The Step Sequencer

The step sequencer drives each pad with its own pattern of steps, so you can build drum loops and rhythmic granular textures without playing every hit by hand. It sits below the pad grid and is always visible while you work.

Per-pad tracks

The sequencer edits one pad at a time: it always shows the pattern for the currently selected pad. Tap a different pad in the grid to switch the track you are editing — each pad keeps its own steps. Pressing SEQ plays every pad’s track together, so the row you see is just your current editing focus, not the only track that sounds.

Pattern length

All tracks share a single pattern length, set with the 16, 32, and 64 buttons in the control row.

Control	What it does	Range / default
Length	Steps in the loop, shared by every pad	16, 32, or 64 (default 16)

Steps are grouped in fours, with the first step of each group marked, so the bar structure stays readable.

Editing steps

• Tap a step to toggle it on or off.
• Drag horizontally to paint: the drag follows the state opposite the first cell you touch, so dragging from an empty cell paints steps on, and dragging from an active cell erases them.
• Drag vertically on an active step to set its velocity. Drag up for louder, down for quieter; the height of the fill shows the level. New steps start at a velocity of 0.8, and the range is clamped between 0.1 and 1.0.

CLEAR wipes every step for the current pad only. It is disabled when the pad has no active steps.

Paging longer patterns

When a pattern is longer than fits in one row, page tabs appear below the grid, labelled by step range (for example 1-16 and 17-32). Tap a tab to view and edit that window. iPhone shows 16 steps per page; iPad shows 32. During playback the view auto-follows the playhead across pages, but tapping a page tab locks your view there so an edit isn’t yanked away — the lock clears when you stop.

Clock, tempo, and metronome (standalone)

Running standalone, the sequencer uses GranSample’s internal clock. Set the tempo with the BPM control in the top toolbar — tap-drag the readout to change it (20–300 BPM, default 120). The metronome toggle next to it plays a click at the same tempo to help you record and edit in time. See Recording from the Mic for capturing material against this clock.

Host transport sync (AUv3)

Loaded as an AUv3 plugin, GranSample follows the host instead of its own clock. The sequencer derives its position from the host’s beat position, so the host’s play/stop, tempo changes, and loop points all drive the pattern automatically — start the host transport and the sequencer runs in lockstep. There is no separate BPM to set inside the plugin in this mode.

For more on building rhythmic granular sounds, see Granular Parameters and the guide on what granular synthesis is.