Hands-on with Analogue Solutions Generator
We take the new CV-spouting sequencing beast out for a test drive
It’s fair to say that traditional analogue sequencing – the kind that makes use of control voltage and gate signals – has had a revival recently. Once seen as outdated tech, the unstoppable rise of Eurorack, along with a resurgent interest in analogue synthesis, has made classic sequencing tools thoroughly relevant again.
British ‘boutique’ outfit Analogue Solutions have been peddling vintage-style synths and sequencers since before it was fashionable, including modern classics like the Telemark, Nyborgs and Polymath. Their latest offering is Generator, a multi-channel CV and gate sequencer designed for maximum playability. We got our first look at the – then as yet unnamed – hardware at this year’s Superbooth, and we’ve now got our hands on an early production unit. We hooked it up ahead of a full review…
The hardware
Generator sits in a solid metal chassis roughly similar in size to a compact 25-key MIDI keyboard. It’s lightweight enough to easily transport, but feels properly rugged. We’d have no qualms about trusting it for regular, intense use on stage.
The interface is packed with rotaries, a metal-plated touchstrip, and a few extra buttons and switches, all of which feel sturdy enough to hold up to regular abuse. Although there’s a lot going on in a small space, the interface doesn’t feel too cluttered, and the neat layout makes logical sense.
The sequencer itself is 16-step with three CV channels and one gate. There are a number of cool playable interface features that make Generator a handy device for mixing up and experimenting with sequences. The touchstrip acts as an internal voltage generator, which allows it to do a number of things, including transposing the currentlyplaying sequence, reset or re-trigger the sequence, or be played like a traditional keyboard (albeit with only six notes).
Alongside this are four ‘beat’ rotaries – turning these can adjust the intensity of certain sections of your sequence, adding more gate signals for a more chaotic sound. The gate channel also has a ‘flipped’ output, which outputs the opposite of the main channel (ie if the main gate is ‘on’, the flipped output will be ‘off’). There’s also a simple little two-rotary looper, which offers an easy way to mess with the rhythm of a sequence.
Analogue Solutions head honcho Tom Carpenter tells us that the Generator is designed with a ‘what you see is what you get’ ethos, so there’s no hidden functions or menus to dive through. From our first impressions, this design seems to hit the nail on the head in terms of balancing creative depth with hands-on fun. There are plenty more cool features we’ve yet to dig into – we’ll get to these in a full review – but from our brief time playing, we’re certainly impressed.
WA NT to KNOW MORE?
Generator is available to order now, priced at £629. Head to: analoguesolutions.com