Nest - The DIY Sequencer by Sugar Bytes

[slotenvath]

Hi everyone,

I think this plugin deserves a new thread. Who knows if more people start exploring it we might even see a few updates and perhaps spark ideas for new features. The potential is definitely there.

This plugin really makes me focus lol. Before patching anything I try to keep in mind what each module does but most of the time I end up just relaxing and experimenting without overthinking it.

That’s pretty much what I did in this session I just let things flow and gradually a really immersive melody started to take shape.

I think that’s the best part of Nest how unpredictable and challenging it is. The GUI is genuinely beautiful and you could easily spend hours just patching connections without ever getting bored.

More info about Nest:
https://sugar-bytes.de/nest

Here’s the session if you want to check it out

[kraster]

Nest is underrated.

I think the reason that there's less talk about it is that it's quite complicated.

You do have to commit to learning all the ins and outs but it's very rewarding.

[slotenvath]

Nest is underrated.

I think the reason that there's less talk about it is that it's quite complicated.

You do have to commit to learning all the ins and outs but it's very rewarding.

Exactly, even if there is a learning curve it is worth pushing through. It can generate unique and unexpected melodies.

[wagtunes]

The interface is so small you literally can't read it. Shame because it looks like it's a pretty powerful sequencer once you learn how to use it. Obviously this thing is very old and simply not usable on modern monitors.

[whyterabbyt]

I was interested in this from what I'd seen before it came out in 2021, but I had been expecting it to be properly modular, rather than a fixed architecture, so lost interest.
Given that it was inspired by/based on actual hardware devices they prototypes and built, I had ultimately decided I would have rather had this as eurorack, or even DIY some stuff, as its rather Lunetta-esque. Never did that, of course, but the Neutral Labs Luna is in this sort of territory, and Ive got one of them waiting to be built.
I should look at Nest again, though, I got more interested in trying out various software sequencers recently.

[kraster]

The interface is so small you literally can't read it. Shame because it looks like it's a pretty powerful sequencer once you learn how to use it. Obviously this thing is very old and simply not usable on modern monitors.

It has UI scaling

[ThoughtExperiment]

The thing to bear in mind though is Sugar Bytes are not exactly renowned for product updates, regardless of customer interest. They do make some innovative stuff (Factory was a terrific synth), but they tend to move on to the next new thing, leaving the older stuff behind, complete with the odd bug in some cases.
One fairly recent, notable exception to this policy was the update to Effectrix which was ridiculously overpriced (IMO)

[wagtunes]

The interface is so small you literally can't read it. Shame because it looks like it's a pretty powerful sequencer once you learn how to use it. Obviously this thing is very old and simply not usable on modern monitors.

It has UI scaling

Where? I can't find it.

[wagtunes]

Okay, I found the settings page but now I'm really confused. I'm pulling up some presets and routing output to Zebra 3 but the sound is coming internally from Nest. It has its own synth engine? I thought it was just a sequencer.

Anyway, at least now I can read the darn thing so I'll crack open the manual and get to work.

[kraster]

Okay, I found the settings page but now I'm really confused. I'm pulling up some presets and routing output to Zebra 3 but the sound is coming internally from Nest. It has its own synth engine? I thought it was just a sequencer.

Anyway, at least now I can read the darn thing so I'll crack open the manual and get to work.

Yeah it has three synths and a drum machine built in.

It can also host plugins and route to midi out. Just hit the sound button at the top right.

[wagtunes]

Okay, I found the settings page but now I'm really confused. I'm pulling up some presets and routing output to Zebra 3 but the sound is coming internally from Nest. It has its own synth engine? I thought it was just a sequencer.

Anyway, at least now I can read the darn thing so I'll crack open the manual and get to work.

Yeah it has three synths and a drum machine built in.

It can also host plugins and route to midi out. Just hit the sound button at the top right.

Okay, I did that. Changed synth to MIDI. Routed it. No sound. Changed it back. Now Nest makes no sound at all, not even internally. Reloaded plugin several times. Nothing.

Spent all the time I'm going to spend on this. Going back to Stepic.

[kraster]

It's a very different beast to stepic.

Stepic is a super comprehensive step sequencer but ultimately a step sequencer.

Nest is like a sequencing playground. Generative, algorithmic, step, stochastic etc. It's much deeper than stepic.

As I said above it does involve some investment in time but it's worth it since there's nothing else like it out there.

I get results from Nest that I don't get from anything else.