Euclid

Spreads N hits over M steps as evenly as possible

Open in the synth with a demo patch Open Modular

What it does

Euclid generates rhythms with Bjorklund's algorithm: Pulses hits are spread over Steps steps as evenly as they can be. The result is the patterns heard in music all over the world: 3 in 8 is the tresillo, 5 in 8 the Cuban cinquillo, 5 in 16 a bossa nova. On every incoming trigger the module advances one step around the ring and passes the event on only if that step is active; Rotate turns the pattern so the accent lands somewhere else.

Try this

Spread three hits across eight steps for an even but unexpected rhythm.

Ports

in: Triggers (usually from a Clock)
out: The hits of the pattern

Parameters

Steps · Pulses · Rotate

Try this

Clock 1/16 → Euclid 16/5 → Sampler with the bell, and it already sounds like music rather than a metronome.
Two Euclids from the same clock, 8/3 and 8/5, on different voices: a complex but interlocking polyrhythm.
Euclid → Chance 70%: the pattern stays recognizable, but every cycle is slightly different.

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