qmk_firmware-mirror/docs/features/sequencer.md

Sequencer

Since QMK has experimental support for MIDI, you can now turn your keyboard into a step sequencer!

::: warning This feature is highly experimental, it has only been tested on a Planck EZ so far. Also, the scope will be limited to support the drum machine use-case to start with. :::

Enable the step sequencer

Add the following line to your rules.mk:

SEQUENCER_ENABLE = yes

By default the sequencer has 16 steps, but you can override this setting in your config.h:

#define SEQUENCER_STEPS 32

Tracks

You can program up to 8 independent tracks with the step sequencer. Select the tracks you want to edit, enable or disable some steps, and start the sequence!

Resolutions

While the tempo defines the absolute speed at which the sequencer goes through the steps, the resolution defines the granularity of these steps (from coarser to finer).

Resolution	Description
SQ_RES_2	Every other beat
SQ_RES_2T	Every 1.5 beats
SQ_RES_4	Every beat
SQ_RES_4T	Three times per 2 beats
SQ_RES_8	Twice per beat
SQ_RES_8T	Three times per beat
SQ_RES_16	Four times per beat
SQ_RES_16T	Six times per beat
SQ_RES_32	Eight times per beat

Keycodes

Key	Aliases	Description
QK_SEQUENCER_ON	SQ_ON	Start the step sequencer
QK_SEQUENCER_OFF	SQ_OFF	Stop the step sequencer
QK_SEQUENCER_TOGGLE	SQ_TOGG	Toggle the step sequencer playback
QK_SEQUENCER_STEPS_ALL	SQ_SALL	Enable all the steps
QK_SEQUENCER_STEPS_CLEAR	SQ_SCLR	Disable all the steps
QK_SEQUENCER_TEMPO_DOWN	SQ_TMPD	Decrease the tempo
QK_SEQUENCER_TEMPO_UP	SQ_TMPU	Increase the tempo
QK_SEQUENCER_RESOLUTION_DOWN	SQ_RESD	Change to the slower resolution
QK_SEQUENCER_RESOLUTION_UP	SQ_RESU	Change to the faster resolution
SQ_S(n)		Toggle the step n
SQ_R(n)		Set the resolution to n
SQ_T(n)		Set n as the only active track or deactivate all

Functions

Function	Description
bool is_sequencer_on(void);	Return whether the sequencer is playing
void sequencer_toggle(void);	Toggle the step sequencer playback
void sequencer_on(void);	Start the step sequencer
void sequencer_off(void);	Stop the step sequencer
bool is_sequencer_step_on(uint8_t step);	Return whether the step is currently enabled
void sequencer_set_step(uint8_t step, bool value);	Enable or disable the step
void sequencer_set_step_on();	Enable the step
void sequencer_set_step_off();	Disable the step
void sequencer_toggle_step(uint8_t step);	Toggle the step
void sequencer_set_all_steps(bool value);	Enable or disable all the steps
void sequencer_set_all_steps_on();	Enable all the steps
void sequencer_set_all_steps_off();	Disable all the steps
uint8_t sequencer_get_tempo(void);	Return the current tempo
void sequencer_set_tempo(uint8_t tempo);	Set the tempo to tempo (between 1 and 255)
void sequencer_increase_tempo(void);	Increase the tempo
void sequencer_decrease_tempo(void);	Decrease the tempo
sequencer_resolution_t sequencer_get_resolution(void);	Return the current resolution
void sequencer_set_resolution(sequencer_resolution_t resolution);	Set the resolution to resolution
void sequencer_increase_resolution(void);	Change to the faster resolution
void sequencer_decrease_resolution(void);	Change to the slower resolution
bool is_sequencer_track_active(uint8_t track);	Return whether the track is active
void sequencer_set_track_activation(uint8_t track, bool value);	Activate or deactivate the track
void sequencer_toggle_track_activation(uint8_t track);	Toggle the track
void sequencer_activate_track(uint8_t track);	Activate the track
void sequencer_deactivate_track(uint8_t track);	Deactivate the track
void sequencer_toggle_single_active_track(uint8_t track);	Set track as the only active track or deactivate all