diff --git a/src/core/music/embedded.ts b/src/core/music/embedded.ts
index 7efc18b6..ec0ee016 100644
--- a/src/core/music/embedded.ts
+++ b/src/core/music/embedded.ts
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ import { findAsset, findAssetOf, type Project } from '../model/Project';
 import { assetNamedBy, renewClipIds } from '../model/sound';
 import { ASSET_FX_KEY, assetFxOf, NO_FX } from '../properties/assetFx';
 import { nextNumberedName } from '../commands/naming';
-import { PATTERN_BEAT_KEY, PATTERN_BEATS_KEY, PATTERN_TEMPO_KEY, patternInstrument } from './pattern';
+import { PATTERN_SIGN_KEY, PATTERN_TEMPO_KEY, patternInstrument } from './pattern';
 import { type SongItem, songMeter, songTempo, type SongTrack } from './song';
+import { signOf } from './time';
 
 export const EMBEDDABLE_TYPES: readonly AssetType[] = ['sound', 'pattern', 'soundfx'];
 
@@ -71,12 +72,7 @@ export function assetTitle(project: Project, asset: Asset): string {
 
 /** The tempo and the meter of a song, as the props a pattern made in it starts with. */
 export function songClockProps(props: PropertyBag): PropertyBag {
-  const meter = songMeter(props);
-  return {
-    [PATTERN_TEMPO_KEY]: songTempo(props),
-    [PATTERN_BEATS_KEY]: meter.beats,
-    [PATTERN_BEAT_KEY]: String(meter.unit),
-  };
+  return { [PATTERN_TEMPO_KEY]: songTempo(props), [PATTERN_SIGN_KEY]: signOf(songMeter(props)) };
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/music/pattern.ts b/src/core/music/pattern.ts
index fb1aa8be..8f770b87 100644
--- a/src/core/music/pattern.ts
+++ b/src/core/music/pattern.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { HIGHEST_NOTE, LOWEST_NOTE } from '../instrument/notes';
 import type { PatternAsset } from '../model/Asset';
 import { type PropertyBag, textOf } from '../model/Properties';
 import { heldLoop, type LoopRange, type Sequence } from './sequence';
-import { heldMeter, heldTempo, type Meter, ticksPerBar } from './time';
+import { DEFAULT_SIGN, heldTempo, type Meter, signMeter, ticksPerBar } from './time';
 
 export interface PatternNote {
   id: string;
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ export interface PatternNote {
 export const PATTERN_INSTRUMENT_KEY = 'instrument';
 export const PATTERN_BARS_KEY = 'bars';
 export const PATTERN_GRID_KEY = 'grid';
-export const PATTERN_BEATS_KEY = 'beats';
-export const PATTERN_BEAT_KEY = 'beat';
+export const PATTERN_SIGN_KEY = 'sign';
 export const PATTERN_TEMPO_KEY = 'tempo';
 
 export const DEFAULT_BARS = 4;
@@ -49,7 +48,6 @@ const GRIDS: readonly (readonly [string, number])[] = [
 ];
 
 export const GRID_OPTIONS = GRIDS.map(([value]) => ({ value, label: value }));
-export const BEAT_OPTIONS = [1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32].map((unit) => ({ value: String(unit), label: `1/${unit}` }));
 
 export function gridTicks(grid: string): number {
   return (GRIDS.find(([value]) => value === grid) ?? GRIDS[4]!)[1];
@@ -66,10 +64,7 @@ function wholeNumber(
 }
 
 export function patternMeter(props: PropertyBag): Meter {
-  return heldMeter({
-    beats: wholeNumber(props[PATTERN_BEATS_KEY], 4, 1, 32),
-    unit: Number(textOf(props[PATTERN_BEAT_KEY] ?? '4')),
-  });
+  return signMeter(textOf(props[PATTERN_SIGN_KEY] ?? DEFAULT_SIGN));
 }
 
