Pattern Sequencer

Pattern Sequencer

The Pattern Sequencer chains patterns that got created in the Pattern Editor; It defines a play order of patterns to build a song.

Overview

The sequencer refers to patterns via its number, nothing else. So if you start up Renoise you will see exactly one sequence slot in with a “0” in it. This means only pattern “0” is played back in your song. If you want to play the same pattern again, you simply add another sequence with pattern number “0”. This will repeat the same pattern.

The rectangle around the pattern means that this is the one that you're currently editing in the Pattern Editor. Left to it is a small play button which allows you to start playing from a specific position in the sequence. With the arrows right to it, you can change the pattern number, define which pattern is played at this position. You can also double click into the slot and type in the patterns number.

On the right are some often used options. From top to bottom: Insert a new empty pattern, clone and insert the current pattern, remove a slot from the sequence and add one (which simply repeats the current pattern).

Patterns can also be named, to get a better overview. This is done by dragging the right most divider line in the sequencer:

Creating/Cloning/Adding/Removing Patterns

File:Sato lesson-create new pattern.png	Create a new empty pattern In the left image, clicking the circled button creates an empty pattern, labeled #1. This new empty pattern is created below pattern #0.
File:Sato lesson-clone pattern.png	Clone the current pattern Clicking the Clone Pattern button will create a new pattern labeled #1 which duplicates the same data from pattern #0. Cloning is the same as copying & pasting all contents from pattern #0 to a new pattern #1. This button is a great time saver.
File:Sato lesson-insert pattern.png	Insert a new instance of the selected pattern Clicking the circled [+] button will insert a new instance of pattern #0. Additionally, the [-] button Removes the current pattern. If you edit pattern #0, all instances of pattern #0 will be changed.

Decoupled Playback

You can detach the current playback position from the edit position. This lets you edit a pattern while other patterns are playing:

To decouple the sequencer, simply turn OFF the “Pattern Follow” option (located in the Transport Panel), which will then decouple the pattern editor & sequencer. This way you never have to stop the song and can, while its playing edit different parts of it.

Triggering Patterns

Patterns can be “scheduled” for playback via the leftmost column in the Pattern Sequencer.

Without stopping playback you can trigger new sequences in the song “in real time.” This lets you freely change the order of playback to sketch and improvise new ideas. Look for this button:

• when the song is playing a click with the left mouse button will move on to the clicked position as soon as the currently playing pattern finished
• clicking a play button with the right mouse button will immediately jump to and play the pattern without restarting it
• double-clicking a play button will immediately jump to and play the pattern, but will restart it, play it from the beginning
• holding down SHIFT while clicking on a play button allows you to specify more than one pattern for playback, so you can setup a bunch or patterns at once for playback (indicated as Next On Playlist in the image above)

Looping Patterns

If you want a pattern, or a sequence of patterns, to loop in song-play mode, click and drag the mouse across the left-most sequence tags (see animation below). To remove a loop, click on a single loop slot twice.

Working With Selections

Clicking on the sequence slots itself allows you to select them. This way you can also select more than one pattern in the sequence. You can also use the SHIFT modifier like in other places in Renoise to create a selection over multiple patterns with two clicks.

Drag and Drop

Selections can then be copied, pasted, moved or cloned. And you can also drag and drop them to quickly reorder, copy or clone multiple patterns:

• Drag and Drop without any modifier will move selected patterns to a new position
• Holding down CONTROL/COMMAND will create a copy of the selected patterns
• Holding down CONTROL/COMMAND + SHIFT will insert clones of the selected patterns

Right clicking anywhere in the sequence slots will also give you an overview of available shortcuts and more operations that can be applied to selections:

Sequencer Shortcuts in the Pattern Editor

While editing patterns in the Pattern Editor, you can also quickly navigate and modify the sequence, so you don't have to touch the mouse at all while editing:

Here are some useful sequence related shortcuts that can be used in the Pattern Editor:

• CONTROL/COMMAND + Arrow Up/Down: select the next/previous pattern in the sequencer.
• CONTROL/COMMAND + Arrow Left/Right: change pattern that is currently edited in the sequencer.
• CONTROL/COMMAND + Insert Key: inserts a new pattern into the sequence.
• CONTROL/COMMAND + Delete Key: deletes the current pattern from the sequence.
• CONTROL/COMMAND + Space: schedules the currently edited pattern for playback. This only works with decoupled playback enabled.
• CONTROL/COMMAND + SHIFT + Space: immediately plays the currently edited pattern. This also only works with decoupled playback enabled.