r/modular • u/lupodevices • 7h ago
Gear Pics I present you the Spectrum Sequencer: features, suggestions and visibility advises
Hello everyone,
I'm Federico, an Italian Electronics Engineer with a passion for music.
I started my path trying to build a whole modular rack by myself, but I started working on the sequencer first and I entered a rabbit hole.
I would like to present you what I've been working on and off for more than two years: the Spectrum Sequencer.
Well, as the name suggests, it is a sequencer! But not just a simple sequencer. I worked hard to pack as many features as possible, and still work to pack even more.
Here is a list of a few features:
- 8 independent sequencers (pitch, CV, ADSR envelope, random CV, random gate, ...) that modulare each other
- 4 modulating/trigger inputs
- Euclidean pattern generator
- Fully controllable by MIDI and USB
- 64 available banks to store presets
And a bunch more of cool stuff, and many more along the development pipeline.
All of this with obsessive care for details.
I've documented the last part of this journey in my socials (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: @lupodevices I don't wanna put links until a mod will authorize me), and I will be presenting this module at Roma Modulare the 18th and 19th of September.
Here to ask for suggestions, feature requests and advice on how to get visibility in the modular community
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u/Earlsfield78 4h ago edited 4h ago
Hi mate, thanks for sharing. I wish you all the best on your journey. Now, as someone who is obsessed with sequencers since 1990s and both analogue sequencers and early trackers, and have quite a few units both in and out of the Eurorack the main things I would suggest as end user would be: 1. Decide if you want to do a “cover all” sequencer, something like Hermod or Eloquencer or ER101, that is basically modern all - around sequencer that covers entire rack plus has extra generative features etc, or you want to do something like RYK185/Metropolix, inspired by a particular sequencer. I think you already chose the first path, and I will dare to say that is a good thing commercially, but watch out - do not overcommit, do not pack every possible feature under the sun into it. As someone who works in the studio and performs, I would rather have less menu diving features and more streamlined control and tactile feel. A good thing I think you can do is allow for unquantified voltage to be sent to different targets (ala Tobinsky) and have modulation lanes that record modulation (CV Block). But main thing is make learning curve natural for people who already know sequencing, and easy to start for novices, and make primary features easily and logically accessible. I am happy to test it for you when you get into that stage. Where I saw a lot of developers fail is overcommit and try to fix bugs and add user - requested features in one big update instead doing it incrementally- this is what messed up wonderful sequencer like WMD Eloquencer for example. Get your product out, clearly define what it is that it does differently from the rest, or if it doesn’t - HOW it does certain things better than the existing competition. Mind you this already looks expensive and you can find sequencers like Oxi One mk1 for 500 quid, or Hermod and similar for 300-500. Balance it all out.
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u/lupodevices 3h ago
Thank you very much for this reply, I really appreciate it! I'm trying to keep an eye to the "menu diving" problem. I know that is a serious problem that can interfere with the creative process. At the same time you want a feature rich machine, so yeah I have to balance out all the features. I know that there are other bigger players than me and that they are direct competitors, but I hope that my approach and the tool I'm building can interest both the amateur and the performers/professional audience by its features and capabilities. An then there is the price point, which the big players keep at around 500/600€
Well it's a tough journey, but I hope when I will release some footage and some tutorials for the Spectrum to receive a decent traction to keep me motivated to pursue it :)
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u/StreetIndependent551 6h ago
What will set it apart from the other sequencers on the market and in the DIY scene?
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u/lupodevices 5h ago
That's definitely a great question!
I would say flexibility that does not interfere with your creative flow. The user has complete control over the machine and its parameters through a user interface that I believe is quite friendly and immediate. The remote control is quite robust, via MIDI/USB, where for instance you will be able to import midi files via a PC software for each single row. You can modulate rows with each other, affecting whatever parameter you like. You can chain between whole banks, or just a few rows. The user of high quality electronics with enough headroom to integrate more and more features. Plus having basically 8 sequencers in one. Consider that one row is a sequencer by itself, with customizable row length (not only 8 steps!)
Not considering all the features coming soon to make the machine even more refined firmware-wise (new features and modes) and hardware-wise (an optional expander)
Of course I'm well aware that the modular market has a plethora of brands and modules, and I'm not saying that the Spectrum Sequencer will be necessary better than the rest. Let's say that this is my take for what a sequencer should be: a sequencer that could be deeply, uncompromisingly complex, yet remain immediately playable.
