doepfer a-198-2 trautonium manual / ribbon controller ii price : $437.00

module a-198-2 is the enhanced version of the simple trautonium/ribbon controller module a-198-1. compared to the a-198 it features a lot of improvements:

gate generation also in hold mode
9 user programmable quantizations, displayed as a one octave keyboard
switching between quantized/not quantized at the module or via external control voltage input qnt, which can be controlled e.g. from a (double) foot switch (module a-177-2) for dynamic quantize switching while playing
switching between retrigger on/off at the module or via external control voltage input rtr, which can be controlled e.g. from a (double) foot switch (module a-177-2) for dynamic quantize switching while playing
position cv1 range adjustable in 5 steps from 0-1v (1 octave range) to 0-5v (5 octaves range)
pressure cv2 range adjustable in 7 steps, max. 0...+7v
direction of the manual selectable
offset voltages for cv1 (position) and cv2 (pressure) programmable
threshold for gate 2 (pressure) adjustable
optional midi output (instead of the input socket rtr or via passive breakout module)
all parameters can be stored nonvolatile (incl. 9 quantizations)
operation via oled display and 9 red illuminated momentary switches (buttons)
the controlling element of the a-198-2 is the same as for the a-198-1, i.e. a linear position sensor (length about 50 cm) with additional pressure sensor.

functional description of the a-198-2
a-198-2 is made of two units: module and manual. the module contains the electronics that is required to convert the data coming from the manual sensors (position, pressure) to two control voltages (cv1, cv2) and two gate signals (gate 1, gate 2). cv1 and gate 1 are controlled by the position of the finger on the manual. cv2 and gate 2 are controlled by the pressure applied to the manual. these signals are used to control other modules. cv1 (position) is typically used to control the cv of one or more vcos. gate 1 (position) is typically patched to the gate input of an envelope generator. cv2 (pressure) can be used e.g. to control the frequency of a filter or the loudness of a vca. gate 2 can be used to trigger another event as soon as the pressure is beyond a certain value.

the manual is made of a position sensor and a pressure sensor underneath the position sensor. both sensors are located in a separate black coated metal case. the connection between module and manual is made by a 4 pin cable (same as used for usb, but it's not allowed to connect usb devices to these sockets !).

as soon as the position sensor is touched by the finger the control voltage cv1 is generated. the value of cv1 is proportional to the position of the finger. the voltage range of cv1 can be adjusted in 5 steps from 0-1v (1 octave range) to 0-5v (5 octaves range). simultaneously gate signal 1 is generated. for cv1 one can choose between continuous (non-quantized, like the trautonium) and quantized (like a keyboard) voltage output. 9 user programmable quantizations are available. the quantizations are displayed as a one octave keyboard with active/non active notes. the quantizations are programmed in the config mode very easily with the help of the manual. the position sensor is used to move the cursor of the note in question. then the pressure sensor is used to turn on/off the addressed note. the desired quantization is selected with one of the 9 buttons in the performance mode. the button of the currently selected quantization is illuminated and the corresponding quantization keyboard is shown in the display. operating the illuminated button again turns the quantization off and an empty keyboard is shown in the display. alternatively the quantization can be turned on/off using the qnt input socket.

in quantized modes retrigger can be turned on or off. with retrigger off no new gate 1 signal is generated when the finger moves over the manual to the next quantized cv. to generate a new gate 1 signal the finger has to be removed short-time from the manual. with retrigger on the gate 1 signal is turned off for a few milliseconds when the finger reaches next quantized cv. this causes an envelope generator connected to gate 1 to trigger again. alternatively the retrigger can be turned on/off using the rtr input socket.

underneath the position sensor the pressure sensor is located. this sensor is used to generate a second control voltage cv2 which rises with the pressure applied to the manual. the output voltage range of cv2 is adjustable in several steps. in addition a second gate 2 signal is generated that turns high as soon as a programmable threshold is reached.

for both cv1 and cv2 an offset voltage can be added to the values generated by the sensors.

internally the sensor data are also converted into midi (position = note on/off, pressure = aftertouch). if midi is required socket rtr has to be sacrified. for this jumper and cables have to be reconfigured on the pc board. alternatively a passive breakout module (nothing but a midi socket) is imaginable. the external midi socket simply has to be wired to two pins of a pin header on the pc board.



controls and display:
black/white oled display: shows the function selected with the buttons and the adjustable parameters (see screenshots below)

the module has two basic operation modus:
performance: this is the normal play mode when the manual is used to play with it
the labels above the buttons are valid for the performance mode

config: in this mode the basic parameters are adjusted which are not changed in the performance mode (e.g. the 9 quantizations, manual range and direction, threshold for cv2 and so on)
the inverted labels below the buttons are valid for the config mode

to switch between the two basic modes the buttons quant.8 and quant.9 have to be pressed simultaneously

9 momentary switches (buttons) with red led displays:
quant.1 / sensor: select quantization 1 / select sensor (position or pressure)
quant.2 / range: select quantization 2 / adjustment of the voltage range of the earlier selected sensor
quant.3 / direction: select quantization 3 / adjustment of the direction of the earlier selected sensor
quant.4 / quantize: select quantization 4 / programming of the 9 quantizations by means with the help of the manual
quant.5 / offset: select quantization 5 / adjustment of the offset voltage of the earlier selected sensor
quant.6 / threshold: select quantization 6 / adjustment of the threshold for gate 2
quant.7 / retrig.: select quantization 7 / setting of retrigger on/off
quant.8 / store: select quantization 8 / store all settings
quant.9 / midi: select quantization 9 / adjustment of midi channel
quant.8 + quant.9 (simultaneously): switching between performance and config mode

inputs / outputs:
cv1: voltage controlled by the position sensor
cv2: voltage controlled by the pressure sensor
gate 1: gate signal controlled by the position sensor
gate 2: gate signal controlled by the pressure sensor
qnt: control voltage input for switching between quantized and non-quantized cv1 voltage
rtr: control voltage input for switching between retrigger on and off
(midi out): optional midi output, function rtr is no longer available
manual: connection for manual (no usb!)
outputs are inverted, inputs normal labelled

additional data:
output voltage cv1: 0-1v ... 0-5v in 5 steps switchable (according to 1... 5 octaves tone range in 1v/octave standard)
output voltage cv2: maximal 0-7v, in 7 5 steps switchable
gate output voltages (gate 1, gate 2): 0v/about +10v
input levels qnt/rtr: < +0,5v (low) / > +3v (high)
the manual of an existing a-198 can be used also for the a-198-2. the manual design has not changed.
the midi data can be output also via the planned midi-in/output module a-180-8. in this case the rtr function is still available.

midi functions:
when quantization is active midi note on/off messages are transmitted. the reference note for the lowest position on the manual is 36 (c).
when quantization is not active a single midi note on message with note number 36 is transmitted as soon as the manual is touched. it is followed by pitch bend data until the manual is released which causes the transmission of a note off message with note number 36. as pitch bend data are relative the pitch bend range of the midi receiver has to be adjusted so that the pitch corresponds approximately to the notes in quantized mode. the setting depends also upon the selected octave range of the manual. please refer to the user manual of your midi receiver how the pitch bend range is adjusted.
applying pressure to the manual generates control change messages (controller no. #1 = modulation).



this module has a maximum current draw of 50ma. it requires 6 te/hp worth of space to fit in a eurorack frame.

to view this module's user manual as a pdf file, please click here.