Hi,
I also have an integrator (their basic system - it's what started me off
into this mad modular world) and then I have a 6u a100 system as well. I
also have a voyager and a moogerfooger phaser (and i'm getting a MuRF soon)
so perhaps I am qualified to speak about these too.
My favourite modular VCO is the a111. It's doesn't have the width or
presence of the voyager's oscillators and it's not quite as big or hard
sounding as the ASys, but it has it's own virtues. I actually like the
sound of the CEM: it has a precision and clarity that makes it very easy to
fit into a mix and it responds really well to EQ. Plus, as others have
mentioned, that octave selector is incredibly useful and the FM options are
just fantastic. I wouldn't worry too much about it being out of
production: it's reliability/robustness doesn't seem to be a problem for the
many, many synths that used it, most of which have been knocking about for
over 20 years now.
Moving onto filters, I'm not a big fan of the ASys LPF - compared to the
voyager's filter (which is much the same as the MF101, apparently) it sounds
like it has a bit of a chest cold. The ASys multimode is much nicer and it
has separate resonance in and outs as well. I only have the wasp filter for
the doepfer, and I like it very much. The resonance is very well integrated
with the sound and it sounds completely different from the various other
filter types. As a moog fan, I like the voyager's filter best: utterly
creamy. I have thought of getting the mf101, but the doepfer a108 looks
enticing too and people rave about it. I am definitely getting the a107 -
all those different possibilities are simply too good to resist :)
Where the doepfer really comes ahead though, are in all those strange
modules that don't get a look in on other systems. I don't have any
sequencing modules but I am interested in quiet a few of the
logic/control/wave warping modules. I just wish I had more space in my
rack, but I guess I will just have to buy another one. Oh, if you're
looking to mix and match - the ASys's envelopes are amazing and I prefer the
sound of the ASys VCAs.
So I agree with the general sentiment that you should base your system
around the doepfer, but ASys/ASol have many interesting modules too.
rgds
Pierre
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