its pretty straight forward, you just setup a MIDI track and then select the Doepfer USB output as the MIDI output, or if you have a MIDI output device plug the MIDI out from that into the Doepfer MIDI in. There may be an additional setup step in the Doepfer to accept MIDI from the MIDI in rather than the USB in, bit that will be in the manual
Just found out about this one! The Six-Trak was my first synth and I still love it - very cool to hear the chip implemented in a monophonic synth, sounds really nice and fat!
Yes but you cannot tweak the scale either. Most older analogs need some kind of scale calibration to ensure that they have consistant octave scaling. I was using this to iillustrate the shortcomings of the interface for playing other synthesizers
The answer should be yes, but it depends on whether the Freqbox will respond to the same CV sacling as the DE. The MIDI-CV scaling is fixed to work with the DE so you can play it, in the demo, I demonstrate this by hooking up the MS20 and showing it doesnt talk to it right - this is because of the scaling issue. You should check the Moog CV spec against the DE to see.
im thinkin about getting one of these. i just wanna say your videos are great! youre always very knowledgeable and clear and concise with what youre showing us and i really wanna thank you for that.
It's always great when TH-cam decides to recommend old sonic state clips. That ending track went on for a few more years, at least. What desktop modular synths will be around in 12 years? ...... In 09, Doepfer had only been around for what, 14 years? I've been watching sonic state for 8 years!
We have it at our University. We also have a Mopho, and I have to say the Dark Energy blows the Mopho completely out of the water. It's got one of the nicest, juiciest, squishiest filters I've ever heard.
It does only have one main oscillator, but pulse width modulation will give you the detuned sound most people want from two oscillators. You modulate stuff with the LFO. But you don't modulate the phase of a sine wave with a square wave "with 10 times larger frequency" (not sure what you're trying to say), the LFO can modulate filter cutoff, pitch, or pulse width. The LFO would be at a much lower frequency than the audio oscillator, that's why it's called a low frequency oscillator.
no, you can use one of these: thomann.de/gb/doepfer_a110_standardvco.htm you can add every module from döpfer to the dark energy via CV. if you do i recommend you also their mixer: thomann.de/gb/doepfer_a138b_mixer_logarithm.htm so you can use all 4 waves from one A-110VCO at the same time, because the mixer has 4 inputs and one master output. the output should be routed back to the dark energy audio input. its like you have 4 more VCO's.
I would say yes, if you have a budget, this will give you at least a start, although it is prewired - true modular synths are not so they wont make a note until you have patched the vco->vcf->vca. There's always software of course, plenty out there, some of it's free too
It is funny that a Korg was used as an example for interfacing external gear. It is one of the few companies that use a different scale for the control voltage, most other analog synths use the 1v/oct scale.
@livininTBSkliniek maybe so , I do know that the texture in that is from a sample CD that they also found a use for. Heck, we may have even used it first!
I owned mine for a 3 or 4 years before I understood what all the knobs do. You really need to get 2 so you have 2 ENVs and 2 OSCs. But you can still have a lot of fun self patching just one. Also, IIRC all the important bits are Curtis. OSC, Filter and VCA.
This looks like an awesome little box. The only thing that i don't like is the fact that the jacks are in front... you'd be reaching over your patch leads to tweak knobs, which seems silly. But all in all it seems like a hell of a deal for $400, and Doepfer always makes good stuff.
The MFB Kraftzwerg is similar but with 3 osc. I read an interesting comment, two Dark Energys is fairly close to an A-100 Basic System 1. You do miss out on quite a few modules but it's also half the price.
@joystickmusic: A little tip from a German: The "oe" in Doepfer is pronounced the same way as the German "ö". An "ö" sounds very similar to the "ea" in "search" or the "ur" in "curse" or in "surge". It's NOT an "oo"-sound!
@r5t6y12 I dont have it in front of me, but it is possible to just output the raw oscilator wave without running it through the ADSR for a constant tone, its often called the INITIAL LEVEL, but I dont recall what on the DE.
