How to Chain Patterns Into a Song on iPhone
A loop is not a song. The jump from “nice beat” to “actual track” is arrangement — an intro that holds back, a section that hits harder, a breakdown that gives everyone a breath. GranSample 1.4.0 puts that whole workflow on your phone: eight patterns per project, live switching that respects the bar line, and a Song Mode that chains sections into an arrangement you can loop or play top to bottom.
This guide walks the full path: program a pattern, spin variations from it, and chain them into a song.
Step 1: Program your first pattern
Load a kit from the Library (any factory kit works — try Late Night Room), then look below the pad grid. The row of letters A–H is the pattern bank; A is active. Tap SEQ to start the sequencer and tap steps into the grid — each pad keeps its own track, so lay a kick on pad 1, a snare on 2, hats on 3.
Every project has all eight pattern slots ready from the start. A dashed letter just means that slot has no steps yet.
Step 2: Build variations with DUP
Tap DUP and your pattern is cloned into the next empty slot. This is the fastest way to write sections: clone A into B, then strip B down to kick and hats for an intro. Clone again into C and add the extra percussion for a drop.
To edit any pattern, tap its letter — the step grid follows the active slot. If the sequencer is playing, the switch is quantized: the new letter pulses until the bar ends, then takes over cleanly. Tap it again to cancel. This alone makes the bank a performance tool — you can jam A/B/C transitions live before you ever build a song.
Step 3: Enter Song Mode
Tap SONG next to the sequencer controls (Song Mode is a GranSample Pro feature). The step grid’s row becomes the song lane, and the prompt says it plainly: tap A–H to build your song.
Tap letters in the order you want them: B (intro), A (main), C (drop), A again. Each tap appends an entry to the chain.
Step 4: Set repeats per section
One bar of intro is rarely enough. Tap any entry in the lane and an editor appears: − / + set how many times that section repeats (up to ×16), DEL removes it, DONE closes the editor. Set the intro to ×2, the main groove to ×4, the drop to ×2.
Need a different order? Drag an entry sideways to reorder the chain.
Step 5: Play it — loop or one-shot
Hit the song’s play button. The lane highlights the playing section with a live repeat counter, and the pattern strip shows which pattern is sounding. The LOOP toggle decides the ending: loop the whole arrangement forever (great for jamming over), or play it once and stop (great for recording a take).
Want to capture the result? Arm the recorder at the top of the screen before pressing play, then export the bounce as WAV or M4A.
Everything saves
Patterns, song, and BPM are part of the project now. Save it, close the app, share it as a .gskit, or reopen the DAW session hosting the AUv3 — the whole arrangement is still there.
FAQ
How do I make a song from patterns in GranSample?
Program your patterns in the A–H bank, tap SONG next to the step sequencer, then tap pattern letters to build the chain. Tap any entry to set how many times it repeats, press play, and the arrangement runs section by section. Song Mode is a GranSample Pro feature.
Can I switch patterns while the beat is playing?
Yes — tap another pattern letter during playback and the switch waits for the end of the current bar, so the groove never stumbles. Tap the same letter again before the bar ends to cancel the switch.
Do my patterns and song save with the project?
Yes. Since v1.4.0, all eight patterns, the song chain, and BPM are stored in the project file — they come back exactly as you left them when you reload, share a .gskit, or reopen a DAW project with the AUv3.
Try it yourself
Free on the App Store — eight pads, the full granular engine, no account.
