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Step sequencer advice: Thesys, Midisteps, Mididreams, Mker, Steppolyarp
Hey all,
I have Cykle, Octachron, StepBud, MelodyBud (all the buds really), Riffer, Rozeta Cells, Ooda, and Drambo. Also have LK, and Atom 2 though I don't use them in a step sequencer way.
I want a flexible step sequencer that has little barrier to entry just putting ideas together, but with enough depth to go into some unknown lands ☺
I'd appreciate any and all opinions, experiences, pros or cons... Any thoughts are really appreciated. I gravitate to having more visual representations of my notes (so drambo can be better than cells or ooda since I can see the actual notes on a grid .. Though seeing the note name in something like midisteps is great, especially since I could see using a midi keyboard sh101 styles as a great flow).
I know I'll end up with a couple on the list in my subject, but I especially don't want to end up with apps that just mirror each other (eg if mker and drambo just do the same thing, then I don't want both). It's the money, but mostly it's not having too many tools for the same use case. I find the clutter is a bigger mental sink than worrying about the wasted cups of coffee... Though I do find that multiple sequencers don't create the same stress that too many synths can create for me, provided that the sequencers offer a unique framework for creating.
Really appreciate you all.
Comments
Consider New Path as well. Easy to wander off to unknown lands with that one.
If you can live without AUv3 then Quantum would be my recommendation. Fast workflow, up to 6 sequencer lanes, deep per step programming, loop follow actions, up to 20 different versions per sequencer lane, manual limiting of range parameters, sequence cloning, midi fx, gate step length up to 400% etc.
I use this in combination with Audiobus for easy switching and project saving.
Imho the deepest and most accessible iOS sequencer I have come across.
Edit: tja was faster.
You’ll probably get a different opinion from each person who answers. As you own so many, maybe the best way to figure out which one works for you is just use them and see which one comes out on top for you?
Drambo has a couple of different mechanisms to allow for entering notes step by step.
Piano roll: Adding a note automatically previews it, even when moving the note around. When changing the pitch of one note of a chord, the whole chord will sound so it's possible to hear the whole chord sound while editing.
Step sequencer: There are several editing modes to suit different personal preferences.
tbh i still have the most fun with fugue machine even tho no one really ever mentions it anymore
Xynthesizer is an old fav too.
Fair! I didn't do a good job explaining my needs. Women say that about me all the time 😂
I am pretty comfy with most of my current sequencers (save for drambo... Mostly use drambo for modules and haven't explored sequencing) and I don't think anyone of them may fit what I want EXCEPT for drambo haha!
I guess I should have said I'm looking for the Atom 2 of step sequencers...simple but deep, flexible, capable of funkyness without needing to lead with it (e.g., probability is useful but not the reason most ppl get atom... But if you're not using different lane lengths in polybeat, why not use a more straightforward drum sequencer, yknow?).
I never preferred step sequencers in the past vs something like atom with software, but I realized recently that I am doing much faster experimentation when using steps vs a piano roll.
I have a bunch of step sequencers because of some funky feature I wanted (think senode or cykle or polybud), and the step piece was incidental to me. But I'm now wanting to expand into using step sequencing as a more primary composition method. So... Single musician seeking single sequencer with...
. Easy to use UI.
. Easy to visualize notes.
. Easy to edit.
. Polyphony
. And this is key... Being able to tie notes or an equivalent function for having varied note lengths (not just a gate).
. Menu diving only when you want to go deeper... But for just regular input and editing pretty simple
But I value everyone's input so far. Quantum looks like something I need to research. Wish I'd spent less on synths and more on compositional tools.
I’m so glad I pulled the trigger on Thesys today. Far more than I could have hoped for, the performance lanes are incredible. I love using midi Fx in conjunction, I.e Chordjam into Cality into Mela 3 midi into Drambo midi Fx into Thesys into Mozaic into OODA. There are some pretty nifty step sequencers for Mozaic, Drambo, and mirack that users have built on patchstorage. Steppolyarp is also a very powerful and capable sequencer, would throw that in the mix as well. Mididreams/midiDrums can’t fare to Octachron imho, especially with recent updates.
+1 New Path, and the TATAT emulation for Drambo
yeah totally. super limiting in that sense, but that transpose bar on the side is so fun to play with live and i create lots of different “parts” by just using that thing.
Coming from a totally different direction, I absolutely love TE's OP-Z as a step sequencer... 😬
Does anyone know if Thesys has note probability?
Random yes. Probability no.
Thesys needs a little modernization and update.
This is an old thread, but if you are still around here, how do you save this as a "project" inside of AB? I never use AB, but maybe this would be a good opportunity. I like Quantum, but setting it all up can be sloppy as it's not AUv3.
A man after my own heart
Best there is
(Thesys is the one)
Yeah the OP-Z is brilliant. But most of that awesomeness can be recreated in Drambo.
I'd say do yourself a favour and dig into Drambo for sequencing.
There are other great ones, but you've already mentioned you're familiar with its modular approach. It offers nearly everything other piano roll sequencers have, plus step sequencing as @rs2000 pointed out, stupidly powerful automation.
If you're looking to reduce the amount of tools you're using and learning then Drambo is a clear winner.
These days if i think of a new sound, or tool, or workflow, i go to Drambo first instead of throwing a new icon on the desktop. It's honestly a relief.
If i was looking to add a new tool for step sequencing at this point it would likely be Prism or Nodes though.
At $$320 usd plus shipping, this has got me thinking .. I really haven’t seen anything this good on iOS. Not even close . And the developer is incredible.
@NoncompliantBryant : also check out the sequencer in WoodSynth, it has lot's of features (and can send midi out) ...
Woodman
Nobody’s mentioned Gadget, I mean Sunvox
lol
I missed this one.. too nice to go unnoticed... Thanks..
Edit.. Just $5… too..
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/woodsynth/id1538126998
Price over here is around 20 usd.
It was briefly on sale in July.
I also think Woodsynth is awesome