Manufacturer: DMT Audio
$24.00
Update October 2023 Now includes Dark Mode! Just click on the DMT Audio logo on the top-right of the module to toggle between modes. Clicking on the LEDs between the Time/Voltage Sliders will move the Active Step to that step, instead of cycling through steps for editing.
A loving replication of the amazing Buchla 248 Multiple Function Generator.. or MARF to it's friends. A sequencer like no other, it doubles up as a sequencer, Multi-stage Envelope Generator, Clock, LFO, Mixer, even an Oscillator. Incredibly rare in real-life, you can now experience the creative delights in Voltage Modular!
Instructions
Starting from the right hand side...
Sliders
Output Voltage - Outputs a voltage relative to the Voltage Interval Slider (or from the External Voltage Inputs if the Time Interval is set to EXT).
Interval Time - Outputs a voltage relative to the Time Interval Slider (or from the External Voltage Inputs if the Time Interval is set to EXT).
Clicking the LEDs in the middle of this section will set the 'Active Step' to that particular step, and bring up that step's settings for editing in the Central Section...
Central Section
This section features the controls which affect each individual step on each of the 2 AFGs. Editing this section will only affect the currently active step ( as shown by the LEDs between the sliders) on the currently active AFG (this can be seen by the LED to the left of the large STAGE ADDRESS knob on the AFGs). TO move between steps, use the STAGE NO left and right buttons.
Clear - Clears all current values of the current step back to default values.
Fill - 'Fills' the rest of the steps in the active AFG with the values from the current step.
Copy / Paste - COPY copies the values of the current step into a buffer - if you then move to another step you can use PASTE to paste the copied values into the current step.
Pulse Out - Two buttons corresponding to the two PULSE OUTPUTs in each AFG. If this button is selected, then whenever the sequence hits the step, a HIGH signal will be sent to PULSE OUT 1 or 2.
Quant / Cont - When set to QUANT, this will quantize the input voltage (either from the slider or via External Voltage) to the nearest semitone.
Sloped / Stepped - When set to STEPPED, the voltage will automatically jump to the next input voltage oin the sequence. When set to SLOPED, the voltage will ramp from the previous to the new value, with a time defined by the Time Range & Time Interval sliders.
Full / Limited - When set to LIMITED, the voltage range covered by the slider is 2v or 2 Octaves, when set to FULL this becomes 10v.
Ext. / Int. - When set to INT, the output voltage will be defined by the Voltage Slider. When set to EXT, it will take the value from one of four External Inputs, which themselves are determined by the Voltage Sliders being set from A - D.
Octave Offset (+0, +2, +4, +6, +8) - This will add the respective voltage or octave offset to the Input Voltage (from the sliders or external voltage).
Stop - If enabled, a running sequence will stop after the active step. This is useful for externally clocking the sequencer by setting all steps to STOP, and sending a Pulse or Trigger In to the START CV Input.
Sust - If enabled, a running sequence will hold on the active step as long as the input to the START CV Input is HIGH. Once this drops to a LOW signal, the sequencer will restart once again.
Enable - Works like a reverse 'STOP' function - if enabled, the sequence will stop unless the input to the START CV Input is HIGH.
First - Sets the active step as the first step in the sequence - if the sequence is reset or reaches the end of the sequence, it will jump back to this step. Setting this to ON will override any previous step set to FIRST.
Last - Sets the active step to the last step in the sequence - the sequence will jump to the START step once this step has finished.
Time Range - Sets the minimum and maximum range for the Time Interval Sliders.
Ext. / Int. - - If set to EXTERNAL, this will use the voltages from the External CV Inputs (A-D) to control the Time Intervals.
External Inputs - External CV Inputs which can be used as Voltage Values when a step is set to EXTERNAL.
Arbitrary Function Generators (x2)
Programmed Outputs
Ref - Every time a new stage is started, a descending voltage from 5v to 0v is generated - the timing of which is relative to the Time Interval of the current step.
Time - Outputs a voltage determined by the Time Interval Slider (0-5v), or from the External Inputs if the Time EXT/INT is set to EXT.
Voltage - Outputs a voltage determined by the Voltage Slider, or from the External Inputs if the Voltage EXT/INT is set to EXT.
All - Outputs a short pulse whenever the sequence moves to the next step.
Pulse Out (1 & 2) - Outputs a short pulse whenever the sequencer moves to the next step, and the active step has either PULSE OUT 1 or PULSE OUT 2 enabled.
Time Multiplier
Chnges the overall speed of the sequencer, by multiplying the time value by this number. Can be controlled via CV Input which has its own attenuverter for control.
Mode
LEDS - GREEN - the sequence is running. YELLOW - Either means the SUSTAIN or ENABLE mode is active and is waiting for a change in signal from the START CV Input. RED - Sequence is stopped and is not running.
Stop (CV In) - A Pulse or Trigger In will stop the sequencer.
Stop/Start Button - Pressing will switch the sequencer on/off.
Start (Button + CV In) - A pulse or Trigger in will start the sequencer from the current step.
Stage Address
Reset - Resets the sequencer to the first step (depending on which step has the FIRST setting enabled).
Display - Changes the active AFG to allow for editing.
Stage Address (Knob) - Determines the currently active step of the sequence.
Cont / Strobe - When set to CONT, the current step will change automatically if either the STAGE ADDRESS knob is moved, the sequencer is advanced, or if the External Stage Input CV changes enough to change the current step (if set to EXT).
Int. / Ext. - When set to INT, the STAGE ADDRESS knob controls the active step of the sequence. If set to EXT, the current step is defined by the EXTERNAL IN signal.
Strobe (CV In) - When sent a PULSE or Trigger In, will trigger the current step as set by either the STAGE ADDRESS knob (INT) or via the External CV Input (EXT).
External In - 0-10v divided into 16values which controlls the current step. For example: 0.0v to 0.625v sets step 1, 0.625v to 1.25v selects step 2 and so on... Note this overrides the FIRST/LAST setting of the steps in the program.
Further Information
I strongly recommend looking for 'The MARF Book' or checking out the original Buchla 248 Manual as these will prove invaluable in learning how to patch this amazing sequencer. I've tried to replicate as much possible so the patch ideas in these guides should translate over to this module.
Happy Patching!
DMT Audio is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Buchla.