2hp Seq (2010–2020s)

Name: 2hp Seq
Brand: 2hp

A sequencer the size of a matchbox that holds an entire song.

Overview

The 2hp Seq is barely wider than a power cable. It takes just two horizontal units, the narrowest form factor in the format, and still packs in a full 16-step melodic sequencer with memory, quantization, portamento, and multiple playback modes. There's no screen, no menus, no touchscreen. Just eight tiny knobs and a row of LEDs. You turn a knob, a light blinks, a voltage shifts - and your oscillator is playing a minor pentatonic scale, gliding between notes.

Other modules chase complexity: randomization, probabilistic triggers, MIDI-to-CV translation, polyphony. The Seq strips back to pitch, timing, and motion. It's a melodic sequencer first, designed to drive oscillators, but it works just as well for modulating filter cutoffs, LFO rates, or even panning. The output is unipolar CV, 0-8V, quantized or not, with gate output on the side. Sequence length runs anywhere from 1 to 16 steps. Playback can be forward, reverse, pendulum, or random. Portamento is a smooth analog glide. It's not a rhythm machine and not a drum sequencer. It's for melodies, basslines, and evolving leads.

The tuning interface is the big feature. Eight preset scales - major, minor, chromatic, pentatonic, whole tone, and others - let you lock into musicality right away. Select the scale, tune the root, and every step snaps to the correct pitch. Unlike many early Eurorack sequencers, the Seq also remembers your settings when powered down, so there's no retuning every time you power up your case.

Specifications

Manufacturer	2hp
Production Years	2010–2020s
Original Price	$124
Module Width	2 HP
Depth	45 mm
Power Consumption	+12V: 54 mA, -12V: 3 mA
CV Output Range	0–8V
Gate Output	5V
Sequence Length	1–16 steps (adjustable)
Playback Modes	Forward, Reverse, Pendulum, Random
Portamento	Variable (analog)
Quantization	Quantized or unquantized output
Preset Scales	8 (including major, minor, pentatonic, chromatic, whole tone)
Tuning Interface	Root note and scale selection
Memory	Saves pitch values and settings between power cycles
Display	8 LED indicators for step and parameter feedback
Inputs	Clock, Reset, CV In (for external pitch control)
Outputs	CV Out, Gate Out

Key Features

Scale-Based Quantization for Instant Musicality

Most sequencers from this era either quantized to chromatic or left you to tune by ear. The 2hp Seq has eight built-in scales, selectable via a hidden menu accessed by holding a button while powering on. Once a scale is chosen, every step locks to that tonality. Want a blues run? Pick minor pentatonic. Going modal? Switch to Dorian. Instead of thinking in voltages, you think in keys and modes, and the module does the math. You can shift the root on the fly and the whole sequence stays in tune, which helps when jamming live.

Portamento That Feels Alive

The glide control is more than a smoothing filter. Turn it up and notes smear into each other. Unlike digital portamento that steps in discrete jumps, the Seq's analog glide is continuous. It works well with slow sequences, where the transition between notes becomes part of the melody. Pair it with a resonant filter and it sounds almost vocal. Because it's voltage-controlled, you can modulate the glide time with an LFO or envelope.

Memory That Actually Works

In the early 2010s, many Eurorack modules reset to default on power-up. The Seq didn't. It saves your sequence, scale, root note, and portamento setting even when unplugged. You don't have to write down knob positions or rebuild patches from scratch. You could leave a sequence running overnight, power down your case, and pick up exactly where you left off.

Historical Context

The 2hp Seq arrived in 2010, as Eurorack was shifting from boutique curiosity to mainstream modular revival. