Strokes - Audio Workstation
Sequencer/Sampler/Synthesizer
$19.99 · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
Sound On Sound (Jan 2023): ""Huge fun, and musically potent. A dedicated pattern sequencer for your DAW that opens up all sorts of polyrhythmic, pseudo-random, non-linear possibilities."
Tom Rowlands [Chemical Brothers] : "Strokes is an amazing device for rhythmic inspiration. Its a lot of fun to play with and can lead to some very cool unexpected patterns and combinations"
CDM : "Its just really elegant... a semi-modular powerhouse for exploring polyrhythms, both in musical note/percussion patterns and modulation. So, uh… whoa."
DJ Mag: "DJs and producers wanting to create intricate sequencer patterns should look at Strokes"
MusicRadar: "An instant inspiration generator"
International Orange: "An elevated groovebox"
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Welcome to Strokes.
An all-in-one, cross-platform workstation for sequencing, sampling and synthesis.
The idea of this device is to encourage free-flow experimentation and exploration of rhythm and modulation. The architecture behind Strokes is complex, but on the surface it’s designed to be intuitive no matter what your experience level is. By setting up some sounds and turning the dials, anyone can create interesting and unique results. The sequencing and modulation are cross-patched, meaning the actions of one part impact on another - in this way, the patterns all form part of the greater whole, moving in symbiosis to create cohesive results.
The first four sequencer channels can be set according to your wishes, while the other four behave in various ways according to those settings. Each channel can be assigned one of 16 oscillators from Mutable Instruments’ celebrated Plaits module. Alternatively, they can each be assigned to samples of your choice with various sound design options. There are probability options to add semi-random changes to the sequencers, and on-board reverb and delay add effects processing to the sounds being generated. Various modulation options allow these sounds and effects to be changed in subtle or significant ways, always in response to the other rhythmic behaviour taking place in the project.
Rather than relying on methodical programming of patterns or computer-defined ‘randomness’, Strokes offers a way to create surprising music with an emphasis on fun. Nothing happens by accident, but you never quite know where a jam will take you. With the means to store patterns and melodic information within a project, one set up can produce different results every time.
Strokes can run as a VST3 or AU plug-in within all major DAW environments, meaning the MIDI information generated can also be assigned to your own software and hardware instruments. On iOS, Strokes can run as a standalone application or from within a host such as AUM.
Desktop VST3 & AU are a separate purchase, available at congburn.co.uk/strokes
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Video Manual - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUa8ZmeONjE
Synth/iOS demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9IXqFBCa24
Sampler/iOS demo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvLasl_wois
PDF Manual - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hViEDttYSAIFygN1Y4kWXByMXfX5r3K4
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Strokes contains DSP code provided under the MIT open source license by Mutable Instruments.
Plaits © 2016 Emilie Gillet
https://github.com/pichenettes/eurorack
more I’ve explored a lot of sequencers and grooveboxes over the years and have come to the conclusion that this one is quite exceptional. The combination of inter-connected modulation routing with its unique probability/chance schemes make mechanical sequences seem to breath and evolve. Also don’t forget to find that little “swing” slider button and use it . Lastly, the internal sounds are great and useable as well as flexible and varied. However, if that is not enough or not to your liking , you can always load your own samples. I found myself engrossed with it for hours (even bothering to read the very clearly written manual). I can’t believe it is an multi instance AU app that I can use in AUM to trigger other instruments which I’ve still yet to try . Deep and worth every penny.
I’ve explored a lot of sequencers and grooveboxes over the years and have come to the conclusion that this one is quite exceptional. The combination of inter-connected modulation routing with its unique probability/chance schemes make mechanical sequences seem to breath and evolve. Also don’t forget to find that little “swing” slider button and use it . Lastly, the internal sounds are great and useable as well as flexible and varied. However, if that is not enough or not to your liking , you can always load your own samples. I found myself engrossed with it for hours (even bothering to read the very clearly written manual). I can’t believe it is an multi instance AU app that I can use in AUM to trigger other instruments which I’ve still yet to try . Deep and worth every penny.
This software is seriously impressive. My knowledge and navigation around it so far is just the tip of the iceberg but I’m already having results of sound sculpting I wouldn’t have been able to come up with anywhere near as easily in other programs. The fact that this is often updated with more and more options + the stability easily makes this a no-brainer purchase. Can’t recommend it enough. Thank you for all the hard work into this and for sharing it!
This software is seriously impressive. My knowledge and navigation around it so far is just the tip of the iceberg but I’m already having results of sound sculpting I wouldn’t have been able to come up with anywhere near as easily in other programs. The fact that this is often updated with more and more options + the stability easily makes this a no-brainer purchase. Can’t recommend it enough. Thank you for all the hard work into this and for sharing it!
