Squarp Instruments Hapax Polychronic Performance Sequencer

[lesstalkmoredisco]

One thing about Hapax that interestingly doesn’t get mentioned so often is how good it’s core feature works - of switching projects live (running two at a time for transitioning).

I did my first ever 1,5 hours live gig with a Hapax as brain and with everything that I was scared of with this being my first live gig, I never for a minute doubted the project switching. Just works solidly, and the way you mute/unmute tracks to transition between the the projects works exactly like I’d expect, making this part super stress free.

Interesting that this core feature isn’t too often talked about - my guess is because it just works so solidly.

Thought I’d share / for people reading this and thinking about getting one. Other people here agree or not?

[chrisroland]

yeah but you’re still limited to chaining Sections (muting/unmuting Patterns per Track) versus a true linear arranger like Deluge. it’s still better than Pyramid’s Sequences (in my brief experience before upgrading to Hapax) for actual songwriting but . . . Deluge Arranger blows it away if you want that capability in a hardware sequencer.

that said, even with all the open source additions to Deluge, it’s still no competition to Hapax on the MIDI composing side at a clip level even after less than two years and only one major firmware update from Squarp. if i could magically merge the two halves, perfect device

[mprinsen]

I agree, the dual project architecture is one of the main selling points to me! No other device that can mix and match different projects like this. Maybe Push 3 SA, but you will have to prepare one big project with all tracks in it, which kills the fun of it. With Hapax it feels a bit like DJ-ing, where you can also decide in the heat of the moment which record you will mix in next.

[RonCavagnaro]

be like me and own both?

[sacguy71]

any Cirklon v2 owners here that also have a Hapax and how does the Cirklon compare to the Hapax as far as workflow, features and so forth?

[Jeanne]

@Enthalpi

Did you send these requests to Squarp ?

Not yet, I am still collecting my thoughts. Though one would think this stuff is common sense.

And I was flabbergasted a few days ago when I tried the OXI for the first time and it was the opposite of the Hapax experience: On the Oxi, I found everything immediality and everything works as I would expect it. The encoders feel great and the function buttons are responsive. That made me a bit angry towards the Hapax and I think I sweared a bit.

[tecker]

I own both, though I’m not a power user of either yet.

From my perspective, having the pads on Hapax makes it a lot more immediate than the Cirklon. Operating the Cirklon isn’t bad or anything, it’s more that you don’t get the note input on the unit aside from using the encoders. There’s only a note preview function on the P3 type tracks, by holding the step encoder then pressing the key below. Putting notes in is mainly done using the encoders above the steps, which works, but feels a tad less quick in my experience. That or playing in the notes in real-time, or step-time, or if you’re using a CK pattern, by tapping the sculpt key (also in real time and for the selected note row).

There also is no full equivalent to the Hapax piano-roll-style input in the Cirklon, as you only get that style of visual feedback in CK patterns, and mostly on the display as the step keys only show one row/note at a time. How big of a downside for the Cirklon that is would probably vary between users, but I think the Hapax is a step above here. Note selection using the pads, and the visual feedback, and so on…

I could go on and list more detailed comparisons (and I will if you ask, of course without trying to derail this thread), but I think the most succinct way I can put it is this:

Cirklon feels very deliberate in its approach, to a greater extent than Hapax at least. Hapax, in turn, feels more exploratory to me, with a lot of more immediate tools for ‘spicing up’ a sequence, exploring alternate arrangements of patterns and so on. This is reflected in its built in probability and math parameters, the MIDI FX, the interface itself, and so on.

Example: in the Cirklon, switching patterns on a given track requires you to select a track, go to the track page and then select another pattern from a list, for any single given track. In Hapax, the most immediate equivalent action only requires you to hold the patterns button and tap a different pattern on any track. Or several at once.

To summarize - the Cirklon to me feels more like something I’d compose a piece of music on that I have a good idea of where I want to take, and the Hapax would be my go to when I want to mess around and find my way forward as I go.

