PatternBud is a MIDI CC and Program Change sequencer for building arrangements whose steps can last for bars, beats, note values, seconds, or minutes. Use it to change patterns, programs, and parameters on external synths, drum machines, sequencers, effects, and other MIDI-capable apps.
PatternBud is available as a standalone iOS app and as an AUv3 MIDI processor. It generates MIDI and does not produce audio by itself.
PatternBud organizes a project into patterns, tracks, and steps:
Each track has its own step list and loop length. Tracks run simultaneously but loop independently, which makes both conventional song arrangements and evolving polyrhythms possible.
A typical song-mode track might contain a 16-bar intro, a 64-bar chorus, a 16-bar drop, and a 16-bar outro. The values sent at those boundaries can change patterns or programs on another device. Actions can also chain PatternBud patterns together to form a longer arrangement.
The progress strip and highlighted border show the active step on each track.
The main screen has three areas:
Each step cell can show:
Every track cycles through its own steps. A track's header displays its name, configured CC number, one-based MIDI channel, and combined length in bars.
Use the speaker button at the left of a track header to mute or unmute it. Muting suppresses the track's normal CC/PC output and its MIDI-message actions. Arrangement actions such as jumping to another step or changing a pattern still run, so a muted track can continue controlling the structure of a project.
To configure tracks, open Settings:
Tap the + button below the track list to add a track quickly. A newly added track begins with four default steps.
Because tracks loop independently, their lengths do not need to match. A three-second track, four-second track, and five-second track will continually shift against one another; bar- and beat-based tracks remain locked to the musical timeline.
Tap a step to open its editor. The left and right arrow buttons in the editor move between neighboring steps, and Done closes the editor.
Choose one of two step types:
The Value range is 0–127. The message is sent when the step begins.
Enable Randomisation Enabled to choose a new value for the step each time it begins. Min Random Value and Max Random Value define an inclusive 0–127 range. If the minimum and maximum are entered in reverse order, PatternBud still uses the lower number as the minimum and the higher number as the maximum.
Randomization applies to either a CC value or a Program Change value, depending on the step type.
The optional step name appears at the top of its cell. Names are useful for arrangement labels such as Intro, Verse, Fill, or Drop.
A step can use one of five duration systems:
For numeric duration types, tap the displayed amount to enter a value directly.
Bars, beats, and note values follow musical position. Seconds and minutes keep a time-based duration; their corresponding beat length is recalculated when tempo changes. The track header converts the complete step list to bars at the current tempo.
A step can contain multiple actions. Tap Add new action, choose a type, and edit its parameters. Swipe an existing action to the left to delete it.
The action types are:
Targets are displayed to users as one-based track, step, pattern, and MIDI-channel numbers. Choose targets that exist in the project; an out-of-range jump or pattern request is ignored.
Pattern changes, host stops, and preset loads clear notes that PatternBud is tracking as held. For a deliberate sustained note, pair a Note On action with a later Note Off action using the same note and channel. The standalone MIDI Panic command is available as an emergency reset.
Tap a numbered pattern button to make it active. Tap + at the end of the pattern row to create and select a new pattern. A new pattern starts with one default track.
Long-press a numbered pattern for:
Switching patterns restarts every track in the selected pattern from its first step and clears held notes.
The Patterns CC# and MIDI In Channel settings define remote pattern selection. Pattern numbers are one-based in the incoming CC value:
The factory default is CC 10 on MIDI channel 1. The configured CC and channel can be changed in Settings.
Add a Change Pattern action to the last step of a pattern to continue into another pattern. The last step's end actions run normally when its track wraps, so this is the standard way to chain sections. Use Random Pattern to create branching or generative arrangements.
Open Settings > Presets to browse factory presets, save user presets, and load complete projects. Loading a preset replaces the current project, including its patterns, tracks, steps, actions, settings, tempo, and current pattern.
PatternBud includes 13 factory presets:
These presets demonstrate pattern chaining, parameter sweeps, random values and jumps, simultaneous track lengths, CC and Program Change workflows, and note actions.
