What’s your opinion about the best solution for sequencing and controlling Elektrons and other Midi gear? I am curious to know if there’s some hidden gem. Ideas about hardware and software are welcomed.
What I basically need is this:
A sequencer which can of course play Midi tracks and patterns (longer than Elektrons are capable).
Also modulate CC’s
Make longer song structures of patterns and be able to loop those live
Send program change messages when you open a project and also on the fly
Sync to external MIDI (Elektrons of course)
Also would be nice to have some MIDI routing options. And of course well thought architecture and good learning curve.
Basically I have all this at the moment with my Mac and Numerology app but I fear that this won’t be forever because nothing seems to happen in terms of updating or developing it.
I am personally still torn between an Oxi One, and a Hapax sequencer. Hapax has Midi CC automation, MIDI LFO, MIDI FX. Oxi has a similar feature set, and has a smaller footprint and is cheaper. It would be nice if there is a comparision chart between both - its not a fair comparison, as both are not at the same price range, and the hapax price is double the price of the OXI.
Its also a question, what do you really need - the hapax has dual projects, and is made to seemlessly play between different songs - which is a feature the Oxi dosent have, but i dont know if that is something what would be important to you.
My “compositions” are very minimal, so a song mode is for me already a sequencer lanes
hardware: Pyramid
for NRPNs and SysEx i just use some device (e.g. iPhone) inbetween that gets CC values from Pyramid and converts them to NRPN or SysEx messages.
it does not have proper «song» structure, but workarounds are possible.
Drambo on the iPad or iPhone. Or the Mac. Very similar sequencer to the Elektron one, but also auto-extending while you record, and you can launch Ableton-like scenes.
Plus all those sweet iOS fx, and stereo (re)sampling. It’s a really great companion to the Digitone and Digitakt as it just needs a single USB cable for midi and audio
…old mpc’ with jjos…their full title was midi production center for to many good reasons, given the fact that it’s the famous acronym for a fingerdrumming one shot sampler with solid, oldschool 4tracker feel hw sequencing with linn swing…
one or two or three elektron devices, some cheasy hw synth, all master controlled by an old mpc is the best of both worlds in hw sequencing and music jam to bam set up u can have…
basically your “sequencer control” needs are the same of mine.
I solved them using a MPC one for “mother sequencer” . I know that there are more powerful machine and sequencer but i think that mpc one is a good choice.
BUT there are 2 cons.
first : you have to learn to use mpc os . It’s not rocket science, but it’s a bit different from elektron workflow.
Second: mpc os is good , but there are some annoying bug ( specially in the midi control management of external synth / using MPC like a controller for another external synth) , but there are some workaround. sending and modulating PC and CC are fine
But anyway, where’s this big Sequencer that’s on Kickstarter? I can’t remember the name or find the topic. It also had white pads and a part with tons of connections for Modular … that one really looked like a “Mother Sequencer”
I have the Squarp Pyramid and it does all you describe, I just find it “too much” if you just want to Jam. Now, if you like to sit down and really write your songs and save all these in one hardware sequencer, this is for you. PM me if you are interested in buying it and are in the EU.
Haha, actually no (that one was here: Polypulse : New synth from Lambda Synthetics and is more a grooveboxish thing, looks amazing to me at least visually ), the one I think of looks like a giant circuit tracks or circuit rhythm
I think I actually want to build one more than I want/need one. Certainly more than I have the money for it atm… ha…
That’s a pretty decent price though!
It is a good price, and no one is buying it.
I built one maybe 5 years ago, not used it yet, but one day it will have its day. Just after I built it I really got in to the Elektron way. From memory it cost me around £350 to build back then.
), the one I think of looks like a giant circuit tracks or circuit rhythm 