Private company

Doepfer

German audio hardware manufacturer

Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH is a German manufacturer of audio hardware, mostly modular synthesizers, based in Gräfelfing, Upper Bavaria, Germany and founded by Dieter Döpfer. The product range covers analog modular systems, MIDI controllers, MIDI hardware sequencers, MIDI-to-CV/Gate/Sync Interfaces, MIDI master keyboards and special MIDI equipment. They are also known for the creation of the Eurorack form factor for synthesizers.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1992Founded1

Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH is a German manufacturer of audio hardware, mostly modular synthesizers, based in Gräfelfing, Upper Bavaria, Germany and founded by Dieter Döpfer. The product range covers analog modular systems, MIDI controllers, MIDI hardware sequencers, MIDI-to-CV/Gate/Sync Interfaces, MIDI master keyboards and special MIDI equipment. They are also known for the creation of the Eurorack form factor for synthesizers.2

The story

Founded by Dieter Döpfer in 1992.1

1979 Voltage controlled phaser module for the German Formant modular synthesizer

1980 PMS Polyphonic modular system (quad-modules, like quad-VCO, quad-VCF...)

1982 Voice modular system (one synthesizer voice with 2 VCOs, 2ADSR, 1VCF, 1VCA on one board 100x160mm, designed with CEM chips from Doug Curtis/USA)

1984 Sound Sampler (8 bit voltage controlled sampler with interface and sampling software for Commodore 64)

1985 Loop option, compander and synthesis software for sound sampler (FM, Fourier, Waveshaping and so on)

1986 MCV1 MIDI-to-CV interface (first version)

1987 CCM Computer-controlled audio mixing console with computer-controlled faders (VCAs) and filters (VCFs), interface and software for Commodore 64 and Atari ST

1989

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LMK1 simple MIDI master keyboard

MMK2 MIDI keyboard (e.g. used by Kraftwerk live for the Pocket Calculator song)

MKC1/2 MIDI master keyboard controller (for combination with LMK1)

1990

LMK3 MIDI master keyboard with piano touch simulation

LMK1V2 MIDI master keyboard (improved version of LMK1)

SX-16 16 voice MIDI expander

MBP1 MIDI Bass pedal

DMC-8 Drum to MIDI converter

MONA universal MIDI out interface

1991

K2B 2 manual MIDI keyboard

MPC128 MIDI program change unit

MTG128 MIDI-to-Gate interface with up to 128 Gate outputs controlled via MIDI

MTS128 MIDI-to-Switch interface with up to 128 MIDI controlled electronic switches (e.g. as MIDI-In interface for any non-MIDI-keyboard)

1992

LMK1+/LMK2+/LMK4+ MIDI master keyboard series with real hammer mechanics

GMX-1 GM compatible MIDI expander

MAQ16/3 MIDI analog sequencer (designed in cooperation with Kraftwerk)

1993

MIDIM8 MIDI controller dimmer pack with 8 power outputs

MTP8 MIDI switch-pack with 8 power outputs

MVP1 MIDI volume foot controller

1994

LMK4+ MIDI master keyboard top model

MOGLI MIDI glove

MEG universal MIDI event generator

MTR128 MIDI to relays interface to control up to 128 relays via MIDI note on/off

MSY1 MIDI-to-SYNC interface

1995

MS-404 monophonic analog MIDI synthesizer

TMK2 2 manual MIDI master keyboard

A-100 analog modular system

1997

Schaltwerk MIDI pattern sequencer

MCV4 MIDI-to-CV interface

MSY2 MIDI-to-SYNC interface

1998

Regelwerk MIDI fader box and pattern/analog sequencer

PK88 MIDI Keyboard (control keyboard especially for piano expanders)

MCV24 MIDI-to-CV/Gate interface (24 CV/Gate outputs)

c.1999 Drehbank MIDI controller

c.2000 Pocket Control MIDI controller

2006

Thru-Zero Quadrature VCO

30/60dB Switched Capacitor Filter

A-100 Keyboard/Sequencer

2010 Dark Energy Mono Synth

2011 Dark Time Analog Sequencer

2012 Dark Energy II Mono Synth

From Wikipedia’s article on Doepfer, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Leadership

Who has led Doepfer, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Timeline

  1. 1992Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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