User presets are saved as complete PatternBud projects. The app uses its shared preset storage and prefers its iCloud container when available, allowing the standalone app and extension to access compatible saved data.
PatternBud has no built-in sound source. Its output must reach a MIDI-capable instrument, effect, sequencer, app, or hardware port.
Open Settings and configure:
The list updates when CoreMIDI endpoints appear or disappear. If CoreMIDI setup fails, the app continues running and shows MIDI Unavailable — CoreMIDI setup failed.
Incoming CC messages are checked against Patterns CC# and MIDI In Channel for pattern selection and are also passed through to the MIDI output. PatternBud emits generated and passed-through MIDI on its first output cable/bus.
In the standalone app, use the play/stop button in the navigation bar to control playback. Settings > Tempo > BPM supports 10–500 BPM.
Open Settings > Ableton Link to join a Link session and use its shared tempo, beat position, and transport behavior.
Changing tempo does not intentionally retrigger the currently active step. Bar-, beat-, and note-based steps remain aligned to musical time. Seconds- and minutes-based steps preserve time-based behavior while their beat geometry adapts to the new tempo.
PatternBud AUv3 is a MIDI processor. Load Cem Olcay: PatternBud in a host that supports AUv3 MIDI effects/processors, then route its MIDI output to an instrument or effect. The plugin's MIDI output is named PatternBud Out.
The AUv3 interface provides the same patterns, tracks, steps, actions, mute controls, and preset browser as the standalone app. Standalone-specific controls such as hardware/virtual MIDI ports, BPM, Ableton Link, and MIDI Panic are not shown inside the plugin because routing and transport come from the host.
The AUv3 exposes one automatable parameter:
Selecting a pattern in the plugin updates the parameter, and host automation of the parameter selects the matching pattern.
The host can save and restore the complete PatternBud project in the plugin state. Factory preset selection is also supported through the host. Each AUv3 instance owns its own project and playback state, so multiple instances can run independently.
The shared Settings screen contains:
The standalone app adds:
Track settings apply to the current pattern. Other patterns keep their own track layouts and routing.
Create one track per receiving instrument. Use Program Change steps, assign each track's MIDI channel, and give the steps long bar-based durations. The tracks can change several devices together at song-section boundaries.
Set a track to the desired CC number—for example filter cutoff, resonance, volume, pan, or expression. Add steps with different values and musical durations. Enable random values for controlled variation.
Create a separate PatternBud pattern for each section. Add a Change Pattern action to a final step to define the order. Different tracks within a section can use different total lengths.
Combine Random Value, Random Step, and Random Pattern actions. Restrict Random Pattern to a checked pool when only certain sections should follow a step.
Use a Note On action at step start and a matching Note Off action at step end. For longer notes, place the Note Off on a later step. Always match note number and MIDI channel.
PatternBud produces MIDI, not audio. Route its MIDI output to a synth, sampler, drum machine, or other sound generator. Confirm that the destination is loaded, its audio output is audible, and it accepts the message type PatternBud sends.
Check that specific track, step, and pattern targets exist. Numbered targets are one-based in the interface. For Random Pattern, an empty pool means all patterns; checked entries restrict the pool.
In the standalone app, tap MIDI Panic. Also check that each Note On has a Note Off using the same note and channel. Stopping transport, switching patterns, or loading a preset clears notes PatternBud is tracking as held.
With Ableton Link enabled, PatternBud follows the shared session position. Disable Link when you want a standalone start to restart each track from step 1. In AUv3, check the host playhead and loop region because the plugin follows host position.
Bars, beats, and note values follow musical time. Seconds and minutes follow elapsed time and are converted against the current tempo. Confirm the intended duration type and the standalone, Link, or host tempo source.
Confirm that the host supports AUv3 MIDI processors, not only audio instruments and audio effects. Install and launch the containing PatternBud app, then rescan or restart the host if needed. Look for Cem Olcay: PatternBud in the host's MIDI effect/processor list.
Loading a PatternBud preset replaces the whole project. In AUv3, save the host project after editing and allow the host to restore the plugin state. For user presets, make sure iCloud access is available when relying on synchronized preset storage.