softBall

Section 01

Transport / Key Settings

This area controls playback, BPM, track count, and the global pitch settings.

• Play / Stop: Start or stop playback. You can also use the Space key.
• BPM: Drag up or down to change the tempo.
• Track Count: Set the number of tracks from 1 to 8.
• Key Settings: Configure octave, root note, scale, and octave range.

Section 02

Save Settings

You can store up to 16 snapshots containing BPM and all track settings. Entire projects, including snapshots, can be saved to and loaded from your local disk. MIDI can be sent through the virtual port named softBall or through other available MIDI outputs such as the IAC Driver.

• Snap button: Click once to enter snapshot save mode, then click a number to store the current state. Double-click to enter delete mode and remove an unwanted snapshot.
• Save: Saves the current setup, including snapshots, as an .sbp file. If an existing .sbp file is already open, this will overwrite it.
• Open: Loads an existing .sbp file.

Snapshot overwrite and deletion cannot be undone.
You can also use Save As from the menu bar or press cmd + shift + s.

Section 03

Track Settings

This area is where you adjust settings for each track, including Step, Mode, Poly, Bounce, and pitch-related controls. Use it to switch between Manual and Euclid, then shape each track independently.

• 1 Channel: Sets the MIDI output channel.
• 2 Step Count: Displays the number of steps in the track.
• 3 Mode: Switches note input between Manual and Euclid.
• 4 Poly: Switches between monophonic and polyphonic playback.
• 5 Step: Drag up or down to set the step count.
• 6 Bounce: Drag up or down to set how quickly the ball bounces. Clicking increases it by one step.
• 7 Per-track Key: Detaches the track from the transport's global key settings so it can use its own pitch setup.
• 8 Per-track Key Settings: Appears after enabling item 7 and lets you edit that track's individual key settings.

Section 04

Poly Settings (Manual mode)

This panel appears when polyphonic mode is enabled in Manual mode. Up to four voices are supported.

• 1 Voice Select: Choose which voice you want to edit.

Section 05

Poly Settings (Euclid mode)

This panel appears when polyphonic mode is enabled in Euclid mode. Up to four voices are supported.

• 1 Polyphony: Drag up or down to set the maximum number of simultaneous notes.
• 2 Amount: Drag up or down to control how often triggered notes become polyphonic.
• 3 Ratio: Drag up or down to control how often polyphonic notes reach the configured maximum polyphony.

Section 06

Step Lane (Manual mode)

This is where you place the note timings that will be played back.

• 1 Clear Notes: Deletes all notes from the track.
• 2 Move Ball Position: Drag left or right to shift where the ball bounces. It can be moved up to 16 steps behind.
• 3 Place Notes: Click to place a note. Pitch is determined by the current key settings. Each click raises the pitch, and the lane flashes when the highest note is reached. Use shift + click to move downward in pitch; the lane flashes again at the lowest note. Right-click to remove a note.
• 4 Polyphonic Input: In polyphonic mode, you can switch the editable voice. Layered notes are edited in the same way as item 3.

If you delete a note and place it again, its pitch will be reset.

Section 07

Step Lane (Euclid mode)

When Euclid mode is enabled, lane controls appear inside the lane.

• 1 Pitch Shape: Choose from Sin, Saw+, Saw-, Squ, or Rand. Pitch movement follows the selected waveform.
• 2 Hits: Sets how many hits are distributed across the available steps.
• 3 Loop Count: Sets how many hits make up one loop.
• 4 Polyphonic: In polyphonic mode, the lane shows where polyphonic notes will be triggered.