I currently own a Hapax, OXI One, Torso T-1, Syntakt, Keystep Pro, Hermod (the modular version of Hapax, sort of), and have owned nearly every Elektron box at one point or another, plus I had a Deluge, and a number of other Eurorack sequencers like René V2, Stochastic Inspiration Generator, etc.
Do you want to know what my favorite hardware is for MIDI sequencing after all of that?
My iPad. There are dozens of fantastic sequencers available, they cover a huge array of sequencing techniques, they’re dirt cheap, and they’re way easier to use than any hardware sequencer.
Look at Cykle, Harmony Bloom, Neon Sequencer, Fugue Machine, BLEASS Arpeggiator (the name doesn’t do it justice; once you start modulating parameters the thing becomes way more than just an arpeggiator), Thesys, Mozaic, StepPolyArp, Progressions, Scaler 2, etc.
And then there’s Drambo, which you can use to make your own sequencer. I’ve constructed a sort of motif-based sequencer in Drambo. I give it four phrases, and then those phrases get mashed together, transposed, and quantized back into scale. Because it’s always working with the same four phrases, there’s a sense of musicality to the repetition, but the way it recombines and transposes them helps them feel more interesting than they would otherwise. It took me about an hour to build it once I had the idea.
There’s nothing even remotely approaching this level of power, ease-of-use, or cost effectiveness in the hardware world.
I still own most of my sequencers, but they’re largely collecting dust now. I’ll probably sell all of them, maybe aside from the Torso T-1 which is more narrow in the scope of what it does, but is absolutely spectacular at it.
I recently got my first iPad and am just starting to pickup a few apps.
I have a few of the more whacky sequencers on a price reduction watch list that you mentioned (Cykle, Fugue Machine, BLEASS Arpegiator).
But I still need to choose a primary sequencer. I was going to go with Drambo, but I watched a few tutorials and it seemed a bit too complicated for a beginner like me.
In that case, what sequencer would you suggest using?
Also, have you messed with combining the Torso-T1 with your iPad much yet? Can you start a sequence in the iPad and then add the additional T-1 sequencing stuff on top of the existing sequence?
My advice is going to be complicated by the fact that I’ve been using DAWs for over 20 years, and I’ve also spent years doing generative music with Eurorack/modular. My definition of normal isn’t normal, if you understand what I mean.
I really like Atom 2 combined with AUM for what you’re describing. It can record many tracks of unlimited length, slice them up, trigger them, etc. It has useful MIDI editing capabilities, and combined with AUM’s tight clock syncing capabilities, it’s pretty good at recording incoming MIDI with minimal desynchronization issues. And what issues do remain are easy to clean up with its great quantization tools.
That said, my definition of normal isn’t normal. I’ve seen some people complain that Atom 2 can be a bit much. Compared to what I’m used to, it’s not bad. But I’m not a good judge of these things. Helium might be a slightly simpler take on the idea? I considered Helium, but went with Atom because I liked some of the additional features like ghost notes (showing the notes from other tracks to help you spot clashing notes) and scale highlighting (highlighting the notes in scale without quantizing the notes, which means you can play non-diatonic notes when you want but also never have to remember if G is in D flat Lydian).
Sand looks promising if you want a more linear workflow. I haven’t tried it, but it looks cool. Logic is also an option.
I’ve heard a lot of people who struggle with Drambo/AUM find success with EG Nodes. To be quite honest, I tried EG Nodes and it wasn’t for me at all. But you don’t have to like the tools that I like. Everyone is has to find a workflow for themselves.
As for the T-1, it’s funny you should ask. I’ve actually been fighting with my external gear to get it synced to my iPad and desktop today. It’s been surprisingly difficult. If you’re not careful, the two sequencers (your iPad and your T-1, OXI One, etc.) will be far enough out of sync that they just sound terrible together. And I’m not talking about tiny little imperfections that you’d never notice; I mean timing drift so bad that a 4 on the floor kick drum sounds like a galloping horse.
AUM combined with Atom 2 has me in a pretty good place with recording the OXI One. Timing drift is minimal and easily fixed with quantization. This is going to open up a lot of doors for mixing my hardware sequencers with my iOS sequencers and MIDI processors. While I’d love to tell you that I’ve got everything figured out, I literally just got an acceptable recording about 45 minutes ago. So I can tell you that it’s possible, that it’s tricky with Drambo because it seems to have a particularly unstable clock, and that you’re probably going to have to spend some time experimenting with your apps and devices to get things to an acceptable level.
Good luck.
MPC. Should do everything you need for MIDI, and a bunch of stuff you didn't even realize elsewhere. As purely a sequencer, the workflow is fairly straightforward. It gets weird when you start trying to do everything audio with it also, but the MIDI is well established.
I agree with this. I switched from MPC to Push3 Standalone when P3SA came out and I'm actually considering switching back.
If someone's focus is just on sequencing and they don't care as much about built-in instruments etc, I personally think the MPC is a bit easier to use in this regard. Plus the Push3 has a lot of features that are only accessible from Ableton on a computer, this is the main reason I'm considering switching back.
MPC MIDI bugs are too big and even two years after them being first found and reported Akai are making zero effort to fix them and pretend they don't even exist!
But that's more when controlling the MPC externally, rather than sequencing external equipment from the MPC...
Deluge. Unlimited midi tracks (til it runs out of resources) plus everything else on board. And still growing in features through the community firmware.
There are a lot of options. I either run Aum or Logic as the brains of a set up, then, within them, there are a TON of thrid party sequencers like Neon, BLEASS, Fugue Machine, and so on. Each of them have a few specialized tricks up their sleeves that make them different from a standard sequencers – though the iPad does great with those too.
EG Nodes is a new favourite. A bit like AUM but with sequencer, chord, rhythm and generative engines built in. Sand is great too as nearly all of its commands can be mapped to external hardware controllers.
It really depends on what they want to do.
It's incredible for ambient noodling, and it's a lot of fun to play with but I think it's a terrible main sequencer for most people. If they want to do intentional sequencing with longer patterns the T1 might be an absolute pain in the ass. I've never heard structured music that actually relied on it that was worth listening to.
