Oxo Steps

MIDI step sequencer / arpeggiator

Example

  • Track 1 (Channel 1): Bass line from the chord's lowest note.
  • Track 2 (Channel 2): Chord stabs from selected chord notes, or fixed notes if preferred.
  • Track 3 (Channel 3): Arpeggio using all notes
  • Track 4 (Channel 2): Random in-key notes every now and then (Note the channel : it is the same instrument playing the chord).

Change chord, everything follows

Build scenes for live flow

Build up to 8 scenes. Each scene stores a chord plus pattern changes per track, so you can try progression ideas quickly.

Capture and continue in your DAW

Record your performance as a MIDI file and continue the idea in your DAW.

Download

iPad AUv3

Download on the App Store

Or search "Oxo Steps" on your iPad App Store.

  • iPadOS 16.2 or later

Desktop VST3/AU

Free

  • macOS 12 (Monterey) or later

Feature highlights

  • Monophonic or polyphonic tracks
  • Polymetric lanes (e.g. gate over 16 steps, notes over 12, octave over 6)
  • Pattern direction: forward, backward, ping-pong, random
  • Predictable probability lane controls (e.g. last bar of 4)
  • Two CC lanes to sequence your favourite plugin knobs (CC = Continuous Controller MIDI messages)
  • Chord memory
  • Track offset in ms: sync external hardware synths to the millisecond
  • Hold or legato (holds across patterns)
  • Chord progression presets (save and recall your favourite progressions, then try them on the current sequences)
  • Export as MIDI file: record your performance, continue in your DAW
  • Performance window: everything you need to perform in one place. Switch scenes, a knob for every CC
  • MIDI Learn: control the performance window via MIDI CC
  • Undo / redo

MANUAL

Quick visual reference of the main pages and setup.

