How to sync multiple AE sequencer modules

I run three sequencers in my set up. I use either an LFO square/pulse wave or the clock from an rbss. Use either as a clock source assuming you aren't running some kind of external MIDI. To simplify here my sync process:

clock source > buffered multiple > standard multiple > sequencers, clock dividers, trigger processors or anything else that needs a clock signal.

Yes to all of the above! It's also worth noting (especially in the context of a newcomer to AE or modular synthesis in general) that all sequencers have a CLOCK/CLK input so that they can be synchronized. Most modules (including most sequencers) do not have an internal clock of their own, so they are dependent on a clock signal to be patched into them via this input port.

However, to make this a little more complicated, TOPOGRAF is one of the few modules that has an optional internal clock. Therefore, you can synchronize all of your sequencers by either:
A) providing them all the same (copied, AKA multiple-d) input signal of any intensely pulsing nature, from anywhere (MASTER, BEAT DIVIDER, LFO, VCO, etc.), or...
B) using a TOPOGRAF's internal clock as the "original" clock source and patching one of its output trigger signals (bass/snare/hat) to the other modules' CLOCK/CLK inputs. This would mean that other sequencers advance a step every time that the "original" TOPOGRAF generates a trigger on its TR 1/2/3 output signal.

Hope this helps, and welcome to the beautifully reconfigurable world of AE!

that standard multiple after the buffered multiple can still cause sync issues if it goes out to multiple sequencers, cause those signals will not be exact copies.

From my own experiments, sticking 1 unbuffered mult on the output of a buffered mult (like, if you have more than 8 things that need to receive buffered mult outputs so you unbuffered mult one of the outputs) will be generally good. Not all of the AE sequencers are quite as sensitive to lower clock pulses, so you could, for example, have your buffered mult set up with 1 clock heading to 4 buffered outputs, use 3 of the buffered outputs for the sensitive stuff, and then use the last buffered out to drive a mult and run your less sensitive stuff off of that. I've been doing something like this for a reset button push (+5V -> 3VCswitch, momentary switch outputs to -> buffered mult -> reset inputs and a mult driving a couple more resets) and if I use an unbuffered mult to a SEQ8, it sometimes does strange things, but if I use an unbuffered mult output for the reset on a SEQ16 it's fine. They seem to handle clock and reset slightly differently from one another.

You can get pretty complex with piles of sequencers-- one thing I also do is send the master clock to an MM-DIV and then use its various outputs to clock other things so they run at half-time or whatever. The MM-DIV outputs appear to be buffered so that seems to solve some of that. And then you can have a SEQ8 that gets one clock tick per 16 ticks to the SEQ16 and do more interesting timing things than just blatting out constant streams of 16th notes, although that's fun too. Or you can clock a SEQ8 from one channel of a TRIQ164, or from whatever else seems interesting.

It's not only the trigger threshold that can vary slightly, it's also how much input current the trigger input draws (or in EE terms how much 'input impedance' the input has).

A 'perfect' module would not draw any current from the trigger, meaning it would only 'read' the voltage and not alter it. This would make it possible to use one unbuffered trigger for an endless amount of these 'perfect' modules. However, of course these modules don't exist, so there will always be a little current draw, depending on the design of the input stage of the module. This current draw will 'load' the trigger output from the other module, making the voltage drop. Enough of these voltage drops and your trigger will drop enough to be unreliable.

I had thought about the buffer module before, and it is nice to see confirmation here. BUT the uocoming heartbeat module does exactly what I wanted and also adds swing. So I will definitely get that when it ships, they knew they had a gap there.

Now I need something that can take audio trig (like from a live drummer) and generate gate and cv. Is there such module? If not it would be nice to know if one is planned. I can use the i/o and bring it from my euro but would be nice to have native.

Btw just took advantage of the 10% sale and placed my first order! Still need to get my 2-tier starter and some other modules from noisebug, but waiting for a 2-unit standard case to come in stock. Really excited to be getting into this.

Another question: do the patch cables come out easily or do they have some resistance? Trying to see if I move them somewhere in a carry bag whether the cables will stay put.

No, I don't think slew/edge module does trig to gate/cv adaption. It's ok, I have that capability in euro and with the 4 i/o module it should work. I have written AE directly to ask this question though.

I'm building something that will hopefully do this, to accompany my AEclidian module. The firmware is ready. Come on Mouser get your stocks up to date.