Oberkorn User Manual Analogue Sequencer Analogue Solutions
Oberkorn User Manual CONTENTS What is an analogue sequencer? ...................................................................................... 4 That’s all very well (and technical) but what would I use it for? .......................................... 4 ABOUT THIS MANUAL AND ABOUT ANALOGUE GEAR.................................................... 5 SPECIFICATION ..................................................................................................................
Oberkorn User Manual NOTES ABOUT THIS MANUAL EURORACK OBERKORN Eurorack Oberkorn is identical to Oberkorn except that the Eurorack version does not include the MIDI to Trigger/Clock feature, since the MIDI sockets for this feature go on the rear panel. Since Eurorack module version does not have a rear panel, there is nowhere to fit the MIDI sockets (there is no spare space on the Eurorack Oberkorn front panel). If you need MIDI-Trigger converters then our module MT9 provides 9 trigger outs.
Oberkorn User Manual WHAT IS AN ANALOGUE SEQUENCER? My definition of an analogue sequencer (since others may slightly disagree) is a device that will sequentially output a series of varying voltages (CVs) and gate conditions over time. Sequencers (and when I use this word I will always be referring to analogue ones unless I state otherwise) will typically be 8-16 steps. The Oberkorn has 16 steps.
Oberkorn User Manual ‘groove’. You will have achieved this in a way that you could never do with a software sequencer. If you have never tried it, search for our YouTube videos for proof. I have met people who have never used an analogue sequencer. Though they have heard of them, they have never realized what they could do for them.
Oberkorn User Manual SPECIFICATION CV channels Channels A and B have a portamento function (labeled Glide). All three channels have transpose inputs and output level attenuators. CV range is approx. 0-5v. Gate channels 2 Gate voltage approx. 10v.
Oberkorn User Manual CVS AND GATES – WHAT ARE THEY? This is not a complete beginner’s guide to analogue synthesizers, but here is a very brief explanation. A CV (control voltage) is a varying voltage that can be used to control a parameter of an analogue synth. Which parameter really depends on the synth. Most synth’s have at least a pitch CV input (usually just called CV), and a filter cut-off CV input. These I think are the two most important.
Oberkorn User Manual OUTPUT TYPE CVS There are two main ‘standards’ (and I use this term loosely) for pitch CV. V/Oct means Volts Per Octave. This means that a VCO’s pitch will go up one octave for each volt added to the CV input. 0V (say) would be C, so 1V would be C one octave higher. This is typically used by; (old synth’s) Roland, Moog, ARP, SCI (new synth’s) just about everyone – Analogue Solutions, Analogue Systems, Doepfer, etc. Hz/V means Hertz Per Volt.
Oberkorn User Manual With S-Trig it is swapped. So, say, 5v for off and 0v for on. (Though in practice S-trig is implemented in a few different ways by different synth’s). I have not tested Oberkorn with many S-Trig synth’s (since it was designed for the ‘standard’, more common positive gate synth’s and because S-trig synth’s are typically rarer to find). But I have had reports back that it works fine with Korg MS synth’s, but inverted (as you would expect).
Oberkorn User Manual BASIC HOOK UP To control a typical analogue synth, the most basic and common way to set up is as follows; Oberkorn Output Synth Input Pitch: VOLTAGE OUT A CV (pitch) / Key CV Gate: GATE OUT X Gate / Trig / V-Trig Cutoff: VOLTAGE OUT B VCF Note: different synth’s will label their inputs differently. That’s a basic set-up. If you are new to analogue synth’s you may just want to stick with that for starters, just to get used to using the set-up.
Oberkorn User Manual EXPLANATION OF EACH CONTROL The outputs from the CV and Gate channels are found in the box labeled ‘outputs’ on the front panel. CV CHANNELS Oberkorn has three CV channels A, B and C. They are just about identical, except that C does not have glide. Each channel is completely independent form the others, though they will be clocked together and be of the same sequence length. So I will just explain one channel (A) and from there you will know what the others are doing.
Oberkorn User Manual A-GLIDE Control This is a portamento control (glide/slew). It will smooth out the changes in voltage as each step is played. Just try it and see! If you appear to get no CV change at the output, you may have too much glide set. VOLTAGE OUT A The CV for channel A comes out of this socket.
