Best hardware sequencer

StinkyBeat · 2014-01-22T14:36:19.000Z

[quote=“” PES""]
I haven’t tried it yet, so it’s not my opinion but more of a qualified guess, but I think that the E-MU Command Station is up there some place. Does all three recording types, supports grid recording while playing back etc.

Interface seems a joy, with separate buttons for trig input and playing (think Analog Four). And regarding playing: the pads transmit velocity and aftertouch! Also there are 16 knobs that can correspond to the 16 steps of a sequence, to edit things like velocity and gate time (they are also used to edit onboard synth patches, and can also be assigned to transmit any MIDI CC#s).

All it seems to lack from what I’ve read (as far as my not-too-exotic requirements go), is the ability to transpose tracks live (like you can on the Analog Four, RM1x etc), though there might be a workaround to at least be able to do one interval using the touch strip.

They are cheap too, and as a nice bonus they include a quite sophisticated ROMpler engine.
[/quote]

Sold my XL-7 to help fund my MD a few years back. It had great power and flexibility. I liked the grid and live sequencing modes, not so much the step mode. Overall, too much need to read a tiny screen and way way too much use of the big knob. It was a fun sucker. I missed many features when I switched to the MD, but was more productive and more satisfied with the end product.

Mannity_Joseph · 2014-01-22T14:44:41.000Z

There’s the Genoqs Octopus and Nemo which are impressive looking units that are great for step sequencing with some great randomization and direction features. Expensive and impractical but I still think it’s cool.

http://www.analoguehaven.com/genoqs/octopus/

Daisuk · 2014-01-22T22:42:02.000Z

The Cirklon is great, feature rich and tight as hell, but in the end, I think its display lets it down a bit. It’s a bit too small, and some of the design decisions regarding how it shows information isn’t all that great, in my opinion. I ended up selling mine because of it.

I have to say, if someone comes up with a hardware only version of the Push - that’s going to blow the other ones out of the water. The Push is so intuitive and fun to use, but unfortunately, you have to use it with Live and a computer.

I’ve spent the last year looking for the “master sequencer”, but have ended up selling them all (Maschine MK1, Sequentix Cirklon, Maschine Studio, Ableton Push), and have now just settled on using the Octatrack as the brain, and I quite enjoy it so far.

DEEPMOSES · 2014-01-22T22:52:39.000Z

""shinobi"":

Which is it in ur opinions?
To be able to record as many measures as possible, to sequence at least 16 tracks, with more than one midi note per channel(at least 3).
To have all types of recording: step, xox and live play from the ext keyboard.

For the features you mention, for the money, some nifty tricks and great fun to use…hands down the Yamaha RM1X

OSCar · 2014-01-22T22:56:18.000Z

Always boils down to needs and personal opinion.

I think the Yamaha QY700 has been my all time favourite with the Akai ASQ10 running a very close second on a straight up sequencing front. Always preferred the RS7000 over the RM1x.
I really something like the QY700 with 4 midi outs / CV gate outs / 64 midi channels and a configurable controller interface - some 20 odd knobs and realtime pattern switching on the fly would be my ideal in many respects.
Love the look of the Cirklon and have always wanted to try a Genoq’s Octo[pus but spent many a year with the Alesis MMT and was quite happy (well happier than I was on an Atari 1040 running Pro 24).

DEEPMOSES · 2014-01-22T23:31:27.000Z

No experience with the RS7000, but sounds like a souped up RM1X which can only be a good thing

smokyfrog · 2014-01-22T23:43:15.000Z

""Daisuk"":

The Cirklon is great, feature rich and tight as hell, but in the end, I think its display lets it down a bit. It’s a bit too small, and some of the design decisions regarding how it shows information isn’t all that great, in my opinion. I ended up selling mine because of it.

I love Cirklon but personally I think the display may be too big. Maybe what you need is a P3.

Daisuk · 2014-01-23T00:16:25.000Z

""smokyfrog"":

[quote=“Daisuk”]The Cirklon is great, feature rich and tight as hell, but in the end, I think its display lets it down a bit. It’s a bit too small, and some of the design decisions regarding how it shows information isn’t all that great, in my opinion. I ended up selling mine because of it.

I love Cirklon but personally I think the display may be too big. Maybe what you need is a P3. :)[/quote]
Too big? Hmm, that’s a strange one! Hehe, but each to their own. I don’t know, I think I’ve decided that there really isn’t a need for a “one catch all” sequencer. Unless somone comes up with a hardware type of Push, of course.

PES · 2014-01-23T02:07:26.000Z

""Daisuk"":

I don’t know, I think I’ve decided that there really isn’t a need for a “one catch all” sequencer.

After having mainly used a stationary setup built around a DAW running Sonar, where all hardware was connected so that I could easily use everything with no hassle, I’ve turned things on the head lately.

Now the studio is torn apart, and I keep making small setups based around mainly the Analog Four (so far) and hardware chosen for the occasion.

Recently I got the RM1x to add proper MIDI sequencing to my OTB escapades (I only had Electribes from before), and an XL-7 is on the way just for the sake of workflow variety.

Basically I think it’s far more inspiring to make music when the approach changes from time to time, rather than sticking to some “ultimate solution”. Some times it’s nice to have the endless possibilities a DAW gives, while other times it feels more liberating to work with a small selection of hardware (where the different units have their own quirks and limitations).