Oxo Steps sequencer: tracks, lanes, pages and patterns
SEQUENCER
Note Pool Opens the "Note pool" dialog To select MIDI in or Scene (Chords)
Current pool of notes (aka "current chord") Each key is given a number : k1, k2, k3, k4
Record as Midi File Start recording : changes scenes, etc. Stop recording, choose where to save the midi file
Presets List Open Delete
Menu Initialize preset Copy/Paste pattern Export / Import presets (share or backup) MIDI Learn Settings / Help / About
Resync On next bar, all patterns will resync to step1
Tracks Add up to 6 tracks Each track sends on its own midi channel
Save current preset
Swing MPC inspired
MIDI Channel
Undo/Redo
Duplicate Track Create a new track by copying this one
Track settings Mute / Solo Mono / Poly sequences Track Octave / Transpose Track Chord memory (aka instant techno) Output MIDI Channel Midi output offset in ms (e.g. sync external synth)
Track settings dialog Open the track settings dialog (name, color, CC A and CC B)
Sequencer lanes: GATE : ON will play this step HOLD/LEGATO: step will hold (or play legato) NOTES: which note will play (k1, k2, C, C#, etc.) OCTAVE: the step octave (from -2 to +2) LENGTH: step length in % of the step resolution PROBABILITY: 1/1 (always), 1/2 (first bar of 2), etc. CC A: sequence midi CC A (defined in track settings) CC B: sequence midi CC B (defined in track settings)
Use note from the pool or fixed note Click to toggle between : - note from the pool (k1, k2, etc.) - fixed note (C, C#, etc.)
Step duration Speed at which each step advances (1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1/1, 1/16D, 1/8D, etc.)
Last A / Last L Sets the pattern length (number of steps) Last A = Select last step for all lanes Last L = Select last step for one lane only
Pattern direction forward, backward, etc. (smart random = don't reuse steps before exhausting all)
Pattern length shortcuts Double the size (duplicating events) Divide / 2
Performance button Opens the performance dialog
Step editing shortcuts Move all notes up / down Rotate all steps left / right
Pattern pages A pattern can have 64 steps (4 pages of 16)
Clear current pattern
Patterns Each track can have 8 patterns
Pattern launch resolution Wait this resolution before changing pattern
x0x button Opens the pattern generator dialog to generate patterns in creative ways
Copy/Swap pattern Click and select a target pattern
Sequencer
Oxo Steps track settings dialog
Chord memory dialog with the +3 and +7 intervals
TRACK SETTINGS
Chord memory Inspired from vintage synths. In this example (+3, +7): When the pattern plays a C3 (60), you get 3 notes out : C3, D#3, G3 (60, 63, 67) Note: you need a polyphonic synth here (not mono)
Midi output offset Sync your external synth down to the millisecond. Example : when playing an external synth and looping its audio back into your host, you'll experience latency. Compensate for that latency by setting a negative offset here to send MIDI data earlier.
Transpose All note events are transposed (from -12 to +12 semitones)
Output Midi Channel
Poly mode In poly mode, you can enter chords in the NOTES lane
Octave All note events are transposed (from -3 to +3 octave)
Track settings dialog - Rename track - Color - Fill missing notes: e.g. NOTES lane has a "k4" note but the current chord has only 3 keys. What should we do with "k4" ? - Empty: do not play it - Circular: k4 is replaced by k1, k5 by k2, etc. - Circular +1 oct: k4 is replaced by k1 + 1oct - Circular -1 oct: k4 is replaced by k1 - 1oct CC A: The CC message sent by CC A lane CC B: The CC message sent by CC B lane
Portamento CC Advanced uses, e.g. MC-202 Kenton Midi Kit Some synths are always portamento ON or OFF, and you'd like it ON only when playing LEGATO. If your synth allows portamento to be changed by CC, you can try these settings: PORTAMENTO CC: the CC controlling the portamento ON value: 127 (or maybe 63 if portamento has 3 values) OFF value: 0 Oxo Steps will add these CC messages to every LEGATO step (ON before, OFF after)
Track settings
Oxo Steps note pool dialog
NOTE POOL
Note pool button Open/close the dialog
Current pool of notes (aka "current chord") The blue keys on the keyboard below
Note pool mode - Midi in : chords played into Oxo Steps create the pool (aka Arpeggiator mode) - Scene : chords defined in each of the 8 scenes create the pool
Keyboard overview Scroll the keyboard here with one finger
Audition button Audition the keyboard and scenes (midi out on current track)
Keyboard - Scroll with two fingers - Add/Remove notes : click on notes - Move notes : click and hold a note, move it.
Progression presets Save the current 8 scenes' chords (Save/Load your favorite chord progressions)
Keyboard helpers Move all notes by +/- 1 octave +/- 1 semitone
8 scene buttons A scene is a chord + a pattern change for each track (or no pattern change)
Clear current scene
Copy/Swap scene Click and select a target scene
Scene pattern change You can program pattern changes with a scene (or not : leave unselected)
Auto resync When changing scene, all patterns will resync to step1
Scene launch resolution Wait this resolution before changing scene
Note pool
Oxo Steps performance dialog
PERFORMANCE
Pin button Active : keep the dialog open Inactive : dialog closes when you release the performance button
Scene launch resolution Wait this resolution before changing scene
8 Scene buttons Switch scene
CC knobs Control the 2 CCs A & B for each track (Defined in the track settings dialog)
Mute/Solo for each track
Performance button Open/close the performance dialog
Performance
Oxo Steps pattern generator: 303 dialog
PATTERN GENERATOR
Pattern Generator : 303 The TB-303 sequencer is known for its happy accidents mainly due to the PITCH data vs. TIME data being decoupled. This dialog allows you to generate patterns using this method. No instructions, you're on your own like 303 owners.
Important The synth you're playing here is essential : - Set it to mono - Enable legato (aka portamento, auto, glide, slide, etc.) - Do something on velocity (e.g. cutoff envelope) For example, Zeeon gives great results
x0x button Opens the pattern generator dialog
Pattern generator
Oxo Steps in MIDI Learn mode
MIDI LEARN
EXIT MIDI LEARN Or use the menu again
ENTER MIDI LEARN Choose MIDI Learn from the menu
A blue border shows assignable controls. Click one to select, move your controller. Assignable controls: - The 8 scene buttons - All knobs - All MUTE/SOLO
Assigned control shows the CC number In this image : Track 1 Knob A = CC 1 Track 1 Knob B = CC 2 Double-click on controls to unassign
A brighter blue border shows the currently selected control (in this image Track 1 Knob B)
MIDI Learn
Host setup: MIDI channels, MIDI CCs and the 303 slide in Zeeon
HOST SETUP
MIDI Channels 1. In your host, choose the MIDI IN settings for your instrument 2. Select "Oxo Steps" as a source 3. Filter a MIDI channel (without filter, your instrument will receive all Oxo Steps tracks)
MIDI CCs (Continuous Controllers) - In your instrument, find or set 2 CCs on parameters you want to sequence (e.g. Cutoff and Resonance) - In Oxo Steps, define the 2 CCs (CC A and CC B) in each track settings dialog.
The 303 slide (aka glide, legato, portamento, etc.) - In your instrument, enable MONO mode - In your instrument, enable "legato" (aka portamento, glide, slide, auto) and increase the portamento time - In Oxo Steps, add a "legato" step in the HOLD/LEGATO lane
Host setup