How to Process a Step Sequencer
- 1). Open your preferred digital audio workstation. Either double-click the desktop icon or launch the workstation from the "Start," "Programs" menu. If using a Mac, click the desktop icon or launch the program from the "Applications" folder.
- 2). Open a new session. Depending on the configuration of your DAW, it will either open a new session or the last saved session. To launch a new session, open the file menu and select "New," "Open New," or "New Session."
- 3). Open a new MIDI channel. The channel commands are typically located under the file menu. MIDI stands for "musical instrument digital interface." It is a universal protocol that enables data commands to trigger sound synthesis. The step sequencer is the interface, in this case.
- 4). Launch the step sequencer. The exact command process for doing this varies according to which program you use, but the step sequencer is typically located under the "Instruments" menu. For example, in Logic the Ultrabeat sequencer is under "Logic Instruments" in the "Instruments" menu.
- 5). Set a tempo. Locate the beats per minute read out. Look for a box that says "120." 120 beats per minute, or "BPM" is the default tempo for most recording interfaces. Click on the figure to adjust it. Increase it to speed up the tempo.
- 6). Click the "Instruments" or "Sounds" tab to select an input sound. You can change this later. The step sequencer will remain silent if you don't select an instrument.
- 7). Click on a grid square to plot a note or series of notes. The vertical axis represents pitch and the horizontal axis represents time, measured in beats and bars. So if you click on square four, on the C row, this puts a C note on beat four of bar one.
- 8). Click "Play" to hear your sequence. Add notes, either on top of existing notes by plotting them on higher rows in the same column or in between existing notes.
- 9). Drag the "Pattern" box from the sequencer interface to the MIDI channel to incorporate it into an existing song or to form the basis of a new song.
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