Anigbrowl · 2014-01-23T08:18:45.000Z

""cosmosuave"":

LFO - Why are you selling your SEQV4?

Yeah I really want one of those things, but have lacked experience to take it on, but I might try this year but I’m not a big DIYer… What do they go for, and I too wonder why you’d sell, it looks awesome.

LFO · 2014-01-23T08:50:02.000Z

powerful but maybe too much for me, plus i really love standalone box (sound +seq, and think i will really give a chance to a mpc 1000 this time, as i love sample but the md isntn enough for me on this side.

teevee · 2014-01-23T09:44:44.000Z

""jeffe"":

hardware mpc

+1!

roger_linn_mpc60_prototype.png867×490 796 KB

seaborg · 2014-01-23T10:35:06.000Z

""shinobi"":

Which is it in ur opinions?
To be able to record as many measures as possible, to sequence at least 16 tracks, with more than one midi note per channel(at least 3).
To have all types of recording: step, xox and live play from the ext keyboard.

As others have said an MPC will do this; I recently picked up an mpc 5000 which had 4 midi outs and two midi ins. Can do step recording, quasi xox, has a very high resolution which will be noticeable when playing keys from ext keyboard. Can send CC to your synths, but what i like is that you can record these midi messages and edit them via the sliders with ease, or step record, and there is like four sliders and 8 knobs freely assignable!

volcarock · 2014-09-09T10:06:17.000Z

in my opinion the RPE SEQ12 is the best computer-free hardware matrix step sequencer . It has 12 tracks (genoQs only 10 and without display) , the Monome needs computer to play.

I used the Yamaha RM1x and the Analogue Solutions Europe before. There are worlds in-between. Now I can do anything without stopping the machine

The SEQ12 is developed and built by a nice one-man company in Germany and it’s software is open source. here is a link to the company: for those who are interested: http://www.rpeberlin.de

Droolmaster0 · 2014-09-10T20:51:45.000Z

One of the difficulties of these threads is that people are comparing very different sorts of tools. MPC versus the Cirklon?

The RPE sounds interesting. I’ve never encountered anyone who has actually used one. Specs and demos just don’t cut it (imo) when you’re talking about a sequencer…

I’ve used an awful lot of them, and I come from the basic vantage point of wanting something modeled on the analog step sequencer experience. Of course, midi can take you much further in different ways - multiple tracks with some degree of independence, live recording, polyphony, algorythmic options (the cirklon is great for this) - but midi also has severe limitations. With a good analog sequencer, you go way beyond the limitations of midi tempo for instance, and even play the cv as audio when you go fast enough - controlling the waveforms with the knobs/faders, etc…lots more immediacy usually with an analog sequencer - individual step gates, various ways of clocking from various analog outputs, etc…

Brief comments on some of the midi sequencers. Of course, these are mostly subjective, and I’m rather opinionated.

Octopus - really powerful, and easy to use for the basics. But the lack of a display means that you have to remember lots of esoteric key combinations, and they are very easy to forget. The manual sucks pretty much, so it can be hard to find stuff. the manufacturers basically bailed on users a few years ago, so I’m not sure if there is any support available now.

Nemo - a downscaled Octopus, but to the point that you can’t drill down for the kind of overarching info you can get on the octopus. MUCH harder to use, therefore. I had one for a day, and returned it.

Schrittmacher - in many ways my favorite. I didn’t have any midi gear for awhile, so I sold mine, but wish I still had it. It doesn’t have stuff like chords, live recording, song structures, etc - but has tremendous flexibility with timing and intertrack modulation - in some ways more flexible than the cirklon.

cirklon - all in all, the most powerful, but I don’t care about song structures and some of the overhead that you have to deal with, so I preferred the Schrittmacher. But I’d like to try one again at some point. Great things you can do with modulation, probability, accumulators, etc.

hmmmm - can’t think of others right now. Obviously this isn’t the thread for true analog sequencers…

shinobi · 2022-11-10T00:25:56.853Z

Squid, Hapax, Force, Octatrack? Which would be best for all out sequencing in the studio?

sacguy71 · 2022-11-10T00:34:13.502Z

I’m really enjoying the Winter Modular Eloquencer sequencer and with the expander it can support MIDI in addition to CV. I have two of them and lots of options to create song mode and save presets plus the ability to view all 8 track sequences on one screen and change them on the fly is super awesome. Not to mention modes like random, pendulum and reverse are fun. Erica Synths Black Sequencer and Vector 512 are great as well. I’ve not tried a Cirklon but hear it’s the bee’s knees of hardware sequencers.

therockfrog · 2022-11-10T00:51:35.990Z

Linear sequencing, Hapax, Force. Step. OT.

For me!

shinobi · 2022-11-10T00:58:01.063Z

Which u like most and why?

chaocrator · 2022-11-10T01:15:17.853Z

there’s no such thing as „the best hardware sequencer“.
there are great hardware sequencers.
but great things are very rarely perfect.

PS.
my favs (current): Pyramid, Oxi One, Elektron, MC-707/101, Circuit Tracks.
my favs (of old times): Command Station, MC-80, RM1x.
all of them have cool features and disadvantages.