Doepfer Dark Time Sequencer - Manual (Page 4)

Dark time DOEPFER Introduction
4
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. Even though Dark Time’s circuitry is
almost entirely digital, its user interface and operation are perfectly in line with a classic analog machine of
yesteryear. Because of this, we chose to refer to Dark Time as an ”analog sequencer” in this manual.
Dark Time sports a USB port, MIDI sockets, and connectors for analog control voltages and gate signals.
Yet, Dark Time is a modern tool for sound creation and can easily be connected not only to our Dark
Energy analog synthesizer (hint, hint), but also to all sorts of other analog and digital gear which is suitably
equipped with a MIDI/USB port and/or CV/Gate connectors. Dark Time can easily be connected to every
modern computer-based studio or live-setup. Hooking up Dark Time to classic vintage analog equipment or
a Doepfer A-100 modular system is also easy. In addition to this, Dark Time interfaces the digital world of
MIDI with the analog world of control voltages.
Dark Time is housed in a rugged black sheet metal case with wooden side panels. Sturdy high-quality
potentiometers (often referred to as “pot”, in case you are wondering where the “weed” is hidden…) with
metal shafts have been used throughout. Each pot has been mounted firmly to the chassis. We also made
use of knob caps which have a classy vintage look and feel to them.
R.t.f.m.!
We knew it: User manuals are your first and only choice in literature. Hey, that’s great – we’re talking the
same language here!
If you are doubting the entertaining qualities of this manual – how dare you! –, please bear in mind that
its thorough study will eventually turn out to be quite useful as it will highly increase the inspirational
value of your new analog sequencer. So please do yourself - and us - a big favor: Read (and, if possible,
understand) this frigging manual! Thanks for your time, and bless you for your efforts!
In the first section you will find all info needed to successfully hook up Dark Time to your setup.
After that, you will find a brief overview of its functions. Sequencer experts may use this as a quickstart
guide. You should not skip the complete description of the entire “Functions” section in the next chapter,
though – Dark Time hides some interesting features under its hood. If sequencer technology –
especially the secrets of analog sequencing – are totally new to you, please refer to “Nuts and Bolts of
analog Sequencing“ later on in this manual.
Enough babble - here we go...