Deluge, Hapax or MPC? Sequencing Zynthian DAWlessly making songs

Hardware
1

I’d like to avoid my computer. Anyone out there that use any of these three mentioned devices with your Zynthian to make your songs? If so i would love to know how the experience is for you!

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2

I am using an Arturia KeyStep Pro. Not the same as you mentioned but also with 4 tracks of step sequencing.

Would be happy to own a Hapax :wink:

3

Are you thinking about using Zynthian as a basic musical instrument that plays a note in response to a keyboard, MIDI message, etc? Or did you plan to use Zynthian Sequencer or SooperLooper etc in combination with an external sequencer? In my experience either setup can work well, but using Zynthian non-instrument functions with external sequencing gear will sometimes take some effort to set it up as you like. I remember people on this forum having questions, mostly re sync about all 3 brands you mentioned, so a search on the brandname-model might give you some useful insight.

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4

Whichever of the three you land on, the deciding factor in practice is usually how you want to switch Zynthian’s chains mid-song, not the sequencing feel.

If your songs need Zynthian to change snapshot or preset between sections, you want a sequencer that can send program change and CC on arbitrary tracks at a point you choose — Hapax is the most straightforward of the three for that, since PC/CC are first-class per track. Deluge is happier as a self-contained instrument and gets a bit more awkward when it’s driving something else’s patch changes. MPC sits in between but pulls you back toward screen-and-menu work, which is partly what you’re trying to leave behind.

Second thing worth deciding early: who is clock master. Making Zynthian follow external clock is usually the least painful direction, and it avoids the drift complaints that come up here regularly. Set that once and don’t switch it around.

Practical tip regardless of the choice: keep one Zynthian snapshot per song with the chains and MIDI channels already assigned, rather than building chains live. Then the external sequencer just plays channels 1..n and you never touch the Zynthian UI during a take.

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