The step sequencer is where you program drum patterns. Each row represents a drum sound, and each column is a step (beat subdivision). Click steps to turn them on or off—it's that simple.
Understanding the Grid
The step sequencer shows a 16-step grid:
- Rows — Each row is a different drum sound (kick, snare, hi-hat, etc.)
- Columns — Each column is a 16th note (four steps = one beat)
- 16 steps — One full bar in 4/4 time
- Playhead — The highlighted column shows the current step
Programming a Pattern
-
Open the Drums tab
Click "Drums" in the bottom panel or press 1. -
Click steps to activate
Click any cell in the grid to toggle it on (lit) or off (dim). -
Press Play
Hit Space to hear your pattern loop. -
Adjust in real-time
Add or remove steps while playing to hear changes immediately.
Basic Patterns
Four-on-the-Floor (House/Techno)
Kick on every beat:
- Kick: Steps 1, 5, 9, 13
- Snare/Clap: Steps 5, 13
- Hi-hat: Every step (1-16)
Boom Bap (Hip-Hop)
Classic head-nodding groove:
- Kick: Steps 1, 7, 11
- Snare: Steps 5, 13
- Hi-hat: Steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15
Trap
Hard-hitting with rolling hats:
- Kick: Steps 1, 8, 11
- Snare/Clap: Steps 5, 13
- Hi-hat: Every step, with varied velocities
Tip: The kick usually lands on beats 1 and 3, the snare on beats 2 and 4. Start there and experiment.
Velocity
Velocity controls how hard each hit sounds:
- Click and drag up/down on an active step to adjust velocity
- Higher velocity = louder, more aggressive
- Lower velocity = softer, more subtle
- Varying velocity adds human feel to mechanical patterns
Velocity Tips
- Keep kicks at full velocity for punch
- Accent snares on beats 2 and 4
- Vary hi-hat velocities for groove (louder on downbeats)
- Ghost notes: very low velocity hits add shuffle
Pattern Length
By default, patterns are 16 steps (one bar). You can change this:
- Click the pattern length selector
- Choose 8, 16, 32, or 64 steps
- Longer patterns allow more variation before looping
Copying Patterns
To copy your pattern to the timeline:
- Program your pattern in the sequencer
- Click "Add to Timeline" or drag the pattern
- The pattern becomes a clip on a drum track
- Duplicate the clip to extend your arrangement
Pattern Variations
Create variations to keep your beat interesting:
Fill Patterns
Create a variation with extra snare/kick hits for transitions:
- Add snare rolls (steps 13, 14, 15, 16)
- Add extra kicks
- Use this pattern at the end of 4 or 8 bar sections
Breakdown Patterns
Strip down for verses or builds:
- Remove the kick
- Keep hi-hats and light percussion
- Maybe just snare on beats 2 and 4
Real-Time Recording
You can also record patterns by playing the pads:
- Enable pattern recording mode
- Press Play
- Tap the drum pads in rhythm
- Your hits are quantized to the grid
Clearing Patterns
- Clear one row — Right-click the row and choose "Clear"
- Clear all — Click "Clear Pattern" or use the context menu
Keyboard Shortcuts
| 1 | Open Drums panel |
| Space | Play/Stop |
| Cmd/Ctrl+Z | Undo last change |
Genre Patterns Reference
| House | Kick: 1,5,9,13 | Clap: 5,13 | Hats: all |
| Trap | Kick: 1,8,11 | Snare: 5,13 | Hats: all (rolls) |
| Boom Bap | Kick: 1,7,11 | Snare: 5,13 | Hats: odds |
| Drill | Kick: 1,4,10 | Snare: 5,13 | Hats: triplets |
| Lo-Fi | Kick: 1,6,11 | Snare: 5,13 | Hats: 1,5,9,13 |