User Manual
Vermona Random Rhythm
Intro
Overview
Getting started
Parameters
Indicators
Inputs
Outputs
EDIT mode
Synchronizing Vermona Random Rhythm to DAW tempo
Vermona Random Rhythm module in use
Credits
Vermona is a brand of the HDB company, based in Erlbach, Saxony in Germany and have a long tradition as manufacturers of music gear going back to the early years as VEB Klingenthaler Harmonikawerke – a manufacturer of accordions.
The current company is descended directly from the nationally owned enterprise Vermona in the former GDR which has been building electronic music instruments and accessory for decades.
Vermona Random Rhythm is a random-based dual-channel trigger sequencer created with performance in mind. It creates rhythmic patterns out the probability appearance of quarters, eighths, sixteenths and triplet notes within a bar. Each probability trigger output is controlled via four corresponding sliders for each of the two rhythm channels while a fifth sequence output combines all the triggers.
Vermona Random Rhythm consist of two rhythm sections, 1 and 2. Four sliders on each channel correspond to the note-values quarters, eighths, sixteenths and triplet notes and influence the probability that they will appear at each step in the generated pattern.
Each of the two rhythm-sections can have their own master-clock and work in realtime or dice mode.
Realtime means, that the module is continuously generating new random values for each note value whereas in dice-mode it generates them for a complete 3/4- or 4/4- bar (this is the default mode on the module). In both modes, the probability sliders will still influence the resulting sequence that appears on the sequence out jack.
Beside the sequence output of each rhythm-section there are individual outs for the quarters, eighths, sixteenths and triplets. You can use them with or without random. The latter makes randomRHYTHM a precise tool to generate or multiply clocks.
Vermona Random Rhythm can create its own or work with external clocks (per rhythmsection if you like).
Additional fun is guaranteed by the flexible RESET input that lets you mute the outputs or restart your diced bar. As with all parameters, the functionality can be set individually per rhythm-section.
randomRHYTHM is a creativeness booster. It is easy to create complex rhythms or straight four-to-the-floor beats. Its foolproof user interface lets you play it without thinking about randomness and probabilities, although that's the fundamental concept of the module. You don't need to be a stochastic genius! It doesn't matter if you use it as sole rhythm-base or as valuable addition to other sequencers. random- RHYTHM gives you a different view to rhythms and the way to generate them.
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- Swing
- Dice button(s)
- Probability sliders
- Tap tempo
- Individual outputs
- External clock input(s)
- Sequence output
1. Add Vermona Random Rhythm to your Modular virtual rack along with a sineoscillator, an utility envelope and a Doepfer A-132-2 DVCA.
2. Connect the output of the quarter note (¼) jack output on channel to the envelope input jack in order to trigger the envelope, and then setup the envelope to control the volume of the sine-oscillator through the VCA as pictured.
3. Try out experimenting with different levels of probability in your played back quarter note pattern by changing the quarter note slider position the corresponding channel.
4. Add a noise-generator and route that trough the second half of the A-132-3 DVCA controlled by a second envelope. Route the output of the sixteenths note jack to this second envelope as pictured.
5. By changing the probability slider of the sixteenths notes you'll notice that you're also filtering out different parts of the sixteen notes pattern. By reseting the slider to the previous position you can always come back to the trigger pattern generated for this particular output.
6. By clicking on the Dice button on top of the corresponding channel, a new pattern for all four note-values - quarter, eights, sixteenths and eigth note triplets - is being generated.
7. Try turning the Swing knob on top of the corresponding channel to hear the sixteenths notes being shifted in time to create swing (sometimes also refereed to as shuffle) in the pattern.
8. By clicking on the off-beat button on the corresponding you will also notice that sixteenths notes that occur at the same time as the quarter notes (on beat) is removed out of the sixteenth note pattern.
9. Add yet another oscillator, envelope, Doepfer A-132- 2 DVCA and a mixer to create a third percussive element to this pattern. Patch Seq Out of the corresponding pattern to the envelope in order to hear the combination of all four note probabilities. Notice that this output is not affected by the off-beat button.
On the next page there's a visual view of the generated note-patterns of the Vermona Random Rhythm.
Overview Generated pattern triggers
Probability Example pattern Sixteenth notes
Ch1 Realtime: This parameter turns real-time mode on or off. Realtime is activated (green LED is unlit) by clicking on the channel number on top of each channel. Realtime is the when the module is continuously generating new random values for each note value, whereas in dice-mode it generates them for a complete 3/4- or 4/4-bar (this is the default mode).
Ch1 Swing: Shifts the 16th notes several clockcycles ahead or behind in timing to create “swing” in your generated rhythmic pattern.
Ch2 Realtime: Same as Ch1 Realtime but for channel 2.
Ch2 Swing: Same as Ch1 Realtime but for channel 2.
