StepStrum

StepStrum is a real-time MIDI strumming sequencer that turns keyboard-played chords into customizable strummed performances.

Instead of relying on prerecorded loops or fixed guitar-library strum presets, StepStrum lets you play your own chords, design your own rhythm patterns, and send the resulting MIDI to your favorite guitar library, synth, sampler, or virtual instrument. It is designed for producers, composers, and songwriters who want the feel of strummed motion while keeping full control over the harmony, rhythm, sound source, and arrangement.

StepStrum works as a MIDI effect. Hold a chord, create or select a step pattern, and StepStrum distributes the notes over time to create rhythmic strums, pulses, and performance-style movement. Global controls such as Strum Spread, Gate, Swing, Humanize, Velocity Mode, and Time Division make it easy to move from tight rhythmic patterns to looser, more natural performances.

StepStrum is available in two editions:

StepStrum Lite is the free version, designed as an accessible entry point for creating real-time strummed MIDI patterns. It includes the core strumming engine, step-based pattern workflow, essential timing and feel controls, and support for sending generated MIDI to separate instruments.

StepStrum Pro is available for $39 USD and expands the workflow with deeper pattern control, advanced performance lanes, and bank management features. Pro adds extended editing tools for shaping velocity, gate, probability, and dynamics behavior across steps, making it better suited for expressive production work and more detailed custom strumming patterns.

Key features:

• Real-time MIDI strumming from keyboard-played chords.
• Step-based pattern editor for custom rhythm creation.
• Works with third-party instruments, guitar libraries, synths, samplers, and hardware sound sources.
• Global controls for Strum Spread, Gate, Swing, Humanize, Velocity Mode, and Time Division.
• Multiple timing divisions including straight and triplet feels.
• Free Lite edition.
• Pro edition with expanded pattern editing, advanced performance lanes, and bank workflow.
• Designed for flexible MIDI performance rather than fixed audio loops or preset-only strum engines.

StepStrum is not a sample library and does not generate audio by itself. It generates MIDI, allowing you to pair its strumming engine with the sounds and instruments you already use.

StepStrum is available for macOS and Windows in VST3 format, with AU support on macOS.