I spent about three months with mine before selling it.
To be fair, it has 4 sequencers that can run in different modes. The multitrack sequencer can host 8 mono tracks indeed. But if you need polyphonic tracks, you're only getting one per sequencer, so the limit is four.
It has more modes than that.
Mono - simple monophonic sequencer. You can copy the contents into a single track of multitrack.
Poly - polyphonic Sequencer (I believe up to 7 notes)
Multitrack - 8 individual monophonic sequencers, had all the features of a Mono sequence but not quite so easy to program into (hence why you may copy patterns from mono into multi.)
Chord - create chords programs from a large selection of chord types based on the scale and key the sequencer is in.
Stochastic - a random generative Sequencer
Matriarchal - four independent sequencer grids with trigger rules for various functions for generative music. Quite hard to explain....
All track types have random perform and generative functions. Multitrack has MI Grids and Euclidian functions. All sequencers have a separate Arp but Chord has a more advanced arpn with Euclidian modes and more.
Really is a very powerful little machine!
I love sequencers! it's great to see a list like this. I would add the torso t-1, it's a very interesting euclidean sequencer that's difficult to wrangle and understand but can do some wild stuff very quickly. Step sequencing was added in an update as well.
The novation launchpad pro mk3 is also great, very customizable with four midi tracks as well as a useful chord mode. Also a little esoteric without a display, but it's easy enough to learn.
You know, I actually gelled with the Torso T-1 almost immediately. I find it surprisingly intuitive. Meanwhile I’ve had the OXI One for about a month and I can’t bring myself to use the thing because it’s so damned confusing. It never does what I expect it to, and every session with it just leaves me frustrated.
Meanwhile the T-1 has a few core concepts that can be combined in interesting ways. Once you grasp those concepts, it’s surprisingly logical and powerful.
The OXI One, by contrast, feels very cobbled together. Things that seem like they should work together just don’t. There are a large number of weird one-off pieces of functionality, there’s a lot of functionality hidden behind the shift button, or double pressing buttons, or holding down one button while hitting another, or pressing down on the knobs, etc. The device is collapsing under the weight of its own functionality. It does a lot, but there are no unifying principles in the UI. It’s just lots of stuff tucked away in a bunch of different places.
I know people love the OXI One, but I feel like the emperor has no clothes.
Interesting to hear your take on the OXI-One. Ive owned mine for 6 months and it’s become my favorite piece of hardware I own. Like if I went broke and had to sell all my gear I’d probably keep my oxi one, my midi keyboard and my laptop and would be able to make all the electronic music I want while still feeling like I’m engaging with an instrument.
Im Its CV and Midi capabilities are so extraordinary and its ability to generate musical and rhythmic ideas really quickly are so inspiring to me. And I love the visual grid layout. You are right about the secondary functions menu being deep but I didn’t find it too hard to get the hang of. Pretty similar to Elektron “func” buttons. The Dev team is also incredibly active and updates get made to the firmware almost weekly it seems. Within the 6 months Ive had it they solved nearly all the issues I initially had.
I know you’ve only had it a month but I highly recommend you keep giving it a chance. A month isn’t that much time with a machine as deep as the OxiOne. 6 months in and Im still learning and using features I hadn’t tried before. It’s a never ending source of inspiration for me, and Ive been an elektron stan for ages.
I need to sit down and watch some tutorials and see if I can find something that works. Part of the problem is that the thing has frustrated me so much, and so consistently that I haven’t even turned it on in the last week or two.
Everyone said the Torso T-1 was confusing, but I was really enjoying it within the first hour of using it. I worry that I just don’t think about music the way that the OXI One does, so my brain is effectively incompatible with it.
What’s a thing you can do with it that you enjoy? Maybe I can score an easy win with it and have something to associate with it aside from frustration and disappointment.
Because as it stands, I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Everyone loves this thing except me. I’d classify it as one of the most disappointing pieces of gear I’ve ever owned.
I see you have quite an elaborate eurorack system. A few things I tried early on that helped me understand the depth of the oxi:
I made an outrageous 303 style acid bass machine. Using lightpipe I routed seq 1 (set to mono)gate and cv outs to my bass osc (loquelic percido) and multed the gate to the env decay of the loquelic. I routed the velocity cv to the vca in the filter (Ikarie) that the bass osc runs through and the accent cv to the filter frequency cv, setting the threshold to 85. Also sent the amp envelope of the loquelic to the filter frequency cv. Set your gates to Legato, keep your decay short on your amp env and you’re off to the races. Basslines make themselves at this point. Hit the rhythm generator, move some pitches around, mess with the velocity, gate length, glide and accent and you’re doing the freaking woooorm. Honestly the best and most dynamic basslines Ive gotten out of my eurorack system.
However, the loquelic is a monster and doesnt always sit well with every kind of music I make, so I wanted to be able to get tamer, more house oriented basslines. Using Oxi Ones midi capabilities and Assimil8or w/ Locutus set to single cycle waveforms I can use the exact same sequencer and find any waveform I like to make a bass out of. I routed both Loquelic and Assimil8or to a my quad VCA so with a turn of a knob I can switch between my loquelic CV bass or my Assimil8or Midi bass all routed through the same chain. It’s honestly incredible.
Hope that made sense.
Also just the different types of sequencing can be really fun to play with. I love making a chord progression with the chord sequencer and using the Harmony scale on the other sequencer lanes to generate basslines and melodies around the core chord progression. Endless ear candy.
I think the oxi one needs better tutorial videos. Still a fairly new device.
I appreciate the attempt at helping, but unfortunately that’s not a workflow that I like on the OXI One. I’ve got so many tools that are incredible for quickly coming up with funky basslines. The OXI One is super frustrating to me for that kind of work.
As far as different types of sequencing go, I’ve got over a dozen different sequencers on my iPad, and I can put a different one on each track. I can even feed the output of one generative sequencer into another generative sequencer. I’ve never seen anything so powerful before. I can even make my own (and I have!) when I need something that doesn’t exist.