 export function patternTempo(props: PropertyBag): number {
diff --git a/src/core/music/song.ts b/src/core/music/song.ts
index 43f18bf6..eb2730ed 100644
--- a/src/core/music/song.ts
+++ b/src/core/music/song.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { findSound } from '../model/sound';
 import { pickedFx } from '../properties/assetFx';
 import { gridTicks, GRID_OPTIONS, patternInstrument, patternLength } from './pattern';
 import { heldLoop, type LoopRange, type Sequence, type SequenceClip, type SequenceNote } from './sequence';
-import { heldMeter, heldTempo, type Meter, secondsOfTicks, ticksPerBar } from './time';
+import { DEFAULT_SIGN, heldTempo, type Meter, secondsOfTicks, signMeter, ticksPerBar } from './time';
 
 export interface SongTrack {
   id: string;
@@ -59,26 +59,6 @@ export const SONG_TEMPO_KEY = 'tempo';
 export const SONG_SIGN_KEY = 'sign';
 export const SONG_GRID_KEY = 'grid';
 
-/** The time signatures a song is written in (#363), one row for both numbers. */
-export const SIGNS: readonly string[] = [
-  '1/2',
-  '2/2',
-  '3/2',
-  '1/4',
-  '2/4',
-  '3/4',
-  '4/4',
-  '5/4',
-  '6/4',
-  '5/8',
-  '6/8',
-  '7/8',
-  '8/8',
-  '9/8',
-];
-export const DEFAULT_SIGN = '4/4';
-export const SIGN_OPTIONS = SIGNS.map((sign) => ({ value: sign, label: sign }));
-
 export const DEFAULT_SONG_GRID = 'bar';
 export const SONG_GRID_OPTIONS = [{ value: 'bar', label: 'Bar' }, ...GRID_OPTIONS];
 /** A new song has this many tracks. */
@@ -97,11 +77,8 @@ export function itemMaxDb(kind: SongItemKind): number {
   return kind === 'sound' ? SOUND_ITEM_MAX_DB : 0;
 }
 
-/** The meter of a song's sign; 4/4 where it is not one of `SIGNS`. */
 export function songMeter(props: PropertyBag): Meter {
-  const sign = textOf(props[SONG_SIGN_KEY] ?? DEFAULT_SIGN);
-  const [beats, unit] = (SIGNS.includes(sign) ? sign : DEFAULT_SIGN).split('/');
-  return heldMeter({ beats: Number(beats), unit: Number(unit) });
+  return signMeter(textOf(props[SONG_SIGN_KEY] ?? DEFAULT_SIGN));
 }
 
 export function songTempo(props: PropertyBag): number {
diff --git a/src/core/music/time.ts b/src/core/music/time.ts
index 6cbb77d0..a330ee58 100644
--- a/src/core/music/time.ts
+++ b/src/core/music/time.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,36 @@ export function heldMeter(meter: Meter): Meter {
   return { beats, unit };
 }
 
