ANALOGUE SYSTEMS RS200 User manual

82 A N A LOG U E S Y S T EMS R S-I N T EG R A T O R
R S 200
3 X 8 S T EP SE Q U E N T I A L CO N T RO LL E R
INTRODUCTION
It’s tempting to compare analogue sequencers to hardware MIDI sequencers, both rackmount and
computer-based, if only because they are all capable of producing repetitive sequences and effects that
can be modified inreal-time.But,while a hardwareMIDIsequencercan looklike itsanalogue counterpart,
it lacks one important facilityinherenttoanalogue voltage control:you can’t addmultiple MIDIcontrollers
or use audio signalsas modulators to create new effects.
Unfortunately, vintage analogue sequencersfrom companiessuch as ARP and Korg sell for hundredsof
pounds, and you’ll be lucky to get change from £1,000 if you want an original Moog sequencer. Worse
still, these originals arebecoming increasinglyrare, andby modern standardsthey can be rather limited.
This iswhy the RSIntegrator has a dedicatedanalogue sequencer, the RS200. Not only doesit eliminate
the need for a vintage unitifyou wanttocreate sequences with the Integrator itself, the RS200 will (with
an RS10or RS15 case) function as a self-contained unitcapable of controlling almost all other analogue
monosynths.
IN USE
The RS200 is by far the most complex module within the RS Integrator series. Its key features are:
• Three rows of 8-step CV generators with individual CV rangesandCV outputs for each row
• Independent trigger outputs for each of rows 1, 2 and3
• Internal clock with external CV input and clock output
• External clock input and manual step function
• Slewgenerator for portamento andother effects
• Skip, Reset, and Stop/Start functions with independent CV inputs
• End of sequence pulse output
• LEDs to indicate sequence position and trigger status on each step
To aid understanding about each of these we will divide this chapter into four parts, as follows:
1. Quick Tour
2. The Sequence Steps
3. Inputs, Outputs, AndOther Controls
4. Some Ideas ToGet You Started

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1. QUICK TOUR
If you are impatient to hear some immediate results using your RS200 within a suitably configured RS
Integrator the following instructions should have you up andrunning within a few minutes. If you are
using the RS200 to control an external synthesiser please make allowances for the different names and
configurations that you mightencounter.
1. Connect the A OUT output on your RS200 to the CV-IN of an RS90 VCO or the CV-IN 1V/oct
inputof your external synth.
2. Ifnecessary, connect the TRIGGER 1 OUT outputtothe GATE-TRIG IN on your RS60 Envelope
Generators, or to the GATE input of your external synth. Make sure that the Integrator or the
external synth are set up so that you can hear a sound even when no trigger is received. On an
Integrator youdo this by setting the INITIALLEVEL of an RS180 VCAto any value greater than
zero.
3. Returning to the RS200, decide how many steps you wish to use and set the step at which the
sequence will loop by switching theappropriate RESETswitch to itsupper position.For example,
if you want your sequence to be four steps long, raise the RESET switch at step 5. Set all other
RESET switches to their central RUNpositions.
4. If necessary, decide which steps will send triggers by setting the TRIGGER switches (these are
the ones to the left ofthe RESETswitches)to their upper positions.
5. Set the CLOCK EXT/INT switch to its central position.
6. Press the RESET button to initialise the sequence at step 1. The red LED at '1' will light up to
indicate that this isthe step currently active.
7. Set Row A's RANGE control so that meaningful pitches are obtained from your synthesiser
when RowA'sLEVEL control is sweptfrom itsfully anticlockwise toitsfully clockwise positions.
8. Work your way through the sequence using the STEP button and setthe pitches using RowA's
LEVEL (voltage control) knobs.
9. Switch the EXT CLOCK IN switch to INT (internal).
10. Press the STOP/START button to start the sequence.
11. Adjust the speed of the internal clock using the FREQUENCY knob.
11. Have fun!

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2. THE SEQUENCE STEPS
The number of steps in your sequence and the outputs determined by each are defined by the eight
columns (called "steps") marked 1 to 8. Each step has five controls and one indicator, as follows:
The Knobs:
(i) RowA LEVEL Controls
These set the voltage created by Row Aat each stepofthe sequence.Their range is 0Vto +10V, buttheir
operation is modified by the Row A RANGE control (see below).
(ii) Row B LEVEL Controls
These set the voltage created by Row B at each step of the sequence. Their range is 0Vto +10V, but their
operation is modified by the Row B RANGE control (see below).
(iii) Row C LEVEL Controls
These set the voltage created by Row C ateach step ofthe sequence.Their range is 0Vto +10V, buttheir
operation is modified by the Row C RANGE control (see below).
The Switches:
(iv) RESET/RUN/SKIP switches
The eight switches each offer 3 basic functions:

