Korg SQ-1 Reviews

Excellent little sequencer

So easy to use and great for live performances too. I use it a lot with my eurorack setup. For the price a total no brainer. Get one. Or better, get more than one :)

Great sequencer

Best sequencer for in this price range price. Has many different modes. The only disadvantage i would say is that it scratches easily.

Dejen el ableton a un lado y dejen que las perillas manden

Yo no le tenia ningún tipo de fe de que esto podía ser tan útil para manejar equipos modulares y ahora lo recomiendo totalmente. El completamente chico hay gente que se queda de esto, pero esa es la idea, tampoco se pueden grabar patrones ni nada por el estilo y creo que esto es lo que mas me gusta, esto es solo perillas y salidas a voltajes, y siempre es algo diferente el resultado. Me gusto mucho, hecho quiero comprarme otro.

Some lack of function

for 90 € is not bad, but i would have it as a 3rd sequencer, when the midi clock is receive by USB, the midi out is not working properly for example. i would go for the sq-64 instead.

Solid, basic, and cheap.

Very good step sequencer. You get what you spect, the building is really solid. A comfortable and easy to use sequencer.

What an amazing sequencer!

This is really a great first sequencer to have if you are doing either modular or just joining it with a semi-modular synth like the Korg MS-20. It can really keep the fun going!

Does the trick

If you want a very simple step sequencer this is a good choice. Works with my CV-capable analog synths (Behringer D, Arp Odyssey, etc.) and it's easy to sync to MIDI Clock from Logic. Only wish you could have 16 steps for both sequence A and B. If you want more possibilities maybe the BeatStep Pro is better but I like having more limited options that aren't so complicated and this box also takes up virtually zero space on my desktop.

bang for bucks

good product for its purpose. definetly more mechanical than musical. serves specific needs

A true weapon but has some shortfalls

This was my first sequencer and boy was it fun to tell the MS-20 what to do. It didn't take long to understand the features at all after reading the manual.

Pros:

Very quick to get a tangible sequence going and can simply be linked in a chain and clocked to other hardware.

Power by 9V battery or USB-B.

Cons:

Quite small

No memory so you best record the audio.

Fixed velocity.

The pitch knobs have no reference point which makes it very difficult to set exact pitch for the notes but you can define the scale to keep the notes within the realm of sense. If dissonance is what you want then this might not be a con for you.

When connected to Ableton, I couldn't get it to set to any midi channel but channel 1. Not impossible to work around but still annoying.

Other than that I've heard Korg almost don't profit off of these so fair play to them

Great little sequencer in compact unit

Great

You get through that Moog modular sequencer module creativity wave all over again. Great little sequencer for your analog gear. Planning to get a second one already.

Basic Sequencer

Very basic sequencer, ended not really being what I was looking for.

Good basic sequencer

I've been using this as a gate/cv controller with various basic oscillators to experiment with generating minimalistic loops à la Reich, Terry Riley, and so on. For such a small unit, it has some well thought out choices, such as variable duty cycles for generating brief percussive attacks at the lowest settings which can then be lengthened for more melodic possibilities. A small gripe is regarding the battery life, which is a bit too brief for my taste. This is only a potential problem in a live setup without a computer, since the USB option eliminates this problem entirely. The control knobs feel a trifle flimsy, but with due care in handling this shouldn't present a problem.

Veru useful little sequencer

Really great for sequencing your gear via CV. I use it in countless scenarios, from live beat making to melodies to sequencing visuals. Its USB midi lets you connect it to your PC/MIDI host, so that has endless possibilities as well. The chromatic modes are cool, and beautiful sequences come out of that. Its features for skipping steps and sequence-length-adjustment are also great for getting really weird stuff going. Ive seen this used in many modular setups during live performances. Syncing this with your PC or midi gear over USB has only worked one way for me (sequencer sends the clock, not the PC). Its a perfect easy-to-use starter sequencer if you don't have one in your rack yet. Small, sturdy, portable and cheap!

Handy to have, but not to use.

The good: It's nice to have a simple grab and go sequencer to quickly hook up to any synth that accepts CV or midi, and the enclosure is quite sturdily built.

The bad: Dialing in notes is fiddly. Tiny knob movements result in missing the note you're going for. The effective sweep range of the knobs seem to be between 7 and 3 o'clock. (Maybe the pots are exponential?) Also, you only get scales (major & minor) in the key of C, which is ok if you're using CV and tuning an oscillator to whatever (or controlling something other than pitch), but can be limiting when using MIDI. The buttons are also pretty smushy, making precision changes difficult, and they tend to bounce, meaning it's easy to accidentally press the button twice in rapid succession.

Even with the negative points, the simplicity, convenience, and low price make the SQ-1 worth picking up.

SQ-1 is a really fun little sequencer in a retro style. Great value for money in my opinion

nice sequencer

just got it for a week still didn't play with it much but it seems like good fun to play with

Solid sequencer

A simple but solid sequencer. Working excellent also with the Volca series, not only with modules. And the price is unbeatable!

tiny and packed with features

I bought this sequencer to give me the option of a 16 note sequence and to easily link my modular system to my old Korg MS-10. I have not been disappointed.

The options for voltage output are great with different ranges and various selections for quantizing. The choices of sequencer mode I've found I use as a performance control to vary a repeating sequence or create interesting rhythms. I sometimes use it simply as a trigger sequencer and it is quick and easy to get something going. Lots of lovely lights to let you know where you are! Outputs to MIDI as well.

The only downside is the tiny control knobs that I find I often have to reset after the unit has been off, and for that reason alone I have knocked a star off handling. But considering the power in such a small box and that the original Korg SQ-10 now sells for about ten times the cost of this, I suppose that is a compromise I'm willing to make.

I'd highly recommend this as with lots of the new Korg wee boxes it is LOTS of fun!

Korg SQ-1

This sequencer is a must if you have a MS-20. Works perfectly