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.