It’s a Euclidean sequencer, it has Braids built-in, really smart MIDI and performance capabilities, and that is scratching the surface. You can do a LOT in the standalone, and the AUv3 really asserts itself as a powerful player in a mix in your mixer or daw. Hardly a day goes by that this doesn’t help me to be creative. It rewards careful learning and patience at first, but once I got used to it, I want to use it in every mix. The approach to pitch, a sort of control-voltage approach, is probably the most challenging aspect, but it makes it more “modular” and there are enough piano rolls.
It’s a Euclidean sequencer, it has Braids built-in, really smart MIDI and performance capabilities, and that is scratching the surface. You can do a LOT in the standalone, and the AUv3 really asserts itself as a powerful player in a mix in your mixer or daw. Hardly a day goes by that this doesn’t help me to be creative. It rewards careful learning and patience at first, but once I got used to it, I want to use it in every mix. The approach to pitch, a sort of control-voltage approach, is probably the most challenging aspect, but it makes it more “modular” and there are enough piano rolls.
This is going to Change things up in ways you can’t imagine. Just a few hours with it and I’ve gotten sounds, rhythms, ect, I couldn’t dream up!😀👌
This is going to Change things up in ways you can’t imagine. Just a few hours with it and I’ve gotten sounds, rhythms, ect, I couldn’t dream up!😀👌
This version should run on iOS 12 or later.
- Standalone app correctly sends MIDI clock. Receiving is best done with a host.
- Audio setup page displays correctly
- When a sampler isn't selected, don't show the load a sample button on performance page
- Fix MIDI CC page display
- Tutorial / manual buttons now display correctly on info page
3.13.4 11/17/2023
Microtonality / Alternate tunings
- Import a 7 or 12 note scala file
- Edit the tuning from within the app, save a copy under a new name
- Imported scalas are saved in the plugin/app, so you can optionally delete your .scl files once imported
- When you load a project, the tuning you were using for that project will be loaded up
- The last tuning you use is carried over next time you open the app/plugin. So if you like a scl file you can set it and forget it
There's an interesting discussion on tuning here -> https://cdm.link/2022/03/ableton-releases-free-microtuner-but-tuning-is-more-than-spaces-between-12-semitones/
8 new synth engines ported from Plaits v1.2
- Classic waveshapes with filter
- Phase distortion and modulation
- 3 x 6-operator FM synth with 32 presets
- Wave terrain synthesis
- String machine
- Chiptune
Matrix / Weights randomizers
Hit the "i" button to find these. Use a fader to morph between the value in the pattern, and the random value. So you can dial in a touch of random, or roll the dice. When you close the info view your changes are stored in the pattern.
Other changes
- 3 new themes/skins
- Mute / Solo / Inv are all accessible from the performance page
- You can edit the modulation sources for each voice from the performance page (use the samples dropdown to display this)
- You can edit the tuning from the performance page (FX dropdown)
- Replaced one of the demo projects
- Lower the reverb/delay levels for a default pattern
3.13.1 11/02/2023
- Delay & Reverb send levels have been tweaked, your projects will sound more spacey as a result. You can offset this by reducing the FX return levels or by tweaking the send levels
- Remove polarity text labels and replace with SVG icons
- Dragging root notes / note selects now saves correctly
- Fixed palindrome seq occasionally getting stuck on first/last steps of sequence
- Add a limiter to each individual voice
- Improved sample handling for legacy project files
3.12.5 09/18/2023
Video manual - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUa8ZmeONjE
This update adds a new Performance View - this page provides a high level overview of your jam where you can smoothly interpolate (or crossfade) between patterns, sounds and project files.
That means your entire backcatalogue of Strokes projects can be performed as a live set as you drift between projects and patterns without ever stopping the clock.
This isn't an audio crossfade, its a parameter crossfade. So as you move the crossfaders the underlying sound and sequencing engines morph into new forms - you'll uncover a whole new set of sounds lurking in the void between your patterns.
Also new:
- Samplers upgraded. Each has 5 sub-samplers enabling you to use different samples per pattern. If a slot is empty when switching pattern, it auto-fills with the current sample.
- Bus saturator & glue compressor and main stereo outs
- Hit the channel label on the voices page to copy settings between patterns/voices
- Sync button added to accent section. After hitting sync, when the accent reaches the end of it's loop all the grid channels will realign/reset to 0
- Keyboard modal for note selects and root notes only appears on a tap (600ms hold)
- Kit/pattern separation is deprecated. Patterns now contain all necessary data making patterns interchangeable between project files
3.12.3 08/25/2023
- Improved the quality of the amplitude envelopes. They now function as an AD rather than ADSR. What this means is that the entire attack & decay stages will play on each note event. If another note trigger occurs during the attack stage, it won't reset to the beginning of the attack. If a note trigger occurs during the decay phase, it'll reset to the start of the decay stage. This results in better sound quality and less clicks.
