I was wondering are those pre already made or some kind of synthesis magic and are they usually found in other modular systems.

There isn't much info. in the manual about the pattern generator - such as what each pattern can be used for Is there any documentation on them or is it just a matter of going through them to find out what they sound like?

Recently in a couple of patches I've noticed use of the PatternGen module. I can't seem to figure out how to use this module....what kinds of patterns are these? Rhythm or virtual CV settings or what? In the patches that use this module I can't seem to get much, if any, timbral variation by changing the pattern and bank numbers. The manual just glosses over this enigmatic mod. Sooooo...what's the scoop?

It's a sequencer in fact with a large set of pre programmed sequences. The pattern and bank controls select which sequence will be used. The pattern's length is set with the step selector. The jumpiness of the sequence is controlled by the low button. The sequences are not actually stored though, they are created by changing the starting seed for a pseudo random generator. This way the implementation can be very compact, and also it's not very predictable what actual sequence will be generated (and that's why it's called pseudo random).

Maybe the patches you tried had the blue pattern/bank input connected to something, when this is the case it's hard to tell what the knobs do - it seems as if the knobs and and the blue input are added or multiplied or something before the actual sequence to be used is determined.

The attached patch has a random pattern of length 8 and it controls the note to be played. After 32 repeats the pattern is autochanged. As you can try for yourself it is still possible to change the pattern by using the pattern/bank knobs, and when the knobs are set back to their previous position the same sequence will repear (that's to say, as long as the auto changer did not kick in, you could set ClkDiv2 to a higher value to get more repeats).

Also try raising the number of voices to hear what the mono button does - but then it would be best to set LfoB1 to mono, otherwise it's getting rather messy.

I often use this module to get some unpredictabillity in my patches, and I always use the blue input then and mostly in the way shown in the attached patch.

Thanks Jan, I'll check that out tonight when I get home. Is there a way to keep the module from being "randomized" with a new seed so the output would be predictable?

Sure, just leave the blue input unconnected and select the pattern you like most.

Oh, I see, the blue input is only for randomising the bank/pattern numbers.

Well, it outputs control signals in a loop of n steps, depending on what you set on the module. The timbral variation will depend on what you connect it to. Try sticking the output into filter modulation for example (doesn't matter that you're putting a blue cable into a red input), or into a pitch modulation input. You can get smooth changes by wiring it through a portamento module, or make it play tunes by using the KeyQuant module to shift the output to note intervals.

(Patches by Wout Blommers)

Of course you need to send a clock signal to the pattern generator to tell it when to change steps, just like the sequencer modules. I don't know why Clavia put it in the LFO section since it is more like the control sequencer module in my opinion.

It's a very useful little thing, not least because it uses little DSP resource. I often stick two pattern generators in a patch, on the same clock with a different number of steps, and wire the outputs to multiple destinations. Then you get modulations that sound random at first but fall into a nice polyrhythm structure if you keep listening.

I am looking for more information about the PatternGen:

1. Is there a List of all available patterns?

2. How does the Pattern/Bank input work? How is it possible to reach a spezific pattern? What is to send in for to reach Pattern 87 in Bank 17 ?

3. Does the PatternGen always start with step 1 ?

To control different patterns: Take four Contstant modules set to different values. Connect them to a 4-1 switch, so you can control the patterns using the knobs. A Clocked RandomStepGenerator. Connected to the Key trigger can also be used. Each time you press a key, a different pattern will be 'played'.

Well I imagine it generates patterns of some sort, it just seems the docs are a little vague on what sort. What is the corelation between the pattern number and bank number pattern length and the actual pattern generated?

I'm new to the micro modular and haven't had much problem figuring out what most of the modules do so far, but this one has me stumped.

Well not an exactly answer but some examples.