Latronic Notron Mk1 MIDI Step Sequencer

images via this auction

"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'."