I own one.. Have done since it was launched more or less. I still keep watching this video periodically to remind me of features I've forgotten about. Great tutorial. Thanks

Still watching this video on the regular. So helpful

Just bought one used. Hasn’t arrived yet. I’ve been ingesting the manual, and this video is super handy. Love your work as always, thanks :)

Just ordered one of these. So glad this video exists and answered all my questions. Hats off to you sir!

Love the opening with LCD sound system.

@lesterfalcon1350

4 жыл бұрын

Scrolling the comments to see if it was LCD

@devids51

3 жыл бұрын

Song name?

@chriserikbarnes

3 жыл бұрын

@@devids51 Dance Yrself Clean

@rkic5440

2 ай бұрын

Anyone know what that mini Juno synth is?? 😮

This video is tremendous. You have helped me understand many features of the Pyramid. For dirt cheap you can change out the black assign knobs to multi-colored versions. It helps keep track of knob assignments when you're performing, especially in low light situations.

Wow...good job covering this. Talked with the designer at Superbooth a bit, and I was impressed when he ran down the list of features/capabilities. Since that time, I've been really surprised it hasn't received more exposure.

This is by far the best tutorial on the Pyramid. Squarp should hire you for a fully flushed out series since theirs are pretty much useless. I nearly returned the device after discovering the lack of educational materials for such a deep tool. Thank you and cheers!

Just want to thank you so much for this - I'm barely a week into owning my Pyramid and it took me about that long to watch this from start to finish - but only because I'm pausing, taking notes, and playing around while I watching. The Pyramid is such a beast but a little daunting out of the box with such "non-linear" documentation - this video helped jumpstart me waaaaaaaay faster than I would have without - this coupled together w/Squarp's community has me ready to jam, compose, and create in earnest with the new "brain" of my Studio - thanks a million @loopop !

Just bought one. This video was a big factor in my decision. Thanks.

I've learned to only watch your videos in thirds over two days, with notes and lots of on-gear imitation, and then use it for a week, and move to the next third. I'm 1/3 in and feel like I've gone from "I don't know how this works" to "I can get a mini-workflow going now". Even made some project templates and some definitions' files to make it a bit quicker. This plus a MIDI router (and routing templates) to glue the hardware together has made my life SO much better, and is still applicable with the mk3, though the 'look' of it has changed a tiny bit. Thanks loopop. Really great stuff.

Fantastic tutorial! Buying the Pyramid is one of the best purchases I've made in recent years. Absolutely incredible hardware sequencer. I love being able to create complex pieces without a laptop. Even though I've worked with it quite a bit, I still learned plenty of great tips from this video. Thanks for doing it!

This is just an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G dream come true! At last a sequencer which looks like I will do more than editing 64 steps.. Thanks!!! 🙏

This is excellent. I have had a Pyramid for a couple of years and feel pretty proficient with it. I now realise I had forgotten or totally missed some of the things you talked about. I now have a fairly hefty document of things I should learn and remember. Thank you.

This was an absolutely amazing and comprehensive guide on one of the most complex and powerful pieces of hardware out there. Thank you so much for taking the time to put something like this out. It should be on everyone who purchases the Pyramid's "must watch" list! Anytime anyone asks about this sequencer, I'll be pointing them this way.

Usually I read manuals but with your awesome and very clear tutorial, I'll only have to refer to the manual in PDF when looking specifically to something ; thank you for saving us so much time and effort

This video may be a bit old but has helped me immensely having just bought a used Pyramid. Some really excellent tips and tricks !

After watching this video I bought a Pyramid Mk3. Love it! It reminds me of the Alesis MMT8 I had many years ago. Thank you. Really detailed video

@squishmusic

2 жыл бұрын

mk3....WTFluck...I only just now came here to Loopop to see if he made a Mk2 review :D Anyone find a YT link for a Mk1-2-3 comparison..? must. find. !

This video convinced me to buy one, and has now become an awesome reference guide and companion to Squarp's great PDF guide. The past few weeks of using the Pyramid, every 10-15 minutes I found myself audibly saying "wow. that's unreal." My sequencer gateway drug was my (still loved) OP-Z, which in many ways feels like the Swedish baby brother to this. This video is also what tipped me over the edge into joining your Patreon! Thanks for helping me along in my musical growth 🌱

@loopop

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much!

