McSequencer - Step Sequencer for REAPER

[Arthur McArthur]

Here is a step sequencer for REAPER I have been working on for the past few months.
It uses MIDI items and RS5K as well as pattern items to achieve a pattern-based workflow.
Drag one or more sounds onto the step sequencer window to add them. Left-click drag on the steps inserts notes. Right-click drag deletes them.

Version 1.1:
Now available in ReaPack! Import my repo here: https://github.com/Arthur-McArthur/R...ster/index.xml
Changelog:

-- Visual overhaul: I moved over to using .png images instead of native ImGui widgets. This results in massive CPU performance increases at the expense of easy themeability and a small GPU hit.
-- Most of the colors in the theme editor no longer will change the colors in the script, themes will now need to be edited via the provided Affinity Designer and knobman files.
-- There are a few remaining native widgets which will be eventually converted over. Support for higher resolutions will be added as well.
-- Added waveform display, click on it (or press q) to preview the selected sound(s)
-- Vertical spacing between sequencer rows has been reduced to allow for more consistent input. Mouse drags will now always affect sequencer buttons
-- Shift-arrow keys up and down will select multiple tracks
-- Shifted notes will now wrap around to the start of the item
-- Fixed off-grid notes not being editable in velocity sliders with left-click drag
-- Mouse cursor will be hidden when dragging over a knob and will reappear at the drag start location when the mouse is released (thanks BirdBird!)
-- Increased smoothness of left-click drag in velocity sliders
-- Escape key will now close the script
-- Fixed bug with non-pattern items being truncated when opening McSequencer
-- Fixed bug with using arrow keys up and down to select tracks
-- Fixed bug with using alt-arrow keys up and down to reorder tracks. it works best within a single parent folder. tracks will now reorder while mainting their depth



You select one or more tracks and copy and paste the data between them. The play position can be changed by clicking on the steps in the Patterns SEQ row. Control clicking it sets the loop points to the current pattern.

Velocity sliders: left click drag to set, right-click drag to draw linear ramps. Use mousewheel while right-click dragging to create curves.

Many thanks go to cfillon for ReaImGui and the 60fps ReaScript mod

This is a free script, I'm going to keep building out this version into a fully featured basic step sequencer. I will eventually release a paid version with more advanced features. In the meantime, if you would like to support development, you can do so at https://ko-fi.com/arthurmcarthur

[Arthur McArthur]

reserved

[Arthur McArthur]

reserved2

[dahya]

Omg Arthur, that looks amazing, thanks so much for sharing !!

[strachupl]

wow
This looks awesome!

[User41]

Np

[Suzuki]

Yaaaaaay! Finally!!!!! Congratulations on the release!!

[Wallaby]

I would like to try out but how to instal ?
I moved one folder into Effects and the other into user-plugins.
Reaper doesn't show new plugin.
and there is a lot rest from the zip folder,
is this even supposed to work on mac ?

[Suzuki]

Originally Posted by User41

I put the dll file in user plugins but it won't show up in my js fx list.

Do I also need to do something with the .lua file?

Thank you for this btw!

Originally Posted by Wallaby

I would like to try out but how to instal ?
I moved one folder into Effects and the other into user-plugins.
Reaper doesn't show new plugin.
and there is a lot rest from the zip folder,
is this even supposed to work on mac ?

Load ArthurMcArthur_McSequencer.lua from action list and run it.


EDIT:
It returns error.

...-McArthur\McSequencer 1.0\ArthurMcArthur_McSequencer.lua:4263: bad argument #3 to 'ImGui_PushStyleColor' (number expected, got table)

[Vagelis]

Originally Posted by Suzuki

EDIT:
It returns error.

...-McArthur\McSequencer 1.0\ArthurMcArthur_McSequencer.lua:4263: bad argument #3 to 'ImGui_PushStyleColor' (number expected, got table)

Yes and after i get this:


But I'm super excited to try it, looks sooo good!

[Wallaby]

Only this error :
...Downloads/McSequencer 1.0/ArthurMcArthur_McSequencer.lua:4263: bad argument #3 to 'ImGui_PushStyleColor' (number expected, got table)

[Arthur McArthur]

Sorry for the error, try the new version in the first post.

Installation instructions added there as well.

[Uchmania]

lovely script. what theme are you using?

[Wallaby]

Still error :
...wnloads/McSequencer 1.0.1/ArthurMcArthur_McSequencer.lua:4263: bad argument #3 to 'ImGui_PushStyleColor' (number expected, got table)

added instructions not found

The Reaper theme in use is iLogic 2

[Arthur McArthur]

Instructions are at the bottom of the first post in this thread. I can't reproduce the error on Windows, I'll check on Mac when I get a minute.

