Working with Patterns and Clips

Abstract

Arranging songs in Maschine can be done using Patterns or Clips. The following section describes the advantages of both and how to use them effectively for arranging and performing songs.

You can build your Song in Maschine+ using either Patterns or Clips or a combination of both. Patterns and Clips each have their advantages depending on your preferred workflow and goals.

Clips only exist in the Song view (timeline) and are unique, while Patterns are referenced objects that exist in both the Ideas view and Song view. This means Patterns are great when you want to create single-sourced sequences, and Clips provide flexibility when you need one-off unique sound bites that can be freely positioned on the timeline. Therefore, if you copy a Clip to multiple places and change one of the Clips, only the edited one is changed. However, if you use a Pattern in multiple places and change one Pattern, all occurrences of this Pattern are changed (unless you use the “make unique” feature or convert it into a Clip beforehand). For added flexibility, Clips can be freely positioned and moved across the timeline. They can be part of a section but can also exist outside a section or span across multiple sections.

To summarize, here’s an overview of Patterns and Clips basics:

They both contain events (also called “notes”) that make up a groove or a musical phrase using the Sounds of the selected Group.
They both also contain modulation data (if any) modifying the value of parameters in that Group or any of its Sounds.
They can both be edited in the Editor. However, only the selected Pattern or Clip will appear in the Editor.

Patterns versus Clips

This section provides an overview of the differences between Patterns and Clips.

Patterns

Here are the features of Patterns:

Patterns exist in the Ideas view and Song view. They act as the building blocks for developing ideas in Ideas view and can be added to Scenes in Song view to create an arrangement.
You can reference the same Pattern in different Scenes. When you modify a Pattern in the Pattern Editor, all references to this Pattern are updated in the Song view (unless you use the “make unique” feature or convert into a Clip beforehand).
When added to the Song view Patterns maintain a fixed position on the timeline of the arrangement relative to the Scene.
A Pattern can be converted into a Clip. This creates a unique version of the Pattern that can be freely placed on the timeline of the arranger.
Only one Pattern from each Group can be added to a Scene.
A Pattern belongs to a Group and is saved together with the Group. Each Group can have an unlimited number of Patterns.

Clips

Here are the features of Clips:

Clips exist only in Song view. Clips can be used in addition to Patterns. They are great for adding, for example, one-shot sounds, transitions, and vocals, etc.
Unlike Patterns, they are unique entities that can be freely positioned and moved across the timeline of the arranger in the Song view.
If you copy a Clip to multiple places and change one Clip, only the edited one will be changed.
They can be part of a section but can also exist outside a section or span across multiple Sections.
Whenever a Clip is placed on top of a Pattern, you will only hear the Clip.
In Song view, Clips appear in a fully saturated color, while Patterns will have a slightly dimmed color state.

Navigating between Patterns and Clips

Maschine provides a simple way to switch between Pattern view and Clip view for ease of use and to speed up your workflow.

Working with Patterns

The following section describes in detail how to work with Patterns.

Deleting Events or Notes

Maschine+provides you with several tools to delete events from the current Pattern.

Quick Deleting Events or Notes

The quickest and easiest way to delete events is the following:

Press EVENTS + ERASE + the desired pad to delete from the Pattern all events for that Sound (if pads are in Pad Mode) or all notes at that pitch for the focused Sound (if pads are in Keyboard mode).

As soon as you hold EVENTS + ERASE, some pads light up to indicate where there is something to delete:

If your pads are in Pad Mode, the lit pads show you the Sounds for which the Pattern contains events.

If your pads are in Keyboard mode, the lit pads show you the pitches (of the focused Sound) for which the Pattern contains events.

In other terms, you don’t need to press any unlit pad, since there are no events to delete there. While holding EVENTS + ERASE you can press several pads to delete their events.

Tip

If you accidentally delete events, press SHIFT + Pad 1 (UNDO) to undo it.

Deleting the Selected Events or Notes

Once you have selected particular events, you can delete them from the Pattern:

Press SHIFT + Pad 9 (CLEAR) to erase the selected events. If nothing is selected, all events/notes in the Pattern will be affected.

Deleting Events or Notes while Playing

If the sequencer is currently playing, you can selectively erase events at the play position:

While the Pattern is playing, hold ERASE + the desired pad to progressively delete the events for that Sound (if pads are in Pad Mode) or the notes at that pitch for the focused Sound (if pads are in Keyboard mode) as they are reached by the playhead.
As long as you hold the pad, the corresponding events are deleted as the playhead moves on.

You can use this to selectively erase notes at a particular place in the Pattern.

This might take some time getting used to, especially when the tempo is very fast, but you can always use undo/redo (SHIFT + Pad 1, SHIFT + Pad 2) to get back to where you were before.

Deleting Events for the Entire Group at Playback Position

You can erase events for all Sounds in the Group at the playback position.

