The Twisted Electrons Crazy8 MIDI sequencer is a 8-channel step sequencer, with 4 polyphonic MIDI tracks and 4 analog CV/Gate outputs.
In the video demo, above, the Crazy8 is used to control a robotic piano.
Features:
- 8 Tracks
- 4 Polyphonic MIDI tracks with chords: send on MIDI port 1
- 4 Analog CV/Gate tracks: also send MIDI on MIDI port 2
- Sync in and out
- MIDI Clock input and output, MIDI Slave and Master supported
- MIDI pattern “Feeding” and transposing
- Independent length per pattern: up to 16 steps per pattern. Chain up to 8 patterns for 128 step patterns
- Independent playback per track: Forward, backwards, pendulum and random
- Independent rates per track: /4, /3, /2, x1, x2, x3, x4, x8
- 8 Levels of Swing & 2 swing modes
- Variable duty per pattern
- Crazy effect per pattern: values 1-8 reduce probability of step, values 10 to 16 add musical improvisation
- based on the pattern’s content
- Offset step playback per track
- Transpose all tracks to any key with ease
- SYSEX memory storing/recalling
- MIDI real time pattern feeding
- Sequence transpositions (key tracks)
- No menus, no BS
Video Demos:
Pricing and Availability
The Crazy8 sequencer is available for €255.00.
Nice sequencer! useful and creative specs and very good price.
The logic of 4 ch in each MIDI port es realistic and intelligent.
The realtime transpose functions its something basic in live performance. (I think beatstep, Circuit, Elektron etc lacks that basic function).
The specs of these sequencers reminds me the ZAQuencer excepts that ZAQ don’t have CVs.
Can’t recall if the original Beatstep does but the BSP supports transpose either via the hardware via key-combo or via external MIDI control.
Circuit lets you transpose sequences as they play, too!
The Octatrack can transpose its midi sequences. Admittedly transposition is via a knob and not a keyboard-type button layout. It is parameter-lockable though, so you got transposition automation per-step.
elektrons can do realtime transpose. you can even set individual tracks as fixed so transpose will only affect the desired ones.
Great sequencer, but lack of velocity sensitivity is a deal
breaker for me
Beatsteps aren’t polyphonic though, right?
Correct. And only 3 tracks. Well, the drum track is 16-note polyphonic but the notes are predetermined in software and set globally for all projects. If it were per project, you could sacrifice at least part of them to playing chords but unless all of your songs are in the same key/scale, it’s pretty useless for that currently.
Zaqs are polyphonic too.
‘Menus suck! Why do instruments have to be so complicated? Suffer no more. Our simplified interface replaces annoying screen editing with feedback with a vast number of button press combinations that you simply need to commit to memory and learn to operate with feedback consisting of memorizing the meaning of various combinations of blinking LED dots.’
Menus can really suck but think your point is valid. This sequencer could certainly do with a bit of extra silk screening for what everything does when shift is pressed. Labeling is UI. Also possibly some simple indication that holding a particular button for a bit does something different.
Correctly labeling functions is a lost art. Sure its possible to buy a label printer, I did, but so much time is wasted making the labels for things that should’ve been identified in the first place.
Here’s an example of the labels I did for my TR-8 and TB-3
https://imgur.com/a/PT0r9
I wonder how much cheaper this could be if there were no CV/gate? I’m very tempted by this but don’t own enough gear to maximize those ports.
Things I couldn’t grok from videos or RTFM. If the honorable Mr Synthhead did a follow up, I’d love to know…
Can you input chords from an external source or can they only be set with the internal chord function?
Can a track be set to ignore global transpose?
Is keyboard based transpose relative to middle C?
Is there a notion of a project or is 8 tracks X 16 patterns total? (LOVE the sysex backuo)
Can you edit while in the midst of a patter chain?
Can you set velocity? Does it record velocity from external inputs? Anything else, CC wise?
Can duty (gate) be set per step or is it per pattern only?
I don’t understand that “MIDI real time pattern feeding” means. Manual is equally vague…
“MIDI Input 1 (receives MIDI clock, MIDI Notes for pattern feeding when in step
mode, and transposing (send notes on MIDI CH16)”
Does this just mean you can record a pattern using an external midi controller?
Yep, think you’ve got the right idea.
never mind the sequencer, I want that piano rig
Anybody know what that piano actuator device is? Appears to have dynamics too… Could be useful for sampling a piano too!