Overview

This is a general purpose sequencer for generating CV signals. It can be used to generate values that are appropriate for specifying pitch intervals, velocity values, or general purpose modulation signals. It shares several features common to all other sequencing modules in Numerology, such as the MonoNote, but it specializes in generating CV sequences as opposed to MIDI sequences. It is the job of other modules, such as the Note Output modules to determine what to do to that signal, such as using it to generate pitches.

If you're not sure what a CV signal is, be sure to read the Signals chapter.

Prototypes: Interval, Velocity & Modulation

In Numerology's Module Library, there are three prototypes for the CV Sequencer, each somewhat customized to perform a specific task.

• IntervalSeq : This version is customized for generating pitch intervals.
• VelocitySeq : This version is customized for generating velocity values.
• ModulationSeq : This is the most general purpose version of the CV Sequencer. It is setup to generate a generic modulation signal, and it also has an integrated ParamMod function.

These prototypes make it easier to build a stack with several sequencing modules in it. For instance, to build a common setup for 'discrete' sequencing, add an IntervalSeq, a GateSeq, a VelocitySeq, a NoteGen and an AudioUnit Synth to a stack. The settings for these prototype modules are already configured for such use, and Numerology will even auto-route the modules so that they communicate properly. For more details on discrete sequencing, see the Numerology Techniques video on it.

Integrated Parameter Modulation

The ModulationSeq prototype has a significant feature that the other two prototype modules do not: an integrated Param Mod function. Settings for this feature reside in the advanced settings panel. This is Numerology's primary mode of automation, and is a very powerful way to add animation to a composition.

Setup is very simple:

• Open the advanced settings panel for the module by clicking on the little triangle icon in the lower-left corner of the module.
• Un-mute the ParamMod section.
• Choose the target module you would like to modify.
• Choose the target parameter for that module.
• Some parameters are indexed, such as sequencer steps. If you choose such a parameter, you also need to choose which indexed item to modify.

When you choose a target parameter, the output range for the module will be adjusted to match the legal value range for the target parameter. You may want to then further adjust the output range to get specific results.

Sequenced Parameters

All of the sequenced parameters in the CV Sequencer are accessed via rows of controls (either sliders or buttons) that live in the center-section of the front panel of the module.

The step labels are in a row along the top of the sequenced parameters section. They are not parameters in themselves, but two important non-sequenced parameters are embedded here: the start step (which has a green marker), and the end step (which has a red marker). Together, these two settings (drag them with the mouse to change them) set the range of steps that are 'active' in the sequence. For instance, the easiest way to set the length of the sequence to 8 steps is to drag the end step to step 8. These parameters are completely flexible: the start can come after the end step, or they can even be the same (for a one-step sequence).

This row of buttons allows you to remove a step completely from the sequence. This is a surprisingly useful feature for creating variations on a sequence -- particularly during a live performance. For instance, if you have a 4 step sequence: C, D, E, F, and you skip the 2nd step, you will then have a 3 step sequence: C, E, F. This feature was first implemented by the Moog 960 sequencer. Changing pitch values on the 960 was a rather time-consuming process that could not be done during a performance. Instead, users of the 960 could create variations in their sequence by 'playing' the skip switches on the sequencer. This was done to great effect by Tangerine Dream, such as on the classic album "Rubycon".

To the left of the skip buttons is a small action menu with several items that operate on the skip steps. These are very handy for manipulating the state of the skip buttons.

• Skip One
• Skip a Few
• Skip Some
• Skip Most
• Skip All
• Unskip One
• Unskip a Few
• Unskip Some
• Unskip Most
• Unskip All

This is where you set the CV values in your sequence. The range of available values is set by the range parameter described below.

This row of buttons appears between the pitch row and the timing row. It allows you to select arbitrary sets of sequencer steps for further modification. In particular, anytime a slider for a selected step is moved, all other selected steps will moved by the same relative amount.

As with the skip steps, there is an action menu to the left of the select row that has some handy operations you can perform on the select buttons:

• Select One
• Select a Few
• Select Some
• Select Most
• Select All
• Unselect One
• Unselect a Few
• Unselect Some
• Unselect Most
• Unselect All

To the left of the sequencer, there are several controls grouped into two sections. From top to bottom, they are the transport controls, and the sequencer's rate and direction controls.

Performs an immediate reset of the sequencer. Useful for generating out-of sync rhythmic effects.

This is a two-state button that allows you to start and stop the sequence. By default, this control is tied to the master transport. You can change this behavior by changing the RunMode of the sequencer.

This sets the overall length of the sequencer, which can be up to 128 steps long.

