12 

M2SEQ 

Custom Designed Gear

Sequencer

12.01

Introduction

The m2SEQ is an unique Sequencer. The configuration is designed in such way that many variations can be made. It also may serve as a preset unit for 8 parallel voltages by using the manual control together with the Touch Finger Tip unit. The touch units also can be used to manually interrupt the sequence by playing 'notes' in between. For both group divisions you can select a single 32 step sequence, a 2x 16 step or a 4x 8 sequence. The 'group' change also can be triggered externally and thus allows pseudo random patterns. A touch unit lets you set the maximum steps from 1...8 and 3 gate programs can be programmed with dip switches, extracted and/or switched to a single output. An internal clock generator is available but also external clocking may be applied. The internal clock also can be extracted to synchronize other clock driven devices. 3 start/stop modi are available. A single shot (run) or run while start/stop is depressed and a foot switch also can be applied. Also unique is the step time programming switch bar: it lets you set for each of the 8 steps, how many clock pulses a step will last (1...16). This allows exotic patterns. Each step also can be set to a variable length GATE output with a control per step. 4 voltage control groups - each with 8 voltage sliders, Range control and up/down switch - are available. Per group also a Slew Limiter ( Portamento ) is available. To complete, 8 so called Quantizers are available to round up the analogy voltages a to quantified V/Oct output. For each Quantizer you can select a melody pattern to which will be quantified. This pattern function is voltage controlled and also controllable by an external voltage. The 'Portamento' unit can be switched before or after the Quantizer to generate the normal Portamento or a slide-step at 1/12 V/Oct.

Because the m2SEQ is completely modular, you can make many alternative patches to explore your creativity and originality. Also, if you do not make any external patches, you still can change the setup by using the routing switches and the Voltage Control parameter settings.

The total dimensions of the m2SEQ: 44,8 x 50 Cm (17,64 x 19,98 Inch)

The m2SEQ served many projects and now will be completely renovated and expanded to serve a new owner. The front panel will be airbrushed in full colour to match a modern exclusive look (see to view how this can look like or have a glance at the illustration below. The 'total view' illustration at the top of this M2seq item shows you the current design plan for the setup and panel colours.

The m2SEQ also can be newly build, based on the case and IN/OUT types that you prefer.

See pricelist

12.03

Block Diagram

The Simplified Block Diagram below, shows you all the modules in their functionality and inter linked setup.

12.05

m2SEQ Core Sequencer features

Clock (CK) Generator:

The Clock generator serves the timing process. It includes a start/stop touch switch, external start/stop inputs. CK output, Frequency Range switch and Frequency control (speed).

  • Start/Stop or Start/Hold switch / input I
    Lightly to touch start and stop switch. Also to be controlled by a 'pull down' momentary foot switch.
  • Start/Stop input II
    Start/stop' pulsed input. With On/Off switch. Internally interconnected via this input to the DIL gate programming switches selector (A,B,C) to enable a programmed single run at input pulse or with the Start/Stop switch command.
  • Frequency (Seq. Speed)
    With this control pot, you can determine the all over SEQ step speed.
  • Frequency Range switch
    Sets the Frequency range that can be generated with the Frequency control pot. H (High) runs 1800 BPM to 120 BPM and L (Low) from 1000 BPM to 5 BPM
  • CK output
  • CK LED indication
  • Start/Stop input II LED indication
  • Start/Stop mode LED indication

Basic Sequencer Control

The Basic Sequencer Control unit is controlled by the Clock generator. Unique are the 16-pos switch bars to set for each of the 8 steps individually the length of each step from 1 to 16 Clock pulses (time intervals). This allows exotic and irregular beats. The amount of steps the basic Sequencer can be set with a so called Finger Tip Touch unit. It sets the basic Sequencer from 2 to 8 steps. This controls the Sequencer Finger Tip Touch unit that indicate with 8 LEDs the steps and allows you also manually play the Sequencer with your finger and to interrupt manually. You can set a GATE length for each step and program 3 Gate patterns. Several other logic controls are available. The 8 step basic Sequencer is fed to the 4 groups and then expanded to a maximum of 32 steps.

