Feature Set
Everything Prism Does
Every feature, every detail. No vague promises — just specifics.
The Foundation
What Prism is — and what makes it tick.
Core Architecture
16 Tracks · Drum + Tonal
Each track is its own engine — drum or tonal — with independent length, resolution, speed, and FX. One MIDI channel per track.
AUv3 MIDI-Only Architecture
Prism doesn't make sound. It sequences synths, samplers, drum machines, and external hardware with precision. Runs inside AUM, Logic Pro, Cubasis, Loopy Pro, and any AUv3-compatible host.
8 Patterns · 8 Sound Profiles per Track
Each track holds 8 patterns of sequence data and 8 sound profiles of CC/LFO state. Mix and match freely across scenes.
64 Scenes · 8 Banks
Global state snapshots capturing pattern selections, mute states, velocity offsets, Hue patterns, and Chord Block banks across all 16 tracks. One tap to transform your entire arrangement.
8 Mute Profiles per Scene
Each scene carries 8 mute variations — instant ensemble changes within a single scene. Triggerable via touch or external MIDI Program Change.
480 PPQN Timing Engine
Sub-tick precision. Micro-timing, swing, and humanize all operate at 480 pulses per quarter note. Host sync with inherited Ableton Link.
Sequencer Engine
Up to 32 Pages · 16-Bar Maximum
Per track: up to 16 bars at resolutions from 1/32 through 2/1, including triplet variants. Up to 32 pages per pattern.
Independent Track Lengths
Each of 16 tracks runs its own sequence length, resolution, and speed independently. A 5-bar melody against a 4-bar bassline against a 3-bar drum pattern — all running simultaneously.
Speed FX · 3 Modes
Per-track time scaling from 1/8× to 8×. Whole multipliers for clean subdivisions, partial for cross-rhythms, and flexible mode for experimental time-warping. LFO-mappable for continuously evolving tempo relationships.
Note Playback Modes
Standard, No Overlap, Trig Legato, and Drone. Each mode changes how overlapping notes behave.
Swing Engine
Hundreds of distinct swing profiles — not just a percentage slider. Long-press Swing to browse groove shapes by genre. Applies to Euclidean sequences too.
Humanize & Micro-Timing
Per-step timing offsets to push or pull individual trigs off the grid. Global humanize adds natural velocity, timing, and length variation. Three independent layers of groove control.
Follow Mode
Multi-page sequence following during playback. Long-press Play to toggle. Manual page switching pauses it; resumes on play restart or Follow button.
What Makes It Different
The features that justify choosing Prism over everything else.
Tonal Tracks & Harmony
★Chord Blocks · 4 Banks · 32 Objects
Reference-based chord objects. Change one block, every trig referencing it updates across the entire arrangement. 4 swappable banks tied to scenes — one scene change transforms all harmonic content. Strum, humanization, and velocity character travel with the chord.
★50+ Scales + Custom Creation
Built-in scale library plus custom scale creation via the step grid. Universal scale locking forces all input — including external MIDI, arpeggiator output, Fuse modes, and randomization — to the active scale.
★Multi-Sequencer [IAP]
4 independent sub-sequencers per tonal track, each with its own pattern, length, and FX routing. All play simultaneously. Different lengths create phasing relationships that evolve with every loop. Up to 64 melodic voices across 16 tracks.
Smart Chords Lab
An experimental chord-building workspace. Simple Chord (triads from tapped root), Custom Chord (user-defined intervals per slot), chord strum, velocity randomization, and inversion tools.
Note Input Modes
Poly for free polyphonic entry, Smart Chords Lab for chord building, and Chord Blocks for reference-based harmonic objects. Each optimizes the keypad for a different workflow.
MIDI File Import
Import standard MIDI files with automatic scale detection. Manual key/scale override. Rapid import for large libraries.
Fuse Modes — Inter-Track Intelligence
Peek
Overlay another track or pad's trigs on your current sequence for visual reference. Non-destructive, updates automatically if the source changes.
★Echo
Take another track's sequence as your note source, then run it through your own length, loop points, and FX transformations. Notes locked to source — everything else independent. One sequence becomes many variations.
★Melt
Rhythm from one track, notes from another — combined into a third that neither could produce alone. Pitch Filter Keypad selects which chord notes pass through. Octave/step offsets per output.
★Drum Melt
A drum pattern triggers notes from a tonal source across any number of destination tracks. Per-output note filter, step/octave shifts, choke, and velocity offset. The drum groove drives the melody.
Linked Parameters
Key parameters (Warp shifts, loop points, Hue, others) stay linked between source and target until manually changed — which breaks the link for that parameter only.
Drum Tracks
★16 Independent Mini-Sequencers
Each of 16 pads has its own step sequencer with its own length, resolution, and FX chain. Your kick runs 16 steps while your hi-hat runs 7 and your snare runs 5 — all within one track.