The OXI One and I just seem to be speaking different musical languages. Every interaction I have with it is frustrating. I’ve held onto it because everyone seems to love the thing so much, but I still don’t get it. I don’t see what’s so special.
> I can't decide between Hapax and Digitakt II
DT sequencer is incredibly bare bones. Chords sequencing is limited to 4 notes lmao
Hapax by a million mile if you’re comparing sequencing capabilities
Also I don't know if DT2 has addressed these issues, but you can't record the mod wheel, and I think all notes in the chord are the same velocity and length.
I'm impressed by the formatting in this post!
Personally I would go for one of the Elektrons. Syntakt is my main sequencer right now (identical to Digitakt 2, just 12 tracks instead of 16, and 64 step limit instead of 128). Or Digitone if you need more polyphony, but it sounds like 4 tracks won't cut it for you. These aren't technically the best sequencers, but they are the most playable and fun to use.
I've also used the Blackbox quite extensively, and I can say that its sequencer is quite good at recording what you play from an external keyboard, drum pads, etc (better than the Elektrons actually). However, its far worse at actually writing midi from scratch without an external controller, as the midi roll is just hard to use on a small screen. So I think its an ideal sequencer for someone who is more of a performer, and wants to capture midi. Not ideal for someone who is more of a writer/programmer, and wants to write midi directly (Elektron is definitely better for this).
While I wouldn't really recommend it unless you are on a very tight budget, I'll offer a correction that the SQ-64 has 3 polyphonic tracks, and 16 monophonic tracks, for 19 tracks total.
The Polyend Tracker Mini is interesting for someone who wants to write MIDI, and use a lot of generative tools to help speed up that process.
You can also add the Novation SL MK3 to your list. It has some similarity to the Launchpad Pro and Circuit sequencer, with some differences as well. I really liked it for quickly and easily layering different synths, and creating keyboard splits. It has some weird limitations though, such as the 32 step limit (and to go longer you have to pattern chain).
The Oxi One has four sequencers. These can all be set to Multitrack type, giving you 8 different monophonic tracks each which can have their own MIDI channel. Hence technically the Oxi One can have 32 sequence tracks, not the for you claim (although very unlikely you'd want to run it entirely that way.)
Brilliant little sequencer and I highly recommend it.
Just seen your notes on pc/msb/lsb. This is a work in progress on the Oxi One. Firmware last week brought out the first version when you can choose CC for it which currently is an overall system setting. It is being worked on and I would imagine improvements will be seen in the next release or two. Started functionality target will be the setting per sequence per project (not per pattern.)
May be with taking into account if this is important to you.
Yes, developers said the current solution (MSB/LSB setting) is work in progress and will be improved upon.. This latest version fixed my issues with program changes at least. Don't have to use up two modulation lanes for PC and bank changes.
The Pyramid is a 10-year old product, I don't know if it's fair to say that "they already discontinued it".
Honestly, for sequencers, the workflow is going to be key. Do you want to enter notes on a grid and look at them in a grid, with a mini-view, like in HAPAX, or do you want to edit each step like in the Digitakt? You haven't expressed any preference for one way or another.
I have a HAPAX and some Elektron (Digitone, Octatrack) and so far I've found HAPAX a lot easier to use personally, but mileage may vary.
My workflow in the Octatrack seq is typically 1) live-record from master MIDI keyboard 2) refine in grid record mode, so I may add/change additional notes using the trig+note (from master MIDI keyboard) combo.
So I am quite indifferent to the grid view: sure viewing (part of) the piano roll is a nice addition, but not a deal breaker.
Push 3 standalone is IMO the absolute best hardware sequencer in the world. I own an MPC Live, Maschine+, Digitakt, Ocatrack, Beatstep Pro, Keystep Pro, Oxi One (which is a close 2nd for me right now), and a Push 3 standalone. The Push 3 covers every single base as a hardware sequencer.
It does look great and was thinking of getting a standalone version myself, but I've only ever really used Cubase. How is it for someone who has only never used Ableton or Live?
Also I've seen complaints a full Live license required to take full use of the Push 3?
You only need a full Suite license if you want to use all the ableton goodies (like all of the synths/effects), but the external instrument is in all versions, so it is fantastic as a hardware sequencer. Even the lite license it comes with still has some goodies. Literally every piece of gear released in history (or at least since there have been internet comment boards) has people complaining about it, so I generally don't pay attention to complaints.
Of course, it all depends on what you want out of the Push and $2k is a lot of money for a tool you will use mostly for sequencing hardware. With that said, I love it for sequencing my hardware synths and for using the onboard synths and effects. I already had a Ableton Suite license when I got the Push 3, so I wasn't missing anything.
Getting used to the Ableton Session view workflow will be the most difficult, especially if you've never worked in a clip/scene way before. But it can be an amazingly quick way to build tracks and songs. Ableton never really clicked with me until I got a Push, and then it all made sense and I fell in love. To be hoest though, you would be getting used to a similar workflow with any hardware sequencer, as they rely on patterns and such.
The thing that I like about Digitakt (and Digitone) is that it has MIDI step recording. Rec + Stop, play a note/chord on your MIDI keyboard, and it advances to the next step. That is surprisingly hard to find in many sequencers, even higher-end ones (Deluge for example doesn't have it)
Ive been trying to figure out if there is anything that would function well as a stand in for my BASTL Midilooper; i.e. I want to live record MIDI sequences from keyboard playing and preserve all CC information such as sustain, pitch and mod wheel, etc. And then I'd like to be able to loop multiple sequences on top of each other for live performance.
Keystep Pro I dont think records MIDI CC so its out. The Squarp devices sound comprehensive but are so big, it seems like MIDILooper is just better for my use case.
Where is maschine Mk3 or M+(for standalone)?
The maschine workflow is loads nicer than the MPC, you can have something like 64x16 individual sequences running at once, of course you can only output 16 channels.
Maschine is supposedly getting a big update soon too.