  • Clock control
    With a switch you can select between internal or External Clock control. Another switch lets you trigger (to Clock) the core seq. unit at its positive going or negative going edge.
  • Seq Max. Steps amount
    With a Finger Tip Touch unit you can set 2 to 8 step basic sequence (LED indicated).
  • Step duration Time
    Each step counts a 16 position push switch bar to select the time duration: 1... 16 Clock pulse duration.
  • Gate Time per Seq. step
    Each Seq. Step counts a control pot to set the time duration of the gate pulse: 1...16 Clock pulses.
  • Gate Time
    The with the control pots programmed gate time per step is available with an output and is indicated by a LED.
  • New Step Pulse
    A NSP output is available. Both positive and negative going trigger pulses. They serve to synchronize other modular modules - both analogy and digital. This pulse is a must because more Clock pulse may be programmed for a single step (with the switch bars).
  • Core Sequencer Finger Tip Touch unit
    This Touch unit is controlled by the Seq. logic and can be interrupted by touching the Finger Tip contacts. It indicated with 8 LED's the current Seq. position.
  • SEQ/MAN Switch
    Switch between Seq. run or manual (play the touch unit as a keyboard / use it a preset unit).
  • INT / EXT Switch
    Select between controlling the Core Seq. unit normally (by all the internal logic) or by 8 external to apply data signals (computer interface for example). An 8-pin DIN input jack connects.
  • Gate/Trigger Programming switches
    With 3 programmable DIL switch bars (A, B, C), you can program at which step(s) a gate signal will be produced. Each section also lets you switch between Gate or Trigger and an extra selection switch and output lets you select between A, B or C.
12.07

m2SEQ Group features

Group idea

Based on an 8 step core Sequencer unit, this section allows you to set the four 8-step groups in a sequence to expand to 2 times 16 step or 1 time 32 step, besides the 4 times 8 step mode. Extra logic outputs are add to synchronize/control other units and a group control logic input lets you also externally control the group change to allow pseudo random patterns. Each group is followed by a Slew Limiter (SL) to generate the 'Portamento' effect and a Quantizer. The SL can be routed before or after the Quantizer to also generate a tone stepping to the next step (stepped Portamento) with the SL speed as a control how fast this stepping should take place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Step Voltage
    8 groups allow you to set the control voltage independently per step of the core Sequencer. Each group counts a Range control and an up/down switch.
  • Slew Limit
    Each group has its own Slew Limit control to set how fast a voltage change due to a Seq. step change is followed (Portamento). The Slew Limiters also can be patched externally because there inputs also are available.
  • Outputs
    Each group has a normal, Slew Limit, and selectable output (select between normal and Slew Limit).
  • group binding switch
    With this switch you select how groups will be controlled (bind). You can select 4x8. 2x16 or 1x 32 step. In the 4x8 mode, all groups are steered parallel. In the 2x16 mode, groups I, III are parallel controlled and followed by group II and IV. In the 1x32 mode, the groups are sequentially steered: I, II, III, IV.
  • Group Change Control
    An input allows you to control the group change also externally. Normally the group changes is controlled by an internal 'Group Change' pulse but with the external input you can let other modules serve this. with a switch you can elect between extern or intern group control signal.
  • Group Change program
    With a DIP switch you can set at which step a channel change must be initiated. Notice that with this separated program in context with the Sequencer variation from the core unit can generate an interesting complexes that leads to pseudo patterns.
  • Group Indication
    With 4 LEDs it is indicated which group is active (I, II, II, IV)
  • Quantizer
    Each group counts a so called Quantizer to round the analogy voltage to the nearest 1/12V/oct level.
    Each Quantizer has its own in/outputs and Level Shift control. Also a switch is available for each group to swap the order of the SL unit in relation to the Quantizer (Portamento after the Quantizer of before to generate stepping slides).
12.08

m2SEQ Extra Group

To expand to 8 groups


To expand to 8 groups an extra panel is add. It completes the width of the m2seq to a 19 inch wide box. For this group no sliders are used - instead turn pot controls. The features are equal as described above for the other groups.

12.10

Clock Generator (CK)

The Clock generator serves the timing process. It includes a start/stop/hold touch switch, external start/stop inputs. CK output, Frequency Range switch and Frequency control (speed).

12.11

CK Frequency

12.12

CK Range

12.13

CK output

12.14

Start/Stop/Hold

12.15

LED indication

12.20

Basic Sequencer

12.21

Clock control

12.22

Steps amount

12.23

Step duration

12.24

Gate Time

12.25

New Step Pulse

12.26

Tip Touch unit

12.27

SEQ/MAN switch

12.28

INT/EXT switch

12.29

Gate Program

12.30

Groups

12.31

group binding

12.34

Group Change

12.37

Slew Limit

12.39

Quantizer

   
 

13

PRV&PRS 

Custom Designed Gear

Signal Rigger 

13.01

Introduction

This device, named a mouth full as the 'Pseudo & Pseudo Random Voltage Processor II and the Pseudo Random Sequencer', allows you to generate Control Voltage, Gate and Signal patterns in a unusual way. The idea of this design was based on the Sequencer principles but, with introducing an alternative control setup and new ideas in creating patterns it became more than this.

