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In the latest episode of Pulse Tips, we take our irregular clock example from last week, and push it further out of time with random clocks. Instead of using a steady clock pulse, or one broken up by rests or interruptions, we use the random pulse and burst output from the Make Noise Wogglebug to generate a series of arrhythmic pulses. We also explore using the stepped random voltage output to perform a more sparse randomized result.
For our example, we’ve created a beat using the Malekko Varigate 4, triggered at first by the built in clock. By routing the random burst output from the Wogglebug to the clock input, we can quickly jump out of time, pushing and pulling the sequence of notes depending on the randomized pulses. When clocked from an external source, the “clock” input on the Wogglebug attenuates the volatility of the bursts, allowing the random pulses to be tamed to a degree.
We also try the stepped random voltage output as a random clock source. While this output does not send pulses, it is changing voltages randomly every time the Clock input receives a gate. These timed random voltages rise and fall sporadically. Generally, whenever a sharp rise in voltage is sensed by a clock sensitive module, that rise in voltage will be treated like a clock input. So anything the stepped voltage happens to randomly rise above a certain threshold, the receiving module will take another step.
Randomization is one of the more fun and expressive elements of modular synthesis. How are you using random clocks, voltages and pulses in your system? Let us know in the comments!
I’ll be giving a free Eurorack workshop and demonstration tomorrow, Saturday May 28th, in Eagle Rock, California at the Beat Lab Academy, come join us if you can!