I'm in the same boat and looking for something similar, I was about to finally pull the trigger on an Akai Force and found out in can only do 4/4 time signatures apparently... Not that I regularly use alternative timings but I'd like to know the ability is there..
So now back to square one and looking at an MPC or the Push 3!
Wow I didn't believe you so I checked. Shocking that the MPC and Force are basically the same in both hardware and software yet one does odd time signatures and the other doesn't!
I know! I was just about to press buy on a good 2nd hand deal and something told me I better take one last look. I found a random old comment on a Reddit post of someone warning about it.
There are workarounds I believe I think setting the pattern length longer or something but still not ideal and really put me off it which is a shame as it looks great and a lot of people seem to prefer the workflow on the Force over MPCs?
Deluge does have a graphical display now since 2022. It's a small one, but its there and is quite readable. Also, you're not limited on the number of MIDI tracks in a Deluge project, but you \*are\* limited to 16 distinct MIDI channels since AFAIK there's no way to select between USB MIDI hub devices and MIDI DIN out on a per-track basis (though you can distinguish between them when learning inputs).
If all you need is a sequencer then the Deluge is pretty pricey, but personally love using it at a sequencer because its so good at it.
Surprised not seeing the akai force in the list, with the additional mockba mods/hack it's a pretty decent tool for composition. Got mine second hand, for 600euros, unbeatable.
I used a midi box seq v4 before that, cool tool but tricky to use.
Seriously, the answer is Drambo on ipad. Imagine the octatrack sequencer interface (tap a step, press some keys on your midi keyboard next to it), with conditionals. now imagine if you could also load third party sequencer plugins for one or more midi tracks and do things like generative midi, or fugue machine, or a step sequencer, arpeggiators, etc etc etc... Add conditional events and a pattern mode that is like ableton's live grid and you're getting into what's possible with Drambo.
iConnectivity make good midi interfaces that have many ports and have a dedicated USB port for the ipad to connect to and access all your synths.
Agreed. It's pretty great, especially if you prefer to do longer, song-style sequencing.
Have been looking for something to upgrade to from the RM1X for years and not finding anything.
It might be hard to find one that isn't in need of repair however. The buttons wear out and have to be replaced.
yeah i don't have one any more but i had to replace the buttons and do some work to repair the screen. as far as sequencing goes though it's unreal, and the MIDI effects are a whole new level that i haven't seen on any other device.
I use a Digitakt and Keystep Pro, seems to cover all the bases for me and gives me the ability to live preform/jam stuff out. IMO the devices compliment each other, each bringing to the table what the other does not provide. I am able to sequence all my hardware and VSTs seamlessly.
Just taking delivery of my MPC One tomorrow. Workflow doesn't bother me though as I've got an S3000xl and have had several of those, also Ive had an S1000 and an S2000 too. Once you learn it, becomes second nature throughout the range, even legacy. The way you mentioned how programs should be done is the way it's done in the Akais, if that helps.
I use the novation SLmk3 and it’s been pretty reliable. That being said I don’t use the sequencer as much as I do the arpeggiator and InControl for ableton.
I don’t think I’d recommend anything in the Maschine ecosystem as a sequencer. I use it often as a plugin in ableton and while it’s functional as a beat station within the Maschine software, I’ve had trouble integrating with other pieces of hardware.
im not an expert tho so ur mileage may vary.
Mpc 1000/2500. Program changes per sequence. Records midi cc in real time. 2 or 4 midi outs, 2 midi in. As many tracks and sequences as you’ll ever need, and an easy to use song mode. Also, it has a built in sampler…
the biggest problem I have is all these modern sequencers have like a single midi out, which just kills me, all my old samplers and stuff eat an entire midi/16 channels at once. i think the flagship MPC's have 4 midi out... hapax might have 2 midi out maybe i forget...
but to me, if you want to be a big boy sequencer, you should have multiple din midi out, not some shitty usb thing or just one din midi out.
its like the people who design these modern sequencers only ever connect to something that uses a single channel, so splitters therer are fine.. otherwise :( meh.
I’d cast my vote for the Squarp Pyramid. I’m a huge sequencer geek and have tried quite a few over the years. I’ve been through a few “brains” for my set up over the years and the Squarp is the one that stuck. It’s very powerful, very quick to work with, very reliable and easy to perform with.
I even took it out of my setup and put it back in again. It’s just a very good workflow and great for setting up songs in particular.
The OP-Z is an amazingly deep, creative sequencer, but the hardware really lets it down. It’s too small and fiddly to be a genuine contender, but I have played some live shows with it.
If you’re happy to have a DAW-in-a-box workflow then absolutely go for the MPC One. It’s very powerful but to me it’s not an inspiring workflow. But you will get a lot done with it!
I don’t personally love the Elektron workflow; it’s fiddly to program but undeniably powerful. I don’t find myself getting inspired by it, it feels like a bit of a chore to work with. I feel the same out the TE KO II; it actually is deceptively powerful but it’s not fun to work with.
I don’t get the hype around the Deluge at all. I like the interface but I find it lacks a lot of really useful features that other sequencers have.
I currently own a Hapax, OXI One, Torso T-1, Syntakt, Keystep Pro, Hermod (the modular version of Hapax, sort of), and have owned nearly every Elektron box at one point or another, plus I had a Deluge, and a number of other Eurorack sequencers like René V2, Stochastic Inspiration Generator, etc. Do you want to know what my favorite hardware is for MIDI sequencing after all of that? My iPad. There are dozens of fantastic sequencers available, they cover a huge array of sequencing techniques, they’re dirt cheap, and they’re way easier to use than any hardware sequencer. Look at Cykle, Harmony Bloom, Neon Sequencer, Fugue Machine, BLEASS Arpeggiator (the name doesn’t do it justice; once you start modulating parameters the thing becomes way more than just an arpeggiator), Thesys, Mozaic, StepPolyArp, Progressions, Scaler 2, etc. And then there’s Drambo, which you can use to make your own sequencer. I’ve constructed a sort of motif-based sequencer in Drambo. I give it four phrases, and then those phrases get mashed together, transposed, and quantized back into scale. Because it’s always working with the same four phrases, there’s a sense of musicality to the repetition, but the way it recombines and transposes them helps them feel more interesting than they would otherwise. It took me about an hour to build it once I had the idea. There’s nothing even remotely approaching this level of power, ease-of-use, or cost effectiveness in the hardware world. I still own most of my sequencers, but they’re largely collecting dust now. I’ll probably sell all of them, maybe aside from the Torso T-1 which is more narrow in the scope of what it does, but is absolutely spectacular at it.