Thanks Uchmania, the theme is a custom one I've been making for use with the step sequencer (still WIP.)

[Vagelis]

Nice script indeed thank you!
When switching patterns, could it highlight the selected pattern?

[X-Raym]

oh nice ! Thx for sharing !



Such script would definitly benefit from a reapack release, as the updates can be regular :P


Let us know if you need help set up a repo.


Cheers !

[Arthur McArthur]

Originally Posted by Vagelis

Nice script indeed thank you!
When switching patterns, could it highlight the selected pattern?

Thanks Vagelis, do you mean select the Pattern Item in arrange view? What should it do if there are more than one instance of the same pattern item? What's the use case for this?

[Arthur McArthur]

Originally Posted by X-Raym

oh nice ! Thx for sharing !



Such script would definitly benefit from a reapack release, as the updates can be regular :P


Let us know if you need help set up a repo.


Cheers !

Much appreciated X-Raym, I'll message on Discord to ask some reapack related questions.

[Arthur McArthur]

Originally Posted by Wallaby

Still error :
...wnloads/McSequencer 1.0.1/ArthurMcArthur_McSequencer.lua:4263: bad argument #3 to 'ImGui_PushStyleColor' (number expected, got table)

added instructions not found

The Reaper theme in use is iLogic 2

Tested on Mac now, should be working. Updated zip in the first post. Can you give it a try and let me know?

[User41]

Updated file and instructions works great. Thank you. Easiest REAPER sequencer I've ever used (sorry Sower).

[TonE]

Thanks for sharing friend. Will test it hopefully soon.

[strachupl]

I've play with it for 30 minutes. Fun and stable. I thought there could be option to clone existing pattern.

[Vagelis]

Originally Posted by Arthur McArthur

Thanks Vagelis, do you mean select the Pattern Item in arrange view? What should it do if there are more than one instance of the same pattern item? What's the use case for this?

Hi Arthur I meant to select or move the edit cursor to the pattern item In Pattern Seqs track. I think this would be useful to know at which part of the timeline we're drawing our sequences when switching between them. Thought I didn't know there can be multiple instances of patterns. What's this use case?

Also, is it possible to draw multiple sequences on the same item instead of another track? Like to choose the notes we want to draw on the same item.

Another thing that I would like to see in the future as an option but it's a bit different approach, is to create the patterns internally in the sequencer and listen to them without adding to the arrange view, similar to FL. then it would be great to drag n drop the patterns on the arrange where we want to.
EDIT: But I guess this could be somehow possible with subprojects?

Keep up the good work!

[TonE]

I like looping a region where I want to work (or fill something), then all going there. No need for later deciding where to place something. I am already there.

[AndreiMir]

Originally Posted by Arthur McArthur

Tested on Mac now, should be working. Updated zip in the first post. Can you give it a try and let me know?

Is it possible to make ReaSamplOmatic appear in the container and not in the folder, so as not to clog the project with tracks?

[J Reverb]

Firstly thank you for this awesome script Loads of fun !
Qq. What is the 60fps mod doing ? Is that just a graphics improvement or is that processing the script faster as a whole ? Just curious as to why this has been implemented.
Many thanks and happy holidays.
J.

[Arthur McArthur]

Originally Posted by Vagelis

Hi Arthur I meant to select or move the edit cursor to the pattern item In Pattern Seqs track. I think this would be useful to know at which part of the timeline we're drawing our sequences when switching between them. Thought I didn't know there can be multiple instances of patterns. What's this use case?

You can copy and duplicate patterns in the arrange view to have them occur multiple times. Currently you can click on the blocks on the Patterns SEQ row to move the edit cursor to that position within the pattern item. Control click sets the loop to the first instance of the whole pattern. Pressing "1" will set the edit cursor to the start of the loop.

Originally Posted by Vagelis

Also, is it possible to draw multiple sequences on the same item instead of another track? Like to choose the notes we want to draw on the same item.

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

Originally Posted by J Reverb

Firstly thank you for this awesome script Loads of fun !
Qq. What is the 60fps mod doing ? Is that just a graphics improvement or is that processing the script faster as a whole ? Just curious as to why this has been implemented.
Many thanks and happy holidays.
J.

Thanks J, happy holidays to you as well. The 60fps mod doubles the defer rate of all ReaScripts, increasing the FPS up to 60 (for some reason some people get even higher). It could technically result in errors but myself and many others keep it in our UserPlugins all the time with no issues.

