music machines: analog.sequencer
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Fri Jul 23 08:34:57 1993
Received: by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA08758; Fri, 23 Jul 93 08:34:09 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from motgate.mot.com by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA08753; Fri, 23 Jul 93 08:34:08 -0400
Received: from pobox.mot.com ([129.188.137.100]) by motgate.mot.com with SMTP (5.67a/IDA-1.4.4/MOT-2.15 for )
id AA03120; Fri, 23 Jul 1993 07:34:07 -0500
Received: from comm.mot.com (il02dns1.comm.mot.com) by pobox.mot.com with SMTP (5.67a/IDA-1.4.4/MOT-2.15)
id AA12614; Fri, 23 Jul 1993 07:34:05 -0500
Received: from dub-tse (dub-tsw1.comm.mot.com) by comm.mot.com (4.1/SMI-4.0)
id AA27486; Fri, 23 Jul 93 07:41:41 CDT
Message-Id: <9307231241.AA27486@comm.mot.com>
Received: by dub-tse
(16.6/16.2) id AA12530; Fri, 23 Jul 93 13:31:14 +0100
From: Peter Cassidy
Subject: Re: hardware sequencer
To: palefox@u.washington.edu (Romeo Fahl)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 13:31:12 BST
Cc: ANALOGUE@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Analogue Mail List)
In-Reply-To: ; from "Romeo Fahl" at Jul 23, 93 5:12 am
Mailer: Elm [revision: 66.25]
Status: OR
> Is one of the Start/Stop inputs triggerable via drum machine? Seems like
> that would be a way to sync it to a MIDI drum machine with a trigger output.
> --
>
> RF
Hmmm. That's a thought. I don't see why not. Both the Start / Stop and
Single Step inputs are active low switched-to-ground type. I know the old
DR50 (the small silver drum machine) sends a 5V pulse out. A VMOS FET or
some small interface would be all that would be needed.
--
Regards,
Peter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| M O T O R O L A B . V . I R E L A N D |
| ----------------------------------------- |
| Peter Cassidy - T.S.E Dublin | Phone : 353-1-840-8866 Ext. 417 |
| MACCVM : C10404 | X400 : peterc@comm.mot.com |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Fri Jul 23 08:34:01 1993
Received: by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA08719; Fri, 23 Jul 93 08:33:14 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from [131.176.17.3] by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA08714; Fri, 23 Jul 93 08:33:08 -0400
Message-Id: <9307231233.AA08714@quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Received: by sihp03.si.estec.esa.nl
(16.7/16.2) id AA00606; Fri, 23 Jul 93 14:39:04 +0100
From: Andrea TONI
Subject: -- Hw seq --
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 14:39:04 MET
Organization: ESA-ESTEC (European Space Research and Technology Center)
Keplerlaan 1 2200 AG Noordwijk (EUROPA)
Phone: Int +31 1719 83606
Fax: Int +31 1719 84697
Machine: HP-UX sihp03 A.B8.05 A 9000/730 941406112
Mailer: Elm [revision: 66.33]
Status: OR
Hi,
.. ehi .. Peter didn't I send you once a simple
circuit for a quick sequencer .. I can't find it anymore
in my mail-log ..
.. and for Rick .. the circuit is from the Dutch Elektuur ..
If Peter can't dig it out .. I can try to look again
where it is .. ANyway it was a very simple thing ..
nothing to compare with the Sq10 .. of course
I have an MFB501 digital sequencer for analog synths
(from a the German Fricke .. ??) that works
more or less in the same way as Richard explain.
Few more extras are :
1 pot for speed
1 rotaryswitch to select notes (12)
1 switch to select the octave-note (1/2/3)
1 rotaryswitch to select lenght of notes (16)
1 momentary step-switch to write the previously selected
note in the pattern-memory.
8 mini-switches used as mini-memory of patterns
It's nice to be able to mix in real-time different pattern ..
the 8 mini-sw are scanned in a polling fashion and if
they are on/off the (1-8) pattern will play.
In doing so you can program and merge 8 different pattern and
manually select them on or off .. pity there is no
way to do this in an automatic way.
Inside the MFB of course there are CPU RAM and ROM .
on the back trig in/out (+ and -) CV out and few more
outs that I can't remember ..
