Korg SQ-64 Song Production and Review

Let’s take the Korg SQ-64 for a test drive using the newest 2.0 firmware. I’ll use it to produce a short song and show you all the hardware connections required to pull this off.
Subscribe: kzbin.info?sub_...
Get your SQ-64 on Reverb: reverb.partnerlinks.io/KorgUS...
Buy Music Producer gear: synchronizedmusic.threadless.com
Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/erikhawk...
00:48 - Live mix before the full production
00:48 - All the connections and gear
03:17 - Begin pattern sequencing with a piano keyboard
10:32 - Pattern sequencing a drum beat (Vermona DRM1 MkIV)
15:00 - Chaining patterns together for a song
17:27- Conclusion, my thoughts about Version 2.0
20:57- Full song production with vocals, bass, and guitar
Patch cables:
Eurorack Patch Cables, amzn.to/3HL4RBf
¼” to mini Drum Trigger Cables, amzn.to/3Yde8HJ
#korgsq64 #musicproduction #semimodular

[@delmeteor717]

I’d been away from my SQ-64 for a while fiddling with other music devices and needed a refresher on using it. Bar none, you still have the best tutorial out there on the SQ-64 and you’ve always been kind in answering my questions. Thank You.

[@ErikHawk]

Thank you. Really glad my video was helpful. Thanks so much for watching and commenting.

[@sleepy_onion4838]

So good. Been really wanting to see the creative process in action on the SQ. Nice job.

[@ErikHawk]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I'm glad it was helpful.

[@yvonnelitzheim2432]

Clear explanation and a nice little recording demonstration.

[@ErikHawk]

Thanks! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@matthewwilson3673]

Just bought one for the sale price too, waiting on it to arrive, gonna use with my sp404 mk2

[@moonsovermiami101]

Just bought mine today! Couldn’t believe the price! Free shipping too, direct from Korg!

[@e.l978]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, it's really helpful !

[@ErikHawk]

Thank you for watching. Really glad it helped.

[@SvenFx-22]

Very informative video. I wished there were a video this clear on the oxi one sequencer. All the videos gloss over everything and don’t show how to use. If you ever get an oxi one I would love an in-depth video like this

[@prosperity-gospel]

Very helpful video, thank you!

[@ErikHawk]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting.

[@gru_day]

130USD😢 It hurts so much. Great update. For the money it is nobrainer. Korg did it right.

[@docdeens4030]

Damn, I finally found someone explaining how to use this thing

[@ErikHawk]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Really glad that you found it helpful.

[@delmeteor717]

Great video. Loved the final tune. Just to be sure I understand, does the drum machine have eight separate jacks to connect the sounds to the eight sync jacks on the SQ-64?

[@ErikHawk]

The DRM MkIV actually has 10 trigger inputs. I connected 8 from the SQ's 8 trigger outs.

[@petercane6376]

Just loved the jam at the end. Your all girl backing vocals back to the 50s. Just love it……..you looked too serious at first to sing like that. Korg will love you. Did they sort out the quantisation?

[@ErikHawk]

Never to serious to sing the all girl backing vocals, especially when you're working with a shoestring production budget 😂

[@nextreal6167]

Great tutorial Erik! I've owned the sq for a couple months now and I was still a bit confused about some functions which you just cleared out so thank you! Quick question, have you tried recording over patterns while they are chained together? And btw, what kind of stand is that you have your sq on? Cheers

[@ErikHawk]

Sort of, I recorded new parts in a pattern. If the pattern was part of a chain, it was just updated in the chain. Yeah, that stand is great, it's the Ultimate Support HyperStation QR Adjustable Laptop Stand. Here's my affiliate link if you wanna pick it up from Amazon, amzn.to/3LZiyOO

[@mrfeenix1]

Hi Erik thanks for the video.... When it comes to Chaining Patterns does it chain the Global patterns on all 4 lanes as one? Thanks

[@frothweasel]

I have mine plugged in the same way but I cannot hear the notes being played from the synth, with the sq-64 keyboard or my keystep. Can you help with specific settings on the SQ-64?

[@ErikHawk]

The most common mistake is that you've plugged the note and trigger cables into the wrong CV inputs on your synth. If you've got notes outputting on the SQ64 it should be triggering something on your synth, but only if you've got the right CV inputs connected. (Also, I did have that weird mute problem on some of my drum triggers and had to re-initialize my SQ64.)

