Reckless Technology

VST plugins / Filters and modulation

Plugin

Reckless Sequence

v0.21

A filter played by a step sequencer: up to thirty-two bars you draw, each the filter's frequency on one step, run in time with the song.

The Reckless Sequence plugin panel.

From the user guide

The pattern

On each step the filter jumps to that step's bar and stays until the next. The scale runs from 80 Hz at the floor to 8 kHz at the top, 800 Hz in the middle.

The pattern: a bar per step, its height the filter's frequency.
The pattern: a bar per step, its height the filter's frequency.
  • Press a bar to set it; drag across the row to draw a whole pattern in one stroke.
  • Double-click a bar to reset that step.
  • Generate draws a new random pattern.
  • Each step is a parameter (Step 1 to Step 32) the host can automate. Reset to defaults puts the bars back too.

Mode picks the filter: Lowpass, the classic sequenced synth filter, with Q; Phaser, eight stages carving four notches about the step, with Feedback; Ladder, the transistor ladder, with Resonance.

The third knob in each mode: Q, Feedback and Resonance.
The third knob in each mode: Q, Feedback and Resonance.

Keeping time

Clock at Host follows the song's tempo and locks to the bar while it plays; stopped, it keeps running. At Free it runs at the Tempo knob. In the standalone app, which has no song, Host follows the app's BPM box.

The Clock plate under the Tempo knob it hands over to at Free.
The Clock plate under the Tempo knob it hands over to at Free.

Controls

ControlRangeDefaultWhat it does
Steps 1 to 32, close up on the Reckless Sequence.Steps 1 to 3280 Hz to 8 kHza rise and fall, twiceThe filter's frequency on each step.
Tempo, close up on the Reckless Sequence.Tempo50 to 200 BPM120Speed under Free; dimmed under Host.
Length, close up on the Reckless Sequence.Length1 to 3216Steps per cycle. An odd number walks against the bar.
Q, close up on the Reckless Sequence.Q0.5 to 100.71Lowpass resonance. Higher makes the frequency ring.
Feedback, close up on the Reckless Sequence.Feedback0 to 100 %50 %Phaser regeneration: resonant peaks between the notches.
Resonance, close up on the Reckless Sequence.Resonance0 to 100 %50 %Ladder feedback: each step rings; the bass stays put.
Output, close up on the Reckless Sequence.Output-24 to +24 dB0 dBOutput level. Resonance can add up to 20 dB.
Clock (plate), close up on the Reckless Sequence.Clock (plate)Host / FreeHostTempo from the song or from the Tempo knob.
Rate (plate), close up on the Reckless Sequence.Rate (plate)1/1 to 1/32T1/16Step length as a note value, straight, dotted or triplet.
Mode (plate), close up on the Reckless Sequence.Mode (plate)Lowpass / Phaser / LadderLowpassThe filter. A change fades, so switch freely.
Generate (button), close up on the Reckless Sequence.Generate (button)Draws a new random pattern across all thirty-two steps.

Tips

  • Start here: a held pad and the defaults. Turn Q toward 3; press Generate until you like it.
  • The squelch: Lowpass, Q 4 to 6, a pattern leaping between low and high; Output down 6 dB.
  • Odd lengths: Length 5 or 7 keeps a loop from sounding like a loop.

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