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General Information

The Grendel 2TAC is a controller for music synthesizers that use the 1V/octave CV-Gate standard.  It 
requires patch cables with 3.5mm mono phone plugs, commonly used for Eurorack type systems.

Sequencer Standards

2TAC uses the pulse-per-step clock standard.  One clock pulse advances the sequencer by one grid step.  
Each clock pulse typically represents a 16th note or 8th note.

The sequencer has patchable Reset In / Reset Out connections to maintain a common reference point 
when other sequencers are synchronized to it.  A Reset Out pulse is transmitted when Stop is pressed.  
While Reset In is activated, such as by patching a Gate signal to it, the transport is paused.

2TAC can serve as the master clock for other compatible sequencers, or it can be a slave unit to expand 
your production setup when you’ve “maxed out” your other sequencers.

Pattern Data

2TAC’s patterns are limited to 4 different pitches.  The 4 keys on the keypad can be considered as a 4-
note mini keyboard.  You can tune the keys independently with the rotary encoders above each key.  

The restriction of only having 4 pitches per pattern lends itself to a minimal compositional style.  
However, it is possible to layer several patterns during playback with the Sticky Patterns feature.  In this 
case, you can produce sequences that contain more than 4 pitches.

Sequencing

You can easily create chains of patterns that play as a loop, allowing simple song structures.

But, 2TAC does not have extensive memory for lots of patterns, multiple song programming, or other 
advanced DAW-like features.  It is intended more as a scratch pad for developing musical ideas, and 
performing minimal compositions which don’t involve a lot of pattern changes.

Controls One or Two Synthesizers

You can use 2TAC’s Track 1 and Track 2 outputs to play two different analog synthesizers, or use Track 2 as 
an auxillary CV channel to control a single synth’s sound parameters like Filter CV, Velocity CV, etc.  2TAC 
is not explicitly designed with the ACC GATE function, but you could use Track 2’s Gate Out for that 
purpose.

Power Supply

Standard power supply is 9VDC, tip 
positive.

It is OK to use a daisy-chain cable 
to share power with other gear 
from a single AC adapter.

It is safe to connect any DC power 
source from 7.5 volts to 12 volts.

Polarity of the power source is 
irrelevant.  This unit accommodates 
both tip-positive and tip-negative 
AC adapters.

The unit is protected against over-
voltage with a built-in fuse (self-
resetting fuse).

Made by Rare Waves LLC 
(Texas, USA)

RAREWAVES.NET

Design and Support:
Eric Archer

Manufacturer

Connections

V/OCT & Gate Out : 2 each
Clock In, Clock Out (5V pulse per step)
Reset In, Reset Out (5V pulse)

DIN Sync

: Not supported

MIDI

: Not supported

Summary of Contents for Grendel 2TAC

Page 1: ...2 Track Analog Control For CV Gate Music Synthesizers Rare Waves LLC RAREWAVES NET...

Page 2: ...ure In this case you can produce sequences that contain more than 4 pitches Sequencing You can easily create chains of patterns that play as a loop allowing simple song structures But 2TAC does not ha...

Page 3: ...Keypad Key I Key II Key III Key IV CV Gate Outputs Tuners 0V Gate Off 5V Gate On 1V octave 0 5V Range Gate Out V Oct Out...

Page 4: ...ulse per step 5V rising edge triggered CLK OUT CLK IN Only when Transport is Playing Also acts as Clock Thru 5V Gate or Pulse Pauses transport and resets sequencer RESET OUT RESET IN Transmitted when...

Page 5: ...Mode Switch Metronome Click Track Function Buttons...

Page 6: ...rs to adjust the pitches of Track 1 s Keys The Keypad and Tuners control CV Gate output on Track 2 The Key LEDs light up with the sequenced notes on Track 2 Press the Keys to play Track 2 s CV Gate ou...

Page 7: ...s of 1 semitone equal temperament or 0 083 volts The pitches of the notes in your sequenced patterns can be adjusted with the Tuners rotary encoders above the Keys 2TAC has a tuning range of about 5 o...

Page 8: ...make its V OCT outputs go beyond the range of 0 to 5 volts so if you apply large transpositions to a pattern the melodic relationship between its notes will be affected Normally its suggested to keep...

Page 9: ...the end of the currently active pattern then switch automatically at the end of the bar Sticky patterns Pattern layering Hold PLAY while tapping a Key The LED above it ickers while it is Sticky You c...

Page 10: ...utomatically shuts off when you press the Stop button The metronome s rate can be set to divide the clock by 1 2 3 or 4 The default on power up is divide by 4 or quarter note beats if the clock input...

Page 11: ...ase The sequencer will play to the end of the currently active pattern then switch automatically at the end of the bar Pattern Chain Single play Hold LOOP while tapping a sequence of Keys When LOOP is...

Page 12: ...al programmed loop length Clear Temp Loop Point on Track 2 While the transport is playing hold LOOP and STOP while tapping CUE2 Track 2 s pattern returns to its original programmed loop length You can...

Page 13: ...ng a Key tapping the CUE1 button shifts all events in the pattern to the left Each tap of the CUE2 button shifts all events in the pattern to the right by one step This is useful if you want to re ali...

Page 14: ...he pattern s loop point is reached providing an audible reference point If a Pattern Chain is active Real Time Edit will affect all the patterns in the chain as they appear during playback Results can...

Page 15: ...navigation Jump to Step 1 Press Stop Navigation Tap CUE1 to move back one step Tap CUE2 to move forward one step Trigger events are shown by a momentary LED Gate events have a steady LED The Audible I...

Page 16: ...PLAY and Key I Key II or Key III simultaneously The display ickers and all data in the selected bank is replaced with randomly generated note events random pattern lengths and random tuning settings M...

Page 17: ...D 1 7 Audition the pitches of the Keys by playing the keypad and adjusting the tuners according to the melody you have in mind 8 Next set the pattern s loop length see above to match your new idea 9 U...

Page 18: ...1 or CUE2 to loop the track s pattern Clear temporary loop point Hold STOP while tapping CUE1 or CUE2 While transport is playing hold the LOOP button down then While holding LOOP button down until LED...

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