Latronic Notron MIDI Step Sequencer Mk1 SN 10052

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You can find demos in previous posts here. There was also a rectangular blue model of the Notron.

"Incredibly rare: one of only about 150 of these made in the UK. As much an instrument as a sequencer, notable users include Björk and Howie B.

Tested and working well after a light service of the controls. Ready to ship.

This is actually the second one of these we’ve had our hands on as we also sold one that had previously belonged to Human League." [posted here]

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Human League's Latronic Notron MIDI Step Sequencer?

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"One of the rarest pieces of studio equipment ever made. Excellent condition and full working order.

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Latronic Notron Step Sequencer

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"One of the rarest pieces of studio equipment ever made.

I bought this from The Human League in 1997. (my Dad designed their studio) Since then it has had about 5 hours use, spending most of its life stored in its original box.

So this is as close to a brand new Notron as you will ever find. As you can see from the photos apart from a couple of very minor surface marks it is like new both aesthetically and mechanically.

The unit was factory upgraded to version 1.3 and so has most of the cool features of the Mk2 blue version. So you get the iconic design of the original and the feature set of the Mk2.

From Wikipedia

'The Notron is a British-designed MIDI step sequencer used by Björk, Howie B etc. Produced in two models, the Mark 1 was available between 1996 and May 1998. The Mark 2 was a slim blue box produced until about 2001. About 100 Mark 1 units were sold and a similar number of Mark 2s. The Notron is no longer produced.

It was designed by and developed by Gerard Campbell and the software was written by Dave Spowage of Concourse Systems (UK). The original model bodywork was designed by Martyn Seiles. It was sold under the company name Latronic.

In 1999 it won a Millennium Award from the Design Council and was exhibited at the Millennium Dome during 2000. For some time the Notron was on display in the London Science Museum.

Only about 150 Notrons were made, and production on them has been discontinued. So, already, it is a collectible instrument and will surely increase in value as time passes...

It does different reset points for each sequence, can output 4 different sequences, It does LFO shapes, weird stuttering things, step length stuff, pitch bend and mod wheel macros, chords on steps, some time-stretching emulation sort of tricks, delays, strums and reversals. Some of the other neat stuff was being able to group changes across multiple steps, and all of it in real time. A very cool machine!'"

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Latronic Notron plus Streichfett & Roland Jupiter 8

Published on Mar 22, 2015 oldgearguy

"Latronic Notron sequencer driving a Waldorf StreichFett. Mostly showing the Notron basics. I'll try to upload some more targeted videos of the Notron doing the special things that it can do."

Latronic Notron plus Roland Jupiter 8 (w. Encore MIDI)

Published on Mar 24, 2015

"I was going to create a more detailed video showing some of the advanced/less well known Notron features. So I hooked it up to the JP-8, created a simple patch and began recording. I never got around to the advanced features. I loved the tones so much I just mostly let it roll.

Slight apologies for the sudden filter jumps - I forgot that I had the LFO set to sawtooth instead of a smoother sine."

Oberheim dpx-1, Latronic Notron, Mutable Midipal, jam out!

Published on Sep 14, 2014 Benjamin Hawkins

"Wine Country Productions Prophet-2000 'digital bass' disk on the Oberheim DPX-1, sequences generated on the Latronic Notron, Mutable Instruments Midipal processing notes.."

Rare Latronic Notron Hardware Sequencer

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"Up for sale is a very rare Latronic Notron. It is the mk 1. The toilet seat version. This item came from the UK and comes with a UK power supply. You would need to use an adaptor/transformer for your country. The Notron works..."

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Latronic Notron Mk2 Sequencer SN 2-000019

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"This box is remarkably inspirational and creative. It’s hard to say how, but the midi (I find, anyway) can be a dry, calculus-like thing to work with. The Notron takes it and makes it feel organic, exciting, evolving and new.

My favourite features include:

- The scale presets where you can impose a scale over the sequence you tapped in and it will play it in that scale. Very musical.

- The way the elements can be different lengths, rebound, skip, stutter, etc. leads to some crazy patterns.