+/** The time signatures a song or a pattern is written in (#363, #364), one row for both numbers. */
+export const SIGNS: readonly string[] = [
+  '1/2',
+  '2/2',
+  '3/2',
+  '1/4',
+  '2/4',
+  '3/4',
+  '4/4',
+  '5/4',
+  '6/4',
+  '5/8',
+  '6/8',
+  '7/8',
+  '8/8',
+  '9/8',
+];
+export const DEFAULT_SIGN = '4/4';
+export const SIGN_OPTIONS = SIGNS.map((sign) => ({ value: sign, label: sign }));
+
+/** The meter of a sign; 4/4 where it is not one of `SIGNS`. */
+export function signMeter(sign: string): Meter {
+  const [beats, unit] = (SIGNS.includes(sign) ? sign : DEFAULT_SIGN).split('/');
+  return heldMeter({ beats: Number(beats), unit: Number(unit) });
+}
+
+export function signOf(meter: Meter): string {
+  return `${meter.beats}/${meter.unit}`;
+}
+
 /** A tempo between `MIN_TEMPO` and `MAX_TEMPO`; 0 and anything that is not a number is the default. */
 export function heldTempo(tempo: number): number {
   if (!Number.isFinite(tempo) || tempo <= 0) return DEFAULT_TEMPO;
diff --git a/src/core/properties/PropertySchema.ts b/src/core/properties/PropertySchema.ts
index 988f38a9..4440a1fb 100644
--- a/src/core/properties/PropertySchema.ts
+++ b/src/core/properties/PropertySchema.ts
@@ -105,28 +105,24 @@ import { SHADER_KEY, shaderOf, shaderParamDefs } from './shaders';
 import { SHADER_RESOLUTION_KEY, SHADER_RESOLUTION_OPTIONS } from './cameraShader';
 import { LOOP_KEY as SOUND_LOOP_KEY, VOLUME_KEY as SOUND_VOLUME_KEY } from './sounds';
 import {
-  BEAT_OPTIONS,
   DEFAULT_BARS,
   DEFAULT_GRID,
   GRID_OPTIONS,
   MAX_BARS,
   PATTERN_BARS_KEY,
-  PATTERN_BEAT_KEY,
-  PATTERN_BEATS_KEY,
   PATTERN_GRID_KEY,
   PATTERN_INSTRUMENT_KEY,
+  PATTERN_SIGN_KEY,
   PATTERN_TEMPO_KEY,
 } from '../music/pattern';
 import {
-  DEFAULT_SIGN,
   DEFAULT_SONG_GRID,
-  SIGN_OPTIONS,
   SONG_GRID_KEY,
   SONG_GRID_OPTIONS,
   SONG_SIGN_KEY,
   SONG_TEMPO_KEY,
 } from '../music/song';
-import { DEFAULT_TEMPO, MAX_TEMPO, MIN_TEMPO } from '../music/time';
+import { DEFAULT_SIGN, DEFAULT_TEMPO, MAX_TEMPO, MIN_TEMPO, SIGN_OPTIONS } from '../music/time';
 import { ASSET_FX_KEY } from './assetFx';
 import { BUS_FX_KEY, BUS_INTO_KEY, BUS_KEY, BUS_VOLUME_KEY } from './buses';
 import { Theme } from '../../ui';
@@ -737,17 +733,7 @@ const ASSET_SCHEMAS: Record<AssetType, PropertySchema> = {
       decimals: 0,
     },
     { key: PATTERN_GRID_KEY, label: 'Grid', kind: 'enum', default: DEFAULT_GRID, options: GRID_OPTIONS },
-    {
-      key: PATTERN_BEATS_KEY,
-      label: 'Beats per bar',
-      kind: 'number',
-      default: 4,
-      min: 1,
-      max: 32,
-      step: 1,
-      decimals: 0,
-    },
-    { key: PATTERN_BEAT_KEY, label: 'Beat', kind: 'enum', default: '4', options: BEAT_OPTIONS },
+    { key: PATTERN_SIGN_KEY, label: 'Sign', kind: 'enum', default: DEFAULT_SIGN, options: SIGN_OPTIONS },
     {
       key: PATTERN_TEMPO_KEY,
       label: 'Tempo (BPM)',
diff --git a/tests/core/embedded.test.ts b/tests/core/embedded.test.ts
index 037e479a..67f578f5 100644
--- a/tests/core/embedded.test.ts
+++ b/tests/core/embedded.test.ts
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ describe('a pattern made in a song (#355)', () => {
   it('hides only its bus, not its clock, length, instrument or sound FX (#363)', () => {
     const { make } = withPatterns();
     const own = make();
-    const keys = ['bus', 'tempo', 'beats', 'beat', 'bars', 'instrument', 'fx'];
+    const keys = ['bus', 'tempo', 'sign', 'bars', 'instrument', 'fx'];
     expect(keys.map((k) => isRowHiddenWhenEmbedded(own, k))).toEqual([
       true,
       false,
@@ -319,7 +319,6 @@ describe('a pattern made in a song (#355)', () => {
       false,
       false,
       false,
-      false,
     ]);
   });
 
