I think they will evolve the product. The resources they put into the app itself would be a waste if they don’t. The tightness of integration is impressive. I can imagine a more “Pro” version at some point with a better build quality but its current feature set is already quite good.
I hope they add some type of sample chromatic mode and a possible chopping function but I’m not waiting on those. I’ve been able to produce some good tracks already. Once I stopped experimenting, I focused on producing and got really good results. The Seqtrak is a very capable groove box and can go head to head with any other unit: it depends on how you use it.
Seq beat : 11 tracks of just drums
Seq synth: smaller 4 piece drum kit but 6 synth tracks
Seq log: an seqtrak with analog synths, Premium, Metal Case
Seqsample: more sample tracks, more sample manipulation
Seqtrak vision: including a screen
Seqkeys: you guessed it, including an integrated midi keyboard
Yeah, I wouldn’t want any of those. Just kinda seems like the way some companies develop their products.
A pro variant with improvements in build, size, software and keys would be appreciated.
I think Yamaha should (and will) focus on the current model first. But I agree with you, if it were to become a series of more sophisticated devices, that would be amazing.
I almost sent the Seqtrak back the same day I received it. I’m grateful that I didn’t do that: After a whole weekend and two long evenings, I’m really impressed. I had a lot of frustrating moments and some things are really badly solved.
On the hardware side, the only things that really bothers me is that chunky and exotic MIDI adapter and the sticking buttons (however, I feel like this has improved over time, but the look & feel of the steps buttons still sucks).
As expander for my DT, the Seqtrak is simply not usable. The MIDI connectivity suffers from too few options like filters, channel settings, proper PC handling etc. And above all a auto channel feature. But I hope and think that Yamaha will make improvements here.
But hey, as a standalone device I wouldn’t want to be without the Seqtrak.
One thing I’m not loving is the autosave, I never want autosave on any gear because it can be too easy to accidentally change something, the same criticism applies to the OP-Z though at least that has the option to turn it off, but with no manual save either, which limits it’s usefulness. I’d prefer either a manual save only, or a lock project function, or each time it auto saves it saves the previous version to the app - kind of ironic that the app has manual saving but the hardware doesn’t.
Still, overall I think has some excellent features and functionality, it seems quite sure what it is supposed to be but at the same time allows a lot of flexibility and experimentation. I like that I have found some ways to utilise or misuse its functions beyond the surface level stuff, and the fact that samples imported can be shaped and processed quite radically through the fx, synthesis and eq in a way that most other similarly priced units cannot.
I made a few Launchpad mini templates for it which help with both performance and composition, still refining them a bit, but pretty handy and fun to have, single USB cable and bi-directional midi so that the LP serves as a visual guide for sequencing and CC values.
That bothers me too. I’m rather conservative in this respect. When Apple introduced this automatic saving back then, I was really pissed. Fortunately, most software manufacturers didn’t play this game.
Seqtrak only has the (unfortunately only temporary) snapshot function. Otherwise I use the app’s backup function, but this is more complicated than it needs to be.
Just received mine. Went with the grey & black model. Spent an hour with it. All buttons, keys, etc, work fine. Easy to use. Got something going very quickly. Like the form factor.
Will update the firmware and try the app properly later on. First impressions are good and I like what I’ve seen so far.
can you elaborate on this? or has it been outlined elsewhere already? my main issue with elektron samplers and most others is the lack of real sound design capabilities in the box
Sure, the samples each have LFO, envelope, filter - nothing unusual about that, but the filters sound really nice, then you have 2 band eq with gain and frequency to notch out or boost, then each has its own track fx which are pretty diverse covering most fx types and often multiple types within each choice, then multiple parameters to edit, then after that you have 2 fx sends for the master reverb and delay respectively, then you have another 3 master fx which everything runs through, then you have master 5 band eq, and master compressor (including multi band).
But I have to point out as a sampler it is a bit basic, I’m talking about imported samples loaded into synth or drum tracks. For sound design though possibly the most full featured groovebox WRT to fx outside of a linux SBC based groovebox.
Yes you can save everything at patch level for use in other projects, master fx and the 2 send fx are saved at project level. Thinking about it the Roland Zen-core products (MC-101/707 etc) are similar in capabilities, with some +/- but IMHO nowhere near as easy to edit due to no app, and the eyesore and interface hell that is Zenology Pro.
Auto Channel
A Auto Channel feature (see Elektron or Roland MC-101/707) would be very helpful: When using an external keyboard it is cumbersome to change the keyboard’s MIDI channel everytime I want to play another track. Auto Channel means that I can automatically play the current active track without changing the MIDI channel at the keyboard.
Changing patterns via knobs
I have to push the track knob to get a quantized pattern change. If I don’t push the knob, the pattern changes immediately. It would be more safe in a live situation when this behaviour would be vice versa (or at least an option in the settings)
More control over sampling start and end
It would be helpful if we could get a beat-synchronized sampling start and the option to specify the length of the recording in steps.
Manual saving of projects
I would like to have control over whether and when a project is saved.
Sophisticated arpeggio patterns
A large selection of arpeggio patterns has been the hallmark of so many Yamaha synths. Why does the Seqtrak only have the usual standard patterns? Where are those inspiring e. g. strumming patterns we know from MODX/Montage?
Duplication of pattern content
The (optional) duplication of already existing pattern events when increasing the length of a pattern would be a great time saver.
Fix program changes
I don’t get it how to change presets via MIDI program change. This seems to be buggy or (at least) not well documented. This is very important if you want to use the Seqtrak as a sound module for other machines.
More MIDI filters
To integrate the Seqtrak in existing setups, we need more MIDI settings, especially adjustable MIDI channel and filters. It should be at least possible to filter incoming and outgoing note events separately.
Deeper AWM2 Editing
This should be possible a little bit deeper/more detailed in the app … like the sound design settings of the DX synth.
Dedicated MIDI tracks
It would be really cool, if we had 1-3 MIDI-only tracks to control external synths.
Tiny sample editor
A small destructive sample editor (Fade-in, Fade-out, Trim, Normalize) would be a welcome addition to the app.
But I agree with you, if it were to become a series of more sophisticated devices, that would be amazing.
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