Ch1 Dice: Clicking this momentary button, Dice, will generate a new probability pattern for all of the individual pulse and combined (Seq out) outputs on channel 1. This button can also be used to de-activate Real-time mode on channel 1 (see description above).
Ch2 Dice: Clicking this momentary button, Dice, will generate a new probability pattern for all of the individual pulse and combined (Seq out) outputs on channel 2. This button can also be used to de-activate Real-time mode on channel 2 (see description above).
Ch1 A Level: Determines the probability that a trigger should occur for all quarter notes (1/4) for Channel 1. A high value will output a 4/4 (“4 on the floor”) beat suitable for triggering a kick-drum. Lower value will determine the chance in percentage that a trigger will occur on each step.
Ch1 B Level: Determines the probability that a trigger should occur for all eigths notes (1/8) for Channel 1. A high value will output a regular eighths note pulse while lower values determines the possibility that a trigger will occur on each step.
Ch1 C Level: Determines the probability that a trigger should occur for all sixteenths notes (1/16) for Channel 1. High value will output a regular sixteenths note pulse while lower values determines the possibility that a trigger will occur on each step.
Ch1 D Level: Determines the probability that a trigger should occur for all eights notes triplets (indicated 1/3 on panel) for Channel 1. High value will output a regular eighth note triplet pulse while lower values determines the possibility that a trigger will occur on each step.
Ch2 A-D Level: Description remain the same as for Ch1 A-B Level but applied on channel 2.
Edit: This button switches Vermona Random Rhythm into edit mode, see full description in separate section below.
Tap: This is the tap-tempo button. Clicking on this button three or more consecutive times will extract the tempo and set internal clock of Random Rhythm to this tempo. This button has no effect if both clock-inputs are in use.
Ch1 Offbeat: This toggle button will invoke the Offbeat mode for the channel 1 eighth, sixteenths and eighth triplet outputs. This means that these outputs will no longer send out triggers on the beat (at the same time as the quarter notes). The Offbeat triggers are indicated by the LEDs on top of the probability sliders.
Ch2 Offbeat: Same functionality as for channel 1.
Ch1 Realtime: This green LED situated right below the channel 1 symbol on the left but above the “SELECT” label. This LED is unlit when in Realtime mode and lit when in Dice mode (default).
Ch2 Realtime: This green LED situated right below the channel 2 symbol on the right but above the “SET” label. The functionality is the same as for channel 1.
Ch1 A-D Level: The LED indicators on top of each probability slider show the off-beat triggers. The visual sum always represents the triggers output at the sequence out jack regardless of the Div Out: RND edit parameter (see description below).
Ch2 A-D Level: Same functionality as channel 1.
Ch1 Clk in: This indicates the tempo that this channel is running, whether it was set by internal clock (tap tempo) or external clock inserted at the Clk in jack.
Ch1 Offbeat: When this indicator is lit, the 8ths, 16ths and triplets on the beat (quarters) are excluded from its associated jack.
Ch2 Clk in: This indicates the tempo that this channel is running, whether it was set by internal clock (tap tempo) or external clock inserted at the Clk in jack.
Ch2 Offbeat: Same functionality as Ch1 Offbeat.
channel 1, clk in: This clock input for channel 1. Expected signal to be input here are quarter notes equalling same behavior as tap-tempo button.
reset in: Dependent on this setting in the edit menu, this input will mute the outputs, restart your dice feed or restart your pattern (default behavior is restart). Note that this can be set to for the two channels to react differently independent of each other.
channel 2, clk in: Same functionality as Ch1 clk in, but separate clock for channel 2.
Note that the channel clock inputs are both normalized to each other, meaning that any clock inserted into one channel jack will automatically also drive the other channel unless this channel has a clock of its own (tap-tempo or external).
Channel 1, 1/4: Trigger out for channel 1 quarter notes, its behavior can be set in edit mode.
Channel 1, 1/8: Trigger out for channel 1 eighths notes, its behavior can be set in edit mode.
Channel 1, 1/16: Trigger out for channel 1 sixteenths notes, its behavior can be set in edit mode.
Channel 1, 1/3: Trigger out for channel 1 eighth triplet notes, its behavior can be set in edit mode.
Channel 2, 1/4: Same functionality as similar jack at Ch1, for channel 2.
Channel 2, 1/8: Same functionality as similar jack at Ch1, for channel 2.
Channel 2, 1/16: Same functionality as similar jack at Ch1, for channel 2.
Channel 2, 1/3: Same functionality as similar jack at Ch1, for channel 2.
Channel 1, seq: Combined trigger out sequenced probability output for channel 1.
Channel 2, seq: Combined trigger out sequenced probability output for channel 2.
There are four additional settings that can be adjusted for each section. These settings will be saved as part of the saved project or preset. For the EDIT parameter, the DICE buttons of rhythm-section 1 and 2 have different functions: select (DICE channel 1) and set (DICE channel 2) as market on the panel.