- The way individual steps can become way more using the stutter and enveloping. Hard to explain but a brilliant feature, it’s great to write a drum line with melody like step shapes and then drop it into a drum track. It will surprise you every time!

Maybe other step sequencers do all that too, but they sure don’t do it in the same elegant and seriously intuitive way as the Notron 2. I beta tested the Genoqs Octopus and it was amazing in different ways, the huge matrix of switches was lovely, a real joy to use but somehow (for me) it lacked the “musicalness” of the notron.

It’s also beautiful to behold with its lovely shiny deep iridescent blue finish. The Notron is a truly inspirational piece of musical gear.

I know the whole “did you know Aphex Twin used this one time!” comparisons are a lame so I won’t do that. I do just want to say that Bjork helped make this box famous when her and Howie B picked a few up each. I heard Howie did a live show with just two of these and a linndrum or something. Nice. It’s magical on drums, all the single hit weirdness you can get going on is simply brilliant..."

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Rare Latronic Notron Version 2 For Sale

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"For sale is the legendary Latronic Notron hardware MIDI sequencer. These were made in very small quantities in England in the 90s. It was the secret weapon of many a techno producer. It is in great condition. It has the ground mod, so that the memory will not erase itself from static when you touch it."

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Notron Latronic MIDI Sequencer

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Latronic Notron Mk2 Midi Sequencer

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"Only about 150 ever made, this UK-built sequencer is a work of art. Custom-machined metal knobs, gorgeous metallic blue paint job, and multi-colored LED’s that are a show unto themselves when this thing is fired up in a dark room. As opposed to its predecessor (the Mk1), the Mk2 has an all-metal housing and upgraded V2 software...

For the Notron backstory (Mk1), click here.

For the technical specs, click here.

For the Notron Mk2 manual PDF, click here."

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Laitronic Notron MKII Midi Analog Sequencer

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Rare Latronic Notron MkII Midi Step Sequencer

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"Only about 150 Notrons were made, and production on them has been discontinued. So, already, it is a collectible instrument and will surely increase in value as time passes...

It does different reset points for each sequence, can output 4 different sequences, It does LFO shapes, wierd ass stuttering things, step length stuff, pitch bend and mod wheel macros, chords on steps, some time-stretching emulation sort of tricks, delays, strums and reversals. Some of the other neat stuff was being able to group changes across multiple steps, and all of it in real time. Pretty wild box.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3zUoekEz6U [below]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FYryXXYSEw [below]

There is a better explanation in the SOS MK 1 review
the manual
mailing list

Total Weight = @9kg
UK bidders only - postage by ParcelForce Recorded Delivery will be @22 GBP"

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Latronic Notron with highly liquid modded CS-01

YouTube via b3nsf | September 13, 2010

"I Midified my Yamaha CS-01 with the highly liquid kit, using a mini-disc case for the enclosure! I decide to let the notron test it out, because it has a cool sound for a midi sequencer, most don't sound cool, he he he! Enjoy!"


flickr By b3nnysf

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Latronic Notron Sequenzer

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Googlish translation of the specs:
Construction: 

4 "Elements" (patterns), each with 16 steps, independently on different MIDI channels 


Max Data generated: 

4 MIDI channels with up to 24 Note-On or Note Off messages plus 3 MIDI messages, such as Pitch Bend, Aftertouch or Controller, all defined in terms of channel and / or type. With less note messages for up to 7 channel messages available

MIDI Special Features:
Echo (delay time and number of repetitions defined); Super Steps (preset curves for Pitch Bend, Aftertouch or Controller messages), events ( "drawable" curves for control of Note-Numbers, Pitch Bend, Aftertouch, Controller Sequence Sequence skip or pause), Transpose, Chord, Strum Up / Down.

Capacity: 

16 Chords (including 5 presets), 16 patterns (1 pattern = 4 Elements), 16 setups, 16 Chained Patterns, 30 Scales (presets), 16 Super Steps 


Connections:
MIDI In, MIDI Out, 2 x Auxiliary (currently without function) 


Display: 

87 tri-color LEDs 


Size / Weight: 

35.5 cm x 45.7 cm x 6.3 cm, 2.2 kilograms 


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Latronic Notron controls TR808 and SH7

video upload by b3nsf

"The Latronic Notron is sequencing the Roland Tr-808 and the Roland Sh-7. The soundtrack is four tracks on the Notron, jamming out - no editting.. The video is not the actual sequence!!!!"

