Tesseract Modular Step Fader MkII: Drunken dual channel sequencer
4,9 / 5,0 | 
The Step Fader MkII is a single 16-step or dual 8-step sequencer with a built-in quantizer and slew limiter. It will generate CV and Gates in many different modes, including drunk and random. Let’s check it out.
Step Fader MkII
The name is a little bit on the nose. Since Tesseract’s last module was the Tukra I was expecting something more flamboyant. But hey, it has steps on faders, and so that’s where we are.
In a nutshell, you have two rows of 8 faders which denote the pitch and two rows of buttons to take care of the Gates for each step. You can run the sequencer in three ways; Dual mode gives you two independent 8-step sequencers with their own timing, length and directional modes, Parallel runs the two 8-step sequencers together, controlled by one lot of parameters, and Single turns it into a single 16-step sequencer.
For Play Modes, you have Normal, Reverse, Pendulum, Drunk and Random which dictates the direction and movement of the steps. You can set scales, slides, time divisions and transpositions all from the multi-function buttons at the bottom.
Each sequencer has its own CV and Gate output that is quantised to your chosen scale. You’ve also got some doubling up on outputs for added interest. They also have independent outputs for clock, reset and slew, so they can be completely separate from each other.
CV control is available over pretty much everything, and you can even use the quantizer and slew on external signals.
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Step Fader MkII is a nifty sequencer that looks very hands-on and great in performance. The quantization will keep everything together, and you can almost operate it like an arpeggiator using the buttons as a keyboard. You can also store up to 16 patches which could amount to an entire set., although, of course, as you change patches the faders would no longer visually represent the notes. The original Step Fader was similar in most respects, but the addition of the two rows of buttons gives easier and more versatile access to the parameters within.
The Step Fader MkII is available now for €250.
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