NOTE: Project funding/pre-orders have now ended! If you want to get your hands on sympleSEQ when it is ready to ship, subscribe to the hexinverter.net email list here! You will then receive an email when it becomes in stock in my web-shop:

Intro - what is the sympleSEQ, and why do I need it?

Many step-sequencer kits exist on the market for use with analog modular synthesizers, but unfortunately the vast majority of them are extremely intimidating for builders to put together due to all of the off-board wiring that is required of the builder. Every step in the sequencer requires a substantial amount of wiring to the potentiometer, switch and LED for that step. The task of wiring a large, multi-channel sequencer for programming drums or complex patterns becomes a pretty daunting task.

sympleSEQ is here to change this, though, and offers a unique dual-board, scalable design that enables hobbyists to build a fully-functional, 8-step analog sequencer for use with their modular synthesizer (or other control-voltage based synthesizer). The two boards connect together through a header system that makes it a breeze to assemble. A carefully designed PCB set along with other component-kits offers different options for builders to assemble their very own analog step-sequencer with ease.

What makes sympleSEQ unique is its use of board-mount potentiometers, switches and LEDs. The task of wiring the panel controls becomes easy when you just have to snap them into the board and solder in place instead of tediously running wires to everything. Best of all, sympleSEQ offers a circuit board package where all of the specific parts you require that are special to this design are included! 

sympleSEQ also offers a thorough instruction manual, with printable drill template for easily drilling holes in your panel to accept the control-surface board. 

By offering a fundraising project like this, I am able to source parts and circuit boards at cheaper prices, and reduce the cost of building the project.

Please don't hesitate to visit the electro-music.com forum where I reside, which will serve as another place for this project, and a help-forum/questions answering place for anyone that has them!

NOTE: The image which you see above is the prototype board, and thus is going to be much uglier than the production-run boards. Your controls will also mount properly to the front-panel, unlike mine which were slightly off due to the hand-made boards. I also used non board mount switches in my handmade board; the production boards use PCB mount switches so are much better aligned and secured.

Here is a snapshot of the board CAD renderings. With a few cosmetic tweaks, they will be ready for production as double-layer, silk-screened, solder masked boards!

Key Features

- 8 programmable steps of control voltage

- Can fit vertically into 1U wide of MOTM style panel space

- 2 sequencers fit into 3U high Eurorack panel space

- All 8 steps have note on/off switches to turn the summed gate off for that step

- All steps output a short gate to make use of envelope generators (unlike many "Baby10" designs which tie the notes together). This should work to trigger drums as well.

- Select from 2-8 steps via the same toggles used for gate on/off. This addition does not make the design more complex, which is a plus!

- CV (contol voltage) output for interfacing with any analog gear

- Extremely easy to assemble (even for beginners!)

- Easily scalable with detailed instructions on how to do so (build as many channels as you want, all running off of the same master tempo clock!)

- Power supply can be a 9V battery, +12V or +15V to accommodate a wide variety of system formats and portability!

- 161x41mm board space needed to mount the control panel

- Included detailed instruction manual with easy-mode drilling template for the front panel!

Optional Features

- Easily add external clocking (CMOS level - compatible with the MFOS 16 step and others I am sure)

- The option is there to add external/switch controlled Reset -- external Stop/Pause is in beta phase and may or may not be included in the final design suggestion.

- Either of these features can be triggered by your choice of switch, positive voltage signal, or both

4 different kit offerings to satisfy all ranges of builders!

The sympleSEQ project has been carefully designed to fill a rather large market-gap in the world of analog synthesis that exists due to there being no simple to build sequencers out there. Thus, it is only natural that it also satisfies many types of builders by offering 4 different kit-complexities for builders to select from.

NOTE: Every kit contains a set of PCBs of course! -- the only difference is in the components included.

1.) Full component kit -- for new (or lazy) builders

Contents:

- One set of sympleSEQ PCBs

- All of the necessary components required to electrically build the sympleSEQ, including board mount switches, potentiometers, hardware to mount the board and the headers which connect the boards together.

- NO knobs or jacks, as these are dependent on the person's personal taste/system format.

2.) Minimal component kit -- for those that wish to source their own common components

Contents:

- One set of sympleSEQ PCBs

- 8x board mount potentiometers

- 8x board mount switches

- Headers to connect the boards together

- Hardware to mount the board to the front panel

3.) PCB set only -- for those that wish to order their own components

Contents:

- One set of sympleSEQ PCBs

- Headers to connect the boards together

- Hardware to mount the board to the front panel

4.) The multi-channel DIY extravaganza -- for those that wish to build a large 4-channel sequencer, a discount is offered on PCB/hardware sets

Contents:

- Enough components to build a FOUR channel monster step-sequencer! The kit includes 4x Option #1

- Your name gets a special mention in the instruction manual as a person who helped immensely in making this project happen!

Bill of Materials

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Av...

So, what's NOT included in a full kit?

So, where is the money going exactly, and how does this work?

I would be asking the same thing right about now if I were in your seat, of course! 

First off, the $2,800 campaign goal is not an arbitrarily selected value. I have made precise calculations in order to determine the cost of ordering enough boards and materials for the projected amount of sales. This includes everything from face-value cost, to shipping, customs duties and PayPal fees all associated with running this project!

When you select a level of contribution from the right, and contribute funds to this project, it is accumulated until the end of October. Once the campaign is complete, all of the parts, circuit boards and items required to piece together kits for all of the contributors will be ordered and accumulated until they are ready to go!

The contribution value at the right includes shipping to your door! I realize a lot of people come from all over the world, so have calculated a generic shipping value that everyone will pay in order to minimize confusion of payments. Inevitably, some will be cheaper, and some will be more expensive. It is my hope that it will balance out perfectly :)

When you contribute, there is an option to leave your shipping address. Do this, and when the kits are ready, they will be mailed out to you lickety-split! 

You may also go and visit the forums over on electro-music where this project originated to become notified of 

updates on the project and to track the completion of parts orders. I will of course be updating the thread frequently and notifying everyone of when everything ships out to people. I will do the same on this site as well!

I hate waiting as well, but this is the only way this project can happen! It is of the utmost importance to me that I ship everyone's kits to them as quickly as possible, so rest assured that I will not stall when it comes time to order and ship your goods!