HY-RPE2 Euclidean Sequencer (and My Free Euclidean Poly-Kit): Unlocking Rhythmic Flow in Electronic Music

I still remember the first time I heard a Euclidean sequencer in action. I was in a studio surrounded by a wall of modular equipment, and in the top left corner was a strange-looking module-its interface displayed a circular pattern, resembling a wheel.

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing at it.

The engineer explained that it was a Euclidean sequencer, a tool designed to generate rhythms based on mathematical principles. He then gave me a quick demo, using a kick drum as the sound source. As soon as I heard the pattern it produced, something clicked.

At the time, I had been deeply studying the German electronic sound with Evans, analysing its rhythmic structures and understanding how they created their hypnotic, evolving feel. The moment I heard the Euclidean sequence, I knew it was a core element of that sound. There was a natural, rolling groove to it-fluid, unpredictable, yet entirely musical. It felt alive in a way that traditional DAW sequencing often didn’t.

Bringing Euclidean Sequencing In The Box

That experience set me off on a journey to bring that same Euclidean magic into my own workflow. I started researching modular sequencers, but I wasn’t ready to go down the modular rabbit hole just yet. I needed an in-the-box solution.

I recalled seeing a Euclidean-style sequencer in a Logic Pro tutorial on YouTube, but after searching through Logic’s stock tools, I couldn’t find anything that functioned the same way. Digging deeper, I discovered HY-RPE2 by HY-Plugins, an advanced Euclidean sequencer plugin that could bring those same evolving, organic rhythms into my DAW.

HY-RPE2

The moment I loaded it up and started experimenting, I knew I’d found what I was looking for. It had the exact same fluidity and natural movement I had heard in the studio. Rhythms fell into place effortlessly, and I could generate patterns that had an organic, evolving feel without needing to manually program each note in Logic’s Piano Roll.

Seven Years of Euclidean Rhythm

That was nearly seven years ago, and HY-RPE2 has been in every single project I’ve worked on since.

To speed up my workflow, I’ve built presets that instantly load patterns for kicks, hats, snares, and percussion. With just a few adjustments, I can quickly shape a rhythmic foundation without having to manually input MIDI notes or finger-drum patterns.

For me, Euclidean sequencing isn’t just about convenience-it’s about tapping into a rhythmic concept that feels inherently musical, something that traditional step-sequencing often lacks.

Euclidean Poly-Kit: The Browser-Based Version I Built

Over the years I’ve relied on HY-RPE2 so much that I started wanting a lightweight version I could use away from a full studio setup – something quick, visual, and immediate.

So I built Euclidean Poly-Kit: a 6-track Euclidean rhythm lab that runs in the browser.

Each track has its own Steps, Pulses, and Shift, plus mute and volume, and there’s a global tempo and swing control. The idea is simple: generate a tight rhythmic foundation fast, then export it.

What it does (in plain terms)

• 6 tracks (kick, snare, hats, tom, rim)

• Steps / Pulses / Shift per track

• Swing for feel

• Export MIDI as a zip: full pattern + individual stems

If you want you can try it here. Hit play, tweak the pulses, rotate the groove with Shift, then export the MIDI and drop it straight into your DAW.

What Are Euclidean Rhythms?

Euclidean rhythms are a type of evenly distributed rhythmic pattern that was mathematically described by Goddfried Toussaint in 2005. The principle behind them is simple:

“Given a set number of beats and steps, distribute the beats as evenly as possible within the available space.”

For example, in a 16-step grid, if you place four beats, a Euclidean algorithm will space them evenly, giving you a natural 4-on-the-floor feel. If you choose five beats, the pattern takes on an interesting syncopated groove. If you choose seven, the result is a complex yet still balanced rhythm.

These patterns appear everywhere in music and nature, from traditional West African drumming to electronic music and techno. The key feature is that they create grooves that feel both structured and dynamic-they’re repetitive, but never robotic.

Why Euclidean Sequencing Works So Well in Electronic Music

🎛 Naturally Balanced Grooves – Euclidean sequences create rhythms that feel logical and balanced, even if they’re not conventional.

🔄 Evolving Patterns – By adjusting step counts in real-time, you can generate constantly shifting patterns without breaking the groove.

⚡ Instant Inspiration – You don’t have to painstakingly program drum patterns; instead, you can generate rhythms effortlessly and tweak them as needed.

🕹 Great for Percussion & Synth Sequences – Works brilliantly for hats, toms, snares, and even melodic sequences like arpeggios.

Final Thoughts

HY-RPE2 is an essential part of my workflow and has been for years. It bridges the gap between the structured and the organic, allowing me to create rhythms that feel alive without the endless tweaking that comes with traditional MIDI sequencing.

If you’ve never tried Euclidean sequencing, I’d genuinely recommend spending an hour with it. Whether it’s HY-RPE2 in a DAW or a simple tool like Euclidean Poly-Kit, it shifts rhythm from “programming” to “steering”.

If you try the Poly-Kit, I’d love to know what patterns you land on – and what tempo/genre you ended up using it for.