Working with Step Sequencer clips

When you create a sequence in the Step Sequencer, SONAR creates a new Step Sequencer clip.

A Step Sequencer clip shows the first iteration of the sequence/pattern and all Step Sequencer clips can be identified by a small Step Sequencer clip icon in the top right corner of the clip. Step sequencer clips are somewhat similar to MIDI Groove clips; you can drag the left and right edges of a Step Sequencer clip to show additional iterations of the sequence pattern.

To convert a MIDI clip(s) to a Step Sequencer clip(s)

You can convert any existing MIDI clip into a step sequencer clip:

1.	Select the MIDI clip(s) you want to convert to a step sequencer clip(s).

2.	Right-click the selected clip and choose Convert MIDI Clip(s) to Step Sequencer from the Clips pane context menu (hover the mouse over the bottom of the context menu in order to show any “hidden” commands).

The Convert MIDI Clip(s) to Step Sequencer dialog box appears.

3.

If you want the Step Sequencer to preserve the original timing of the note events instead of quantizing them to the nearest step, select Preserve original timing (using step offsets). The notes will be adjusted to fit the steps, and per-step timing offsets will be created so that the result has the same note times as the original MIDI clip. Any human feel in the part will be preserved.

If Preserve original timing (using step offsets) is not selected, the resulting clip will essentially be a quantized version of the original clip. The start of the clips will be the same and the first notes will be the same. The only thing that will possibly be different is the length of the clip (due to quantizing) and the notes in it may be moved slightly so they fit into the steps.

4.	Specify the desired resolution value and click OK.

Note: The resolution value should correspond to the shortest note value that you expect. For example, if you specify Sixteenth notes, you will get four steps per beat. The choices are: 4 Quarter (1 step per beat) 4 Eighth (2 steps per beat) 4 Eighth Triplet (3 steps per beat) 4 Sixteenth (4 steps per beat) 4 Sixteenth Triplet (6 steps per beat) 4 32nd (8 steps per beat) 4 32nd Triplet (12 steps per beat)

If a MIDI Groove clip contains any variations between different iterations, each unique iteration will be converted to a separate Step Sequencer clip.

To unlink copied Step Sequencer clips

When you copy step sequencer clips, all copies are linked to each other. This means that any further edits to any of the clips will be automatically reflected in all other linked sibling clips.

If you want to edit one instance of a step sequencer clip without affecting any other clips, you must first unlink the clip you want to edit:

1.	Right-click the step sequencer clip in the Clips pane to show the Clips pane context menu.

2.	Select Unlink Step Sequencer Clips from the context menu (point the mouse over the bottom of the context menu in order to show any “hidden” commands).

The clip is now unlinked from the other clips.

Tip: If you frequently need to unlink step sequencer clips, assign the Unlink Step Sequencer Clips to a key binding (see Key bindings).

 

See:

MIDI Groove Clips

Step sequencer interface

Working with rows

Working with steps

Working with Controller events

Working with patterns

Working with Step Sequencer clips

Keyboard shortcuts

Using the Step Sequencer with drum maps