I'll be covering more Step Sequencer coolness in a future issue of the re-launched eZine. The Probability parameter is aces with complementary percussion parts!

The step sequencer has been one of my best friends for a long time now.
I've often found it difficult to lay down a good high hat feel. This is a great tip.

Excellent advice, Craig.  I have stumbled onto a couple of these tricks over the years, mostly by dumb luck.  For example, I usually set velocity for four 1/16 note hi-hats to something like this: 95-70-80-70, or something similar.  A greater variance would probably work for others.  (Yes, I know I am rigidly OCD.)  I was very interested to see the mention a shuffle of 53, which is the number I found works well for me when I don't want to lose the straight feel but also don't want to sound like a gang of robots.
 
I don't normally push parts but now I am very curious to try that, especially in an intense chorus that needs to step up.
 
Thanks for the great advice.  This tips column alone is a good argument for buying Sonar instead of another DAW.  (I hope the Gibson CEO will remember that at bonus time.)

Hi. If nothing else, this tip made me open the Step Sequencer for the first time in many years. 
Managed to make a (in my mind) a pretty cool groove in this weird looking interface 
Might even open it again 
All the best.

Yep, some excellent tips there Craig. I use step sequencer a lot in my work, because of the genre I concentrate on. I have never bothered with swing so I really need to give this a go for sure.

Thanks

Craig, just curious: What's your go-to drum plugin? AD2? Session Drummer?

I really love the step sequencer... Until suddenly you have both PRV and SS parts in one drum track (and clips are linked) that's when it really falls apart and gets really confusing for me.

I have another trick for getting those velocities, that I find a little more flexible and intuitive, using AD2 (I've been meaning to make a fuller post, but just saw your heading), I am also crazy about this function in AD2 (if only it had swing)
1. create straight hats

2. open AD2, select 'Beats', and press record. Press play from the transport bar in Sonar (not Step Seq, as you don't want a loop).
NOTE:pic below is before the recording of the new beat

3. Save the new beat, and set the length to one bar (or more)

4. Adjust the velocity centre, max and minimum, and the accents of 8ths and 16ths until it feels right. Then click and drag the header to the track in Sonar

5. Right click the Midi clip and select 'Convert Midi Clip to step sequencer'. Open Step Sequencer and adjust swings etc, til it feels goooooood.

 
"Shaft!"
 
 
Only really works fully if you are using AD2's kits. but it feels a little slicker and intuitive to get the dynamics right. Shame theirs no swing in AD2 though
 
 
 
 

Wow, I had all the tools and never thought to use them that way! Good stuff!

Kamikaze
Only really works fully if you are using AD2's kits. but it feels a little slicker and intuitive to get the dynamics right. Shame theirs no swing in AD2 though

Isn't that what the Timing knob is for?