Saturday, January 17, 2009

Doepfer A-117 mod UPDATED

After some more experiments I realized that I would not be able to trouble shoot the module without being able to compare it to one that is working normally.

I did come to the conclusion that this is a module that would respond well to some changes. Being able to tune the internal oscillator against the incoming modulation source is cool. If I can add some control over the additional outs which are static that would be great.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Doepfer A-117 mod

WARNING: this is far from technically sound. I am not a learned EE. These are guesses based of my limited knowledge.

My Doepfer A-117 Digital Noise module started having some issues. At first all I could get was a feeble oscillator noise that sounded more like an analog (non precision) oscillator driver that was used to drive the digital noise generator's clock.

I probed the circuit and found that making a connection to a resistor to one point on the newly replaced ext. input jack brought back the digital noise but now it could be tuned to the source by adjusting the rate knob.

I will post a picture of the board and perhaps someone more knowledgeable will figure what part is actually not functioning properly. Anyone have any thoughts feel free to post of contact me directly.

Maybe this will turn out to be a good and usable mod for others.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Winter NAMM Predictions

and here are some predictions based on years of technology experience...

1. more Kaoss Pad offshoot products that have the fun taken out and replaced with suck. KP3 is still selling so they can still milk it.

2. virtual Ensoniq collection plugin with a Fizmo that even has a special dongle key that is shaped like a bad regulator.

3. digital "tape loop" player with animated hubs on a touch screen that you can flange with your finger.

4. MIDI standard to be replaced something worse.

To be continued...

I've lost another friend

Rest In Peace Tom.
You were one of a kind to many and all.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

lets do the time warp again

I posted a bunch of photos of my last studio on flickr.

If mind numbingly depressing not to have what I would consider a workable space but I have had a fair amount of real luxury and luck. Much of my professional life as a musician I have either had a studio or at the very least access to free space in the apartment I grew up in.

At present I will not take any job that requires critical listening or significant volume because i simply don't have any means of accommodating these things in what I would consider to be a professional manner.

We won't get into a debate today about the dumbing down of the recording studio. Just accept the fact that as much as I encourage artists to be realistic with their budgets I am not a fan of just making a shitty product just because it's easy and believe me I have broken every rule spread eagled here so I know I'm not talking smack.