Ciao,
------------------------------------------------ENV---ENV---ENV----------------
Andrea TONI (andrea@sihp03.si.estec.esa.nl) | | |
Planetary and Space VCO-->VCF-->VCA--> DUCATI 900SS
Science Division (SI) | | |
------------------------------------------------LFO---LFO---LFO----------------
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Fri Jul 23 07:21:41 1993
Received: by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA07009; Fri, 23 Jul 93 07:20:29 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from motgate.mot.com by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA07004; Fri, 23 Jul 93 07:20:27 -0400
Received: from pobox.mot.com ([129.188.137.100]) by motgate.mot.com with SMTP (5.67a/IDA-1.4.4/MOT-2.15 for )
id AA00243; Fri, 23 Jul 1993 06:20:25 -0500
Received: from comm.mot.com (il02dns1.comm.mot.com) by pobox.mot.com with SMTP (5.67a/IDA-1.4.4/MOT-2.15 for )
id AA08335; Fri, 23 Jul 1993 06:20:25 -0500
Received: from dub-tse (dub-tsw1.comm.mot.com) by comm.mot.com (4.1/SMI-4.0)
id AA25868; Fri, 23 Jul 93 06:27:56 CDT
Message-Id: <9307231127.AA25868@comm.mot.com>
Received: by dub-tse
(16.6/16.2) id AA12198; Fri, 23 Jul 93 12:17:30 +0100
From: Peter Cassidy
Subject: Re: hardware sequencers
To: ANALOGUE@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Analogue Mail List)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 12:17:29 BST
Mailer: Elm [revision: 66.25]
Status: OR
>
>
> Yes, please decribe the SQ10? I'm sure the list is interested too.
> I don't think hardware sequencers have been discussed before?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rick
> --
> rick@sara.nl
>
> She's a module and she's looking good
>
OK! Here we go ...............
(Thanks to Steven Collins for the loan of the SQ10 !! 8-))
Here's what I know of the Korg SQ10 :
- 3 X 12 Channel Analog sequencer, pot adjusted. The pots are
a *nightmare* to set up. Each note has to be individually
tuned. Channel 3 is normally reserved for the note length.
- Channels 1 & 2 are effectively connected to a single CV/Gate
output. A switch allows the sequencer to sequence these channels
in a few different ways :
(1) Channel A . Stop
(2) Channel A Channel B Stop
(3) Channel A channel B Channel A Channel B ..... free-running
(4) (5) (6) All the above, except single-stepped with a push
button. This is most useful for tuning each note.
Channel C runs in time with the other two channels. It's CV
output can be routed to the sequencer clock CV input,
effectively controlling the on-time for each note. This means
that the note on time for note 1 of channel one is the same for
not 1 of channel 2.
- Beside the sequencer mode switch is the (large) Tempo adjust
knob. It can be made to run *very* fast!!
- Gate signals can be extracted for each note, the idea being that
the last note of your sequence Gate signal is sent to the
reset input, thus defining the sequence length.
- There is a portamento knob for each of channels A and B.
Both channels have a +-1V , +-5V switch, for switching the
range of the two banks of 12 pitch knobs.
- Duty Cycle is adjustable (1 knob only) for the gate output
signal.
- The sequence can start/stop from an external foot switch,
or single-stepped.
- The instrument itself, is about 14" wide, by 8" high and 4"
deep. It's black, with white lettering, and there are three
distinctive rows of 12 knobs across the front of the instrument.
- Input / Outputs (as far as I can remember) :
CV out. Channels A & B gate out.
12 Gate out signals (for each note)
Reset Sequence input. Sequence start/stop input.
Tempo input (CV). Single step input.
- There's a neat little 2-channel mono mixer built in. This is
accessible from three 1/4" jacks on the front panel. It just
sums the two inputs and sends them out.
I think this is about it. Everything, including sockets, is on the
sloping front panel of the machine. It also has a neat bunch of LEDs, one
for each note of Channels A and B (none for C). There's a tempo LED, too.
At the moment, I'm using it to sequence a Yamaha CS5 and a CS15, paralleled
together.
--
Regards,
Peter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| M O T O R O L A B . V . I R E L A N D |
| ----------------------------------------- |
| Peter Cassidy - T.S.E Dublin | Phone : 353-1-840-8866 Ext. 417 |
| MACCVM : C10404 | X400 : peterc@comm.mot.com |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Fri Jul 23 06:38:26 1993
Received: by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA06422; Fri, 23 Jul 93 06:37:39 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from nic.lth.se by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA06417; Fri, 23 Jul 93 06:37:38 -0400
Received: from axisab.axis.se by mail.lth.se with bsmtp
(Smail3.1.28.1 #2) id m0oJKVK-000MTpC; Fri, 23 Jul 93 12:37 MET DST
Received: by axisab.axis.se (/\==/\ Smail3.1.25.1 #25.6)
id ; Fri, 23 Jul 93 12:34 MET DST
Message-Id:
From: ricard@axis.se (Ricard Wolf)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 12:34:35 MET DST
X-Mailer: Mail User's Shell (7.0.1 12/13/89)
To: Rick Jansen , analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Re: Hardware sequencers
Status: OR
> );
>
>
> I'm currently thinking about and designing a hardware sequencer.
