Doepfer

Hi Guys,

Has anybody here got the ribbon controller? I'm rather intrigued by it
and am thinking of adding one to my system but not having access to
one to try out here in Australia I was wanting some comments on it
from anybody with first hand experience before I do.

Any comments at all would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Adam-V

Hi Adam, I think the ribbon controller def. one of the best CV-source
around. Personally I don't use it like Oskar Sala would but a as
CV-source for CV-controlled delay lenghts, modulation (depths)...
Since you have by the way of comparison (to a Joy Stick etc.) a rather
long distance for a possibly small CV-range the ribbon can be used
very subtle. It is a superb and very intuitive controller! Or the
other way round: Set to a big CV-range you can produce abrupt changes
when pressing diff. parts of the ribbon as if it would be keybd.

Even the pressure sensor works great (guess it was a challange to get
this working the way it does). Take care, Ingo

In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "Adam-V" <adam-v@...> wrote:

>
> Hi Guys,
> 
> Has anybody here got the ribbon controller? I'm rather intrigued by it
> and am thinking of adding one to my system but not having access to
> one to try out here in Australia I was wanting some comments on it
> from anybody with first hand experience before I do.
> 
> Any comments at all would be much appreciated.
> 
> Cheers,
> Adam-V
>

Thanks for that Ingo. Sounds like I should add one to my next order.

Cheers,

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "ilanode" <techmeier@...> wrote:

>
> Hi Adam, I think the ribbon controller def. one of the best CV-source
> around. Personally I don't use it like Oskar Sala would but a as
> CV-source for CV-controlled delay lenghts, modulation (depths)...
> Since you have by the way of comparison (to a Joy Stick etc.) a rather
> long distance for a possibly small CV-range the ribbon can be used
> very subtle. It is a superb and very intuitive controller! Or the
> other way round: Set to a big CV-range you can produce abrupt changes
> when pressing diff. parts of the ribbon as if it would be keybd.
> 
> Even the pressure sensor works great (guess it was a challange to get
> this working the way it does). Take care, Ingo
> 
> In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "Adam-V" <adam-v@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Guys,
> > 
> > Has anybody here got the ribbon controller? I'm rather intrigued by it
> > and am thinking of adding one to my system but not having access to
> > one to try out here in Australia I was wanting some comments on it
> > from anybody with first hand experience before I do.
> > 
> > Any comments at all would be much appreciated.
> > 
> > Cheers,
> > Adam-V
> >
>

Perfect timing. I've been considering one of these for a couple of months. I love the ribbon on 
my Andromeda and have lots pf patches using it so I'm sure the Doepfer ribbon will get use. 
Just wasn't sure about the playability of it, etc. Waiting on a 188-2 delay (TODAY!) but this 
will probably be my next purchse.
Thanks for the info.
Phil

> Thanks for that Ingo. Sounds like I should add one to my next order.
>
> Cheers,

I don't want to talk down the A-198 but I'd recommend the R2M over the
A-198. It's a bit more expensive but has a lot of additional features (CV
and Midi, quantizer, hold function and gate at the same time, and many
more).

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

Tell me this AFTER I've ordered and paid for the A-198!!!

Seriously though. thanks for pointing that out. I did consider the R2M
but decided on the A-198 as I don't have a lot of space in my studio
for external units and, apart from the MIDI the functions that I
require can be realised with other modules.

Cheers,
Adam-V
--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, <hardware@...> wrote:
> I don't want to talk down the A-198 but I'd recommend the R2M over the
> A-198. It's a bit more expensive but has a lot of additional
features (CV

> and Midi, quantizer, hold function and gate at the same time, and many
> more).
> 
> Best wishes
> Dieter Doepfer
>

Adam, I was considering wether to buy a R2M or A198 for some time and
finally decided to go for the A198. (re following thread: R2M vs A198
ribbon controller and I was debatting this issue with a local
distributor.)

Main reasons were I don't use MIDI anyway and the R2M has no true non
quantized mode, see msg 12586.

