Cheat sheet
Button Combos
Menus
Sequence menu
Note menu
Gate menu
Play menu
Settings menu
Non-menu items
Tools
Byte to digit

Grandbot Arp Guide

Grandbot is a generative sequencer. This means you don't tell Grandbot what to play, but rather how Grandbot should decide what to play. For the most part, this is done by setting chance percentages for different options.

For a technical overview of the Arp, check out this blog post.

Cheat sheet

Description	MIDI CC	Display	Button
» SEqU
Sequence length	21	SL
Slip chance	89	SC
Collapse notes	19	Co
» notE
Rest chance	29	rE
One octave up chance	22	o-
One octave down chance	23	o-
Two octaves up chance	24	o=
Two octaves down chance	25	o=
Fifth up chance	85	Ft
Random transposition chance	86	rn
» GAtE
Base note length	20	nL
Base gate length	104	GL
Ratchet (double note) chance	28	rA
Triplet (triple note) chance	28	tr
Legato/slide chance	31	LE
Double length chance	26	dL
Half length chance	27	HL
Note run chance	30	rU
Random length chance	87	rL
Random gate length chance	105	rG
» PLAy
Swing (50-67%)	115	SG
Transpose	103	t
Clock: external or internal	112	CL
BPM for internal clock (73-200)	113	b
Latch	90	LA
Combine same note	109	Cn
Note sort	114	So
Velocity high	107	vH
Velocity low	108	vL
» SEtt
Select MIDI channel in	14	In
Select MIDI channel out	15	ot
Toggle internal speaker for arp	119	SP
» Non-menu items
Enter menu			FORWARD + BACKWARD
Queue sequence generation	118		UP
Randomize sequence params	9		SHIFT + UP
Reset sequence params	102		SHIFT + RIGHT
Queue sequence slip	116		DOWN
Toggle drift (endless slip)	3		SHIFT + DOWN
Play (internal clock)			FORWARD
Stop (internal clock)			BACKWARD
Panic / all notes off	117	AH	SHIFT + LEFT

Button Combos

With the optional control board, six buttons are added for controlling the Arp settings.

Buttons:

˄: UP
˅: DOWN
˃: RIGHT
˂: LEFT
˃˃: FORWARD (SHIFT)
˂˂: BACKWARD

When outside the menu:

UP: queue sequence generation
SHIFT + UP: randomize sequence settings
DOWN: queue slip
SHIFT + DOWN: enable drift (endless slip)
LEFT: play with Grandbot (not related to the Arp)
SHIFT + LEFT: panic
SHIFT + RIGHT: reset sequence settings to default
FORWARD: play (when using internal clock)
BACKWARD: stop (when using internal clock)
SHIFT + BACKWARD: enter menu

When inside the menu:

UP: increment current setting
SHIFT + UP: increment current setting (fast)
DOWN: decrement current setting
SHIFT + DOWN: decrement current setting (fast)
LEFT: select current setting
RIGHT: select current setting
FORWARD: enter sub-menu
BACKWARD: exit sub-menu
SHIFT + BACKWARD: exit menu

Menus

When using the optional Grandbot controller board, there are a few sub-menus:

Sequence (SEqU): sequence-wide settings for generating/slipping a sequence
Note (notE): settings for the pitches of individual steps
Gate (GAtE): settings for the lengths/gates of individual steps
Play (PLAy): settings for how to play the current sequence
Settings (SEtt): these are options that affect different things immediately

The Sequence, Note, and Gate settings affect how to generate a sequence. The Play and Settings settings affect how things work once a sequence is playing.

To enter or exit the menu press FORWARD and BACKWARD at the same time.

Sequence menu

Tip

These only affect newly generated sequences. You won't hear a difference until generating a new sequence.

Warning

Pretty much all of these are only affected if the MIDI CC happens on the selected MIDI in channel (by default Grandbot listens to all channels). However CC 14 (MIDI in selector) and CC 117 (Panic) listen for changes on all channels all the time.

SL: Sequence length

Submenu: Sequence
Display: SL
MIDI CC: 21
Options: Random (rA), 1-8 bars
Default: Random

The length of the full sequence.

When set to random, a different Sequence length is picked (between 1-8) each time a new sequence is generated.

SC: Slip chance

Submenu: Sequence
Display: SC
MIDI CC: 89
Range: 0-99%
Default: 7%

Slip subtly transforms a sequence by moving around notes. It's a way of getting variations without fully regenerating a sequence.

