Yamaha SEQTRAK

[baris]

Thanks for beta testing everyone!

[x0x]

@disk0_Kid

My Seqtrak arrived today and it’s already in the process of being exchanged. One of the keys is noticeably less sensitive and not every push is registered. Where other keys can be pressed in the middle or at the edge, this one key won’t react to an edge press. It can be depressed without any effect and sometimes it works. The other keys respond to a press. The keys are plasticky and clicky.

Disappointing to have a faulty Seqtrak from new but hopefully I’m just unlucky and it’s not a sign of a wider problem. Replacement won’t be for several days as there were no replacement Seqtraks immediately available

See my video above. Out of interest is it the same key, the one below the record button?

I’ll be sending mine back tomorrow for sure. In fact, I don’t think I’ll be asking for a replacement. The whole unit feels extremely cheap and flimsy.

[Speldosa]

Well, I pulled the plug on this one. I “had to” make an oder with Thomann anyway, so I threw this in. I really liked the OP-Z (I’ve owned, and sold, it twice) apart from the fact that it felt like it would crumble in your hands if you grabbed it to hard. Hopefully this is a bit more sturdy.

@Microtribe

Possibly the most underwhelming promo vid I’ve ever seen.

I don’t know exactly what you refer to here (I mean, why you find it underwhelming), but this is how I feel for almost all new synth gear being released. I don’t know if it’s just the type of music that’s being played that’s not my cup of tea, but it often feels bland. I’ve never heard a track in one of these promo videos that I actually want to go back and listen to for the music itself.

@qqq

I love that the patterns can be switched for each sound individually, probably my #1 wanted feature on Elektron gear.

That’s cool, but also the fact that they can be switched instantly (which, in the Elektron universe, only is possible on the A4 and AR).

@qqq

Edit: If you could route the external input into fx/mastering in realtime, this alongside a mono synth would be a very powerful tiny setup.

I’ve searched the manual for this, but it really doesn’t seem like it’s possible. Bummer

@voidspacetime

Oh shit, GAS activated! I would buy it for aesthetics alone. Was always wondering why most music gear looks horrible with notable exceptions from Teenage Engineering and perhaps Torso. I’ll probably pass on this but I’m intrigued!

I agree. Although the black version looks really boring and quite ugly to me. Gray and orange is where it’s at

@shigginpit

that mini speaker is literally just a design decision.

You think? I thought the speaker on the OP-Z was genuinely helpful and useful (and that is much smaller). Not for mixing, but definitely for just creating the song without thinking too much about sound design. Without the speaker, I probably wouldn’t have bought this device. I don’t want to use headphones, and having to carry a speaker with you makes it much less portable.

@4Litre

I’ve seen people even now getting good use out of Yamaha grooveboxes from the 1990s. Because they are fully functional and not dependent on software aka “apps”.

Yeah, I agree that this is a somewhat worrying direction that a lot of manufacturers take. Even if you can do pretty much everything without the device (whether you’d want to is another matter), I take it that you have to use it for sample uploading. That is, I guess you can’t just open it as a storage device on your computer, dragging your content to a folder on it (like you do on the OP-Z).

@darenager

There are a bunch of “Performance 1” videos on Yamaha yt channel from various (presumably) hot right now artists, it sounds very clean and modern in all the demos, and they all seem to be that same type of generic polished EDM version of house/techno, which isn’t really a surprise but not my thing.

Hopefully some more demos will arrive once users get them, I want to hear a bit of dirt/grit.

I wonder why this always is the case. I hope it’s based on focus groups and market research. There are so many artists that I know could creating something interesting (according to me) with this device. I’m not intrigued by the demos at all.

@papertiger

I actually wonder if Loopop will be doing a video at all. Often his arrive at launch, to capture the buzz. A delayed release would be odd.

But what do I know?

Well, I haven’t really seen anyone of the usual suspects demoing it yet, so I guess the embargo is not lifted yet.

[disk0_Kid]

Yes! It’s the same button. If my replacement unit is the same, then I’ll follow you and give up on the Seqtrak until Yamaha fixes the problem. Watch this space!

[darenager]

@Speldosa

I’ve searched the manual for this, but it really doesn’t seem like it’s possible. Bummer

See below

@darenager

@monquixote

Can the master effect, and / or effect sends be applied to the line in?

I just tested it, yes it works, I tried all 3 strips and had distortion, vinyl stop, beat repeat all affecting line in.

Edit: USB audio too.

[darenager]

Did you and @x0x update your firmware, seems odd it is same button, mine is fine.

[x0x]

Yes firmware updated

[darenager]

#buttongate

The keys and overall construction are a bit shite really, I think they copied TE a bit on QC as well.