Hope you enjoy you A198 as much as I do. Rgds Ingo


--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "Adam-V" <adam-v@...> wrote:

>
> Tell me this AFTER I've ordered and paid for the A-198!!!
> 
> Seriously though. thanks for pointing that out. I did consider the R2M
> but decided on the A-198 as I don't have a lot of space in my studio
> for external units and, apart from the MIDI the functions that I
> require can be realised with other modules.
> 
> Cheers,
> Adam-V
> --- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, <hardware@> wrote:
> > I don't want to talk down the A-198 but I'd recommend the R2M over the
> > A-198. It's a bit more expensive but has a lot of additional
> features (CV
> > and Midi, quantizer, hold function and gate at the same time, and many
> > more).
> > 
> > Best wishes
> > Dieter Doepfer
> >
>

I think I'll enjoy the A-198/Ribbon immensely Ingo. Other than MIDI
there's probably no R2M functionality that can't be realised with
other modules and although I have a heap of MIDI gear I'm not really
interested in interfacing it with my modular other than perhaps for
mangling the audio.

Cheers,
Adam-V
--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "ilanode" <techmeier@...> wrote:

>
> Adam, I was considering wether to buy a R2M or A198 for some time and
> finally decided to go for the A198. (re following thread: R2M vs A198
> ribbon controller and I was debatting this issue with a local
> distributor.)
> 
> Main reasons were I don't use MIDI anyway and the R2M has no true non
> quantized mode, see msg 12586.
> 
> Hope you enjoy you A198 as much as I do. Rgds Ingo
> 
> 
>

> > Adam, I was considering wether to buy a R2M or A198 for some time and
> > finally decided to go for the A198. (re following thread: R2M vs A198
> > ribbon controller and I was debatting this issue with a local
> > distributor.)
> >
> > Main reasons were I don't use MIDI anyway and the R2M has no true non
> > quantized mode, see msg 12586.
> >
> > Hope you enjoy you A198 as much as I do. Rgds Ingo

From my point of view the main disadvantage of the A-198 (compared to the
R2M) is that the hold function cannot be combined with the gate generation.
That's not possible with analog hardware (or only with a very complex
circuit) but only with the software of the R2M. And I believe that 12 bit
resolution of the CV is very close to continuous. I've never heard a
complaint about the 12 bit "quantization" of the R2M.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

Hi Adam

> other modules and although I have a heap of MIDI gear I'm not really
> interested in interfacing it with my modular other than perhaps for
> mangling the audio.
I have the R2m but use it only to control analogue gear, but 
nevertheless I really like to have several programmable setups of the 
controller.

Florian

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, Florian Anwander
<Florian.Anwander@...> wrote:
> I really like to have several programmable setups of the controller.

Thanks Florian, that is one aspect I did not consider. I'm sure I'll
enjoy the  controller just the same though.

Cheers,
Adam-V.

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, <hardware@...> wrote:
> From my point of view the main disadvantage of the A-198 (compared to the
> R2M) is that the hold function cannot be combined with the gate generation.
> That's not possible with analog hardware (or only with a very complex
> circuit) but only with the software of the R2M. 

I love the ribbon controller A-198 and never play the instrument without it, but I agree this is 
a disadvantage.  One way around it though is to combine it with another sample & hold 
module and a multiple or Y-cable.  Split the position gate output, and route position gate and 
CV to the S&H module.  This way you can get the S&H to hold the position voltage while still 
getting the gate signal from the A-198.  You could also split the position CV (again, mult or 
Y-adapter) if you wanted both the held and non-held CV from the ribbon for different 
purposes within a patch.

Ernst

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, <hardware@...> wrote:

> 
> Did you try this patch ? From the theory it will not work: The position gate
> signal is derived from the position CV signal with a comparator that
> compares the CV to GND (i.e. if the manual is released). If the comparator
> triggers the CV is already less than zero Volt and it's too late to sample
> the CV. If it would be that simple we had added a S&H to the A-198 module.
> In the R2M the microcontroller stores the "history" of the CV for a few
> milliseconds and if gate low is detected it goes "back in time" and picks up
> the last CV  before the low gate was detected. With analog hardware that's
> very difficult to realize.
> 
> Best wishes
> Dieter Doepfer
>


I just tried it out -- it had been a while.  Of course you're right that it's not so simple.  
What does work, however, is if you use an A-165 Dual Trigger Modifier to "smooth out" 
the trigger signal, by patching the ribbon gate to the A-165 top trigger in, then inverse 
out to the lower trigger in, then the lower inverse out to ther S&H trigger in.  Then the 
result is as I described.