Slip chance is the likelihood that a step is affected when a sequence is being transformed by slip.

Co: Collapse notes

Submenu: Sequence
Display: Co
MIDI CC: 19
Options: None (no), start (St), end (En), center rests (Cr), center notes (Cn), split start (SS), split end (SE)
Default: None

When rests are present in a new sequence, groups rests together:

None (no): no collapse
Start (St): move all notes to the beginning of the sequence and all rests to the end
Start (En): move all notes to the end of the sequence and all rests to the beginning
Center rests (Cr): moves all rests to the center of the sequence
Center notes (Cn): moves all notes to the center of the sequence
Split start (SS): notes play at the beginning of each sequence half
Split end (SE): notes play at the end of each sequence half

Note menu

Tip

These only affect newly generated sequences. You won't hear a difference until generating a new sequence.

Warning

Pretty much all of these are only affected if the MIDI CC happens on the selected MIDI in channel (by default Grandbot listens to all channels). However CC 14 (MIDI in selector) and CC 117 (Panic) listen for changes on all channels all the time.

rE: Rest chance

Submenu: Note
Display: rE
MIDI CC: 29
Range: 0-99%
Default: 3%

The percent chance that a step will be a rest (no note played).

Warning

When latch is enabled, notes are held through all rests.

o-: One octave up chance

Submenu: Note
Display: o-
MIDI CC: 22
Range: 0-99%
Default: 7%

The percent chance that a step will be transposed one octave up.

o-: One octave down chance

Submenu: Note
Display: o-
MIDI CC: 23
Range: 0-99%
Default: 7%

The percent chance that a step will be transposed one octave down.

o=: Two octave up chance

Submenu: Note
Display: o=
MIDI CC: 24
Range: 0-99%
Default: 3%

The percent chance that a step will be transposed two octaves up.

o=: Two octave down chance

Submenu: Note
Display: o=
MIDI CC: 25
Range: 0-99%
Default: 3%

The percent chance that a step will be transposed two octaves down.

Ft: Fifth up chance

Submenu: Note
Display: Ft
MIDI CC: 85
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

The percent chance that a step will be transposed one fifth (7 semitones) up.

rn: Random transposition chance

Submenu: Note
Display: rn
MIDI CC: 86
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

The percent chance that a step will be transposed randomly between -11 and +11 semitones.

Gate menu

Tip

These only affect newly generated sequences. You won't hear a difference until generating a new sequence.

Warning

Pretty much all of these are only affected if the MIDI CC happens on the selected MIDI in channel (by default Grandbot listens to all channels). However CC 14 (MIDI in selector) and CC 117 (Panic) listen for changes on all channels all the time.

nL: Base note length

Submenu: Gate
Display: nL
MIDI CC: 20
Options: Random (rA), 16th (16), 8th ( 8), quarter ( 4), half (HA), whole (1-), double whole (2-)
Default: Random

The starting note length for each step in the sequence. This can be modified by different settings like double length chance, half length chance, and ratchet chance.

When set to random, a different base length is picked (between 16th, 8th, and quarter) each time a new sequence is generated.

GL: Base gate length

Submenu: Gate
Display: GL
MIDI CC: 104
Options: Random (rA), 33%, 66%, full (Fu)
Default: Full

How long the note is held during the full note length.

Full holds the note for the full note length. 66% and 33% hold it for a percent of the full note length. Random picks between one of the other three options.

Warning

When latch is enabled, notes are held through full note length.

Warning

Legato notes are held through the following note regardless of their gate.

rA: Ratchet chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: rA
MIDI CC: 28
Range: 0-99%
Default: 7%

The percent chance that a step will be split into a ratchet. A ratchet is a note played twice, each half the length as the base note length. This transforms one step into two.

tr: Triplet chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: tr
MIDI CC: 106
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

The percent chance that a step will be a triplet. A triplet is a quarter note split into three notes. This transforms one step into three.

LE: Legato / slide chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: LE
MIDI CC: 31
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

Legato triggers 303 style slides in supported synths by overlapping the current note with the previous note. Example synth settings:

Bass Station II: set triggering to "Autoglide" and increase the "Glide Time"
Hydrasynth: select a mono/unison setting in "Polyphony", turn "Glide" on, turn "Glide Legato" on, and increase "Glide Time"

dL: Double length chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: dL
MIDI CC: 26
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

The percent chance that a step will be twice the length as the base note length.

