Korg SQ-64
The SQ-64’s USP is its vast connectivity. Rob Redman tries not to be overawed by the sheer ’80s flashiness and flexibility
There’s something satisfyingly ’80s about Korg’s new SQ-64 sequencer.
I’m not sure if it’s the red LEDs that look part cylon and part KITT, or the white-on-black paint job but it works. The SQ-64 manages to hark back to days long gone, while assuming an understated modernity. It’s a fine-looking piece of gear, with a sleek but confidence-inspiring heft.
All the controls feel good to the touch, with nice positive action. The rotary controls have detents, which make for ease of navigation in a dark studio or on stage. The only button that feels less precise is the small power button (I’d prefer a switch).
Jack sockets, for CV and MIDI, abound, each with a good grip on cables, so patching won’t come undone too easily and, although there’s no cable loop for the power, there is a USB-type mini B socket, of which I don’t necessarily approve and hope more manufacturers make the move to USB-C, which is a physically more sturdy connection.
Turning our attention back onto the main panel, the lion’s share of the device is taken up by the 64 buttons, which serve multiple functions with various other knobs and buttons logically laid out, most often with a light to notify the current status. I do wish that the transport controls had a light on, rather than just when active, which would nullify any fumbling around in the dark. The rotary knobs are totally unlit but to be honest I can forgive that, as they are encoders rather than pots, so the data is displayed on the bright and crisp
OLED display which, although small, is nice and easy to read.
As well as some text labels printed on the surface, there are illuminated markers that show when any of the outputs are triggered, a nice way of adding some at-a-glance feedback on your patterns.
So, ‘what can this thing do?’ I hear you cry. Well, it’s four sequencers in one; three melodic, with outputs for pitch, mod and gate, and one for drum patterns. For this there are eight CV outs, although you can set more complex patterns and
A Eurorack-based option with huge amounts of options, from per-step LFOs, to the wonderfully hit-and-miss Magic button, that generates entirely random sequences. Random but controllable. ericasynths.lv