Volca Modular sequence length and division (for drone notes)

[deadwing]

Hi

I have two questions that I can’t find on the manual...one I know is possible the other I’m not sure!

First of all: how do I make a sequence of, for example, 13 steps and not 16? I tried erasing a sequence, step recording only the first 13 steps, but the sequence continues on the empty steps until all 16 are done.
The demo sequence n.4 on the Modular lasts 8 steps and then restarts, so is possible to have shorter sequences, but how?

Second question: the tempo division of the sequencer seems 4/4, to every beat of the metronome light is 4 steps/notes. Is there any way to modify this so that is 1/1 and every beat is only one step?
What I need is basically a sequence with very very long notes, like one note lasting 10/20 seconds (without retrigger so a continuous note) and then the next one of another 10/20 seconds, all this in a sequence....so a very long slow sequence.

I already enabled in the globals the full tempo range, but even at 10bpm thr standard sequencer division of 4 notes per beat is way too fast for my needs.

Any thought?

[megamarkd]

To set how long a sequence is, press and hold function then press play. This is active step mode. The active steps (the ones played by the sequencer) are lit up. You can turn off any steps you don't want the sequencer to play. So if you want to make a sequence only eight steps, turn off the last eight step by hitting the them.

You can't set the sequencer time signature, it will always play in 4/4. You can get around this by using an external analogue sequencer, like the SQ-1 and setting it to 1/4.
You can create what are essentially longer sequences by chain sequences, but you can't tie notes between the sequences.

[slug]

From the manual:

"Active step mode
While holding down the FUNC button, press the play button (ACT. STEP) to enter active step mode (the play button will blink). Each step of the current sequence can be turned on/off. Steps that are turned off are disabled and will be skipped during playback and recording."

So just do this and select any thirteen steps.

The Volca Modular sequencer does not have a clock divider like the Volca Keys does, but it does have a 4 x clock divider in the clock section. From your description of want you want i think the easiest way is to drive the Volca Modular by sync cable from an external clock divider, then you can make the sequencer resolution as low as you need compared with other devices being clocked.

[deadwing]

Ah!

Active Steps...for whatever reason...missed to understand that completely, very simple indeed! Thanks

For the clock divider..understood..but I do have a question: there is a clock divider on the Modular, so it can generate divisions of its own clock from the clock outputs patch points...am I right? I tried connecting those outputs to various inputs and indeed it seems a subdivision of its own clock.

In that case isn’t just enough to make one cable that has a patch tip on one side and the minijack (for cv synch input) on the other and connect the cv synch in to one of the outputs of the Volca Modular own clock divider?

From the manual:

"Active step mode
While holding down the FUNC button, press the play button (ACT. STEP) to enter active step mode (the play button will blink). Each step of the current sequence can be turned on/off. Steps that are turned off are disabled and will be skipped during playback and recording."

So just do this and select any thirteen steps.

The Volca Modular sequencer does not have a clock divider like the Volca Keys does, but it does have a 4 x clock divider in the clock section. From your description of want you want i think the easiest way is to drive the Volca Modular by sync cable from an external clock divider, then you can make the sequencer resolution as low as you need compared with other devices being clocked.

[slug]

In that case isn’t just enough to make one cable that has a patch tip on one side and the minijack (for cv synch input) on the other and connect the cv synch in to one of the outputs of the Volca Modular own clock divider?

I like the idea, but if you are using the sync input like that then you cannot also sync with any external devices. Only Volca without a MIDI input!...

[deadwing]

In that case isn’t just enough to make one cable that has a patch tip on one side and the minijack (for cv synch input) on the other and connect the cv synch in to one of the outputs of the Volca Modular own clock divider?

I like the idea, but if you are using the sync input like that then you cannot also sync with any external devices. Only Volca without a MIDI input!...

Yes for what I need I don't need my Modular to be synced with any other external device, even more I'm trying to keep that specific setup as minimal as possible.

My only doubt would be the signal..the Modular clock output is the 3.3v of its own patch cables, while the standard CV sync in I think expects 5.5v..or am I wrong?

.I'll give it a try, if it works I'll report back, having a very slow sequencer woth added stochastic randomness can make it a fantastic ambient machine with a simple external tape delay and the included quite trippy reverb...

[deadwing]

I made the cable but as I suspected doesn’t work...the clock divider of the Volca Modular is at 3.3v like all its internal CVs, while the Sync In expects a standard 5.5v...