HY-Plugins has released the Free ($0) and Pro ($40) versions of HY-SeqCollection, a multi-mode step sequencer in VST plugin format for PC and Mac.
The Pro version of HY-SeqCollection includes five different step sequencer types, namely the Acid Seq (inspired by the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer), Dark Seq (based on the Doepfer Dark Time sequencer), M5816 Seq (inspired by the M185 MkII sequencer for Roland 100m), Step16 Seq (based on the Analog Solutions EKG), and Hexa Seq which is a probability-based sequencer. Apart from the specific characteristics of each sequencer mode, HY-SeqCollection Pro also features two modulation slots with three modulator types (LFO, StepSeq, GridSeq), a pattern chainer for building songs, step recording, MIDI learn, undo/redo functionality, and a preset manager. As is the case with all HY-Plugins products, HY-SeqCollection Pro sports a fully resizable user interface which can conform to any screen resolution.
While testing HY-SeqCollection in MuLab 6 and Studio One, I didn’t run into any issues or bugs. All the controls work as expected and the intuitive control layout ensures smooth operation even with more complex sequences with modulation and pattern chaining switched on. The true power of HY-SeqCollection is its flexibility, providing an all-in-one solution for anything from simple acid-style patterns to experimenting with probability-based sequences.
The Free version of HY-SeqCollection only includes the Hexa Seq sequencer mode and doesn’t offer MIDI learn and modulation features. The Hexa Seq mode itself is well worth the download for all fans of probability-based sequencing, though. It is a hexagonal sequencer with six main nodes (steps 1-6) and one base node (step 0). The user can define the sequencer’s behavior by adjusting the probability for each new step (move forward, move backward, same step, random, or return to base node), the behavior of the base node, as well as the octave, velocity, gate, and probability for each step. I’m sure this sounds a lot more complicated to use than it is in practice, so make sure to download the Free version and give it a try if you’re interested in using step sequencers in your DAW. Hexa Seq is the perfect sequencer to hook up to a virtual synthesizer and let it do its probability-based magic while spewing out some potentially awesome riffs in the process.
HY-SeqCollection is available for free download via HY-Plugins (11.2 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3 plugin format for Windows & macOS).
Last Updated on October 1, 2017 by Tomislav Zlatic.
