Voltage-controlled switches

Voltage-controlled switches work similarly to sequential switches, but change their routing based on CV instead of triggers. A common use of a two-channel voltage-controlled switch is to swap between routings with a simple gate signal: the routing is swapped when the gate signal is high, and jumps back when the gate goes low. 

With a higher number of channels, voltage-controlled switches offer some more complexity than a sequential switch. Any CV source can be used to change the routing; for example, a CV sequencer could be used to change the routing non-sequentially.

VC switches also have some fun out-of-the-box patching options. For example, if you have multi-output oscillators in your system, the square output can be used to control the switch, and other waveforms can be patched to the inputs of the switch. The output will then produce a hybrid waveform, and the pulsewidth of the square will change the timbre of the resulting output.

I like to use sequential switches for rhythm and timing-based switching needs: I can route a clock or a trigger sequencer to the clock input and change routings at rhythmic points in a patch. I often use voltage-controlled switches to extend the capabilities of sequencers in my system, either by using gates to change routings for specific periods of time, or CV sequences to precisely control input and output routings. 

If you’re unsure which type you’d use most commonly, hybrid switches like Vice Virga are a good option: they can be voltage or trigger controlled, depending on how you patch them.

Switch matrices

Traditional sequential switches generally have either a single input that can be routed to multiple outputs, or a single output that can have multiple inputs routed to it. This is a great choice for classic patches like extending the length of a sequence: by patching two lanes of an 4-step sequencer to the inputs of a switch and patching a /r clock to the clock input of the switch, we can create a 16-step sequence. 

However, we can go beyond tradition with more advanced switch modules. Switch matrices offer multiple inputs and multiple outputs simultaneously. In simple patches, they can be used just like traditional options – patch the number of in(s) and out(s) that you need, and they’ll work the same as any other switch module. However, some fun options arise when using multiple ins and outs at the same time. For example, I like to run a four-part trigger sequence to four inputs of Vice Virga, and patch four outputs to different drum voices. Then, I can swap what drum voices receive what trigger pattern using CV or another trigger signal.

Performance switches

The switch types we’ve covered here integrate deeply into patches, but switches are also a useful tool in a performance, either for muting and unmuting signals in your patch, or changing signal routing manually.

A simple way to add a performative layer to a patch is with mute switches. Mutes have a single input and output per channel, and stop the input from passing to the output when the respective switch control is in the muted position. Mutes can be used on both control signals and audio, meaning they can change a variety of parts of your patch: stop a sequencer from advancing by muting its clock, mute a drum part by muting its trigger input, remove modulation from a destination by muting its CV… 

Manual routing switches are another fun performance option. Vice Virga’s entire switch matrix can be controlled with an encoder, for example, if you want to rotate a bunch of routings in your patch at will. I have four main pitch/gate sequencers in my system, and I often use Vice Virga in 4x4 mode to swap what voice is controlled by what sequencer. 

Suggested modules:

Vice Virga: our 8-in, 8-out routing switch that can be manually, voltage, or trigger controlled.

Muta Jovis: A four-channel performance mute.

Confundo Funkidos: An 8-in, 4-out performance switch with mutes and probability-based routing controls.