Borg, Boogie & the Thwap Test

I only went to Schneiders yesterday to pick up a second Doepfer mixer...



Enjoy the recordings.


Borg Low Pass. Starts in LPG mode, then manual tweaks.


Borg Modes. EG + Manual tweaks


Boogie Modes. EG + sequenced/ random CV of mix relationships (Cwejman VCA-4MX).



I also borrowed a Makenoise QMMG to run a quick 'Thwap' test.



For some, the gold standard in Euro is still the Plan B Model 13. Decide for yourself.


LPG Thwap Test. M13, Borg, QMMG.

VCO and envelope were multed to the three LPGs. The Borg, QMMG & M13 all use different vactrols with different response times, so I adjusted the modulation depth until I got a similar timbre. The M13 was used as the 'control' i.e. offset at zero, MD at full.

Thanks to Schneidersbuero for the loan of the modules.

Clash of the Borgs

A quick comparison of the Malekko Wiard Borg 1 & 2, also featuring Plan B Models 12 & 13.



The Borg 1 (white knobs) employs slower vactrols, allegedly giving it a mellower sound and longer decay than the more aggressive, black knobbed Borg 2. I'm a big fan of the Plan B Model 12, but sometimes find it's response to CVs either too linear or lazy, so I was keen to hear the Borg 1 for myself.

Here's a fairly representative recording of the difference between these filters:


(Borg 2, Borg 1, Model 12)

I really liked the Borg 1's soft edges and muted tones. Its response is slower than the Borg 2 and this makes it a more natural sounding LPG. It might even have the edge on the M13, which tends to lose the initial transients. I don't find either Borg particularly useful for BP or HP duties and this is where the M12 shines. I tried patching both Borgs in a BP series, but didn't find the results as interesting as the dual-peak BP mode of the Cwejman MMF-1. That said, both Borgs are fantastic LPFs with attitude and character. Sonically, the B1 sits squarely between its more aggressive sibling and the rubber-funk of the M12.

You can download the full set of recordings, including the obligatory LPG 'thwap' test, here (3.2MB), but be careful with your speakers on the 'rumble' MP3!

Thanks to Schneidersbuero for the loan of the module.

A-162 Trigger Delay Modification

An update to this post on how to modify a Doepfer A-162 Dual Trigger Delay for perfect filter pings.



Replacing the A-162's stock 10uF capacitor with a 0.1uF helped, but meant that most of the useful range for pinging filters (0.5 - 2ms) lay within the first 10% of the pot's throw i.e. settings between zero & 1.

An attempt to reduce the resistance of the pot failed to help, so I replaced the 0.1uF with a 0.01uF/ 10nF cap. This did the trick: a setting of 5 now yields a ca. 2ms long pulse.

Here's a clip of three filters being pinged with various pulse widths:


Cwejman MMF-1, RES-4 & Metasonix R54.

As you can hear, the tone and volume are affected by the length of the pulse. This is even more apparent when the filter additionally receives pitch CV. The R54 shows the most dramatic response to changes in pulse length, especially when an attenuated multiple of the trigger is used to apply some pitch bend or 'thwap'. The A-162 is also perfect for pinging low pass gates.



Above is a picture of the solder-side of the board. I've marked two possible connections, depending on the type of capacitor you want to use. The two holes marked in pink are connected by a trace to allow for 'extra leg room'. The cap should be connected between the green and one of the pink holes. Pay attention to the polarity if you're using an electrolytic cap.

Needless to say, this mod will void your warranty and is your own risk. It's not difficult, but if you don't want to do this yourself, Doepfer offer a modification service on most of their modules at very reasonable rates.

Thanks to the Wigglers who helped in this thread.