What is the problem?
Currently on the Polyend Play+ there is no quick way to densify (shrink) or spread out (expand) the events of a selected track or a selected range of steps.
If I want to pack a hi-hat pattern tighter, make an arp denser, open up a melody, or change how many times a loop repeats within the same space, I have to manually move every single step using the Move/Micromove function. This is slow, interrupts the creative flow, and becomes especially frustrating when working with longer patterns or multiple tracks.
It also limits precise control over the start and end points of a phrase and makes it harder to experiment with different loop densities or starting points on the fly.
What should this feature achieve?
Add a Shrink / Expand function that works on a selected track (or multiple selected tracks) or a highlighted range of steps.
Suggested control:
Hold Shift + tap the Move encoder
Upper half of the display → Shrink
Lower half of the display → Expand
This would allow the user to:
Instantly densify or open up any sequence
Better control the start and end of a phrase
Quickly create more/fewer loops or shift where loops begin within the same pattern length
Generate musical variations in seconds instead of minutes
The result would be a much more fluid and performance-oriented sequencing experience that perfectly complements the existing Move function and the overall “playful” design of the Play+.
Are there any workarounds?
Yes, but they are cumbersome:
Manually moving every step with Move / Micromove
Changing Track Length and then re-arranging events
Using the Fill tool and then cleaning up
Editing the sequence externally and re-importing
None of these preserve the fast, hands-on workflow that the Play+ is known for.
Any links to related discussions?
A related request for basic time-stretching was submitted years ago but was declined / ignored by the team: Basic Time Stretching for the Play
While that request focused on sample time-stretching, the core need for better time-manipulation tools on the Play remains. The Shrink/Expand function proposed here is different (it operates on sequencer events rather than samples) and would fit much better with the existing Move workflow and the device’s performance-oriented design.
Any references to other products?
Similar concepts exist in:
Ableton Live – time-stretching / warping of MIDI and audio clips while keeping relative event positions
Reason – scale/expand functions for selected notes or clips
Some advanced hardware sequencers and DAW piano-roll tools that allow “compress/expand selection in time”
Implementing a hardware-friendly version of this idea (via Shift + Move) would feel very natural on the Play+ and would set it further apart from other grooveboxes.