A sequencer controls an oscillator with two connections: pitch (V/Oct) and gate (trigger)

To make a sequencer drive a VCO in modular synthesis, two separate CV connections are required. The first sends the sequencer’s pitch information (V/Oct output) to the oscillator’s V/Oct input — each step’s voltage determines the note played. The second sends the gate signal (a pulse active while the sequencer is on a step) to the envelope generator’s gate input, which triggers the amplitude and filter envelopes. Without the pitch connection, the oscillator stays on one note; without the gate connection, the envelope doesn’t retrigger on each step and notes blur together. The number of active steps determines the loop length — setting 3 steps creates a 3-note repeating sequence.

Examples

VCV Rack step 4: SEQ-3 GATE → ADSR GATE input; SEQ-3 ROW1 → VCO-1 V/OCT. Set SEQ-3 STEPS to 3. Click RUN. Tweak ROW1 knobs 1–3 to change the pitches of each of the three steps.

Assessment

Draw the two cable connections needed to make a SEQ-3 drive a VCO-1. What does increasing the STEPS knob on SEQ-3 from 3 to 8 change about the pattern?