A N A LOG U E S Y S T EMS R S-I N T EG R A T O R 85
• Reset
The sequence will run from step 1 to step 8 then loop back tostep 1 unless one of these switches
is in the RESET position, in which case the sequence will loop at the step before the RESET.
• Run
The step is included in the sequence.This is called ‘free running’.
• Skip
The step isexcluded from the sequence, andthe sequence jumps directly from the previousstep
to the next.
Note: The SKIP position has another function when used together with the SKIP IN input
described in the nextsection. Ifyou want SKIP to function as described here but it is not
doing so, check that you donot have a CV connected to SKIP IN.
(v) TRIGGER switches
These are the unlabelled switches immediately tothe leftof each step's RESET/RUN/SKIP switch. Each
has three positions:
• Up
A trigger isproduced at this step and output from the TRIG 1 OUT socket.
• Centre
No trigger is produced at either output TRIG 1 or TRIG 2 at this step.
• Down
A trigger isproduced at this step and output from the TRIG 2 OUT socket.
Note: Atrigger is produced at the TRIG 3 OUTon every step regardlessof all other settings. Amongst
other usesthisacts asa 'triggerTHRU' socketwhen the RS200 is clocked from an external source.
The Step Indicators
(vi) The Step LEDs
The eight step LEDsindicate the position of the sequence. The position isalways the same for rowsA, B
and C.

86 A N A LOG U E S Y S T EMS R S-I N T EG R A T O R
3. INPUTS, OUTPUTS, AND OTHER CONTROLS
Switch
Int/Ext Clock selector
LEDs
Trigger indicators
Inputs:
Internal Clock rate
External Clock input
Skip Step input
External Reset
External Start/Stop
Outputs:
CVA
CVB
CVC
Trigger1
Trigger2
Trigger3
End of Row Pulse output
Internal Clock output
Knobs
CVA Range
CVB Range
CVC Range
Internal Clock frequency
CV C Slew rate
Buttons
Step
Reset
Stop/Start

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The RS200's I/O panel offers a total of 13 sockets, of which five are inputs and eight are outputs. There
are alsofive knobs,three buttons, one switch and three LEDs.Together these can control many aspectsof
a synthesiser’s operation, including but not limited to: pitch control, filter frequency modulation, and
the timing of events.
The operation of the knobs, CV inputs, and the switch are closely interrelated, so it is not possible to
describe each without referring to the positions/settings of others. Please bear this in mind when you
consider the action of each of the controls.
The Knobs
(i) The RANGE controls
• CV RANGE A
• CV RANGE B
• CV RANGE C
These determine the range of voltages controlled by the CV knobs in each of the three rows. With the
RANGE in the 0V position, the positions of the CV knobs are irrelevant, and 0V is output by the row
regardless ofany other settings.
Note: The notation on the RANGE knobs is approximate, and does not ensure that the maximum
frequency will increase in precise octave steps.
(ii) The Internal Clock Frequency
The internal clock is a stabilised analogue squarewave LFO (lowfrequency oscillator) which can output
any frequency in the range 0.1Hz (one step every ten seconds) to approximately 30Hz.
When the clock switch (see below) is set to INT (internal clock) the INT CK FREQUENCY control
determinesthe step frequency in each of the rows.
(iii) Slew
The Slew control allows you to control the rate of change of control voltage output by Row C. At its
minimum,the slew time from note to note is approximately 5mS. Atitsmaximum setting,the slewtime
is approximately 1S.
The Buttons
(iv) Step
The STEP button is a 'momentary' button, or 'toggle'. When the Clock INT/EXT switch is in its central
position (the sequence is halted) pressing STEP will move the sequence one position to the right. When
the sequence is on its last step (either step 8 or as defined by the RESET switches) pressing STEP will
return the sequence to step 1.

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(v) Reset
Pressing RESETwill alwaysreturn the sequence to step 1. This action may be performed whether or not
the sequence is running.
(vi) Stop/Start
The STOP/START button is a 'toggle'. Provided that the other settings are appropriate, pressingSTOP/
START once will START the sequence. If a sequence is already running, pressing STOP/START will
STOP the sequence.
The Switch
(vii) EXT/INT Clock Selector
The clock selector has three positions:
• Down (INT)
The rate at which the sequence moves through the steps is determined by the internal clock.
• Up (EXT)
The rate at which the sequence moves through the steps is determined by an external clock
pulse presented to the EXT CK IN socket.
• Centre
The sequencer isnot clocked, and you must use the STEP button to move through the steps.
The LEDs
(viii) The Trigger Output LEDs
• TRIG 1
• TRIG 2
• TRIG 3
These givea visual indication ofthe triggersgenerated ateach of the three TRIG OUTs. Whenany ofthe
LEDs is lita trigger is produced at the appropriate output.
The Inputs
(ix) INT CK CV IN
You may apply a CV in the range 0V to +10V to control the internal clock rate. Note that, whatever
voltage you apply to the CV IN, the internal clock will not exceed its minimum and maximum rates of
0.1Hz and 30Hz.
(x) EXT CK IN
This input accepts signals with 'ON' amplitudes in the range +1V to +20V and 'OFF' amplitude of less

