Joranalogue Audio Design: Random Steps the Lab-Grade Way with STEP 8 & SELECT 2

The heart of the technique is in how randomness is injected into the sequence. By patching an output from Orbit 3—a chaos generator—into STEP 8’s input, every step becomes random, but that’s not the aim here. The clever bit is using SELECT 2 to switch between a steady 5V reference and the unpredictable output from Orbit 3, effectively toggling randomness only when desired.

Compare 2 comes into play when you want to randomise more than just the first step. By using gate outputs from STEP 8 and feeding them through Compare 2, you can define exactly which stages of the sequence will be randomised. The flip-flop output of Compare 2 acts as a gatekeeper, ensuring that only the chosen steps receive the chaos signal, while the rest stick to their programmed values.

With the switching logic in place, Simon demonstrates how to automate the process so you’re not left manually flicking switches mid-performance. By connecting the gate output of a specific STEP 8 stage to the select input of SELECT 2, the system automatically routes either the random or steady voltage at the right moment. This means only the first stage—or any combination you choose—gets randomised, while the others remain fixed.

To push the patch further, Simon adds percussion using Delay 1 as a kick drum, Mix 3 for hi-hats, and Contour 1 for rimshots or snares, all sequenced and modulated by the same logic. Orbit 3’s outputs are sprinkled throughout for extra modulation and grit. The result is a rhythm section with both structure and surprise, as the randomised steps inject subtle variations into the groove.

For melodic interest, the sequence is routed through a quantizer, ensuring that even the randomised steps stay musically coherent. The patch is flexible—shortening the sequence or rearranging the randomisation logic can yield everything from pseudo-random waltzes to more traditional grooves, all with that signature Joranalogue precision.