While the Pattern is playing, hold ERASE + the desired Group button A–H to progressively delete events for all Sounds in that Group as they are reached by the playhead.

Deleting Events or Notes via the Transport Functions

If the sequencer is not currently playing, you can erase events on either side of the playhead by manually moving the playhead:

While playback is off, hold ERASE and turn the 4-D encoder to jump to the previous/next step and delete all events found on the way for the selected Sound(s).

Please note the following:

If multiple Sounds are selected, all of them will be affected.
The jumps are based on the step size that is on the Step Grid setting. The command has the same effect whether your pads are in Pad Mode or in Keyboard mode.

Quick Edit in Step Mode

In Step mode and Keyboard mode, you can quickly adjust the position, pitch, velocity, and length of any number of steps in Step mode via the Quick Edit shortcuts.

Adjusting the Position

To finely adjust the position of the selected steps:

Press STEP.
Press the pads representing the steps you want to adjust or select single steps using the 4-D encoder.
Turn Knob 1 to adjust the POSITION value or nudge the step by pushing the 4-D encoder left or right.
The position of the selected steps is adjusted and the current value is visible on the displays.

Adjusting Pitch

To adjust the pitch of the selected steps:
Press STEP.
Press Button 3 KEYBOARD.
Press the pads representing the steps you want to adjust or select single steps using the 4-D encoder.
Turn Knob 2 to adjust the PITCH value.
The pitch of the selected steps is adjusted and the current value is visible on the displays.

Adjusting the Velocity

To finely adjust the velocity of the selected steps:

Press STEP.
Press the pads representing the steps you want to adjust or select single steps using the 4-D encoder.
Turn Knob 3 to adjust the FIX VEL value.
The velocity of the selected steps is adjusted and the current value is visible on the displays. All new steps will also use this selected value.

Adjusting the Length

To finely adjust the length of the selected steps:

Press STEP.
Press the pads representing the steps you want to adjust or select single steps using the 4-D encoder.
Turn Knob 4 to adjust the LENGTH value.
The length of the selected steps is adjusted and the current value is visible on the displays.

Tip

If you have a long Pattern and cannot see the steps you want to edit on the right display, press Button 5 (FOLLOW) to see each section of the Pattern.

Deleting Groups and Sounds

Using shortcuts it's possible to delete Groups and Sounds from your Project.

Quantizing Your Pattern

Quantization is the process of moving events to the closest steps. You can quantize your notes at any time, no matter how you recorded them. They will be quantized according to the step size (i.e. Step Grid resolution) selected. If you turn the Step Grid off, no quantization will be applied. See section Setting the Step Grid and the Nudge Grid above for more information on the Step Grid and the step size.

There are two strengths of quantization:

Full quantization: Moves each event directly onto the closest step of the current Step Grid. This allows a perfectly regular rhythm.
Half quantization (50%): Moves each event halfway toward the closest step of the current Step Grid. This allows a tighter rhythm while retaining a human feel.

You can quantize your notes at any time, no matter how you recorded them. They will be quantized according to the step size (Step Grid resolution) selected. If you turn the Step Grid off, no quantization will be applied. For more information on Setting the Step Grid, refer to Setting the Step Grid.

Tip

You can also choose to have notes automatically quantized as you record them on the pads. For more information, refer to General Settings.

To apply full or half quantization:

Select the events you wish to quantize. If nothing is selected, the whole Pattern content will be quantized.
To apply full quantization to the selected events, press SHIFT + Pad 5 (QUANTIZE).
To apply only a bit of quantization to keep the groove you created by playing your notes live, press SHIFT + Pad 6 (QUANTIZE 50%).

Tip

You can repeatedly apply QUANTIZE 50% until you are happy; you could, for example, apply it until the notes are close enough to the Step Grid to sound tight, but loose enough to maintain their basic “feel.” If it is too quantized for you, just press SHIFT + Pad 1 to undo the last change.

Doubling a Pattern

You can quickly double the length and content of the current Pattern using the Double feature in the Pad view.

To double the length and content of a Pattern:

Press the PATTERN button to enter the Pattern view.
Press the Pad representing the Pattern you want to double.
Press Button 3 (DOUBLE)

Tip

Keep in mind that doubling a Pattern twice results in a Pattern that is four times as long.

Clearing a Pattern

It's possible to clear all events within a Pattern using a shortcut.

Deleting a Pattern

It's possible to delete Patterns using a shortcut.

Duplicating a Pattern

You can copy a Pattern to the Pattern slot of your choice using a shortcut.

Transposing a Pattern

You can transpose selected events or whole Patterns by semitones or octaves:

To transpose the selected events down in semitones, press SHIFT + Pad 13 (SEMITONE-).
To transpose the selected events up, press SHIFT + Pad 14 (SEMITONE+). If nothing is selected, all events/notes in the Pattern will be affected.
To transpose the selected events down in octaves, press SHIFT + Pad 15 (OCTAVE-).
To transpose the selected events up, press SHIFT + Pad 16 (OCTAVE+). If nothing is selected, all events in the Pattern will be affected.

