PATTERN ENGINE
PATTERN ENGINE
16 steps to infinity: discover new worlds of musical possibility with our flagship generative performance sequencer.
Designed by Ableton Certified Trainer Noah Pred to combine powerful algorithmic features with performance-friendly interaction design, Pattern Engine is geared for instant inspiration.
Simply click the global dice to seed new musical ideas with minimal effort, or engage auto-randomization to unfurl endless worlds — without sacrificing intricate per-step control.
Each of Pattern Engine’s 16 steps can be manipulated and randomized across five dimensions: Mute (on/off), Pitch, Velocity, Length, and Tie (for monophonic glides). Each of these parameters can also be locked on a per-step basis to exempt them from randomization. Auto-randomization can be set to occur globally at intervals measured in bars — or at different bar intervals and probabilities for each auto-randomizing parameter.
Four tempo-syncable LFOs are available to govern the pitch of selected steps, creating dynamic melodic contours in a variety of shapes, with per-step LFO control offering intensity with direction and central transposition offset.
Outgoing note pitch values can be transposed internally and via incoming MIDI for dynamic performance via real-time input or pre-programmed clips — within 50 scales, in any key. Sequence direction, length, reset, step grid size, and swing are all included as expected, along with handy global settings and six playback modes to interact with MIDI input in a variety of ways, including innovative Gate and Side functions, vintage impulse Trig bank sequencing, or classic arpeggiation.
Providing immediate access to expansive realms of musicality, Pattern Engine unlocks new possibilities to drive any hardware or virtual instrument.
Version: 1.7 (2024.03.05) — already purchased v1.x? View these update instructions.
Requires: Ableton Live 10.1.x or higher running Max for Live 8.1.x on Mac or PC.
Includes: Pattern Engine device, 16 presets, Utility Boost, user guide.
Included with: Ultra Bundle, Max MIDI Bundle.
New In Version 1.6
Clock rate multiplier and division options for FLEXIBLE RHYTHMS
Improved clock handling ON CERTAIN SYSTEMS
What’s new in version 1.5?
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Added a new advanced pitch randomization mode, Decide, which is accessible by clicking the pitch settings Gear toggle; in Decide mode, a step's pitch will be randomly chosen between two possible notes determined by the current per-step minimum and maximum randomization range values.
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With step pitch advanced mode enabled, the reset all step pitches button is replaced by a dice button that randomizes each step's minimum and maximum ranges within the global minimum and maximum range constraints for a more compelling starting point, particularly in the new Decide pitch randomization mode. Clicking the Range Randomization Dice also randomizes all step pitches within their newly randomized ranges.
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In the new default Relative mode, a value of 0 on any pitch dial will be updated to the root note of the currently selected key (in MIDI octave 3), ie., in the key of F#, all step pitches will be oriented to F#3 as 0; revert to the legacy behavior where 0 corresponds to C3 regardless of the current key by switching the new toggle to the left of the Receive/Internal button from "/" to "-". Step pitch randomizations also remain relative to the currently selected key in the newly default Relative key mode.
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Per-Parameter lane Key buttons toggle all locks on or off on a per-parameter basis (ie., all velocities, all lengths, etc.). The global key button features a more useful toggle behavior which will now lock all unlocked locks before then unlocking all locked locks.
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Swing timing has been significantly improved, along with a variety of performance optimizations.