I have a Beat Step Pro and never use it. I used it for a while to sequence my Mutable Instruments Shruthi. I could never get a drum pattern going on it. This Squarp Pyramid looks great. THANKS Loopop for such a detailed tutorial, with no goofing around! You are the best!

Just wanted to drop a line, this fills in major holes in the manual. For example, "Here are the settings available to automate an effect." ... No story whatsoever as to how to set up an automation in the first place. No description that talks about how the step mode settings are a menu of different "scopes" within a MIDI composition. You helped me alot today my friend!

Awesome tutorial, from all the hardware sequencers I've been checking this seems to be the most promising one especially because it supports different time signatures!

Three years old now but still by far the best review of Pyramid. Thank you Ziv!

@HazeAnderson

Жыл бұрын

he just read from the manual page by page and added nothing new

thanks for making this in depth video i have been looking for a hardware sequencer for literally years and now i think i have found one keep up the good work its appreciated :)

Thanks for clarifying so much on this beast... This sequencer is just wonderful to use.

I'm just now realizing something after having this for a few months. It would make A LOT of sense if the screen was on the right of the device and the trackpad on the left as most people are right handed. I see you doing what I do, crossing my hands to use my dominant hand on the encoder.

Super helpful as always, thanks for all!

17:04 [STEP + DATA] change Step mode 18:05 [REC] show all notes (Mono mode) 21:42 [NOTE + params] Hold note to edit it 22:09 [NOTE + DATA pressed] Preview notes 22:18 [NOTE + LEFT/RIGHT] Shift note 22:23 [REC + DATA] transpose note (Poly mode) / transpose track (Mono mode) 22:37 [2nd + NOTE] mute note 22:47 [STEP] jump to active note 29:32 black bars - total length; white bar - zoom level and current page; 30:27 arrow - currently playing bar 30:34 [2nd + DISP] follow playing position 30:49 [2nd + LEFT/RIGHT] Shift steps 30:57 [TRACK + LENGTH + LEFT/RIGHT] divide/duplicate track When you shorten a track the midi data is not deleted until you save the project..

Really appreciate the work you put into this. Looking forward to future clips. Perhaps a "tips and tricks" post. I use my Pyramid everyday and there have been many eureka moments. For instance I just discovered that when I lengthen a track, i can hold down the forward arrow key and it will duplicate the measures. Super handy for making subtle modifications to a groove.

Best Pyramid tutorial hands down... thanks for doing this

Thanks for making this video. I owned the Pyramid since it came out and I've never really "hooked" with it. But I can't get myself to sell it. It looks so fun and powerful when you get into it. BTW - absolutely love your videos. You are one of the best music tech video creators on YT: deep info and very little fluffing around. Thanks again! /C

@daveypassage

5 жыл бұрын

SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO SELL YOUR PYRAMID, please reach out: daveypassage@me.com Thank you!

Just got my pyramid sequencer,had it the last few weeks---im still learning but very happy

Bravo! I really appreciate your approach to tutorial videos. The timeline is so helpful and convenient.

the interface is so well thought-out.. i normally only flyover the midi effects parts..and this one..damn, the UI .. it really communicates. also the polyrhythmic/meter bars.. so simple and effective. i love french gear.

I’m considering one of these, but I know from experience you make everything seem easier to use than it turns out for me. You have a real gift for this stuff, so thanks!

@loopop

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! ... I think? I really try to present things as is with as much of the complexity explained. That said, this sequencer, while the most powerful I know, does take time to learn...

@thesnipecatcher116

4 жыл бұрын

loopop - yeah, slightly awkward compliment, but I did mean it as a compliment to you :)

Just pickled one up today & this vid is super helpful, thanks. The manual is pretty good too, to be fair to them, but this makes life much easier :)

Was looking hardware arpeggiator for keyboard synthesizer. And this even will gives me much more. Thank you very much!

Great, now I've gotta listen to the whole album.

Great tutorial! I now have an idea of how I can integrate this into my live percussion set by partnering it with my Handsonic HPD20 and Nord Drum 3P.

Yep, thanks for the LCD sound!

