# Any guide to Vangelis' step sequencer?

**URL:** <https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934>\
**Category:** Using Zynthian\
**Tags:** sequnecer, vangelis\
**Created:** [March 17, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934 "2026-03-17T20:16:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 14\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3ab097/32.png) [@laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/laban77)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/1 "2026-03-17T20:16:55Z")

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I’ve had my Zynthian now for a while but I still feel like a beginner. Recently I got interested in trying the step sequencer, and for fun I installed Vangelis to have a look.

Now, as a beginner, is there any description of the step sequencer in Vangelis already or do I better crawl back to Oram and study the wiki? Perhaps the wiki description of Oram’s step sequencer is still mostly relevant for Vangelis?

Reality check. Is the following still/already possible in Vangelis?

- Create a few drum patterns with one of the internal drum synths.
- Record audio into a few other patterns (are there audio patterns with no “notes”?).
- Copy, paste, erase whole patterns.
- Arrange the patterns into a song.

I tried to do these things by intuition and failed miserably (only managed to do the first one). Guess I need to study first. Please, point me in the right direction to learn these things.

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**Author:** ![core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/core.east/32/13283_2.png) [@core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/core.east)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/2 "2026-03-17T21:30:23Z")

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Hi Laban

Here are some kind of answers:

Create a few drum patterns with one of the internal drum synths.

- still possible

Record audio into a few other patterns (are there audio patterns with no “notes”?).

- no, there was not before, and is not yet. But there are slots in the launcher where you can play wav. And there will be recording there at some point it looks like. To have wav audio, you need to make a “clip launcher” chain from the “insert new chain” option, then you can access settings for the clip through the Launcher view.

Copy, paste, erase whole patterns.

- yes, you can copy a whole pattern from one launcher slot / pad to another. And you can copy/paste and adjust part of a sequence pattern but this functionality only works inside that sequence pattern (for now). It is described in [\* this thread](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/zynbleton-vangelis-read-me/12619/415)!

Arrange the patterns into a song.

- Yes to an extent. You can decide diverse follow actions to each scene in the launcher. (a scene is a row of pad/launchers. This is also described [\* this thread](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/zynbleton-vangelis-read-me/12619/415), and surely is under development.

Question 2-4: There is a lot of development going on in these areas. It has been a thrill to follow and play around with. It is very promising, but it is not finished. But i would surely get on the train if i were you. It is a very enjoyable ride full of learning, and a glorious example of open source development ( i think, though i’m not really experienced in that matter)

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**Author:** ![tunagenes](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/tunagenes/32/7279_2.png) [@tunagenes](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/tunagenes)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/3 "2026-03-17T22:00:27Z")

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Hi @laban77 - Although not specifically about the sequencer you might find this “brief user guide” from @riban helpful:

> [@Zynbleton Vangelis - READ ME](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/zynbleton-vangelis-read-me/12619/25):
>
> A brief user guide. In mixer view, OPT button or bold SELECT or click topbar will show the chain manager. Mixbus (effects returns) have blue (bottom) legend strip. Main mixbus has dark red. Cursor buttons and encoders 3 & 4 navigate the selection cursor. Select or click a box to show its menu / function. Bold select or bold click a processor to move it. (Also an option in its context menu.) Processors can be moved up/down the chain to be in series or parallel and pre/post fader. Th…

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**Author:** ![laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3ab097/32.png) [@laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/laban77)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:12am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/4 "2026-03-19T11:12:35Z")

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Ok. Well, it seems like it is possible to record audio into patterns somehow.

I added an audio chain, and in the sequencer view it shows up as a column of patterns. I somehow managed to trigger the selected pattern to record audio, and it recorded my external audio input (great!). It also recorded the internal sounds (the drum loop from the other channel - not great) and quickly got out of control.

Anyway, that _Vangelis - Read Me_ is a very very long thread to read. I skimmed it a few times but couldn’t find what I’m looking for:

- How do I delete or erase the selected pattern in the sequencer view (the view with all the patterns arranged in columns per channel)?
- How do I play/stop and how do I record into a pattern from that same view? Pressing and selecting the pattern seems to play/stop sometimes and record other times. I read something about bold-pressing the back button to get a menu, but it didn’t work for me.

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**Author:** ![core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/core.east/32/13283_2.png) [@core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/core.east)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:36am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/5 "2026-03-19T11:36:02Z")

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> [@laban77](#):
>
> and it recorded my external audio input (great!)

Excellent, maybe the dev’s has added something lately, but i must admit i’ve never tried that way - will d when i get home!

