Marbles

Marbles is all about randomness – generation of random events, or randomization of external CV/Gate signals. The module is organized as three sections: the t section generates and processes clocks and triggers, the X section generates and processes voltages, and the DEJA VU section imposes structure, in the form of repetition, upon all the events generated by the two other sections.

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Marbles Manual

Text and diagrams by Mutable Instruments and is Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Type of Randomness

	A coin is tossed at every pulse of t2, to decide whether the pulse is passed to t1 or t3. BIAS controls the fairness of the coin toss.
	t1 and t3 are generated by respectively multiplying and dividing t2 by a random ratio. Turn the BIAS knob fully clockwise or counter-clockwise to reach more extreme ratios.
	The triggers alternate between t1 and t3 , following the same kind of regularity as kick/snare drum patterns.

Clock Range

	/4
	x1
	x4

Outputs

t₁ - Random Gate Stream 1

t₂ - Master Clock

t₃ - Random Gate Stream 2

Gate Length

Hold the button for Type of Randomness and turn BIAS to adjust the gate length from 1% to 99%, or JITTER to adjust the gate length randomization.

CV Output Selection

	All channels follow the settings on the control panel.
	X2 follows the control panel. X1 and X3 take opposite values.
	X3 follows the control panel, X1 reacts in the opposite direction, and X2 always stays in the middle.

Output Voltage Range

	0V - +2V
	0V - +5V
	-5V - +5V

Spread

Controls the probability of distribution width and shape. Fully counterclockwise is a constant voltage. This expands into a bell shaped distribution at the 12 o’clock position, reaches an even distribution at 2 o’clock, and continues with an increasing emphasis on the extreme values. The fully clockwise position only outputs the two extremes of the voltage range.

Bias

Skews the probability of the random output to be either lower (counter-clockwise) or higher (clockwise).

External Processing Mode

Press the button in the middle of the module (below LENGTH) to enable this mode. The CV on the Spread input will be used whenever Xneeds a random voltage.

Rate

Hold the CV Output Selection button while changing the Rate knob to change the rate of the random CV on the Y output from 1/64 to 1 division of X₂default is 1/160).

Spread

Hold the CV Output Selection button while changing the Spread knob to change the spread of the CV range on the Y output. Counter-clockwise keeps the voltages near the middle of the range, and clockwise makes the voltage more likely to be at either the upper or lower extremities.

Bias

Hold the CV Output Selection button while changing the Bias knob to shift the overall level of Y output. Counter-clockwise shifts the voltage range towards the negative, and clockwise shifts it towards the positive. The 12 o’clock position centers the range on 0V.

Steps

Hold the CV Output Selection button while changing the Steps knob to change the rate slope of transitions between CV values on the Y output. Counter-clockwise is a smooth slope, and clockwise straightens out the slope to sudden voltage changes. The 12 o’clock position is a straight linear transition.

Buttons

t - Controls whether or not to apply the Deja Vu settings to the t Generator.

X - Controls whether or not to apply the Deja Vu settings to the X Generator.

Deja Vu

Controls the probability of recycling random decisions/voltages from the past.

Steps

The left side of the knob adjusts the amount of slope applied to the X outputs. The 12 o’clock position is quantized to a full musical scale. As the knob turns clockwise away from 12 o’clock, notes are removed from the musical scale until only the root note remains.

Selecting a Scale

Hold the Output Voltage Range button for 2 seconds, and then press it again to select the desired mode.

	Major
	Minor
	Pentatonic
	Gamelan (Pelog)
	Raag Bhairav
	Raag Shree

Programming a Scale

1. Connect the CV and Gate outputs of a keyboard or MIDI interface to the Spread and Clock inputs respectively.
2. Hold the External Processing Mode button for 2 seconds. The LED above the Output Voltage Range button blinks and indicates the active scale that will be programmed.
3. Play something in the scale you want to program. Notes that are played less frequently will be removed first when turning the Steps knob clockwise.
4. Press the button External Processing More button to save the scale.

Resetting a Scale

1. Hold the External Processing Mode button for 2 seconds to enter the scale recording mode. The LED above the Output Voltage Range button blinks and indicates the active scale that will be reset.
2. Hold the External Processing Mode button for 2 seconds. The currently active scale is reprogrammed to its factory setting.