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DOEPFER Dark Energy Owner's Manual

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Dark Energy
Owners Manual
DOEPFER MUSIKELEKTRONIK GmbH

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Summary of Contents for DOEPFER Dark Energy

  • Page 1 Dark Energy Owners Manual DOEPFER MUSIKELEKTRONIK GmbH...
  • Page 2 Never use the instrument in the immediate proximity of electronic devices (e.g. monitors, power supplies, computers) as these interferences could cause malfunctions within Dark Energy and corrupt memory data.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    DOEPFER Dark Energy Owners Manual Content: 1. Introduction 3.4. Linking / Stacking of several 1.1. Preface…………………………..4 Dark Energies…………………… 25 1.2. Preparations……………………... 5 3.5. Modifications…………………….. 25 1.3. Check it out………………………. 6 3.6. Firmware Update ……………..25 2. Overview……………………………………. 8 4. Nuts and Bolts of Soundgeneration…………………………...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    Dark Energy. Doepfer says „thank you!“ First of all we would like to thank you for purchasing Dark Energy! We really appreciate your choice and promise you an extraordinary support throughout, including useful information, easy service, and innovative product development.

  • Page 5: Preparations

    Connections: To run Dark Energy, you do not necessarily need all its built-in sockets. For a basic setup, you will need just the ones pictured below. Make use of the additional connection terminals and you will expand Dark Energy‘s sonic potential a great deal.

  • Page 6: Check It Out

    Important: Use this power adaptor only or an equivalent one with exactly the same specs! A power supply via USB is not possible since the internal analog circuits of Dark Energy run at +/-12V. If two or more units are running in parallel, each unit needs its own power supply with wall wart. Should need and demand be, we might take offering a bigger wall wart with several power outlets into consideration.
  • Page 7 „Source“ switch of the VCF section is set to LFO2. The same goes for the „Source“ switch in the VCA section. If you really want to make use of Dark Energy‘s full sonic potential, it is important to understand the way the parameters interact with each other. Please do not panic - explore systematically each parameter and its interaction with others. There´s nothing you could blow up, and normality will be restored soon if something...

  • Page 8: Overview

    DOEPFER 2. Overiew The layout of Dark Energy is that of a classic monophonic modular synthesizer. Its signal path is hard-wired internally, thus Dark Energy is very compact and easy to use. The most important modulation routings can be set via toggle switches, additional sockets take or deliver control voltages and allow the connection with external modulation sources.
  • Page 9 Overview Dark EnerGy DOEPFER DOEPFER DARK ENERGY ANALOG SYNTHESIZER Outputs 15V AC (Audio Out) 400mA Gate Learn Midi In powersupply (15VAC, 400mA) CV outputs (for MIDI via USB) CV1: controlled by MIDI note messages, 1V/octave, 0...+5V (internally routed to the VCO frequency input) MIDI input CV2: controlled by MIDI pitchbend data (centered approx.

  • Page 10: Functions

    Dark EnerGy Functions DOEPFER 3. Functions In this section, we will explore all of Dark Energy‘s modules and functions in detail. We will also have a closer look at the way the modules interact, and finally at MIDI. 3.1. Signal path Envelope Gate Signal Generator (ADSR) Envelope Control Voltage Audio Audio...
  • Page 11 Functions Dark EnerGy DOEPFER DOEPFER Dark Energy...

  • Page 12: The Modules

    3.2. The Modules 3.2.1. VCO The VCO, or alternatively the external audio input, is the source of Dark Energy‘s sonic „crude material“. The VCO produces the basic waveforms triangular, sawtooth, and square wave with variable pulsewidth. The module has modulation inputs for frequency (pitch) and pulsewidth. The frequency range covers approx.
  • Page 13 You do not have to scale or tune anything. In case you want to use Dark Enery without MIDI but connected to a CV/Gate sequencer or a Doepfer A-100 modular synthesizer, you can make use of Dark Energy‘s CV inputs. The VCO F socket features an external CV input for VCO frequency (tuning). As soon as you plug a cable in, the VCO´s pitch is governed by this input.

  • Page 14: Vcf

    Dark EnerGy Functions DOEPFER 3.2.2. VCF Filters are a very important tool on every analog synthesizer. Filters modify sounds by rejecting some fre- quencies while allowing others to pass in order to tweak the harmonic spectrum of a sound. There are different types of filters; the most commonly used and musically most useful filter type is the 24 dB „lowpass“, which is used in Dark Energy. As its name might lead you to think, a „lowpass“ filter lets all...
  • Page 15 LFO2, envelope (ADSR) and no source (off). Controlling the cutoff frequency by the ADSR is one of the most common applications as it imitates the typical timbral characteristics of most acoustic instruments from bright- to dull-sounding. Of course, Dark Energy‘s envelope generator allows many more ways of shaping timbre.

  • Page 16: Vca

    PW pot fully clockwise or counter-clockwise and shut off PWM by turning the PWM pot fully counter-clock- wise if you want the VCO to shut up completely. To make a connected audio signal audible, Dark Energy‘s VCA has to be opened. Turn up the VCA pot and / or play a note on your keyboard which will open up the VCA via a gate signal and ADSR control voltage.

