Rhythmicon.
Four rhythms divide one clock, two sequencers follow them, and the patterns drift against each other until they meet again on the one. Today a module for VCV Rack, soon in Ableton Live.
Hear the rhythm. Play it. And finally, see it.
1931
The composer Henry Cowell had a theory: a chord and a rhythm are the same thing at different speeds. A note that vibrates three times while another vibrates twice forms a fifth. Slow both down far enough and you hear a three-against-two rhythm. Cowell asked Léon Theremin to build an instrument that could play this. The result was the Rhythmicon, one of the first electronic rhythm machines: every key played a pulse from the overtone series, the first once per bar, the second twice, the third three times, up to sixteen.
How it works here
Rhythmicon takes one clock and lets four rhythms divide it by any number from 1 to 16. Each rhythm drives one or both of two four-step sequencers. A sequencer moves on whenever one of its rhythms hits, so ÷3 and ÷4 on the same sequencer make an uneven, swinging line, while the other sequencer drifts at its own pace. The whole pattern repeats only when all rhythms meet again on the one: the display counts that cycle, CYCLE 17 / 42.
Undertones
The same idea works for pitch. Divide a frequency by 2, 3 or 4 and you get the undertone series, the mirror of the overtones. Each sequencer plays its note together with two of these undertones: a chord that belongs to the rhythm. The same pairing of rhythm divisions and undertones is at the heart of Moog's Subharmonicon: its rhythm generators go back to Cowell and Theremin, its undertones to the Mixtur-Trautonium.
See the polyrhythm
Four rhythm lanes run across the display, with the points where they coincide and the bar where the whole cycle repeats.
Two sequencers, four steps each
Assign any rhythm to either sequencer. Accents per step and swing, in time with your Live set.
Undertone chords
Each sequencer plays its note together with two undertones, its pitch divided by 2 to 16: chords that belong to the rhythm.
Scales built in
Every step snaps to one of 16 scales and a root, so it fits the rest of your track.
Questions.
When does Rhythmicon come to Ableton Live?
We are working on it. Leave your email on this page and we let you know when it is ready.
What will it do in Live?
Rhythmicon plays your instruments: four rhythms drive two sequencers that send notes, accents and undertone chords to Shapes, a Drum Rack or any synth, in time with your Live set.
Can I try it now?
Yes, in VCV Rack. Rhythmicon is a module there, with the same rhythms, sequencers and display.
Is it a Subharmonicon in software?
No. Rhythmicon uses the same old idea of rhythm divisions and undertones, but adds a display, accents, swing and 16 scales, and plays any instrument you like.
Rhythmicon is coming to Ableton Live.
Leave your email and we'll tell you when it's out.
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Coming soon.