k2k audio Draw parameter curves directly on the step grid. Select an automation parameter from the bar at the top, then drag across steps to paint values.
What it does
Grid automation turns the step grid into a per-step parameter editor, so each step can carry its own velocity, pitch, pan, effect send, or any other supported value.
When you’d use it
Any time a flat, uniform pattern needs shape — a velocity ramp on a hi-hat roll, a pitch bend across a tom fill, or a slow filter-send fade on a synth line.
Quick example
- Select a track that has an active pattern (e.g., hi-hats on every step).
- Click Ve in the automation bar.
- Drag upward on steps 1—4 to paint a low-to-high velocity ramp.
- Drag downward on steps 5—8 to bring the velocity back down.
- Press play — the hi-hats now breathe with the shape you drew.
The Automation Bar
A row of color-coded buttons sits above the step grid. The first eight buttons are core parameters (Ve through Co); the remaining eight are effect-send amounts (A1 through A8), colored to match the pad they belong to.
Click a button to enter automation mode for that parameter. The grid cells switch from step on/off toggles to vertical value bars. Click the same button again to leave automation mode and return to the normal step grid.
Parameters
| Parameter | Abbreviation | What it controls | Range | Bipolar? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velocity | Ve | How hard the step hits | 0 — 128 | No |
| Pitch Shift | Ps | Semitone offset | -24 — +24 | Yes |
| Time Stretch | Ts | Playback speed ratio | 25% — 400% | No |
| Decay | De | Amplitude decay amount | 0 — 100% | No |
| Pan | Pa | Stereo position | -100 — +100 | Yes |
| Dice | Di | Probability the step fires | 0 — 100% | No |
| Subdivision | Sd | Ratchet count per step | 1 — 8 | No |
| Conditioning | Co | Fire ratio (loop-based) | Always, 1:2, 1:3, 2:3, 1:4, 3:4, 1:8, 3:8, 5:8, 7:8 | No |
| Send 1 | A1 | Effect slot 1 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
| Send 2 | A2 | Effect slot 2 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
| Send 3 | A3 | Effect slot 3 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
| Send 4 | A4 | Effect slot 4 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
| Send 5 | A5 | Effect slot 5 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
| Send 6 | A6 | Effect slot 6 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
| Send 7 | A7 | Effect slot 7 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
| Send 8 | A8 | Effect slot 8 dry/wet | 0 — 100% | No |
Subdivision is set at the step level. All other parameters — including Conditioning — are set per substep: when a step has multiple substeps, every substep receives the painted value.
How to Draw
Enter automation mode: Click a parameter button in the automation bar (e.g., Ve). The grid cells change from step toggles to colored value bars.
Paint a value: Click and drag vertically inside a cell. The bar fills from the bottom for unipolar parameters (Ve, Ts, De, Di, sends) or from a center line for bipolar ones (Ps, Pa). Dragging up increases the value; dragging down decreases it.
Precision mode: Hold Ctrl while dragging. Mouse movement is scaled to 25% sensitivity, making it easier to land on exact values.
Apply to all steps at once: Hold Shift while dragging. Every active step in the current page group receives the same value.
Reset a single step: Double-click a cell. The value snaps back to its default.
Reset all steps: Shift + double-click any cell. Every active step resets to the default value.
Leave automation mode: Click the same parameter button again, or click a different one to switch parameters.
Inactive steps (no trigger) appear dimmed and cannot be edited — activate them in the normal step grid first.
A tooltip appears beside the cell showing the exact value (e.g., “Ve: 96” or “Ps: -7”) while hovering or dragging.
During playback, the currently playing step is outlined so you can see where the sequencer is while you paint.