PolyBud

What it does

An AUv3 MIDI sequencer that holds several tracks in one instance. Each note track has separate lanes for note, velocity, gate, ratchet, probability and randomisation, and each lane can be a different length, which is where the polyrhythms come from. Tracks run at their own rate, send on their own MIDI channel, and lock to a chosen key and scale. CC tracks sit alongside them to sequence any mapped parameter.

In the demo

Jade builds up in AUM, routing three tracks to KQ Sempai, Hammerhead and a piano on separate channels before stacking odd step lengths and ratchets against each other. She then sequences DigiStix drums by note in chromatic mode, modulates a Mela 3 filter from a CC track, and has one PolyBud flip another’s patterns over CC10.

Worth knowing

It sends MIDI only, so it needs a host and instruments around it. Anyone after a straight piano roll for fixed parts will find the per-lane lengths fight that.