Dark Time Owners Manual V1.
Safety Instructions Please follow the instructions for use of the instrument carefully because this will guarantee proper operation of the instrument. Due to the fact that these instructions touch on Product Liability, it is absolutely imperative that they be read carefully. Any claim for defect will be rejected if one or more of the items has not been observed. Disregard of the instructions can void the two years covered by warranty.
DOEPFER Dark Time Owners Manual Content: Safety Instructions……………………………………2 1. Introduction 1.1. Preface………………………………….4 1.2. Preparations……………………………5 1.2.1. Setup………………………….5 1.2.2. Connections………………….5 3.2. Synchronization and remote control………………………...15 3.2.1. MIDI-Interface.………………15 3.2.2. MIDI-Clock…………………...16 3.2.3. Analog-Interface…………….17 3.2.4. Dark Time as simple MIDI-Clock to Sync Interface……………………...19 3.3. Firmware-Update…………………...20 3.4. +12V Modification………………….21 2.
DOEPFER Dark time Introduction 1. Introduction 1.1. Preface Doepfer thanks you! First of all we would like to thank you for having purchased Doepfer Dark Time! We really appreciate your choice and promise you an extraordinary support throughout, including useful information, easy service, and innovative product development. May your Dark Time be an important source of creative power for ages to come. What time is it? Dark Time is a sequencer in the tradition of an analog step sequencer.
DOEPFER Dark time Introduction 1.2. Getting started When lifting Dark Time out of its box for the first time, please make sure that everything is in its right place. You will find the following component parts in the box: • • • • • Dark Time sequencer wall-wart (12V AC / 400mA) USB cable (A-B type) two A-100 patch cables this owners´ manual You will also need: A suitable sound generation device with MIDI- and/or CV/gate connectors (e.g. Doepfer Dark Energy synthesizer).
Introduction Dark time DOEPFER If so desired, please also connect Dark Time’s MIDI-in socket with the MIDI-out socket of e.g. a suitably equipped computer or drum machine in order to synchronize both machines via MIDI clock. Please refer to chapter 3.1.4. ”Tempo and Timing” on page 12, and chapter 3.2. ”Synchronization and remote control of Dark Time” on page 15. • CV/Gate: You only need to connect at least Gate 1 out and CV1 out jacks to run Dark Time with a CV/Gatebased synthesizer.
DOEPFER Dark time Overview 2. Function overview Dark Time’s layout is in line with classic analog sequencers. It gives you direct access to all sequencer stages and their crucial parameters. Almost all functions to control the sequence with (like direction, transpose etc.) are also directly accessible to the user. So Dark Time can be very easily tweaked and interacted with ”live” and on-the-fly. Forget about confusing menus and tiny displays.
Overview Dark time DOEPFER Analog Interface – St/St Out: – St/St In: Provides +5V/+12V* voltage while sequence is running Starts resp.
Dark time DOEPFER Functions 3. Functions In this section we will explore all functions of Dark Time in detail. We will also have a closer look at the way the functions interact, and finally we will briefly deal with the MIDI and analog interfacing section. 3.1. The Controls 3.1.1. Step Input Panel The step input panel is used to program a sequence into Dark Time. That means notes, their respective pitches and rests as well as points where the sequence circle starts and ends can be determined here.
Functions Dark time DOEPFER position other than the previously selected ones, these steps will become the new start and end points. If you set steps to ”Jump” within the previously selected range, they will not affect the sequence in any way. Confusing, eh? Not really, go ahead, and with a little practice you will see how useful this little feature is: 3 4 5 6 7 8 DOEPFER DARK TIME Cont. 4 6 4 2 6 7 3 8 2 9 1 0 10 Skip Stop On Cont. 4 6 7 3 8 2 9 1 0 Skip Stop Skip On Cont.
DOEPFER Dark time Functions 3.1.3. Sequence Control The sequence control functions allow control over the previously programmed sequence. They determine or alter pitch and / or the playback order of the step registers. • Transpose With these switches you can transpose both registers of the sequence up or down by one octave. The switch on the left addresses steps 1 – 8, the switch on the right addresses steps 9 – 16.
DOEPFER Dark time Functions 3.1.4. Tempo / Timing The following controls give access to tempo and timing of the sequence. You will find a shuffle function and the option to program individual gate time settings for the upper register. • Sync switch The sync switch determines the clock source for Dark Time’s tempo control. Set to ”Internal”, Dark Time will internally generate a clock signal of its own.
Clock-divider note-value Functions Dark time DOEPFER Number of lighted Step-LEDs • 1/2 2 1/4. 3 1/4 4 1/8. 5 1/8 6 1/16. 7 1/4T 8 1/16 9 1/8T 10 1/32 11 1/16T 12 1/64 13 1/128 14 Pulswidth-control / Function-key Pulswidth: This control determines the duration of gate signals, generated by all active steps resp. their note values. Turned fully counter-clockwise, the single steps will appear as short pulses.
Functions Dark time DOEPFER 3.1.5. Individual gate length for steps 1 to 8: As you already know, the Pulsewidth control sets the gate time. This setting affects all steps by the same factor. Now you will learn how to program individual gate time settings for each of the steps 1 to 8 (upper register). This function is enabled by the ”Custom” setting of the Link switch. • Set the Link switch to ”Custom” position.