[m0ld]

This is why I’m (mostly) done being an early adopter. There’s nothing I need or want badly enough from these companies that I’m willing to beta test their shoddy work.

[robotunes]

Thanks for answering our questions.

1. Can the LFO affect multiple destinations, each with its own intensity level (my guess is they can’t)?

2. Do you get MIDI thru by turning on clock send and setting clock source to external?

3. In the app, Settings > Advanced has an option to toggle “Advanced Sound Design.” Does this reveal sound-design and utility options avaliable only via sysex? For example, using a filter envelope on Synth1 and Synth2? Or choosing to send tracks individually over USB (bottom of page 105 in the Data List manual)?

---

No matter what, I’ll be making a Novation Zero SL template to get every last ounce out of the SeqTrak.

Build quality aside, it seems perfect for my workflow. My OT’s inputs and cue outs have been waiting for this: A small, knobby groovebox with acoustic and synth sounds + performance features & multiple effects on its audio ins. Never thought I’d ever see it.

Goodbye for now, Radias and Gadget.

[aether]

The build quality is really a bummer.
For that size to be an “everyday backpack” think it would need to take bumps and hits from other statt or the backpack falling/thrown, so that I (and other) don’t need to be reminded that something fragile is in there.

Just saw other announcements (critter and guitar, a mix between recorder and looper… First thought was portable mixer, but no… And the pocket piano, deeper synth options and build quality, but this provides way more for the price.

Then the nts-1 MK2 that solves all my problems with the first one (but no price is known…) And an nts-3 kaoss pad, also without a price. The later would for a reasonable price and effects chaining be a solid contender for a master end of chain effects thingie…
But this seems to do all of those things.
It’s just the size and seeming build quality.

I honestly would have payed 200€ more if it’s
A) top notch and great feeling build in a somewhat smaller package (5 cm shorter, 1-2 cm less thick)
b) more software options (drums and samples chromatically playable, more parameters for the synths, a granular engine, loop points for samples…)

[Fabitwo]

Regarding buil quality, how does it compare with the mc 101? Is it closer to the Mc or the Opz?

@aether

so that I (and other) don’t need to be reminded that something fragile is in there.

I was constantly reminded this with the op-1f… And it costs almost 5 times more

Thanks @darenager for being available to answer our questions

[aether]

Yeah, that’s my reason why the op1, especially the field, where never an option for me.
Just to expensive for toss in and forget.
My notebook is also expensive, but I don’t have it with me all the time, so it’s easier to keep it in mind.

The opz would be fine with a hardcase… But the Bild quality stories just make me uneasy for something that would cost me 200€ more… T.T

I sat down and calculated… Over ~10-12 years I payed about 2200€ for equipment (ignoring headphones and monitors and audio interfaces, those I would have needed either way and both where well priced second hand units).

And yeah, thx @darenager

[Starscream]

Gosh, so it’s plastic and generally speaking, exudes bad quality and feel?

[aether]

Yeah no, after some thought I’m keeping my order for now.

I need a bridge between my more jammy Analogie/toyish stuff and my more compositional approach in Ableton. Something to bring those worlds together, since I just can’t start anything in Ableton anymore cince I’m sitting the whole day in front of a pc for my job.
Model cycles was to limited in that regard, so maybe it will be this. If I don’t like it I maybe really try the opz, and if I like it, maybe in 1-5 years there is a “pro” variant…

[alexbuga]

My reasoning is this:
Thomann has 30 days return period (last time I checked). I returned various products throughout the years, no questions asked. I opted for payment on arrival (wasn’t sure how long it takes).
I mean… if it’s indeed crappy quality, what can go wrong?

Heck… I even have time to film a review if I wanna become a synthtuber :))

[aether]

Sure. I also ordered through Thomann, I’m just not a fan of order and return mentality, but I’ll probably do the same if it’s not great.

I just realized: the dimensions are almost on point with old Casio keyboards… Like the PT-20

[rtme]

@darenager

The keys and overall construction are a bit shite really, I think they copied TE a bit on QC as well

It makes me very sad that poor build quality is sort of the new norm. This goes for synthesizers, grooveboxes, keyboards, mixers, etc.

This Yamaha SEQTrak build of metal with high quality sturdy buttons for €200,- / €300,- more? Would become an iconic piece of gear. Now it is very likely that a lot of them will be thrown away after a few years. And because it’s relatively cheap this “doesn’t matter” because of the price. The environmental impact though…

[x0x]

I honestly don’t think they could have built it any cheaper.

I felt a bit silly when my wife asked me how much I paid for it. I was like, yeah but it does sound good and it has loads of functions, but she had lost interest by then.

[monquixote]

It’s especially disappointing because the cheaper FDGP range are rock solid.