  • Page 17: Adsr

    3.2.4. ADSR Dark Energy‘s envelope generator (or „ADSR“) produces a sequence of four control voltages every time a key on a connected keyboard is depressed, or when Dark Energy generates or receives a MIDI note-on command or a gate signal. The envelope´s control voltages are used to give the sound a dynamic shape. The envelope produces four parameters:...

  • Page 18: Lfo1 And Lfo2

    3.2.5. LFO1 and LFO2 A Low Frequency Oscillator produces a signal, mostly in the sub-audio range, which can be used to genera- te periodic changes of several patch parameters. Dark Energy features two identical LFOs. The LFOs boast the following controls: • Frequency control...

  • Page 19: Usb/Midi Interface

    DOEPFER 3.3. USB/MIDI Interface 3.3.1. Connection / MIDI channel Quite likely, you want to play your Dark Energy via MIDI - there are two easy ways to do so: • MIDI via USB or • the „traditional“ MIDI-connection via DIN socket. • USB: To hook up Dark Energy in your MIDI-setup via USB, simply connect the included USB cable with Dark Energy and with an unused USB port on your Mac or Windows PC.

  • Page 20: Midi To Cv Interface

    You have encountered the reference tone before when you selected the MIDI channel - it was the MIDI note that set Dark Energy‘s pitch CV1 to 0 Volts and thus became the lowest key of Dark Energy‘s key range.

  • Page 21: Learn-Mode / Midi-Functions

    In case of an incoming note event in learn mode, the note number and the channel of the event will be taken as the new reference tone and MIDI channel of Dark Energy. The reference key will be the MIDI note number that is assigned to 0V CV1 output.
  • Page 22 Dark Energy unit to a different value. • „Stack note“ means that Dark Energy will sort out the note event that is used by Dark Energy to generate CV1. The note event in question will not be transmitted to the (internal) MIDI Thru output of the interface.
  • Page 23 Functions Dark EnerGy DOEPFER • Tempo of the arpeggio can be determined by Dark Energy itself or synced to an external MIDI device. • Direction is defined by the order in which the keys have been played on the keyboard. • Playback Mode: – On/off: Enables the arpeggiator. Set to „on“, a key has to be depressed to become part of the arpeggio. As soon as a key is released, the note will be deleted from the arpeggio pattern. In other words: Only sustained keys will be played back as an arpeggio.

  • Page 24: Reset

    (e.g. MIDI channel, reference note, cont- roller # for CV4, key assign mode) or if they are out of alignment. If your Dark Energy seems to behave in strange ways and you do not know how to solve the problem, resetting the device may help as the values of all parameters will be restored after the reset.

  • Page 25: Dark Energies

    Stack Mode (p. 19, 20) drives several Dark Energies like one single polyphonic instrument. Every unit plays one voice. Since the casing of Dark Energy is too tightly-packed, it has no MIDI-THRU socket but an inter- nal link connector. Holes in the sides of the box give access to these connectors as soon as the wooden cheeks have been removed.

  • Page 26: Nuts And Bolts Of

    These are most useful in sound synthesis as they each offer a rich but different har- monic spectrum, and therefore they sound very different from each other. That is why Dark Energy makes use of them. Less useful waveforms (sine, spaced sawtooth, graphically editable waveforms) will not be discussed here, let alone, used.
  • Page 27 Dark EnerGy DOEPFER Nuts and Bolts of Sound Generation The symmetrical pulse wave (or “square wave”, pulsewidth = 100% 50 %) contains odd harmonics only (see Fig.). An asymmetrical pulsewave (often simply called “pulse wave”) contains all harmon- ics with their amplitudes depending on the pulsewidth.
  • Page 28 Dark EnerGy DOEPFER Nuts and Bolts of Sound Generation Strictly speaking this only applies to pure sine wave frequency modulation, i.e. if both, VCO and LFO, are sine wave oscillators. With other waveforms further (in)harmonic overtones will be added. Inhar- monic sounds, similar to frequency modulation, are also produced by pulsewidth modulation at high frequencies.
  • Page 29 VCO. The tonal results are nearly unpredictable. There is only one way to tell: Go ahead, and watch your eardrums! More often than once the results will be totally surprising. Very unusual on analog synthesizers – but musically very useful at that – is linear frequency modulation, as featured on Dark Energy. Here, the VCF cutoff frequency is modulated in a linear fashion by the triangular wave of the VCO. Intensity is determined by the LM control. This feature is very useful for FM sounds – with the filter working as a sinewave oscillator (self-oscillating) – which retain their harmonic content while the sound is played by e.g.
  • Page 30 Both LFOs of Dark Energy produce triangular and square waveforms. The latter can be used for “trills” in modulation, while the former creates a continuous “up and down” modula- tion. The LFOs can be used as modulation sources for all of Dark Energy’s crucial parameters. Interaction The following figure shows the interaction of all the components mentioned above. It shows the audio signal...