Functions Dark time DOEPFER 3.2. Synchronization and remote control of Dark Time Dark Time offers a bunch of useful interfacing options to communicate with external gear. You are not only restricted to playing MIDI and/or CV/gate-based synthesizers connected to Dark Time, you may also synchronize it to other external instruments and even remote-control some of its functions. This will be achieved through the MIDI and analog interfaces of Dark Time.
Functions Dark time DOEPFER Selecting the MIDI channel: The default setting is MIDI channel 1 for both registers. • To change the setting of the MIDI channel for the upper step register, please – first press and hold the ”Function” key, then press ”Start/Stop” key while ”Function” is still held down. – Select the desired MIDI channel by turning the Clock control. The number of step LEDs lit up will indicate the channel-number (1 - 16).
Dark time DOEPFER Functions 3.2.3. Analog Interface Of course, Dark Time allows interaction with non-MIDIed equipment. It will perfectly fit into an analog setup. The necessary connections can be made via the rear analog interface panel of Dark Time. It sports twelve 1/8” sockets with in- and outputs. CV/gate outputs: Let’s have a closer look at the connectors, shown in the figure below. Here, both step registers send out control voltages and gate signals individually.
Functions Dark time DOEPFER There are many uses for these inputs, especially in combination with a modular synthesizer system, e.g. the Doepfer A-100. You may feed dynamic voltages into these inputs on order to achieve portamento effects or use staircase-type voltages to transpose the step registers automatically. Clock connectors: To synchronize two instruments in the analog domain – e.g. Dark Time and a non-MIDIed vintage drum machine – a clock signal is needed.
DOEPFER Dark time Functions Start/Stop and Reset sockets: Each time Dark Time is started, the St/St Out socket puts out a +5V voltage (default setting). When Dark Time is stopped, this voltage goes down to zero level (0V). Each time a reset function is performed, Dark Time’s Reset Out socket will send out a short volateg pulse of +5V. Changing the gate output voltage from +5V (default) to +12V by changing an internal jumper (see page 21), will also generate start/stop- and reset signals of +12V.
Functions Dark time DOEPFER MIDI Drummaschine / Sequenzer o.ä. Drummaschine / Analog-Sequenzer / Modular-Synthesizer Dark Time SLAVE MASTER Clock-Signal MIDI-Clock Clk Out Start/Stop/Reset Signal St/St, Reset Out Sync: Midi/USB 3.3. Firmware Update Dark Times firmware case a new firmware version is available, Drummaschine / can easily be updated via USB. MIDIyou can DarkIn Time download it from our website (www.doepfer.de).
DOEPFER Dark time Functions 3.4. +12V Modification As you allready know, Dark Time puts out gate-, clock-, start/stop- and reset-voltages via it‘s analogue interface. By default, these voltage have +5V level. Some vintage synthesizers may require higher voltages. In order to match with these machines, the levels of these signals can be changed from their default setting (+5V) to +12V by changing the position of an internal jumper on one of Dark Times boards.
DOEPFER Dark time Nuts and bolds of sequencing +12V position of JP7: Place the jumper into the middle and rightmost pins (please refer to the lower picture) and the gate-, clock-, start/stop- and reset-voltages will have +12V.
DOEPFER Dark time Nuts and bolds of sequencing 4. The Nuts and Bolts of analog Sequencing In case step sequencers – or sequencers in general – are new to you, please read this section thoroughly. You will learn about the nuts and bolts of these machines that will help you to grasp Dark Time’s nasty (well, sort of…) little secrets fully.
DOEPFER Dark time Nuts and bolds of sequencing 4.2.1. Squeezing more music out of eight notes When working with a step sequencer, it would be a wise move to get rid of old-fashioned ways of songwriting and all theory of melody and harmony first. The step sequencer is made for tactile and sensual experience and hands-on experimentation. What might seem to be quite abstract and technical at first sight will soon become very special qualities in their own right – far removed from traditional keys and notes.
Dark time DOEPFER Nuts and bolds of sequencing 4.2.2. Programming melodies into the step sequencer Of course it is possible to enter tonal melodies into a step sequencer like Dark Time – you should simply bear some conceptual differences in mind when it comes to using a sequencer vs. a traditional keyboard. For the time being we would like to have a closer look at some fundamentals of programming melodies into a step sequencer. Let’s keep Dark Time’s specifications in mind for this.
DOEPFER Dark time Addendum Let’s come back to the programming of tonal patterns again. Using a continuously variable control, labeled ”1-10”, would not seem to be the best tool for determining musical pitch. That is because it would not exactly resemble a specific pitch or note. Dark Time’s function named ”quantize” is a handy little helper. Set to ”on”, the step controls won’t be continuously variable anymore. The range of control voltages will be ”sliced” into semitones.
5. Addendum Service and terms of warranty. Concerning service and warranty conditions, please refer to our terms of business. You will find our terms of business at: www.doepfer.de Doepfer Musikelektronic GmbH Geigerstr.
Dark Time DOEPFER MUSIKELEKTRONIK GmbH
