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6. Modular sequencing
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Sequencing has been an intrinsic element of modular synthesis from the very beginning. Voltage Modular Nucleus has everything you need to create classic sequencer patches, and we'll show you how to do it. Our previous tutorials used the standalone version of Nucleus, but this time, open the plugin instance in your DAW. 2
Expand the plugin's interface by dragging its lower-right corner. The Library isn't the only way to add a module. Right-click an empty section of the rack, choose Add Module from the pop-up menu, then find the Eight-Step Sequencer in the Controller sub-menu. 3
You need a signal to sequence, so add an Oscillator. One will do for now. While you're at it, add a Filter, a pair of Envelope Generators, and an Amplifier – in other words, a basic synth voice. You can copy the layout shown here. Patch the Oscillator's Square out into the FIlter, and route the Filter's Low Pass output to the Amplifier's Input. 4
Add a Delay module, route the Amplifier's Output into the Delay's Input and then pipe the Delay's Output to the Main Outs' 1L(M). As in our previous tutorial, route one of the Envelope Generators' Env Out to the Amplifier's CV In, and the other Envelope's Env Out to the Filter's Freq Mod 1 input. 5
We've intentionally left out keyboard control, as we'll be using the Sequencer to control our pitch and gates. Go to the Sequencer, find its Gate Out jack and run cables from that to the Envelope Generators' Gate In ports. Click the Sequencer's Start button: playback now triggers the Envelopes. 6
Click the Sequencer's Stop button. Next, find the Sequencer's Output (lower-right corner) and pipe that signal into the Oscillator's Keyb CV input. Note that the Sequencer's Output Quantize button is engaged. This forces each step of the sequence to the nearest note value. When programming musical passages, leave this on to lock steps to semitones. 7
The Sequencer has a row of eight sliders, each with an illuminated button above it. The buttons are used to determine if a step sends a gate to the Gate Out, while the sliders are used to adjust the ‘voltages' sent to the Sequencer's main Output. Go ahead and alter the sliders' values to create a riff. 8
The sound obviously needs some work. Reduce the Amp Envelope's Decay and Release to around 330ms. Turn Sustain all the way down. Reduce the Filter's Cutoff to around 37Hz. Set its Mod 1 Amount to 130% or so. Over to the Envelope controlling the filter: kill Sustain, set Decay to around 500ms or so, and Release to roughly 1000ms. 9
For more motion, you can call up the Mini LFO module. Find it and add it to the rack. Route its topmost Triangle wave output to the Filter's Freq Mod 2 jack, and set Mod 2 Amount to about 60%. We want the LFO to modulate very slowly, so reduce the Mini LFO's Rate 1 knob to around 0.34Hz. Finally, nudge the Filter's Resonance up to 30% or so.