Shakmat Modular - Bard Quartet Expand

I/O and MIDI expansion for deeper control of Bard Quartet

Bard Quartet Expand extends the connectivity of Bard Quartet and opens up new ways to integrate it into larger systems. It focuses on hands-on control, external interaction, and tighter timing without changing how the main module behaves.

The expander adds per-channel gate and trigger connections, giving each quantizer lane its own rhythmic relationship with the rest of your patch. This makes Bard Quartet more flexible when working with independent sequencers, logic, or performance-driven gate sources. You can treat each channel as a separate voice or keep them coordinated while still responding to different triggers.

A dedicated MIDI input adds another layer of control. You can select and play scales directly from an external keyboard or controller, which turns Bard Quartet into a bridge between MIDI and modular pitch logic. In MIDI to CV and gate mode, the expander lets Bard Quartet act as a compact interface, with optional quantization applied to incoming notes.

Bard Quartet Expand works best as a workflow upgrade rather than a feature overhaul. It rewards systems that rely on external clocks, keyboards, or structured performance control, and it keeps Bard Quartet focused on pitch intelligence while extending how that intelligence connects to the outside world.

Bard Quartet must run firmware version v1.1 or later to support the expander.