Manufacturer: Request For Music

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STEPZ – Polyrythmic Multi-Lane Step Sequencer (Voltage Modular)

STEPZ is a four-lane, chromatic step sequencer designed for quick mouse editing, polyrhythms, and flexible performance modes. Each lane has its own steps, division, offset, transpose and span (pitch range). Lanes can run in parallel, chain in sequence, or combine both (Hybrid). A dedicated CHAIN MIX output lets you treat multiple lanes as one long sequence.

Highlights

  • 4 lanes with per-lane steps, division, offset, run, enable, chain, transpose and span.
  • Three modes: PAR (parallel), CHAIN (one after another), HYBRID (chain + parallel together).
  • Mouse editing: left-click/drag sets pitch (chromatically quantized), right-click toggles gate.
  • Chromatic quantize tied to SPAN (1/2/3 octaves, each includes the top root for 13/25/37 slots).
  • Internal or external clock, BPM + PPQN, adjustable gate length, RESET input.
  • Per-lane CV/Gate outputs plus CHAIN MIX CV/Gate outputs for chained lanes.
  • Global transpose and per-lane transpose (± semitones), CV range approximately −5…+5 V.

Panel Tour

Global (top row)

  • RUN — Starts/stops the sequencer transport.
  • MODE — 3-state switch:
    • PAR — All enabled lanes run in parallel (each lane to its own outputs).
    • CHAIN — Lanes marked CHAIN play one after another; only the active chain lane outputs (and feeds CHAIN MIX).
    • HYBRID — Chain-marked lanes behave like CHAIN, while non-chain enabled lanes run in parallel.
  • CLK — INT (internal) or EXT (external) clock source.
  • BPM — Tempo for the internal clock.
  • PPQN — Pulses per quarter note for the internal clock (typical musical values 4/8/16).
  • GATE MS — Length of the gate pulse in milliseconds.
  • RESET — Resets playheads to each lane’s offset step.
  • GLOBAL TRANSPOSE — Shift all lanes by ± semitones (affects CV output; lanes can go below C if transpose is negative).
  • CLK IN (jack) — External clock input; rising edge advances when RUN is on.
  • RST IN (jack) — Resets lanes to their offsets on a high pulse.
  • CHAIN MIX CV / GATE (jacks) — Combined outputs of the currently active chain lane (active in CHAIN/HYBRID).

Per Lane (repeated 4×)

  • Canvas (bar display) — 16 columns (max), each column = one step in the lane. Cyan outline = playhead; grey outline = selected step.
    • Left-click & drag on a column to set pitch (quantized to semitones within the lane’s SPAN).
    • Right-click on a column toggles that step’s gate (gate dot on/off).
  • STEPS — Number of steps used (1…16). Unused columns appear dimmed.
  • STEP — Selects the current step for knob edits (VAL knob edits this step’s pitch).
  • VAL — Pitch value for the selected step (quantized chromatically to SPAN).
  • DIV — Per-lane clock division (÷1…÷4). Higher values advance slower.
  • OFS — Offset (start index) within the lane; RESET returns the playhead to this step.
  • RUN — Start/stop transport for this lane (useful in CHAIN to skip a lane without removing it).
  • ENABLE — Lane mute/unmute:
    • PAR/HYBRID (parallel lanes): ENABLE must be on for the lane to output.
    • CHAIN lanes in CHAIN/HYBRID: output is governed by chain activity (ENABLE is not required for chain output).
  • CHAIN — Marks the lane as part of the chain sequence (used by CHAIN/HYBRID modes).
  • TRN — Per-lane transpose (± semitones), applied after quantization.
  • SPAN — Pitch range per lane:
    • 1 Oct — 13 chromatic slots (C…C+1, inclusive top root).
    • 2 Oct — 25 slots (C…C+2).
    • 3 Oct — 37 slots (C…C+3).
    Bars always represent the lane’s local span; transpose shifts the CV output above/below this range.
  • CV OUT — Quantized pitch as CV (approx. −5…+5 V with transpose; 1 V/oct).
  • GATE OUT — Gate pulses for this lane.

Editing & Navigation

  • Set pitch — Left-click/drag on a bar. Values are quantized to semitones based on SPAN (1/2/3 oct).
  • Toggle gate — Right-click on a bar (gate dot on/off).
  • Select step — Use the STEP knob; the selected step gets a grey outline.
  • Adjust a specific step’s pitch — Select with STEP, then turn VAL (identical result to mouse dragging).
  • Change step count — Turn STEPS; unused bars dim, play range shortens/extends immediately.
  • Offset & Reset — Set OFS per lane; press RESET to jump playheads to their offsets.

Modes in Detail

  • PAR — All lanes with ENABLE on (and RUN on) play simultaneously to their own CV/GATE outputs.
  • CHAIN — Only lanes with CHAIN on take part. The active chain lane outputs to its CV/GATE and to CHAIN MIX. When it wraps, the next chain lane (with RUN on) becomes active from its offset.
  • HYBRID — Chain-marked lanes behave as in CHAIN (and feed CHAIN MIX), while non-chain lanes with ENABLE on run in parallel on their own outputs.

Clocking & Reset

  • Internal — Set CLK to INT. Use BPM and PPQN. GATE MS sets pulse length.
  • External — Set CLK to EXT. A rising edge on CLK IN advances the sequencer when RUN is on.
  • Reset — Press RESET or send a high pulse to RST IN to jump each lane to its OFS step.

Pitch & Quantization

  • Each bar is quantized chromatically within the lane’s SPAN:
    • 1 Oct = 13 slots (0…12 semitones),
    • 2 Oct = 25 slots (0…24),
    • 3 Oct = 37 slots (0…36).
  • Per-lane transpose and global transpose are applied in semitones after quantization.
  • Resulting CV uses 1 V/oct; total range is roughly −5…+5 V with transpose.

Outputs

  • Per-Lane CV — Quantized pitch (1 V/oct). Range depends on transpose; expect approx. −5…+5 V.
  • Per-Lane GATE — Gate pulses per lane, length defined by GATE MS.
  • CHAIN MIX CV/GATE — In CHAIN/HYBRID, mirrors the currently active chain lane; silent in PAR.

Tips

  • For polyrhythms, give lanes different STEPS and/or DIV values in PAR or HYBRID mode.
  • Use SPAN=1 for melodic patterns within an octave, then shift with per-lane and global TRANSPOSE.
  • In HYBRID, mark some lanes CHAIN for a long evolving melody via CHAIN MIX, while other lanes run percussive/parallel parts to their own outputs.
  • Right-click quickly mutes/unmutes steps (gate off/on) without leaving the canvas.

Specs

  • Lanes: 4, up to 16 steps each.
  • Clock: Internal (BPM/PPQN) or External (rising edge > ~1 V).
  • Pitch: 1 V/oct, chromatic; SPAN 1/2/3 oct with top root included.
  • CV Range: approx. −5…+5 V depending on transpose.
  • Gate: 0/5 V, length set by GATE MS.

Quick Start

  1. Set CLK to INT, dial a BPM, and turn RUN on.
  2. Pick a lane, set STEPS, and draw pitches by dragging bars in the canvas.
  3. Right-click bars to toggle gates for rests.
  4. Try SPAN 1/2/3 oct and add TRN per lane for quick variations.
  5. Switch to CHAIN, enable CHAIN on multiple lanes, and listen via CHAIN MIX outputs.