Doepfer A-156 Eurorack Dual Quantizer Module

Doepfer A-156 - Dual Quantizer

Doepfer's A-156 is a Dual Control Voltage Quantizer. A quantizer converts a continuous control voltage in the range 0... +10V into a stepped output voltage in the same voltage range (i.e. only certain voltages occur). Normally 1/12 V steps are used to obtain semitone steps. Quantizer 2 of the A-156 has more sophisticated quantizing modes like major scale (i.e. only voltages corresponding to the major scale), minor scale major chord, minor chord, fundamental + fifth and addition of seventh or sixth when chords are selected. Only these voltages appear at the CF output which comply with the selection rule (e.g. minor chord with seventh). The mode setting of Quantizer 2 is done with 3 switches (1-0-1 type with middle position). From the factory Quantizer 1 is working in the semitone mode, but there is a jumper (J1) on the pc board that can be changed so that even Quantizer 1 uses the same scale as Quantizer 2. In the jumper J1 is in the lower position (factory setting) the positions of the toggle switches affect only the lower Quantizer and the upper Quantizer is working in the semitone mode. In the upper position of J1 the positions of the three toggle switches are also valid for the upper Quantizer.

For each Quantizer the following in/outputs are available;

•           Control voltage input (CV In): The input for the continuous voltage to be quantized

•           Control voltage output (CV out): The output of the quantized voltage

•           Trigger input (Trig. In): If this jack is left open the quantizer is working permanently. If a rectangle voltage is applied quantisation happens only at the rising edge of the signal (e.g. from an LFO or MIDI-to-Sync interface). Thus the quantizing can be synchronised with other events.

•           Trigger output (Trig. Out): Whenever a quantisation happens (i.e. a new voltage is generated at the CV Out) a positive pulse occurs at this output. It may be used to trigger an envelope generator (ADSR) or for triggering other modules (sequential switch A-151, trigger divider / sequencer A-160/161, trigger delay A-162....). If none of these functions are used the jack is left open.

On top of that the A-156 is provided with a common transpose CV input having an additive effect on both quantizers. This input is quantized in semitone steps. A typical application is the transposition of a sequence generated by a sequencer by a second control voltage.

Typical applications

•           Quantizing a CV sequence generated by a sequencer (semitone, only major scale, only minor scale and so on)

•           Quantizing the voltage coming from a ribbon controller or Theremin A-178 to get accurate semitones or major / minor scale tones

•           Arpeggio-like effects with LFO, random, noise, envelope generators as ources (for negative or symmetrical voltages an offset must be added to obtain positive voltages for the A-156 input).

Specifications

Doepfer A-156: User Manual