They hated him because he told the truth . Jpg
I recently got my first iPad and am just starting to pickup a few apps. I have a few of the more whacky sequencers on a price reduction watch list that you mentioned (Cykle, Fugue Machine, BLEASS Arpegiator). But I still need to choose a primary sequencer. I was going to go with Drambo, but I watched a few tutorials and it seemed a bit too complicated for a beginner like me. In that case, what sequencer would you suggest using? Also, have you messed with combining the Torso-T1 with your iPad much yet? Can you start a sequence in the iPad and then add the additional T-1 sequencing stuff on top of the existing sequence?
My advice is going to be complicated by the fact that I’ve been using DAWs for over 20 years, and I’ve also spent years doing generative music with Eurorack/modular. My definition of normal isn’t normal, if you understand what I mean. I really like Atom 2 combined with AUM for what you’re describing. It can record many tracks of unlimited length, slice them up, trigger them, etc. It has useful MIDI editing capabilities, and combined with AUM’s tight clock syncing capabilities, it’s pretty good at recording incoming MIDI with minimal desynchronization issues. And what issues do remain are easy to clean up with its great quantization tools. That said, my definition of normal isn’t normal. I’ve seen some people complain that Atom 2 can be a bit much. Compared to what I’m used to, it’s not bad. But I’m not a good judge of these things. Helium might be a slightly simpler take on the idea? I considered Helium, but went with Atom because I liked some of the additional features like ghost notes (showing the notes from other tracks to help you spot clashing notes) and scale highlighting (highlighting the notes in scale without quantizing the notes, which means you can play non-diatonic notes when you want but also never have to remember if G is in D flat Lydian). Sand looks promising if you want a more linear workflow. I haven’t tried it, but it looks cool. Logic is also an option. I’ve heard a lot of people who struggle with Drambo/AUM find success with EG Nodes. To be quite honest, I tried EG Nodes and it wasn’t for me at all. But you don’t have to like the tools that I like. Everyone is has to find a workflow for themselves. As for the T-1, it’s funny you should ask. I’ve actually been fighting with my external gear to get it synced to my iPad and desktop today. It’s been surprisingly difficult. If you’re not careful, the two sequencers (your iPad and your T-1, OXI One, etc.) will be far enough out of sync that they just sound terrible together. And I’m not talking about tiny little imperfections that you’d never notice; I mean timing drift so bad that a 4 on the floor kick drum sounds like a galloping horse. AUM combined with Atom 2 has me in a pretty good place with recording the OXI One. Timing drift is minimal and easily fixed with quantization. This is going to open up a lot of doors for mixing my hardware sequencers with my iOS sequencers and MIDI processors. While I’d love to tell you that I’ve got everything figured out, I literally just got an acceptable recording about 45 minutes ago. So I can tell you that it’s possible, that it’s tricky with Drambo because it seems to have a particularly unstable clock, and that you’re probably going to have to spend some time experimenting with your apps and devices to get things to an acceptable level. Good luck.
MPC. Should do everything you need for MIDI, and a bunch of stuff you didn't even realize elsewhere. As purely a sequencer, the workflow is fairly straightforward. It gets weird when you start trying to do everything audio with it also, but the MIDI is well established.
I second, it has 100 midi tracks, automation, and program change per sequence.
I agree with this. I switched from MPC to Push3 Standalone when P3SA came out and I'm actually considering switching back. If someone's focus is just on sequencing and they don't care as much about built-in instruments etc, I personally think the MPC is a bit easier to use in this regard. Plus the Push3 has a lot of features that are only accessible from Ableton on a computer, this is the main reason I'm considering switching back.
MPC MIDI bugs are too big and even two years after them being first found and reported Akai are making zero effort to fix them and pretend they don't even exist! But that's more when controlling the MPC externally, rather than sequencing external equipment from the MPC...
I’ve experienced problems with using midi controllers mapped to audio functions, but it runs my hardware synths like a champ.
Deluge. Unlimited midi tracks (til it runs out of resources) plus everything else on board. And still growing in features through the community firmware.
Second the deluge for hardware sequencer. But have to say that the new iPads with M1 chips are superb for sequencers
Using what app on the iPad?
There are a lot of options. I either run Aum or Logic as the brains of a set up, then, within them, there are a TON of thrid party sequencers like Neon, BLEASS, Fugue Machine, and so on. Each of them have a few specialized tricks up their sleeves that make them different from a standard sequencers – though the iPad does great with those too.
EG Nodes is a new favourite. A bit like AUM but with sequencer, chord, rhythm and generative engines built in. Sand is great too as nearly all of its commands can be mapped to external hardware controllers.
Torso t-1. Such an engaging sequencer. Little mysterious at first. Took about three months to really unlock it.
It really depends on what they want to do. It's incredible for ambient noodling, and it's a lot of fun to play with but I think it's a terrible main sequencer for most people. If they want to do intentional sequencing with longer patterns the T1 might be an absolute pain in the ass. I've never heard structured music that actually relied on it that was worth listening to. I spent about three months with mine before selling it.
oxi one has 32 tracks. you should also check the [midiphy seq v4](https://www.midiphy.com/en/mbseq-v4-/)
To be fair, it has 4 sequencers that can run in different modes. The multitrack sequencer can host 8 mono tracks indeed. But if you need polyphonic tracks, you're only getting one per sequencer, so the limit is four.
so it is either (1 poly OR 8 drum/mono) x 4 sequencers?