Pardon my ignorance, but are voltage control outputs only used for interaction with further modular gear or is that eight inch jack the only audio out? Thank you Nick
Ok, I have a question about the ADSR. As KelMckeown1 states his unit plays a tone constantly even when there's no midi plugged into it. If that's the case then why have ADSR at all?
Thank you! I'm probably exposing myself as being nothing but a uneducated rompler-jockey, but isn't that really bad? Don't you compromise a lot of fidelity by only outputing through an 8th inch jack?
You can plug it to a midi keyboard (which has standard midi input jack) and play live music, otherwise you can only synthesize sounds which you can use in a sequencer or PC-DAW as far as I see on the video.
Sorry, I'm gonna ask a stupid question: When you're plugging in the jack at 4:23, is that just one cable? Are there any possibilities to run that line through effects or any other units? Great review...
Excellent review - will you soon be reviewing the Dark Energy II? If possible with some form of comparison to the sound of the exchanged bits, and the inherent strengths and weaknessses here of? In the market for something like this and could use some pointers towards what's good and what's not, and why... Cheers ^^
This question is a little weird, but it's bugging me and SonicLab is very knowledgeable. Would I be able to hook up say, a Moog FreqBox to this to access an additional oscillator? I'm really interested in the DE, but I'm not sure if I should jump on it or just get something simpler, like a Juno 106. I'm looking for some Chemical Brothers - EMS Synthi type sounds - this looks perfect with its ultra fast LFOs.
I'm not sure what the price ratio between the two units are (someone else said 3x) but there is an important point to be made here. In this day and age, who is really satisfied with a single voice? And does is the Dark Energy able to store patches? The Andromeda has 16 voice polyphony, can store patches, 2 filters ... People listen to the overdubbed tracks, but when you buy a single voice synth like this, they will most likely tire of it quickly.
I'm not familiar with mopho, but between the Dark Energy and a MS2000, I would take the MS2000. Some of the modulation options on the Dark Energy look nice, but to get the most variation in sound, the MS2000 gives your more options for about the same price, IMHO. I would go to a music store and try out instruments you're thinking of getting.
Just got mine. Very sweet little synth indeed, sounds great, looks great. A bit disappointed by the very wobbly power-connection at the back though, this is certainly not solid enough for use on stage, this clearly is my indoor synth ;-) Great demo by the way, you convinced me to actually buy it.
very good video and great analog synth...sorry, (I'm italian language) but I didn't understand if it can send midi controls to be recorded in a soft sequencer. Many thanks
This synthesizer seems to have only one independent sound oscillator. Does it means that to synthesize more compound sound I need few of these device. For instance if I want to modulate the phase of base sin wave with a square wave with 10 times larger frequency at once do I need two of them?
I have a question. I have a arturia microbrute and a microkorg. But ive been interessted in learning patching (and also i find that dark energy got some good effects) so im wondering, is this a good start for beginners?
hi soniclab, amazing video, but does it have sounds on its own or do you always have to connect a instrument or sequencer to it? Also, is the DarkEnergy II same as this? Thank you!!
This is probably a stupid quesiton, but how did you get the notes to stop playing? I have had the dark energy for about a month or so (it's my first analog synth) and I'm fairly familiar with the controls, but how do you get the notes to stop once you take your finger off the keyboard.
@vstbull hey! dark energy is much more than 1vco. monotron..has nice filter..but monotron's oscillator cut ur ears without posteffects in middle and high pitches. monotron is dirty screamer...Dark Energy is good start to began ur modular system. u can do much things with DE - oldschool leads, great sounding bass, crazy glitches, linear fm..
@albedoshader: I forgot to say: don't pronounce the "r" part of the "ur", of course. Just the vocal part. :) A better rendition would be: D-ur(the r not pronounced)-pfuh or D-u(r)-pfair.
Funny you say dopefur and Moog with a oo as in poop. They are both the names of their designers, and pronounced the other way around. Moog rhymes with vogue, and doepfer is pronounced as doopfur, Thanks for the clear video though, I enjoyed it.
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its pretty straight forward, you just setup a MIDI track and then select the Doepfer USB output as the MIDI output, or if you have a MIDI output device plug the MIDI out from that into the Doepfer MIDI in.
