Der Mann Mit Der Maschine

Notes: This module provides you with four motorised faders (aka flying faders) to be attached to your DROID master. You can attach up to 16 of these units (or any other DROID controllers) to one master, so the maximum number of faders on a DROID is 64. Below each fader is a touch button and an LED.

You can use the faders, the buttons and the LEDs in very flexible ways to control all parameters in your DROID patches, like steps of a sequence, volumes of channels of a digital mixer (controlled via MIDI with the X7), parameters of a large bank of envelopes, CV values that are organized in presets and much more.

The special thing about the motorized faders is that each fader can be assigned several functions or presets. When you switch the function, the fader moves to the exact position that corresponds to the current value. The usual Eurorack "picking up" of potentiometers or faders, where you never know exactly which value is currently set, is now a thing of the past.

Another unique feature is the "haptic feedback". If a fader is used, for example, in a sequencer to select a note from a scale, you can feel each individual note like an artificial notch. The fader intelligently creates these virtual grooves with its motor. This is very useful and very intuitive whenever you use the fader to select one out of several discrete values. Other examples are clock divider settings, the number of a preset, a waveform, a clock offset and much more. Due to the haptic feedback you don't need any display for seeing what you are doing. You can concentrate on making music and play very intuitively.

Another kind of haptic feedback is a kind of "pitch bend wheel", where the fader always pushes back to the center position by itself. Here the motor creates an artifcial spring. When setting analog values such as a volume or a filter cutoff, the fader then runs freely, of course.

Applications

The DROID plus the faders can be used for various applications - and due to the possibility of switching even at the same time! Here are some example:

A multi track performance sequencer
Use a MIDI controllable digital audio interface as mixer
Control a bank of four envelopes with A, D, S, R each with just four faders
Use the faders for CV presets
Use the faders and their haptic feedback for live performing with pitch bends, ratcheting and all other crazy stuff
Power
Motor faders need much energy. Theoretically one single fader can draw up to 800 mA when at full power. That seems to be the main reason why nobody dared in bringing motorised faders into Eurorack so far.

Der Mann Mit Der Maschine have solved that challenge by making use of the fact that the fader need their power always just for a very short time. The M4 unit comes with four big power tanks (called super caps) that are loaded with a low current but provide the full power when the faders need them. That way the maximum current of one M4 unit is limited. With jumpers on the back you can choose between a peak current of 350, 450, 500 or 600 mA.

Dimensions
14 HP
42 mm deep

Current Draw
350 mA +12V

Notes: This is 40 cm (15.7 inch) long cable for connecting the DROID controllers controllers to your master. Its main purpose is to separate the controllers from the master at a longer distance.

You also can use this cable for connecting two of Der Mann Mit Der Maschine's multiples into a CV bus.

Notes: R2M is module 1 of a pair of two 2 HP modules that allow you to connect a chain of controllers to your DROID master through a standard 3.5 mm stereo cable (sometimes also called aux-cable).

The usual idea is that you put all your DROID controllers into a skiff case and mount your DROID master, X7 and G8 into another case, together with all your fancy Eurorack sound modules.

R2C is module 2 of a pair of two 2 HP modules that allow you to connect a chain of controllers to your DROID master through a standard 3.5 mm stereo cable (sometimes also called aux-cable).

The usual idea is that you put all your DROID controllers into a skiff case and mount your DROID master, X7 and G8 into another case, together with all your fancy Eurorack sound modules.

While you could do this with the typical 6-pin ribbon connector (e.g. the 80 cm version that we offer), using the R2M/R2C combination has some serious advantages:

The connection cable can be almost arbitrary long (20 m have been tested and works perfectly).

Since the connection is done on the front of the modules, you can quickly disconnect your skiff for the purpose of travelling to a gig.

You can use a standard 3.5 mm stereo TRS cable for the connection.

These modules are not just passive connectors but contain special driver ICs that transform the electronic voltage levels, which run in the 6-pin ribbon, to something more stable and reliable that is fit for longer distances in a more hostile environment.

