Tech
5 of the best new sequencers
Meet the next generation
1 Polyend Seq (pictured)
Polyend’s Seq is attracting interest for its intuitive simplicity and stark design. It looks a bit like a Monome controller, and its eight tracks contain 32 steps each. Hold down the notes and twist the length, velocity or pitch knobs to tailor your sequence. An undo button lets you back-track.
£851, buy here.
2 Reactable Steps
If you’re not ready to shower money on a hardware sequencer, there are plenty of software instruments. This iOs app links to your DAW or hardware device and promises to ‘create complex rhythmic patterns in a surprising new way’. Features include global control of parameters like swing, note or velocity plus glide and pitch bend.
£0.99, iOs store
3 Transistor Sounds Lab Stepper Acid
Born out of frustration with the TB 303’s difficult method of programming, this digitally controlled modular sequencer is a breeze to use. You can add slides, accents and gates and it works well live thanks to a pattern storage system, detach (for cuing up the next pattern), nudge button and mini keyboard.
£289, Matttechmodular.co.uk
4 Analogue Solutions Megacity
Inspired by the ‘tears in the rain’ scene at the end of Blade Runner, the Megacity is a thing of sequencing beauty. Cascading green lights indicate the progress of its two channels of 32 step sequences. With no menus, it promises “seamless DAW integration” plus midi and CV/gate connectivity.
5 Arturia Beatstep Pro: Black Edition
The original Beatstep Pro hit shops in 2015 and immediately established itself as the sequencer for producers after as much bang for their buck as possible. It crams a lot into a relatively cheap device and its CV/gate, USB, din/sync or midi connectivity options work with old hardware or new.
£249, buy here.
