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A-137-1 Wave Multiplier I

  • Model :
    A-137-1
  • Size :
    14 HP
  • Price :
    130 €
  • Technical details :

    Power consumption: 40mA at +12V and 20mA at -12V

    Depth: 65mm

A-137-1 Wave Multiplier I

A-137 is a voltage controlled Wave Multiplier. 

  • The basic idea of a wave multiplier is to multiply the waveform of an incoming signal (e.g. triangle/saw/sine from a VCO) within one period of the waveform. This leads to additional harmonics of the incoming signal. The period and consequently the pitch of the signals remains unchanged (in contrast to frequency multiplication e.g. with the PLL module A-196).

    The A-137 works as a kind of "inverse low pass filter", i.e. it adds a lot of harmonics to a signal that contains none or only a few harmonics (e.g. sine or triangle waveform). In contrast to that a low pass filter removes harmonics from a signal that contains a lot of harmonics (e.g. saw or rectangle waveform). Consequently the best results are obtained in combination with input signals poor in harmonics (e.g. sine or triangle). The A-137 can be used with signals rich in harmonics too (e.g. saw) but the effect is not as remarkable as for triangle or sine waves. For rectangle signals none or only little effects are obtained. The A-137 is a very sophisticated wave multiplier that offers much more features, more controls and more waveform manipulations than other wave multipliers available so far. In addition all parameters are both manually adjusted and controlled by external voltages. The Multiples parameter (manual and ext. CV) defines the number of basic wave multiplications within one period. With the Folding Level and Symmetry parameter (both manual and ext. CV) the upper and lower clipping levels of the wave folder units are controlled. The Harmonics parameter (manual and ext. CV) adds some harmonic content by sharpening the waveform edges and adding overshoot peaks. It works a little bit like the resonance control of a VCF. The module is fully DC coupled, i.e. even control signal can be processed with the modules.

  • The Multiples parameter (manual and ext. CV) defines the number of basic wave multiplications within one period. With the Folding Level  and Symmetry parameter (both manual and ext. CV) the upper and lower clipping levels of the wave folder units are controlled. The Harmonics parameter (manual and ext. CV) adds some harmonic content by sharpening the waveform edges and adding overshoot peaks. It works a little bit like the resonance control of a VCF. The module is fully DC coupled, i.e. even control signal can be processed with the modules.

    As it is a little bit difficult to describe the parameters only by words we have some pictures and audio examples available that explain the function of the module and its parameters.

    For more detailed information please look at the English user's manual  A137_man.pdf

    • Input Level (to adjust the input level for best effect of the succeeding controls)
    • Multiples (number of waveform multiplications, manual control)
    • Harmonics (additional effect that adds more harmonics similar to the resonance/emphasis control of filters, manual control)
    • Folding Level (controls upper and lower folding level, manual control)
    • Symmetry (controls symmetry between upper and lower folding level, manual control)
  • Inputs/Outputs:

    • Audio In (also suitable for control signals)
    • Multiples CV In (with attenuator)
    • Harmonics CV In (with attenuator)
    • Folding Level CV In (with attenuator)
    • Symmetry CV In (with attenuator)
    • Audio Out (resp. processed control signal output)


User Manuals

A137 1
A137 2
A137 3



The three examples are made with the patch shown on the left side (no additional effects / modules / processing). The triangle output of a VCO (A-110) is used as audio input for the A-137. The Multiples parameter is controlled by an ADSR (A-140) that is triggered by a LFO (A-145). In the first example envelope time and LFO period are short, in the second example a bit longer. In the third example envelope time and LFO period are faster again and the remaining three parameters (Folding Level, Symmetry, Harmonics) are modulated slowly by three additional A-145 LFOs (not shown in the patch).

Blockschaltbild des A-137-Moduls / Sketch of the A-137 module

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