There may be an additional setup step in the Doepfer to accept MIDI from the MIDI in rather than the USB in, bit that will be in the manual
I own this synth and can say it's my favorite synth right now. Just an amazing little piece of kit.
Just found out about this one! The Six-Trak was my first synth and I still love it - very cool to hear the chip implemented in a monophonic synth, sounds really nice and fat!
No, it doesnt send out MIDI CC only recieves which can be mapped to two of the CV outs
Isn’t that synth loop at 0:00 in Radiohead’s Backdrifts?
Yes but you cannot tweak the scale either. Most older analogs need some kind of scale calibration to ensure that they have consistant octave scaling. I was using this to iillustrate the shortcomings of the interface for playing other synthesizers
Nick, I'm watching this from 2017 and I love the informal, vlog-style format
The answer should be yes, but it depends on whether the Freqbox will respond to the same CV sacling as the DE. The MIDI-CV scaling is fixed to work with the DE so you can play it, in the demo, I demonstrate this by hooking up the MS20 and showing it doesnt talk to it right - this is because of the scaling issue. You should check the Moog CV spec against the DE to see.
im thinkin about getting one of these. i just wanna say your videos are great! youre always very knowledgeable and clear and concise with what youre showing us and i really wanna thank you for that.
@sonicstate your a great dude...almost everything in my studio was inspired by your reviews...top job, keep doin what your doin!
13 years ago..
Wow
It's always great when TH-cam decides to recommend old sonic state clips. That ending track went on for a few more years, at least. What desktop modular synths will be around in 12 years? ...... In 09, Doepfer had only been around for what, 14 years? I've been watching sonic state for 8 years!
We have it at our University. We also have a Mopho, and I have to say the Dark Energy blows the Mopho completely out of the water. It's got one of the nicest, juiciest, squishiest filters I've ever heard.
I really miss these Sonic LAB reviews!!!
As far as I know Doepfer printed the false voltage on the first samples. Actually it should be AC 12 V, 400 mA.
Yes if you just output the actual audio signal into the Korgs pitch to CV/gate correct
another great in depth review. good job!
4:09 LOL, Nick is cool.
It does only have one main oscillator, but pulse width modulation will give you the detuned sound most people want from two oscillators. You modulate stuff with the LFO. But you don't modulate the phase of a sine wave with a square wave "with 10 times larger frequency" (not sure what you're trying to say), the LFO can modulate filter cutoff, pitch, or pulse width. The LFO would be at a much lower frequency than the audio oscillator, that's why it's called a low frequency oscillator.
stop making me buy stuff....
Jason Bailey 4real!!
Had one of these for years due to reviews like this one. It's an absolutely fantastic little unit...
i know right lol=
no, you can use one of these:
thomann.de/gb/doepfer_a110_standardvco.htm
you can add every module from döpfer to the dark energy via CV.
if you do i recommend you also their mixer:
thomann.de/gb/doepfer_a138b_mixer_logarithm.htm
so you can use all 4 waves from one A-110VCO at the same time, because the mixer has 4 inputs and one master output. the output should be routed back to the dark energy audio input.
its like you have 4 more VCO's.
I would say yes, if you have a budget, this will give you at least a start, although it is prewired - true modular synths are not so they wont make a note until you have patched the vco->vcf->vca.
There's always software of course, plenty out there, some of it's free too
love the multitrack demo at 3.50 it really shows of this synths depth to an extent .
This. Keep it up nick. Whenever I want to know about some gear your channels the first place I look as you give the info exactly as it should be done.
Wow. Great demo. If only I had a friend that understood synths like this guy. I want one.
Thanks Nick! Always a good overview! I kind of like this sit down style better than the stand up ones...
The CV outs can be patched into itself for additional control or external modular gear, the audio is out it also on 8th inch jack
This is awesome. I'm gonna have a play with this on monday, and if I like it, I might buy it.
It is funny that a Korg was used as an example for interfacing external gear. It is one of the few companies that use a different scale for the control voltage, most other analog synths use the 1v/oct scale.
@livininTBSkliniek maybe so , I do know that the texture in that is from a sample CD that they also found a use for. Heck, we may have even used it first!
