4ms-rotating-clock-divider

4ms Rotating Clock Divider

Eight rotating clock divisions from one clock input

4 HP Eurorack module

The 4ms Rotating Clock Divider (RCD) is an 8-output clock divider that divides an incoming clock signal by 1 through 64, with a unique CV-controlled rotation feature that shifts all divide-by amounts across the outputs simultaneously. Its musical character is rhythmically generative and polyrhythmic, enabling complex evolving beat structures, euclidean-style patterns, and synchronized modulation from a single clock source.

Features

  • 8 clock division outputs covering divide-by 1 through 64
  • CV Rotate jack (0V to +5V) shifts all divide-by assignments across outputs simultaneously
  • CV Reset jack (3.5V to 15V) resets all counters on next clock pulse
  • Jumper-selectable max divide-by range: 8, 16, 32, or 64
  • Jumper-selectable Spread mode for even distribution across divide range
  • Jumper-selectable Up-beat or Down-beat counting
  • Jumper-selectable Trigger or Gate output mode
  • Jumper-selectable Auto-reset at 2x the max divide range
  • Bus Clock support (slave only) from Gate pins on power header (PCB v1.2)
  • 5V Select jumper to power from +12V rail or +5V rail (PCB v1.2)
  • LED dimmer trimpot for custom LED brightness (PCB v1.2)
  • UART header reserved for future expansion (MIDI, master clock controller), Arduino-compatible

Controls & Jacks (22)

  • Divide-by-1+R Output— Clock output divided by (1+R).
  • Divide-by-5+R Output— Clock output divided by (5+R).
  • Divide-by-3+R Output— Clock output divided by (3+R).
  • CV Reset— CV input to reset all divide counters (3.5V to 15V trigger).
  • Divide-by-7+R Output— Clock output divided by (7+R).
  • Divide-by-6+R Output— Clock output divided by (6+R).
  • Clock Input— Clock input (3.5V to 15V, rising edge triggered). Maximum input frequency 3kHz.
  • Divide-by-2+R Output— Clock output divided by (2+R).
  • Divide-by-8+R Output— Clock output divided by (8+R).
  • CV Rotate— CV input to rotate divide-by amounts across all output jacks (0V to +5V).
  • Divide-by-4+R Output— Clock output divided by (4+R).
  • Status— Indicates module activity. Brightness adjustable via rear trimpot.
  • Output LEDs— Indicates module activity. Brightness adjustable via rear trimpot.
  • LED Dimmer Trimpot— Trimpot on PCB to adjust brightness of all output LEDs
  • Up/Down Jumper— Jumper to select up-beat or down-beat counting mode
  • Trig/Gate Jumper— Jumper to select trigger or gate output mode
  • Max-Div-Range 16 Jumper— Jumper to set maximum divide-by range (part of 2-jumper combo)
  • Max-Div-Range 32 Jumper— Jumper to set maximum divide-by range (part of 2-jumper combo)
  • Spread Jumper— Jumper to enable spread mode, distributing outputs evenly across divide range
  • Auto-Reset Jumper— Jumper to enable automatic counter reset after a set number of clock pulses
  • BUS CLK Jumper— Jumper to enable clocking from power bus Gate pins instead of Clock Input jack
  • 5V Select Jumper— Jumper to select whether RCD is powered from +12V rail (INT) or +5V rail (EXT)

How-To Guides

  • Instant Polyrhythm
  • Rhythmic Morphing with CV Rotate
  • Spread Mode Polyrhythmic Texture
  • Self-Resetting Rhythmic Loop
  • Musical Divisions in Spread-8 Mode
  • Audio-Rate Pitch Stepping
  • Dual RCD Master-Slave Reset
  • Gate Mode Rhythmic Gates for Envelopes
  • Odd Meter Looping with Auto-Reset
  • Multi-Sequencer Clock Network

Explore the interactive Rotating Clock Divider panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.

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