Pattern Matrix

Pattern Matrix

Overview

To open the Pattern Matrix, click on the "P<>M" button at the top left corner of the Pattern Editor:

The Matrix is a "bird's eye view" of the patterns and tracks in the pattern sequence. Patterns and tracks are divided into blocks that can be moved, copied and pasted, enabling you to manage the flow of the music quickly and easily.

The Pattern Matrix also allows the muting of different tracks in duplicate patterns (indicated with a cross in the picture below). This way it is possible to create a whole song (or song draft) from a single pattern. Starting with one pattern containing many tracks, you can repeat this pattern again and again in the sequencer, but then mute individual blocks to build up the song structure. Later on you can create new patterns from the original to add variations.

Matrix Blocks

When you input data into a track in the Pattern Editor, a coloured block automatically appears in the current track and sequence position in the Pattern Matrix.

The blocks can be re-sized by clicking the small and large square icons under the "P<>M" button:

Left-clicking these icons changes the height of the blocks, while right-clicking changes their width.

Drag and Drop

To move a block from one place to another, select a block by left-clicking and releasing, then dragging and dropping it into the desired place.

• Hold down "Control/Command" while dragging to copy blocks instead of just moving them.
  
• Hold down "Control/Command + Shift" while dragging to copy the blocks and place them into a newly created pattern.

Selection & Mouse

To select multiple blocks at once, you can click on an unselected block, hold and drag. Alternatively, left-clicking and releasing, then holding down "Shift" before clicking a second time will allow you to select a range of blocks. To remove or add a single block at a time, "Control/Command + left-click".

With these key combinations you could, for example, select everything from Track 1 to Track 5, then exclude a single block in Track 2.

Muting Blocks

"Alt + left-click" or middle-click on blocks to mute/un-mute them. This also works for muting/un-muting multiple selected blocks at once.

This key and mouse combination also works in the Track Scopes.

Basic Shortcuts

• Clone selected blocks into new patterns with "Control/Command + K".
• "Control/Command + I" instead of "Control/Command + V" to insert instead of pasting.
• "Control/Command + SHIFT + Arrow Up/Down" to quickly select multiple rows.
• "Alt + P" and "Alt + T" to select the whole Pattern or Track.
• To bring Focus to the Pattern Editor, hit "ESC". To bring Focus back to the Pattern Matrix, press "Shift + ESC".

Visualization Options

Right-click in the Pattern Matrix to view the context menu, where you can choose to show/hide the Track Names, the colours and the VU Meters.

If you activate the "Visualize Repeating Slots" option from the context menu, a tiny icon indicating repeating content will be shown in the slot(s).

When the repeating content spans many slots, a gradient will be applied to their colour.

Colouring Blocks

By default, blocks are coloured equally per track. To change a track's colour, click on the small colour indicator below the track's name in the Pattern Matrix.

It is possible to colour each block individually. To do this, select one or more blocks, then right-click on them and select "Set Custom Color..." in the context menu. The custom colours will still be used if the blocks are copied.