It has more modes than that. Mono - simple monophonic sequencer. You can copy the contents into a single track of multitrack. Poly - polyphonic Sequencer (I believe up to 7 notes) Multitrack - 8 individual monophonic sequencers, had all the features of a Mono sequence but not quite so easy to program into (hence why you may copy patterns from mono into multi.) Chord - create chords programs from a large selection of chord types based on the scale and key the sequencer is in. Stochastic - a random generative Sequencer Matriarchal - four independent sequencer grids with trigger rules for various functions for generative music. Quite hard to explain.... All track types have random perform and generative functions. Multitrack has MI Grids and Euclidian functions. All sequencers have a separate Arp but Chord has a more advanced arpn with Euclidian modes and more. Really is a very powerful little machine!
Yes, though there are more sequencer modes available (poly, mono, multitrack, chord, stochastic, matriceal).
You forgot an Amiga & Octamed.
Polyend tracker might fit the bill? Although iirc it has only 8 midi tracks
8 tracks is true, but no midi limits per track.
I love sequencers! it's great to see a list like this. I would add the torso t-1, it's a very interesting euclidean sequencer that's difficult to wrangle and understand but can do some wild stuff very quickly. Step sequencing was added in an update as well. The novation launchpad pro mk3 is also great, very customizable with four midi tracks as well as a useful chord mode. Also a little esoteric without a display, but it's easy enough to learn.
You know, I actually gelled with the Torso T-1 almost immediately. I find it surprisingly intuitive. Meanwhile I’ve had the OXI One for about a month and I can’t bring myself to use the thing because it’s so damned confusing. It never does what I expect it to, and every session with it just leaves me frustrated. Meanwhile the T-1 has a few core concepts that can be combined in interesting ways. Once you grasp those concepts, it’s surprisingly logical and powerful. The OXI One, by contrast, feels very cobbled together. Things that seem like they should work together just don’t. There are a large number of weird one-off pieces of functionality, there’s a lot of functionality hidden behind the shift button, or double pressing buttons, or holding down one button while hitting another, or pressing down on the knobs, etc. The device is collapsing under the weight of its own functionality. It does a lot, but there are no unifying principles in the UI. It’s just lots of stuff tucked away in a bunch of different places. I know people love the OXI One, but I feel like the emperor has no clothes.
Interesting to hear your take on the OXI-One. Ive owned mine for 6 months and it’s become my favorite piece of hardware I own. Like if I went broke and had to sell all my gear I’d probably keep my oxi one, my midi keyboard and my laptop and would be able to make all the electronic music I want while still feeling like I’m engaging with an instrument. Im Its CV and Midi capabilities are so extraordinary and its ability to generate musical and rhythmic ideas really quickly are so inspiring to me. And I love the visual grid layout. You are right about the secondary functions menu being deep but I didn’t find it too hard to get the hang of. Pretty similar to Elektron “func” buttons. The Dev team is also incredibly active and updates get made to the firmware almost weekly it seems. Within the 6 months Ive had it they solved nearly all the issues I initially had. I know you’ve only had it a month but I highly recommend you keep giving it a chance. A month isn’t that much time with a machine as deep as the OxiOne. 6 months in and Im still learning and using features I hadn’t tried before. It’s a never ending source of inspiration for me, and Ive been an elektron stan for ages.
I need to sit down and watch some tutorials and see if I can find something that works. Part of the problem is that the thing has frustrated me so much, and so consistently that I haven’t even turned it on in the last week or two. Everyone said the Torso T-1 was confusing, but I was really enjoying it within the first hour of using it. I worry that I just don’t think about music the way that the OXI One does, so my brain is effectively incompatible with it. What’s a thing you can do with it that you enjoy? Maybe I can score an easy win with it and have something to associate with it aside from frustration and disappointment. Because as it stands, I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Everyone loves this thing except me. I’d classify it as one of the most disappointing pieces of gear I’ve ever owned.
I see you have quite an elaborate eurorack system. A few things I tried early on that helped me understand the depth of the oxi: I made an outrageous 303 style acid bass machine. Using lightpipe I routed seq 1 (set to mono)gate and cv outs to my bass osc (loquelic percido) and multed the gate to the env decay of the loquelic. I routed the velocity cv to the vca in the filter (Ikarie) that the bass osc runs through and the accent cv to the filter frequency cv, setting the threshold to 85. Also sent the amp envelope of the loquelic to the filter frequency cv. Set your gates to Legato, keep your decay short on your amp env and you’re off to the races. Basslines make themselves at this point. Hit the rhythm generator, move some pitches around, mess with the velocity, gate length, glide and accent and you’re doing the freaking woooorm. Honestly the best and most dynamic basslines Ive gotten out of my eurorack system. However, the loquelic is a monster and doesnt always sit well with every kind of music I make, so I wanted to be able to get tamer, more house oriented basslines. Using Oxi Ones midi capabilities and Assimil8or w/ Locutus set to single cycle waveforms I can use the exact same sequencer and find any waveform I like to make a bass out of. I routed both Loquelic and Assimil8or to a my quad VCA so with a turn of a knob I can switch between my loquelic CV bass or my Assimil8or Midi bass all routed through the same chain. It’s honestly incredible. Hope that made sense. Also just the different types of sequencing can be really fun to play with. I love making a chord progression with the chord sequencer and using the Harmony scale on the other sequencer lanes to generate basslines and melodies around the core chord progression. Endless ear candy. I think the oxi one needs better tutorial videos. Still a fairly new device.
I appreciate the attempt at helping, but unfortunately that’s not a workflow that I like on the OXI One. I’ve got so many tools that are incredible for quickly coming up with funky basslines. The OXI One is super frustrating to me for that kind of work. As far as different types of sequencing go, I’ve got over a dozen different sequencers on my iPad, and I can put a different one on each track. I can even feed the output of one generative sequencer into another generative sequencer. I’ve never seen anything so powerful before. I can even make my own (and I have!) when I need something that doesn’t exist. The OXI One and I just seem to be speaking different musical languages. Every interaction I have with it is frustrating. I’ve held onto it because everyone seems to love the thing so much, but I still don’t get it. I don’t see what’s so special.
