Doepfer A-100 Basic System 3: The perfect Eurorack for beginners?
4,2 / 5,0 | 
Doepfer A-100 Basic System 3 · Source: Doepfer
Doepfer A-100 Basic System 3 · Source: Doepfer
Doepfer A-100 Basic System 3 · Source: Doepfer
Doepfer’s long-running A-100 Basic System gets redesigned and modernised for its third iteration. Packed with everything you need to start your Eurorack journey.
A-100 Basic System
How to get started in Eurorack is one of those perennial questions. Who better to provide an answer than the inventor of the Eurorack format? Doepfer’s A-100 case and component modules have been around for a very long time. But the Basic System 3 strengthens the game by loading it up with up-to-date versions of the modules.
Doepfer A-100 Basic System 3 · Source: Doepfer
The System 3 is designed to bring us back to the basics of analogue modular systems. While it’s undoubtedly a great starting point for a beginner, it’s also an interesting selection of modules for anyone wanting to simplify their workflow and get back to what’s important.
Among the modules, we have a pair of A-110-1 analogue VCOs with four waveforms, pulse width modulation and FM inputs. An A-137-1 Wave Multiplier offers a lot of timbral variations, which slides in nicely with the A-184-1 Ring Modulator, Slew Limiter and Sample & Hold. A chunky A-108 low pass filter and the A-121-2 multimode filter provide the tone shaping while a pair of VCAs keep everything under control.
The bottom row offers Envelope and LFO modulation along with clock division, switching, mixing and slew generation.
You’ve got a lot to play with and a bit of room for your next module or two.
Two Cases
The A-100 Basic System 3 is available in two different cases. The familiar A-100 P6 flight case with top and bottom banners, or the classy fake leather of the LC6v design. Bigger versions are also available.
Doepfer A-100 Basic System 3 · Source: Doepfer
Website overhaul
I can’t ignore the fact that Doepfer has moved the website from the classic original 1990s design to something a bit more this millennium. Bravo! Doepfer also seems to have created a new YouTube channel. Maybe there’s a concerted effort to modernise and improve their game. There’s never been anything wrong with the modules, but Doepfer’s outward projection could certainly do with a bit of a spruce.
This is an interesting system curated by the originators of the format. There’s nothing flash or granular, no digital effects or wavetables, just pure analogue goodness. If you wanted to know what Eurorack was about, what it’s rooted in and where to start, then give this some thought. There’s no sequencer though; that would be my only concern.
Prices start from €2920 depending on the case.
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7 responses to “Doepfer A-100 Basic System 3: The perfect Eurorack for beginners?”
A €3000 ($3200) beginner synth?
I believe you need to rethink the concept of beginner.
they be smoking doep asking 2900 for that
I got my Behringer Neutron for less than a 10th of that.
Looking forward to adding the Behringer Proton, once available.
Each is less than the price of most modules and I can connect them in and out of each other.
Good for you. It’s about time we knocked this Eurorack nonsense on the head.
Needs a dedicated clock source, at least; or preferably a sequencer of some kind.
for the price you can make a WAAAAY better custom system
I’d like to see that. Could you post a Modular Grid link of your better system?
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