Ziggurat

Acid Rain Technology 14HP
QUANTIZER SEQUENCER UTILITY SLEW

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Quad voltage quantizer for turning CV and gates into pitch. Four independent channels with per-channel masks, slew, root, offset, range and chained note-sequence modes. 14HP, 25mm deep.

Patch Ideas · 4

Four-channel pitch quantizer
Four CV sources into Channel In 1-4, each channel masked to a related scale, Channel Out 1-4 driving four oscillators — classic four-voice quantized harmony from one module.
Walkthrough
  1. Patch Random/LFO/Seq source 1 → Ziggurat Channel In 1, source 2 → Channel In 2, source 3 → Channel In 3, source 4 → Channel In 4.
  2. Press Channel Button 1 — on the one-octave keyboard, enable the notes C, D, E, G, A (major pentatonic).
  3. Press Channel Button 2 — enable C, Eb, F, G, Bb (minor pentatonic).
  4. Press Channel Button 3 — enable the same pentatonic as channel 2 and set Root to +7 semitones for a fifth above.
  5. Press Channel Button 4 — enable all 12 notes (chromatic) for a free lane.
  6. Set each channel's Range to 2 octaves so voices stay in a usable register.
  7. Patch Channel Out 1 → VCO 1 V/Oct, Channel Out 2 → VCO 2 V/Oct, Channel Out 3 → VCO 3 V/Oct, Channel Out 4 → VCO 4 V/Oct.
  8. Patch each VCO → its own VCA/filter → mixer → output.
Signal out Channel Out 1-4 — four 1V/oct pitch CVs, each spanning up to 12 octaves of –4V to +8V.
Listen for Four simultaneous voices that all fit together harmonically: random wobbles on lane 4 stay chromatic glue while lanes 1-3 lock into major/minor pentatonic territory. Retune a root to shift the whole stack into a new key.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 11 modules and 13 connections. Signals: 5 audio, 4 cv, 4 pitch.ZigguratCV1CV2CV3CV4VCO1VCO2VCO3VCO4MixerOutputCH1 mask: major pentatonicCH2 mask: minor pentatonicCH3 mask: minor pent + Root +7CH4 mask: chromaticChannel In 1cvChannel In 2cvChannel In 3cvChannel In 4cvChannel Out 11v/octChannel Out 21v/octChannel Out 31v/octChannel Out 41v/octOutcvOutcvOutcvOutcvV/Oct1v/octOutaudioV/Oct1v/octOutaudioV/Oct1v/octOutaudioV/Oct1v/octOutaudioInaudioOutaudioInaudioaudiocvpitch
Slewed mask melody
Random CV into one channel, per-note slew on selected pitches, root shifted to taste — a melody that glides between certain notes and snaps between others.
Walkthrough
  1. Patch a slow random/LFO CV source → Ziggurat Channel In 1.
  2. Press Channel Button 1 — enable C, D, E, G, A on the one-octave keyboard.
  3. Enter the Slew menu and turn slew ON for the notes D and G only — about 12:00 (roughly 1-2 seconds glide).
  4. Set Root to +5 semitones to center the lane on F.
  5. Set Range to 2 octaves so the melody sits in a playable register.
  6. Patch Ziggurat Channel Out 1 → VCO V/Oct.
  7. Patch VCO (sawtooth) → VCA (In).
  8. Trigger a gate source → Envelope → VCA CV for note articulation.
  9. Patch VCA (Out) → your mixer or output.
Signal out Channel Out 1 — a 1V/oct pitch CV that snaps between most mask notes but glides smoothly through D and G.
Listen for A half-robotic, half-vocal melody: most notes click into place, but every time the sequence lands on D or G the pitch scoops into it. Turning slew on across more notes turns the line into a lyra-like glide.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 7 modules and 6 connections. Signals: 2 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch, 1 gate.ZigguratRandomVCOEnvVCAGateOutputCH1 mask: C D E G A (slew on D, G)Root: +5Range: 2 octChannel In 1cvChannel Out 11v/octOutcvV/Oct1v/octSawaudioTriggateOutcvInaudioCVcvOutaudioTriggateInaudioaudiocvpitchgate
SH-101 style chain
Chain mode turns channel 1 into a stepped melody sequencer — a clock advances the notes while an external 0-5V CV can scan the sequence forward or backward.
Walkthrough
  1. Press Channel Button 1 and enter Chain mode on the channel.
  2. Enter a sequence of notes by tapping the keyboard — e.g. C, E, G, B, A, D, C, F (8 notes).
  3. Set Range to 2 octaves so jumps stay musical.
  4. Patch a clock → Ziggurat Chain Gate In — each clock advances the chain by one note.
  5. Optional: patch a slow LFO or envelope (0-5V) → Ziggurat Chain CV In to scan the whole sequence; 0V plays the first note, +5V plays the last.
  6. Patch Ziggurat Channel Out 1 → VCO V/Oct.
  7. Patch VCO → filter → VCA → output.
  8. Mult the same clock → your envelope trigger for per-step articulation.
Signal out Channel Out 1 — a stepped pitch CV that advances through the programmed Chain notes, 1V/oct.
Listen for A classic SH-101-style melodic run: each clock pulse hops to the next programmed note. Replace the clock with an LFO on the Chain CV In and the sequence sweeps back and forth like a tape scrub.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 8 modules and 8 connections. Signals: 3 audio, 2 cv, 1 pitch, 2 gate.ZigguratClockLFOVCOFilterVCAEnvOutputCH1 Chain: C E G B A D C FRange: 2 octChain Gate IngateChain CV IncvChannel Out 11v/octOutgateOutcvV/Oct1v/octOutaudioInaudioOutaudioInaudioCVcvOutaudioTriggateOutcvInaudio11. optional scanaudiocvpitchgate
Linked harmony pair
Link channels 1 and 2 so they share a mask; offset channel 2's Root by a third for a parallel harmony voice while channels 3 and 4 remain free for bass and texture.
Walkthrough
  1. Press Channel Button 1 — build a major scale mask (C D E F G A B).
  2. Hold Channel Button 1 and Channel Button 2 together for 1 second — the LEDs confirm the channels are linked.
  3. Release; channel 2 now mirrors channel 1's mask and edits.
  4. Select channel 2 alone and set Root to +4 semitones — a major third above channel 1.
  5. Patch your sequencer pitch CV → Ziggurat Channel In 1, and mult the same CV → Channel In 2.
  6. Patch Channel Out 1 → VCO 1 V/Oct, Channel Out 2 → VCO 2 V/Oct.
  7. Assign Mod CV to Root and patch a slow LFO → Ziggurat Mod CV In to modulate the shared key.
  8. Send both VCOs to a mixer → output.
Signal out Channel Out 1 + Channel Out 2 — two 1V/oct pitch CVs in a parallel harmonic interval.
Listen for A constant major-third harmony above your melody that stays in-scale because both lanes share the same mask. The slow LFO on Root drifts the key by semitones, so the harmony transposes as a unit without losing tuning.
▸ Show diagram
Patch diagramPatch diagram with 7 modules and 8 connections. Signals: 3 audio, 1 cv, 4 pitch.ZigguratSeqLFOVCO1VCO2MixerOutputCH1+CH2 linked, major mask: CH2 Root: +4Mod Assign: RootChannel In 11v/octChannel In 21v/octMod CV IncvChannel Out 11v/octChannel Out 21v/octPitch1v/octOutcvV/Oct1v/octOutaudioV/Oct1v/octOutaudioInaudioOutaudioInaudio11. multedaudiocvpitch

