When many modules have over‑laden themselves with too many features, it’s pretty refreshing to see something that just does one thing. The strangely named Detroit Pink 87 from Modular Plug does eight lots of one thing in a beautifully mechanical and satisfyingly simple way.
It’s an eight‑track trigger sequencer where you tap in the steps using a clacky mechanical keyboard key. You select a track on the knob, set it to 16, 32 or 64 steps, give it a clock source, and jam away at the button to build up your patterns. That’s it. Whatever you play is quantised to the steps; you switch to Jam mode and play over the top without adding triggers to the sequence, and you can clear a pattern with a tap. It’s also great for triggering envelopes and synth voices or controlling other sequences.
Its simplicity also means it might need some help to make it work in a live situation. There’s no way to mute an output or swap between rhythms without repatching, and there’s no pattern saving. In fact, when you turn it off, you lose everything you’ve created. This encourages an improvised approach or a quick bit of programming before you start your set.
The Detroit Pink 87 is fresh, inviting, fun and lets you feel like you’re contributing to the rhythm of your patch...
Overall, the Detroit Pink 87 is fresh, inviting, fun and lets you feel like you’re contributing to the rhythm of your patch rather than expecting a machine to conjure it all up for you.
$175
$175