blue lantern tadpole sequencer price : $385.00
toad expander price : $65.00

tadpole 16 step sequencer
circuits found on the tadpole sequencer: a 16 step cmos-based sequencer, an internal cv variable pulse clock, a cmos-based logic inverter, and a cmos-based clock divider circuit.

controls: 16 cv level knobs for each step, pulse width knob with polar fm knob (pwm), clock rate knob with cv level knob. there is a reset button and advance step button.

what does this do? this module advances in sixteen steps. with each step there is a level knob to give you 0-8v for you to control an external module. the most common module you want to control is a vco or vcf. there is an internal clock circuit so that you can make it move without any other external module needed. so this module allows you to create control voltage loops for musical experimentation.

what this module does not do: advance in reverse or advance in what they call the pendulum swing.

this sequencer uses cd4000 series ic chips. these chips are basic logic, digital chips that have no memory or fancy programming like modern pic chips. there is no latency when using this type of circuit. other benefits include: audio rate frequency modulation, low current usage, and just pure fun. older sequencers from the 1970's used the same type of chips.

there is also an expansion unit coming soon that adds the following functionality:
allows you to mute each individual gate, and lets you connect (2) tadpole sequencers for some crazy musical improvisation. when connecting

(2) tadpole sequencers together they do no expand the sequence to 32 steps. i felt this was boring and dull. instead, one sequencer becomes the looping pattern, while the other becomes the pattern changer. the gate output also becomes musical when both sequencers are connected together.

size: 44 hp
current consumption: +25ma , -18ma
format: doepfer 12v 16 pin power strip compatible.
ribbon cable type: 10 pin to 16 pin
depth: 1.5 inches
led color for 16 steps: clear orange
led colors for dividers: white, blue, red, orange

click here for the user manual.

tadpole expansion module
8hp
current: passive module, requires no power

ribbon cable type: (1) 18 pin to 18 pin, (requires 2) 10 pin to 10 pin (only one of these cables is supplied.)
depth: 1.5 inches

what does this do?
this module is an add on for the tadpole 16 step sequencer. this will allow you to individually mute each step specifically for the gate output jack. the duo link switch requires you to have (2) tadpole 16 step sequencers.

duo link expansion: on the back of the tadpole sequencer there are (4) digital lines + (1) ground pin to equal a 5 pin header. what the expander does is link a, b, c, d digital lines with another tadpole sequencer's digital lines.

using an 10 pin idc cable you connect the first sequencer to the expansion module connector labled ' seq1', and the other tadpole 16 step sequencer to 'seq 2'. on the first sequencer you attach the 18 pin idc cable to the 18 pin header on the expansion module.

if you purchase another expansion module for the second tadpole sequencer the duo link would not be connected to any of the sequencers. i plan to make other blue lantern modules that can take advantage of 'talking to each other' using the duo link connectors.

so what does the duo link switch when activated do?
it allows you to get some really complicated sequences and beautiful melodies. this was some of the basic structure when raymond scott was building his auto composer machine. the gate output even becomes melodic when connected to a pitch based control voltage on a vco.