the perfect sequencer doesn't exi............ Finally, things are moving in the right direction, now we just need a hexagonal grid bc it makes isomorphic keyboards infinitely better.
I feel like the word needs something with all the best features from the Squarp Hapax, Synthstrom Deluge, Polyend Play, & Akai Force combined into one coherent unit.
I was on the wait list for 3 years for a Cirklon and by then had a bunch of Eurorack sequencers and got back on the wait list again for a Cirklon but this seems like a good sequencer while I wait.
Thank you, Jeremy, for the speedy production of this video. I read through the manual immediately after purchase (avid Pyramid user so buying was a no-brainer because loading two projects is HUGE), but this video clarified a few things. I feel like Squarp took almost every bit of feedback I had about the Pyramid and made a dream machine. Looking forward to ten minutes of screaming.
@@noxfubar in the same box. The biggest gripe is the Deluge has tiny screens (even the updated LCD screen). Hence, there's a lot of button combinations. The Deluge is a sequencer, sampler, and synthesizer. From the point of view of a sequencer, the Hapax is strictly a sequencer, hence, it has more functionality as a sequencer. Plus it has two screens.
@@noxfubar oh, you belong to moduler crew. Respectfully, you guys are on a different plane of synthesizers. I will not touch modular. My GAS addiction... comes back periodically. It seems that many people feel the the Deluge is an excellent sequencer despite its limitations. Hence, it may be the best route for you.
Using two projects at the same time for easy transitions is probably the most powerful feature of this machine and solving THE problem of all live performers. Looking forward to getting a Hapax!
Been really depressed recently, thanks for the video, having an interesting demo and some nice music and talking helped distract me, feeling a bit better now
Listen to some Jordan Peterson, get out into the fresh air, be around some trees, talk to some people in real life. You can turn things around. Everything is gonna be ok. Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable.
I bought the Hapax a couple of weeks ago - it replaced my Polyend Seq - and I would add to Jeremy's video: you can of cause also send Bank and Program change messages for each pattern = every single yellow button in every row. So if you assigned your Blofeld to a single MIDI channel instead of using up multiple MIDI channels for each of its multitimbral voices, you can play one voice/preset in one pattern, then send a bank & program change to use another preset the moment you press the other pattern button. And that IS actually amazing. Took me a while to find out the parameters for all of my synths, but now I never need to change presets on a synth, I just switch it from the Hapax.
This is the first one of these sequencers I've seen where after 5 minutes of watching how to use it I feel like I know what's going on. Finally a good interface that's easy to get started with.
I second that (after using the Halax for a few weeks). And well, the Polyend Seq had one function per button, you can use that blindfolded, but it's very limited in comparison (which was good for me when I began with it, now I wished for more and so far the Hapax did everything I threw at it).
Yay! I ordered in March, and today I got my Hapax! It's finally here! Re-watching all the tutorial videos about it now, and of course reading the manual 🤓
Oh I'm so glad you dropped this, I was highkey hoping for your opinion and here it is! Gosh, I haven't been as excited for a piece of hardware in some time. Actually think this would be so much fun for controllilng a DAW and feeling out of the box, or turning some no knobs midi gear (aka most of my goofy smoothtop synths) into something performable. What a pretty blinky light box!
Thanks for uploading!!!,,I’ve been desperately awaiting more information on this box of tricks! This upload could not have come at a better time,,,thanks🙏
I know I’ve completely disappeared from the RU-vid music scene last year ( new startup has been absorbing all my energy ) but after using the Pyramid at the center of my hardware setup for years, this is what I really wished my Deluge was. Ordered mine last night ( March is Birthday Month 🎁) and can’t wait to put it through its pace. If it’s as cool as I think it it, I’m selling a Pyramid Mk2 and a Deluge in the near future
I don’t see the point in comparing with Deluge ; one is an awesome midi sequencer , the other is a less capable midi sequencer but with audio and synth engine , it’s like apple vs orange
@@danield_sounds I think because of the pads and form factor it will be inevitable. A lot of us though use the Deluge to sequence everything so it's going to be an apt comparison for what a lot of us use it for.
Just when I thought I wasn't going to need (want?) any new gear for a long time, Squarp had to drop this beauty ;) Love the promptness on getting this review out and thank you for the great overview!
totally agree, when it comes to quickly sketching a project the deluge is in its own class. its the simple things like: sketch a pattern, copy it, change it, switch the instrument, convert it into midi track, assign it to a group, mute it, change velocities, propabilities, filter, reverb, delay, ... everything can be done in seconds, not a singe menu dive is necessary. and it can do way more than just midi and cv and only needs a 4 letter display to setup everything. that's the kind of simplicity in design that speaks to me.
