ALM Busy Circuits Pam's New Workout (2017–2023)
The module that turned clock division into a full-body rhythmic workout. It adds waveforms, Euclidean patterns, and an OLED display that shows you what you're doing.
Overview
You patch in a clock, twist a few knobs, and the whole system starts to lurch and stagger in time. That's the Pam's New Workout. It doesn't just keep time, it interprets it. The original Pamela's Workout was the bare-knuckled champion of gate division. The New Workout is the more expressive sibling. It's still built for rhythm, but it can also do modulation, motion, and melodic phrasing that can fool you into thinking you've patched a full sequencer.
Eight outputs, each programmable down to the micro-detail, let you divide, multiply, offset, randomize, and shape triggers into complex waveforms - sine, triangle, random stepped, even envelope-like contours - all locked to a master clock. That alone would make it powerful, but the interface is what makes it a daily driver. The original's cryptic four-digit LED display has been replaced with a full OLED screen, and editing no longer feels like decoding Morse code. You can see parameter names, values, and nested menus without constantly flipping through the manual. It's not flashy, but it's legible.
Then there's the depth. Want a hi-hat pattern that stutters every third bar? Done. Need a triangle wave modulating filter cutoff in 5/8 time while a separate output sends randomized gates to a noise source? Also done. The New Workout doesn't just generate clock signals, it generates ideas. A clock can be a pulse, a rhythm, a modulation source, or a compositional framework. Pam says yes to all of the above.
It's also the last of the "classic" Pamela line before the Pro Workout took the concept to full color and dual-core. That puts the New Workout in a sweet spot: more advanced than the original, more accessible than the Pro, and still capable of 90% of what most systems need.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | ALM Busy Circuits |
| Production Years | 2017–2023 |
| Original Price | £219 / $419 |
| Format | Eurorack |
| HP | 8 |
| Depth | 22 mm |
| Power | 50 mA +12V, 1 mA -12V, 0 mA 5V |
| Outputs | 8 configurable CV/gate outputs |
| Waveforms | Gate, trigger, sine, triangle, sawtooth, reverse saw, sample & hold, smooth random, Euclidean, AD envelope |
| Clock Division | From /512 to x48 |
| CV Inputs | 2 assignable |
| Memory Banks | 200 user presets |
| Display | OLED, monochrome |
| MIDI Integration | Optional via Pexp-1 or Pexp-2 expanders |
| DIN Sync | Optional via Pexp-1 expander |
| Sync Inputs | Internal clock, external clock, MIDI clock (with expander), DIN Sync (with expander) |
| Resolution | 10-bit |
| Randomization Features | Slop (timing jitter), random skip, random level, Euclidean rhythm generation |
| Connectivity | 3.5mm jacks, expander header for Pexp-1/Pexp-2 |
| Weight | Approx. 100g |
| Made In | United Kingdom |
Key Features
A Display That Doesn’t Lie
The jump from the original Pamela's Workout to this one is most obvious in the face: a crisp OLED screen that shows you what parameter you're editing, what value it's at, and what output you're tweaking. No more squinting at flickering seven-segment LEDs or memorizing button combos. You press the encoder, turn it, and the menu walks you through - Output 1, Division: /4, Waveform: Gate, Phase: 0°, Slop: 5%. It's logical. That might sound minor, but in a system with dozens of modules, one that doesn't make you guess is a luxury.
Because the screen can show text, not just numbers, it supports named presets and descriptive prompts. In a Euclidean rhythm edit, you don't see "EUC 16 5 3." You see "Length: 16, Hits: 5, Rotation: 3."
Waveforms That Move
Pam's New Workout isn't only about on/off signals. Each output can generate full CV waveforms - sine, triangle, sawtooth, reverse saw - all clock-synced and editable in shape and timing. You can use it as a bank of LFOs locked to tempo, or as a source of stepped random voltages that evolve over bars, not beats. The "smooth random" mode, affectionately dubbed "Mario hills" in the community, produces rolling, organic voltage changes. Use it to modulate pitch, filter, or panning in a way that's rhythmic but never robotic.
It also includes AD envelope shapes, which can trigger percussive events with natural decay - think plucked strings, soft kicks, or even pseudo-voices. Add the ability to delay the start of a cycle or offset its phase, and you can generate entire rhythmic arrangements from a single clock source.
Euclidean Rhythms Done Right
Some modules treat Euclidean sequencing as a gimmick. Pam's New Workout builds it in deeply. You can assign any output to generate a Euclidean pattern, set the number of steps, the number of onsets (hits), and the rotation - all in real time, all saved per preset. It's not just for hi-hats or shakers. Used creatively, it can generate evolving basslines, stuttering filters, or call-and-response gate patterns across multiple outputs.
Unlike fully random generators, Euclidean rhythms feel intentional - mathematical, even - but still organic. Because each output can have its own Euclidean settings, you can layer interlocking patterns that shift over time.
Historical Context
When the original Pamela's Workout dropped in the early 2010s, modular players needed a smart, flexible clock brain, and they got one. It wasn't the first clock divider, but it was the first that felt musical, with triplet generation, phase shifting, and random skipping that turned timing into an expressive parameter. By 2017, the Eurorack world had moved on. Modules were smarter, deeper, more interconnected. The demand wasn't just for division, it was for modulation, motion, and integration.
Enter the New Workout. It arrived as digital modules were shedding their "cold" reputation. Make Noise's Tempi, Qu-Bit's Rainbow, and ALM's own Squid Salmple were redefining what clocked modulation could be. Pam's New Workout didn't just keep up, it led. With waveform generation, expanded CV control, and a vastly improved interface, it became the go-to module for anyone who wanted rhythmic complexity without patching a dozen logic modules.
It also arrived alongside a growing appetite for expandability. The optional Pexp-1 and Pexp-2 boards - offering MIDI clock, DIN Sync, and additional gate outputs - made it a hub for hybrid setups. Your Eurorack could talk to a TR-808, a Korg SQ-1, or a DAW with near-perfect timing.
Collectibility & Value
The Pam's New Workout is discontinued - ALM shifted focus to the Pro Workout in 2023 - but it's far from obsolete. On the used market, it trades between $300 and $450, depending on condition and whether it includes expanders. Units with both Pexp-1 and Pexp-2 can fetch closer to $500, especially if boxed and unblemished. That's a premium, but not an absurd one.
The good news is that it's solidly built. No widespread failure points, no notorious capacitor issues, no firmware bricks (updates are done via audio cable, a quirky but reliable method). The OLED screen is the only real wear item. Some early units reported faint ghosting after years of use, but full failures are rare. The encoder is sturdy, and the PCB is cleanly laid out, with no obvious hotspots or fragile traces.
What to watch for when buying? First, verify the firmware. The later updates added crucial features like quantization and improved MIDI sync, so if it's running an old version, update it. Second, check the expander header. It's a small connector, and some DIY builders have reported bent pins from careless installation. Third, test all outputs. Failures are uncommon, but a dead output usually means a loose solder joint - fixable, but annoying.
For most owners, the real cost isn't maintenance. You start building patches around it, relying on its timing and flexibility. When you eventually upgrade to the Pro, you don't sell the New Workout - you keep it as a backup, or dedicate it to a second system.
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