Doepfer A-188-9 Highspeed VCO

The Doepfer A-188-9 isn’t just another oscillator — it’s a precision high-frequency VCO that blasts into the sample-rate domain with frequencies up to 500kHz. Whether you’re crafting string-like textures using Karplus-Strong synthesis or diving into experimental territory like video synthesis, this module unlocks speeds your typical VCO can only dream of.

At its core, the A-188-9 tracks 1V/oct over an impressively wide range, making it ideal for generating precise control signals for BBD-based delay lines like the Doepfer A-188-1 or A-188-2. All the classic waveforms are here—saw, triangle, and rectangle with PWM—but the secret sauce is its Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) circuit, which can multiply your VCO frequency by up to 32x for ultra-accurate high-speed operation. The PLL’s slew limiter keeps artifacts in check, giving you smooth control over ripple and tracking behavior.

A built-in frequency divider brings those ultrasonic speeds back into the audible realm, giving you the flexibility to use the A-188-9 like a standard VCO when needed. In many ways, it's like having two oscillators in one—a rock-solid audio VCO and a sample-rate capable signal generator for next-level patching.

Perfect for BBD users, Karplus explorers, and advanced modular designers, the A-188-9 fills a very specific, high-performance niche in your system — and does so with typical Doepfer precision.

Key Features:

• Dual-mode: standard audio VCO and ultra high-speed VCO

• Tracks 1V/oct over wide range, up to 500kHz

• Ideal for Karplus-Strong synthesis with BBD modules

• Sawtooth, triangle, and PWM-capable rectangle outputs

• Phase Locked Loop (PLL) for frequency tracking/multiplication (up to 32x)

• Adjustable slew limiter to control PLL tracking speed and ripple artifacts

• Frequency divider for bringing high-speed signals into the audible range

• Excellent for advanced synthesis and video-rate modulation