[OldmanChompski]

@hausland

STEP: quick step length with 2 fingers

Does this mean you can now put the start and end of a note length by pressing two points on the grid? (How it works on Deluge and Oxi)

[tecker]

Yep, here’s the manual entry. Not sure if it’s identical to Deluge/Oxi.

[hausland]

This is an excellent description of the strengths of the Hapax and the sort of use case it definitely shines in.

I use it almost exclusively for improvised, exploratory music creation. To my knowledge it‘s the best full-featured sequencer out there for this particular use case.

[RhythmDroid]

@lesstalkmoredisco

Hapax buttons are great!

well, to each their own! I’m glad you are satisfied.
But, I mean, haven’t you used a Maschine MK3 or Push?

Functions aside, the button feel is damned near perfect, in my humble opinion.
Just the right height of the buttons, very grippy rubber, and an absolutely unambiguous mechanical “click” feeling when you’ve pushed the button down past a certain amount. Plus they are very quiet mechanically, unlike, say Rytm, AF, and OT MK1 buttons.

[mprinsen]

You should try the new 2.00 beta, you will love some of the new features!

Btw: mute + track should just work? You can change the behavior (instant or upon release) in the settings.

[Jeanne]

@mprinsen

mute + track

it doesn’t, only track + mute but i’ll check that setting if that makes a difference

[mprinsen]

Hmm can’t test atm, but I’m pretty sure it does. At least with the setting I’m on (not sure, but I think “upon release”).

Anyway, you’ll love the new MixMute mode

[lesstalkmoredisco]

Was just my way to give some counter-opinion to yours - but I agree, to each their own.

I could say though that the buttons aren’t in the category of “satisfactory” like some buttons (maybe the ones you mentioned are, to me Elekton buttons are too), but to me they are definitely good/great in that they always work (no issues), give good feedback, you can slide over them in sweep, you can rest your hands on them before pressing, etc. So in use I’ve actually come to like them.

[lesstalkmoredisco]

@Jeanne

it doesn’t, only track + mute but i’ll check that setting if that makes a difference

yes +1 on this annoyance. Although I only remember it from a while back. So either it was fixed in a firmware later then the one you’re on, or (probably) I got used to it.

(Remembering half-ish back, I even thought at some point that the mute+combo was inconsistent, where there was one way around for muting tracks whilst it did work the other way around with muting some other thing. Sorry, can’t remember the details so don’t take my full word for it - maybe you know what I’m talking about @Jeanne?) Edit: yeah for example when muting steps it does work by first pressing mute and then the step, if I remember correct. So it would be logical if same would apply to mute>track.

[Jeanne]

I just checked, mute + track [only track + mute works] still does nothing Though I can’t find the setting @mprinsen mentioned, however going by the name of it I think it’s about something different.

Also [when creating a sequence, ] trig press+turning any of the knobs (like velocity) still does nothing, I have to press again, which makes things slow.

[dokev]

Really enjoyed my first play with the new firmware. Trig preview should probably have been there from the start, but makes a big difference. Might be fairly particular to me/my setup as well, but being able to use the new Output effect to send pattern data out of additional MIDI ports/CV outs is a big deal too. Pretty nice to be able to control Assimil8or with MIDI via the Locutus expander and also get the gates out as CV to trigger my envelopes etc.

Still holding for the ability to scale the grid for automation drawing, and a major pipe dream: being able to apply conditionality to automation steps so it can finally be the supercharged version of the Elektron sequencer it’s so close to being… buuuut it’s got the thing back on my desk and remembering all the great stuff about it.

[HBIII]

I’m actually pretty excited about the screensaver lol. Now I can turn the brightness up past 10% when I am in the studio all day.

[pmatilai]

@Jeanne

Also [when creating a sequence, ] trig press+turning any of the knobs (like velocity) still does nothing, I have to press again, which makes things slow.

The Hapax (and Pyramid) workflow is to adjust things like velocity first, and then place the note. One hand on the velocity encoder, the other one for setting notes. It’s not slow at all if you operate it like intended, instead of going through an edit cycle.