Is there a way to convert a clock signal from hardware to a CV voltage?

VCV Rack
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Hi, I have been searching through the modules available in VCV Rack trying to find a module that can input a clock from an external hardware synth/sequencer and then convert that to the correct voltage to set the BPM of modules in VCV Rack. Trying to sync with just the clock itself never seems stable no matter the clock source or module used. Any modules that are clock generators only seem to accept a voltage to set the BPM and not an external clock. Am I missing something obvious? I would have thought there would have been a utility to convert a clock to a voltage somewhere, but I can’t find one anywhere. Any suggestions?

TIA, Colin

2

Yes, there are a number of tools for this:

The shortest answer to your question is the ML BPM Tools, using the LFO out. And then you’ll likely need an offset of -2V to feed into whatever clock module you’re using in VCV.

This will get the same BPM, but it won’t necessarily be in sync with your external clock.

1 Like
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What format is this clock (cv, ppq ?), and how do you get it into VCV ?

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Which synth/sequencer are you using? Does it have a cv- clock out? Or how is the clock send out?

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bpm
bpm1185Ă—890 160 KB

Using Impromptu Clocked, set your ppqn (not CV) by pressing Mode, and then select “Bpm output is CV when ext sync” in the context menu.

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I am using the clock from my hardware via MIDI and bringing it into VCV Rack using the VCV MIDI > CV module. So it is in ppq format.

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I’m using MIDI to send the clock to VCV Rack and bringing it in via the MIDI > CV module

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Thanks for the suggestions. I will take a look at using an lfo to control “clocked”

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And something like this does not work ?

afbeelding
afbeelding892Ă—812 147 KB

Choose your midi device.

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The LFO was just to imitate your clock source

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Yes, that works, but I have found my hardware clocks are not stable, or a MIDI sourced clock is not stable when doing this. Also I think possibly my hardware synths have different ppq values as they don’t all show the same BPM values or the same waveforms making it hard for me to use them interchangeably. Some send out trigger pulses and others a gate signal.

1 Like
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Yes, I realized that, Thanks for clarifying though.