Documentation

Step Sequencer

16-step drum machine with 300+ patterns, real samples, and professional beat making

Step Sequencer Basics

Professional Drum Machine

The Step Sequencer is a 16-step drum machine for creating beats and rhythms using real drum samples:

  • ✓ 16 Steps: Create patterns up to one bar (4 beats)
  • ✓ 8 Instrument Lanes: Kick, snare, hi-hats, and more
  • ✓ Real Drum Samples: Professional WAV samples from drum kits
  • ✓ 300+ Pattern Library: Pre-made patterns across 16 genres
  • ✓ Per-Step Velocity: Option+drag for loudness control
  • ✓ Swing/Shuffle: Add groove with swing control (0-100%)
  • ✓ Transport Sync: Sync with main DAW transport
  • ✓ Export to Timeline: Render patterns as audio regions
🥁

16-step sequencer grid with 8 instrument lanes

🎛️ Interface Components

🎹 Grid & Steps

  • 16 Columns - One per 16th note
  • 8 Rows - One per drum instrument
  • 3D Step Pads - Lit/unlit visual states
  • Click to Toggle - Activate/deactivate steps
  • Playhead Animation - Shows current step
  • Velocity Colors - Brightness = loudness

🎚️ Transport Controls

  • Play/Pause (Space) - Toggle playback
  • Transport Sync (⌘D) - Sync with DAW
  • BPM Control - Tempo adjustment
  • Loop Length - 8/16/32/64 steps
  • Pattern Position - Current playback position

🎵 Instrument Lanes

  • Kick - Bass drum
  • Snare - Snare drum
  • Closed Hi-Hat - CHH
  • Open Hi-Hat - OHH
  • Clap/Rim - Handclap or rimshot
  • Tom - Tom drum
  • Crash - Crash cymbal
  • Ride - Ride cymbal

🎛️ Pattern Controls

  • Pattern Library - Browse presets
  • Load Pattern - Apply preset
  • Save Pattern - Store custom pattern
  • Clear (⌘Delete) - Erase all steps
  • Copy (⌘C) - Copy pattern
  • Paste (⌘V) - Paste pattern

🎨 Groove Controls

  • Swing Amount - 0-100% shuffle
  • Swing applies to - Even-numbered steps
  • Velocity Editing - Option+drag steps
  • Humanize - Random velocity variation
  • Quantize - Snap to perfect timing

📤 Export Options

  • Export to Timeline - Render as audio
  • Track Selection - Choose destination
  • Playhead Position - Or at playhead
  • Sample-Accurate - Uses real drum samples
  • Preserves Swing - Timing intact

📚 300+ Pattern Library (27 Categories, 16 Genres)

Extensive collection of professional drum patterns across every musical style:

🎹 Electronic

  • House - Basic/Progressive/Deep
  • Techno - Minimal/Detroit/Industrial
  • Trance - Uplifting/Progressive
  • Dubstep - Half-time grooves
  • Electro - Funky drum machine

🎤 Hip Hop & R&B

  • Boom Bap - Classic 90s hip hop
  • Trap - 808 hi-hat rolls
  • R&B - Smooth grooves
  • Lo-Fi - Chill beat patterns
  • Drill - Modern trap variants

🎸 Rock & Metal

  • Rock - 4/4 backbeat patterns
  • Metal - Double bass patterns
  • Punk - Fast 8th note hi-hats
  • Indie Rock - Alt rock grooves
  • Progressive - Odd time signatures

🎺 Jazz & Blues

  • Jazz - Swing patterns
  • Blues - Shuffle grooves
  • Bebop - Fast jazz rhythms
  • Smooth Jazz - Laid-back beats
  • Fusion - Complex patterns

🎵 Drum & Bass

  • D&B - Classic breaks
  • Jungle - Amen break variants
  • Neurofunk - Complex patterns
  • Liquid - Smooth D&B grooves
  • Jump Up - Energetic patterns

🌎 World Music

  • Latin - Salsa, Samba, Bossa Nova
  • African - Afrobeat, Highlife
  • Caribbean - Reggae, Dancehall
  • Middle Eastern - Maqam rhythms
  • Asian - Taiko, Gamelan

🎸 Funk & Disco

  • Funk - Syncopated grooves
  • Disco - Four-on-the-floor
  • Nu-Funk - Modern funk beats
  • Boogie - 80s funk patterns
  • P-Funk - Parliament grooves

🎹 Pop & Dance

  • Pop - Contemporary patterns
  • Dance Pop - Club-ready beats
  • Synthpop - 80s inspired
  • K-Pop - Modern production
  • Indie Pop - Alternative grooves

🎚️ Ambient & Experimental

  • Ambient - Sparse atmospheric
  • IDM - Glitchy patterns
  • Experimental - Unconventional
  • Minimal - Simple repetitive
  • Industrial - Mechanical rhythms
🎼

Pattern library with categories and mini preview

Creating Patterns

Step-by-Step Workflow

Complete workflow for creating drum patterns:

  • 1 Open Step Sequencer: MIDI menu → Step Sequencer
  • 2 Load Pattern (Optional): Choose from 300+ presets
  • 3 Edit Pattern: Click steps to activate/deactivate
  • 4 Adjust Velocity: Option+drag steps for loudness control
  • 5 Add Swing: Adjust swing slider for groove (0-100%)
  • 6 Play: Press Space to hear pattern
  • 7 Export to Timeline: Click "Export" button
  • 8 Choose Track: Select destination track or playhead
Advanced Features

Pro Beat Making

Advanced capabilities for professional drum programming:

  • ✓ Per-Step Velocity: Brightness indicates loudness, Option+drag to adjust
  • ✓ Swing Control: Add shuffle/groove to even-numbered steps (0-100%)
  • ✓ Transport Sync: Toggle ⌘D to sync with main DAW playback
  • ✓ Copy/Paste: ⌘C/⌘V to duplicate patterns
  • ✓ Clear Pattern: ⌘Delete to erase all steps
  • ✓ Pattern Length: 8/16/32/64 step options
  • ✓ Real Samples: Authentic drum kit samples, not synthesis
  • ✓ Sample-Accurate Export: Exported audio uses real samples
🎚️

Velocity editing and swing controls

⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut Description
Play/Pause Space Toggle playback
Transport Sync ⌘D Sync with DAW transport
Copy Pattern ⌘C Copy to clipboard
Paste Pattern ⌘V Paste from clipboard
Clear Pattern ⌘Delete Erase all steps
Adjust Velocity Option+Drag Change step loudness