Great in depth review. The sequencer & the midi fx reminds me of yamaha's RS7000.

Thank you for a great video tutorial! Even though I have used the Pyramid successfully for a while I learned a lot of different little things from this coverage.

This looks fun but I am very glad I went with an Octatrack instead. It is a little more awkward (quantizing non-quantized sequences never works right) but the built-in sampling possibilities are thrilling.

Incredible tutorial :) Your tutorials are SO well done and comprehensive. This will definitely help me utilize this gear to its maximum potential. Thank you!

Your video made everything crystallize so well! The only thing missing for me would be an NRPN definition file in addition to just CC, some of my gear uses those exclusively. Aka Roland gear and Access Virii for extended parameters. Otherwise this thing works better than a charm! Thanks again!

Great tutorial! Deep and informative, as always! Thanks!

what a spectacular machine. i wish i had had one a year ago, when i had hardware. i love this thing!

@recycled_city

4 жыл бұрын

David Bryant you can use it with software too, super easy too because it powers via USB (also handy for portability because it can be powered via a usb battery). It’s the brain of my hybrid studio, sequencing hardware, software, and modular simultaneously.

First of all, thanks for this super detailed video of the Pyramid's overwhelming set of feautures. That said, I'd love to hear more examples of more complex polyrhythms and polymeters ... .

@kristiaanmusiek8033

4 жыл бұрын

freeform144 I too am interested in this aspect. I think this is what sets this device apart from others.

@loopop

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I think there’s not much more I can show in terms of what it can do - obviously creative options are limitless. Let’s just say if polyrhythms and polymeters interest you, this is as good as it gets in standalone hardware

@kristiaanmusiek8033

4 жыл бұрын

loopop Thanks so much for the quick response. I also want to know, as someone who has a number of other machines with sequencers (various Elektron boxes), would this play nice with those? I mean, can you have this triggering sequences on other machines, and have the internal sequences of the Pyramid play in time with those, or is this machine more like the sequencing master hub and everything else outside of it are just sound sources? Hope that makes sense. In a way the second option would suite me, as I’m hoping to find one machine to replace a number of others. In my mind you then have one very complex ‘brain’ that you have to really learn and wrap your head around, but that then controls a bunch of less complex things that don’t require so much attention from the user. The Elektron boxes are quite complex in their own right, but none do everything that I want in one place. So you end up spending so much time trying to get various very complex machines to all work together. This is frustrating. Pyramid focusses all of that energy in one place. At least that’s how it looks to me? :)

@loopop

4 жыл бұрын

@@kristiaanmusiek8033 I show Pyramid sequencing Digitakt in this video, so the answer is sure it can. Obviously, you lose the more direct sequencing functions of the Digitakt. You can sequence Digitakt parameters with Pyramid but it would be a bit of a pain. So, yes, it can be a master brain, it might do less than the onboard sequencers or require more work, but you could if you wanted do almost everything in Pyramid

Love that you did Dance Yrself Clean for this Loopop! Watching your Deluge video on repeat to learn that beast! Love your vids

Now that's what I call an intro! (Vol 1)

Very interesting. Had no idea about this product until seeing your video! Thanks. 👍👍

Great video! Got one 2nd hand shortly after seeing it, and so far I think it's great.

Incredibly lucid and thorough. Thank you for this.

Best tutorial for Pyramid, great work thanks!

really motivating opening sequence. i finally got a midi merge so i can recieve signals to my unused pyramid, not just send. one day i will set it up

@setphaser

5 жыл бұрын

i finally set it up yesterday... there’s so much wrong or missing in the manual! eg it says under settings you can set the din sync to sync24, sync48 etc... but where in the settings manual? it doesn’t say. oh it’s under settings cv/pedal din sync... despite the fact it’s a midi output setting.... and the midi echo feature you mention, in the manual that’s called anti echo, and it says the opposite of what you said, they said i should have it on, you said i should have it off to do the same thing... terrible documentation... i’ll be having nightmares tonight. i can’t even get midi in working at all... possibly because of midi echo!?!?

@elissitdesign

4 жыл бұрын

setphaser - I have the same problem. I cannot get midi in working correctly. It gets glitchy if I don’t have Echo off but nothing when turned on. No solution?

