When I started this thread, I had no idea that it would get this much feedback. At the time, I missed the ability that I had on the Oxi One to not only run discrete divisions per track, but to also change from one division to another after recording. For example, changing a recorded sequence from 16th notes to 8th notes.Over the past few months, however, as I’ve played around with Hapax, I’ve come to the conclusion that I like Hapax the way it is and I hope they don’t offer divisions per track as I originally outlined.
This first occurred to me when I was switching between my Oxi One and the step sequencer on my Ableton Push. The Hapax is more similar to the Push than it is to the Oxi One. What I like about the sequencers on the Hapax (and Push) is that they are “division agonstic”. Which is to say that you can easily have 1/4 notes, 1/8th notes, 1/16 notes, etc all at the same time on a particular sequence. This is not the case with the Oxi One. With the Oxi One, you can only have all 8th notes or only have all 16th notes on each sequence. While this does make it easier to run different divisions simultaneously (which is actually already kinda possible on the Hapax as has been outlined) and to change the divisions of a sequence post recording (not possible on the Hapax because it is agnostic to note divisions), what is sacrifised in the process is the ability to have multiple divisions within the same sequence.
Yes, it is technically possible to have multiple divisions within the same sequence on the Oxi One. If you’ve decided that you are starting with a quarter note sequencer, you can select two notes for a half note or 4 notes for a whole note. But let’s say you decide to start with a quarter note sequence but decide that you want to sprinkle in a few 16th notes? Not possible. You could always decide to start with a 16th note sequencer as the default. But now if you want a whole note you will have to select 16 notes every time you want a whole note,4 for every quarter, etc. After awhile, this can become very tedious. Because the Hapax is division “agnostic”, this becomes a streamlined process. If I want to start with quarter notes, for example, adding in 16th notes is simple. I just switch to 16th notes and punch in a few. I’m no longer limited to quarter notes being the division “ceiling” (assuming that’s where I start) as I would on the Oxi One. This allows me to create more varied and interesting sequences than I’m able to on the Oxi One.
Anyway, I’m not expecting that this will change anyone’s mind. But I just that I’d share why I’ve had a change of heart and want the Hapax to stay as is!