Modular Clocks ... seems simple at first, but the more you delve into this subject and try to sync
devices from different manufacturers, the more complex things can get.
If you have ever heard the Daft Punk tune "Moroder by Giorgio" you can hear Giorgio talk
about how he synced a Moog Modular.
"I know the synthesizer, why don't I use the synthesizer
Which is the sound of the future"
And I didn't have any idea what to do but I knew I needed a click
So we put a click on the 24-track which was then synced to the Moog modular
I knew that it could be a sound of the future
But I didn't realize how much impact would be..."
Basic Tempo is made up of beats.
Beats are grouped into bigger units called measures.
Most often, a measure has 2 to 4 beats (though it can really have as many divisions as is desired).
A note which lasts for 1 beat is called a quarter note..... since it divides the average measure into quarters......
For electronic instruments.... this beat is actually a pulse of electricity..... often a 5V to 10V
amplitude pulse which had a regular cycle. This cycle was the sync signal and was used to represent
the time base of the device. This basic method of syncing sequencers and drum machines all predated MIDI.
With the advent on MIDI, instead of being measured by cycles per second, the time base
was changed to
Parts Per Quarter Note (PPQN), also known as
pulses per quarter (
PPQ), or
Pulse (per) quarter note (PQN), and
ticks per quarter note (
TPQN)
If the timebase divides the instrument into 48 parts, that is called 48 PPQN.
MIDI sequencing hardware and software uses a variable number of timing resolutions. From as little as 24PPQN too 480 PPQN
A sequencers resolution is defined as its ability to divide the beat of a quarter note into
a pulses. The more pulses, the more accurate a sequencer is.
Common divisions used by sequencers are :
24 parts - 24 ppqn
48 pulses - 48 ppqn
96 parts - 96 ppq
192 ppqn, etc etc etc A module like Pamelas workout will sync to an external clock input between 1PPQN to 24PPQN.
My Beastek Amoeba trigger module needs a 8 TPQN clock if you require external syncronization.
Note that most analog sequencers send out a pulse every 16th note which equals 4PPQNMIDI clock = 24 pulses, so called "ticks" per quarter note
Roland equipment (606,707.727,808.909) use 24 pulses per quarter note (PPQN for short), known as DIN Sync24.
A notable Roland exception is the CR-78 which uses 12ppqn.
Korg equipment (eg KPR-77, DDM-110 & DDM-220) uses 48 pulses per quarter note.You also need to make a V-trig to S-trig cable.
Oberheim (DMX) & Linn is 96ppqn.
The SCI Drumtraks handles 24, 48, and 96 ppqn
EMU drumulator - 24ppqn - needs a din to 1/4 Y cable-----------------
Summary:
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Clock rates Equivalent in PPQN Manufacturer
STEP GATE - LFO or GATE OUT
Pre - MIDI (advances in time on a rising edge and
returns to zero on a falling edge)
eg: DOEPFER DARK TIME, Korg SQ-10.
eg: Euro - Zularic Repetitor
(Noise Engineering),
Pico trigger , Delptronics Triggerman
***************************************************************************
KORG Pulse 2 PPQN KORG (SQ-1), Volcas,
Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators
(POs sync on audio pulses,
essentially a click track).
********************************************************************************
STEP CLOCK 4 PPQN ARTURIA , DOEPFER MCV 24 – MSY2
or 1/16th Korg SQ-1 analog sync , most analog sequencers.
*********************************************************************************
Euro 8 or 16 PPQN Beastek Amoeba
drum trigger module
********************************************************************************
CR 78 Drum 12PPQN Roland
********************************************************************************
MIDI & Sync 24
Roland DIN SYNC 24 PPQN ROLAND, ARTURIA, ELEKTRON
Korg SQ-1 MIDI sync, DAW
***********************************************************************************
KORG DIN 48 PPQN LINN LM-2, ARTURIA, ELEKTRON
Sync 48
********************************************************************************
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Step GateStarting off with the basic analog clock. ....
This is all pre-MIDI. The signal can be a simple LFO or a gate module producing a square wave. The Doepfer Dark Time for example can produce a 1 Step gate. A basic analog, pre midi modular will use this form of timing.
This doesn't really have a PPQ equivalent.
Korg Pulse - 2PPQNKorg SQ-1 sequencers and the Korg Volcas use this standard.
A single KORG pulse is equivalent to just 2 PPQN.
Step Clock (16th clock) - 4PPQN. This is an analog trigger. It's equivalent PPQN is 4.( ie four pulses per quarter note.)
It's also called 16th because a note is sent or received every 16th note.
This is quite common to find as a default for Eurorack modules.This is the most common clock among analog sequencers.
Devices like the
DOEPFER MCV 24 & MSY2 can produce this type of clock.Also, Eloquencer (Winter Modular) (So too does the Tip top trigger riot though it can also be set to use 24PPPQ)
MIDI - Sync 24 - Roland DIN Sync - 24PPQNIn the case of MIDI (and Roland DIN Sync), the standard is 24PPQN.
MIDI clock sends a tick 96 times per quarter note.Lots of old Roland Synths such as the TB303 & TR606, 808, 909 use this standard.
Most DAWs will also use a 24 PPQN signal
This means that you can have a triplet for each 8th note. (24/3 = 8)
Korg DIN SYNC - Sync 48 - 48PPQNKorg has it's own version of DIN Sync.
It uses the same 5 pin cable/socket, but the PPQN is 48.
When syncing Roland and Korg gear via DIN sync, they will work however the Korg machine will run at 1/2 the tempo/speed of the Roland unit.
This can be corrected with several devices which will translate 24-48 sync, such as the Korg KMS-30.
Korg drums such as the KPR-77, DDM-110 & DDM-220 use 48 sync.
Other devices that use 48 PPQN are the
LINN ELECTRONICS LM-2 DrumThe Pioneer Toraz can output clock signals of value 1PPQN, 2PPQN, 4PPQN, 24PPQN, 48PPQN.
Synstrom Deluge : Trigger clock output, configurable up to 192 PPQN
Links:
Syncing the korg SQ1 with SQ-10Do let me know if there are any mistakes, errors, or omissions.
,,,
