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7. Modular sequencing, part 2 – drums and sync

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Let's pick up where we left off by diving deeper into Voltage Modular Nucleus' Sequencer module. Though we're using Voltage Modular in a DAW here, the instrument is running to its own internal clock. Make sure the Sequencer module's Rate knob is set to 60bpm. 2

You can also sync the Sequencer to your host. Go to your Library and add the Sync Divider module to the rack.

Next, go to the top Transport panel and run a cable from the Sync Out jack to the Sync Divider's Sync In jack. Now run a cable from the Sync Divider's Clock Out to the Sequencer's Ext Clk input. 3

This connects your DAW's transport to the Sequencer by way of the Sync Divider, which is used to determine the beat divisions used by the Sequencer module. Click the Sequencer's Ext Clk button to engage external sync. Run a patch cable from the Transport panel's Play jack down to the Sequencer module's Start input. 4

As you've probably guessed, we'll need to control the Sequencer module's Stop function, too. We'll do that by going to the Transport panel and patch its Stop output jack to the Sequencer module's Stop input. Give it a try. Your DAW is likely playing at a much higher BPM – set it to 120. Now use the Sync Divider's Note Value switch to select 1/8. 5

Let's elaborate a little. Add another Eight-Step Sequencer module, an Oscillator, Filter, Envelope Generator, Amplifier, Distortion, and a Six-Input Mixer. Disconnect the Delay's Output from Main Outs 1L(M) and send the Mixer's Master output to the Main Outs 1L(M) jack instead. 6

Route the Delay's Output to the Mixer's first channel, and the Distortion's Output to its second channel. Pipe the second Amplifier's Output into the Distortion's Input. Funnel the Oscillator's Sine output to the second Filter's Audio In and send that Filter's Low Pass output to the new Amplifier's Input. 7

Send the new Envelope's Env Out to the second Filter's Freq Mod 1 input, as well as the second Amplifier's CV In. If you haven't guessed, this is a completely separate new patch. Now route the new Sequencer's Gate Out to the new Envelope's Gate input. Start the second Sequencer. Use its Step On/Off buttons to activate only steps 1 and 5. 8

Reduce the second Filter's Cutoff to around 35Hz, and crank its Resonance to full. Set the Mod 1 Amount to 175% or so. Now, go to Envelope 3 and kill the Sustain. Set its Decay to around 366ms, and Release to about 100ms. Set Amplifier 2's Response to Expo for more snap, and you have a synthetic kick drum. 9

Finally, connect the second Sequencer to the Transport and Sync Divider in the same way that you did with the first Sequencer, so they're both synchronised to each other and your DAW. Fine-tune the patches, tweak the Delay's time and add and remove steps to your patterns.