Behaviors

Independent quantizer channels route a CV source into a channel input

Each of the four channels quantizes independently with its own mask, root, offset, range, slew and chain — one module can drive four coordinated pitch lanes.

Custom note masks edit the one-octave keyboard

Per-channel note masks define which chromatic notes are available. Channels can move between sparse scales, chromatic masks, or a hand-built melodic note set.

Channel linking hold two or more channel buttons for 1 second

Linked channels share parameter edits, so you can build chordal or harmonized behaviors without recreating the same mask in each channel.

Per-note slew enable slew on a note in the mask

Slew is assigned per note rather than per channel — glide only the chosen pitches, leaving the rest to snap. Useful for hammer-on-style melodies where only certain intervals bend.

Chain sequencer mode enter Chain mode on a channel

Chain mode replaces the quantizer with an SH-101 style note sequence. A gate at Chain Gate In advances one step; a 0–5V CV at Chain CV In scans the entire sequence in either direction.

Assignable Mod CV assign Mod CV to a parameter

One Mod CV input routes to any main parameter (load, slew, root, offset, range). That lets you modulate masks, keys or even recall presets without adding sequencers.

Stored presets save to one of 35 slots

35 preset slots in 5 banks of 7 remember the complete module state — every mask, range, chain and assignment — so a performer can jump between full setups instantly.

Controls

Channels Channel Buttons 1-4 Select and edit one of the four quantizer channels.
hold two or more for 1s to link
Per channel One-Octave Note Mask Keyboard-style button grid. Turns each chromatic note on or off to build the quantization mask.
custom mask per channel
Global Save / Load Stores and recalls the complete state of all four channels — masks, slew, root, offset, range and chains.
35 slots · 5 banks of 7
Per channel Slew Per-note slew — you can enable slew on individual notes inside the mask so only chosen pitches glide.
0.1s – 5s
Per channel Root Shifts the channel output by a semitone offset to change musical key.
semitone offset
Per channel Offset Offsets the input CV by semitones before quantization — transposes where the input lands on the mask.
semitone offset
Per channel Range Sets the output voltage span. Press the lower then upper bound of the keyboard to define it.
–4V to +8V · up to 12 octaves
Per channel Chain Turns the channel into an SH-101 style step sequencer — enter a series of notes that advance on gate or scan with CV.
gate advances · 0V–5V scans
Global Mod Assign Routes the Mod CV input to any of the main edit parameters for hands-free modulation.
load · slew · root · offset · range

I/O

IN · 4

  • Channel In 1-4 CV / gate GATE
    Four independent CV/gate inputs — each one is quantized by its matching channel.
  • Chain Gate In gate GATE
    When the selected channel is in Chain mode, each gate advances the chain by one note.
  • Chain CV In 0V – 5V CV
    Scans through the chain sequence bidirectionally — 0V plays the first note, +5V plays the last.
  • Mod CV In CV CV
    Dynamic CV input routed by Mod Assign to slew, root, offset, range or load.

OUT · 1

  • Channel Out 1-4 –4V to +8V · 1V/oct
    Four quantized pitch outputs, one per channel. Output span set by each channel's Range setting.