1/19/2018
Mutable Instruments | Yarns
https://mutable-instruments.net/modules/yarns/manual/
7/10
as described in the previous paragraph, by enabling the C> (CLOCK OUTPUT) setting.
ARPEGGIATOR / EUCLIDEAN GENERATOR
The arpeggiator allows chords to be transformed into monophonic sequences, according to preset arpeggio
movements (up, down) and rhythmic patterns. In addition, an Euclidean generator can take over the
arpeggiator’s rhythmic generator. This section describes all settings related to arpeggiation.
C/ (CLOCK DIV): elementary rhythmic division of the patterns generated by the arpeggiator and sequencer
(in other words: step duration or “scale” in x0x speak). The default setting is
1
⁄
16
(1/16th note).
G- (GATE LENGTH): duration of the events generated by the arpeggiator and sequencer - expressed as a
number of steps. For example, if the clock division is
1
⁄
16
and the gate length is 4, the duration of the notes
generated by the arpeggiator will be 1 quarter note.
AR (ARP RANGE): arpeggiator range in octaves. The arpeggiator does not run when this setting is zero.
Note that when the 4T layout is selected - this setting is called RG (RHYTHMIC GENERATOR) and provides
only ON and OFF setting - talking about arpeggiation range and direction does not make a lot of sense when
dealing with rhythms… but it’s still the same arpeggiator and euclidean sequencer doing the hard work!
Settings related to arpeggiator direction are not displayed either.
AD (ARP DIRECTION): arpeggio type. The first options are the classic UP, DN (down), UD (up & down) and
RA(NDOM) modes. PL(AYED) arpeggiates the notes in the order in which they have been pressed. CH(ORD)
is a gated chord effect - rhythmically repeating all pressed notes.
AP (ARP PATTERN): arpeggiator rhythmic pattern. Note that when the euclidean generator is enabled, it
takes control of the rhythmic pattern and this setting is ignored. This setting is called RP (RHYTHMIC
PATTERN) when the 4T layout is selected.
E- (EUCLIDEAN LENGTH): length of the euclidean pattern. When set to 0, the euclidean generator is
disabled, and the AR (ARP PATTERN) setting is used. Otherwise, this sets the duration, in steps, of the
rhythmical pattern.
EF (EUCLIDEAN FILL): number of filled steps in the euclidean pattern. For example length = 4 and fill = 1
will give a basic
4
⁄
4
“Four to the floor” beat. Fill = 2 will create a pattern of eighth notes instead. Fill = 3
produces a pattern of 3 sixteenth note and a sixteenth note rest. Finally, fill = 4 will create a pattern of
sixteenth notes. More complex patterns can be created by increasing the length, and using odd values for
Fill!
ER (EUCLIDEAN ROTATE): this setting shifts and wraps the euclidean pattern. This is particularly useful
when using several parts (for example in 4T mode to drive 4 percussive sub-patches). If two parts are
configured with the same settings (For example length = 4 and fill = 1 to get a “four to the floor” beat), they
will be synchronized and this can be boring. The rotate setting can be used to offset a part with respect to the
other, and create more interesting rhythms. Pamela!!!
PLAYING WITH YARNS: LATCH AND KEYBOARD-FREE OPERATION
Yarns’ arpeggiator starts immediately whenever a key is pressed on the keyboard. When all keys are
released, the arpeggiator continues running for a few clock ticks (a length equivalent to an eighth note); and if
no key has been pressed in this short period, it stops. This short window allows glitch-free play when
transitioning from one chord to another in an arpeggiated sequence.
The arpeggiator has a latched mode. While an arpeggio is playing, hold the START/STOP button for a
second to latch the arpeggiator. The display shows “//”. In latched mode, releasing all keys will no longer stop
the arpeggiator - the arpeggiated pattern will continue until a new chord is played. To leave the latched mode,
press the START/STOP button again. This will not stop the arpeggiator - instead, it will continue with the
current pattern, until a new key is pressed.
