The humble sequential switch

Techno is all about subtle repetition, right? Putting listeners and dancers in a trance, nodding their heads, finding the groove. But how much repetition is too much repetition? Everyone will have their own opinion on this, but a repetitive pattern gets boring faster than it gets exciting. Modular synthesizers and classic analog sequencers are great for creating techno hooks, but how can you break out of the classic 8-16 step patterns, how can you bring in those subtle changes that make the track interesting?

This is where the Doepfer A-151 comes in! Any sequential switch will do; there are many on the market, but this one is great, easy to use, and inexpensive. I see this module as a way to introduce „probabilities“into the modular system. I‘m thinking of Elektron sequencers, but analog and with a few more cables. Clock the switch with a different clock than the one in your sequencer and run any signal through it. Now you can send the gate or modulation anywhere.

Give a VCA or envelope an accent, open the filter a little more, reset your sequencer so it only has seven steps instead of eight. The key thing is that it only happens sometimes, not all the time, so the listener doesn‘t know what might happen next. In a live setting, this is invaluable because there‘s always something interesting happening that‘s controlled by CV while you‘re setting something else with your hands. If you don‘t already have one, you should get a sequential switch. You‘ll find new ways to use your modular system every time you turn it on.

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