ARP2600 - Fundamentals of Music Technology - Cyborgstudio.com

122 - SECTION FIFTEEN: THE ARP SEQUENCEROTHER SEQUENCER CONNECTIONSThere are several other connections which may generally prove useful when learning to use the sequencer.It is possible to use the internal clock on the ARP 2600 to run the sequencer, rather than thesequencer’s own internal clock. This is accomplished by connecting the INT CLOCK OUT jack fromthe S/H module on the 2600 to the jack above the STEP button on the sequencer. Now, each time the2600’s clock pulses, the sequencer will advance one step, and the two are synchronized. The advantageof this connection is that the S/H unit will sample in time with the sequencer, and the electronic switchwill switch in time with the sequencer.Another important connection can be made from the sequencer’s CLOCK OUT jack to the GATE jackunder the AR EG. Now, whenever the sequencer moves to a new step, the EGs will fire. Of course, ifthe sequencer is being controlled by the 2600’s clock as in the last example, all one has to do is to movethe S/H GATE switch to the lower position and the clock will automatically cause the EG’s to fire. TheEGs can then be set to open and close the VCF or VCA for use as a gate.A final connection that bears mentioning is the CV INPUT jack which lies just between the quantizedoutput jacks on the upper right hand part of the sequencer’s panel. This jack accepts any control voltages,but the most common application it to patch the KYBD CV OUTPUT jack from the 2600’s frontpanel to the sequencer’s CV input jack. When different voltages are received at this jack, the sequencerautomatically transposes all of the pitches up or down based on the incoming voltage. This leads tohours of endless fun, since each sequence can constantly move up or down depending upon the keyplayed on the keyboard. For some examples, listen to CD tracks 85-98.THE EVOLUTION OF SEQUENCERSToday’s sequencers have evolved tremendously from their analog ancestors. While a few companiesstill make hardware sequencers, many companies have turned to making software sequencers, whichare computer programs that are extremely powerful.These sequencers allow users to record musical lines in real time by playing them on a keyboardconnected to the computer. This information can then be played back, edited, and stored. The numberof steps they can store is limited only by the amount of memory the computer has, and this limit isusually so high that users never encounter it.Although modern sequencers operate using a system other than the voltage control the 2600 uses,converters are available to convert the modern control signals into control voltages which the ARP2600 can understand. This is very exciting because it means that the power of modern sequencers canbe harnessed and used with the phenomenal sounds of the ARP 2600.