Drum Machine & Sequencer

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📘 About Drum Machine & Sequencer

What is Drum Machine & Sequencer?

Drum Machine & Sequencer is a professional web-based drum sequencer that allows you to create, edit, and export drum patterns with ease. Whether you're a musician, producer, or educator, this tool provides an intuitive interface for crafting rhythm patterns and exporting them to standard musical notation.

Key Features

• 11 Drum Instruments: Complete drum kit including kick, snare, hi-hats, toms, cymbals, cross-stick, and ghost notes
• Flexible Pattern Length: 1-12 bars with adjustable time divisions (1/4, 1/8, triplets, 1/16)
• 6 Sound Styles: Rock, Pop, Dance, Jazz, Samples folder, and Custom (upload your own)
• Custom Sample Manager: Upload and store up to 30 custom audio samples in your browser database
• Accent Support: Three velocity levels - Off, Normal, and Accented notes
• 8 Preset Slots: Work on up to 8 different patterns simultaneously and switch between them instantly
• Groove Library: 119+ professional drum grooves across 8 musical styles ready to load
• Loop Sequencer: Automate pattern playback by chaining presets with configurable cycles
• Lock/Unlock System: Protect your patterns from accidental editing
• Drag & Drop: Reorder instruments by dragging
• Mute Control: Individual mute control for each instrument
• Bar Duplication: Copy bars to quickly build complex patterns
• Musical Notation Export: Generate professional drum staff notation ready for printing
• Dual Save System: Save individual presets or entire projects with all slots and loop configuration

How to Use

Creating a Pattern

1. Click on steps in the grid to activate notes:
   • 1st click: Normal note (blue)
   • 2nd click: Accented note (green, louder)
   • 3rd click: Off
2. Press Play (▶) to hear your pattern
3. Adjust tempo using the BPM controls (+/- buttons)

Pattern Configuration

• Project Name: Name your track
• Bars: Set the number of measures (1-12)
• Division: Choose note subdivision (1/4, 1/8, triplets, 1/16)
• Sound Style: Select from Rock, Pop, Dance, Jazz, or Samples

Preset Slots System

• 8 Independent Slots: Work on up to 8 different patterns at once
• Quick Switching: Click any preset button (1-8) to instantly switch patterns
• Smart Auto-Save: Changes are automatically saved to the current slot
• Lock Per Slot: Each slot remembers its lock state independently
• Visual Feedback: Active slot is highlighted, filled slots show pattern names

Lock/Unlock System

• 🔓 Unlock (Default): Pattern is editable, you can modify notes and settings
• 🔒 Lock: Pattern is protected from accidental changes
• Auto-Lock: Loaded files are automatically locked to prevent overwrites
• Locked Actions Blocked: Notes, bars, division, samples - all protected when locked

Loop Sequencer

• 🔁 Button or Shift+S: Open loop sequencer configuration
• Chain Presets: Program multiple presets to play in sequence
• Cycle Control: Set exact number of repetitions or infinite loop for each preset
• Initial Countdown: Configure delay before sequence starts (0-60 seconds)
• Real-Time Switching: Automatic preset switching based on actual cycles played
• Visual Countdown: Full-screen countdown display before sequence starts
• Keyboard Control: Press Shift + S to start/stop configured sequences
• Two Modes: Studio Mode (standard interface) or Concert Mode (live performance)

Concert Mode (Live Performance)

• Two Ways to Launch: Via Loop Sequencer (with programmed sequence) or standalone via Concert button (manual preset selection)
• Full-Screen Interface: Optimized for live use with large, touch-friendly controls
• Transport Controls: Separate Play/Pause and Stop buttons for easy control
• 8 Preset Buttons: Instantly switch between patterns during performance
• Live BPM Adjustment: Change tempo on the fly with +/- buttons
• Configurable Countdown: In standalone mode, set countdown delay (0-60 seconds) before playback starts
• Real-Time Info: See current bar, cycles completed, and elapsed time
• Loop Sequence Override: Manual preset selection interrupts programmed sequence
• Touch Optimized: Large buttons perfect for iPad/tablet on stage
• Exit Anytime: Return to normal interface with Exit button

