Mutable Instruments Marbles
Controlled chaos: random rhythms and melodies that loop and evolve
18 HP Eurorack module
Marbles is a random sampler for Eurorack that generates both random gate patterns and random voltages in a musically coherent way. It combines a jittery master clock, two-channel rhythm generator, and three-output random voltage generator with quantization, lag-processing, and a DEJA VU loop system that lets randomness gradually crystallize into repeating sequences. Its musical character ranges from lively generative polyrhythm to slowly mutating melodic loops with deep control over probability and repetition.
Features
- Internal clock with V/O CV input and external clock division/multiplication
- Clock range button multiplies or divides clock by 4
- Adjustable jitter from humanized timing to complete chaos while preserving overall tempo
- Three gate outputs: t2 main jittery clock at 50% duty cycle, t1 and t3 complementary random rhythm
- Three rhythm generation algorithms: coin toss routing, random multiply/divide ratios, kick/snare pattern generation
- Adjustable gate length from 1% to 99% for t1 and t3
- Gate duration randomization control
- Three random voltage outputs X1, X2, X3 clocked by t section or external clock
- SPREAD control scanning between constant, bell-shaped, uniform and discrete voltage distributions
- BIAS control skewing distribution toward bottom or top of voltage range
- Three output voltage ranges: 0 to +2V, 0 to +5V, -5V to +5V
- STEPS knob for progressive quantization (CW) or lag/slew processing (CCW)
Controls & Jacks (44)
- Jitter CV — CV input for modulating jitter amount
- T Channel Bias CV — CV input for modulating rhythm channel bias
- T1 Output — Complementary random rhythm output channel 1
- T2 Output — Main jittery clock output
- Clock Mode — Range selection for clock multiplication/division by 4
- Rhythm Mode — Selects between three generative rhythm models
- T Output Mode — Selects output mode for random rhythm generator
- Clock Rate — Adjusts the internal clock rate
- T3 Output — Complementary random rhythm output channel 3
- Spread CV — CV input for modulating spread distribution
- Steps — Controls quantization/steppiness vs lag-processing/smoothing of output voltages
- X Output Clock Mode — Selects whether X outputs clock from T section or external clock
- Bias CV — CV input for modulating voltage bias
- Deja Vu — Controls loop probability and shuffle amount for rhythm, voltages, or both
- Gate Duration — Controls gate duration from short triggers to full length
- Gate Duration Randomization — Amount of randomization applied to gate duration
- Bias — Biases generated voltage towards bottom or top of range
- Steps CV — CV input for modulating quantization/lag amount
- Jitter Amount — Controls jitter applied to clock, from perfect tracking to completely erroneous
- X1 Output — Random voltage output 1
- Deja Vu CV — CV input for modulating deja vu/loop probability
- T Channel Bias — CV-controlled bias parameter increasing density on one rhythm channel
- X2 Output — Random voltage output 2
- X3 Output — Random voltage output 3
- Clock Rate CV — CV input for modulating clock rate
- Range — Selects voltage range: 0-2V, 0-5V, or -5V to +5V
- T2 — Activity indicator for T2 output
- X2 — Activity indicator for X2 output
- External CV Input — Records external CV into deja vu loop or processes external sequences
- X3 — Activity indicator for X3 output
- External Clock — External clock input for division/multiplication
- Scale — Selects or programs one of 6 scales for quantization
- Clock Input
- Scale LED
- X1 Output LED
- Range LED
- Deja Vu LED
- T3 — Activity indicator for T3 output
- Deja Vu Target — Selects what deja vu applies to: rhythm, voltages, both, or neither
- X1 — Activity indicator for X1 output
- Clock Rate LED — Adjusts the internal clock rate
- X Output
- T1 — Activity indicator for T1 output
- T Mode
How-To Guides
- Program a Custom Scale
- Reset Scale to Factory Default
- Generative Polyrhythmic Melody
- Locked Loop Live Remix
- External Sequence Remixer
- Random Percussion Generator
- Smooth Ambient Modulation
- Self-Patched Unified Polyrhythm
- Biased Coin Toss Improvisation
- Random Gate Sequencer with Discrete Voltages
Explore the interactive Marbles panel on BleepDex — tap any control to learn what it does.