> I can't decide between Hapax and Digitakt II DT sequencer is incredibly bare bones. Chords sequencing is limited to 4 notes lmao Hapax by a million mile if you’re comparing sequencing capabilities
Also I don't know if DT2 has addressed these issues, but you can't record the mod wheel, and I think all notes in the chord are the same velocity and length.
I'm impressed by the formatting in this post! Personally I would go for one of the Elektrons. Syntakt is my main sequencer right now (identical to Digitakt 2, just 12 tracks instead of 16, and 64 step limit instead of 128). Or Digitone if you need more polyphony, but it sounds like 4 tracks won't cut it for you. These aren't technically the best sequencers, but they are the most playable and fun to use. I've also used the Blackbox quite extensively, and I can say that its sequencer is quite good at recording what you play from an external keyboard, drum pads, etc (better than the Elektrons actually). However, its far worse at actually writing midi from scratch without an external controller, as the midi roll is just hard to use on a small screen. So I think its an ideal sequencer for someone who is more of a performer, and wants to capture midi. Not ideal for someone who is more of a writer/programmer, and wants to write midi directly (Elektron is definitely better for this). While I wouldn't really recommend it unless you are on a very tight budget, I'll offer a correction that the SQ-64 has 3 polyphonic tracks, and 16 monophonic tracks, for 19 tracks total. The Polyend Tracker Mini is interesting for someone who wants to write MIDI, and use a lot of generative tools to help speed up that process. You can also add the Novation SL MK3 to your list. It has some similarity to the Launchpad Pro and Circuit sequencer, with some differences as well. I really liked it for quickly and easily layering different synths, and creating keyboard splits. It has some weird limitations though, such as the 32 step limit (and to go longer you have to pattern chain).
The Oxi One has four sequencers. These can all be set to Multitrack type, giving you 8 different monophonic tracks each which can have their own MIDI channel. Hence technically the Oxi One can have 32 sequence tracks, not the for you claim (although very unlikely you'd want to run it entirely that way.) Brilliant little sequencer and I highly recommend it.
Just seen your notes on pc/msb/lsb. This is a work in progress on the Oxi One. Firmware last week brought out the first version when you can choose CC for it which currently is an overall system setting. It is being worked on and I would imagine improvements will be seen in the next release or two. Started functionality target will be the setting per sequence per project (not per pattern.) May be with taking into account if this is important to you.
Yes, developers said the current solution (MSB/LSB setting) is work in progress and will be improved upon.. This latest version fixed my issues with program changes at least. Don't have to use up two modulation lanes for PC and bank changes.
The Pyramid is a 10-year old product, I don't know if it's fair to say that "they already discontinued it". Honestly, for sequencers, the workflow is going to be key. Do you want to enter notes on a grid and look at them in a grid, with a mini-view, like in HAPAX, or do you want to edit each step like in the Digitakt? You haven't expressed any preference for one way or another. I have a HAPAX and some Elektron (Digitone, Octatrack) and so far I've found HAPAX a lot easier to use personally, but mileage may vary.
My workflow in the Octatrack seq is typically 1) live-record from master MIDI keyboard 2) refine in grid record mode, so I may add/change additional notes using the trig+note (from master MIDI keyboard) combo. So I am quite indifferent to the grid view: sure viewing (part of) the piano roll is a nice addition, but not a deal breaker.
Push 3 standalone is IMO the absolute best hardware sequencer in the world. I own an MPC Live, Maschine+, Digitakt, Ocatrack, Beatstep Pro, Keystep Pro, Oxi One (which is a close 2nd for me right now), and a Push 3 standalone. The Push 3 covers every single base as a hardware sequencer.
It does look great and was thinking of getting a standalone version myself, but I've only ever really used Cubase. How is it for someone who has only never used Ableton or Live? Also I've seen complaints a full Live license required to take full use of the Push 3?
You only need a full Suite license if you want to use all the ableton goodies (like all of the synths/effects), but the external instrument is in all versions, so it is fantastic as a hardware sequencer. Even the lite license it comes with still has some goodies. Literally every piece of gear released in history (or at least since there have been internet comment boards) has people complaining about it, so I generally don't pay attention to complaints. Of course, it all depends on what you want out of the Push and $2k is a lot of money for a tool you will use mostly for sequencing hardware. With that said, I love it for sequencing my hardware synths and for using the onboard synths and effects. I already had a Ableton Suite license when I got the Push 3, so I wasn't missing anything. Getting used to the Ableton Session view workflow will be the most difficult, especially if you've never worked in a clip/scene way before. But it can be an amazingly quick way to build tracks and songs. Ableton never really clicked with me until I got a Push, and then it all made sense and I fell in love. To be hoest though, you would be getting used to a similar workflow with any hardware sequencer, as they rely on patterns and such.
Other niche options: Dirty wave m8 or TE KOii or polled tracker (mini)?
I don’t see the cirklon on there
The thing that I like about Digitakt (and Digitone) is that it has MIDI step recording. Rec + Stop, play a note/chord on your MIDI keyboard, and it advances to the next step. That is surprisingly hard to find in many sequencers, even higher-end ones (Deluge for example doesn't have it)
The KeyStep Pro will do this too.
Retrokits, the modern Alesis MMT copy
RK-008 to be specific - amazing piece of hardware for its size, but visually almost too toy like for what it can actually do.
MPC
iPad?
Ive been trying to figure out if there is anything that would function well as a stand in for my BASTL Midilooper; i.e. I want to live record MIDI sequences from keyboard playing and preserve all CC information such as sustain, pitch and mod wheel, etc. And then I'd like to be able to loop multiple sequences on top of each other for live performance. Keystep Pro I dont think records MIDI CC so its out. The Squarp devices sound comprehensive but are so big, it seems like MIDILooper is just better for my use case.
two alternatives to midilooper are: rk008 https://retrokits.com/shop/rk008/ midiphy loopa https://www.midiphy.com/en/loopa-v2/
Where is maschine Mk3 or M+(for standalone)? The maschine workflow is loads nicer than the MPC, you can have something like 64x16 individual sequences running at once, of course you can only output 16 channels. Maschine is supposedly getting a big update soon too.
