Rhythm Divider

Manufacturer: Weevil

Contact Weevil

$20.00

Rhythm Divider is a combined clock divider and logic processor with limited sequencing capabilities.

The module is built up of three main sections:

  • Divider: 8 dividers that slows incoming clock pulses up to a factor of 64.
  • Logic Matrix: Applies boolean logic in an 8x8 matrix on the divider outputs to generate 8 new logic outputs that allows for complex but still controlled rhythms.
  • Bank Management: Divider and logic matrix settings are stored in 8 banks. Events allow for automatic transitions between banks for more variation.

Dividers

The dividers section contains 8 rows of clock inputs (CLK), divide-by inputs, shift inputs, trigger-type buttons and divider outputs (OUT). Clock input is normalized, a divider will read the clock input from the row above if nothing is plugged in to its own input, this means that you only need to plug in a clock signal to the first input.

The divide-by value defines how often an output triggers. A divide-by value of 4 will trigger every 4 ticks, a divide-by value of 7 will trigger every 7 ticks etc.

The shift value will set the initial value for the internal divider counter after reset. After a reset action a divider with divide-by 4 will be silent for three ticks then trigger an output (ooox), if you add shift 1 the trigger will come one tick earlier (ooxo), if you add shift 3 the trigger will come three ticks earlier (xooo), etc.

The divide-by and shift values can be edited manually (click on the number) or increased / decreased with the buttons to the left of the number. By clicking on the lock-icon, you will lock this value from being updated by the randomize function. You can also lock all divide-by or shift values by clicking on the lock above the column.

The button to the right of the divide-by input allows you to switch the trigger-type value for the divider output. Like divide-by, you can lock this from being randomized with the lock-icon above the column. The trigger-type has three options:

  • GT - Gate, this will stay open divide-by * clock-length / 2. This means half the time on, half the time off.
  • BT - Beat, this will stay open half a clock-tick.
  • TR - Trig, this will stay open 16 samples.

Logic matrix

The logic matrix consists of 8 columns, each column allows you to set the logic operation for the corresponding divider output, with the bottom output you can set the trigger-type and below that you find the output jack for that column.

You define how to update the logic matrix with the "Button Mode"-button (next to the "STOP"-button). The available options are: MENU - select matrix operation with a drop down manu SMPL - cycle between Empty, AND and OR. ADV - cycle between all available options.

You can lock the values for a column by clicking on the lock-icon above the column.

The default value of each column is TRUE (will result in a 5V output). When a divider triggers the output value of each column will be recalculated. Starting with the default TRUE value each column will analyze all divider outputs row by row and apply the following logic based on the selected operations:

  • Empty - this row is ignored
  • AND - TRUE if current column is TRUE and divider output is TRUE
  • OR - TRUE if current column is TRUE or divider output is TRUE
  • XOR - TRUE if current column and the divider output have different values.
  • NAND - TRUE unless both current column and divider output are FALSE.
  • NOR - TRUE of current column and divider output are both FALSE.
  • XNOR - TRUE if current column and divider output have the same values.

The logic out trigger-types has three options:

  • GT - Gate, this will output the value of the current column.
  • BT - Beat, this will trigger (half a clock-tick long) every time the current column changes from FALSE to TRUE.
  • TR - Trig, this will trigger (16 samples long) every time the current column changes from FALSE to TRUE.

Logic out can be locked to prevent randomization (this is enabled by default).

Banks

Divider and logic matrix settings are stored in 8 banks. To change bank you click on one of the buttons numbered 1-8 in the top left section of the module.

A bank can be enabled or disabled with the button right of the bank selector buttons. If a button is disabled no gates will be triggered.

CPY - this button allows you to copy a bank to another bank. (NOT YET IMPLEMENTED) CLR - clears the current bank. NXT - switch to the next enabled bank. PRV - switch to the previous enabled bank.

The module UI changes to a new bank as soon as you select it. The button to the right of PRV sets the bank transition-type, this decides when the module starts playing the new bank:

  • INSTANT - start playing the new bank as soon as you select it
  • TICKS - start playing the new bank at the end of a stage (stage length defined in the TICKS section)
  • STAGES - start playing the new bank at the end of a section (the number of stages in a section is defined in the STAGES section)

Below the dividers section you find three input sections: TICKS, STAGES and SHIFT. TICKS sets the stage length for the selected bank. The stage length is used together with the bank transition type to define when to start playing a new bank. In the drop down below you can select an event that triggers after each STAGE, available options are:

  • NONE - nothing is done.
  • RESET - reset clock counter for all dividers.
  • SHIFT + 1 - increase shift by 1
  • SHIFT + 2 - increase shift by 2
  • SHIFT + 3 - increase shift by 3
  • SHIFT + 4 - increase shift by 4

STAGES sets the section length (the number of stages per section). In the drop down below you can set the end of section event available options are:

  • NONE - nothing is done
  • RESET - reset clock counter for all dividers.
  • RANDOMIZE - randomize current bank
  • NEXT - select next enabled bank
  • PREVIOUS - select previous enabled bank
  • CLEAR SHIFT - set shift to 0
  • SHIFT + 1 - increase shift by 1
  • SHIFT + 2 - increase shift by 2
  • SHIFT + 3 - increase shift by 3
  • SHIFT + 4 - increase shift by 4
  • RANDOM SHIFT - set shift to random number between 0 and 63
  • BANK # - select bank #
  • RANDOM BANK - select a random enabled bank

You can use the stages actions as a light song-mode (similar to the follow-actions in Ableton live).

Next to the STAGES and TICKS header you can see a small power icon, use this to turn the event on or off.

SHIFT sets the start value for the clock when a divider is reset. This can be used to create variations of a pattern without changing it completely.

To the right off SHIFT you can find two trigger outs: STG triggers when STAGES resets, TCK triggers when TICKS resets.

Other controls and inputs:

At the top you find some additional controls: STOP and PLAY buttons with corresponding trigger inputs.

Two buttons with trigger in (defaults to RND and RST), the action can be selected using the arrow button to the left. The available actions are described under STAGES-section above.

Two knobs with CV input (defaults to SCL and GATE), the action can be selected using the arrow button to the left. The available mod targets are:

  • BANK - selects bank 1-8
  • GATE LENGTH - sets the gate length as a factor of the clock-in tempo
  • DIVIDER SCALE - scales the divide-by between 0.125 and 8
  • MATRIX VERTICAL OFFSET - offsets the matrix on vertically 0-7 steps
  • MATRIX HORIZONTAL OFFSET - offsets the matrix on horizontally 0-7 steps

As always, if you have questions about the module or have suggestions on how it could be improved, please contact me.