SQ4 comes in 2 flavours.Both are standalone,whilst SQ4(1)can playback up to 16 samples or drive your midi hardware with all sequencing and other functionality,SQ4(2)drives a hosted Vsti(only 1)

The Gui is all logically well laid out in its default setup and is busy,however with SQ4 you can float the windows and work with the panel(s)you need.This makes using SQ4 for extended periods a welcome attribute.It's also user skinnable.

Feature wise SQ4 drips with functionality.There are 7 main panels,Midi,control and loop will be the most often used,these are accompanied by mix,transpose,vsti and the delicious inspire panel.Functionally you have a total of 16 midi tracks accessed in 4x4 blocks(pages 0-3) each midi,control and loop panel block contains 4 parts each with 4 functions or controls depending on the panel,for instance in the midi block you set up time,pitch,volume and duration for note attributes,the other panel for loop is then setup(it also loops itself!)to step and loop the row pass orders for each of the above 4 attributes.

What SQ4 can do with just one track in its own way is impressive enough,however multitimbral vstis,hard synths are the obvious choice.Control panel allows for 4 midi controllers per track.It also has a record option for tweaking vsti controls.Before I go any further I'll mention here that the real heart and power of SQ4 starts to become apparent when you change note lengths and loop point ends,by doing this what happens is that the rows start to work against each other,your programmed loop setups begin to trigger each others places in the sequencer rows creating literally variations on a theme,what you hear overall is akin to the subtle dynamics and articulations you would obtain from playing,in short SQ4 delivers feel and nuance,given that this is an analogue sequencer and they have their own inherent stylistic traits by design,adjectives that describe this overall effect with the right sounds and tempo are dreamy,drifty,trippy and hypnotic and yes banging,pumping teutonic basslines,rasping cutting leads and all manner of riffs come forth.

The inspire panel allows you to realtime create up to 16 note polyphonic arpeggiations,set octave ranges,velocities and arpeg style.

You can realtime record notes and velocities,render down your loops with various slice and length options and feed these to SQ4(1)or your favourite looper.

You can transpose rows with your midi keys,you can set up dedicated midi controller maps,row variables can be rotated(slid left or right),transposed copied and pasted.SQ4 will also sync to MTC.

Documentation is short and concise.

Support is responsive friendly and helpful.

SQ4 ran for hours on end without any major crashes on my XP machine.

Spend some time understanding SQ4s workflow and logic,you will be rewarded with many seeds for nurturing bigger fruits,need inspiration?Powerful,playful,fun and creative.

SQ4 is worth every penny.It's one big "Creativity Centre"