Creating sequences with Mimetic Digitwolis
In our last posts, we introduced Mimetic Digitwolis and explored some of its configurable capabilities. Now that we’ve learned how to customize its functions, let’s create some basic sequences and make some music.
Lane types
The first choice we need to make is what types of outputs we’ll be using. The original could only output CV, but on the MImetic Digitwolis, we can output triggers, gates, modulation CV, or pitch CV. In most of my patches, I end up using a mix of a few different output types.
For this example, let’s sequence a complete voice like Basimilus Iteritas Alia. We’ll need one lane to output triggers, one lane to output pitch CV, and the other two lanes to output modulation CV.
Get moving
Now that we have our sequence types selected, we need something to make the sequences advance. If you have an external clock generator in your system, patch the clock and reset signals to Trig Ins 1 and R respectively. Configure the Step: Advn parameter to Trig 1 and the Step: Rset parameter to Trig R for all lanes.
If you don’t have an external clock, enable the Clock transport type in the Globals: Xport menu, and configure Step: Advn to Xport 16 for all lanes. This will make Mimetic Digitwolis generate its own clock!
Creating a sequence
Now that we have our lanes set up, it’s time to edit the sequences for each lane. You can edit while the sequencer is running, but if you’d like to fine-tune each step, you can flip the switch to the Edit position to pause the sequence. From there, you can use the Prev and Next buttons to navigate around – or press both to jump to step 1.
You can edit lanes individually from the focus screen, or multiple lanes at once from the Overview screen – just tap the Select buttons to select/deselect lanes for editing.
For manual edits, the encoder is the main way you’ll change step values. For trigger and gate lanes, turning the encoder simply enables or disables the step. For CV lanes, rotating the encoder makes coarse changes, while pressing and turning makes fine adjustments. And for note lanes, turning the encoder will change the value by scale degrees, and pressing and turning will jump in octaves.
You can also use the Shred button to assign random value to the current step, or Zero to toggle the step between its minimum and maximum levels.
Mimetic Digitwolis will automatically save as you edit, so your sequence will be recalled the next time you use your system. If you create something you like but want to make a new variation, you can save it to be recalled later. Hold Save and tap one of the Select buttons to quickly save into one of the first four save slots, or tap Save to open up the save menu.
Dividers and length
One of the most interesting parts of sequencing with Mimetic Digitwolis is its division capabilities. Each lane can have an arbitrary clock divider applied to its Advn triggers using the Seq: Div parameter. One of my favorite ways to utilize this is to assign a CV lane to 16, with the rest of my lanes at 1. If my CV output is mapped to something like a filter cutoff or a wavefolder, the voice’s timbre will change every measure, creating evolving variations.
Lanes can also be different lengths, anywhere from 1 to 16 steps. I often need only 4 or 8 steps in a trigger sequence, so I’ll adjust the Seq: Div parameter to be whatever length I need. Lane length can also be adjusted from the focus or overview screens by holding a Select button and pressing and turning the encoder.
Randomization and shortcuts
Along with manual edits, there are a number of fun editing shortcuts that can be used when creating a sequence.
Load+Shred will randomize the values of all steps for the selected lane(s), which is a fun way to immediately create entirely new sequences. If you’ve adjusted the range and scale of a pitch lane from the Output submenu, randomized values will be within the parameters you’ve set, making a sequence that’s immediately musical. I love to randomize all four lanes to create an inspiring starting point, then dial in a sequence from there.
You can also hold Save or Load and rotate the encoder to create different ramp shapes which will adapt to the length and scale of your sequence.
If you need to start from scratch, just press Load and Zero – all step values for all selected lanes will be set to minimum.
Tip of the sequencing iceberg
As we’ve explored in this post, a single voice can do a whole lot when paired with Mimetic Digitwolis. By generating trigger, pitch and modulation signals, we can bring a voice to life with just a few connections – and synced to other modules in a system, or completely independently! In the next episode, we’ll delve into some generative and randomized possibilities for a different take on creating a sequence.