I owned mine for a 3 or 4 years before I understood what all the knobs do.
You really need to get 2 so you have 2 ENVs and 2 OSCs.
But you can still have a lot of fun self patching just one.
Also, IIRC all the important bits are Curtis.
OSC, Filter and VCA.
"And that's your lot!" (We'd never say that in America, so I think it's cool.)
I was thinking the same thing, love British mannerisms
One thing I love about TH-cam is getting to hear different phrases and slang from England and other countries in Europe.
no not really, its not the size its the quality, as any young lady will tell you... ;-)
@sonicstate oh, and btw, I do show how to setup the Doepfer in the video
Nick, your a very good presenter. Far better than half them on TV.
Thanks to you Nick i've just bought one of these beauties - brilliant review and reviewer, keep 'em coming!
Hi from 2021
I have followed sonic state since 2000.
yes, but its at least three times the price possibly more.
I can’t believe this is more than 10 years ago time flies... now the Mark III is out and it’s almost $600
This looks like an awesome little box. The only thing that i don't like is the fact that the jacks are in front... you'd be reaching over your patch leads to tweak knobs, which seems silly. But all in all it seems like a hell of a deal for $400, and Doepfer always makes good stuff.
It would be nice to hear the Dr. Who theme on it, or a Gary Numan song also :) Very nice!
You can hook it up to ANY synth that has a midi output. Your D-50 too.
Any chance of a review for the Dark Energy 2? Wouldn't mind seeing a Waldorf Rocket review either! Cheers.
I love all of your reviews! Thanks so much!
Love your reviews and enthusiasm, thanks.
I clearly have a lot to learn ;)
Thanks Nick
The MFB Kraftzwerg is similar but with 3 osc.
I read an interesting comment, two Dark Energys is fairly close to an A-100 Basic System 1. You do miss out on quite a few modules but it's also half the price.
That is one filter with an attitude! Doepfer really is about quality!
@joystickmusic: A little tip from a German: The "oe" in Doepfer is pronounced the same way as the German "ö". An "ö" sounds very similar to the "ea" in "search" or the "ur" in "curse" or in "surge". It's NOT an "oo"-sound!
@r5t6y12 I dont have it in front of me, but it is possible to just output the raw oscilator wave without running it through the ADSR for a constant tone, its often called the INITIAL LEVEL, but I dont recall what on the DE.
Doepfer - THE MOST underrated, underappreciated synths in history
Underrated: THE MOST overrated word in history
Nah, we've had it for ages, just hevent used it all that much
@KelMckeown1 The A-100 is the same. The synth will produce a constant tone unless you have an Env hooked up to a vca.
Great demo Nick!
Nick ... i cant believe i missed this review ! Love the hand shapes .. legend
Pardon my ignorance, but are voltage control outputs only used for interaction with further modular gear or is that eight inch jack the only audio out?
Thank you Nick
Ok, I have a question about the ADSR. As KelMckeown1 states his unit plays a tone constantly even when there's no midi plugged into it.
If that's the case then why have ADSR at all?
They should bring out an analog reverb/delay unit and call it Dark Room.
Thank you!
I'm probably exposing myself as being nothing but a uneducated rompler-jockey, but isn't that really bad? Don't you compromise a lot of fidelity by only outputing through an 8th inch jack?
I love my dark Energie. In summer comes "dark time", dark time is in the same design the sequenzer for the dark Energie.
You can plug it to a midi keyboard (which has standard midi input jack) and play live music, otherwise you can only synthesize sounds which you can use in a sequencer or PC-DAW as far as I see on the video.
Sorry, I'm gonna ask a stupid question:
When you're plugging in the jack at 4:23, is that just one cable?
Are there any possibilities to run that line through effects or any other units?
Great review...
i don't get how you set the amount of modulation for example if you want a slight vibrato
Is this a great way to start out with modular synthesizers? (i have only studied in books, not actually used one)
Excellent review - will you soon be reviewing the Dark Energy II? If possible with some form of comparison to the sound of the exchanged bits, and the inherent strengths and weaknessses here of?
In the market for something like this and could use some pointers towards what's good and what's not, and why...