HL: Half length chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: HL
MIDI CC: 27
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

The percent chance that a step will be half the length as the base note length.

rU: Note run chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: rU
MIDI CC: 30
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

The percent chance that a step will be a run. A run is a quick succession of notes which, unlike ratchets, can be different. This transforms one step into several steps.

rL: Random length chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: rL
MIDI CC: 87
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

The percent chance that a step will have a random length (16th, 8th, or quarter length).

rG: Random gate length chance

Submenu: Gate
Display: rG
MIDI CC: 105
Range: 0-99%
Default: 0%

For each step, the chance that step will get a random gate length.

Play menu

Warning

Pretty much all of these are only affected if the MIDI CC happens on the selected MIDI in channel (by default Grandbot listens to all channels). However CC 14 (MIDI in selector) and CC 117 (Panic) listen for changes on all channels all the time.

SG: Swing

Submenu: Play
Display: SG
MIDI CC: 115
Range: 50-67%
Default: 50% (no swing)

Swing makes every other 16th note start later to create a more natural sounding rhythm. 50-67% is the percent distance a 16th note is moved between its surrounding notes.

t: Transpose

Submenu: Play
Display: t
MIDI CC: 103
Range: -24 to +24
Default: 0

Transposes outgoing notes by a fixed number of semitones. Good for changing base octave or key changes.

CL: Clock source

Submenu: Play
Display: CL
MIDI CC: 112
Options: External (Et) - Internal (In)
Default: External

To be able to play the sequence, there needs to be a clock source. When set to external, Grandbot will listen to its MIDI in for a clock source; this can come from a DAW or an external device like a Keystep. When set to internal, the BPM can be set in settings and the sequence can be started / stopped with the FORWARD / BACKWARD buttons respectively.

b: BPM

Submenu: Play
Display: b
MIDI CC: 113
Range: 73-200
Default: 120

The beats per minute (BPM) of the sequence, or how fast the sequence is played.

Warning

Only affects anything when clock source is set to internal.

LA: Latch

Submenu: Play
Display: LA
MIDI CC: 90
Options: Off - On
Default: Off

When latch is enabled, current notes are held when a rest is encountered.

Cn: Combine same note

Submenu: Play
Display: Cn
MIDI CC: 109
Options: Off - On
Default: Off

During sequence playback, combine steps when they're for the same note (ie don't repeat notes).

so: Note sort

Submenu: Play
Display: So
MIDI CC: 114
Options: Off - On
Default: Off

Whether incoming notes are sorted by pitch; it leads to more predictable sequences when playing chords, but the sequences are less exciting due to less variation.

vH: Velocity high

Submenu: Play
Display: vH
MIDI CC: 107
Range: 0-99%
Default: 86%

Highest possible velocity (0-99% maps to 1-127).

Warning

If velocity high is lower than velocity low, the values will be swapped

vL: Velocity low

Submenu: Play
Display: vL
MIDI CC: 108
Range: 0-99%
Default: 70%

Lowest possible velocity (0-99% maps to 1-127).

Warning

If velocity high is lower than velocity low, the values will be swapped

Settings menu

Warning

Pretty much all of these are only affected if the MIDI CC happens on the selected MIDI in channel (by default Grandbot listens to all channels). However CC 14 (MIDI in selector) and CC 117 (Panic) listen for changes on all channels all the time.

In: Select MIDI channel in

Submenu: Settings
Display: In
MIDI CC: 14
Options: All (AL), 1-16
Default: All

What MIDI channel to listen to for incoming MIDI notes and CC messages. When set to "All", Grandbot will respond to notes and CC on all channels.

Warning

Grandbot listens to MIDI CC 14 on all channels no matter what MIDI channel in is set to.

ot: Select MIDI channel out

Submenu: Settings
Display: ot
MIDI CC: 15
Options: All (AL), 1-16
Default: All

What MIDI channel to send notes to. When set to "All", Grandbot will send notes to channel 1 (it's weird and needs to be changed).

SP: Toggle internal speaker

Submenu: Settings
Display: SP
MIDI CC: 119
Options: Off - On
Default: Off

Whether or not the Arp sequence should play through Grandbot's internal speaker.

Non-menu items

Queue sequence generation

MIDI CC: 118
Button: UP

When the sequence is not running, it generates a new sequence. When the sequence is running, it generates a new sequence at the end of the current sequence. It generates the sequence based on the current settings.

Tip