Per-Pad Polyrhythms
Linked pads share global timing. Unlink individual pads for independent lengths — instant polyrhythmic complexity within a single drum track.
Polyphonic Drum Mode
Each trig on a pad can be a different pitch, and pitches stack. Layer multiple hits within a single sequence on a single pad. Full chromatic keyboard view for note selection.
★Euclidean Rhythms · 3 Layers [IAP]
Per-pad Euclidean generation with steps, pulses, and rotation. Advanced: 3 independent blendable layers per pad. Blends with manual trigs. Ghost Notes block Euclidean on specific steps. Quick-edit and full parameter views.
Drum Profiles
Factory profiles for Korg Gadget series, Tekno, and more. Create, save, and favorite custom profiles for any instrument. Per-pattern sound profiles switch kits between patterns.
Pad Relationships
Layer (trigger additional pads), Choke (prevent simultaneous hits), Peek (visual reference), and Sidechain. Build kits that breathe.
Random Drum Generator
One-tap pattern generation using metrical hierarchy — kick on strong beats, snare on backbeats, hi-hats on subdivisions. Density and Evolution controls.
Per-Step Control
★Parameter Locks (P-Locks)
Lock any MIDI CC to a specific value on any step — automation that lives on the trig. Smoothing for fluid transitions. Conditional modifiers, random jitter, and chance per lock. Multiple fast-edit workflows.
★Step FX · 4 Slots per Trig [IAP]
Tonal: Velocity, Pitch, Ratchet, Strum. Drum: Velocity, Length, Ratchet, Flam. Each FX has deep sub-options — Condition, Range, Accent, Hold, Link, Pattern, Humanize, and more. 3 snapshot slots per FX. Ratchet included free.
Trig Conditions
Per-step: Chance %, Every-N, Once, play-if-last-played, play-if-last-conditional-played. Conditional chains create emergent behavior from simple rules.
Pattern Conditionals
Apply Every-N logic to the entire pattern. Each loop can play a different loop point or remix — the sequence transforms as it repeats. Conditional Crop Mode and Step Recording for fast setup.
Ghost Notes
Zero-velocity trigs that produce no sound but retain P-Locks (still send CC values) and block Euclidean playback. Sculpt patterns through absence.
Micro-Timing
Per-step timing offsets. Push or pull individual trigs off the grid for hand-crafted groove.
Trig Focus Mode
Long-press any trig for detailed editing. Multi-select with range and group selection (Page, Odd/Even, intervals, All). Notes, Timing, and Step FX tabs. Preview Trig for continuous playback.
Modulation & Generative Tools
★6 LFOs per Track [IAP]
3 Track LFOs (internal params) + 3 CC LFOs (MIDI destinations). Standard waveforms plus drawable shapes and 16-step patterns. LFO-to-LFO self-modulation. Rate: synced, free, or track-tied. Elastic Grid for slope/phase.
Arpeggiator · 16 Steps
6 creative modes with per-step control over direction, pitch, velocity, chance, condition, skip, length, chaos, and ratchet. Arp swing, legato, trig restart. Clone/stretch/randomize. Pattern-bound.
★Harmonizer · 8 per Project
4 harmony pools with 8 steps each. A harmonic sequencer cycles between pools — single notes become shifting chord voicings over multiple bars. 8 patterns tied to track pattern. Swappable across tracks and scenes.
★Hue Sequencer · 8 per Project
In-key transposition controlled by scene. Set target tracks and shift their output rotationally. Live play/record. Live transposition via external MIDI keyboard — play real-time key changes across your arrangement.
Warp Filter
Per-track note processing between sequencer and MIDI output. Poly filter (1–8 notes), note density (Low/Mid/High/Alt/Random), step/octave shift, random skip/choke/velocity. Drum: random swap and layer. Pattern-bound.
Smart Randomizers
Metrically aware drum patterns, scale-constrained chord progressions, selective sequence/FX randomization. Gen Chords, Remix Tone, Invert. Real-time randomization via Warp Filter.
MIDI Looper
Per-track, per-pattern loop points. Bar-based and page-based selection. Loop point triggers. Remix loop points to build longer sequences from short loops. Copy/paste and trim.
How It Works in Practice
Performance, recording, hardware, and everything that makes Prism yours.
Performance & Arrangement
Song Mode
Chain scenes into a linear timeline. Relative steps (linked to scene, auto-update) or Absolute steps (frozen snapshots). Per-step mute maps, linked/unlinked steps. Build while you play — add and rearrange without stopping.
Performance Mode
Live MIDI FX layer — stutter, repeat, and hold across all tracks simultaneously. Instant transitions, builds, and breakdowns. Long-press SNG to toggle.
Macro XY Pads
Global and per-track 2D control surfaces. Momentary mode snaps back on release. Locked mode holds values. Capture/reassign CC targets on the fly.