Oberkorn User Manual Use a CV keyboard to transpose the pitch of the sequencer (note transpose inputs are not calibrate beyond 1% so scaling may be an issue). GATE CHANNELS There are two Gate channels, X and Y. Each channel is completely independent form the others, though they will be clocked together and be of the same sequence length. Gate Switch (rotary switch) The 16 gate switches each have four positions.
Oberkorn User Manual GATE OUT X Socket The gate signal for channel X is output at this socket GATE OUT Y Socket The gate signal for channel Y is output at this socket MIDI TO TRIGGER CONVERTER (NONE-EURORACK VERSION) Oberkorn has a completely independent MIDI to Trigger converter (MIDI-Trig). It is NOT a MIDI to CV converter. It is used to enable you to sync Oberkorn to MIDI. It has three sections. Binary control, Triggers, Clock, which will be explained later.
Oberkorn User Manual MIDI In Connect your MIDI keyboard or MIDI sequencer here, to control the MIDI-Trig. MIDI Thru This is just a copy of the MIDI coming into the In socket. Use it to daisy chain up other MIDI gear. CK (clock) If Oberkorn is receiving MIDI Sync signals, then the CK socket will output clock pulses. This is one way to sync up the Oberkorn to MIDI sequencers, but it is the least flexible. Use the trigger sockets. Note: Using MIDI synth the gate signals produced will be very short.
Oberkorn User Manual The CK socket can be used for MIDI sync. If your MIDI sequencer is transmitting MIDI Sync, then the CK socket will output 16ppqn pulses. These can be used to clock the Oberkorn. To do this you must patch the CK socket to IN clock input. Put the run stop switch to EXT. Reset Oberkorn to step 16. Connect your MIDI source (sequencer etc) OUT to Oberkorn’s MIDI In. When you hit play on your MIDI sequencer Oberkorn should run.
Oberkorn User Manual because the binary pattern you feed into the sockets is mixed/added to the internal binary control signal. Resetting to step one clears the internal binary signal to 0000. Connect a MIDI keyboard to Oberkorn, and the MIDI channels up correctly. Next, using four patch leads, connect the four binary outputs b0/1/2/3 in the ‘midi’ box on the front panel to the four binary input sockets b0/1/2/3 in the ‘sequencer control box. Now starting with note C, press this MIDI key then the next 15.
Oberkorn User Manual IN Socket If you want to sync Oberkorn from an external clock source, use this socket. You can use one of Oberkorn’s MIDI-Trig outputs here to allow you to clock from a MIDI note. You might want to use the clock output from another analogue sequencer here, or even the square wave output from an LFO. Oberkorn as a VCO Note: you can clock Oberkorn using the square wave from a VCO! This was Oberkorn will step at audio frequencies.
Oberkorn User Manual Why not try using one of Oberkorn’s own CV outputs to change its own clock speed! I have not tried this. Could be interesting! SETTING The function of the controls in the setting box on the front panel are explained here. LED The LED will light up to show the activity of the clock source selected with the Run/Stop Switch Run/Stop Toggle Switch The three way toggle switch selects clock source. Left / INT Internal clock is selected. Speed controlled with the TEMPO control.
Oberkorn User Manual If the sequencer is stopped, then started, then the first step to play is not in fact the current, initial step, that the sequencer was on when it was stopped, but the next step. This is normal behavior of all true analogue sequencers (do to the way these type of sequencers are designed using logic chips).
Oberkorn User Manual The Last control box is a little hard to explain! GATE / LEG (legato) When this switch is set to gate, then each gate signal is discrete individual 16ths. When set to LEG the gates are added together. When two or more gate switches in a row (ones next to each other) GATING X / Y This one’s hard to explain in writing. I will give a very basic explanation here, but more detail later. If you don’t understand this then don’t worry! Try reading the more detailed explanation.
Oberkorn User Manual HOW OBERKORN WORKS IN MORE DETAIL INTRODUCTION The analogue sequencer is quick and easy to use. Plug it in and off you go! That is the attraction for many people. But what I have done with the Oberkorn is the ‘hack’ the signals inside to allow for greater control and creativity. The downside is that using the hacked features is less intuitive unless you have some basic knowledge of logic circuits! If you can understand these extra features you will get so much more out of it.
