AM314 Analog Sequencer

The AM314 is a recreation of a German 8x3 analog sequencer from 1976 that was used extensively by Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream. This sequencer has some unique features that can be adjusted in realtime, make it the best live performance analog sequencer invented.

• Accurate step timing variation
• Three control voltages available in addition to step timing.
• Sequence step back as well as skip, go to 1 and stop
• Position gate outputs can be individually switched ON/OFF

Voltage Controlled Clock The sequencer is driven by a voltage controlled clock that has a frequency range of 0.01Hz to 400Hz across three selected ranges. The clock has a manually adjusted pulse width from near 0 to near 100% to enable the gate timing of attached envelope generators to be adjusted.

There are momentary push button switches to START and STOP the seqeuncer, with green and red LED indicators respectively. A green LED shows the clock rate, and the START and STOP functions can be controlled by external trigger signals, and the clock rate and pulse width can also be varied externally.

Control Voltages The sequencer has eight steps with three rows of unquantized control voltages that are adjusted with the front panel potentiometers. The range of each CV can be set to 2V, 5V or 10V using a slide switch. When partnered with an AM313 Sequential Switch it is possible to create sequences of 16 and 24 steps with variable repeats.

Step Timing The timing control for each step is preset via a 6-way rotary switch, with these timing divisions; 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/32. This is a great feature for setting up accurate rhythmical sequences.

Programming The lowest row of 6-way switches are for programming how each step works, and provides another level of real time control. The six positions are;

• LAST – previous step values are used for this step
• GO NEXT – skips the step
• GOTO 1 – moves to step 1, and starts again
• STOP – stops at this step, and repeats
• SEL TRIG – sends a trigger to the SEL TRIGGER output
• NORMAL – sequences step by step

Modern Analog The AM314 has been carefully re-engineered from photographs of two orignal sequencers and it performs exactly as intended in 1976 with all features retained, plus a few more. The AM314 is a 64 HP Eurorack module with high quality switches and potentiometers, Moog style control knobs and NKK push button switches. 

PROJECT STATUS:  IN DEVELOPMENT