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Events/Notes

To copy and paste selected events:

To copy the selected events, press SHIFT + Pad 11 (COPY).
If you want to cut the selected events before pasting them, press SHIFT + Pad 9 (CLEAR) to delete the original events.
To paste them, press SHIFT + Pad 12 (PASTE).
The events will be pasted according to the same rules as to when using the keyboard shortcuts in the software (see above). If no event is selected, all displayed events will be affected: in Keyboard view these are all events of the focused Sound; in Group view these are all events of all Sounds within the Group. You can also copy events from one Pattern to another: to do this, copy the selected events, select the Pattern you want to copy them to, and then paste them.

Adding Variation to Patterns

Variation provides an abundance of inspiration and even “happy accidents” when applied to your workflow. The variation engine contains two modes:

Humanize: This mode adds natural rhythmic fluctuations to programmed sequences.
Random: This mode provides randomly generated patterns or variations of your beats and melodies based on customizable values.

Variation is available in both Pad mode and Keyboard mode and can be applied to a Sound. In Keyboard mode, the Random mode contains extra parameters that allow you to add variety to melodic content.

Note

When adding Variation to your Patterns, be aware that Random mode conforms to the selected Scale.

To access Variation mode:

Select the Group (A–H) containing the Sound to which you want to apply the variation.
Press SELECT + Sound (1–16).
Press VARIATION to access the Variation controls.

Tip

Press Button 1 to pin the Variation page.

The following table describes the function of each parameter in the Variation page:

Element	Description
HUMANIZE	This mode provides natural rhythmic fluctuations to your programmed sequences based on the values of the parameters of this mode.
RANDOM	This mode creates randomly generated versions of your beats and melodies based on the values of the parameters of this mode.
APPLY	Applies the current settings to the selected Sound.

Humanize Mode Parameters

Element	Description
Apply	Applies the current settings to the selected Sound.
VELOCITY RANGE
Velocity Lo	Adjust notes with a velocity no lower than the set value.
Velocity Hi	Adjust notes with a velocity no higher than the set value.
TIME SHIFT
Step	Set the amount of time shift per step. The value is applied to all notes and will move them randomly in both plus and minus values according to the overall percentage set here. Step can be changed from +/- 0-50% in 5% increments. Press SHIFT to change in finer increments of 1%.

Random Mode Parameters

Element	Description
PROBABILITY (Keyboard mode)
Probability	Set the probability of how often a note is created. At 50% a note may or may not be created at each step. At 100% a note will be created at every step of the Pattern. Probability can be changed from 10-100% in 10% increments. Press SHIFT to change in finer increments of 1%.
NOTE RANGE (Keyboard mode)
Note Lo	Create notes no lower than the set value.
Note Hi	Create notes no higher than the set value.
VELOCITY RANGE
Velocity Lo	Create notes with a velocity no lower than the set value.
Velocity Hi	Create notes with a velocity no higher than the set value.
CHORDS (Keyboard mode)
Note Count	Set the number of notes that are available to make up a chord per step. This is also calculated in relation to the Note Count set in the DISTRIBUTIONS section. The Note Count range is from 1 to 6.
NOTE LENGTH
Steps	Set the length of a note in steps. The value ranges from 1 to 6 steps per note. Press SHIFT to change in finer increments.
TIME SHIFT
Step	Set the amount of time shift per step. The value is applied to all notes and will move them randomly in both plus and minus values according to the overall percentage set here. Time shift can be changed from +/- 0-50% in 5% increments. Press SHIFT to change in finer increments of 1%.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Note Count (Keyboard mode)	Fixed: The note count is fixed. The value set in the Note Count of the CHORDS section will take precedent here. Equal: The note count will be evenly distributed across the NOTE RANGE. Gauss: The note count is likely to be distributed to the middle section of the NOTE RANGE. ½ Gauss: The note count more is likely to be distributed to the middle and lower section of the NOTE RANGE.
Notes (Keyboard mode)	Equal: Notes will be evenly distributed across the Pattern in accordance with the Step Grid. Gauss: Notes are more is likely to be distributed to the middle part of the note range. ½ Gauss: Notes are more likely to be distributed to the middle and lower part of the Pattern in accordance with the Step Grid.
Note Length	Fixed: Notes will have the same length across the Pattern. Equal: Note lengths will be evenly distributed across the Pattern. Gauss: Note lengths in the middle part of the pattern are more likely to be shorter. ½ Gauss: Note lengths in the middle to lower part of the pattern are more likely to be shorter.

Duplicating a Sound

Using the Duplicate button you can copy a Sound from one Pad to another.

