Gesture Synth Keyboard Shortcuts

Space Changes Meaning with the Loop State

When the sequencer is empty, pressing Space acts like Tap Tempo. Tap it at least twice at a steady pace and the BPM is calculated from the recent intervals, clamped to the supported 30–300 BPM range. This is useful before the first recording because there is no loop to play yet.

Once any track contains an event, Space toggles playback and pause. During the count-in or active recording, Space cancels the take instead. The state-aware behaviour lets one large key cover the most likely next action without hiding what happened: the transport, count-in and notice text remain visible.

Record with R and Select Tracks with 1–4

Press R to start a recording count-in on the active track. Press R again during the count-in or recording to cancel. A completed pass stops recording at the loop boundary, keeps playback running and selects the next empty track when one is available.

Number keys 1, 2, 3 and 4 select the corresponding sequencer track. Track selection does not erase or silence existing material; it only chooses where the next recording, edit, mute or solo command applies. Check the active track label before beginning a layered take.

Learn the count-in and metronome →

Mute, Solo and Clear the Active Track

Press M to toggle mute on the active track and S to toggle solo. Multiple tracks can be soloed. When at least one solo is active, non-solo tracks are excluded from playback; muted tracks remain silent even if selected. These are mix decisions and do not remove grid events.

Delete clears only the active track. Shift+Delete resets all four tracks and stops transport, so use it deliberately. Neither command downloads a backup. Export the current arrangement first if you want to keep an audio copy before clearing the session-based grid.

Rehearse the state changes on a disposable one-bar loop. With the sequencer visible and empty, tap Space four times to set a tempo, then press R and cancel the count-in with Space. Record or draw one event on track 1, press Space to pause and resume it, then use 2 to select track 2. Toggle M and S while watching the active-track controls so you can see which layer each command affects. Use Delete on track 2 to prove it leaves track 1 intact. Avoid Shift+Delete until the final step, because that shortcut resets the whole grid. This dry run teaches the context-sensitive keys without putting a developed arrangement at risk.

Export the finished loop as WAV →

Why a Keyboard Shortcut May Not Fire

Shortcuts are ignored while focus is on an input, select, textarea or button. Click a neutral area of the page, confirm the Loop Sequencer is visible and try again. A browser or operating-system shortcut may also take priority over a web page, especially when modifier keys are held.

The shortcuts require no camera or microphone permission by themselves. Start the live instrument only when you want to create gesture events. For touch devices or assistive technology, use the labelled transport and track buttons rather than depending on physical-keyboard commands.

Check browser compatibility → · Open the complete hand-control map →