Tap into 200 Stages of Sequencing
Bigger can sometimes be better. But at Sweetwater, we know that Buchla’s 251e Control and Signal Router Module brings so much more to the table than just being a 200-stage sequencer. Four main segments comprise the 251e: the sequence interfacings, the sequence editor, the stage editor, and the master clock management. Each of the 4 sequencers include dedicated start and stop signal inputs, with individuated pulse and CV outputs, alongside an LED display to indicated stage number. Sequence and stage editing sections can be modified, edited, and interceded upon in real time, across any of the sequences’ 50 stages. The master clock function can be subdivided via continuous knob control or modulated with the CV input.
Spirals, loops, and sequences
The 251e delivers a complex arrangement of ultimately simple, individual functions, culminating in a machine that will test your modular mettle. Notes are assigned for each stage of each sequencer, individually. The output voltage values can be 0.0 to 9.9 volts, which accommodates any oscillator configuration with a sensitivity of 0.1v/semi-tone. Note length can be as fine as 1/32-note, up to a whole note, in a tempo range of 10bpm to 250bpm. Triplets and dotted notes are possible, and the pulse durations of each sequence or stage can be set to fractions of intervals. It is also possible to nest loops within sequences, alongside inter-sequencer triggering, start delay, sequence synchronization and reversal.
Buchla: the crossroads of sonic excellence and game-changing technology
The name Buchla is synonymous with some of the most compelling, convention-breaking technology to emerge in the musical spheres of the mid-20th-century’s electronic awakening. A pioneer of electronic music and instrument design, Don Buchla founded his namesake company in the 1960s, following the success of a modular electronic music system that was commissioned by composers on a Rockefeller Foundation grant. For the next 50 years, Don lived on the bleeding edge of electronic music synthesis. He incorporated uncommon coding languages, touch- and pressure-sensitive surfaces, and spatial location modulation, eventually innovating for the likes of Oberheim, CBS, Zeta Music, E-Mu Systems, and Moog. Meanwhile, he also dedicated himself to make good on MIDI’s promise of the 1980s to be more than just a piano keyboard controller. By the 2000s, Don introduced his magnum opus with the 200e, a love letter to a half century of unparalleled innovation in modular and analog synthesis. Today, Buchla U.S.A. works diligently to uphold Don’s rich legacy and provide his classic designs alongside new iterations of products that are “designed to introduce the unique world of Buchla synthesis to a whole new generation of electronic music makers.”
Buchla 251e Quad Sequential Voltage Source Module Features:
- 400 total stages of sequencing provide robust space for building audio textures of many lengths
- Each sequencer can produce up to 100 stages for greater subdivision and control
- Individuated pulse and CV outputs for each sequencer diversify output options for inter-operative system use
- Separate stop and start inputs for each sequencer allows for refined control of sequence data
- Nest, delay, sync, and reverse loops to deliver wider varieties of output spaces
- Master clock can be controlled manually or via CV input
- Store data as presets for later recall*
*Note: Storing and recalling presets requires use of the “remote enable” function, which is only available with the inclusion of a 225e or 206e in your Buchla system. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer with any questions or concerns.