I'm not sure exactly why this works, but it does ... !  

I also use this strategy for a strange button controller I have, an old AKG device which is 
just a simple button (like a doorbell) on the end of a long cable with a balanced 
1/4" (klinke) plug at the end, that I plug into the Foot Ctl.2 jack on the A-177 foot 
controller module.  The A-165 strategy above works for erasing the negative voltage the 
button creates when the button is not pushed.   (Does anyone know what this AKG thing 
might have been made for originally?)

Ernst

> I love the ribbon controller A-198 and never play the instrument without
it, but I agree this is
> a disadvantage.  One way around it though is to combine it with another
sample & hold
> module and a multiple or Y-cable.  Split the position gate output, and
route position gate and
> CV to the S&H module.  This way you can get the S&H to hold the position
voltage while still
> getting the gate signal from the A-198.  You could also split the position
CV (again, mult or
> Y-adapter) if you wanted both the held and non-held CV from the ribbon for
different
> purposes within a patch.
>
> Ernst

Did you try this patch ? From the theory it will not work: The position gate
signal is derived from the position CV signal with a comparator that
compares the CV to GND (i.e. if the manual is released). If the comparator
triggers the CV is already less than zero Volt and it's too late to sample
the CV. If it would be that simple we had added a S&H to the A-198 module.
In the R2M the microcontroller stores the "history" of the CV for a few
milliseconds and if gate low is detected it goes "back in time" and picks up
the last CV  before the low gate was detected. With analog hardware that's
very difficult to realize.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

My ribbon controller arrived today and I'm looking forward to playing
it however the cable that came with it has the wrong connector at one
end. The ribbon and the module both have "USB type A Female"
connectors but the cable I was supplied has a "USB type B Male"
connector at one end. Can someone please confirm that a standard
"USB-A Male" to "USB-A Male" cable is what is required here so I can
grab one tomorrow?

Cheers,
Adam-V.

That's right, type A male on both ends.  They're a little hard to find but they're out there.  I 
had to replace mine at one point and it took some looking to find a short one; sorry but I 
can't remember now where I finally got it from.....

--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, "Adam-V" <adam-v@...> wrote:

>
> My ribbon controller arrived today and I'm looking forward to playing
> it however the cable that came with it has the wrong connector at one
> end. The ribbon and the module both have "USB type A Female"
> connectors but the cable I was supplied has a "USB type B Male"
> connector at one end. Can someone please confirm that a standard
> "USB-A Male" to "USB-A Male" cable is what is required here so I can
> grab one tomorrow?
> 
> Cheers,
> Adam-V.
>

The ribbon controllers (R2M and A-198) are delivered with an A-A cable from
the factory (we have no other cables in stock).

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com]Im Auftrag von Adam-V
> Gesendet: Freitag, 8. Juni 2007 10:10
> An: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> Betreff: [Doepfer_a100] Re: A-198 Ribbon Controller Questions
>
>
> My ribbon controller arrived today and I'm looking forward to playing
> it however the cable that came with it has the wrong connector at one
> end. The ribbon and the module both have "USB type A Female"
> connectors but the cable I was supplied has a "USB type B Male"
> connector at one end. Can someone please confirm that a standard
> "USB-A Male" to "USB-A Male" cable is what is required here so I can
> grab one tomorrow?
>
> Cheers,
> Adam-V.

Thanks Dieter, mine was actually supplied with an A-B cable rather
than an A-A cable hence my question. I managed to find the right cable
at a local computer store so it's all sorted out now.

Cheers,
Adam-V
--- In Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com, <hardware@...> wrote:
>
> The ribbon controllers (R2M and A-198) are delivered with an A-A
cable from

> the factory (we have no other cables in stock).
> 
> Best wishes
> Dieter Doepfer
>