doepfer/a-188-1
A-188-1 BBD
A Bucket Brigade Device (BBD) analog delay module. Audio is passed through a chain of sample-and-hold stages clocked by an internal high-speed VCO or external clock. Typical applications include flanger, chorus, analog delay, and Karplus-Strong synthesis. The module features voltage-controlled clock rate, dual CV inputs with polarity switches, feedback with polarity switch, external feedback insert, and separate BBD and mixed outputs.1018
Capabilities 2
- Analog Delayanalog-delay
- Provides analog delay with characteristic BBD artifacts including bandwidth limiting and clock noise at low clock frequencies; supports flanger, chorus, echo, and Karplus-Strong synthesis.1018
- Delaydelay
- Uses a BBD chip (available in 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, or 4096 stage variants) as a chain of sample-and-hold stages clocked by an internal high-speed VCO or external clock input. Delay time is voltage-controlled via CV inputs.1018
Jacks 10 (6 in / 4 out)
| Name | Signal | Voltage | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inputs (6) | |||
| Audio In 1 | audio | — | 1018 |
| Audio In 2 | audio | — | Second audio input connected in parallel (miniature multiple) with Audio In 1; both share a single input attenuator.1018 |
| CV1 | cv | — | Delay CV input without attenuator, approximately 1V/oct scaling. Has a polarity switch (negative/off/positive) to invert or disable the CV contribution.1018 |
| CV2 | cv | — | Delay CV input with attenuator and polarity switch (negative/off/positive) to scale and invert or disable the CV contribution to clock rate.1018 |
| Clock In | clock | — | External BBD clock input; normalled to the internal HSVCO output so patching here overrides the internal clock with an external source.1018 |
| Feedback In | audio | — | External feedback insert input, normalled to the BBD Out socket. Patch an external signal here to route it through the feedback path instead of the internal BBD output.1018 |
| Outputs (4) | |||
| BBD Out | audio | — | Raw delayed signal output without the original dry signal; useful for external feedback routing through VCA or VCF. Affected by the feedback polarity switch.1018 |
| CV Out | cv | — | Outputs a CV derived from the manual delay control combined with CV1 and CV2 inputs; intended to drive a VCF or other module tracking the BBD clock rate.1018 |
| Clock Out | clock | — | Outputs the internal HSVCO clock signal, useful for driving another BBD, SC-filter, or delay module.1018 |
| Mix Out | audio | — | Mixed audio output combining the dry original signal with the BBD delayed signal according to the Mix control setting.1018 |
Parameters 8
| Name | Type | Range | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBD Signal Polarity | switch | — | Three-position switch (positive/off/negative) that sets whether the BBD delayed signal is added positively, disabled, or inverted before mixing with the dry signal.1018 |
| CV1 Polarity | switch | — | Three-position polarity switch for CV1 input: negative, off, or positive. Determines whether the CV1 signal subtracts from, is disconnected from, or adds to the clock rate.1018 |
| CV2 Attenuator | knob | — | Scales the CV2 input signal before it is applied to the clock rate. Works in conjunction with the CV2 polarity switch.1018 |
| CV2 Polarity | switch | — | Three-position polarity switch for CV2 input: negative, off, or positive. Determines whether the attenuated CV2 signal subtracts from, is disconnected from, or adds to the clock rate.1018 |
| Feedback | knob | — | Controls the amount of the delayed BBD signal fed back into the input; can be increased to self-oscillation.1018 |
| Feedback Polarity | switch | — | Three-position switch (positive/off/negative) that sets the polarity of the internal feedback signal and also affects the polarity of the BBD Out socket for external feedback loops.1018 |
| Manual Delay | knob | — | Sets the base clock rate of the internal HSVCO, controlling delay time. Turning clockwise increases clock rate and decreases delay time.1018 |
| Mix | knob | — | Sets the blend ratio between the dry original signal and the BBD delayed signal at the Mix Out jack.1018 |
Firmware history 0 versions
No firmware history recorded.
References 1
-
[1018]
Doepfer A-188-1 BBD product pageproduct_page● verified 2026-05-28