> Just to make sure I'm not overseeing something I'd like to see
> some descriptions of ancient hardware sequencers. What did they
> look like, what was possible, etc etc.
There were quite a lot of analog sequencers at one time: the Korg SQ-10 - type,
with one pot for each step. A counter stepped through the pots, so you
could set a different voltage (=pitch, frequency or anything else) for
each step. A portamento feature was usually included. The SQ-10 had 24 steps,
but could run as two channels of 12 steps each (or less, selectable). A
third channel could provide a third control voltage in this mode.
Sequencers like this were built in to some monophonic synthesisers: the
Yamaha CS-30, and a Buchla synth (which I don't remember the name of)
spring to mind.
Tangerine Dream once had a variant of this type designed for them, where
they had rotary switches instead of pots. Pots have the disadvantage
that it's awkward to set accurate pitches, unless you have perfect
pitch or something; a stepped selector like a rotary switch makes this easier,
also meaning you can easily change the sequence while it's running.
A few years ago I built a more digital sequencer, where the control voltages
are stored in a memory chip, like the ones used in microcomputers. The
voltages are stored as values 0..63, with two bits being left over for
gate and legato functions. A D/A on the output converts the binary values
to a voltage. There are four parallel channels on this machine, three
drive D/A converters and a fourth has a digital output for plugging into
my Pro-One-rebuild. I'm sure sequencers like this must have been made
on a commercial basis as well (the EMS Synthi 100 sequencer springs to mind,
but it wasn't produced in large numbers) but I can't think of any
one at the moment.
The step from a digital sequencer to a microcomputer controlled one is small;
the Roland MC-4, MC-8, CSQ series and MSQ series are all microprocessor based,
which gives additional functionality as well as the ability to save
sequences on disk or tape.
Unless you wan't to build a true analog sequencer with pots or rotary switches,
the hassle of designing the digital electronics for a digitial
hardwired sequencer is probably not worth it
these days, compared to designing a simple microcomputer based system, and then
programming it.
Only my $0.02 worth...
/Ricard
--
Ricard Wolf / | \ / | /- email: ricard@axis.se
Axis Communications AB /__| \/ | \__ uucp: axisab.se!ricard
S - 223 70 LUND / | /\ | \ Tel: +46 46 19 18 63
SWEDEN / | / \ | \__/ Fax: +46 46 13 61 30
-- "Never ever never trust a klingon, you will always regret it" --
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Sat Jul 24 23:29:38 1993
Received: by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA09700; Sat, 24 Jul 93 23:28:40 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from jerry.sal.wisc.edu by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA09695; Sat, 24 Jul 93 23:28:39 -0400
Received: by jerry.sal.wisc.edu (5.65/DEC-Ultrix/4.3)
id AA26406; Sat, 24 Jul 1993 22:28:38 -0500
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 22:28:38 -0500
From: rej@jerry.sal.wisc.edu (Randy Jones)
Message-Id: <9307250328.AA26406@jerry.sal.wisc.edu>
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu, andrea@sihp03.si.estec.esa.nl
Subject: Re: -- Hw seq --
Status: O
>I have an MFB501 digital sequencer for analog synths
>(from a the German Fricke .. ??) that works
>more or less in the same way as Richard explain.
>Few more extras are :
Wow. And I thought the Serge one was the bee's knees.
-Randy
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Sat Jul 24 23:26:28 1993
Received: by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA09642; Sat, 24 Jul 93 23:24:59 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from jerry.sal.wisc.edu by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA09637; Sat, 24 Jul 93 23:24:52 -0400
Received: by jerry.sal.wisc.edu (5.65/DEC-Ultrix/4.3)
id AA26387; Sat, 24 Jul 1993 22:24:49 -0500
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 22:24:49 -0500
From: rej@jerry.sal.wisc.edu (Randy Jones)
Message-Id: <9307250324.AA26387@jerry.sal.wisc.edu>
To: ANALOGUE@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu, peterc@comm.mot.com
Subject: Re: hardware sequencers
Status: O
The hardware sequencer in the Serge Modular is really nice.
It's basically the same concept as the SQ-10 described, but
in a 16x4 configuration with an attached touch keypad.
There's one touch-sensitive metalplate and accompanying LED
under each column of knobs. When the plate is touched, the
sequence jumps to that column and resumes from there. There's
a wide variety of retriggering options, and the voltage from
each row is provided as a seperate output.