The controllers do not receive their power from the master but from the R2C module, which has a power connector and a voltage regulator for that purpose. Each chain of the R2C module provides the same power to its controller chain as the master does (it contains the identical voltage regulator). That means that you can connect up to 32 controllers (!) to one R2C.

Another nice thing: The R2M/R2C combination allows for two of these master / controller connections in parallel. That means that you can have two masters being attached to their individual controller chains. That does not mean, that each of the masters can access each of the controllers at the same time, however. Both master / controller connections work completely separately.

Package contents:
* one R2M module
* one R2C module
* one Eurorack power cable for the R2C
* two 6-pin ribbon cables for connecting the R2M to two masters
* two 3.5 mm stereo TRS cables, approx.. 1.2 m
* 4 red M3 screws for mounting the two modules

Notes: TRS Split - CV/Audio signal distributor

TRS Split is a multipurpose CV and audio signal distribution module. It has three 3.5 mm TRS (tip/ring/sleeve - stereo) jacks and six ordinary 3.5 mm mono jacks.

It contains 3 identical sections set up as following:

Upper jack carries the tip signal
Middle jack carries the stereo/dual signal
Lower jack carries the ring signal

Each section can either split a stereo signal into two mono signals or join two mono signals into one stereo signal. The module does not have any active components and does not need a power supply.

Use cases:

When you plug a stereo signal carried by a stereo (TRS) cable into the middle jack, you receive two separate mono signals by plugging in a mono (TS) cable in the upper jack to carry the left signal and a mono (TS) cable in the lower jack to carry the right signal. That way you can attack an "AUX" cable such as from your smartphone to your modular.

Or the other way around: Send two separate mono signals by plugging in a mono (TS) cable in the upper jack to carry the left signal and a mono (TS) cable in the lower jack to carry the right signal. Receive a stereo signal at the middle jack to be used with a stereo (TRS) cable.

Converting from stereo to dual mono and back allows you to alter the two sides of a stereo signal with different effects/filters.

Some tuners such as the Korg NTS-2 accept inputs to tune two oscillators combined in one 3.5 mm stereo jack. With one splitter you can easily feed two VCO signals into such a tuner.

Switching sides

Two splitters can be used to switch tip and ring (left and right): Plug in a stereo cable in the middle jack of the first section. Connect mono cables to the upper and lower jack of the first section. Then connect the upper mono cable of the first section to the lower mono jack of the second section and the lower mono cable of the first section to the upper mono jack of the second section. The signals are switched. Plug a stereo cable in the middle of the second splitter and you're good to go.

Hint: This also works for MIDI signals. If you use MIDI over minijack, there are two standards A and B - some manufacturers use A some B - thus not all connections are working. Now you can easily switch between the standards using the TRS Split.

Note: The MIDI input of the DROID X7 automatically detects A and B, so there is no switching necessary. The MIDI output of the X7 can be set to A or B with a switch on the back of the module.

Stereo multiple setup

If you have a separate multiple in your modular, you can use the TRS-SPLIT to create a 1:2 stereo multiple as follows:

Plug a stereo cable in the middle jack of section 1, patch the mono cable from the upper jack into section 1 of your multiple (e.g. a 3/3/3 multiple) and feed two of the outputs back into the upper jacks of section 2 and 3. Do the same with the mono cable coming from the lower jack of section 1 going into the second section of a 3/3/3 multiple and patch two cables back into the lower jacks of section 2 and 3 of the TRS Split. Now the middle jacks of section 2 and 3 both carry the stereo signal.

Dimensions
2 HP
22 mm deep

Current Draw
Module does not draw current

Notes: TRS Tool - Stereo/Dual CV/Audio/MIDI signal multipurpose module

TRS Tool is a multipurpose CV and audio signal distribution module for working with 3.5 mm stereo jacks (tip/ring/sleeve). These jacks are common for stereo audio but also for MIDI.