This parameter is very similar to hard sync, but instead of resetting the sequence after a set number of beats, this one resets it after a set number of steps.

This applies a mild low-pass filter on the output of the module, causing it's values to be smoothed out.

If you chose "custom" in the Range menu, this is where you set the minimum and maximum values of that range.

This allows you to determine how each step in the sequence is labeled. There are three options:

• Numeric : Pitch interval values are displayed as semitone values.
  
  
• Interval : I : This choice is suitable when using the sequencer to generate pitch intervals. Values are displayed using the following interval notation for each of the twelve intervals in an octave
  • I : unison, the base tone
  • ii : minor second
  • II : major second
  • iii : minor third
  • III : major third
  • IV : perfect fourth
  • v : tritone
  • V : perfect fifth
  • vi : minor sixth
  • VI : major sixth
  • vii : minor seventh
  • VII : major seventh
  • 8va : perfect eighth (octave)
  
  
  
• Interval : M : This choice is also suitable when using the sequencer to generate pitch intervals. Values are displayed using the following interval notation for each of the twelve intervals in an octave
  • U : unison, the base tone
  • m2 : minor second
  • M2 : major second
  • m3 : minor third
  • M3 : major third
  • P4 : perfect fourth
  • tt : tritone
  • P5 : perfect fifth
  • m6 : minor sixth
  • M6 : major sixth
  • m7 : minor seventh
  • M7 : major seventh
  • P8 : perfect eighth (octave)

Mutes the sending of ParamMod events from this module. This parameter is only available in the ModulationSeq prototype.

Sets the target module you wish to modify. This parameter is only available in the ModulationSeq prototype.

Sets the target parameter of the module to modify. This parameter is only available in the ModulationSeq prototype.

Some parameters are indexed, which means that for one parameter name, there may be multiple values that can be modified. Set the index of the value you want to modify here. This parameter is only available in the ModulationSeq prototype.

This read-only parameter shows what value is being set on the target parameter. This parameter is only available in the ModulationSeq prototype.

This sets the maximum rate of param-mod changes. Lower rates use less CPU overhead, but may be too coarse for the effect you are looking for. This parameter is only available in the ModulationSeq prototype.

Module Run Mode Settings : Customized Playback

These four parameters (Play Mode, Beat Quantize, Loop & Auto Reset) provide a wide range of possible options for triggering playback of the sequencer from an external CV source, such as another sequencer. To view this dialog, click on the 'E' button just below the mini-transport for the module.

This controls how playback of the sequencer starts and stops. The normal mode is for the sequencer to be tied to the master transport of the project, starting and stopping automatically. But you can also set the sequencer to be fully independent, or remotely triggered via a CV trigger.

• Normal : The sequencer starts and stops with the master transport.
  
  
• Manual : The sequencer starts and stops when you use the play/stop buttons on the front panel of the module.
  
  
• CV Trig: Play : The sequencer will start playing when it receives a trigger on its "CV Trig" input. It will stop when the master transport stops.
  
  
• CV Trig: Gated : The sequencer will start playing when it receives a "gate on" value on its "CV Trig" input, and will continue until the gate value goes "off".
  
  
• CV Trig: Toggle : The sequencer will start playing when it receives a trigger on its "CV Trig" input, and will stop the next time it gets a trigger.
  
  
• CV Trig: Step : The sequencer will advance one step for each "gate on" value on its "CV Trig" input.

When this is on, which is the default, any playback triggers are quantized in time to the following beat. In general, this is the behavior you want for "live MIDI" triggers, as it makes it much easier to time the triggering of a sequence. For CV triggers coming from other modules within Numerology, you will probably want this turned off.

This determines whether the sequencer will keep playing when it gets to the last step of the sequence (by auto-resetting to the first step of the sequence). When this is off, the sequence is considered to be a "One-Shot" : it plays once, and that is it.

This determines if a sequence resets (returns to it's start step), when it is stopped. It is almost always on, but when turned off, can result in some interesting playback behavior.

Ports

This is where clock signals are input to the module. All sequencers must have a clock signal in order to run. By default, each sequencer's clock in port is connected to the "Clock" port on the Stack Input module, which in turn is connected to the master clock for the project.

This input is used in conjunction with one of the "CV Trig" Run Modes, and allows you to control playback of the sequence from any CV source, usually another sequencer.

This is the main output port for CV values generated by the sequencer. It will have a different name based on which prototype of the CV Sequencer you add to your stack.

A 1-sample trigger is generated on this CV output each time the sequencer begins a new step.

This CV output always carries the step number of the sequencer, which is it's current location.