What do you recommend? What do you use and what do you down right hate in the sequencer world? Looking for a sequencer for external gear
The deluge for me
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Make a list of all the features you absolutley must have. Get the sequencer that meets those needs.
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yeah its completely different for each person, my favorites have been the Deluge and Launchpad Pro Mk3
I’m sort of glad you asked, as I’m eying up a Perfourmer but can’t for the life of me figure out what the best sequencing option would be, though perhaps that’s a question for the Perfourmer thread…
There’s not much that you can sequence on a Pefourmer. It only receives midi notes (pitch + length). No other midified parameter. So any sequencer will do. I used the OT a lot to sequence a Perfourmer and it’s nice (OT midi arps are fun!)
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If I didn’t have any Elektrons, I would be very interested in a pair of SQ-1s.
My OT does the lion’s share of sequencing duties, but it’s nice to have the NDLR & Keystep 37 around.
Ableton or Bitwig and maybe Numerology as well if you want unlimited sequencing power.
Minibrute 2s is nice for CV sequencing, and the Minibrute synth is not half bad itself.
I love sequencer and I owned/tested many.
It really depends what’s important for you. To me the most powerful is the Squarp Pyramid.
But it really depends on your workflow and in what you want to sequence.
Also in the modular world, there are many sequencing options, and you can build you own sequencer.
A very interesting idea is to consider using two sequencers. I use the Pyramid a lot, and I often add a NDLR to it, and the combo is extremely powerful.
If you have precise questions or examples of things that you would like to achieve just mention them ?
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Sequencer for what? I mean what do Cirklon, Usta or Five12 have in common except being called sequencers? There is so many options, philosophies and strengths of sequencers, you really have to know exactly what you are looking for before you get something uninspiring
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Things to consider:
- Do you want to sequence a song with at least 3 different parts (verse, chorus, bridge)?
- Do you want to sequence music that stays in one key and generally plays the same beat over and over?
- Do you prefer to play something by hand on, say, keyboard and just have the sequencer record what you play, including the timing?
- Do you prefer to program in your music instead of real time playing?
Some people use one type of sequencer only. Others use several different types, depending on needs.
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Oxi One looks pretty good on paper and in some of the demo videos, but they aren’t available quite yet. Just starting to go into production. Go check it out if you haven’t already.
I make due using an Elektron Digitone as my main sequencer and it does the job alright. Just wish it had a song mode or save pattern chains.
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The Cirklon v2, because it costs a zillion of whatever currency you use, and you won’t get one for several years
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Been hoping the Oxi One turns out as good as it seems like it will. I love the M8 sequencing itself, but the one day I tried using it to sequence my EssenceFM I was less than enamored. Kinda prefer the Octatrack for sequencing that. Honestly, the OT is a pretty great sequencer, but at times I find it a little frustrating. Maybe just need to spend more time getting faster with the arranger.
I’ve heard a few folks say they love using the Polyend Tracker as a midi sequencer. Something else to consider 
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For external gear it would have to be the Deluge if we’re talking hardware but Ableton with Push 2 is usually how I do it.
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I’ve only used knock off clones, but the AS-606 ambient sequencer is excellent for its intended purpose.
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If I were to consider a non-Elektron hardware sequencer, I’d like something with assignable modulation lanes. Is there anything out there that has that? I realize that any sequencer with CV basically can do this, but is there anything for non-CV people?
Roland MV8000 is a seriously solid stand alone sequencer. I tend to use it or the OT and then slave a couple Future Retro Mobius sequencers to them for CV. The MV does 32 midi channels so that’s kind of a big deal for me.
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For hardware sequencing I currently only have my ketstep pro. Its ok. Pretty bare bones as far as the actual sequencer and I am not a huge fan of the work flow, but it is very utilitarian and its also a keyboard (which is what it is mainly used for).
I have owned the Polyend Tracker, which is an amazing device and as a bonus is a fairly powerful sampler/synthesiszer. You can do quite a lot with it even with no hardware to control. I personally just couldn’t get used to the tracker style sequencing. To me its too similar to computer coding, which I find tedious and not fun, and I had a hard time getting inspired.
The other sequencer that I put through its paces was the NDLR. It is super fun and very interactive and straightforward to get started, but has a surprising amount of functionality that can be used to shape really cool generative sound scapes.
In modular land I really enjoy playing with the huge variety of sequencers on the market. I have used so many, but some of my greatest hits are: Euclidean Circles V.2, Memetic Digitalis, Pamela’s New Workout, Marbles, and most recently Metron. There is literally some kind of sequencer in every style you can think of (and ones you can’t) that is available in the modular relm.
One sequencer that really has my interest is the T-1. Its worth checking out if you are in the market. Seems interactive, powerful, and offers some solid functionality. The price is also not too bad, right on par with a lot of the hardware stuff out there now.
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The one that you have mastered. If you want simple sequencing many devices could do the job. Just randomly naming some pretty good sequencers to explore: Midibox SEQv4 and Pioneer Toraiz Squid. Elektrons are pretty good too.
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Korg SQ-1 is a good portable sequencer for quick and dirty basic stuff with analog and modular gear. Cirklon is supposed to be the end all be all of master sequencers if you can wait 3 years to buy one and pay 2k for one. Most of my gear now is Eurorack modular stuff except for a few hardware synths and my two Elektron boxes and I have MIDI to CV modules to sync gear up.
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