Tutorial

The programming procedure of the Matrix is to input note and gate values into the upper and lower fields of the pattern window respectively. You can input values by clicking or dragging in the pattern window. Proceed as follows:

1. Create a Subtractor synth.

You don't have to use the Subtractor device to use the Matrix, in fact you don't have to use an instrument device at all, but for this basic tutorial we will use a "standard" setup.

2. With the Subtractor selected, create a Matrix Pattern Sequencer.

The Matrix Note and Gate CV outputs will now be auto-routed to Subtractors Sequencer Control Gate and CV inputs, as you can see if you flip the rack around.

3. Make sure that the switch to the left of the pattern window is set to "Keys" position.

As you can see, there is a horizontal row of red rectangles at the bottom of the upper field in the pattern window. These rectangles represent note pitch, for each step in a pattern. At the moment they are all set to the same note pitch.

4. Click inside the upper grid section of the Matrix pattern window.

An orientation line is displayed in the grid to make it easier for you to find the desired note, and the red rectangles are placed according to where you click. You can drag to input continuous note values.

5. Click in the lower area of the pattern window.

Vertical strips of varying heights can be created. These represent Gate velocity values. The higher the strip, the higher the velocity value. You can drag to input continuous gate values.

6. Press the Play button on the Matrix.

The pattern you "programmed" in the previous steps is now repeated. At the top of the pattern window, a red rectangle indicates every step of the pattern.

If you now click or drag in the upper grid section with the pattern playing, you can hear how the note pitches change.

The note pitch corresponds to the keyboard printed to the left of the pattern window, in a one octave range, and as previously mentioned, an orientation line is visible when clicking or dragging, making it easy to find the note pitch on the keyboard.

If you now click or drag in the lower gate section while the pattern is playing, you can hear how the timbre and volume changes.

If you drag some of the vertical rectangles down so that they disappear from view, the corresponding steps of the pattern are completely silenced.

By using the 5-way switch below the "Keys/Curve" switch you can input notes in other octave ranges (over five octaves).

Note that there can only be one note for each step in the pattern.

7. By using a combination of the methods described in the above steps, you can program suitable note values for each step, decide which steps should be played and set their velocity with the gate values.