[@robertbuckly76]

Really frustrating about the mute issue! Thanks🙏

[@ErikHawk]

Yeah, not sure why it did that? Fortunately, initializing the device helped and it hasn't done it again. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@johnrichardson3297]

Erik Hawk would this have been easier on Modular or Semi-Modular Synths or pitch-gate-cv-kbrd synths?

[@ErikHawk]

Nope, it's the same connections. In fact, I think MIDI is easier, it's just one connection. In fact, I was treating the Vermona DRM1 MKIV like a modular synth with all CV connections. Look at all those cables connecting the Vermona! Instead, I could have just used one MIDI cable out to in on the Vermona and had full control via MIDI.

[@franciscojaviergomez4807]

realtime quantize works. put it on 1/1 step notes gets straight to the grid. the other values puts the notes closer to the subdivision you choose 1/8 and so on !! great sequencer I love it

[@ErikHawk]

Thanks Francisco, I'll try it again! But I hope they add 16th notes and note duration in the next update.

[@dr.feelicks2051]

@@ErikHawk1/1 is 16th dude

[@ErikHawk]

I updated the firmware and it still acts the same way. When I play in a real time performance from my MIDI keyboard the record quantize doesn't do anything. Normally, when you set record quantize on a DAW to, for example, 8th notes, no matter what crazy rhythms you might play in, only 8th notes will be recorded. I see that other SQ-64 users have this same issue. So, again, I don't know exactly what this function is doing but it's not functioning the way I'd expect it to.

[@ErikHawk]

@@dr.feelicks2051 Sure, this makes sense in the context of a 16th note grid. Though, it doesn't make sense in terms of normal record quantization settings where standard note resolutions are generally employed, such as 1/8, 1/4, 1/16, etc. But again, however they programmed this record quantization function to operate, it does not work as expected. The notes that I play in from my MIDI controller are not quantized to the Rec Quantize setting. Go figure? Other users have complained about this same weirdness.

[@dr.feelicks2051]

@@ErikHawk think of other settings as degrees of UN-quantize, i agree it is counter-intuitive ✌️

[@mekanious]

Thanks for this video. Is the pattern chaining mode long enough to create a full length song, like 3-4 minutes? I can't find an answer to this anywhere.

[@ErikHawk]

Yes it could. But of course this would depend on your song tempo and pattern lengths. Patterns can be up to 64 steps and a song can chain up to 16 patterns. So, if your song contains 16 patterns and each pattern is 4 bars long (where each step in the pattern is a 16th note), then you'd have a max song length of 64 bars. At 60 BPM this equals 4 min 16 seconds. But if your song is 120 BPM, then 64 bars is only 2 min 8 sec. Make sense?

[@mekanious]

@@ErikHawk got it thank you!

[@jydeda5004]

I have a question: The Midi in /out of the SQ-64 are connected to my master keyboard, I dont yet have any modules, but I have a Korg OpSix synthesizer. It has midi in/out connections and a USB port to connect to a computer. In lieu of having any of the smaller compact synth modules that come ready with outputs to the SQ-64, Is there a way of connecting the Korg OpSix to the SQ-64 to get it to function as an additional sound module along with the master keyboard? Additionally how do I update the Firmware?

[@ErikHawk]

Yes, MIDI Out from the SQ-64 to MIDI In on the OpSix. You'll need the 3.5 mm TRS to 5-pin MIDI (Type A) cables to do this. Then, the OpSix will function as a sound module that's controlled by the SQ-64. amzn.to/3zLo15q

[@ErikHawk]

How to update the firmware is on the Korg Website. Software/System Updater www.korg.com/us/support/download/product/0/872/

[@delmeteor717]

In the version 2.0 quik start, it says you can add notes in Pitch mode by moving cursor to step and using parameter 1 knob to add note. Where is the cursor located? If this is obvious to rest of you I apologize ahead of time.

[@ErikHawk]

There is no cursor... Korg needs to hire a professional manual writer, seriously. Press Pitch. Then, press the pattern you want to edit, A,B, or C. Next, hold down a step and the display will change to show the note assigned to this step. Then, while holding down the step turn knob 1(first knob to the right of the display) to change the note for this step. Hope this helps.

