Mutable Instruments Grids Topographic Drum Sequencer

Take the user interface of an euclidean sequencer, a healthy dose of machine learning and graph algorithms, megabytes of drum loops, hours of intensive computations and you’ve got a drum pattern generator like no other.

Grids’ “brain” is a map of the typical drum patterns used in (mostly electronic) music, laid out by similarity, trained on a large corpus of drum loops. The module can smoothly interpolate and navigate from one pattern to the other, at the whim of a knob move or a CV.

• X/Y (pattern selection) knobs with CV inputs.
• Pattern complexity/density knobs for channels 1, 2, 3, with CV inputs.
• Pattern randomization knob with CV input (reconfigurable as a swing control for the internal clock).
• 3 output channels (BD, SD, and HH/percussion).
• 3 additional outputs, configurable as Accent/Clock/Reset or per-channel accent.
• Outputs can be either triggers or gates.

But Grids’ knowledge of drum patterns goes far beyond what would be achieved with presets – given a position in the map, thousands of variations can be intuitively generated by controlling the “event density” of each of the 3 channels (bd, sd, hh) – gradually moving from a sparse backbone to a deliciously rich pattern with ghost notes, rolls and fills.

Add CV-control on these parameters and you can add subtle or drastic variations to the drum pattern. If you don’t want to waste a noise source or S&H for that, Grids has its own internal source of randomness that can unpredictably spice the pattern, in an always meaningful way.

• Internal clock with a 40 to 240 BPM range.
• Beat indicator / Tap tempo button (reconfigurable as a reset button).
• External clock input, with selectable resolution (24, 8 or 4 ppqn).
• Pattern reset trigger input.

Building the rhythmic foundation of your tracks with Grids is fun, surprisingly intuitive, with modulation and variations possibilities that will rapidly make you forget x0x-style sequencers.