This is the B.E.S.T. Step Sequencer, an analog-style, hardware step sequencer that offers extensive hands-on control and flexibility. All controls are instantly accessible on the front panel, enabling you to create pattern variations of all sorts in real time. No weeding through endless menus, just good ol' knobs and switches!

The B.E.S.T. Step Sequencer is our first project, and there's still a few things left to do on it before it's finished, but the sequencer part is mostly done, with the main front panel almost finished. To the right of the main panel is a side panel that so far is just a prototype setup. It will contain the Sequencer Controller, knobs, switches and jacks common for all steps, an LCD display, etc.

A brief overview of the functionality and controls per step (top to bottom):

• A LED that lights up when the step is active, and a LED indicating whether SKIP is activated on the step
• Four CV pots, one for each of the four channels that will be implemented on the Sequencer Controller
• Knob that can be set to SKIP, RUN, STOP or RESET status
• Knob that sets the NEXT STEP that the sequencer should go to
• Knob that sets the NOTE LENGTH (whole-, half-, quarter-, eighth-, sixteenth- and thirtysecondth notes) for the step
• Knob for STEP AT STEP setting (one to six steps) for the step
• Four switches that turns trig out signal on or off for the four channels
• GOTO pushbutton, for instant goto selected step
• Jack for GOTO CV and jack for trig out signal
• Jacks for external CV in for CV channel one and two

Schematics for the sequencer PCB's (click images to enlarge).

  

And here are the mainboard PCB's, one for each of the three sequencers we're constructing, as well as one of them with components in place.

  

We are using this type of bus board for the pot connections, thus needing just short wires from the pots to the boards. This is the bus board for the two LEDs and four CV pots for all steps.