Incredible sequencer. Great to integrate with modular synths. So many pattern styles. Highly recommended plus a great price point.

i needed a simple fast sequencer that can program on the fly as i perform - this does it perfect - my synth sequencer was too simple AND complicated, keyboard sequencer was waaaaay complicated and not user friendly - the SQ-1 has all controls on the face, no menu diving or multiple button combos, it looks simplistic but it is not with many ways to use that the user manual doesnt get into - i find it perfect for live performance

The Korg SQ-1 is a very powerful addition to any CV or MIDI setup. I have used it both ways. The SQ-1 is versatile with one or two lanes of control with up to 8-steps when using two lanes and up to 16-steps when using one lane. With CV, I have controlled a Behringer Cat via two of its CV inputs with both lanes of the SQ-1 at different loop lengths. This way you get sequences that really evolve and develop. I also used the SQ-1 over USB MIDI with Ableton to record MIDI notes for my plug-ins. This worked decently well and was very cool for generating sequences that I could modify in real time with knob tweaks. However, I couldn't get the SQ-1 to respond to the clock and start messages of Ableton. So I had to start the record function in Ableton and independently start the sequencer of the SQ-1 after that. I also decided to manually reshape the overall length of the MIDI sequence, as the clock was different between the SQ-1 & Ableton, to line up the SQ-1's recorded MIDI to Ableton's grid. Definitely a different way of working from sequencing MIDI notes in a DAW's piano roll. Highly recommended for sequences you won't be able to get any other way.

Of all the gear I have bought, the Korg SQ-1 has been one of the toughest, most reliable, and useful.

Yes, if you want precise tunings, you will need a tuner, but half the fun is twirling knobs and hearing what comes out. A sequence might not work in Major, so you can switch to Minor, or you might need to constrict the octaves for something to click.

It allows you to perform the sequence in a linear fashion, a zig-zag pattern, a ping-ping pattern, or a random pattern. You can select which step to begin from, and you can turn steps on and off and even use glide.

I use it with iPad sequencers to send CV to semi-modular synths lacking a proper midi input, and it works perfectly.

This thing had been knocked off the table and hit the concrete at least three times, and it just continues to work.

It is so beloved, I named mine after my late, great little terrier "Ole Rusty." I would have never bestowed such an honored name on a piece of gear unless that gear was worthy.

Buy one. You won't regret it.

It's a good sequencer! Enough said! Works really well with my synth and came with all the gear it needs, minus a midi cable.

Super easy to use. I hooked it up to my Korg vocals and had a great time with it. I own 2 of them now. So easy my 12 year old figured it out in 10 minutes and was making some nice groovy music on it. If you are considering getting it go ahead. Get it! Its a wonderful all metal construction. Knobs are solid. The lights are bright enough in the pot switches and buttons. I really enjoy this little unit!

A lot of what has been said about the capabilities of this sequencer already discusses is large range of possibilities and its interesting limitations. But there are some quirks that aren't very visible at the surface. Most notably, the MINOR scale is actually DORIAN! (It's crazy! It does make the sequencer more interesting.) At least this is the case with my unit, and some other people have stumbled upon this in muffwiggler. I have emailed Korg about this and not heard back yet….

This is a fun and easy to use sequencer. I was jamming with it in the first 30 minutes.

This is a easy and fun to use sequencer. I was jamming with it in the first half hour of use.

I bought this sequencer to soup up the Moog Grandmother, and with its many CV patch points and versatile run modes, it has done that handily. It will eat all your batteries. Use USB power.

It is small, but mighty, with a surprisingly solid build. Just like you.

The tiny pots can be challenging to read and adjust, particularly if you have giant man-fingers and sub-par vision, but you'll survive. Try to focus on how funky your bassline patch sounds now that you've plugged a cv duty sequence into your envelope trigger. Appreciate how useful it is to have not one, but two 8-step sequences running in parallel, to be patched wherever your heart desires. This is one handy piece of kit. It is undeniably about one hundred dollars.

