Doepfer has announced that the Dark Energy III analog synthesizer, the latest incarnation of its all-in-one analog synthesizer, is now available.
Key changes in the mkII version:
- A triangle waveform is now central to the VCO (Voltage-Controlled Oscillator) core, which now no longer requires a warmup period for optimal operation over a 10-octave frequency range (with 1V/Oct tracking over at least eight octaves).
- Separate Reset LFO1 and Reset LFO 2 Inputs for the two resettable LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators). These sockets synchronise both LFOs to external gate signals, so when a gate signal of +5V (or higher) is applied at a socket then its positive ramp sets the corresponding LFO wave shape to zero and the LFO restarts with a rising ramp.
- VCA (Voltage-Controlled Amplifier) has a linear control scale, so lends itself to scaling control voltages.
- Several new signal routings and functions are available by removing jumpers and rewiring the pin-headers for the VCO PW, Reset LFO1, Reset LFO2, and VCA Inputs. For example, the VCO PW input can be converted into a linear FM input, or LFO/ADSR signals can be used as outputs instead of one of the resettable LFO inputs. Indeed, (almost) anything is possible, including various VCO outputs (triangle, sawtooth, rectangle); VCO hard sync input; VCO soft sync input; various VCF outputs (lowpass, highpass, bandpass); various LFO outputs (triangle, rectangle); ADSR output; and two inverters with input/output (to invert any signal, such as ADSR or LFO).
Pricing and Availability
The Dark Energy III is available now for €479.00 EUR.
Although the Dark Energy has (and aways had) good looks, good sound and good build quality I think I’d prefer the Behringer Neutron in this price range. In spite of that, many people will be pleased that the Dark Energy is available again and rightly so.
Whats the real big differences between MKI and MKII from this one?
The changes from mkII to III are covered in the article.
The big change from mkI to mkII was the filter. The two versions don’t sound the same as a result.
I’d prefer a Moog – Minitaur – 2 VCO’s plus more.
The Minotaur is a great synth and really undervalued.
I think the disconnect for most people is that they want it to be an all-around synth that can play above C5 (or whatever the cutoff is), instead of what it is – a really nice Taurus bass synth.
Two VCOs would probably entice me to buy it. In my book, there is just too much dual VCO mono synth competition out there for a one VCO synth at this price to be enticing.
The Dark Star was a steal when it first came out, but things have changed a lot since then.
This is a lot more flexible than the comparable multiple oscillator synths in the price range, but having multiple oscillators is a huge feature that this just doesn’t have.
The Dark Star build blows away things like the Behringer D and the Arturia monosynths, though. But cheap beats quality for most folks these days.
the dark star was a piece of shit, you mean the dark energy.
I love the build quality on Doepfer modules, no wobbly pots or anything like this. Hope this is as well built.
Loved my Mk1 but this is a bit expensive. And it has more competition than ever these days