I realize I’m late to the party, but I’m about to pull the trigger on a Pyramid or simply continue using the sequencer on my Roland FA-07. This is all for live performances with a “progressive tribute” band. I love my FA, but I’m intrigued about the power of the Pyramid. I’m running about four keyboards and want to control them with either the FA or, potentially, the Pyramid. I’ve watched this video multiple times and it never ceases to fascinate me. Another thing is: The Pyramid reminds me a lot of the old Roland MC-50, with which I’ve played countless shows. If anyone is old enough to remember the old MC-50, let me know if my comparison is accurate. I guess I WANT to be pushed into buying a Pyramid, but I’m quite comfortable with my less powerful FA. Yes, I’m probably overthinking things. 😆 Would love to hear about anyone’s experiences and comparisons between the Pyramid and any other hardware unit. Thanks so much!

Awesome thanks! I am literally just considering getting one of these, this shouldn’t have come at a better time

Very well done! You touch all the essential points that are diluted throughout the manual. I've just started with the Pyramid, so maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but I feel it's not quite appropriate for studio production because of this: yes, there are 64 tracks with 32 patterns each, but only 32 sequences (unfortunate choice of word), and each pattern change requires a sequence, so a song can only have at most 32 different "combinations". If we want a change every 4 bars, that allows at most 128 bars (4x32) before we must repeat one of the exact same combinations of notes and instruments. At 120 BPM 4/4, that's 4.3 minutes maximum. Of course, there are ways around this (bounce MIDI tracks/patterns to the DAW, record them, or do a live performance and record MIDI to the DAW, etc.) but then the whole tune cannot be contained within one Pyramid project. Using Pyramid track mutes instead of patterns hits the same limitation. Am I missing something? Before someone says "use a DAW": I got the Pyramid in order to avoid the computer as much as possible.

@loopop

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I think the only thing you’re missing is that a pattern can be any length. Your song can be as long and as intricate as you like with just one sequence not to mention 32 (and I agree the term sequence is not the best)

thank you for this great video - massively helpful!

Thanks for this clear and accurate tutorial, very helpful!!

This was amazing and very informative as ever! Many thanks for that since there are not so many (sorry to say so - non-French) videos out there on the Pyramid. I would love to have a session on how to hard-wire connect eg 4-6 synths and drum machine including how to use and load the definition files. E.g. it took me half a day to understand that indeed you could name the definition files either using upper or lower case, but not the .txt extension in upper case. Also I would love to see how to handle the 4 MIDI channels for Digitone. When operated from a controller they seem to get mixed.. Keep on the good work. This is essential to many of us out there!!

Damn!! What a piece of gear. I just bought an Akai MPC Live for playing external devices and it was such a waste...will get my pyramid now! Thanks, great tutorial

@leosupertrampll

5 жыл бұрын

So did I. :D may I ask specifically which problems did you have using the Mpc?

@joshk2181

5 жыл бұрын

did you get the pyramid? is it better than the live?

I didn't realise they made a hardware version of this! i thought it was just the eurorack module.... anyway, an amazing informative video as always!

I was so close to getting one of these and then Akai did MPC 2.8. Hopefully there's a V2 with more CV/gate and maybe a bigger screen.

Amazing tutorial, thank you!

I love the smart pads 14:05

Aw yeah, it's the thing I requested. Thank you!

Came to watch after seeing a video "A love letter to the MMT8". Had two in the past. Would so love to see an Alesis MMT16. 16 pads, 16 tracks, 16 bars (max) to a loop, be able to repeat and chain loops.

@ezmyrelda

3 жыл бұрын

The Pyramid has this and more.

@squishmusic

3 жыл бұрын

somehow in my mind when I think of the MMT8 I think of the Polyend more.

Brilliant stuff! Thanks.

very interesting... thank you loopop

After some research, it seems that the Pyramid is still one of, if not the best sequencer for the price. I would love the Hapax, but they're on back order. I think I'll get a Pyramid for now, and maybe when the chip shortage gets better, the Hapax will be more available. I know this videos old, but if anyone reads this, and thinks there's a better sequencer under, or around 1k, please share. I've considered the Torso T1, Engine, Seq, Squid, Octatrack, and I'm missing a few. I thought the Polyend Play was a good option for hardware sequencing, but after doing some research, they don't seem as user friendly when it comes to sequencing hardware. So far the Pyramid is winning, unless I find something that I missed.

