The SuperMoe Modular Sequencer Project

Why call it SuperMoe?

Well, on the MOTM mailing list I'm known as Moe sometimes, and there's also a Larry, a Curly, and a Shemp. I guess you had to be there<g>... Since I stink at thinking up imaginative names for projects, I called it SuperMoe.

Why build a sequencer yourself?

I have designed a series of modular analog step sequencer components (dubbed SuperMoe), for my MOTM synthesizer. Why? Because there's nothing available in the MOTM format yet, because nothing is being built today with the combination of features and technology that I want, and because it's fun.

DAB-1016 Counter

This is the basic module for generating up to 16 addresses. It is nothing more than a 4 bit counter with all the control inputs and outputs exposed. Multiple units can be cascaded by plugging CARRY and BORROW outputs to UP CLK and DN CLK inputs.  In addition, the preset input is available on the pcb for external control from the DAB-1018.

Inputs - UP CLK, DN CLK, HOLD, and RESET. A red LED indicates HOLD status.

Outputs - ADDRESS 0 - 3, BORROW and CARRY (indicates underflow and overflow). Amber LEDs indicate the current binary count.

DAB-1018A Address Generator Interface

This 8U module was designed to provide flexible real- time live performance capabilities for the sequencer. It connects to a DAB-1016 behind the panel and takes over control of the counter. Notice that the jacks are at the top of this module - it is designed to be mounted in a smaller performance enclosure close to the performer.

Each of the 8 stages contains two rotary switches, a pushbutton, and an amber indicator LED. The next stage to be selected is determined by the settings of the mode knob for the current stage. Reversal of  direction and stage skipping are supported as well as stopping and selection by control voltage. The pushbutton overrides other settings to force stage selection immediately. An onboard analog to digital converter allows stage selection by control voltage. The CV input may be set to immediately override everything, or to select the next stage only if desired. A pulse/gate buss allows two outputs for driving other modules, and can provide gates or pulses.

The second rotary switch selects a fixed control voltage to be output from the 1018's DURATION jack. These are used to control a 1V/Octave VC Clock in musical terms of quarter note, eighth note, eighth note triplet, etc.

Inputs - CV IN, SET 9-16, pushbutton SET 9-16.

Outputs - POSITION 9-16, PULSE 1, PULSE 2, DURATION CV. Amber LEDs indicate the current stage.

Connections behind the panel - ADDR 0-3, PRESET 0-3, LOAD, RESET (from DAB-1016 Counter); STOP, UP, DOWN (from DAB-1017 Clock Controller); CV, STOP, RESET, SKIP, REV buss, ADDR 0-3, SET 1-8 (from DAB-1018B).

DAB-1018B Address Generator Interface

This module is a slave expander to the DAB-1018A and provides control over the other 8 stages. It is 7U wide. 

Inputs - SET 1-8, pushbutton SET 1-8.

Outputs - POSITION 1-8. Amber LEDs indicate the current stage.

Control voltage, gate, and pulse generation modules:

DAB-1084 Control Voltage Generator

This is an 8U wide, addressable control voltage source consisting of 8 columns of 4 pots. It has built in capability of supplying simultaneous 8x4, 16x2, or 32x1 outputs without mode switching or external patching! This is similar to the Serge TKB ABCD output, but taken a couple steps further. The 8 'D IN' jacks allow for CV or audio signal injection into the D row, for simple wave sequencing or special CV effects. 

Inputs - X0 - X2 (horizontal address), Y0 - Y1 (vertical address), OUTPUT INHIBIT (positive logic), OUTPUT INHIBIT (negative logic), 1D IN - 8D IN.

Outputs - A, B, C, D OUT (8x4 outputs), AB, CD OUT (16x2 outputs), ABCD OUT (32x1 output). 8 amber LEDs for column position. 4 green LEDs for 32x1 row position. 4 green LEDs for 16x2 row position. 1 red LED for output inhibit status.

Sequence timing modules:

DAB-1017 Clock Controller

This module turns a free running clock or LFO into a controlled clock. It contains both inputs, switches, and pushbuttons for starting and stopping the clock outputs. The outputs appear at either the UP CLK or DN CLK jacks depending on the direction, which is set by inputs or a switch. Both the run and direction states are controlled in the same manner - for instance, if the RUN switch is in the middle INPUT SET position, a pulse on the START jack causes the clock to run until the STOP button is pressed or a pulse is sent to the STOP jack. If the switch is set to START, the clock runs unless a logic level high is present at the STOP input, and starts again when the high is removed. Setting the switch to STOP works similarly - the clock is stopped unless gated on by a logic level high at the START input.

Inputs - CLK IN, START, STOP, UP, DOWN, START, STEP, and STOP pushbuttons.

Outputs - CLK OUT, UP CLK, DN CLK, RUN OUT (provides a pulse when run state starts). Two bicolor LEDs for direction and run states.

DAB-1000 Dual VC Clock

This module has two LFOs, optimized as clocks with 1V per octave inputs. Each has a PULSE only output, and a PWM input. When no PWM input is present, the output is square. When the DUR output of the DAB-1016 controls the frequency, rhythmically accurate variations may be obtained on the fly by switching the durations to different  intervals.

Inputs: 1V/OCT A, 1V/OCT B, PWM A, PWM B.

Outputs: OUT A, OUT B. Two red LEDs indicate rate.