Doepfer A-110 Standard VCO

VCO Doepfer "entry level"
- A switch octave (-2 / +2).
- A fine tuning knob (- / +1 semi-tone).
- A potentiometer for assaying the amplitude of the modulation signal applied to the pitch.
- A potentiometer for adjusting the PW (width of the square wave) manually.
- A potentiometer for assaying the amplitude of the modulation signal applied to the PW.

- A "Sync" entry to synchronize another VCO.
- A CV input -> Direct Pitch (without amplitude potentiometer).
- A CV input -> Pitch control by potentiometer (one mentioned above).
- A CV input -> PW direct (without amplitude potentiometer).
- A CV input -> PW, control potentiometer (one mentioned above).

Four outputs for audio waveforms (saw, pulse, tri, sine). These outputs are simultaneous, so that we can use all the waveforms at the same time (provided you have a module mix audio).

UTILIZATION

The setup is simple: One button, one function. As access parameter is direct, it's really great to experiment ...

Only downside for me:

- There are no controls for adjusting the frequency of the oscillator between the octaves. There has control "tune", but it only allows a setting of 1 semitone. So we can not add 3/5/7 semitone as in most synthesizers (no flush, etc ...).
- There is no FM on this model.
- I would love that we can have -3 octave to use as LFO.

But hey at this price, it's not bad ...

SOUNDS

The sound quality is satisfactory. At first I thought it was the bottom end so that the quality was not at the rendezvous, but in fact I am satisfied:

- The sawtooth wave is present.
- The square wave is "phat" in the lower octaves, the modulation pulse width means really well (more on my uBrute).
- The triangle and sine waves do their job without really be "pure" (or specifications on the Doepfer site to find out why).

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about 1 year. I jumped at a chance at a good price, that was my first module (I build my modular gradually). I'm glad I started with this VCO because it allowed me to invest in other modules in order to have a complete synthesis pathway (VCO / VCF / ENV / VCA).

I have not tried other model Eurorack format, but now that I have some modules allowing me to use my modular musically, I'd better acquire its big brother the A-111, offers more possibilities (FM, soft-sync ...) and a higher sound quality (but also more expensive 3X).

I think to start in the modular, it is a very relevant investment. The price / quality ratio is great in hand and nothing is to start to ruin in much more expensive models ...