{"id":64317,"date":"2023-05-12T15:01:46","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T13:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greatsynthesizers.com\/?p=64317"},"modified":"2026-05-03T16:57:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T14:57:58","slug":"grp-a1-name-it-dr-bassssssssssssssss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greatsynthesizers.com\/en\/review\/grp-a1-name-it-dr-bassssssssssssssss\/","title":{"rendered":"GRP A1 – name it Dr. BASSSSSSSSssssssss"},"content":{"rendered":"

… or Dr. Elegiac-Solo-Voice, come to think of it. The magic words: sub-oscillator and triangle wave. Besides great basses and elegiac voices, the GRP A1 also brings FX sounds (moderately, of course) and gorgeous sequencing sounds \/ performances. Its very special feature, reminiscent of Roland’s immortal TB-303, is the 18 dB VCF with Distortion. Actually – surprise! – the handy GRP A1 turns out to be more of a studio synthesizer than just a little addition to your live gig bag.
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\nBe careful when unpacking …<\/h2>\n

N<\/span>ot really huge (and by no means a Goliath), the GRP A1 arrives solidly packaged. But be careful. Wild handling is not<\/em> recommended, since the synthesizer has metal side panels with unexpectedly sharp edges. So, be careful when unpacking the A1.<\/p>\n

Once the A1 is out of its packaging, you will notice there is no power adapter. The included USB lightning cable enables the synth to be powered from a Mac or PC, of course. But if you wanna use the A1 as stand-alone synth, a corresponding 2.5A (USB) PSU should be handy in you pockets. This was not true in our the case, but after a quick order the matter was checked off: “solved”.<\/p>\n

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Desktop synthesizer and Eurorack module in one package<\/h2>\n

T<\/span>he concept of the GRP A1, a square desktop analog synthesizer with a single VCO, is not new. Way back in 2009, Doepfer launched the DARK ENERGY<\/a>, an extremely successful synth which received many awards. It remained in production as DE II or DE III until 2022.<\/p>\n

In keeping with their own Eurorack tradition, Doepfer also launched the DARK ENERGY in the form of the A-111-5 Synthesizer Voice<\/a>. Thanks to the new AS3394 chip, this A-100 Eurorack module is still available today – either as a standard edition or as a vintage edition.<\/p>\n

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GRP has now implemented a very similar synthesizer concept, whereby the Italian company has combined both systems in one unit. So you can use the GRP A1 as a desktop instrument (as delivered), or remove the synthesizer part and screw the module in your Eurorack modular system.<\/p>\n

The process of transformation is simply exemplary. Remove 4 screws, loosen the A1 front panel and two ribbon cables – and the GRP A1 becomes an Eurorack module with standardized bus connections …
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Features<\/h2>\n

T<\/span>he functions of the GRP A1 are quickly listed:<\/p>\n