Drummertime 64 combines 4x Drummertime modules in a single 3U, 74HP module. The individual Drummertimes can be dynamically linked to create longer patterns with up to 64 steps, or more outputs. It is also possible to use the four Drummertimes individually, for example clocking each from a different clock source and with a different divider.
Not a normal 64 step sequencer
This configuration provides some interesting features not found in other sequencers. At the same time, while it can behave similarly to a single 64-step sequencer, it does not quite behave the way you might expect.
Linking
Using the switches on the right side, the individual Drummertimes can be linked*. Depending on the link mode you can define in the config menu, linking can increase the pattern length, or provide more outputs by syncing multiple modules.
(*Linking is also possible with normal Drummertime modules by the way).
Serial linking
The most commonly used link mode is serial linking, used to get longer patterns. When the last step of a pattern is reached, the pattern will continue playing in the next Drummertime. Once the last step of the last Drummertime in the chain is reached, the pattern of the first Drummertime in the chain will start from the beginning. This, in combination with the ‘last step’ function, allows you to create pattern with any length between 1 and 64 steps.
In this mode, all Drummertime modules will output the same instrument triggers. So if a bass drum is playing on Drummertime 2, it will also output on Drummertime 1.
The individual Drummertimes will constantly check how they are connected and adjust their behaviour accordingly. This means you can link or unlink Drummertimes at any time and e.g. introduduce pattern variation that way.
Play directions
Play directions can be chosen for each Drummertime individually. So the pattern in the first Drummertime could move forward, the one in the second backward and the one in the 3rd randomly. This allows for even more variation with just a few button presses.
Serial linking and song mode
Song mode is not synced between multiple Drummertimes. Rather, you can create individual songs on each Drummertime which allows you to create variations in an unusual and simple way.
The graphic below shows an example with 2 linked Drummertimes. Drummertime 1 has a song with 3 patterns, Drummertime 2 has 2 patterns in its song. As you can see, the song of each Drummertime advances before the first step of a pattern. This simple configuration creates a 3-to-2 rhythm variation which otherwise would be complicated to compose. Even more complex rhythmic structures can be created using three or four linked Drummertimes.
Feature linking
Some features are also linked between linked Drummertimes. Of note here, is that a Drummertime can ‘remote control’ Drummertimes after it in a chain, but not ones before it.
- When TAP recording is active, tapping will record across multiple Drummertimes, as if recording into one, large pattern. Also entering TAP mode on a Drummertime will result in other Drummertimes also entering TAP mode.
- Muting works across multiple drummertimes
- Clear works across multiple Drummertimes
Parallel linking
When setting the link mode to parallel, the first Drummertime in a chain will forward its clock to the others, syncing them. This results in a single sequencer with more than 8 instrument tracks.
Use individually
Of course each Drummertime can also be used individually simply by removing the link. It can then run from a different clock as the others, or from the same clock but with a different clock divider. This allows creating polyrhythms for example