December 23, 2025
Beats, beef, and Euclid
Dancing around the rhythm space with Euclid
Bedroom beats go full math as fans feud over 'cheat codes' vs practice
TLDR: A home producer built a math-driven rhythm sequencer and sparked a brawl over whether algorithms boost creativity or cheapen it. Commenters split between practice-first purists, software experimenters, and culture hawks insisting Afro-Caribbean roots get credit—proof that the biggest kick drum today is the comment section.
One bedroom producer ditched usual drum patterns to chase “Euclidean” beats—math that spaces hits evenly—and even built a tiny sequencer in VCV Rack. The post lit up the comments: the math-curious cheered, calling it a gateway to world grooves like the Cuban tresillo, while groove purists rolled their eyes and yelled, practice your timing.
The hottest fight? Tools vs talent. Hardware loyalists waved their Digitone and Digitakt flags and swore nothing beats finger-drumming; software tinkerers clapped back that virtual patch cables let you learn faster and cheaper. A cultural credit thread flared too: some warned that wrapping Afro‑Caribbean rhythms in a math label risks erasing roots; defenders argued algorithms can help people discover those roots, not replace them.
Humor kept the tempo. Someone posted, “My neighbor became the hi‑hat,” and another: “Cat left the room at E(5,8). Respect.” Meme-lords spammed “I for one welcome our Euclidean overlords,” and a saintly commenter dropped the eternal cure for gear lust: just practice. Others begged for a download link, chanting “shut up and take my MIDI.” In short, the community loved the experimentation—but they’re hilariously split on whether math makes the music, or musicians do. Either way, the beat keeps marching on today.
Key Points
- •The author uses Elektron Digitone and Digitakt but turns to VCV Rack for modular experimentation.
- •They seek tools for live improvisation that balance structure and randomness without heavy preparation.
- •Euclidean rhythm-based sequencers in VCV Rack distribute hits evenly across patterns using the Euclidean algorithm.
- •The article references resources including Omri Cohen’s videos and Godfried Toussaint’s original paper.
- •Examples like E(3,8) and E(5,8) show Euclidean rhythms’ prevalence in global music; the author built a small sequencer.