Should you get an Arturia Beatstep instead? Maybe. The SQ-1 gives you 2 separate cv/gate outs, and the Beatstep gives you presets. I can't choose for you.

The SQ-1 is not designed for performing on-the-fly, evolving sequences in a live performance, but if you spend enough time practicing with it, I bet you could pull it off.

What I'm trying to say is that even though the SQ-1 is small, and some of the pots might be stickier than others, and it's physically a little bit tricky to program, it is well-designed, capable, and versatile. Any nitpicky criticisms I could make could easily be countered with, "yeah, but it's a hundred bucks!" At the end of the day, considering the amount of functionality that this unit has added to my synth setup, there's no argument to make against it. I kinda love it.

SQ-1 love. This is a great first sequencer or addition to existing set up. I'm using it to control a Chase Bliss Tonal Recall pedal, a modified Monotron, Teenage PO-12 and a Jupiter-6. I can also sync to DAW. Great piece of gear. I'm happy with this purchase.

I recently picked up an MS-20 mini, and have been loving it, but adding the SQ-1 has opened up a whole new realm of possibilities. It's so intuitive, and I was able to start having fun with it right out of the box. For what it does, you cannot beat the price. It's well built, feels solid and sturdy. I like that it can run on batteries or USB power. Battery life is pretty decent, my batteries just died yesterday after a few weeks of light-moderate use.

My only gripe is there's no way to accurately track the bpm of your sequences if the SQ-1 is not receiving data from a DAW via USB. You can set the speed manually on the unit, but it would be nice to have a small LCD screen to keep track of parameter values. I recently picked up a secondhand Volca Beats, which now doubles as a Sync In to the SQ-1, so that problem was solved. Overall, I'm very pleased with the SQ-1 and can't wait to spend more time with it over winter break.

I have been waiting decades for something like this. So many things have been done right that I cannot praise the Korg SQ-1 enough.
Ever since I purchase a Korg MS20 decades ago I have been lusting after an analogue step sequencer. Korg are unique. They do things different and short of finding a cheap old SQ10 you have very few and expensive options. Forget trying to buy a decent midi to CV converter for less than the price of this baby. They just don't exist.
What can it do?
Sequence like it is 1980 in Berlin.
Create changes on the fly.
Set the CV to HzV to match the Korg MS20 and other analogue synths
Sent 2 midi channels out to sound module.
Receive midi from computer via the usb (Midi to CV conversion).

I have used older step sequencers like the Roland 104 and it nearly broke my mind trying to keep it in tune. The Korg SQ-1 is rock solid and gives you the option of play majors, minors or chromatic scales.

My recommendation to anyone who is on a budget and serious about analogue electronic music is get this. It is small in size but big in versatility.

If you are building up a modular synth system, the SQ-1 is an affordable, quality sequencer that is a "must-have". I can send MIDI to one synth and CV/Gate to another synth at the same time. It runs just fine on 5V USB, or batteries, both of which are handy for mobile rigs. It is solidly made and should put up with road wear. It's also small and fits into even the most cluttered home studio. If you are reading this and don't have one of these, you need this - buy one.

For $100, you can't go wrong. It can send two independent channels (synced in time, of course) of CV to my euro-rack. I was a little bummed at first because I thought I could only get one octave out of it, but for euro's 1V / octave standard, changing the function to 5V or 8V was a quick remedy.
It's super fun, you can do all the traditional seq stuff: have a six note sequence on channel A and an eight on channel B, so as it runs it off-sets, putting one sequence ahead of another. Use channel A as a running seq and channel B in STEP JUMP mode as a mini keyboard. Run it in 8 step CV DUTY RANDOM mode to have it skip around between notes of different value and gate length. Run a fast little TB-303 type seq with slides on some notes.

I think the only con to this device is that now I dream of owning four of them and having them all synced, one sending some massive 32-step seq while the others do weird little drum patterns.