The TRS TOOL has no active components and does not need a power supply. It contains 3 different sections set up as following from top to bottom:

TRS Split
The upper jack carries the tip signal
The middle jack carries the stereo/dual signal
The Lower jack carries the ring signal

Use cases:

When you plug a stereo signal carried by a stereo (TRS) cable into the middle jack, you receive two separate mono signals by plugging in a mono (TS) cable in the upper jack to carry the left signal and a mono (TS) cable in the lower jack to carry the right signal. That way you can attack an "AUX" cable such as from your smartphone to your modular.

Or the other way around: Send two separate mono signals by plugging in a mono (TS) cable in the upper jack to carry the left signal and a mono (TS) cable in the lower jack to carry the right signal. Receive a stereo signal at the middle jack to be used with a stereo (TRS) cable.

Converting from stereo to dual mono and back allows you to alter the two sides of a stereo signal with different effects/filters.

Some tuners such as the Korg NTS-2 accept inputs to tune two oscillators combined in one 3.5 mm stereo jack. With one splitter you can easily feed two VCO signals into such a tuner.

TRS Quad Multiple

Multiply a stereo signal. Four TRS jacks to be used with stereo minijack cables.

Use cases:

You could use this to multiply the signal for headphones - listen to patches together.

Or create sends - route one (or two) stereo signals to effects and use the third one as dry signal going to the mixer.

Experimental: multiply a MIDI signal to two or three receivers: NOTE: depending on the output power of the MIDI sender and the power draw of the MIDI receivers this might or might not work. MIDI uses a current of typically 5 mA instead of voltage levels for data transmission. So when you attach too many devices to one output the current might not be enough to drive all of them. So this is strictly spoken not covered by the MIDI standard, but might work anyway.

A/B Swapper
The bottom section of the module consists of two connected TRS jacks.
Whatever signal applies to the tip in jack A will be routed to the ring in jack B.
Whatever signal applies to the ring in jack A will be routed to the tip in jack B.

Use cases:

Switch the left and right side of a stereo audio signal.

Switch between MIDI standard A and B: If you use MIDI over minijack, there's two standards A and B - some manufacturers use A some B - thus not all connections are working. Now you can easily switch between the standards using the TRS Split.

Note: The MIDI input of the DROID X7 automatically detects A and B, so there is no switching necessary. The MIDI output of the X7 can be set to A or B with a switch on the back of the module.

Dimensions
2 HP
22 mm deep

Current Draw
Module does not draw current

Notes: Welcome to the DROID X7 expander. The X7 gives you USB and MIDI connectivity for your master and also four gate outputs with modular levels.

You can process incoming and generate outgoing MIDI streams, both via classical DIN cables and via USB. Both the in and the out direction support polyphony with eight or even more voices in parallel.

For size reasons the X7 uses 3.5 mm TRS jacks for MIDI instead of the classical DIN jacks. But it comes with two DIN to TRS adapters, so you are free to use either form factor.

As a bonus feature, the X7 provides super fast loading of DROID patches via USB - without any need for putting the SD card in and out anymore.

Here are some examples of what you can do with the X7:

Attach an external keyboard to your modular.
Use an external hardware sequencer for playing melodies and beats in your modular.
Use an external MIDI controller to influence your DROID patch.
Do the same with a MIDI controller app on your tablet or phone (via USB).
Use your modular for playing polyphonic music and beats on your hardware synths or software synth plugins in your DAW, tablet or phone.
Connect two DROIDs (both with X7) and exchange real time CVs and triggers.
Use the four additional gate outputs on the X7 for sending clocks, gates and triggers and free your valuable CV outputs for other things.
Access the SD card in your master just like a USB stick for direct access to it via your PC, Mac, phone or tablet.
Alternatively load new patches to your master via MIDI sysex from your PC - and get your new patch ideas up and running in less than a second.

Dimensions
4 HP
23 mm deep

Current Draw
94 mA +12V
0 mA -12V
0 mA 5V