Excellent tutorial 👍🏻Thx!

nice LCD ref friend! the only hip cred i have is getting to go to the MSG show back in 2011.

top marks for the Pool cover

very well made! thanx!

This is great, thanks a lot!

What a beast!

Brilliant tutorial. Can you do ratchet-type velocity-ramped rolls on this? e.g. extra hi hats like on the Polyend Seq?

thanks for this!

Loopop got me banging my head less than a minute in

LCD Soundsystem

Does pyramid still send a clock when stopped like my Cirklon does? I hate it when all clocked apps and LFOs stop running when stop is pressed.

@stevepile8133

2 жыл бұрын

Yes!

There is of course a limitation: in automation mode you can record up to 9000 events. That means, if yo try to record smooth transitions and curves as filter sweeps, you sometimes ran out of memory.

@kaitsu9608

5 жыл бұрын

Good to know. Do you know if its per project or track? Obviously though, it should be over 9000

@recycled_city

4 жыл бұрын

Comp Fox I’m not so sure that limitation is still accurate. A few years ago I had to quickly get a set together to play with a rock band and loaded the complete midi files for their songs into the Pyramid (not using patterns or anything to loop parts, complete songs). All was good except for one song which choked the event limit. I wrote to Squarp and they had a new firmware within a week that corrected this. The event limit could still be the same and they may have done something to consolidate data (I’m not a programmer, I just make music), but I really don’t think it’s something to be concerned about for 99% of users, as it’s unlikely you’d hit it.

As all things, looks like it would be fun, but like all things, once I got it and tried to make it play nice with everything, it would turn into a huge headache. In unicorn land, it would be great to be able to sequence my JDXI, Minilogue, and Electribe using just my Blofeld as a controller to do all sequencing with.

Thanks for this vidéo

Excellent !

Does anyone know if this will record full piano chords with sustain pedal inputs and pitch and bend inputs? The Digitack and Carbon dont record sustain pedal and pitch and bend inputs! I need something to record Non dance music.

How do you trigger a midi effect with an pre-programmed envelope? Say I'm playing a melody on an external keyboard, but at the very last note, I also hit another button that activates the midi effect (i.e., pitch down or any envelop shape) for the last note.

Many features are taken from the yamaha rm1x - which is a good thing.

Ahhhhh the intro 😊

What a beast

Thank you x1000

I'm in the market for my first sequencer, and for a long time I was set on the Pyramid, but having found out about the Hapax, I wonder if it might be more worth it. Do you think, cost or size aside, there is a reason to choose the Pyramid over the Hapax? Aside from the Hapax's increased capabilities, I feel like it might be easier to use as well.

@sentokan

2 жыл бұрын

I would like to know that too. :)

@tristan_mcdonald

2 жыл бұрын

Same!

VAMO SQUARP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pitty Cool played

Sold

Could you comment on how triplets work? I'm interested in doing some polyrhythmic stuff, and I want to, for instance, enter triplets in an odd time signature like 7/8.

@loopop

5 жыл бұрын

They’d just work - you’d get triplets on the triplet track and 7/8 on the 7/8 - would be interesting to hear ;)

I own the last gray edition mk3 and i really love it, but it’s ergonomics suck imo. To make matters worse, the pads are a real pita to press down and are not tactile at all. I’ve replaced them with mechanical keyboard switches and was a game changer. You might want to check the Squarp forum for more info and pictures of this mod.

Hi, I see you review a lot of very interesting sequencers. Your favorite ? This compared to the Torso what do you think? There is a machine with such advanced sequecers and at the same time the possibility of having samples ?

@loopop

2 жыл бұрын

No favorite, each sequencer is a different kind of dialog with your music, with different pros and cons

How many pieces of hardware does it sequence?

@semilumi

3 жыл бұрын

I am counting a possibility of controlling 48 individual instruments with MIDI and one analogue with CV, that is a total of 49! The unit has 2 MIDI outs and MIDI over USB with 16 channels out each. So using MIDI thrus on synths and/or a USB MIDI-interface would give a great deal of possibilities.