Moog Music Forum

Has anyone used an EF-303 in conjunction with a Sub Phatty. I would like an inexpensive step sequencer to use with the SPhatty, can't afford a Dark Time and I can get one of these for $230. I know it hasn't a CV out but wouldn't connecting via midi enable me to do the same thing? And if I also run the SPhatty audio out into the 303 I might I also be able to do step effects in the 303? Thoughts?

At first I wasn't sure, but after doing a bit of research it seems like the EF-303 is capable of acting as a MIDI step sequencer. Very cool. It's also a fairly capable effects processor in its own right, so you could have a pretty mean combo there. Great idea if you ask me!

Another option might be the Pittsburgh Modular sequencer (http://pittsburghmodular.com/sequencer/): it's only $139.00 but you do have to have a Euro Rack case. Pittsburgh sells a nice case for $149.00 (http://pittsburghmodular.com/cell-48-desktop-case/)

The Pittsburgh is limited, 8 steps max....I need 16. I wonder if two can be stacked.

Just a few years ago, I purchased a Korg Electribe EA-1 mkII for $150. Similar to the EF-303 apparently. Let's not go into details between both of them, but the EA-1 is two part multitimbral (or midi). It sounds horrible but it's worth every penny as a sequencer only. Inspired by your post, I took it out of the drawer (been there a while) and hooked it up to both a Minitaur and a Linndrum II midified drum machine. Serious wall shaking happened from there.

You can still find those around $200 or even lower. Jam packed with features. Easy to play in real time and to program when you set your mind to it. Again, I don't know much about the Roland but the early Electribes are a real good deal I think I would prefer over the EF-303.

Btw, it's any step number you way want up to 64 and you can combine many patterns into songs.

I'd just bought the Roland when I saw your reply about the Electribe. More steps to a sequencer the better I say. I'll play with the Roland some and if it falls short resell it and go for the Korg. The EF 303 does have some other interesting things that might come in useful besides the sequencer. I have done an interesting thing, though. I have an Access Virus Ti and found that its programmable arpeggiator can be setup to send meaning individual arpeggiated notes can trigger other midi instruments. I tried it with the Sub Phatty and am getting great results, especially when in tandem with other instruments triggered by a similar or same pattern tethered to the Virus. One can midi record these notes (in Ableton as a clip even), then alter them in every which way. Results are about as close to a step sequencer as I could wish for until I get the Roland. There are lots of random possibilities one can explore via the Ti's arp....one of the reasons I bought it in the first place.

Another vote for an Electribe. I picked up a busted EM-1 for $40 recently...the sequencer (2 synth tracks, 1 drum track) works fine, the effects processor was borked. Ones with busted pots, bad audio outs, etc. are great candidates!