Cheers ^^
Excellent review, 10/10. Many thanks!
Great demo, Thanks
Awesome play
hey,maybe a stupid question but is it possible to use the dark energy on my guitar pedalboard?
lookin forward to get some answers!
thx....max
really very very great and INTERESTING!!!
This question is a little weird, but it's bugging me and SonicLab is very knowledgeable.
Would I be able to hook up say, a Moog FreqBox to this to access an additional oscillator? I'm really interested in the DE, but I'm not sure if I should jump on it or just get something simpler, like a Juno 106.
I'm looking for some Chemical Brothers - EMS Synthi type sounds - this looks perfect with its ultra fast LFOs.
Great demo.
i have an SH-32 - very different from the dark energy but a whole hell of a lot of fun..
I'm not sure what the price ratio between the two units are (someone else said 3x) but there is an important point to be made here. In this day and age, who is really satisfied with a single voice? And does is the Dark Energy able to store patches? The Andromeda has 16 voice polyphony, can store patches, 2 filters ...
People listen to the overdubbed tracks, but when you buy a single voice synth like this, they will most likely tire of it quickly.
I'm not familiar with mopho, but between the Dark Energy and a MS2000, I would take the MS2000. Some of the modulation options on the Dark Energy look nice, but to get the most variation in sound, the MS2000 gives your more options for about the same price, IMHO. I would go to a music store and try out instruments you're thinking of getting.
you could use it with the MS-20 by using the MS-20's frequency-voltage converter (in the bottom row of inputs), no?
Just got mine. Very sweet little synth indeed, sounds great, looks great. A bit disappointed by the very wobbly power-connection at the back though, this is certainly not solid enough for use on stage, this clearly is my indoor synth ;-)
Great demo by the way, you convinced me to actually buy it.
great informative demo.
very good video and great analog synth...sorry, (I'm italian language) but I didn't understand if it can send midi controls to be recorded in a soft sequencer.
Many thanks
"you can drive this from a midi interface or your door" - now thats unusual ;)
Nice demo!
This synthesizer seems to have only one independent sound oscillator. Does it means that to synthesize more compound sound I need few of these device. For instance if I want to modulate the phase of base sin wave with a square wave with 10 times larger frequency at once do I need two of them?
could i hook a guitar into this then hook it into my amp head, or will it not work
You might be referring to the analog MS-20, as the MS2000 is an older VA synth.
I have a question. I have a arturia microbrute and a microkorg. But ive been interessted in learning patching (and also i find that dark energy got some good effects) so im wondering, is this a good start for beginners?
hi soniclab, amazing video, but does it have sounds on its own or do you always have to connect a instrument or sequencer to it? Also, is the DarkEnergy II same as this?
Thank you!!
what country in America....?
i love sonic lab
should i buy it or should i not? i need more clavinet...
Hi there! Is there a way to control or better to macro control and sync the Lfo speed?
I guess it looks like a fun lil thing to toy around with, but its hard to call it a synthesizer considering it only has 1 oscillator.
great review cheers
Can you use the doepfer as a midi controller via usb for synth vst's, since it has only midi IN?
This is probably a stupid quesiton, but how did you get the notes to stop playing? I have had the dark energy for about a month or so (it's my first analog synth) and I'm fairly familiar with the controls, but how do you get the notes to stop once you take your finger off the keyboard.
@vstbull
hey! dark energy is much more than 1vco. monotron..has nice filter..but monotron's oscillator cut ur ears without posteffects in middle and high pitches. monotron is dirty screamer...Dark Energy is good start to began ur modular system. u can do much things with DE - oldschool leads, great sounding bass, crazy glitches, linear fm..
@albedoshader: I forgot to say: don't pronounce the "r" part of the "ur", of course. Just the vocal part. :)
A better rendition would be: D-ur(the r not pronounced)-pfuh or D-u(r)-pfair.
Nice atmosphere.
.
Funny you say dopefur and Moog with a oo as in poop. They are both the names of their designers, and pronounced the other way around. Moog rhymes with vogue, and doepfer is pronounced as doopfur, Thanks for the clear video though, I enjoyed it.
Nick rules! Great review, thanks.