Multi-Track Velocity Mixer
Advanced Mixer view with velocity/mixer controls for all active tracks. Toggle between Track Mixer and Sequence Mixer. Scroll for 8+ tracks.
Bar Looper
Bar-based looping during playback for quick section isolation. Copy/paste bars, trim to loop range.
Rhythm-Only Paste
Paste only trig positions from one pattern to another, preserving the destination's note content.
External Scene/Mute Control
MIDI Program Change triggers scenes (PC 0–7) and mute groups (PC 8–15) from foot controllers, Launchpad, or any MIDI source.
Recording & Capture
★Retroactive MIDI Capture
Always-listening buffer captures up to 16 bars. Three sources: Live Input, Post-FX, and Pre-FX (capture what the sequence trigs play). Automatic phrase detection. Piano roll region selection.
Live Recording
Real-time MIDI recording with quantize. Overdub (merge), Overwrite (replace), and Clear on 1 (clear on first new note). Auto Grow extends short sequences. Arm for clean starts.
Step Recording
Note-by-note entry. Tap trig to set insertion point, press note to add, auto-advances. Mute inserts empty steps. Tie Step Length option.
Capture Button
Hold Capture + tap anything to snapshot it: patterns, scenes, song steps, chord blocks. Double-tap for smart capture. Hold + tap pads to restore last 16 deleted trigs.
Time Machine
Auto-saves every 3–30 seconds (configurable). 16 undo slots accessible via Shift. Jump between states freely. Crash recovery on next startup.
Hardware Integration
★The Hardware Trinity
Prism + Launchpad + Launchkey MK4, optionally linked to Ableton Live. Four-piece rig: sequencer + pad controller + keyboard controller + DAW sound engine. Bi-directional sync with automatic mapping. A complete system under $300.
Novation Launchpad
Deep bi-directional integration with real-time LED state reflection. 64-step sequence view, custom grid mappings, global mixer mode for track/pattern/scene/mute/sound access. Supported: Pro (MK1), MK3, Mini, X.
Novation Launchkey Mini MK4 [IAP]
Bi-directional LED feedback with key/pad/encoder mappings. Main Sequencer, Parameter Mode (profile params on knobs), Track Select Mode, and State Selector. Simultaneous use with Launchpad.
★Ableton Live Integration
Dedicated Python control script with ping-pong handshake. Auto-maps 16 tracks, captures track/macro/drum pad names, syncs colors, maps CC 1–16 to Macros 1–16. Ableton becomes a seamlessly integrated sound source.
External MIDI I/O
Full MIDI in/out/thru for hardware. Per-track channel routing, true multi-port output, channel filter on input. Separate MIDI pipe for Launchpad (Loopy Pro friendly).
MIDI CC Profiles
127 assignable CCs per track. Factory profiles for Korg Gadget, Tekno, and more. Custom creation with groups, parameter types, and per-CC chance/conditional/jitter. Save sounds as presets within profiles.
UI & Interaction
Touch-First Multitouch
Context-sensitive keypad matrix adapts to drum pads, note input, parameter editing, FX control, and scene selection. Multi-touch throughout.
Flexible Smart Layouts
Horizontal, vertical, phone-optimized, and iPad thin/utility (32-trig compact view for multi-AUv3 setups). iPad full-screen with top bar piano roll.
Shift Button System
Hold for momentary, tap to lock. Every control has a secondary function. Doubles the interface without adding menus.
Piano Roll
8-bar visual display for tonal and drum tracks. Three modes: capture editor, note selector, and looper. Tap to jump pages, drag to loop. iPad top bar display option.
Note Input Shortcuts
Slide-to-enter, hold+slide up to lock, Shift+hold+slide L/R for length/position, hold one trig+long-press another to select range.
Copy/Paste Workflows
Quick paste (empty trig while holding Copy), bar-level copy via loop keypads, rhythm-only paste. Works on trigs, patterns, scenes, tracks, sounds, LFOs, FX, arp steps, chord blocks, and stacks.
Visual Customization
Light/dark themes, dusty/monochrome color schemes, per-track colors. Highlight Touches for screen recording. Dynamic graphics. Apple Pencil compatible.
Help System
Step-by-step help (long-press gear), Info tool (tap any control for description), cheat sheets, and Track Flow Visualizer.
Presets & Data
Cross-Module Preset System
Save and recall presets for Arps, Harmonizer, Hue, MIDI Profiles, Chord Stacks, Tracks, Sounds, and LFOs. Notification bar dropdown for instant mid-session access. Color tagging and filtering.
Favorites System
Mark drum profiles and MIDI profiles as favorites for quick access across projects.
Song Save / Load
Internal save and host-aware AUv3 saving. Autosave every 30 seconds with crash recovery. Export/import all projects for cross-device transfer.
MIDI File Import
Import standard MIDI files with automatic scale detection. Manual key/scale override. Rapid import for large libraries.