At the 2015 NAMM Show, KOMA Elektronik announced the Komplex Sequencer, a new step sequencer that lets you construct complex musical patterns, via both MIDI and CV/Gate, by the means of sequencing the sequence.
KOMA calls the Komplex Sequencer “a musical monster”. It is built around four full-featured 16-step sequencers that lets you use one or more of the sequencers to sequence the other one.
The Komplex Sequencer has no screen or submenus; all features have their own dedicated controls, and all features have their own dedicated in- and outputs on the large 86-point patch bay.
Each sequencer has its own start and stop buttons, a quantizer (switchable between chromatic, major & minor scales), one-shot-mode and five different play modes (forward, backward, ping-pong, ping-pong reversed, random). You can set the output range per sequencer as well, choose between 2V, 5V or 9V.
“We now think it’s time for the ultimate sequencer,” says KOMA, “one that comes with so much power and connectivity that gives the user the possibility to transcend the sequence from a repeating pattern to an ever evolving cadence of sound.”
By patching both internal and external CV-sources to the patch bay of the Komplex, you can control the parameters for Sequence Start Point, Sequencer Clock Division, the amount of the Glide between the steps, Skip Step, Repeat Step and Repeat Length. Also, you can Transpose the whole sequence via CV, start it with an external trigger signal and use, for example, an LFO or another sequence to control Sequence Length or Gate Length.
This adds up to 20 in- and outputs per individual sequencer, which, when you include the CV recorder outputs, adds up to 86 CV patch points on the whole machine, all located on the front panel.
Designed as a large 19″ 7U surface, the KOMPLEX invites the user to plug and play. The LED’s on the 64 step-sliders show the active step, the 64 corresponding RGB LED’s under the sliders’ push buttons allow you to set the sequencer start point, choose active steps, set the Glide per step, set the Gate per step, set the amount of Repeats per step and Repeat mode. Besides this, they also choose the output MIDI channel for each sequence.
Extra features include a 7 channel CV-recorder whose bank selection is controllable via CV and master start/stop to start/stop all sequencers at once.
The Komplex Sequencer is compatible with almost all synthesizers that accept CV/Gate and/or MIDI.
The Komplex Sequencer will be available at select retailers worldwide in Spring 2015 for an MSRP of $1,500. See the KOMA site for more info.
I like it Komplex – way to go Koma! 🙂
Good God.
That is amazing.
MSRP of 1500 is not bad considering.
I agree. Looks great. Usually the outrageous high prices of hardware annoys and frustrates me….but this looks well worth it. Still, i hope they can find a way to get the price down a touch.
If you think something is an “outrageous high price” then you make one to the same standard and under the same conditions and then tell us all what price makes it worth your while to do it in the first place. These guys don’t just make this stuff for the fun of it. Koma is about 3 guys in Berlin. If it doesn’t pay they can’t do it.
Yes… oh yes
Well, it certainly seems it’s worth the price. Now I want to see some demos.
Now THAT’S a proper step sequencer.
Want.
WOW, but well out of my price range 🙁
Holy crap this thing is mega with a capital M! If there was ever a super cv/midi sequencer this is it. Love to afford & to b honest this is quite reasonable considering what it can do, thanks Koma.
Ahahah, amazing!!
Easily the best thing I’ve seen from NAMM 2015 so far.
In terms of dollars per square inch, this is a steal by modular standards.
Talk about tweaker’s paradise
One sad note is with all these hardware sequencers, how come none of the modular software programs come with one?
You’ve already got a sequencer with modular software, your DAW. The combination of sequenced MIDI notes and automation can accomplish roughly the same thing.
Also, both Reaktor and MAX for Live, which are very modular do have sequencers.
I get your point though and I much prefer when ANY VST has a dedicated sequencer.
What i mean is a 16 step one like the one above. Yes you can use a regular sequencer for controlling or hybrid type one, there is even a few 16 step type sequencing plugs but it extra item you have to use something to rout from one plug to another.
What I have not seen in any of the software modulars has been any king of mukti step knob tweak sequencer (like sq-10 or baby-10)
One of the things allot of hardcore analog users like to do is use one with their modular equipment, just look at the moog 35 picture in that earlier post.
The strange thing seams that when software synths are made no one thinks of no keyboard use of them, like what VCS3s are used for
By the ways both the korg ms-2000 and radius have this function inside just not widely publicized .
Don’t the Arturia Arp 2600 and the Moog Modular have step sequencers?
There is also a step sequencer in Reason.
I have been looking at the low cost and freeware ones
Then again it is fun of finding ways to things you have to make music which is not the norm, just look at circuit benders, it the reason why people make FSU gear , to get something different, which has been pretty much how the dance and new age got going. The TB303 went down that path, went from a dump price of 50 bucks (retail 600) because no one thought nothing of it. Then tweakers bought them, dropped output into a bunch of cheap pedals and techno was born. Ever see that used tb303 can be as as 3000
Tassman has a step sequencer. Reason has its Matrix. Lovely step sequencer in the iMS20. in fact, where exactly have you seen a modular software without a sort of step seq module?
Well up until just now I was eyeing up a doepfer dark time as my next purchase ! Now I’m thinking ok ditch the DT idea and sell some gear for this …..but we will want to see a demo and a proper review first wont we ?
This is the only sequencer which is worthy enough to be interfaced with the majestic “Timbre Wolf.” ;D
its the year of the sequencer. like
Good., but at that price is best to save a little more and buy cirklon by sequentix with midi and cv. Same features and many many more.
This has Midi on it.
It also features a CV recorder, which is awesome for automating all sorts of stuff.
Same thoughts about the Cirklon, would nice to see a comparison
Honestly I’m not usually too crazy into synths, but this is actually superbly impressive. Love the presence of patch bay and CV patches at same time. That’s great. Wouldn’t daddy that this price is high, considering the functionality of this device, I’ll definitely try to play with it, when it’ll come out to stores. Dope.
Nice work KOMA! Thank you for being forward thinking and not simply reinventing what has already been done.
After years struggling with a pc and timing issues, I happened across cubase elements 7 and wow ,it is rock solid and simply laid out, not as good its predecessor the Atari version but ok(twenty years and software sequencers are worse!!!)
This Koma machine looks great, all it needs is a mouse port and screen and wow they will stay in the market for years too come.