mutable-instruments/beads

Beads

Mutable Instruments

Granular audio processor that creates textures and soundscapes by continuously recording incoming audio into a buffer and replaying layered, transposed, and enveloped fragments (grains) with up to 30 simultaneous replay heads, plus reverb.1052

Capabilities 4

Delaydelay
Activated by setting SIZE fully CW; supports manual, tap-tempo, and clocked delay time control with pitch-shifting and beat-slicing capabilities.1052
Granular Processorgranular-processor
Continuously records audio into a RAM buffer and replays up to 30 simultaneous grains with independent pitch, position, duration, and envelope control.1052
Granular Synthesisgranular-synthesis
Granular Wavetable Synthesizerwavetable-synth
Activated automatically when both audio inputs are unpatched for 10 seconds; granularizes 8 banks of Plaits wavetable waveforms with V/oct pitch CV.1052

Jacks 12 (10 in / 2 out)

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (10)
Assignable CVcv—CV input assignable to one of three output-stage destinations: Feedback, Dry/Wet, or Reverb amount.1052
Assignable destinations mirrors CV Destination
FeedbackModulates the Feedback knob — amount of output mixed back into input. Mirrors the CV Destination parameter.1052 Dry/WetModulates the Dry/Wet balance. Mirrors the CV Destination parameter.1052 ReverbModulates the reverb amount. Mirrors the CV Destination parameter.1052
DENSITY CVcv—Modulates grain generation rate; at audio rates acts as 1V/octave exponential FM.1052
FREEZE Gategate—Gate input that disables recording to the buffer when high, mirroring the FREEZE button.1052
IN Laudio—1052
IN Raudio—1052
PITCH CVcv—CV input for pitch modulation; tracks 1V/octave when the attenurandomizer is fully CW, allowing melodic sequencing.1052
SEEDmixed—Trigger/gate/clock input that drives grain generation; when patched, the DENSITY knob becomes a clock divider or probability control.1052
SHAPE CVcv—1052
SIZE CVcv—1052
TIME CVcv—1052
Outputs (2)
OUT Laudio—Left audio output; sums L and R when OUT R is unpatched. Can also carry a grain trigger signal when that option is enabled on OUT R.1052
OUT Rmixed—Right stereo audio output; can optionally be repurposed as a grain trigger output when a cable is inserted.1052

Parameters 16

NameTypeRangeBehavior
Attenurandomizer PITCHknob—With CV patched, turning CW from noon increases CV modulation depth (tracks 1V/oct fully CW); turning CCW increases CV-controlled randomization. With no CV, controls internal pitch randomization with peaky (CCW) or uniform (CW) distribution.1052
Attenurandomizer SHAPEknob—With CV patched, turning CW from noon increases CV modulation depth; turning CCW increases CV-controlled randomization. With no CV, controls internal randomization with peaky (CCW) or uniform (CW) distribution.1052
Attenurandomizer SIZEknob—With CV patched, turning CW from noon increases CV modulation depth; turning CCW increases CV-controlled randomization. With no CV, controls internal randomization with peaky (CCW) or uniform (CW) distribution.1052
Attenurandomizer TIMEknob—With CV patched, turning CW from noon increases CV modulation depth; turning CCW increases CV-controlled randomization. With no CV, controls internal randomization amount with peaky (CCW) or uniform (CW) distribution.1052
Audio Qualitybutton—Cycles through four recording quality settings that affect sample rate, bit depth, and buffer duration in mono and stereo operation.1052
CV Destinationbutton—Cycles through three assignable destinations for the CV input jack (7); holding the button while turning the output-stage knobs adjusts CV modulation depth individually per destination.1052
Assignable destinations
Feedback1052 Dry/Wet1052 Reverb1052
DENSITYknob—Controls grain generation rate in latched mode; in clocked mode acts as a clock divider (CCW, 1/16 to 1) or probability control (CW, 0% to 100%). At noon no grains are generated.1052
Dry/Wetknob—Sets the balance between dry input signal and wet granular output.1052
Feedbackknob—Controls the amount of output signal mixed back into the input processing chain; each quality setting applies a different saturation or limiting scheme to the feedback path.1052
FREEZEbutton—Latching button that halts audio recording to the buffer. If held for more than 10 seconds, the buffer contents are saved and restored on next power-on.1052
PITCHknob-24semitone – 24semitoneTransposes grain playback pitch across a ±24 semitone range, with virtual detents at musical intervals.1052
Reverbknob—Controls the amount of reverb applied to the output; the reverb algorithm is modeled on two distinct acoustic spaces.1052
SEEDbutton—Momentary/latching button that triggers grain generation; hold for 4 seconds to enable latched mode, short press to disable. When held, grains play continuously.1052
SHAPEknob—Adjusts the grain amplitude envelope shape; envelope is independent of playback direction regardless of position.1052
SIZEknob—Sets grain duration and playback direction; at 11 o'clock produces very short 30ms grains; turning CW increases duration up to 4s; turning CCW plays reversed grains up to 4s; fully CW enters infinite-grain delay mode.1052
Zones
Reversed grain
Forward grain
Delay (∞)
  • Reversed grain -100–-20%Reversed grain playback, lasting up to 4s. Envelope is independent of direction.1052
  • Forward grain -20–95%Forward grain playback, 30ms (~11 o'clock) to 4s (fully CW before ∞).1052
  • Delay (∞) 95–100%Fully clockwise — never-ending grain becomes a single delay tap or beat slicer.1052
TIMEknob—Selects the playback position within the recording buffer, from most recent audio (fully CCW) to oldest (fully CW). In delay mode, selects actual delay time as a multiple of the base delay time.1052

Firmware history 0 versions

No firmware history recorded.

References 2

  1. [1052]
    Beads Manual (full)manual
    source 1052 canonical ↗ archived ↗
    ● verified 2026-05-30
  2. [1053]
    Beads Quickstart Bookletmanual
    source 1053 canonical ↗ archived ↗
    ● verified 2026-05-30