A N A LOG U E S Y S T EMS R S-I N T EG R A T O R 89
than +1V.
Ifthe inputsignal ispulse-like, the sequencer will move through the steps according tothe timing of this
signal.There isnopractical limit to the frequency of the inputsignal. One advantage ofthis isthe ability
toclock the RS200 ataudiofrequencies,makingitpossible touse each ofthe three rows in the sequencer
as an audio-frequency complex waveform generator.
(xi) SKIP IN
This modifies the action of the SKIP position of the switches in each of the Sequence Steps.
Normally, the sequencer will ignore any step that has the RESET/RUN/SKIP switch set to SKIP, and
jump directly to the next step in the sequence. However, if you apply a CV in the range +1V to +10V to
the SKIP IN input, the sequence will not SKIP the step, but hold it until the CV isremoved.
The normal 'skipping' action is, therefore, just a special case of this: with no CV applied, the step isnot
held, and proceeds directly to the next.
(xii) RESET EXT
If you apply a CV in the range +1V to +20V to the RESET EXT input, the sequence will return to step 1
when the +ve going transition is received. The sequence will remain at step 1 until the CV is removed.
(xiii) START/STOP EXT
If you apply a pulse in the range +1V to +20V to the START/STOP EXT input, the sequence will either
start (if it is stopped) or stop (if it is running) when the +ve going transition is received.
The Outputs
(xiv) The CV Outputs
• A OUT
• B OUT
• C OUT
The three rows ofCVs determined by the LEVEL knobs in each of the steps (asmodifiedby the RANGE
controls) are producedat these outputs. The maximum CV range is 0V to +10V.
(xv) The Trigger Output
• TRIG 1 OUT
• TRIG 2 OUT
• TRIG 3 OUT
The three setsoftriggersdetermined by theTRIGGER switches are producedat these outputs.All triggers
are +10Vpulses.
Remember that Row3 produces a trigger pulse at the TRIG 3 OUT on every sequence step, regardless of
the other controls and switches.

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(xvi) END PULSE OUT
A single +10V pulse is produced at this output each time that the sequence reaches its final step and
resetsto step 1.
(xvii) INT CK CK OUT
The +10V squarewave clock signal generated by the internal clock is outputhere.
Inserting a lead at this point does not break the internal circuit, and if the CLOCK SWITCH is set to INT
the sequence will continue to operate as before.
4. SOME IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED
If you are not fully acquainted with analogue sequencersand wouldlike a few ideastoget you started,
the following may beof some help. Of course, there’snoroom to do more than scratch the surface ofthe
RS200's possibilities in this manual, so remember: an open mind and some free experimentation can
yield startling results. Here are some basic ideas:
Set your RS200 and synthesiser up as described in the QUICK TOUR. Then…
• Set up a sequence andapply an LFO to the INT CK CV IN. This modulates the speed at which
the sequence runs.
• Drive theEXTCLOCKIN ataudiofrequencies,and usethe 8 steps todefinea complex waveform.
Direct this back to the synth as an independent oscillator. The shape is multi-stage and heavily
quantised, so it has a rather 'digital' character quite unlike the standard oscillators in your RS
Integrator.
• Use the TRIGGER switches creatively. Trigger outputs are used primarily to trigger the
synthesiser’s envelopes.You can manipulate your sequence in real-time byswitching the trigger
switches between trigger ON and OFF whilst the sequence is playing. If triggers are placed at
the beginnings of some notes and not others it will give a more human feel to the sequence,
analogous to guitarists who pluck or hammer strings at the beginnings of some notes but not
others.
• Use other RS Integrator modules such as the RS280 Divider module to create complex timing
changes within your sequences. For example, connect the INT CK CK OUT to the CK/SIG IN of
the RS280, and return the ÷16 output from the RS280 to the START/STOP EXT input on the
sequencer. This will cause the sequence to stop every16 steps, and then restart after an interval
of a further 16 clock pulses. Each time the sequence runs, it will start one step further tothe right,
creating complex changes in your music.
• Use an RS150 Sequential Switch to extend your sequencesto 24 steps. You dothisby connecting
CV A OUT to IN1 on the Sequential Switch, CV B OUT to IN2, and CV C OUT to IN3. Then
connect the END PULSE OUT on the sequencer to the CLOCK IN on the Sequential Switch.
Now, each time the sequencer reaches step 8 it will send a pulse to the switch advancing the
input by 1.
• Put all the RESET/RUN/SKIP switches to the SKIP position. Now apply noise from an RS40

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Noise Generator at the SKIP INinput. Thiswill make the sequencer step randomly, apparently
moving backwards as well asforwardswithin the sequence.This istruly random note selection,
and can be used in a number ofways tocreate quasi-melodies, generate harmonicstructures, or
provide sound effects.
• Again, put all the RESET/RUN/SKIP switches to the SKIP position. Take noise from the RS40
and band-pass filter it using an RS110 Multimode filter. Apply the resulting signal to the
sequencer's EXT CK IN to create random timing effects. You can even modulate the filter to
modulate the speed of the randomised clock.
Just as an analogue synthesiser has an infinite number of possibilities, so does an analogue sequencer.
The seven ideasabove merely give you an idea of the types ofsoundsandeffectsyou can create with the
RS200. The restis up to you!