To copy Sounds:

Press and hold DUPLICATE.
If you want to duplicate a Sound including its Pattern content, press Button 5 to enable the +Events option.
Press the pad of the Sound you want to copy. The pad of the Sound starts blinking.
Press the pad of the target Sound slot (this can also be in another Group, in this case, first press GROUP, then the pad of the desired Group, then GROUP again to deactivate it).
All parameters of the Sound will be copied (including the Pattern content for that Sound if you have activated the Copy Events option). The copied Sound will replace any Sound previously loaded in the target Sound slot.

Duplicating a Group

Using the Duplicate button you can copy a Group from one Group button to another:

To duplicate a Group:

Press and hold DUPLICATE.
If you want to duplicate a Group including its Patterns, enable the +EVENT option (Button 5).
Press the Group button of the Group you want to copy. The Group button starts blinking.
Press the Group button of your target Group (this can also be in another Group bank, in this case, first press Button 3/4 to select the Group bank). If you want to paste the Group without affecting the existing Groups, press the dim white Group button after the last colored Group button to create the new Group and automatically paste the copied Group there.
All parameters of the Group (all included Sounds, Group effects, Group’s Channel properties) will be copied (including its Patterns in the Arranger if you have activated the +EVENT option). The copied Group will replace the Group previously at that position in the Group List.

You will notice that once you have pasted the Group, the target Group button starts blinking itself, indicating that it is ready to be pasted again: Therefore, to duplicate a Group more than once, once you have pressed the source Group button you just have to press all the desired target Group buttons in a row.

Working with Clips

The following section explains in detail how to work with Clips.

Tip

For an overview of Patterns and Clips, refer to Working with Patterns and Clips.

Creating a Clip

A new Clip can be created anywhere on the arranger in the Song view.

Note

Clips can also be created directly on top of Patterns. In this instance, you will only hear the Clip during playback.

Deleting a Clip

Clips can be deleted from the Arranger and Editor in Song view.

Doubling a Clip

The size of a Clip can be doubled in the Song view.

Duplicating a Clip

Using the duplicate function enables you to make a copy of a Clip.

Clearing a Clip

Clearing a Clip allows you to remove all of its Events, leaving the Clip empty.

Adjusting the Length of a Clip

In the Song view, you can adjust the length of a Clip. When you adjust the length, it snaps to the nearest position on the grid, using the current Arrange Grid value. You can override the grid by holding down SHIFT while dragging the Clip.

Adjusting the Start of a Clip

In Song view, you can adjust the start of a Clip. When you adjust the start point, it snaps to the nearest position on the grid, using the current Arrange Grid value.

Repositioning a Clip

In the Song view, a Clip can be moved to a different position within the same Group. This enables you to place a Clip exactly where you want on the timeline.

To reposition a Clip on the Arranger:

Hold SHIFT +IDEAS (Song).
Then press Button 2 (SONG) to select the Song view.
Press Button 2 (CLIPS) to select Clips.
Use the 4-D encoder to select the clip you want to adjust.
Nudge the 4-D encoder left or right to reposition the selected Clip.
Nudging the 4-D encoder left or right moves the selected Clip relative to the current Arrange Grid value. Pressing SHIFT while nudging moves the selected Clip relative to the current Step Grid value.

Tip

To select a new Grid value, press SHIFT + FOLLOW (Grid), and then press Button 3 (ARRANGE) or Button 4 (STEP). To change the value of the selected Grid, press the pad relative to the value you want to use.

Inserting Scenes to an Arrangement as Clips

Once you are satisfied with a Scene you can insert it directly as Clips to your arrangement in the Song view.

Working with Patterns and Clips

Patterns versus Clips

Navigating between Patterns and Clips

Tip

Working with Patterns

Deleting Events or Notes

Quick Deleting Events or Notes

Tip

Deleting Events or Notes while Playing

Deleting Events for the Entire Group at Playback Position

Deleting Events or Notes via the Transport Functions

Quick Edit in Step Mode

Adjusting the Position

Adjusting Pitch

Adjusting the Velocity

Adjusting the Length

Tip

Deleting Groups and Sounds

Quantizing Your Pattern

Tip

Tip

Doubling a Pattern

Tip

Clearing a Pattern

Deleting a Pattern

Duplicating a Pattern

Transposing a Pattern

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Events/Notes

Adding Variation to Patterns

Note

Tip

Humanize Mode Parameters

Random Mode Parameters

Duplicating a Sound

Duplicating a Group

Working with Clips

Tip

Creating a Clip

Note

Tip

Deleting a Clip

Doubling a Clip

Duplicating a Clip

Clearing a Clip

Adjusting the Length of a Clip

Adjusting the Start of a Clip

Tip

Repositioning a Clip

Tip

Inserting Scenes to an Arrangement as Clips

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