Polyrythms

[Michel Camire]

Hello ,
This is a discussion i had with AI regarding inputing polyrythms in Gstomper ; i hope it will be of some utllity ; as for me ,it simplifies things in a complementary way with Gstomper.

Question ;

In Gstomper Producer i import a midi file containing one 4/4 bar sub÷ like this ; 
1st beat = 2 ,8th
2nd beat = triplet 8th 
3rd  beat = 4 16th 
4 th beat = quintuplet 16th 
I wrote a second part lower on the same 4 beats sporting a backward version of the above i.e. 5,4,,3,2 . So we get ;

2,3,4,5 
5,4 3,2   
playing simultaneously in my Notion Mobile notation software .
When I import this midi file i Gstomper Producer specifying to import MICRO STEPS ,
the file plays perfectly in the sequencer respecting all tuplets accurately. 
So my question is the following ;
• Why is it that the midi import is computed so accurately by Gstomper Producer but it seems to be so difficult for me to enter the exact same moti directly in the sequencer ? According to what i just said , wouldn't it be correct at this point , to assume that the "secret " for writing tuplets in GStomper resides in the use of MICRO STEPS wich can ÷ each steps in slices of 32 thus providing the required granularity to work adequatly/ergonomically tuplets be they horizontal or vertical ? 
So the most ergonomic way is to create midi files in my Notion Mobile notation software and import it in Gstomper ? 

Answer ;

You are precisely correct. The "secret" to G-Stomper's handling of tuplets and complex rhythms lies in its use of Micro Steps, and the MIDI import feature leverages this underlying precision in a way that manual input on the standard 16-step grid does not. 
Here is an explanation of why the the MIDI import works perfectly and why manual entry feels awkward:

Why MIDI Import is Accurate

When you import a MIDI file without quantization enabled, G-Stomper bypasses its standard step sequencer grid entirely and utilizes the full resolution of its internal timing system. 
MIDI is based on Ticks: A MIDI file records note events using very fine time divisions (ticks per quarter note). Notation software like Notion Mobile can place notes at any point in time, even off-grid, including mathematically perfect tuplets, quintuplets, etc.
G-Stomper's Internal Resolution: Internally, G-Stomper uses a high-resolution clock where each regular step is divided into 32 micro steps. When importing without quantization, G-Stomper places the incoming MIDI notes precisely at their correct micro-step position.
The Result: The complex, polyrhythmic sequence you described (2,3,4,5 over 5,4,3,2) works perfectly because G-Stomper maps those precise timings to its internal micro-step resolution. 

Why Manual Entry in the Sequencer is Awkward

The main reason you find manual entry difficult is that the primary visual interface (the 16 step buttons) defaults to a fixed, coarse grid (usually 1/16th notes or 4 steps per beat). This interface is designed for quick, "groovebox-style" programming of standard rhythmic divisions. 
You cannot manually "place a note 1/5th of a beat after the last one" using the main 16 buttons. The interface inherently forces quantization to the nearest standard step. 
Can Micro Steps Provide an Ergonomic Solution for Manual Entry? 
Yes, they can, but it is a slightly hidden feature and still more fiddly than a dedicated "tuplet" button in a DAW.

You have correctly identified that the Micro Step editor is the key. It provides the required granularity (32 slices per step, or 128 slices per beat in a 1/16th grid). 
Here is how you can use the Micro Step editor manually to achieve your goal, although it still requires precision:

Enable the Micro Step Editor: On your drum machine track, find and enable the Micro Step editing mode. The 16 buttons will likely change function, or you'll get sliders/faders to adjust the offset of each active step.
Calculate Positions (The non-ergonomic part): To program a quintuplet manually, you need to calculate which micro steps to use for beats that fall outside the 1/16th grid. A quarter note beat has 32 micro steps.
Quintuplet: You need to trigger notes at intervals of 32/5 = 6.4 micro steps (which you must approximate, e.g., 0, 6, 13, 19, 26).
Triplet: You need triggers at 32/3 = 10.66... micro steps (approx. 0, 11, 21).
Adjust Manually: You would manually dial in these specific micro-step offset values for each note you place in the sequence. 

Conclusion

The MIDI import feature is an elegant bridge that automatically performs the tedious calculation and placement of notes onto G-Stomper's internal high-resolution timeline (micro steps). The manual step sequencer, by contrast, is a lower-resolution interface that requires you to manually input these precise micro-step offsets to bypass its core

Question ;

So a most ergonomic way to enter complex polyrhythms in Gstomper is to use notation software to create the complex polyrhythms and then inport in Gstomper Producer specifying Microsteps ?

Yes, for creating complex, mathematically precise tuplets and polyrhythms, exporting a MIDI file from your notation software (Notion Mobile) and importing it into G-Stomper is the most ergonomic and efficient workflow. 
The MIDI import feature is designed to handle this complexity by utilizing G-Stomper's high-resolution micro-step system internally, something that is tedious to achieve manually using the standard 16-step grid.
Summary of Workflow Advantages
Speed and Accuracy: You leverage the strengths of Notion Mobile for visual, precise rhythmic entry, where writing tuplets is simple and intuitive. The resulting MIDI file contains exact timing information.
G-Stomper's Precision: When you import the MIDI file into G-Stomper with quantization turned OFF and specifying to use micro steps, G-Stomper places the notes perfectly on its internal high-resolution timeline.
Efficiency: This approach bypasses the manual calculation and fiddly adjustments required when trying to approximate tuplets using the standard 16-step interface or resampling workarounds.
Complex Rhythms: It is the only practical way to handle highly complex, simultaneous polyrhythms like your 2,3,4,5 over 5,4,3,2 pattern without immense manual effort. 
In short, use Notion Mobile for notation and complex rhythm composition, and G-Stomper Producer for sound design, arranging, mixing, and as the playback engine that respects your precise MIDI timing 

[planet-h]

Good input. Thanks a lot, Michel.
I've moved your post to tips and tricks. It's a perfect fit for that section.