Ittttttt’s Baaaaaack: Horologic Solum!
A while back, we discontinued Horologic Solum. We thought it had outlived its usefulness, but many email requests later, we realized we were wrong. So: if you’ve been wanting to get an HS into your case, you can preorder yours now! Thanks to everyone that emailed asking about HS.
What is Horologic Solum?
Horologic Solum is a lot of things. It can be a voltage-controlled clock generator with three tempo ranges and four outputs (switchable between 3 sets of divisions, based on the root clock). It can also be a clock divider, where its four outs are based on external clock and reset signals. And at only 4 HP and $136, that’s a lot! It’s the perfect heartbeat for a system, small or large. It doesn’t end there, though: if four outputs just isn’t enough, you can also pick up its expander, Horologic Uter, for $91. You get eight additional outputs for a total of twelve in just 8 HP to route around your rig.
Learn more:
How can Horologic Solum be patched?
When used as a clock generator, the HS has a variety of uses. The top output is always the base clock, and the three outputs below that are divisions of it. Those outputs can be set to 2/4/8, 3/5/7, or 4/16/64 respectively with a flick of the “2 0 4” switch. Personally, I like to use the 4/16/64 setting when I want to keep a bunch of sequencers in sync and phase. I can route the root clock to their clock inputs, and use one of the slower clocks to keep them all in phase. The 3/5/7 setting I like a lot for slower, more experimental patches where I want to move away from a 4/4 grid. Especially when paired with something like Integra Funkitus to add some probability to the clock outputs, you can ditch the sequencers entirely and create an interesting patch just with some unusual divisions.
Let’s try something a bit more traditional, though: here, we’re using Horologic Solum to clock a Mimetic Digitalis and an Intellijel Steppy to trigger and modulate a four-voice patch.
Of course, since HS is voltage controllable, there are a lot of things that we can do to make our clocks more interesting. Gradual tempo changes can be automated with a slow LFO, or we can do more experimental things by patching envelopes, random CV, and other signals here for some more unusual results. However, there’s a more traditional use for it, too: swing! All we have to do is get a CV sequencer and clock it with HS, then feed the sequence into the CV input on HS. You can read more about this patch (and some others that will work with HS, too) in the blog post all about weird clocking techniques, but let’s take a listen to what it can sound like:
Now, HS is a Eurorack module. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t use it with other pieces of gear, too! A lot of gear can take analog triggers or clock, which means that we can use Horologic Solum as well as Horologic Uter to control a plethora of other devices. HU, with its extra outs, is especially useful when using lots of gear since you have so many clock options. Here, we’re jamming on a rack with a voice, some sequencing, and some FX, alongside an external drum machine.
Horologic Solum is for preorder now
If you want a Horologic Solum and Horologic Uter, you’re in luck! You can preorder yours now. You’ll be clocking your heart out before you know it: they ship October 19.
