> Step by step

2. Navigating and connecting

1

Now let’s run through the main features and layout. Load up and open an instance of Cream CM. You’ll see the interface has a number of regions. At the top is the main arpeggiator with typical settings including Rate, Octaves, Swing and so on.

2

This works in conjunction with the Pattern Controls on the right, and specifically the number of Steps, and the eight Play Order settings (Hi-Lo, Lo-Hi, Reversed and so on). There are also a bunch of categorised arpeggiator presets loaded via the menu bar at the top.

3

Dominating the middle is the 32-step Pattern section. This illuminates the notes generated by the arpeggiator as it plays. Significantly, it also provides a number of ways to change how those notes are played on a step-by-step basis, and you’ll see various tabs including Order, Length, Accent, Transpose.

4

Cream CM has four different patterns and these can also be arranged in the Pattern Sequencer. This has four slots and you can define how many times (Repeat) and duration in steps (Length) for each component pattern. This provides an additional creative tool once you have your patterns up and running.

5

Using Cream CM usually involves routing its MIDI to a MIDI instrument track. Here in Cubase 11 we’ve loaded Cream CM as a MIDI instrument and then on the destination MIDI instrument track selected Cream CM as the input source and input channel. Now with both tracks armed, Cream CM is triggering the target instrument.

6

Most DAWs use a system similar to Cubase, although you’ll need to check the specifics. In contrast, Logic Pro users can insert Cream CM as a MIDI FX. This insert slot is available on the instrument track and makes getting started quite a bit simpler.