This device is versatile in its functionality. You may use it as a random voltage/pattern generator with 3 control groups and using the PRS unit as a normal 8 step Sequencer. With some remarkable feedback possibilities this combination also may generate amazing pseudo patterns which are a real joy to experiment with. You also can use modules from the device to create certain new output signals which are related to external signals and synchronize to function as Control Voltage or Gate signals for your main setup and introduce parameter changes to make your strictly defined synthesizer preset become more alive.

This device is designed in a very prosaic way. No wild musical and poetic ideas as often were the case when designing a new device. No, instead pure theory in the abstracts of voltages and their logic's in controlling. Nevertheless, the result became a tool which allowed dreamy experimenting with poetic results.

This device counts many controls on its panel - as usual for my designs - and might be on of the hardest device to fully understand its potential. The base function as a pattern generator and a Sequencer are easy to understand and possible to clarify but, all the alternative ways to use the device or modules from it, requires understanding what each module is doing on an abstract signal level. By understanding the abstracts you can start dreaming about possible setups and work with the device based on intuition.

13.01

Features

  • VC CKO (Clock Generator)
    The Voltage controlled Clock Generator with manual Frequency control, frequency range switch to set Low, Medium and High (audio) range, External Control Voltage input (-5V...+5V) to control/modulate the frequency (FM). Delivers a +5V squared clock signal.
  • PRV control inputs
    Two inputs are available (A and B) A, B and A-B drive together with divided deviations from the A-B signal drive the PRV groups.
  • Input Divider
    The divider divides incoming Signals (normally the Clock pulse from the VC CKO) 2 and 4 times. The A-B and divided signals are brought out by 3 outputs for external patching/use.
  • Group feed switch
    With 5 channel switches you can select whether the channels of the 3 groups are linked to their internally linked PRV drive signals or to the PRS sequencer (and thus extending sequencer groups with max. 3 groups of 5 channels (steps).
  • PRV Groups
    3 groups (X, Y, Z) with each 5 channels are available. They mix the 5 signals applied to the groups - either internal generated signals or external applied signals. With the 3x5 sliders you can set the amplitude for each channel to generate sequences, patterns and random voltages or dynamic shifting and mixing. Each channels of each group has its own channel ON/OFF switch to easily vary in real time the effect of the output compilation in its contextual use without the need to change the slider settings.
  • Group outputs
    Each group (X,Y, Z) has its own output. The X group also has an inverted output.
  • Slew Limiters
    3 Slew Limiters are available - each group is internally linked to one but they also may be patched freely to be used independently. The Slew Limiters are meant to Slow Down (to slew / to delay) the signal mix from the groups. A stepping signal sequence thus can be transformed to analogy smooth growing and shrinking signal pattern.
  • Window Comparator
    This module lets you define a analogy voltage window to extract a gate/trigger signal from. You can set the under level (Low level) - the trigger level - and the upper level (High level) the fall down level. It is very useful to Gate/Trigger other modules in a specific and alternating way. It also plays an important role in the internally linked feedback setup to generate pseudo patterns.
  • Pseudo Random Sequencer
    A BCD (Binary Coded to Decimal) driven 8 + 2 step sequencer. Internally driven by the VC-CKO and its divided signals to function as a normal sequencer but, also possible to be externally controlled (A, B, C, D inputs) for alternative and experimental purposes. Each control input has an ON/OFF switch.
  • Source input
    Besides the regular Voltage Reference needed in a Sequencer setup, you also may apply any external source signal. This opens the horizon to many purposes of using this module - unusual for sequencers in general. Both AC (audio) and DC (control) signals may be applied. To go short: you can sequence any dynamically changing signal in amplitude.
  • Amplitude slider group
    10 sliders are available to set the Amplitude of each step.
  • Slew Limiter
    The Sequencer output is internally linked to a Slew Limiter. This SL module also can be patched freely.
  • TGE - Trigger/Gate Extractor
    With this module you can extract a gate or Trigger signal. It is a level based comparator and normally functions as a Gate/Trigger pattern generator, based on the Sequencer output.





13.02

Block Diagram

13.032

CK generator

13.04

PRV input

13.05

PRV groups

13.06

PRV Outputs

13.07

Slew Limit

13.08

Window comparator

13.09

Suggestions

13.10

PRS

13.11

Inputs

13.12

Sequencer

13.13

Outputs

13.14

Slew Limit

13.15

TGE

13.19

Suggestions

   
 

14

Q-S&H 

Custom Designed Gear

Sample & Hold 

14.00

Introduction

The heart of this unit is a Sample & Hold module with a musically tuned (Quantified) output response. With the Voltage Controlled Clock generator you can set the Sample & Hold rate. With the Slew Limiter you can generate the Portamento effect or a tuned step up/down sequence. With use of the logic divider, you can synchronize this module or other external modules in a special way. With The DLG (Dead Line Gate), you can experiment with generating Dynamic Gate Patterns, based on the Logic and Analogue Control relationship.

