doepfer dark time (with red leds) price : $599.00
dark time (with blue leds) price : $616.00

dark time is an analog sequencer that is planned in the first place as an add-on for the dark energy. but it may be used even in combination with other midi, usb or cv/gate equipment too. as the unit is still in the development state (as of november 2010) all specifications, prices and release dates are still without obligation ! as soon as more detailed information is available it will be published here.

features overview:
two rows with 8 controls each

for each step:
- rotary control (same knob type as dark energy)
- red led
- three-position switch on/off/skip
on = trigger signal is active for this step
off = no trigger for this step
skip = step is skipped - three-position switch stop/continue/jump
stop = sequence stops here
continue = sequence continues
jump (as yet reset):
if only one of the 16 toggle switches is in the jump position a reset is carried out (i.e. sequence jumps to stage 1)
if two or more of the switches are in the jump position the sequence jumps to the next step with the switch in the jump position and then continues from this position (until another step with the switch in the jump position is reached and then the same procedure is carried out again)

several operating modes:
1x16 (i.e. the two rows are daisy-chained)
2x8 (i.e. both rows run in parallel)
custom mode (e.g. three times row 1 and the once row 2, probably not yet available in the first firmware version)

several running directions:
forward
backward
random
several voltage / tuning ranges: 1v, 2v, 5v (corresponding to 1/2/5 octaves)
quantization on/off/custom scale (custom scale probably not yet available in the first firmware version)
when quantization is "off" the resolution is still 10 bit (i.e. 1024 steps over the full rotating range of each potentiometer), from this the term "quantization off" is not fully correct, with quantization "on" the resolution is 13/25/61 steps for 1/2/5 octaves
transpose via switch (-1/0/+1 octave), midi/usb or external cv input



timing control, selected by a three position switch:
internal via built-in clock oscillator with frequency and pulsewidth controls
external via midi/usb
external via analog clock/start/stop

analog interface for cv/gate/clock/start-stop (inputs and outputs, 3.5 mm miniature jack sockets)
midi interface
usb interface (power supply via usb is not possible)
basic parameters are set in the configuration mode (e.g. midi channel for row 1, midi channel for row 2, midi clock dividing factor, custom scale, custom running mode)
optically adapted to dark energy (same knobs, same depth and height, same wooden side plates and so on)
powered via external power supply (12 ac/min. 400ma) for 230v
powering the device via usb is not possible, because the analog circuits require a dual voltage (±12v).