Petal.THE FIELD GUIDE / iOS APP
BUILD YOUR RIG / 05
ONE CHANGE, MANY DEVICES

Your whole rig.
One musical idea.

A patch groups saved device presets so you can reuse the same combination in different songs.

Preset combinationsColor-coded
01

Create a patch.

  1. Open Patches and tap +.
  2. Give the patch a name.
  3. Add the device presets you want it to include.
  4. Save the patch, then use it as a reusable event in a song.

For example, an illustrative “Wide chorus” patch might combine a modulation preset on one device with a delay preset on another. The patch stores the preset references; configure the actual MIDI messages in the presets.

02

Read the patch platters.

Each platter shows the patch name and colored dots representing its presets. Each dot uses the referenced preset’s device background color. Up to ten dots are shown in two rows of five.

Patches are alphabetically sorted. Tap one to edit it. Its context menu offers Duplicate, Send To, and Delete.

03

When to use a patch.

ChooseWhen you need
Device presetA saved instruction or collection of messages for one device.
PatchA reusable combination of device presets across your rig.
Timeline eventA preset or patch change at a particular musical position.

Start with a few well-tested presets. Build patches from those pieces, rather than copying the same MIDI instructions into many songs.

Your music. Your cues. Your moment.Guide edition · October 2026
The basics / Meet PetalMeet Petal

A field guide to turning your MIDI rig into a performance that moves with your music. Build the changes once. Be present when they happen.

The basics / Meet PetalYour performance, connected.

Petal is an iOS app for organizing MIDI devices, reusable sounds, song timelines, and performances. A compatible connected controller handles th…

The basics / Meet PetalFour tabs. One connected rig.

♫ ↗ Songs Your library of songs, musical structure, and timed changes. ☷ ↗ Performances Arrange your songs into the order the nig…

The basics / Meet PetalFind your starting point.

New rig? Follow Your first performance . Already have sounds saved? Jump to the timeline . At rehearsal with something not responding? Open T…

The basics / Your first performanceYour first performance

Start small: one device, one saved preset, one song. Get that working before building your whole show.

The basics / Your first performanceA simple setup, step by step.

Sign in to Petal Choose Apple, phone, or Google on the welcome screen. Complete the provider’s sign-in flow. Sign-in is portrait; the authent…

The basics / Your first performanceBefore you press Play.

Check three things: connection , receiving channel , and saved changes . Keep your test message simple enough that you can hear or see the re…

The basics / Your first performanceBuild up in layers.

Once one cue works, add a second device or create a patch that combines several presets. Then add timed changes, ramps, and the rest of your p…

The basics / Connect your rigConnect your rig

Petal supports compatible MIDI controllers over USB or Bluetooth. The connected controller bridges your song program to your MIDI gear.

The basics / Connect your rigConnect with USB.

Connect your supported controller to the iPhone or iPad using the appropriate USB cable or adapter. Open Petal and allow it to discover and ve…

The basics / Connect your rigPair over Bluetooth.

Enable Bluetooth and grant Petal Bluetooth permission. Put the compatible controller in its normal advertising state and keep it close to your…

The basics / Connect your rigSeparate the two MIDI channels.

Your rig has two different channel choices. A device’s MIDI channel targets the gear receiving its preset messages. Petal’s Incoming MIDI cha…

The basics / Connect your rigWhen the connection changes.

Petal synchronizes playback timing with the connected device when the active transport changes and refreshes the clock mapping periodically. Let…

Build your rig / Devices & presetsDevices & presets

Devices hold the details your MIDI messages need: channel, controls, colors, and saved presets.