Squarp Instruments Announced Hermod – Powerful 8-Track Eurorack Sequencer & Interface

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Squarp Instruments first product release was the Pyramid sequencer, a very powerful compact and intuitive to use MIDI sequencer. After some leaked informations and pictures were already on the internet a week ago, it’s now official. The french company will release in January 2018 the Hermod, a new powerful 8-track sequencer and interface for the Eurorack format. It features a step sequencer, a CV looper, a real-time effect processor, LFO generator and a complete bi-directional MIDI-USB-CV input/output device.

The developers of the Hermod describe their new product in this sentences:  “The main idea behind Hermod was to create a complete, affordable and compact sequencer, with an easy workflow facilitating the song composition process and live performance for the modular world. We took the best of our Pyramid sequencer and added top-notch eurorack features, making it the perfect tool to play your system.”

In my opinion a very powerful and affordable new sequencer for the Eurorack format that offers more than just a simple sequencer. Especially the ability to use each track with different lengths, makes this new module a nice musically add-on. Also the full-featured MIDI-USB-CV interface could be a perfect product for many hybrid musicians (hardware & software) that search an affordable all-in-one solution.

Perfect for composition and live performances

Hermod “modular brain” brings together a powerful step sequencer, a CV looper, a real-time effect processor, LFO generators and a complete bi-directional MIDI-USB-CV input/output interface. Record a performance at any time thanks to the CV inputs, the USB HOST, the USB DEVICE and the MIDI input. Create and edit your tracks with the STEP mode and its piano roll and automation view. Generate crazy patterns with the randomization tool. Hermod is polymetric, it means that each track can have a different length, from 1 step to 64 steps (256 quarter notes). Moreover, you can zoom in to increase the resolution of the step sequencer.

Polymorphic tracks

Thanks to Hermod architecture, a track can be a simple mono CV/GATE voice, but can be easily configured as a polyphonic track (up to 8 voices), a CV/GATE + velocity + aftertouch track, a modulation + clock track… in order to perfectly fit your eurorack system!

Sequences and Projects

The 8 tracks are grouped into one of Hermodʼs 8 sequences. Every sequence is totally independent and contains a new set of tracks to be played with, for a total of 64 tracks in a single project. The number of projects is unlimited and the save/load can be done in a flash, allowing you to jump from one song to the next in your live performance

Dynamic effects

All the fun in Hermod resides in its effect system, allowing you to transform input signals, wether it’s MIDI or CV. You can stack on each track up to 8 real-time effects: Quantize, Swing, Arpeggiator, Glide, Harmonizer, Delay, Chance, Scale, LFO… Experiment with the effects position and parameters to generate eccentric melodies! Every effect parameters can be edited in the EFFECTS mode, or with CC messages & CV inputs, thanks to the modMatrix.

MIDI-USB-CV interface

Full connectivity: control Hermod with plug-and-play midi USB devices, midi keyboards, computers or other eurorack CV systems.

Hermod is also a great midi hub, allowing you to sequence midi synthesizers/drum machines and computer’s virtual instruments. Of course, Hermod can be perfectly paired with Pyramid or other hardware and software sequencer, in order to benefit from its CV/GATE outputs.

With Hermod’s rock-solid clock, this module becomes a great synchronization tool, for all your setup!

Core features:

  • Number of tracks: 8
  • Number of sequences: 8
  • Number of projects: unlimited
  • Number of events (notes, automation) per project: ~40000
  • Track length: 1/4 bar to 16 bars
  • Recording resolution: 24ppqn
  • Tempo: 40 to 250 BPM

Tracks 

  • Maximum number of notes per step (polyphony): 8
  • Maximum number of effects per track: 8
  • Note pitch: C0 to B9
  • Note velocity: 0 to 127
  • Note width: 1/24th to 16 bars
  • Zoom: x1 (1 step = 1 quarter notes) to x8 (1 step = 1/32th note)

Inputs

  • MIDI (to control Hermod with a MIDI controller)
  • USB host (to control Hermod with a computer)
  • USB device (to control Hermod with an USB controller)
  • 4x CV in [-5V to +5V] (to control Hermod with CV/GATE notes, CV modulation, clock)

Outputs 

  • MIDI (up to 8 channels)
  • USB host
  • USB device
  • 8x CV out [-5V to +5V]
  • 8x GATE out [0V to +5V]

User interface

  • 16 backlit silicon button pads
  • Menu clickable encoder
  • White backlit high contrast LCD screen
  • 8x RGB LEDS to display the CV/GATE voltages
  • MicroSD card slot to save your projects and upgrade the OS (SD card included)

Other 

  • CPU: 216MHz ARM Cortex-M7
  • DAC resolution: 16-bit
  • ADC resolution: 12-bit
  • Width: 24HP (up to 30mm in depth)
  • Requires a ±12V eurorack supply (consume 310mA from the +12V rail and 30mA from the -12V rail)

Something new is coming.

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Squarp Instruments Hermod will be available for $450 USD / €380 in January. Pre-orders starting in early december.

More information here: Squarp Instruments Hermod 

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