This article assumes you understand how to add, edit, and remove step components but aren't sure what to do next. This gives you examples of ways I (James/windowbed) most often use step components. If you need help with adding/editing step components or are looking for a reference guide, read the main step components article.

Examples will use this template, where the top row indicates the step, the middle row indicates the notes I'm using in my example, and the bottom row is a list of step components to add:

Step	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Note(s)	C
Step Components	Pulse 4 Pulse Hold 2 Component Spark 4 4	Jump 9

Step components will be indicated by their names in the guide, as described in the glossary, followed by the numeral indicating their value. Multiple key presses are indicated by multiple values.

This is one I use most often, and is a simple way of adding a slight variation every 4th measure.

I usually keep my snare track at Step Length 1, so each step lasts 1 1/16th note. Here's a snare pattern where the snare comes two steps early every 4th measure:

Step	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Note(s)					C						C		C
Step Components											Trigger Spark 4		Trigger Spark 4 4 4

I often combine spark components with opposing/complementary values (e.g., 4 plays only every 4th pass while 4 4 4 plays all but every 4th pass). And that's what happens here: the notes on steps 5 and 13 play on beats 2 and 4, but every 4th pass the Trigger Spark 4 4 4 doesn't play the trigger on that step. Meanwhile, on step 11 Trigger Spark 4 only plays the trigger every 4th pass.

There are three ways to mute a note. Combining these gives you options beyond what Trigger Spark alone offers.

Here's how I might set up the same snare pattern as above so the early hit plays on passes 2 and 3 of every 4:

Step	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Note(s)					C						C		C
Step Components											Trigger Spark 4 4 4 Velocity 9 Component Spark 4 4

The early snare hit has a Trigger Spark 4 4 4, which means it will play on passes 2, 3, and 4 out of every 4. However, it also has a Velocity 9, which changes the velocity of the notes on that step to 0, effectively muting them. The Velocity 9 is paired with a Component Spark 4 4, meaning the velocity mute only applies the first of every 4 passes.

With these three step components, the step is muted on pass 1 of 4, plays on passes 2 and 3, then the trigger is ignored on pass 4.