[@ghost_in_the_robot]

Would this help me to control multiple synths and drum machines with MIDI? I have 2 Electribes, KP3+, Kaossilator, Novation Circuit and Mono Station as my main sequencers. Should i connect them via MIDI in and out chains or a MIDI interface? I really wanna buy an SQ-64, but it seems to cater to CV and Eurorack. Would my setup work with this lovely device?

[@ErikHawk]

The SQ-64 only has 2 MIDI output ports. The rest of its connections are CV. Yes, to step sequence modular devices. It wouldn't add anything to the gear you've listed because they all have built-in sequencers. But if you had a MIDI device that didn't have an onboard sequencer (such as a DX-7 or Behringer Model D), then the SQ-64 would come in very handy. reverb.partnerlinks.io/KorgUSAwarehouse

[@ghost_in_the_robot]

@@ErikHawk Thank you for the quick response. My initial reasoning for buying an SQ-64 was to sequence all the gear using one device using a MIDI splitter cable or even a Thru box. Just seemed like an easy way to save patches and projects to one master device. My Mono Station is the only gear with CV connections, as it has a sequencer dedicated to modulation. I thought for $130 bucks it would be worth a shot!

[@therealone1288]

Just ordered one. For the price why not? Really interested in a seq for my jomox airbass

[@ErikHawk]

Yeah, hard to beat at this price. Hope you're having fun with it!

[@delmeteor717]

Could you explain one thing. The manual states press pitch and the channel I.e. a,b or c to enter record. You hit gate to enter record mode.

[@ErikHawk]

The manual is for the birds. I've seen better manuals from Korg in the 80s, LOL. Gate allows you to enter when a note will occur. But you need to switch to Pitch to enter the pitch that the step will play. So, yeah, they're interdependent, you need both. I prefer to start with the when (which step), then add the what (which note).

[@delmeteor717]

Thank you so much. I’ve actually been around electronics for a long time with guitar amps but this is truly a challenge. You have a handle on synths as well as music in general as demonstrated by tune you composed which is well produced. Regarding manual, I expected more from Korg which is a company I highly respect.

[@EarJuice]

Someone needs to go through all the global settings, etc. Manual sucks and it took me forever of trial n error to get it to totally work and come.together.

[@ErikHawk]

Yeah, the manual is seriously awful.

[@happyfarmer6823]

i wanna buy the sq1 but this sq64 is barely more $$$. and maybe more clear layout at least. still confusing

[@afreezaphorogiancossack2194]

You have to always say "WELCOME TO THE HAWK!" if you really want to do this.

[@ErikHawk]

Thanks for watching! You've got some neat videos posted too.

[@re8et355]

D-Track Midi limit no notes below C-1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/amGvlKOAmNWjqq8

[@timparker33]

I thought I had the last TX7

[@ErikHawk]

Absolutely love the TX7. All the sweet sounds of the original DX7 in a wonderfully compact tabletop unit. The DX7 II certainly sounds crisper and cleaner, but not as warm and round as the original.

[@BlackMan614]

Ugh... got one and the incessant button pressing and hold shift while pressing... is just a buzzkill. My DAW is DP which is 1000x easier to use and much more powerful sequencer for MIDI or CV via Expert Sleepers plugin. I only use the SQ-64 for simple step pattern CV/Gate sequencing. I have more important things to remember than... hold shift key, while pressing pattern button and then hit the... yeah... no.

[@ErikHawk]

Ha, I totally hear you! But for simple pattern simple pattern sequencing, like you say, it gets the job done and nice price. I pretty much just leave it attached to my Vermona DRM1 for analog drum sequencing.

[@thesurfgroup]

Please show. A detailed tut on mapping drums and synths. Booger to executed... Failed everytime.

[@ErikHawk]

Do you mean mapping the drums/synths for control on the SQ-64? If so, they're already mapped, you just have to enter the MIDI keyboard mode, or drum mode available in the Version 2 firmware. There's really nothing to map, assuming your connections are correct, it's just making sure that you're in the right mode SQ-64 mode.

[@multiversum]

Very diffucult🤔

[@ErikHawk]

It's true, hardware MIDI sequencing is way more difficult than just MIDI sequencing in a computer DAW program. Hardware sequencers are fun and can be useful in some situations, but for fast, hardcore music production you can't make me give up my DAW program!

[@BishopEddie5443]

Great tutorial, cheesy ending. lol

[@ErikHawk]

With extra cheese!😁