SQ1 and MS20 Mini synching to recorded audio

[bigbear]

I am one of those people who like to be able to do odd things with audio. Using MS20/SQ1 this is very possible.

The MS20 has an audio processing input and circuit, so utilising this, I can get a trigger from almost any recorded sound and use this to clock the SQ1.

My main use to date has been to sync the SQ1 to recordings so that I can overdub several sequences. I've also played around with the possibilities of processing a sound with a randomly clocked SQ1 changing the cut off frequency of the MS20 filter.

I start by programming a main "clock" using a short percussive sound - a high conga or bongo is good - to say, 16 to the bar. I then use this to record an 8 to the bar clock and finally a 4 to the bar clock. (I actually use my Alesis D5 with separate outputs to do this in one pass, but it's perfectly feasible to do it one clock at a time.).

I can then play this clock back through the analogue processor of the MS20 and clock the SQ1 with it. The rest of the MS20 is then recorded as the new sequence.

I've had success with handclaps, a ticking clock and some very odd, but interesting results when processing dog barks, a crackly fire, etc.

Hope this is of interest and hasn't been published here before.