I was shocked at how well the midi works, because it is a pretty hilarious 1/8" to female midi dongle, but it worked great with ableton to make a drum sequence and with Madrona Lab's Aalto as a sequencer. (Side note-it was polyphonic over midi to Aalto, channel A played a melody and simultaneously channel B a bass-line, I have not tried it with other soft-synths but would expect the same.)

Don't worry about stocking your house with batteries, it works fine with USB cable to an iPhone power supply!

This my first sequencer so I have nothing to compare this to but, regardless,I have really enjoyed using the SQ-1, it's easy to use and super fun, I've been using the MIDI out to control either the Volca Key or Bass plus it syncs up to the Volcas and Monotribe. It's a great way to control your synth while freeing up your hands to play guitar, bass etc if you're a multi instrumentalist, set the synth groove and jam! Totally worth the affordable price, thank you Korg and Sweetwater! A+

Thank you Korg for another great sequencer! My monotron delay wont accept the gate input for note duration control and it only seems to work when the CV is input into the gate input on the monotron??? Whatever. I will wait until Korg releases a usable monotron - hopefully with the CV jacks installed. Besides the obvious sequence-ability which is great, this provides me with a midi filter of sorts when the SQ-1 is controlled by SYNC input I can send a beat synced midi clock signal to my effects unit with out the note data! YESSS! Also and this is probably my favorite use, I can emulate the sound of a bowed string by sending the CV out to the breath controller input on my FM synth! Now my bass-lines are truly strange.
Thank you Sweetwater Sound yet again, or is it just Sweetwater? Either way, you rock the science of business!

excellent product, I opened the box and I found myself pleasantly surprised by the quality of the construction. I am using a Arturia Microbrute Arturia and Moog Werkstatt-01 with cv/gate control and the result is really great. My plan is to use it to sequence the analog modular synthesizer I'm building

I'd very recently assembled a number of synthesizer kits that all featured controlled voltage (CV) inputs & decided to give the SQ-1 a go. I have not been disappointed. I only wish that there was a wall wart power supply option for these units, rather than strictly battery or USB power.

I can trigger my Moog Sub Phatty thru CV/Gate while sequencing my DSI Tetra with the included 1/8th inch to MIDI cable; along with syncing to my Monotribe. Very fun! It is made very well. Totally worth the price. Sweetwater was awesome as usual and i received it really fast. I am thinking about adding an Arturia Beatstep Pro to my setup next.

The Korg SQ-1, is a fantastic sequencer. It features enough outputs in a variety of formats to present all manner of Musical Possibilities for my MiniMoog Voyager, which is a very full-Featured Analog Synthesizer! The Control Voltage Output is versatile as it can be designated as 1v,2v, 5v or 8v! This is great as the Moog can handle +0v - +5v,! It comes with a Mini-Jack to Female Midi Converter cable allowing you to connect a Male to Male Midi Cable easily. This was a nice little included extra and very thoughtful of Korg to include. I was able to install and power the SQ-1 via the USB in the Back of the Device connecting a USB cable to a Powered USB Hub. Korg also includes two AA Batteries! Within an Hour of reading up on the very clear instruction/ Function Layout sheet/Manual I was able to create some original and Pitch/Glide etc.. Bending Rhythms and even recorded a 4 Minute Live-Room Performance right off the bat! Of course I wish it had 32 or 64 Steps rather than the 8-16 steps it does have but already it makes my EHX a bit of a Dinosaur. However, I am using the MIDI to sync the Clock on the EHX 8-Step, which gives me an added layer of Sequencingbeyond the SQ-1! So if you have another Sequencer, Drum Machine etc. the MIDI or the Sync ports on the SQ-1 will help you keep your rhythms on Beat! The Pots don't have incremental markings but you can feel them as your turn the pots. This helps when changing note lengths or pitch etc... Finally, I've been searching for something to enhance my Live Performance and make up for a weak right hand due to a surgery, the SQ-1 meets all my needs at this level of analog sequencing and more. That's all I can think of for now. If you need $800 dollars of Sequencing but only have $100 then the Korg SQ-1 is my first recommendation!