Groove Library

• 📚 Button: Open the groove library with 119+ professional patterns
• 8 Musical Styles: Rock (20), R&B (16), Funk (18), Blues Triplets (18), Blues Shuffle (18), Bossa Nova (7), Jazz (20), Reggae (20)
• Preview Function: Listen to any groove before loading it (plays once through)
• Load to Slot: Click "Load" to import groove into currently selected preset slot
• Intelligent Loading: Automatically sets correct tempo, time signature, and subdivision for each groove
• Style-Specific Patterns: Each category features authentic grooves transcribed from professional drum notation
• Triplet Support: Jazz, Blues Triplets use 12-step subdivision for proper swing feel
• Reggae Variations: Four Drops, Two Drops, and One Drop styles with ghost note patterns

Advanced Features

• Reorder Instruments: Drag instrument labels to rearrange rows
• Mute/Unmute: Click the 🔊/🔇 icon on each instrument
• Duplicate Bars: Click the + button next to bar numbers to copy that bar
• Custom Samples: Select "Samples" style to load your own audio files from the samples folder

Save Options

• 💾 Save Button: Opens save options modal
• 📄 Save Current Preset: Export only the selected preset to a JSON file
• 📦 Save Full Project: Export all 8 slots + loop sequencer configuration in one file
• 📂 Load (Smart Detection): Automatically detects if loading a preset or full project
• Slot Targeting: Loaded presets go into the currently selected slot
• Project Restore: Full projects restore all slots, active slot, and loop configuration

Musical Notation

• 📄 Notation Button: Generate professional drum staff notation
• Portrait Format: Optimized for A4 printing
• Accent Notation: Accented notes shown with > symbol
• 🖨️ Print: Print the staff notation directly from the notation view

Custom Samples

You can use your own drum samples in two ways:

Method 1: Custom (Browser Database)

1. Select "Custom" from the Sound dropdown
2. For each instrument, click the dropdown and select "➕ Add New Sample..."
3. Upload your audio file (WAV, MP3, OGG - max 1MB)
4. Enter a name for your sample
5. Your samples are saved in your browser's database (max 30 samples)
6. Select uploaded samples from the dropdown for each instrument

Note: Custom samples persist in your browser even after closing the page (stored in IndexedDB). They won't be deleted unless you clear your browser data.

Method 2: Samples Folder

1. Place .wav or .mp3 files in the samples/ folder
2. Select "Samples" from the Sound dropdown
3. Choose samples for each instrument using the dropdown menus

Tips & Tricks

• Use ghost notes (snare-ghost) for subtle, realistic drum grooves
• Use accented notes (green) to add dynamics and emphasis
• Experiment with triplets for swing and jazz feels
• Click on instrument labels to preview sounds
• The pattern scrolls horizontally when you have more than 48 steps
• Use different slots for verse, chorus, bridge patterns and switch between them during composition
• Lock patterns after finalizing to prevent accidental changes while working on other parts
• Create a live performance sequence with the Loop Sequencer for hands-free playback
• Save full projects regularly to preserve all your work including loop configurations
• Use the Shift + S shortcut to quickly start/stop your programmed sequences
• Combine different sound styles across slots for variety (e.g., Rock for verse, Dance for chorus)
• Start with Groove Library: Load a professional groove as foundation, then customize it to your needs
• Preview before loading: Test grooves in the library to find the perfect feel before overwriting your current pattern
• Learn from grooves: Study loaded library patterns to understand authentic rhythm construction for each style
• Mix styles: Load different grooves across slots (Jazz in slot 1, Reggae in slot 2) for creative transitions
• Custom samples persist: Your uploaded custom samples are stored permanently in your browser's database - they'll still be there after refresh or days later
• Optimize sample files: Keep custom samples under 1MB by trimming silence and using appropriate compression
• Name samples clearly: Use descriptive names like "808 Kick" or "Vintage Snare" to easily identify your sounds
• Concert Mode for live: Use Concert Mode during performances - either with Loop Sequencer for structured sets or standalone for flexible jamming
• Practice with Concert Mode: Test your loop sequences in Concert Mode before the show to ensure smooth transitions
• Standalone mode: Click Concert button in header for quick access to full-screen performance view without programming sequences
• Manual override in concert: In loop sequence mode, tap any preset button to immediately switch and interrupt the programmed sequence

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Space: Play/Pause current pattern
• Shift + Ctrl + S: Launch Loop Sequencer directly in Concert Mode

Technical Notes

Drum Machine & Sequencer works entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. No internet connection is required after the initial load. For the best experience, use a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge).

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🎸 Concert Mode Setup

Configure Concert Mode for live performance