Vox Digitalis#

Intuitive pitch CV sequencer in 4HP

Overview#

Small, easy-to-program sequencers are a bit of a rarity. Vox Digitalis is our answer to this issue. With intuitive displays and simple controls, Vox Digitalis is perfect for all your pitch CV needs. Set your sequence length, dial in each note, randomize, save and load 16 sequences -- Vox Digitalis does all the stuff the big sequencers do, just in 4HP.

• Type: Pitch sequencer
• Size: 4HP Eurorack
• Depth: 0.8 inch
• Power: 2x5 Eurorack
• +12 V: 50 mA
• -12 V: 5 mA

Etymology#

Vox -- from Latin: "voice"

Digitalis -- from Latin "belonging to a finger"; also a plant that will kill you.

"Vocal finger of death"

Power#

To power your Noise Engineering module, turn off your case. Plug one end of your ribbon cable into your power board so that the red stripe on the ribbon cable is aligned to the side that says -12 V and each pin on the power header is plugged into the connector on the ribbon. Make sure no pins are overhanging the connector! If they are, unplug it and realign.

Line up the red stripe on the ribbon cable so that it matches the white stripe and/or -12 V indication on the board and plug in the connector.

Screw your module into your case before powering on the module. You risk bumping the module's PCB against something metallic and damaging it if it's not properly secured when powered on.

You should be good to go if you followed these instructions. Now go make some noise!

A final note. Some modules have other headers -- they may have a different number of pins or may say "not power". In general, unless a manual tells you otherwise, do not connect those to power.

Interface#

Step

Number of current step. Length can be adjusted from 1 to 16 steps, described in advanced features section.

F/R/P

Playback mode. Selectable between Forward, Random, and Pingpong/Pendulum.

Note

Current note. A period after the note letter indicates a sharp (e.g., c. is C#). LEDs indicate octave as follows:

Edit

Encoder edits current step note. Press and turn to jump an octave.

Load

To load a previously saved sequence, press Load. Vox Digitalis enters load mode. Use the encoder to select the pattern you'd like to load (displayed on the upper screen), then tap the encoder to load. To exit load mode without loading a sequence, press Load again.

Save

To save a sequence, press Save. Vox Digitalis enters save mode. Use the encoder to select the slot you'd like to save the sequence to (displayed on the upper screen), then tap the encoder to save. To exit save mode without saving a sequence, press Save again.

Adv

Moves Vox Digitalis to the next step.

Rst

Reset input. Responds to a rising edge of around 3 V.

Beat

Clock input. Responds to a rising edge of around 3 V.

Out

CV output. Vox Digitalis has a 4-octave range (0 V to 4 V).

Advanced features#

Edit pattern length

Press Adv and the Edit encoder. Turn the encoder to the desired number of steps (displayed on top screen), then press the encoder to set the sequence length. To exit pattern length mode without changing length, press Adv again.

Randomize current sequence

Press Load and the Edit encoder.

Set all notes to C1

Press Save and the Edit encoder.

Load-behavior configuration#

In performance situations, being able to load a sequence reliably and predictably is important. Since preferred load behavior depends on the performer, we've implemented 3 different pattern-loading modes. To set the load behavior, power on Vox Digitalis with the corresponding button pressed and hold until Vox Digitalis finishes its boot sequence.

Beat-load mode

Hold Load on boot to set. Load a pattern and Vox Digitalis will change to that pattern on the next clock input, or when Adv is pressed.

Measure-load mode

Hold Save on boot to set. Load a pattern and Vox Digitalis will change to that pattern when a Rst signal is received, or when a sequence reaches its final step (last step in Forward playback, step 1 in Pendulum playback, next beat in Random playback).

Immediate-load mode

Hold Adv on boot to set. Instantly loads pattern when encoder is pressed when loading a sequence. Factory default behavior.

Patch tutorial#

Patch 1

Patch the CV out to an oscillator. Program in a sequence. Send a clock to Beat in and you're off!

Patch 2

Vox Digitalis's sequences can be any length from 1 to 16 steps. Press Adv and the Edit encoder to go into length edit mode and set your sequence to something unusual like 5, 7, 13... you name it. Divide your Beat clock with a clock divider like Integra Solum and patch an infrequent output to Measure to keep the sequence sort-of in time.

Patch 3

Using a precision adder like Quantus Pax (or other sequencer with a transpose CV input), use a short sequence from Vox Digitalis to change chords and transpose other sequences.

Design notes#

Vox Digitalis was really unique in design history. We sat down as a team to discuss the module; we knew we wanted to make a minimalist pitch sequencer but each of us had been privately pondering. Stephen had one idea, but somehow, Markus and Kris both had come to the conclusion that the form factor of another module in the pipeline (Fractio Solum) made sense. It couldn't be shared hardware, but the core layout was similar. It took some Stephen-convincing, and some tweaking of each of those initial conceptions, but we were all quickly convinced that we could do something compelling in 4hp. From there, we had to be incredibly vigilant about feature creep. This led to some pretty heated discussions around NE HQ (we're not generally fans of key combos. Should we make it bigger? Should we add key combos? Should we make it just do less?). In the end, we thought it would be silly to leave off useful features we could easily implement, but chose to assign only advanced functions to combos -- things that you could use Vox Digitalis forever without ever really needing, but if you wanted them, they'd be there.

Warranty#

We will repair or replace (at our discretion) any product that we manufactured as long as we are in business and are able to get the parts to do so. We aim to support modules that have been discontinued for as long as possible. This warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear, including art/panel wear, or any products that have been modified, abused, or misused. Our warranty is limited to manufacturing defects.

Warranty repairs/replacements are free. Repairs due to user modification or other damage are charged at an affordable rate. Customers are responsible for the cost of shipping to Noise Engineering for repair.

All returns must be coordinated through Noise Engineering; returns without a Return Authorization will be refused and returned to sender.

Please contact us if you think one of your modules needs a repair.