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AM600 Project - A Digital Sequencer
Rebuilding the Roland CSQ-600
Introduction In 1980 Roland released a new Digital Sequencer
called the CSQ-600. It was an expanded version of the CSQ-100 which had been released the year before, with improved sync facilities and more memory. However it still fell short of the powerful MC-4 Micro-composer that Roland had launched
2 years earlier, but the CSQ-600 was considerably cheaper, at under £1000. It was frequently paired with Roland's analog monosynths like the SH-2, and it sold in higher volumes than the expensive MC-4.
The CSQ-600 is strictly
CV/gate, as it pre-dates MIDI by four years. It can store up to 150 notes into each of 4 separate tracks or parts, making for a total memory of 600 notes. Unlike the MC-4, it can only replay one track at once and there is no way of backing
the sequences up to cassette. It does have a battery backed memory though, unlike the CSQ-100, so at least your 4 sequences are retained!
The Re-build Today the CSQ-600 remains largely forgotten, and its rather clunky front
panel and limited features put people off. However as a simple scratch pad sequencer for CV/gate it excels. It can be externally started, stopped and clocked, and the tracks can be chained and looped. It's a simple but effective creative
tool, that enables short sequences to be recorded, played and triggered within a modular set up. However the casing and controls are clunky, so lets rip out the core of the CSQ-600 and rebuild it!
The AM600 The Analog
Metropolis version of the Roland CSQ-600 has been extensively re-engineered with the following changes:
- The case has been ditched, and the main PCB and PSU integrated into the AM Modular Cabinet.
- The CSQ-600 is controlled from a new remote front panel, linked to the sequencer via a ribbon cable.
- The remote panel is a standard AM style panel, just 135mm wide. Have a look at the mocked up front panel to see how much we have slimmed down the controls.
- Some controls have been left on the CSQ-600 PCB, to simplify the front panel and because they aren't likely to get used much (e.g. gate rewrite and portamento).
- The remaining key controls have been located on the new front panel, and replaced with high quality components which transform the usabaility.
- A new replacement potentiometer for TEMPO
- New toggle switches and buttons
- New 5mm LED's, blue, red and aqua green
- The original inputs and outputs have also been slimmed down to the bare essentials, and located on the new control panel.
- The CSQ-600 will sync to an external 1 beat per note signal. So I have added MIDI clock sync..
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Resources
* CSQ600 User Manual