How to multitrack and sync with an analogue sequencer

[Marcuni]

Does anyone know how Joy Electric syncs his analogue sequencer doing multitracks? I know he plays a lot of stuff live but I don't know how he syncs more than one track with his analogue sequencer. Like when creates a rhythm section sound at time, track at a time, how does he keep it all tight without using MIDI? There has to be some communication between the computer/recorder and the analogue sequencer...

[Dr. M]

I believe there is a separate audio track used purely for syncing, if it works at all like my hardware sequencer did. It's an audio signal you don't hear in the final mix but that is fed back into the sequencer, which it interprets as tempo data. Don't know if that's how his works but that's one way it's done.

[Marcuni]

Thanks. I've heard of this method of syncing but I don't know the details. The questions now are:

How do you create this audio track?

How do you send it from the computer to the analogue sequencer (connections, cables, etc)?

[Dr. M]

What is the sequencer you're trying to sync?

[Marcuni]

I have ProTools and Logic on my Mac. The analogue sequencer I haven't bought yet. Probably the Oberkorn or the Q119...

I'm assuming it will be a connection from some audio out in my computer to the CV input of the sequencer.

[Dr. M]

I guess I'm a little curious why you want to buy an analog sequencer.

[Robbie]

Because knobs and flashing lights are fantastic, duh.

But srsly, if you're using computers and analogue synths together, you should check out http://www.motu.com/products/software/volta .

If you're looking for an analogue-style modular step sequencing solution to use with soft synths, I highly recommend http://www.five12.com/n2.html . I use it both standalone and rewired to Logic and it's really wonderful.

[Marcuni]

To me workflow is perhaps the most important thing for composing/arranging. I find the workflow of analogue sequencers inspirational to me and my songs tend to come out different than if I was using a computer. Just a personal choice...

Volta is amazing in what it does and so is Numerology but for this project I'm only planing to use computer s to record audio and perhaps some mixing. Because of the workflow I was talking about during composing and arranging, I personally like to use hardware sequencers, analogue synthesizers, fx and expression pedals, etc...

[Nikmis]

if you don't know how analog sequencers can be used for recordings, then how are you so sure you prefer the workflow?

[Marcuni]

I never said I don't know how analogue sequencers can be used for recordings. I have owned one for a few years and recorded it several times. I now want to sync one to a computer without using MIDI which I've never done before and don't have the knowledge of how to do it. So I thought you guys belonging to a Joy Electric forum and all would appreciate his methodology for music creation and perhaps know how he synced his sequencer to a computer.

[Dr. M]

The Q119 is the synthesizers.com sequencer right? There's no way to sync that to your computer without using MIDI, I'm almost positive. Computers use MIDI. You'll need the Q104 MIDI interface, assuming you're using all modules. The method I mentioned before was not using an analog sequencer and was syncing to a hardware recording device.

Ask Jon Sonnenberg at the Travelogue forum:
http://www.traveloguefans.com/forum/index.php?board=9.0

He's an electronic musician who uses a set-up just like you're talking about and could tell you practically anything you need to know. Actually, I'm going to some day purchase a modular synthesizer and had this exact topic in mind at one point.

[Marcuni]

Thanks for the tip,

After I read the info from your first post, I went to dig deeper into the analogue heaven archives and found the same thing, an audio track for syncing. It seems like it's possible to do it without MIDI according to the posts. Nobody wrote extensive details on how to do it though. I posted the question there as well. In fact, I found some old posts from Ronnie asking something similar. I think he is syncing his without MIDI. We may have to ask him because I thought he dropped MIDI altogether...

Meanwhile, I'll take a look at your link. Thank you.

[Hotrod]

You need something to output a blip that can be picked up by the sequencer. Most people syncing things like the Q119 simply record a steady pulse at the tempo that they want to use - it could even be something like a rimshot sample or a blip sound - and then patch that to the gate input of the analog sequencer. The sequencer then cycles based on the gate signal that it's receiving. You can often just use an audio signal if you amplify it enough and it has a sharp enough attack, but for a Q119 you could very easily use something like the Synthesizers.com "external instrument interface," which takes in an audio signal and (among other things) generates a CV gate output based on the signal.