Eurorack Reference / modules /shakmat/bard-quartet audit site v0.1 — milestone 3
shakmat/bard-quartet

Bard Quartet

Shakmat Modular

Four-channel polyphonic quantizer and harmonizer with integrated keyboard, 8 harmonic progressions, microtuning, arpeggiator, and three assignable inputs and outputs. Memorizes up to 320 scales.263

Capabilities 4

Arpeggiatorarpeggiator
Each channel can be independently set as an arpeggiator reacting to triggers. Five modes (Up, Spiral, Down, Random, Pendulum) with 1–4 octave spread, configurable per channel and per harmony.263
Harmonizerharmonizer
8 customizable harmonic progressions per memory slot; Harmony potentiometer navigates between them. Up to 320 scales stored across 4 channels, 8 harmonies, and 10 memory slots.263
Microtuningmicrotuning
Detunes each of the 12 chromatic notes by up to +/-50 cents per channel and per harmony. Supports V/Oct, Hz/V (Korg/Yamaha), and 1.2V/Oct (Buchla) output scaling.263
Quantizerquantizer
Four independent quantizer channels, each with a configurable scale set via the integrated keyboard. Channels can also be configured as arpeggiators.263

Jacks 6 — 4 in / 2 out

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (4)
Channel CV inputscv-3V to 7V263
Gate Inputgate0V to 5VWorks as a track & hold (or sample & hold); can also be used as reset input for arpeggiated channels.263
Harmony CV inputcv-5V to 5V263
Transpose CV inputcv-5V to 5VAssignable transpose input per channel; can work as pre-quantize, post-quantize or octave transposer.263
Outputs (2)
CV outputscv-3V to 7V263
Trigger Outputtrigger0V to 5VDelivers a trigger each time a note change is detected in an assigned channel.263

Parameters 15

NameTypeRangeBehavior
Arpeggiator Modemenu_settingSelects the arpeggiator direction/pattern from five modes: Up, Spiral, Down, Random, Pendulum. Set per channel and per harmony.263
Arpg / Memory buttonbuttonOpens the Arpeggiator menu to set arpeggiator mode and octave spread per channel and per harmony. Press simultaneously with Edit button to access Memory menu.263
Channel Grouping Optionsmenu_settingControls which settings are shared between grouped channels. ALL OFF: only scales are copied. C# ON: Scales and Edit parameters are copied. D# ON: Scales, Edit, Microtuning and Arpeggiator parameters are copied.263
Channel Interactionmenu_settingControls how channels 2, 3 and 4 behave when 0V is detected at their CV input. Options: No interaction (F#), Normalisation — channel follows previous channel's input (G#), or Shift Register — channel follows previous channel's input on gate trigger (A#).263
Channel buttonsbuttonSelects the edited channel. Also used for channel grouping (hold one and press another to group), and for enabling arpeggiator on a channel when held with the Arpg button.263
Edit buttonbuttonOpens the Edit menu providing Octave switching, Trigger Out, Gate In and Transpose In capabilities per channel and per harmony. Press again to exit. Hold for 2 seconds in Scale edit menu to enter Tuning Mode.263
Harmony potentiometerknobNavigates through 8 harmony locations (harmonic progressions). Also used in the Microtuning menu to detune notes. In Microtuning, noon is in tune, clockwise raises pitch up to +50 cents, counter-clockwise lowers pitch down to -50 cents.263
Keyboard buttonsbuttonUsed to set a scale per channel. The active note shines brighter than the other selected notes, providing real-time note monitoring. Also used for memory slot selection, arpeggiator settings, and microtuning note selection in their respective menus.263
Microtuning detuningmenu_setting-50cent – 50centDetunes each of the 12 equal temperament notes independently per channel and harmony by up to +/-50 cents. At noon the note is in tune; clockwise raises to +50 cents, counter-clockwise lowers to -50 cents. A detuned note is indicated by a blinking keyboard button.263
Octavemenu_setting-3octave – 3octaveTranspose the channel output from -3 to +3 octaves, set per channel and per harmony in the Edit menu.263
Octave Spreadmenu_setting1octave – 4octaveSets the octave range for the arpeggiator from 1 to 4 octaves, per channel and per harmony.263
Output normmenu_settingSelects the CV output scaling standard per channel: V/Oct (no blinking), Hz/V for Korg/Yamaha (simple blinking), or 1.2V/Oct for Buchla (triple blinking). Changed by holding μTune and pressing Channel button in the Microtuning menu.263
Root Notemenu_settingTransposes a scale by semitones, set per channel and per harmony. Accessed by pressing μTune and ARPG together while in the Scale edit menu. Hold channel button while setting to apply to all harmonies. Grouped channels share the same root note transposition.263
Sample & Hold modemenu_settingSwitches the Gate input behavior between Track & Hold (default, light off) and Sample & Hold (light on, reacts to rising edges only).263
μTune / Option buttonbuttonOpens the Microtuning menu for detuning individual notes per channel and harmony. Press simultaneously with Edit button to access the Options menu. Hold while pressing Channel button in Microtuning menu to change output norm (V/Oct, Hz/V, 1.2V/Oct).263

Firmware history 4 versions

VersionReleasedNotes
1.1.22025-07-08Added Trigger Pass Through in Quantizer S&H Mode.263
1.1.1Bug fixes.263
1.1Added expander support, Sample & Hold gate mode, root note transposition, and tuning mode.263
1.0Initial release.263

References 2

  1. [263]
    Bard Quartet User Manualmanual
    verified 2026-05-06
  2. [264]
    Shakmat Bard Quartet product pageproduct_page
    verified 2026-05-06