Squarp Instruments Hapax: Sequencer, studio hub, dawless controller
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Squarp Hapax · Source: Squarp
Squarp Hapax · Source: Squarp
The Best Hardware Sequencers. · Source: Squarp
Squarp Hapax · Source: Squarp
Squarp Instruments has revealed Hapax a standalone hardware sequencer with a 16×8 button array that will run your whole show.
Hapax
You can tell that this is going to open up the possibilities of your hardware setup just by looking at it. The massive array of RGB button/pads is going to make sequencing delightful, colourful and easy to visualise. Of course, it’s going to become an isomorphic keyboard, it’s going to show patterns and tracks, notes and happenings. This could be a lot of fun.
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The key features are that Hapax is a 16-track sequencer with 8 patterns per track. It can handle polyrhythms and polymetrics, it can run in all directions and will do step recording, live recording, CV, MIDI, mono and polyphonic and tracks of MPE. It has algorithmic composition tools and real-time MIDI effects with things like randomising, harmonising, scaling and Euclidean rhythms. You can perform live and have two projects loaded and running at the same time. So yeah, Squarp has covered it.
Connections
Out the back you have 4 lots of CV and Gate for running your Eurorack and analogue gear and then 4 MIDI ports for connecting to all your other gear. MIDI discipline is a bit poor on smaller synths these days where many of them lack a MIDI Thru and so having multiple ports is essential. One of the ports is on minijack which makes things nice and versatile. There are 2 MIDI Ins for controllers and a USB host port as well so you could plug another controller straight in there. You can also connect it to a computer if you wish and sequence software synths alongside. No complaints in the connections department.
Squarp Hapax · Source: Squarp
Dawless
The key compromise when moving to a complex dawless solution like this is in the display of data. I have a Squarp Hermod and their menu system and screen use is not something I particularly enjoy and so I’m hoping the workflow through the screens will be smoother and less dependent.
It’s going to be interesting to see more detail on how it all comes together but you can order one now for €864 if you want to jump straight in. Let us know what you think!
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5 responses to “Squarp Instruments Hapax: Sequencer, studio hub, dawless controller”
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More endless encoders and display units, 8 is really not enough, the Nektar Panorama P Series or the Ableton Push have already 8….
16 or better 32 please!
@ Robin Vincent:
Here it is thank you very much for doing an article. This looks very promising and exciting.
I would like to know when they start shipping from all the orders being placed?
It’s only major competition will be if a) AKAI releases a 32 x 32 pad controller and then allows their operating system to mount that so you do not have to scroll when you want to trigger more than eight tracks for live improvisation or however your creative set up takes you.
And whoever does that with their hardware sequencer, it’s going to be a winner.
AKAI, If you’re reading this you have too many MIDI issues on the Force. This is the crux of the functionality design of that device.
How can you wet the bed on something that important?
@ANDY MAC, can you please step in and ask them to hire another part-time coder, belly up to the bar pay the 40 K and get someone on staff and let’s get this thing rolling.
So it’s a Deluge?
That was my first thought too. It’s a knock-off Deluge with extra MIDI outputs.
Way to oversimplify things. How about where Deluge is a jack of all trades, master of some (a groove box), this is a midi powerhouse that puts Deluge to shame in many respects? I suggest you have a look at the red means recording demo, and see what I mean about MIDI automation we Deluge users could only dream of.