The 5 modules can be used individually by using patch cables or in conjunction with each other by using the internal linked setup and routing switches.

This unit combines very well with the P&PRV&PRS unit.

14.01

Features

Q-S&H

  • Quantified adjustable output
    63 notes output range with V/OCT panel adjustment and precision reference voltage.
  • Two analogy Inputs with depth control
    To mix two sources. With routing switches.
  • Analogue input Shift Control
    To transpose the input signal
  • External Sample (Trigger) input
    Allows to use the Q-S&H also to be used as an external synchronized Quantizer or S&H
  • Two Outputs
    Two Quantified outputs for easy external patching.

VC Clock generator

  • Voltage Controlled
    The frequency can be controlled by a voltage.
  • Manual & External Control
    With the MAN control pot, you can set the center frequency. With the External control (The ECV input, routing switch and the Depth control port), you can dynamically change frequency (Sample rate in conjunction with the S&H module).
  • Up/Down going outputs
    Two outputs: one in reverse with the other.
  • Inhibit control
    You can use the generator in a Start/Stop modus by using the Inhibit input.
  • Inhibit Response Level
    With this control pot you can determine at which input level the generator Inhibits. This allows an analogy control voltage to be attached to be converted to a Start/Stop pulsing pattern.
  • Frequency / Inhibit LED indication
    With a Bicolour LED both Frequency and Inhibit modus is indicated.

Divider

  • Div Selector (odd & even)
    Select the dividing factor of an input signal (from 1x to 10x plus a 20x position)
  • Add (Burst) select
    By adding the input signal to the divided signal, you can create a Burst pulse train.
  • CK Input
    Both Digital (logic) and Analogue signals can be applied. It thus also can function as a divider & Distortioner for audio signals.
  • Reset
    With the Reset switch you can manually interrupt the dividing process. In particular useful in a slow rate mode.
  • LED indication
    The output result is displayed by a LED.
  • Outputs
    The divided signal and its reverse counterpart is available.

Slew Limiter

  • Slew Control
    To delay the rise and fall of an input signal
  • Input & Switch
    The input signal can be both digital (logic) and Analogue. With the routing switch you can select to patch the SL module before the Q-S&H or after it. This results in a tuned stepping or a Sliding (Portamento) sequence.

Dead Line Gate (DLG)

Lets you set a level at which level point from the Analogue input the applied gate signal is eliminated and consequently at which level the applied gate is conducted. This is interesting to create dynamic gate patterns in conjunction with the Q-S&H output and its controlling signals.

  • Inputs
    3 Inputs signals determine the output result (they can be Digital or Analogue signals):
    • The A input normally is an analogy signal (e.g. S&H output) to be compared with the MAN/ECV level.
    • The MAN/ECV input is an adjustable level mixed with an external applied signal (e.g. LFO or Sequencer)
    • The G input normally is a logic signal (e.g. Q-S&H trigger input) which gets eliminated periodically based on the condition of the two other inputs.
  • A input
    Can be any signal. Functions as the dynamic lead signal.
  • MAN control level
    To set the fixed level of turning point in relation to the A input (gate or non-gate).
  • ECV input
    The same as with the MAN control but, external and/or dynamically.
  • G input
    Any input signal but mainly meant to connect to a Gate / Trigger Stream. The G input is suppressed in the DLG output when the MAN/ECV input level exceeds the A input.
  • LED indication
    The output result (DLG) is displayed by a LED. This is a Bicolour LED, indication with Red when the gate is in a 'dead-line' modus and Off/Green when the gate (G input) is passed through.
14.02

Block diagram

The Simplified Block Diagram below, shows you all the modules in their functionality and inter linked setup.

14.10

Q-S&H

14.20

VC Clock generator

14.30

Divider

14.40

Slew Limiter

The SL unit with its SLEW control is basically a Low Pass Filter. But, it is not meant to be a filter for audio signals, although possible. Instead it functions as a rigorous delay for control signals. With the SLEW control you can set the Attack & Release time to respond with to an input signal.

The input of the SL module is through a routing switch connected with either the Q-S&H INP A input or to the Q-S&H output through the external input by its internal link. With the SLEW control you can turn from a rapid voltage change to a slower voltage change.

For clarity the illustration shows you how the SL unit responds on a Squared input signal. You can see that the SL unit can SLOW (SLEW) down the response time. It delays the voltage rise and fall (the attack and release).

When applying a keyboard V/Oct voltage or Sequencer output and then connection this to a VCO, the SL unit acts like a Portamento generator.

14.45

Alternative use

14.50

Dead Line Gate (DLG)

14.60

Suggestions

   
 

15

title 

Custom Designed Gear

 

15.01

15.xx

 

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