Sequencers

A sequencer stores a phrase that keeps playing while your hands do something else. The big idea in spool. — straight from the app itself: play a key to play the sequence (the key transposes it). HOLD latches it. Tap WRITE to enter notes.

Open the sequencer with the grid icon in the top bar (press and hold the icon to switch the sequencer on or off without opening it). Pick a type from the chips:

OFF · PATTERN · STREAM · ARP · TAPS · GUMBALL

PATTERN and ARP are included free; STREAM, TAPS and GUMBALL unlock with Spool Pro.

Playing a sequence

Press a key and the stored phrase plays from that pitch — C plays it as written, other keys transpose it.
Turn on HOLD to latch it, hands-free.
The sequence drives whatever sound is loaded — switch favorites while it runs.

Writing notes

Tap WRITE, then tap notes into the dot grid — each column is a step, each row a pitch. The delete key removes the last note; the trash clears the sequence.

Shared controls:

Rate — the step size: 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, with triplet feels like 1/8T.
Direction — forwards, backwards, or shuffled.
LEN — how many steps before the loop repeats.
SWING — 50% is straight; push toward 75% for a looser, human groove.
CRANK — turn the sequence by hand, one step per click, like a music box.

The five types

Sequencer	What it does
PATTERN	A classic step grid — the drum-machine workhorse.
STREAM	A growing note list that plays continuously — add beats and length as you go, and DUP to double the phrase.
ARP	Arpeggiates whatever you hold: UP, DOWN, UP-DN or RAND, across 1–3 octaves.
TAPS	Tap phrases in live and layer them.
GUMBALL	Physics — see below.

GUMBALL

The playful one — a gumball machine full of notes. Play keys (or tap DROP BALL) to drop notes into a spinning arena; every time a ball hits a wall, its note plays. Swirl the arena with your finger to spin it — the spin, and the shape you pick with SHAPE, decide the rhythm. CLEAR empties the machine. No swing, no length — gravity is the sequencer.

Next: Tape →