Oberkorn User Manual binary code and any other terms you are not sure about!). This code is basically a way of representing numbers from 0 to 15 using 4 wires. This code is fed into the multiplexer/decoder (which I will refer to as the Mux to save on typing). The mux takes the 4 bit code, and depending on its value, will turn on one of the 16 outputs.
Oberkorn User Manual 24 How Oberkorn Works In More Detail | Analogue Solutions
Oberkorn User Manual SOME PATCH EXAMPLES No hard and fast rules. Just do what works and what is fun. OTHER MAD THINGS TO TRY; Patch a pitch CV output (A, B or C) into clock CV input. Patch a gate output into either b0, b1, b2, or b3 setting inputs. SYNC’ING TWO OBERKORNS Take clock Out of first Oberkorn to clock In of second Oberkorn. Second Oberkorn run/stop switch should be set to EXT.
Oberkorn User Manual CHANGING PATTERN LENGTH Normally the sequencer runs from 1-16 – creating a 16 step sequence (4 bars). It’s possible to create shorter sequencer – and even change the sequence length in real time by patching Gate X or Y into Reset In. Then the sequencer will reset back to step one early as soon as it receives a gate signal. So, for example, to create an eight step sequencer set all gate switches off but have gate switch 9 on.
Oberkorn User Manual FUNNY STEPPING Hard to explain how this works, so best just to do it and not worry about the technical details. It’s possible to get Oberkorn to step in an unusual way. Not random – the same pattern gets repeated. So it retains it’s musicality. Take either Gate X or Y out and patch to B0, B1, B2, or B3 Positioning binary inputs. Then play around with the Gate settings. You will find Oberkorn stepping in strange, yet, repeating ways.
Oberkorn User Manual ODD NOTE LENGTHS Like the previous patch, it’s hard to explain in words the affect – so just do it! But, if you patch one of the CV outs back into Clock CV (remember, Clock CV changes the internal clock speed) then you can get interesting things happen to the step length. Just play with this idea and you’ll see the effect.
Oberkorn User Manual MIDI SYNC USING MIDI NOTE MESSAGES Some people seem to have difficulty in synchronising Oberkorn to MIDI. It’s not that there is a fault, or that it’s hard to do (from our point of view!) But I think some people who are new to analogue gear may not understand the concepts.
Oberkorn User Manual Ensure you DAW or sequencer is set to transmit MIDI Sync – and the correct MIDI Output Port is enabled. PATCHING Use a CV cable to Patch the CK socket (clock output) to the IN socket (clock input). Put the Run/Stop switch to EXT (external clock). That’s it!! If that doesn’t work then almost certainly one of the above steps has not been followed. Most issues go back to incorrect set-up of the DAW.
Oberkorn User Manual Each time Oberkorn receives MIDI Note 64 (E) it will advance one step. DAW Programming So now you have it all connected up and hopefully working you need to create a DAW track that will be your ‘clock signal’ The simplest pattern would be to write a one bar sequence of 16x 16th notes – using note 64 (E). Each time this track is played Oberkorn will step. OTHER PATTERNS TO TRY 16ths is the logical pattern to start with. But here is the power over traditional MIDI Sync.
Oberkorn User Manual BINARY CONTROL Sockets b0/1/2/3 provide a binary output from 16 MIDI notes. As each of 16 MIDI keys are pressed, numbered from 1 to 16 (well, 0 to 15 actually), this is converted to four bit binary and sent out of the binary sockets. The 16 keys start from C(48) then the next 16 keys. The binary sockets are a little confusing but I’ll do my best to explain. The best way is to start with an example. Stop the sequencer. Press Reset to 1, so the sequencer is on step 1.
Oberkorn User Manual GATING X / Y These arae hard to explain in writing. I will give a very basic explanation here, but more detail later. If you don’t understand this then don’t worry! Try reading the more detailed explanation. If that fails, watch the YouTube demo’s or must play around. Basically to get gate outputs Oberkorn needs two signals. The clock signal and the condition of the gate switch. If the gate switch is ON and the clock signal is HIGH (on) then you will get a gate signal out.
