[@nadeharry]

I think it is important to use the A-155 only in conjunction with the A-154 sequencer controller and especially important to use the A-156 QNT. With the QNT, only whole notes are output from the sequencer, which can be very important for the harmony of a

[@braintree56]

Do you think the A-156 Quantizer SPECIFICALLY or just a Quantizer in general? Would any Quantizer do just fine?

[@nadeharry]

@@braintree56 i use ist only together…but i have a clear doepfersystem. U can See ist @my yt channel. But i think u can use everyone. A155 postout its the cv for the notes into the vcos. So u can control the notes perfectly.

[@nadeharry]

@@braintree56 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4uZc6eLf6isd5I

[@temporoboto]

💙

[@bjondersson]

Have a look at the Befaco Muxlicer and MEX. I just built those as DYI kits and enjoy them for the reasons you mention. I find them super versatile, and you can hook up many MEXes to one Muxlicer. At some point I’ll probably build one more set.

[@braintree56]

Thanks for the tip. I suspect you're right and I would enjoy it. It appeared that the Mex was out of stock at most of the places I shop. I'll keep my eyes out for it though.

[@nadeharry]

If you use the Doepfer QNT you dont need an Trigger! You go from postout into cv in of the qnt

[@braintree56]

Thanks. I'll give the A-156 another go. I replaced it with the O_c because I wanted to be able to choose notes and have more channels... However - I'm not enjoying it. Probably because of everything I talked about in this video!!! Ha! I still have my A-156. I'll throw it back in.

[@goingmodular]

It sounds to me that you would possibly love Vermona's Melodicer. If there was one single module that could make me start Eurorack, that would be it. The fundamental concept in this module is like no other, and it precisely echoes your whole general argument of creating by wrangling a situation of half-controlled chaos. I, for one, still stick to semi-modular because of the value per buck. There isn't a single semi-modular machine of mine which would not cost 4 to 5 times more if I was to "recreate" it with Eurorack modules. And I often find myself using quite a lot the secondary elements thrown in these machines that I did not think much about when purchasing them. I fully get the appeal of pure modular, but the cost factor makes them even more of a luxury item to me than semi-modular machines already are. Concerning the Daw vs Daw-less discussion, you summarised it pretty well with your row-boat analogy, I feel. I love hardware machines, not only because they "feel" like true musical instruments that you physically engage with your body and not just with your intellect, but I love them also because they are the musical embodiment of the concept of "creation under constraint". I have always been a big believer in that idea, which is also why, in the field of visual arts, I also feel much more at home with permanent non-correctible media (like graphite, ink, watercolor, ...) than with the all-powerful but often paralysing digital painting softwares. Hardware media gives you something to push against when in the middle of a creative process, and I, for one, need that.

[@braintree56]

That's been on my wishlist for a long time... It's hard for me to say which process I like better - I certainly feel I've been more productive on a computer... But at the same time, it feels a little less satisfying to me....

[@goingmodular]

@@braintree56 I know where you are coming from. Gradually, I for one have reached a balance that I feel at ease with: I look for ideas in DAWless jams, and when said ideas seem mature enough I switch to my computer to build a proper musical piece from those initial building blocks. A computer feels like the perfect tool to make a clean final product to me, but I could never compose anything out of the blue in front of a screen. Maybe it’s an age thing ! 😊

[@goingmodular]

@@braintree56 Oh, and one thing: funny that you should answer this older comment of mine precisely now, because I was just about to write to you with a suggestion I thought you might find interesting: I believe I found a way to program the Mother 32 so as to make it work exactly as a Melodicer module. I thought you might like to hear about it (if you did not come up with the same trick yourself, that is). Let me know.

[@braintree56]

Yeah - I'd love to hear about it. @@goingmodular

[@goingmodular]

@@braintree56 Will try to write up a short explanation by email over the week-end then. I will be happy to get your feedback about it.

[@jamesbowsher-murray128]

Music starts at 14:17 ish.