You can clock the thing externally, and very quickly, like
at audio frequencies. There's a *random* mode.
-Randy
[comes and goes like the wind, footloose and .sigless]
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Mon Jul 26 20:14:26 1993
Received: by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA20045; Mon, 26 Jul 93 20:12:16 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from goren1.u.washington.edu by quark.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA20040; Mon, 26 Jul 93 20:12:14 -0400
Received: by goren1.u.washington.edu
(5.65/UW-NDC Revision: 2.28 ) id AA25942; Mon, 26 Jul 93 17:12:03 -0700
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 17:12:03 -0700
From: Romeo Fahl
Message-Id: <9307270012.AA25942@goren1.u.washington.edu>
X-Sender: palefox@goren1.u.washington.edu
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu, dacc@cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu
Subject: Re: Analog sequencers
Status: O
I noticed that you said that Buchla still _makes_ these sequencers. Does
that mean they still make other analog type gear? I wonder if they have
a catalog.
R.F.
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Mon Jul 26 18:45:06 1993
Received: by top.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA25236; Mon, 26 Jul 93 18:38:30 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu by top.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA25231; Mon, 26 Jul 93 18:38:27 -0400
Received: by cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu (AIX 2.1 2/4.03)
id AA06546; Mon, 26 Jul 93 17:37:24 CDT
From: dacc@cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu (Andrew C. Crowell)
Message-Id: <9307262237.AA06546@cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Analog sequencers
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 93 17:37:22 CDT
In-Reply-To: <199307261844.AA22643@world.std.com>; from "Tom M Moravansky" at Jul 26, 93 2:44 pm
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL5]
Status: OR
Previously, Tom M Moravansky wrote:
>
>
> Can someone give a brief summary of the analog sequencers that were made?
>
> I know of the ARP 16x3 series,
> the EML-400,
> the Korg SQ-10,
> the Serge 16-stage sequencer,
> the Moog, ARP, and Roland sequencers sold with their modular systems
> and that's about it.
>
> Were there any other sequencers with discrete knobs/sliders per stage made?
Well, lessee...there's the several different Serge sequential voltage
sources, which come in varying amounts of stages between four and eight,
and you can get them with or without onboard quantizers. These are Nx3
sequencers, not unlike the keyboard sequencer but w/o the touchplates and
a lot smaller. Then Buchla has a touchplate + sequencer device that's
similar to the Serge model that I've seen on UIUC's Model 200. Buchla also
makes an 8x3 sequential voltage source that's on the 100 I should be getting
in a few weeks, and since there's a Series 100 version of this, there's
most likely a Series 200 version, too. Then EML also has a "something-like-a
sequencer", the Model 300, which is a _weird_ box that has 16 calculator-
button pads, plus 16 knobs for setting the different voltage levels that
correspond to each pad, then there's an onboard LFO/clock that steps thru
all of this if you set it for that. The EML 300 is a weird beastie, and
I've only seen one, in use as a controller for the Moog 900 here at UIUC.
Besides those, well...there's the Synthanorma, which I don't know
anything about, and the Geiss Matrisequencer, which I also don't know
anything about. Any takers on explaining these two devices?
D.A.C. Crowell
Computer Music Project/School of Music
University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
(dacc@cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu)
From analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Tue Jul 27 05:19:19 1993
Received: by bottom.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA08890; Tue, 27 Jul 93 05:07:19 -0400
Errors-To: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Sender: analogue-request@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Received: from cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu by bottom.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (5.65/3.910213)
id AA08885; Tue, 27 Jul 93 05:07:14 -0400
Received: by cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu (AIX 2.1 2/4.03)
id AA07311; Tue, 27 Jul 93 04:06:10 CDT
From: dacc@cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu (Andrew C. Crowell)
Message-Id: <9307270906.AA07311@cmp-rt.music.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Analog sequencers
To: analogue@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 93 4:06:09 CDT
In-Reply-To: <9307270012.AA25942@goren1.u.washington.edu>; from "Romeo Fahl" at Jul 26, 93 5:12 pm
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL5]
Status: O
Previously, Romeo Fahl wrote:
>
> I noticed that you said that Buchla still _makes_ these sequencers. Does
> that mean they still make other analog type gear? I wonder if they have
> a catalog.
Nah..._Serge_ still makes their sequencers. All Buchla makes nowadays is
the Thunder and Lightning controllers...sadly.
DACC.
--
hosted by Hyperreal
This page last updated 1/15/01
home
images of vintage sequencers