MAKEN0ISE’s MultiLevel Gate Delay: Replicating Rhythms Across Time

The video opens by referencing a previous exploration of sequence replication at the clock level, using the multimod to duplicate and distribute a master clock signal. This time, however, the focus shifts to what Make Noise dubs “Level 1”: replicating entire gate sequences rather than just the clock pulses that drive them. The MultiLevel Gate Delay is introduced as the instrument of choice for this task, promising to take a single gate stream and fan it out across multiple outputs, each with its own temporal quirks.

Rather than simply multiplying a pulse, the MultiLevel Gate Delay allows for the creation of overlapping, time-shifted copies of a gate sequence. This means that changes at the input propagate through the outputs at different rates, resulting in a complex, evolving mesh of triggers. The approach is inherently modular—encouraging users to think beyond straightforward sequencing and to embrace the unpredictable beauty of asynchronous rhythmic layers.

A key feature of the MultiLevel Gate Delay is its ability to act as a clock divider, with the time control determining how the incoming gate sequence is split and distributed. By setting the time control to various positions, users can dial in divisions such as divide-by-8, effectively stretching a 16-step sequence across a much longer timescale. This is demonstrated by clocking Rene’s x clock with Tempi and then feeding a slower clock into the multimod, setting up a scenario where the gate sequence is copied over extended cycles.

The spread parameter introduces further complexity, allowing each output channel to respond to input changes at its own pace. Some channels may still be echoing older material while others begin to incorporate new gate events. The result is a living, breathing network of triggers, with each output forming its own relationship to the master sequence. Modulating the spread—whether manually or via CV—adds yet another layer of rhythmic unpredictability.

Resetting the multimod with an additional clock source periodically brings the channels back into phase, injecting moments of quasi-repeatability into the otherwise fluid patch. This interplay between order and chaos is central to the module’s appeal, and the video leans into it by showing how modulating both spread and clock divisions can yield endlessly shifting patterns.

One of the most compelling aspects of the MultiLevel Gate Delay is its capacity for generating rhythm variations simply by tweaking timing and spread parameters. As the video illustrates, altering the speed of the Tempi channels or the reset intervals can dramatically reshape the output, causing clusters of gates to emerge at different rates and locations within the patch. These clusters create unique textures, with overlapping triggers producing polyrhythmic effects and unexpected accents.

The process is highly interactive: by manually changing the gate sequence or modulating the spread with CV, users can steer the patch towards new rhythmic territories. The video spends time demonstrating how even small adjustments can yield significant sonic changes, as the delayed outputs gradually incorporate new material. This slow-motion evolution is a hallmark of the module’s design, encouraging experimentation and attentive listening.

Ultimately, the MultiLevel Gate Delay is presented as a tool for sculpting complex rhythmic lattices rather than simply repeating patterns. The video hints at future explorations—such as replicating melodic content or even audio itself—but for now, the focus remains on the rhythmic interplay and the endless possibilities that arise from letting gates spill across time.