1

anybody have any recommendations?

2 Likes
2

I would love to know the answer to this question, but I havenā€™t used all of the hardware sequencers yet. :smile:

Iā€™m especially interested in sequencers that can support polymeter and odd time signatures, and I am also interested in machines that have great workflow. What does ā€œbestā€ mean to you?

3

good question- i guess best means:

  • most options
  • most connectivity
  • most portability/compactness

and of course those things are all relative to each other. some people talk about the beatstep pro, thereā€™s the pyramid by squarp, i guess even the arpeggio on kickstarter right now could be a thing.

then, i suppose thereā€™s another camp of people who would suggest even something like the octatrack as the best hardware sequencerā€¦ or iPad running a certain app, aira tb-3, etc. but iā€™m mainly looking for a dedicated hardware device that more or less only does sequencing really really wellā€¦ eurorack or other modular formats also welcome!

4

Iā€™ll add Social Entropy Engine and Sequentix Cirklon to your list.

For DIYers thereā€™s Sonic Potion LXR and the Midibox sequencer.

In the modular world thereā€™s a mess of options:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/modules/browser?SearchName=&SearchVendor=&SearchFunction=11&SearchSecondaryfunction=&SearchTe=&SearchTemethod=max&SearchBuildtype=b&SearchMarketplace=&SearchIsmodeled=&SearchShowothers=&SearchShow1u=&order=popular

I was thinking pretty hard about the Beatstep Pro and the Social Entropy Engine for a while (as well as the Octatrack) but the more I think about it, the better Numerology looks to me (mac software sequencer swiss army knife).

5

Lots of hype about the beat step pro at the moment.

I love sequencing external gear with my MPC, but thatā€™s midi only.

6

I had the cirklon for a while, with cvio breakboard. A bit complicated, but weird in a good way and so many possibilities.

1 Like
7

The feature set of the beatstep pro seems pretty appealing to me, because it has a small footprint and (theoretically) would allow me to a) sync modular, midi and computer b) trigger scripts in teletype with the drum gates (via the pads or a sequence), c) send CVs via the two sequencers to other modules, and d) control midi gear/max with the knobs.

But! It sounds like the firmware is buggy as hell at the moment. There seem to be a lot of people online complaining and/or threatening to return their units.

Does anyone here own one and care to comment?

1 Like
8

the mengqimusic voltage memory has a lot of seq options

2 Likes
10

For live performance ā€“ specifically when playing with other musicians outside of the comfort of synced machines ā€“ Iā€™ve always enjoyed the Korg ER-1. It was designed as an analog modeling drum machine, but a lot of fun can be had using it to sequence synths via MIDI.

Pros:

  • Great button-feel
  • Easy to see on stage
  • Large global transport for primary start/pause/stop/reset live controls
  • TR-style sequencing
  • A great little sound engine when using it as a drum machine
  • Affordable (~$100)

Cons:

  • No CV outs
  • Mapping MIDI notes can be tedious
  • While patterns can be saved to presets, the notes that those individuals patterns trigger are a global setting which can be a bit limiting
11

Nord Modular G2ā€¦ you can do everything

12

Iā€™ve been longing for the Audiodamage Sequencer 1 for quite some time which is absolutely wonderful for the price (and even compared to more expensive pieces of gear), but itā€™s eurorack so it might not qualify. Still one of my personnal favorite.

13

Iā€™ve been intrigued by the Detachment 3 Archangel for ages, but not intrigued enough to cough up for one. Yet.

1 Like
14

Iā€™m waiting for the next batch of Pyramids. It looks great to me - http://squarp.net/index.html

1 Like
15

The Pyramid looks really nice. If the Pyramid had more CV outs it would make a much more convincing case for computer-free usage. The single CV out is a bit of a head-scratcher for me. But if Iā€™ve got to use a computer, I think Iā€™ll stick with Numerology.

16

Monome?
I think with the Max power behind it, you can pretty much implement Cirklon or any other sequencer in it. (not saying that itā€™s an easy task but itā€™s doable)

17

I would very much like to have a monome sequencer with that kind of capability. It would be a much larger project than any of the existing monome sequencers. Wish I had that kind of free time, but Iā€™d rather be making music. Thereā€™s also the fact that unless youā€™re ready to get into hardware design, monome requires a computer.

1 Like
18

The thing with large amounts of functionality crammed into the grid is, you have to remember a lot.
Reminds me of molar. an excellent app, but had to learn everthing again every time I used itā€¦
Easy apps are fun to play with and win in that regardā€¦ itā€™s a balancing act.

19

Iā€™d kind of forgotten about the Pyramid, but after taking a second look at it it does seem pretty great. Apart from the lack of multiple CV outs it fits the bill for me, and I like the aesthetics.

I read somewhere that they are planning on an expansion that would provide (I believe) several more CV and gate outs. If that comes to fruition Iā€™m soldā€¦

1 Like
20

Yes, a CV breakout box would make Pyramid more attractive.

Some more to add to the list: multiple sequencers from Genoqs, Doepfer, and Manikin.

21

Unfortunately itā€™s not available yet, but Iā€™m very interested in this kickstarter project for a squencer-arpeggiator

1 Like