Finally, a friendly but highly usable and, crucially, easy to buy sequencer hub. Cirklon killer? So nice to see something actually required in Hardware as opposed to more regurgitated consumerist products.
@@pubdigitalix Okay bro you pay 3k and wait 50 years for your slot on the never-ending waitlist for a Cirklon. Lmao, there's nothing objectively bad about the Hapax but go on, explain why it's a shame.
I sold my Hermod a couple of months ago. I replaced it with an Expert Sleepers FH-1 with a Digitone into Akai MPC one in front. When I can get one, this'll be my master hardware sequencer. Can never have enough CV ports. I'd love me some Squarp Herpez Polyamarous Sexuencer.
Cirklon is my home base for sequencing and I LOVE it. I’m saying that because while watching this vid I thought this would be an acceptable alternative in the event my Cirklon ever breaks. I kinda want one of these even if Cirk doesn’t break. Cheers!
I was waiting to hear your thoughts on this one. What an absolutley fantastic sequencer! Out of all the sequencers I've watched reviews of, this one really takes the cake. Definitely has a few features I'm missing from my Deluge, but vice versa. Thanks for showing it off Jeremy :)
This is really nice, it really does seem like full suite for sequencing, and it's not only good just for hardware instruments, you could probably sequence stuff in your daw just as easily. Although personally I'm a software guy, so I do all of this in Bitwig and/or Usine. But I would definitely recommend this to my brother with his hardware setup (if it was relevant, which is not with the current atrocious war going on)
I was waiting for your video to see if I should grab one but it’s already sold out until June! Saved me some serious cash that I didn’t need to spend given that I have a hefty sequencer collection.
I'm happy to see an increase in Ableton-style workflows in hardware, freeing the composer from strict pattern-based song structures. I've been enjoying it on my Force, and it'd be hard to ever go back to how I made music before.
@@ToyKeeper yeah it looks more ideal than the old school workflow. Just got a force too but the bigger keeps shutting down as soon as I boot it, so idk yet, but the grid makes sense.
@@ToyKeeper yeah it is. I’ve got a warranty so I’m good. It says it’s doing it because it didn’t shut down properly the last time it was used and then it turns off. I heard updating it fixes the problem but I can’t even get into update mode. Kinda fucked
@@colindavis2113 In case it helps, there's an "Akai Force Warranty Voiders" group on facebook, with people who might be able to help fix it. The group is mostly for sharing modified firmware, but people there should also have some useful ideas for recovering a device with damaged firmware. I haven't run into problems with mine though, so I'm not familiar with any debugging or recovery tools for it. I got it brand new and have only saved things to external storage (SD or SSD), so it hasn't had a chance to hit the most common problem -- running out of space on the root disk. I also installed modded firmware almost immediately, so I can sync all the data to a computer over wifi (sshfs + rsync), and eventually add some custom scripts when I get time. Anyway, it runs Linux, so it should be pretty recoverable. It might involve spending some time at a command line though, depending on what's wrong with it.
If so, it’d be less intuitive. You fly though the deluge. Imaging setting the note and note length with a screen versus with your ears and fingers. I forget the button combos all the time and I’m still pretty fast with the deluge. Just can’t see myself programming a 4 bar chord progression with a screen and knob turns after using the deluge. Still tempting though.
Great overview! It's going to be really challenging to watch videos like this one, highlighting all the fantastic new features of the Hapax, having just picked up the Pyramid. At least by the time I'm ready to upgrade any bugs will be worked out, and there may be even *more* features available! BTW Squarp confirmed that adding Instrument Definition support is their top priority for the Hapax - it will use a different format from the Pyramid, but probably will work similarly.
My exact situation. Just starting to bond with my new Pyramid, bought after months of tinkering around it... And they dropped this! I feel a bit frustrated, but thinking positive I now know what the next purchase will be! (and that box also killed my gas for the OXI One)
I checked the manual, and at least for now, Hapax only records one track at a time. That is, it doesn't have multimode like the Pyramid where you can simultaneously record midi channel 1 into track 1, midi channel 2 into track 2, etc. For me, that is *the* killer feature of the Pyramid so I won't be upgrading. I guess, what I'm really getting at here is that this thing doesn't trump the Pyramid in every way possible so just be happy you have the gear you have right now.
