> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gridshift.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Step Entry

> Writes notes, chords and slices one grid step at a time with the transport stopped. Turn on record mode and press keys, or hold keys and press Return.

## Enter notes step by step

<video src="/videos/recording-step.mp4" poster="/videos/recording-step.jpg" aria-label="With the transport stopped and record mode on, each letter key writes a note at the cursor and moves it one grid step on" title="With the transport stopped and record mode on, each letter key writes a note at the cursor and moves it one grid step on" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

With the transport stopped, select the track, place the cursor and press `Caps Lock`. Each key writes a note at the cursor, one grid step long, and moves the cursor on. Hold the key and press `→` or `←` to lengthen or shorten it.

## Audition, then commit

Without record mode, play keys until the note, chord or slice sounds right. Press `Return` while still holding them: they are written at the edit cursor as one step. Use `→` / `←` before releasing to set the length.

## Delete the previous step

<video src="/videos/recording-delete.mp4" poster="/videos/recording-delete.jpg" aria-label="Backspace twice removes the last two steps' notes and moves the cursor back one grid step each time" title="Backspace twice removes the last two steps' notes and moves the cursor back one grid step each time" muted loop playsInline preload="none" />

With the timeline focused and nothing selected, press `⌫`. The grid step before the cursor is cut out and the cursor moves back, like deleting a typed character.

## Good to know

* **There are two ways to step-enter.** In record mode every key writes a step at once; without record mode you audition first and press `Return` to write.
* **Keys pressed within 50 ms of each other form a chord** at the same step.
* **Held pitches are written at the velocity you played them at**, from the computer keyboard, the number row or a controller; a slice keeps the gain it played at.
* **On a sample track, each slice is written at its full length**, and the cursor lands on the next grid line after it.
* **Inside an open MIDI clip, `Return` lays steps at the piano roll's cursor**, one grid cell each, until a neighboring clip leaves no room.

> **How does the arrow-key resize work?**
>
> * **Releasing the held key ends the resize.**
> * **`⌘`, `⇧` and `⌥` arrows keep their navigation meaning** while you hold a key.

> **When does Return not write a step?**
>
> * In record mode, where every key already writes.
> * During a live take.
> * With a range marked: `Return` fills the range.
> * In an open clip with marked notes or a drawn region: `Return` stamps or duplicates them ([Piano Roll](/edit/piano-roll.md)).

> **What does ⌫ remove?**
>
> * A clip that lies inside the step is removed.
> * A clip running through the step is split or trimmed, so only that step's content goes.
> * On an empty step only the cursor moves back.
> * With a clip or range selected, `⌫` deletes the selection instead.

**Next:** [Piano Roll](/edit/piano-roll.md) to shape the notes you entered.


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