# Seahorse - Lo-Fi Shift Register Duo Case: **Synthrotek SeaHorse** (portable). Each module is used once. Source: original Jack labels from the disting mk4 User Manual v4.18 (F-6), the Shades manual, and the Ladik A-541 description on ModularGrid. Ginko does not publish a user manual for SEEDS or Grains (building manuals only), so their jack names are: check panel. Micro Sequence, Echo, Passive Mult and Mini Speaker silk-screen: check panel. Signal path explained: [[Patches/Seahorse/Seahorse - Lo-Fi Shift Register Duo - SignalPath|SignalPath]] Incremental build: [[Patches/Seahorse/Seahorse - Lo-Fi Shift Register Duo - Build|Build]] ## Modules - Pittsburgh Modular Micro Sequence: tap-tempo clock only - Expert Sleepers Disting mk4: **F-6 Shift Register Random Quantized CVs** - Ginko Synthese SEEDS: 8-bit melody voice - Ginko Synthese Grains: drone bed - Mutable Instruments Shades: 2-into-1 mix - Synthrotek Echo: space - Passive Mult (custom, not on ModularGrid): output split - Clacktronics Mini Speaker ×2 and Ladik A-541 **Cable colors:** [[Cable Colors]] after [Learning Modular](https://learningmodular.com/choosing-patch-cables/): ⚪ Gray 1 V/oct · 🔵 Blue modulation · 🟡 Yellow audio · 🔴 Red gates/triggers · 🟢 Green clock/sync · ⚫ Black external ## Cables 1. 🟢 Green · Micro Sequence Tap Tempo Clock output (5 V per maker; check panel) -> Disting X (in, clock) 2. ⚪ Gray · Disting A (out, quantized CV) -> SEEDS pitch CV input (check panel) 3. 🟡 Yellow · SEEDS audio output (check panel) -> Shades channel 1 Signal input 4. 🟡 Yellow · Grains audio output (check panel) -> Shades channel 2 Signal input 5. 🟡 Yellow · Shades channel 2 Signal output (channels 1 + 2; leave channel 1's output empty) -> Echo audio input (check panel) 6. 🟡 Yellow · Echo output (check panel) -> Passive Mult 7. ⚫ Black · Passive Mult -> Mini Speaker 1 input (check panel) (judgment call) 8. ⚫ Black · Passive Mult -> Mini Speaker 2 input (check panel) (judgment call) 9. 🟡 Yellow · Passive Mult -> A-541 channel A input (1/8″) ## Starting points - **Micro Sequence:** tap a slow tempo. Only its clock is used here. - **Disting (F-6):** - Parameter 2 (Scale) 5, root + 5th, so nothing clashes with the drone. Parameter 1 (Length) 16. Parameter 6 (Slew) around 8 for small glides. - Start with Z at 0 (most random). When you like the loop, turn Z up until the display shows "**" (about +2 V) to lock it. - **SEEDS:** pick a sound with its own controls; no published manual covers the panel. Tune it so the Disting root lines up with the Grains drone. - **Grains:** set its pots for a steady buzzing tone, low. - **Shades:** attenuator mode. Channel 1 (SEEDS) at 12 o'clock, channel 2 (Grains) fully CW. - **Echo:** Rate 11 o'clock, Feedback 1 o'clock, Mix 12 o'clock. ## Level notes - The Grains building manual says its output can't exceed about 5 V peak-to-peak. Shades can only cut, not boost, so balance by turning SEEDS down. - I have no maker figure for how well SEEDS tracks 1 V/oct. If the roots and fifths drift, treat it as texture or narrow Disting parameter 3 (Output attenuverter). ## What it should sound like A chiptune-flavoured melody wandering over roots and fifths on top of a buzzy granular drone, with a dark echo behind it. It keeps changing until you lock it.