[J Reverb]

The 60fps mod doubles the defer rate of all ReaScripts, increasing the FPS up to 60 (for some reason some people get even higher). It could technically result in errors but myself and many others keep it in our UserPlugins all the time with no issues.

Thanks for explaining that is really good news !

I guess this improves performance and timing dramatically when working with midi/getparam. Glad I stumbled on this looking forward to seeing how this project develops. I mean it's fantastic already !
Best,
J.

[X-Raym]

@J Reverb
This extension is I think based on what made by cfillion (not credited).



https://forums.cockos.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=61


It is also avalaible on other platform on cfillion server (this pack has just the dll).



I'm not sure this pack this into this extension is optimum, as this as a way broader consequence than just this script.

[todd_r]

Originally Posted by Arthur McArthur

Here is a step sequencer for REAPER I have been working on for the past few months...

This looks amazing! Going to give it a try asap

Originally Posted by X-Raym

@J Reverb
This extension is I think based on what made by cfillion (not credited).

Just for clarity, I believe you mean just the 60fps extension and not McSequencer itself

[vidalsh]

Super sequencer. That´s only will needs one installer/uninstaller from reapack

[X-Raym]

@todd_r
McSequencer is not an extension but a script, so yes, I am was referring to the reaper60fps dll packed into the archive. This is an extension.

[Arthur McArthur]

1.0.3 released:

-added "Duplicate all to new pattern" and "Duplicate selected to new pattern", access it by right clicking the New Pattern button
-right click the pattern length slider to set it to commonly used lengths
-right click the pattern select slider to show a menu with all of the patterns
-added a thank you note to cfillon for the 60fps ReaScript extension dll.

[fmL]

some nice new scripts being worked on to end the year!

[gxray]

Holy smokes, this rocks!

[Cosmic]

This looks pretty exciting I look forward to trying it out!

Great work man,thanks!

[manthosdm]

This is a Sower of the next level Thanks so much for the script! And the implementation of the rs5k is phenomenal!

Any chance to add rolls to the steps? Would help so much for genres like trap and drill!

Have a great year Arthur

[PitchSlap]

Originally Posted by X-Raym

oh nice ! Thx for sharing !
Such script would definitly benefit from a reapack release, as the updates can be regular :P
Let us know if you need help set up a repo.
Cheers !

Agreed. Looks great!
I'll probably hold off for a ReaPack release so I don't have to follow the thread closely and manually update.

A few thoughts/ideas:
I found it hard to follow such long LICEcaps so apologies if some of this can already be done (Tip: open image in new tab, open video in new tab to have playback/speed controls.)

-Option to randomize the steps on a track or create a full random pattern would be super useful, especially if we could select a step range to randomize. That way if you can keep parts you like and iteratively randomize parts you don't. Perhaps a modifier key could be used for creating [slight] variations of the existing steps/pattern.

-Shift steps +/- 1. This keeps the same steps, just offsets the starting point. Step 1 becomes 2, the final step becomes step 1...

-An option to copy the existing pattern when changing the step length. For example, if a 16 step pattern is changed to 32 steps the first 16 steps would be duplicated in the last 16 rather than creating empty steps.

-Saving/loading presets (kit only or kit + patterns.) I guess we could use Track Templates w/ items, but built-in would be far more user-friendly. One way might be a McSequencer Track Templates sub-folder the script can read/write to.

-It's really cool how the sequencer populates items on the timeline, but what about the opposite?
Say you have an existing MIDI drum loop, you could click "Import item from arrange" which would add a new sequencer track for each pitch and snap the notes to the nearest step value. If we saved "kits" mapped to GM endless existing MIDI can become a starting point.

-If the Time Resolution setting doesn't already do this, being able to multiply/divide the number of steps in a pattern so each represents a larger/smaller note value (16th notes become 32nd etc.) would be helpful.
The best step-sequencers I know would always double the tempo to have twice as many steps which allowing for much more unique and intricate patterns.
Another way to do it is a tempo setting that is synced to the project by default, but can be set independently. Aside from making half-time/double-time patterns easy, we could play around with uneven multiples (i.e. 100bpm project, 150bpm sequencer.)

Anyway, thanks for the script, just thought I'd throw a few ideas out there in case any of them resonate...

[User41]

Originally Posted by PitchSlap

A few thoughts/ideas:

-Option to randomize the steps on a track or create a full random pattern would be super useful, especially if we could select a step range to randomize. That way if you can keep parts you like and iteratively randomize parts you don't. Perhaps a modifier key could be used for creating [slight] variations of the existing steps/pattern.

+1

This would be a game changer for my workflow.