- Load a sample button now asks for confirmation if you have a sample already loaded
- When changing from euclidean to step mode, copy the euclidean rhythm to step mode if steps are blank.
- Fixed an issue where setting decay high and adding modulation would destroy all the synth voices.
- Tutorial overlay play button displays at correct resolution.
- Keyboard modals display current note / root note.
- Change naming of voice modulation params for Matrix.
3.11.2 05/25/2023
V3.11
- Strokes is now a multi output VST3/AU/AUV3, each voice (synth or sampler) can be routed to an individual audio channel for further processing & recording.
- Added a built in tutorial to help you create your first rhythm, melody and pattern variation. Access this on the info “i” menu.
- Hovering over / tapping a parameter on the sequencer page will display the parameter’s name in the header.
- Weights delays are now sample accurate.
- Matrix sequencer only advances a single step when on ⅛ or ¼ clock rates.
- Fix sync when looping in Cubase & Studio One.
- Fix AU/VST3 project export.
- Fix an issue where outgoing MIDI notes would get stuck at slow bpms / clock rates.
3.11 04/26/2023
This update adds 16 internal synth engines derived from Mutable Instruments' Plaits. (© 2016, Emilie Gillet)
This allows each of the 8 voices to function as a sampler, or a full featured synthesizer.
More additions
- Pitch sequencing and a quantizer per channel
- Fully customisable modulation matrix, any modulation source can connect to any sound parameter
- Bit crushing & sample rate reduction added to sampler, as well as start/loop point modulation
- Panning & fine tune
- Improved stability & performance
3.10 03/31/2023
Join our community discord -> https://discord.gg/KQcSGJjw
- Fixed sample saving/loading when running as AUv3
3.9.5 01/31/2023
Join our community discord -> https://discord.gg/KQcSGJjw
- Fixed crash when clicking outside filechooser bounds
- Show scope
- Filename is displayed correctly after switching from sampler view->sequencer view->sampler view
3.9.4 01/24/2023
Join our community discord -> https://discord.gg/KQcSGJjw
Fix sample loading when running as AUv3
3.9.3 01/21/2023
Join our community discord -> https://discord.gg/KQcSGJjw
See v3.9 for sampler implementation details
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This version fixes the following issues:
- Load a sample button causes the app to freeze on some devices
- Note offs aren't sent on correct channel
- Modulation buses for some sampler voices aren't connected to the correct modulation sources. Eg. on sampler 2, reverb is connected to weights-D, rather than weights-C (as labelled)
- Occasional drop outs and crash when tweaking sample start/end/loop
- MIDI learn currently requires the keyboard modal to be open, but the modal covers some parameters
- Use responsive thickness for line drawing, hide euclid/step buttons based on active mode
- Double clicking weights dials should reset them to center, rather than their default value
3.9.2 01/19/2023
Fixed an issue where loading a sample would cause the app to freeze - the temporary solution is to open a specifc folder.
The next update will improve this by opening the last selected folder.
See v3.9 changelog for more sampler details
3.9.1 01/17/2023
Added 8 x samplers, each sampler consists of:
- Attack/decay amplitude envelope
- Sample start/end/loop controls (drag top/bottom of waveform)
- Root note for setting pitch of sample
- Multi mode resonant filter LP/HP/BP
- Two FX sends
- 4 mod buses to recieve modulation from the sequencer
Added a reverb and delay, both with their own mod buses (and nice animations!).
Implemented Ableton Link.
Added cross platform file sharing.
Created over 100 factory samples that you are free to use in your tracks. Sampled from my Machinedrum, Monomachine, Nord Drum 2 & more. Processed with Bugbrand Stereo Compress & Elektron Analog Heat.
With this update you can make entire tracks from within Strokes, without relying on a host or other equipment.
3.9 01/10/2023
- Fixed a few bugs relating to notes & pattern save/recall
- Matrix XY modes now reference the correct logic modes
- Fixed a bug on some devices where the plugin window would fail to load
3.8 11/25/2022
- Fixed an issue where Logic channels were stuck in mode 1
3.7 11/18/2022
This version should run on iOS 12 or later.
- Standalone app correctly sends MIDI clock. Receiving is best done with a host.
- Audio setup page displays correctly
- When a sampler isn't selected, don't show the load a sample button on performance page
- Fix MIDI CC page display
- Tutorial / manual buttons now display correctly on info page
more Version 3.13.4 11/17/2023
Data Not Collected The developer does not collect any data from this app.