To change the edit parameters press the EDIT button and the green LED above the SELECT button will start flashing. In addition, the red LEDs of the channel probability sliders will no longer appear the same anymore (no flashing for indication of sequence triggers). Instead, now the LEDs of the active EDIT parameter are light up permanently.
By repeatedly pressing SELECT (the left DICE button), the edit functions A, B, C and D for rhythm-sections 1 and 2 are selected one after another. This is indicated by the LED of the corresponding slider flashes. The user can change the edit parameters from off to on (or vise versa), by clicking of the right dice button (SET) and the corresponding parameter enabled. To exit edit-mode, simply press the EDIT button once more. The red LEDs of the probability sliders visualize the switching in two ways: The parameter that has been selected using SELECT has a flashing LED. If a parameter has been enabled the corresponding LED of the slider flashes with real short stops. If a parameter has been disabled, the corresponding LED of the slider flashes with longer interruptions. For the other seven sliders, which are currently not being selected, the red LEDs are lit for enabled parameters and off for disabled parameters.
The EDIT parameters
A - DICE 3/4: The factory-setting of Random Rhythm is a 4/4-beat-resolution, with dice-mode enabled. However, it is possible to switch to a 3/4- beat. By combining both rhythmsections with 4/4- and 3/4-beats, the generated patterns are continuously shifted against each other. This can also be interesting when used in combination with external sequencers.
Parameter active - LED on = 3/4-time
Parameter inactive - LED off = 4/4-time (factory default)
When hitting DICE, random Rhythm always generates randomvalues for a 4/4-beat, even when EDIT parameter A - DICE 3/4 is activated.
B - DIV OUT: RND: The random-function can be switched off for the individual outputs. In this case, continuous trigger-patterns equaling a clocksignal, are being generated and sent to the corresponding outputs 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/3. Here, the sliders do not carry out any function. However, the OFFBEAT button d can still be used to specify whether all trigger impulses of the corresponding output will be send or just the impulses that follow the basic concept of the divided pattern.
Parameter active - LED on = random (factory default)
Parameter inactive - LED off = continuous clock-signal
The RESET Functions C and D each specify the operating mode of the input RESET IN. Only one of the two functions can be enabled per rhythm-section, since these functions are mutually exclusive. Without any function being activated, the input RESET IN h takes no influence on the corresponding rhythm-section.
C - RESET: MUTE ALL: With this function being enabled, the RESET IN input h allows to mute all trigger-outputs (1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/3 and SEQ OUT). Whenever a permanent, positive voltage above 2 volts is applied to input RESET IN, no trigger-impulse will be send out to the corresponding outputs. Once the voltage drops below 2 volts, the outputs will be released again.
D - RESET: RESTART DICE: This function is only active in dicemode. With this function being enabled, a trigger-impulse (positive slope) can be used to reset the active pattern to its start. The operating mode for RESET IN h may differ for the rhythm-sections 1 and 2. This leads to interesting rhythmical effects. For example: connect a square-wave-LFO to the RESET IN input h with RESET DICE activated for rhythm-section 1 and MUTE ALL activated for rhythm-section 2. At the LFO’s rising slope, rhythmsection 1 is being restarted, while rhythm-section 2 is being muted for the duration of the positive half-cycle of the square-wave. With the slope descending, the trigger-impulses for section 2 are sent again.
Synchronizing Vermona Random Rhythm to DAW tempo
Vermona Random Rhythm was designed to mainly act as a master-clock in your eurorack system, but can be synchronized to DAW tempo by feeding it quarter pulses. Here a suggested setup for synchronizing it in the Softube Modular environment running in a DAW:
Vermona Random Rhythm will treat the quarter pulses the same way as manual tap-tempo entered through the tap-tempo button meaning that it will only stabilize tempo and start on the third beat. This is normal and the way the original hardware module is designed.
Vermona Random Rhythm module in use
The Vermona Random Rhythm can be used in a variety of different ways, but here's some suggested uses:
1. A great way producing evocative rhythm patterns is to have one channel set to 4/4 time and the other to 3/4 time. This is done in edit mode as shown below (edit parameter A on channel 1 turned off and turned on on channel 2).
2. By setting the Div Out: RND parameter to “off ”, this can be used to have one of the the two rhythmic channels to serve as a master clock where the individual outputs are set to continuously send out their values. This is done by setting the edit parameter B (Div Out: RND) on one of your channels.
3. Use one channel to clock the other – this is a fun and creative way to generate new and surprising rhythmic patterns.
Eric Hampusgård – Programming, modeling
Thomas Haller – Original concept Vermona, feedback
Swen Strobel – Original hardware Vermona
Marcus Faust – Original software Vermona, feedback
Kristofer Ulfves – Project management, presets, validation, user manual
Oscar Öberg – Programming, mentoring
Arvid Rosén – Mentoring
Bitplant – GUI graphics