Sugar Bytes - Nest

Nest is Sugar Bytes' modular MIDI sequencer, for producers and modular fans who like building their own sequencing machines and letting music emerge from the rules. Patch together modules modelled on classic circuits and programming logic, and Nest generates patterns that play plugins, its own sounds or hardware.

The modules

There are more than 20 modules, from versions of transistor-era integrated circuits like shift registers and multiplexers to programming tools such as if/else and maths modules. A writable sequencer and an arpeggiator are there when you want something conventional. Patch them with virtual wires on the Wire page and you can create beats from numbers, numbers from beats, or self-running song machines. Twelve patch scenes can be recalled over MIDI.

Voices and sounds

Nest generates up to eight MIDI voices and distributes them across four targets: hosted VST2 plugins, the internal synths and drums, or MIDI channels, including all 16 channels out to hardware. MIDI CCs and automation come along too, and five stereo audio outs let you mix the parts in your DAW. A flexible scale system keeps everything musical.

The sound

Nest is about structure rather than tone: generative techno, evolving polyrhythms, Berlin-school sequences and patterns that never quite repeat. The internal sounds are a means to an end, and it shines when driving your best synths. It's the most experimental thing Sugar Bytes makes, with a real learning curve, and hosting is VST2 only. For straightforward step sequencing, Thesys is more direct.

Features

• Build your own sequencer from 20+ modules
• Shift registers, multiplexers, logic and maths modules
• Writable sequencer and arpeggiator
• 8 MIDI voices assigned to 4 targets
• Hosts up to 4 VST2 plugins
• Internal synths and drums
• MIDI out on 16 channels, plus CCs and automation
• 12 scenes recallable via MIDI
• 5 stereo audio outs
• Flexible scale system

System requirements

• Version: 1.0.9
• Mac: macOS 10.13 or later. AU, VST2, VST3, AAX and Standalone (64-bit). Native on Apple Silicon
• Windows: Windows 7 or later. VST2, VST3, AAX and Standalone (64-bit)

SOUND7 is an authorised Sugar Bytes reseller. Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email.

Demo