Definition
Note Repeat is a feature that retriggers whatever pad you hold at a fixed rhythmic interval, turning a single held press into an even stream of hits.
Example
Hold a hi-hat pad with Note Repeat set to sixteenth notes and you get a steady run of sixteenth hi-hats for as long as you hold it. Switch the rate to thirty-second notes or triplets and the same held pad produces a faster or shuffled stream instead.
Why it matters
Some patterns are simply faster than fingers can play cleanly. Note Repeat lets you produce machine-even rolls, hi-hat runs, and trap-style figures without drilling the speed first, and because it is rhythm-locked the output always stays in time with the sequencer.
How to play or configure
Hold the Note Repeat button, choose a rate from the on-screen divisions, and press the pad you want to repeat. Many devices let velocity or aftertouch shape the repeated hits, so you can crescendo a roll by pressing harder. Combine it with swing for a looser feel, and release the pad cleanly so the pattern does not pick up a stray extra hit.
Related terms
Further reading
MPC vs Maschine vs Push compares each device's repeat feature.