  • Page 31: An Ample Sample Of

    This section gives you some sound examples of Dark Energy with a short description of the parameter set- tings. You may try out and modify these examples in order to grow more familiar with Dark Energy‘s sonic potential. Please do not forget to run the sounds via Dark Energy‘s internal arpeggiator. Enjoy yourself! 1.
  • Page 32 Dark EnerGy An ample sample of sound examples DOEPFER 2. Basic Bass The second example is a simple and useful bass sound. Again, the VCO produces a mixture of sawtooth and square waves. The pulsewidth of the latter is modula- ted slightly by LFO2 in order to make the sound richer.
  • Page 33 Dark EnerGy DOEPFER An ample sample of sound examples 3. Energy Pad A simple but classic pad sound. If you record and overdub several voices with slightly different settings, you will get very rich and animated washes of sound. A slow envelope controls both loudness (AM) and filter cutoff frequency (VCF XM). The VCO produces a mixture of sawtooth and square waves.
  • Page 34 An ample sample of sound examples DOEPFER 4. Metallic Lacquer Now Dark Energy goes for some metallic percussion sounds. They feature frequency modulation at audio rate. As you already know, this is great for inharmonic and noisy timbres. This sound is tonally playable to some extent. The filter resonance is fully cranked up, i.e. the filter performs as an oscillator. Its frequency / pitch is controlled by the LM pot.
  • Page 35 An ample sample of sound examples 5. R2D2 On Acid Here, Dark Energy‘s LFOs generate some kind of mini-sequence. The oscillator generates only the pulse wave (pulsewidth = 0), which is heavily modulated by LFO2´s square wave. The modulation depth goes beyond its maximum and the sound drops in and out at the rate of LFO2. In addition to that LFO2 modu- lates the filter and generates trills in timbre. LFO1 modulates the pitch of the VCO so that its square wave...
  • Page 36 Dark EnerGy An ample sample of sound examples DOEPFER 6. Almost Sync This example sound does a good job as a bass or - in higher registers - as a powerful synthesizer lead sound. The pulsewidth of the square wave is modulated by LFO2 running at audio rate. This results in a sound that is vaguely reminiscent of the classic „oscillator sync“...
  • Page 37 Dark EnerGy DOEPFER An ample sample of sound examples 7. Perco Bass A modified version of the sound above can be found here. The envelope has a very short and percussive setting, the high resonance value emphasizes the percussive character even more. If you use the ADSR´s „hi“ range, the envelope parameters can be cranked up a bit more. The envelope setting keeps its percus- sive character but unwanted „pops“ will be avoided.
  • Page 38 Dark EnerGy An ample sample of sound examples DOEPFER 8. Popcorn This admittedly very simple patch is a classic in its own right. Again, it shows the „abuse“ of the filter as an oscillator: Resonance is fully cranked up, i.e. the filter oscilla- tes. The „full“ position of the VCF-tracking switch produces tonal scaling of the VCF so that you can play the filter chromatically from your keyboard. The VCO itself is not in use. The very short envelope only uses a...
  • Page 39 9. Disco Drum Let‘s stay a bit with the sound aesthetics of the 1970s and dial in a drum synth on your Dark Energy. Depending on the cutoff setting, Dark Energy will produce a typical „pew“ or a soft bass drum. The enve- lope modulates the VCO pitch (FM) and the filter cutoff (XM). A bit of linear filter modulation will add some...
  • Page 40 Dark EnerGy An ample sample of sound examples DOEPFER 10. Bright Energy This sound is perfect for a step sequencer and does a very good job in „modern electronic dance music“. Shake ya booty! Most effective sound parameters are all filter settings (Freq., XM and Reso) as well as the decay parameter of the envelope. Careful adjustment of these parameters will produce a variety of typical sounds. Here, the pulsewidth of the VCO square wave is modulated by the envelope.
  • Page 41 11. Processing external audiosignals You can make use of the „external audio“ input socket to process external audio signals with Dark Energy. Connect e.g. a drum computer or the output of your soundcard to Dark Energy‘s external audio input. Get e.g. a drum loop running. The signal is run through Dark Energy‘s filter and – depending on the position of...
  • Page 42 Dark EnerGy An ample sample of sound examples DOEPFER Store your own sounds Congratulations - you did a great job, you read and understood the entire manual – we knew you would make it –, explored all functions of Dark Energy, tried out sound examples, and learned a thing or two about the nuts and bolts of sound synthesis. Now you are ready to go and explore Dark Energy further. Let your creative spirit flow and create sounds genuinely your own without any head-scratching. Experimentation is the key – there is still a lot to be explo- red. If you find a sound setting you wish to „save“, please use the patch chart below. Xerox this page and write down the settings of the knobs, switches, and patchcords. Soundname: Category: Note: DOEPFER DARK ENERGY...

  • Page 43: Addendum

    Specifications subject to change without notice. Although the content of this owners manual has been thoroughly checked for errors, Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH cannot guarantee that it is error-free throughout. Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH cannot be held liable for any misleading or incorrect information within this guide.
  • Page 44 Dark Energy doepfer Musikelektronik gmbh...

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