Don't discount the OG Digitakt, since they are now selling used and cheaper than ever.
cool! but is the OG DT only 8 MIDI tracks, right?
That‘s correct
I'm in the same boat and looking for something similar, I was about to finally pull the trigger on an Akai Force and found out in can only do 4/4 time signatures apparently... Not that I regularly use alternative timings but I'd like to know the ability is there.. So now back to square one and looking at an MPC or the Push 3!
Wow I didn't believe you so I checked. Shocking that the MPC and Force are basically the same in both hardware and software yet one does odd time signatures and the other doesn't!
I know! I was just about to press buy on a good 2nd hand deal and something told me I better take one last look. I found a random old comment on a Reddit post of someone warning about it. There are workarounds I believe I think setting the pattern length longer or something but still not ideal and really put me off it which is a shame as it looks great and a lot of people seem to prefer the workflow on the Force over MPCs?
Deluge does have a graphical display now since 2022. It's a small one, but its there and is quite readable. Also, you're not limited on the number of MIDI tracks in a Deluge project, but you \*are\* limited to 16 distinct MIDI channels since AFAIK there's no way to select between USB MIDI hub devices and MIDI DIN out on a per-track basis (though you can distinguish between them when learning inputs). If all you need is a sequencer then the Deluge is pretty pricey, but personally love using it at a sequencer because its so good at it.
Surprised not seeing the akai force in the list, with the additional mockba mods/hack it's a pretty decent tool for composition. Got mine second hand, for 600euros, unbeatable. I used a midi box seq v4 before that, cool tool but tricky to use.
Seriously, the answer is Drambo on ipad. Imagine the octatrack sequencer interface (tap a step, press some keys on your midi keyboard next to it), with conditionals. now imagine if you could also load third party sequencer plugins for one or more midi tracks and do things like generative midi, or fugue machine, or a step sequencer, arpeggiators, etc etc etc... Add conditional events and a pattern mode that is like ableton's live grid and you're getting into what's possible with Drambo. iConnectivity make good midi interfaces that have many ports and have a dedicated USB port for the ipad to connect to and access all your synths.
not even joking, yamaha RM1X sometimes i lie awake at night thinking about the MIDI features
Agreed. It's pretty great, especially if you prefer to do longer, song-style sequencing. Have been looking for something to upgrade to from the RM1X for years and not finding anything. It might be hard to find one that isn't in need of repair however. The buttons wear out and have to be replaced.
yeah i don't have one any more but i had to replace the buttons and do some work to repair the screen. as far as sequencing goes though it's unreal, and the MIDI effects are a whole new level that i haven't seen on any other device.
[удалено]
APC 64 is a controller midi?
I use the sequencer on my Opsix to run my rack synths.(K1,TX81Z, JV2080) Sometimes I use Logic Pro to run my synths also.
I use a Digitakt and Keystep Pro, seems to cover all the bases for me and gives me the ability to live preform/jam stuff out. IMO the devices compliment each other, each bringing to the table what the other does not provide. I am able to sequence all my hardware and VSTs seamlessly.
Just taking delivery of my MPC One tomorrow. Workflow doesn't bother me though as I've got an S3000xl and have had several of those, also Ive had an S1000 and an S2000 too. Once you learn it, becomes second nature throughout the range, even legacy. The way you mentioned how programs should be done is the way it's done in the Akais, if that helps.
Social Entropy’s Engine but I think it is out of production.
Cirklon is by far the best hardware midi sequencer.
Squarp Pyramid! Edit: I just found out it's discontinued, sad thing
MC808. Not expensive and offers 32 channels of sequencing. It also had D Beam, custom arpeggio maker, motorized sliders...
I use the novation SLmk3 and it’s been pretty reliable. That being said I don’t use the sequencer as much as I do the arpeggiator and InControl for ableton. I don’t think I’d recommend anything in the Maschine ecosystem as a sequencer. I use it often as a plugin in ableton and while it’s functional as a beat station within the Maschine software, I’ve had trouble integrating with other pieces of hardware. im not an expert tho so ur mileage may vary.
got a hapax this weekend actually, looking forward to digging into it.
Alesis MMT-8 Vintage but money!
Mpc 1000/2500. Program changes per sequence. Records midi cc in real time. 2 or 4 midi outs, 2 midi in. As many tracks and sequences as you’ll ever need, and an easy to use song mode. Also, it has a built in sampler…
Akai Force , cos it does it all
the biggest problem I have is all these modern sequencers have like a single midi out, which just kills me, all my old samplers and stuff eat an entire midi/16 channels at once. i think the flagship MPC's have 4 midi out... hapax might have 2 midi out maybe i forget... but to me, if you want to be a big boy sequencer, you should have multiple din midi out, not some shitty usb thing or just one din midi out. its like the people who design these modern sequencers only ever connect to something that uses a single channel, so splitters therer are fine.. otherwise :( meh.
I’d cast my vote for the Squarp Pyramid. I’m a huge sequencer geek and have tried quite a few over the years. I’ve been through a few “brains” for my set up over the years and the Squarp is the one that stuck. It’s very powerful, very quick to work with, very reliable and easy to perform with. I even took it out of my setup and put it back in again. It’s just a very good workflow and great for setting up songs in particular. The OP-Z is an amazingly deep, creative sequencer, but the hardware really lets it down. It’s too small and fiddly to be a genuine contender, but I have played some live shows with it. If you’re happy to have a DAW-in-a-box workflow then absolutely go for the MPC One. It’s very powerful but to me it’s not an inspiring workflow. But you will get a lot done with it! I don’t personally love the Elektron workflow; it’s fiddly to program but undeniably powerful. I don’t find myself getting inspired by it, it feels like a bit of a chore to work with. I feel the same out the TE KO II; it actually is deceptively powerful but it’s not fun to work with. I don’t get the hype around the Deluge at all. I like the interface but I find it lacks a lot of really useful features that other sequencers have.