Oh wow!. I have been wondering if there was a CC profiling thing possible as soon as they launched Hapax and honestly this Instrument Definition feature was the only thing I wished it had and I am so happy that it is a thing and its happening.
sqwarp uwu That aside (?) This one looks super interesting, especially for live performances. Having some arrangement possibilities is something that seemed super practical, so it's nice to see that framework be adopted and transformed in creative ways for better UX! Great vid as always, Jeremy! Ps: That transposition tool + the polyrhythm/polymeter one are absolutely s i c k
Thanks very much for making a video showing this beast in action. I dont suppose you'd consider doing a short follow-up showing the 'Livemode Chord' way of playing the grid that I dont believe you showed in this video? I'd also be interested to know how far the step mode can be zoomed in on using the + and - buttons.
Come for the in depth walkthrough of this HAPAX BEAST and stay for the killer stand up YOU BONER FIENDS! Thanks for putting this beauty through its paces in the classic way that you do. CHEERS!
As a sequencer, the Deluge or Hapax. Been posing this question all day today. Just got paid. My gut is telling me the Deluge but the Hapax is a pure sequencer which is what my mind is shifting too. I might just be the Hapax. Anyone? To be clear, all I want is the better sequencer between these two.
This feels like Deluge and Squarp Pyramid got a baby…. Now I have a little GAS dilemma, because I have both these boxes and love them insanely, and yet I think this crossover will be even nicer 😱😱😱
@@BrianOuellette19 I think so too! Yet if I buy this I would sell the Pyramid, but not the Deluge, since the built in synth and sampler of the Deluge is also lots of fun.
@@jantuitman My Pyramid is being listed as we speak. As for the Deluge, perhaps a sampler with more inputs that could be used as a mixer would be a good replacement.
What is the BPM jitter on this thing? Record a click track with 120 BPM for couple of hours, then see how well it matches the time of the recorder. Innerclock Systems has a "litmus test" page on this issue, sadly very incomplete.
I think I just found my hardware sequencer. Currently using a Polyend Tracker, it's perfect for my Blofeld but limited. Thought about getting a Pyramid but performance-wise, I'm not sure. This is like a combination and it's perfect. But I always wonder about triplets, that's what bothers me with trackers. Also, clock jitter.
Hi is it possible to move all tracks simultaneously from one chord (or degree within a given scale) to another with a single touch of a button in real time like the OXi one can manage?
Yeah the Pyramid is incredible, but it has some very distinct limitations. This sequencer appears to fix most of them, but I am already a little worried about that 8 pattern limit. But this still llike it has the potential to compete for the top hardware sequencing crown for me regardless. The dual screens plus isomorphic step grid is a great form factor.
@@rdean150 yeah I’m into everything else. My best combo has been the pyramid with beatstep pro and a keystep. Keystep for note programming and then transposing. And beatstep for making the beats on the go.
Another great video! Thanks. Many tend to compare it with the Deluge. I may be wrong but it is not completely independent, right? I mean, there is no synth engine in it, you have to plug via midi or else a sound source?
This is the NDLR Torso Deluge and Pyramid all in one blinking box...I need a tissue to wipe away the drool...cannot wait til June...our delivery date here in Oz
So if all my synths have USB over midi, can I go from this to a USB hub, then on to each synth? I'm assuming so if it has USB host. That's sick if it's the case. Now to weigh up if I keep my Deluge when I get this ;)
So I just got my brand new Squarp Hapax and enjoy it. I have a question on how to setup MIDI to sequence several synthesizers with it. How to setup a new project template to sequence multiple synthesizer tracks assigned to Hapax. Example Track 1 - Oberheim OB X8 preset A (MIDI A out from Hapax to OB X8 MIDI IN) Track 2 - Oberheim OB X8 preset B (MIDI A out from Hapax to OB X8 MIDI IN) Track 3- Virus TI2 bank a patch 1 (MIDI B out from Hapax to Virus MIDI IN) Track 4 - Virus TI2 bank b patch 1 (MIDI B out from Hapax to Virus MIDI IN) Track 5- Elektron Digitone (MIDI C out from Hapax to Digitone MIDI IN) Track 6- modular drums over cv/gates How would I do this on the Hapax? Also since the Virus and OB X8 are multi timbral poly synths, I want to sequence multiple parts from each synth.