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**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 11:58am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/6 "2026-03-19T11:58:20Z")

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> [@laban77](#):
>
> possible to record audio into patterns

@jofemodo recently added the ability to record audio into a clip. It records the main mixbus output (not including main post-fader effects). We may want to offer some options for what to record. Please add a feature request to the [tracker](https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-issue-tracking) suggesting ideas.

Let’s be careful with nomenclature. This is recording audio into an “audio clip”, not a MIDI pattern.

> [@laban77](#):
>
> How do I delete or erase the selected pattern in the sequencer view (the view with all the patterns arranged in columns per channel)?

I guess you are referring to the launcher which has a grid of launcher buttons. Each row is a “phrase”. Each column is a mututally exclusive sequence or audio clip. You can remove a whole phrase (row) by bold select the phrase launcher (right most column) and select “Delete phase”.

> [@laban77](#):
>
> How do I play/stop and how do I record into a pattern from that same view?

Tapping a launcher will toggle its play (not its record) state. Bold press a launcher will show the pattern editor for a MIDI sequence or the control view for a clip launcher.

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**Author:** ![jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/jofemodo/32/2_2.png) [@jofemodo](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/jofemodo)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/7 "2026-03-19T12:30:51Z")

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> [@riban](#):
>
> @jofemodo recently added the ability to record audio into a clip. It records the main mixbus output (not including main post-fader effects). We may want to offer some options for what to record. Please add a feature request to the [tracker](https://github.com/zynthian/zynthian-issue-tracking) suggesting ideas.

Indeed it records from the “checked” chains. If none is checked, it records from Mainbus output.

BTW, @riban, we should implement beat-synced recording for clippy. I know this can be done with SL, but the workflow is too twisted.

Regards,

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**Author:** ![laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3ab097/32.png) [@laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/laban77)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/8 "2026-03-19T12:32:15Z")

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Thanks. Getting a hang of the nomenclature.

Is there currently a way to erase or delete a single sequence or audio clip from the launcher view?

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**Author:** ![core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/core.east/32/13283_2.png) [@core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/core.east)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/9 "2026-03-19T12:52:56Z")

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> [@jofemodo](#):
>
> we should implement beat-synced recording for clippy. I know this can be done with SL, but the workflow is too twisted.

agreeing twice, that would be awesome!

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**Author:** ![riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/riban/32/2331_2.png) [@riban](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/riban)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/10 "2026-03-19T13:11:47Z")

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> [@laban77](#):
>
> erase or delete a single sequence or audio clip

You cannot remove a single launcher and have the lower ones move up.

You can clear a sequence’s pattern by bold press to access the pattern editor then OPT|ADMIN to access the menu, then select “Clear pattern ALL”.

You can clear an audio clip by bold press the launcher to access the control view then bold press on the file control to access its menu and selecte “Clear”.

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**Author:** ![laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3ab097/32.png) [@laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/laban77)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/11 "2026-03-22T19:15:49Z")

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Where can I check what to record and what not? I have only found the choice of audio input 1 and 2, as in left and right input channel.

How do I record into a clip? Here is what I did:

- I added an audio input chain. It shows up in the clip launcher where I can start playing other patterns.
- I make sure that one of the audio input patterns is selected and press the physical record button.
- I play a bit on my external synthesizer and stop recording.

Now I can play back what I recorded with the play button, but it doesn’t seem associated with any of the patterns. In fact, when I delete the audo input chain I can still play the recording with the play button. So where does it live?

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**Author:** ![core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/core.east/32/13283_2.png) [@core.east](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/core.east)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/12 "2026-03-23T00:07:43Z")

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try enter “Launcher view” by pressing the PAD btn  
then higlight the launcher/pad in the clippy chain where you like to record  
press PAD again and you will find a record on/off possibility  
not yet synced to clock, but i guess that will be an option soon 😉  
’¨- all the above from memory - might be wrong

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**Author:** ![danielwine](https://discourse.zynthian.org/user_avatar/discourse.zynthian.org/danielwine/32/8837_2.png) [@danielwine](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/danielwine)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 9:42am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/13 "2026-03-24T09:42:32Z")

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oh yes, this is a must-have

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**Author:** ![laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3ab097/32.png) [@laban77](https://discourse.zynthian.org/u/laban77)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2026, 10:40am UTC](https://discourse.zynthian.org/t/any-guide-to-vangelis-step-sequencer/12934/14 "2026-03-24T10:40:52Z")

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I guess I need to read up on global recording, clip, clip launcher, and clippy. These are new to me.