CONTROLLERS & SEQUENCING

Best of the rest…

Analogue Solutions Generator

The latest hardware sequencer from UK outfit Analogue Solutions is fun, inspirational and powerful. Three channels of CV, a gate channel with ‘inverted’ mode, a touch strip controller and simple looper provide plenty of tools for rhythmic experimentation and creativity.

Native Instruments A-Series

NI’s affordable controllers lack a few of the ‘pro’ features of the S-Series, including aftertouch or a keyboard light guide, but the quality and feel is impressive. Bundled with Maschine, Monark and plenty ready-to-use sounds, these are among the best value entry-level products out there.

Arturia KeyLab MkII

Another controller keyboard that spans analogue and digital realms, the MkII KeyLab combines DAW and MIDI control with a quartet of CV outputs and selection of analogue control ins. It also offers tight control over Arturia’s great Analog Lab and V Collection plugins.

Native Instruments Traktor S4

It’s been a while since we’ve seen groundbreaking developments in the digital DJ realm, but NI’s ‘haptic’ tech is just that. In action, it makes using the S4’s jog wheels a more musical-feeling experience, letting users get around with less reliance on a laptop screen.

Akai Fire

FL Studio users have never been well-served on the controller front – with its multi-window layout, it’s not an easy application to design a controller for. Kudos to Akai for stepping up. Fire isn’t perfect – it misses a few features – but FL users will appreciate it nonetheless.