ALM Busy Circuits Pamela's New Workout (2016–2023)

The module that turned clock division into an art form, now with waveforms, modulation, and a brain big enough to keep up.

Overview

You patch in a clock, twist a few knobs, and the whole system starts breathing in time. That's Pamela's New Workout when it clicks. The original Pamela's Workout was the go-to for clean triggers and rhythmic splits. The New Workout keeps that DNA and adds a full set of modulation tools. Eight outputs, each a fully programmable lane of synchronized voltage, can now generate gates and full waveforms: saw, triangle, square, random stepped, smooth random ("Mario hills," as one reviewer put it), and more. It's a clock divider, a rhythmic brain, a modulation engine and a conductor for the whole modular setup, all in a lean 8HP.

Then there's the OLED screen. No more squinting at seven-segment LEDs trying to decode what "32.16" means mid-performance. The New Workout gives you real-time feedback, so you can see waveforms, timing grids, and parameter changes as they happen. The interface is still immediate - turn a knob, see a change - but now you get more context. You can program Euclidean rhythms with visual feedback, set loop lengths, assign CV control to nearly every parameter, and save 200 different setups across banks. That kind of recall was rare in Eurorack when this launched.

Positioned between the original Workout and the later Pro Workout, the New Workout was the sweet spot for years: enough firepower to be future-proof, compact enough to fit in any system, and priced to be attainable. The first Pamela was a utility. The New Workout is a creative instrument. You don't just use it to sync things, you compose with it. Want a slow sine wave modulating filter cutoff in 5/8 time while another output fires off randomized gates in a triplet shuffle? Done. Need one output to act as a looping envelope while another generates stepped random voltages quantized to a minor pentatonic? Also done. Because it's all clock-synced, nothing drifts.

Specifications

Manufacturer	ALM Busy Circuits
Production Years	2016–2023
Model Number	ALM024
Form Factor	Eurorack
HP Size	8HP
Depth	22mm
Power Requirements	+12V @ 100mA, -12V @ 100mA
Outputs	8 programmable CV/gate outputs
Waveforms	Sawtooth, triangle, square, random stepped, smooth random, Euclidean, logic-based patterns
Clock Division Range	/512 to x48
BPM Range	25–300 BPM
CV Inputs	2 assignable CV inputs for parameter control
External Clock Input	Yes, 24–1 PQN compatible
DIN Sync	Input and output via adapter
Display	OLED, graphical interface with real-time feedback
Preset Storage	200 user banks
Resolution	10-bit output resolution
Firmware Updates	via audio cable, no special hardware required
Expandability	Compatible with PPEXP1 (extra outputs) and AXON-2 (CV expansion)
Country of Origin	England

Key Features

The OLED That Changed Everything

The original Pamela's Workout had a retro seven-segment display that gave you just enough info to know what was happening, if you knew the code. On the New Workout, the OLED screen lays the rhythm out in front of you, like a tiny sequencer screen built into a clock module. You're not guessing at timing ratios or mentally calculating Euclidean steps. Programming a 7-over-12 polyrhythm? The display shows the pulse distribution. Tweaking the width of a square wave? You see the duty cycle change in real time. Because the screen is graphical, it can also show waveforms, timing grids, or parameter menus depending on what you're doing.

Eight Lanes of Synchronized Chaos

Each of the eight outputs is a full modulation channel, not just a trigger tap. You can assign any waveform, set its division or multiplication ratio, adjust pulse width, add randomization, or lock it into a Euclidean rhythm. The interplay between outputs is where it gets deep. One output can modulate the pulse width of another. You can set up cascading delays, where each output fires a fraction of a beat after the last. Or use the "smooth random" mode to generate undulating control voltages that evolve over time, handy for modulating pitch, filter cutoff, or panning while staying in time. Since everything is clock-synced, you can layer complex, evolving patterns without drift or timing glitches. It's like having eight tiny sequencers, each dedicated to modulation, all locked to the same clock.

CV Control and Expandability

Two assignable CV inputs bring external control into the system. They can modulate clock speed, shift timing, randomize outputs, or morph between presets in real time. Expansion is the other big feature. The PPEXP1 (Extra Pam Outputs) adds four more physical outputs, so you can route internal signals without giving up your main eight. The AXON-2 CV & Control Expander adds even more CV inputs and logic functions. These expansions are built into the firmware, so they work as natural extensions of the module. ALM also made the firmware upgradable via audio cable (just play a .WAV file into the module), so owners could get new features years after purchase, like the quantized waveform mode that lets you run a sawtooth wave through a major scale or a random stepped voltage through a blues pentatonic.

Historical Context

When the original Pamela's Workout dropped in the early 2010s, it filled a gap: a compact, intelligent clock divider that could handle complex rhythms with ease. Before that, syncing multiple modules meant juggling multiple dividers, often with limited flexibility. Pamela put eight editable outputs in one module, each with triplet support, random skips, and delay division for shuffle. By the mid-2010s, modular users wanted modulation as well as triggers. The New Workout answered that, launching in 2016 as a full evolution. It arrived as Eurorack was shifting from boutique curiosity to mainstream tool, and musicians were building larger, more complex systems. Competitors like the Make Noise Maths and the Intellijel Metropolis offered modulation and sequencing, but Pamela's New Workout carved its niche by being ruthlessly focused on clock-synced control. It wasn't trying to be a full sequencer or a standalone synth. And with its open firmware updates, ALM showed a commitment to long-term support that was rare in the modular world, where many modules were "done" the day they shipped.

Collectibility & Value

Pamela's New Workout was discontinued in 2023, succeeded by the Pro Workout, which means the used market is now the only place to find it. Prices vary widely based on condition and whether the firmware is up to date. As of 2026, a fully functional unit with the latest firmware typically sells for $350-$425, while units with outdated firmware or cosmetic wear go for $280-$330. It holds value well because of its reputation and versatility. Buyers should still be cautious. The OLED screen is a point of failure - some early units had issues with screen burn-in or flickering, though firmware updates mitigated most of these. More common are issues with the encoder knob, which can develop crackling or lose registration over time from heavy use. It's not a hard failure, but it can make navigation frustrating. Test the knob and screen before buying. Also check that the firmware is current, since older versions lack features like quantized waveforms and smooth random. Upgrading is free and simple (just play a file from a phone), but some sellers don't bother. If you're buying used, ask for proof of a recent update.