@@ -348,7 +347,7 @@ describe('a pattern made in a song (#355)', () => {
     expect([patternTempo(copy.props), patternMeter(copy.props).beats]).toEqual([120, 4]);
     const other = new CreateAssetCommand('song', 'Other');
     f.stack.execute(other);
-    const theirs = new CreateAssetCommand('pattern', 'Theirs', { bars: 1, beats: 5 }, other.asset.id);
+    const theirs = new CreateAssetCommand('pattern', 'Theirs', { bars: 1, sign: '5/4' }, other.asset.id);
     f.stack.execute(theirs);
     edit([
       ...song().items,
diff --git a/tests/core/pattern.test.ts b/tests/core/pattern.test.ts
index 10cf83f9..5739f58c 100644
--- a/tests/core/pattern.test.ts
+++ b/tests/core/pattern.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   patternSequence,
   patternTempo,
 } from '../../src/core/music/pattern';
+import { SIGN_OPTIONS } from '../../src/core/music/time';
 import { schemaForAsset } from '../../src/core/properties/PropertySchema';
 import { makeProject, roundTrip } from '../helpers';
 
@@ -52,8 +53,7 @@ describe('pattern asset (#333)', () => {
       'instrument',
       'bars',
       'grid',
-      'beats',
-      'beat',
+      'sign',
       'tempo',
       'fx',
       'bus',
@@ -70,11 +70,22 @@ describe('pattern asset (#333)', () => {
   it('measures its length in bars of its meter: 3 bars of 6/8 are 4320 ticks', () => {
     const f = makePattern();
     f.set('bars', 3);
-    f.set('beats', 6);
-    f.set('beat', '8');
+    f.set('sign', '6/8');
     expect(patternLength(f.pattern())).toBe(3 * 6 * 240);
   });
 
+  it('picks its meter from the signs a song has too, 4/4 for any other (#364)', () => {
+    const f = makePattern();
+    f.set('sign', '9/8');
+    expect(patternMeter(f.pattern().props)).toEqual({ beats: 9, unit: 8 });
+    f.set('sign', '12/8');
+    expect(patternMeter(f.pattern().props)).toEqual({ beats: 4, unit: 4 });
+    expect(schemaForAsset(f.project, f.pattern()).find((d) => d.key === 'sign')).toMatchObject({
+      kind: 'enum',
+      options: SIGN_OPTIONS,
+    });
+  });
+
   it('holds notes to whole ticks, a tick at least, the keyboard and 0 to 1, sorted, ids unique', () => {
     const held = heldPatternNotes([
       { id: 'b', tick: 480.4, length: 0.2, note: 64, velocity: 2 },
diff --git a/tools/e2e/64-pattern.mjs b/tools/e2e/64-pattern.mjs
index e74cf0a8..1b5709b4 100644
--- a/tools/e2e/64-pattern.mjs
+++ b/tools/e2e/64-pattern.mjs
@@ -492,8 +492,7 @@ export async function pattern(t) {
     const p = __gm.state.project.assets.find((a) => a.id === ${JSON.stringify(id)});
     p.props.tempo = 150;
     p.props.bars = 1;
-    p.props.beats = 4;
-    p.props.beat = '4';
+    p.props.sign = '4/4';
     p.notes = [60, 62, 64, 65].map((note, i) => ({ id: 'pt64-n' + i, tick: i * 480, length: 240, note, velocity: 1 }));`);
   await showTab('scene');
   const rig = await scaffoldBehavior(t, {
diff --git a/tools/e2e/65-song.mjs b/tools/e2e/65-song.mjs
index 9f6d5bce..4c8a2657 100644
--- a/tools/e2e/65-song.mjs
+++ b/tools/e2e/65-song.mjs
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ export async function song(t) {
       madePattern.props.bars === 1 &&
       madePattern.props.instrument === 'sg65-ins' &&
       madePattern.props.tempo === 120 &&
-      madePattern.props.beats === 4 &&
+      madePattern.props.sign === '4/4' &&
       madeTab.tab === 'pattern' &&
       madeTab.title === `${songName} › Pattern 1` &&
       madeTab.row === null,