GF with the Latronic notron and DX100

video upload by b3nsf

"My girlfriend says these are her chords, so dont take em' ok? Playing with the Latronic Notron, Studio 440 and Yamaha DX100 ..."

Latronic Notron Studio 440 Jupiter 6 improv space funk

video upload by b3nsf

"I made this little sequence on the Notron, controlling the Jupiter (erupoafied, synthwooded) and sync'ed the Studio 440 (VFD'ed, rez-modded) fun times!!!!"

Latronic Notron and DX100 Bassline

video upload by b3nsf

"I just got this thing and I haven't even bothered to look at the manual yet, I had to try it immediately... I made this bassline with the yamaha DX-100 solid bass patch.. I love it! thanks later, ben"

Latronic Notron Mk1 MIDI Step Sequencer

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"Here is the INSANELY rare [gold color] Latronic Notron Mk1 MIDI Step Sequencer. This is a truly fantastic piece of equipment that holds a unique place in the serious electronic musician arsenal. Much more than a standard MIDI controller or software sequencer, this is a living instrument that can be found in the recordings and live set-ups of such luminaries as Bjork, The Orb, Goldie, Claude Young, Paula Temple, etc. It is a certified Techno, D&B, Electronica classic.

This is the original, ultra-rare version 1. There are only about 100 of these in existence, many in the hands of famous musicians. Despite being produced int he late 90's there are still unique features on this sequencer not found anywhere else (not even on the Genoqs Octopus or the Sequentix P3). My favorites are the cumulative transpose and supersteps."

"The Notron is a British-designed MIDI step sequencer used by Björk, Howie B etc. Produced in two models, the Mark 1 was available between 1996 and May 1998. The Mark 2 was a slim blue box produced until about 2001. About 100 Mark 1 units were sold and a similar number of Mark 2s. The Notron is no longer produced.
It was developed by Gerard Campbell and the software was written by Dave Spowage of Concourse Systems (UK). It was sold under the company name Latronic. In 1999 it won a Millennium Award from the Design Council and was exhibited at the Millennium Dome during 2000. For some time the Notron was on display in the London Science Museum.

In the words of Paul Nagle from his Sound On Sound (June 1997) review: 'Is it a hi-tech bathroom scale? Is it a 21st-century computer game? Is it Darth Vader's toilet seat? No, it's an innovative LED-laden MIDI step sequencer, with the power to wring new life from your old synths'."

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DSP Audio Nortron 1.2 UB - Virtual Notron

"Nortron is a new type of vertical sequencer that fully combines performance and composition.

With Nortron exploring difficult musical structures is simple and addictive. The timing matrix and 4 fully independent yet linked sequencer arrays provides full spectrum control of entire sequencing structures as opposed to the constrained yet popular timeline editing format.

Nortron is the tool for deep experimentation into beats and rhythmic juxtaposition.

* High-yield interface takes very little energy to program with great results
* Behaves as an instrument rather than an editing platform
* Improvisation is natural and the same as creating a song
* Quality beat construction with VST Plugins, Soft-synths and MIDI hardware gives your productions a unique edge over sample based loops
* Timing and event templates conform rapid sequence transitions to an overal theme
* Unique Performance Modes allow MIDI triggering sequences, Quantize Playthrough and custom arpeggios
* Full integration with Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Live and other popular timelines
* Nortron breathes life into whatever instruments it controls

Performance is now the same as composition. MP3 of "Sculpture soft-synth" performed by Nortron"

You can find a comparison with the Latronic Notron here.

Also check out this link for demos using the following synths:
Oberheim Xpander
Nord Modular
Tr-909
Tr-808+Midikit
Omega 8
Serge Modular
Synton Fenix
Synthacon
Kawai K5000
Juno 106

via Niall