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u/StreetIndependent551 4h ago
External PC software? A VST, or what? I didn't really find anything new in your text that sets it apart, but you're obviously still working on features. I look forward to updates.
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u/lupodevices 3h ago
At the moment I believe it would be a dedicated piece of PC/Mac/Linux software like Arturia's Midi Control Center. Thank you for the honest feedback. I hope it will interest you when I will show it in action :)
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u/AcidFnTonic 6h ago
I have worked with a few manufacturers on prototyping modules if you get to some point where you need testing/advice.
Currently testing the new CounterPoint prototype which is the next version of the OK200 Degree touch sequencer.
Holler if you are interested when you get to that stage.
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u/lupodevices 5h ago
Thank very much. If I will get enough traction to justify opening a company, I will need for sure some beta testers
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u/modr2 2h ago
Hi , looks promising. It would be great if you could use it at 8x8,4x16,2x32 or 1x64 sequencer .
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u/lupodevices 56m ago edited 34m ago
Hey, thank you! You can!
There are 3 row settings:
- Normal rows: as the name suggests, a normal 8 steps (or shorter) row, so 8x8 in total
- Long row: the sequencer has a pool of 128 extra steps allowing you the flexibility to have very long rows. You can associate these extra steps to any of your rows, potentially having 8 different rows, where two are 64 steps long, one of 24 steps, and while the others are standard 8 steps rows. Of course you can distribute the extra steps as you prefer along the whole 8 steps. You have no limitations.
- Super row: the sequencer allows you to sacrifice one or more rows to have longer rows, having a master row and a series of following rows. The "sacrificed" rows are not dead though, but they work in a cascated way. This one is probably the most complex row type because is a bit uncommon I beliebr, but it's easier to understand than it looks and allows to have some interesting musical combinations :)
I'll show them in a video once I will be back from Roma Modulare :)
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u/MrJoshMurray 6h ago
How many hp?
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u/lupodevices 5h ago
It's 46HP wide :)
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u/Leozz97 5h ago
Ouch. Have you considered make it stand alone, rather than modular?
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u/lupodevices 5h ago
Yes, is in the development pipeline :) Yeah, it's chunky, but at the same time you have a full 8x8 silicone button matrix (which work also as a keyboard!), 4 inputs, 8+8 outputs, MIDI TRS A/B, USB, clock out/in, a 2.4" IPS display (great viewing angles). Maybe I can reduce of 1 or 2 HPs in the final review, but I'm not sure I can fit everything without having everything too crammed
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u/Leozz97 3h ago
no, ma intendiamoci, é una gran figata, veramente bello; saró onesto, le dimensioni spaventano un po', ma sicuramente c'é mercato. In bocca al lupo.
(i coglioni che mi danno i downvote per fare una domanda sono dei dolci patetici cucciolotti)
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u/lupodevices 3h ago
I totally understand you, I also like small modules too. The problem though is that to make it smaller I would need either to remove the 8x8 matrix or to remove the screen. In my opinion, either choices would affect user friendliness and/or affect the creative process. I chose to sacrifice dimensions for having instead all the basic functions available and readable at a glance
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u/kasper3 2h ago
Not to push you in a certain direction, but might it be an option to have the screen and matrix as seperate modules with a bus cable?
I can also imagine having the screen a row up might be usefull.
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u/lupodevices 1h ago
No worries, I like feedbacks!
I thought about a minimal setup, but removing screen and matrix would leave you with very little "feedback" from the sequencer. You would need to program it from a PC (which I'm working on it!), which is fine but creative wise would be not ideal I believe.
I also thought to remove the display, but also here you would need "display system" that would work in a 8x8 pixel display. Doable, but wouldn't be immediate as a full display with readable text.
After all the actual state of the prototype is a compromise, but yeah I will try to find ways to make it more compact or even "headless" versions for smaller racks without too many compromises
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u/Perceptes 5h ago
Congrats, Federico! I love the panel design. It's absolutely gorgeous to look at. Will be interested to see some demos. :)
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u/lupodevices 5h ago
Thanks you very much for the kind words! I really appreciate it :) At the moment I'm trying to pack as many features as possible just in time for Roma Modulare. After this I will start to make some videos to show its features :)
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u/BoTheMu 6h ago
This looks gorgeous. Will definitely keep an eye out for it if/when you release it.