Doepfer We Wheel Electronic

The Doepfer We wheel is a MIDI controller interpreter - basically it takes resistance or switch values/states in from a potentiometer, fader or switch and converts them to MIDI messages. This was purchased for the building of a prototype for a Make Magazine 'Maker Faire' event. Speedy fabrication of the prototype was essential, and the Doepfer We did not disappoint.

It comes as a raw circuit board in a box with some associated cabling and a PSU. The normal static-sensitive precautions need to be observed as there are CMOS chips on the board - so use your grounding wrist strap and don't be that guy/gal! I put mine in a metal case mounted on some PCB risers and machined access holes for the PSU, MIDI and MIDI Activity LED. I was using my We to interpret the messages from a joystick controller - and the time-consuming part was fabricating this controller. The We was set up and issuing MIDI messages in about 3 minutes - far faster than using an Arduino or a PIC if you just want MIDI in a hurry, reliability and no fuss! The controller and Doepfer We were treated roughly all day by patrons at the fair and neither failed once. I have incorporated it into my live rig as a controller.

So the Doepfer We gives you a high-quality MIDI controller in a bulletproof format. It is easy to configure and set-up and does not fail.

Easy to understand and to mount. Easy to choose presets by jumpers. Well done. Good quality built. Only thing I would not have expected is that while this device accepts custom ROMs, Doepfer does not longer make them for a logic price. They stated that the product was designed some years ago and they do not longer have the ability to program a ROM, without charging you for an expensive private order price, which makes no sense for this device. So if you are about buying it take this into account. Either you live with the factory presets (they cover most common applications) or you look at the Pocket Electronics from the same manufacturer. This last one is more expensive, but it supports user programming under Windows OS.

Wie von Döpfer nicht anders zu erwarten ein absolut schnörkelloser MIDI-Controller. Er ist sehr weitgehend konfigurierbar, was in der ausführlichen Bedienungsanleitung auch sehr gut erklärt wird. Das Teil funktioniert absolut zuverlässig. Im Lieferumfang sind neben der Bedienungsanleitung und der eigentlichen Elektronik auch ein passendes Netzteil sowie fünf kurze Anschlusskabel mit Pfostensteckern enthalten.
Ich setze es in einem MIDI-Orgelspieltisch zur Steuerung einer Hauptwerk/MilanDigtalAudio Wurlitzer MW 3/31 Theaterorgel ein. Die We Wheel Electronic dient hier zur Steuerung der drei Schwellpedale (Main, Solo, Master-Expression) und des Registercrescendos sowie des Sustainpedals.

Ach ja: Für die Plug-and-Play Fraktion unter uns Musikern ist das Teil definitiv ungeeignet. Wer aber mit Lötkolben und anderem Werkzeug umgehen kann, hat hier für einen mehr als angemessenen Preis einen Top-MIDI-Controller