Doepfer A-156

Professional music gear - detailed information and where to buy

Doepfer A-156

Doepfer

A-156

4.4 Expert Rating

Product Info

Article Number: 176366
Brand: Doepfer
Model: A-156
Price: $130.90

* Prices may vary. Check retailer for current pricing and availability.

The A-156 is a seriously powerful little module if you're into exploring non-traditional scales and chord progressions. It's a great choice for experimental musicians and those wanting to add unique melodic character to their patches, but be prepared to invest some time learning its intricacies – it's not a plug-and-play solution.

Product Description

Doepfer A-156, Dual Quantiser

The A-156 Module is a dual control voltage quantiser. A quantiser converts a continuous input control voltage in the range of 0 ... 10V into a stepped output voltage in the same voltage range. The possible steps in the A-156 are not restricted to the usual half-tone grid (ie gradation in 1 / 12V steps) but also allows other scales of the grid such as the major scale, minor scale, major chord , Minor chord, fundamental fifth and the inclusion of sixth or seventh in the chords. The voltage values at the input are only converted into discrete voltages at the output, which meet the selection criterion for the permissible voltage grid (for example a minor seventh chord). The operating mode for Quantiser 1 is set with 3 tilt switches with center position. The Quantiser 2 is fixed to the half-tone grid.

  • For each of the two Quantisers there is a control input (CV In)
  • a control output (CV Out)
  • a trigger input (trig in) and a trigger output (trig. Out). If no signal is present at the trigger input (socket open)
  • the quantisation is carried out continuously. If
  • however
  • a square-wave signal is applied there (from an LFO or the MIDI-SYNC interface for example)
  • the quantisation is always performed only at the rising edge of the trigger signal. The quantisation process can thus be synchronised with other processes on demand. At the trigger output
  • a pulse appears whenever a quantisation (or a step change in the output voltage) occurs. For example
  • an envelope generator (ADSR) can be started.
  • In addition
  • the module has a common transpose input
  • which can be added to both quantisers and is quantised in a halftone grid. A typical application for this is to transpose a quantized sequence (generated by the A-155) with a second control voltage (from the MIDI CV interface for the example).
  • Quantisation of a tone sequence from the A-155 into a fixed grid (halftones
  • only major scale
  • minor scale only)
  • Quantise the control voltage of a Trautonium manual A-198
  • Theremin A-178 or Light-to-CV module A-179 to get always half-tones
  • scales
  • or chord sounds
  • Arpeggio-like sound sequences with LFO
  • Random
  • Noise
  • ADSR etc. as input voltage
  • Euro Rack Module
  • Bi-directional control voltage quantiser
  • Converts continuous input voltage into step output voltage
  • Euro rack format
  • Width: 8 HP
  • Depth: 55 mm
  • Power consumption: +50 mA (+ 12V)/ -10 mA (-12V)
PROS
  • • Highly flexible scale options beyond standard chromatic scales
  • • Dual quantisers allow for complex melodic interactions
  • • Robust Doepfer build quality ensures long-term reliability
  • • Compact 8HP footprint maximizes modular space efficiency
CONS
  • • Steeper learning curve compared to simpler quantizers
  • • Limited input voltage range restricts certain signal sources
  • • Tilt switches can be finicky and require precise adjustment

Product Video

Key Features

Type Dual Voltage Quantiser
Functions Quantization to various scales, chords; CV input; fine tune adjustment; scale selection via tilt switches
HP Width 8
Depth 1.2 in
Power Draw +12V: 5mA, -12V: 1mA
Connections 2 x CV inputs, 2 x CV outputs, 1 x fine tune control

Similar Products

Applause Jump Dark Matter - Other Acoustic Guitars

Applause Jump Dark Matter

Other Acoustic Guitars

$362
Acoustic Guitar with Pickup, Type: OM with cutaway, Top: Solid European spruce, Back and...
4.5 Expert Rating
Line6 Pod GO Bundle - Guitar Multi Effects

Line6 Pod GO Bundle

Guitar Multi Effects

$614
4.6 Expert Rating
Casio AP-750 WE - General Digital Pianos

Casio AP-750 WE

General Digital Pianos

$2,144
Digital Piano, 88 Weighted keys with hammer action (Smart Hybrid Hammer Action, hybrid material made...
4.9 Expert Rating
Casio AP-750 BN - General Digital Pianos

Casio AP-750 BN

General Digital Pianos

$2,144
Digital Piano, 88 Weighted keys with hammer action (Smart Hybrid Hammer Action, hybrid material made...
4.5 Expert Rating
Ketron SD-1000 Bag Bundle - General MIDI Sound Modules

Ketron SD-1000 Bag Bundle

General MIDI Sound Modules

$438
4.4 Expert Rating
NANO Modules ST-OUT - Interface Modules

NANO Modules ST-OUT

Interface Modules

$149
Eurorack Module, Stereo output module for Eurorack systems, Switchable drive level (soft / hard),...
4.8 Expert Rating
Ampeg RB-112 Bundle - Solid-State Bass Combos

Ampeg RB-112 Bundle

Solid-State Bass Combos

$596
4.6 Expert Rating
Vostok Instruments Trace - Mixer, Attenuator Modules

Vostok Instruments Trace

Mixer, Attenuator Modules

$153
Eurorack Module, Analogue morphing scanner, 4-channel crossfader/scanner for audio and CV...
4.7 Expert Rating

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely, the flexibility of the scale selection allows for custom microtonal grids, though setting it up will require careful tuning.
The outputs are independent; each quantiser can be set to a different scale or chord, creating complex, interwoven melodies.
The fine tune allows for small adjustments to the output voltage, effectively shifting the quantized notes by up to approximately +/- 0.5V, giving you subtle pitch correction or expressive variation.

We use cookies to improve your experience. Learn more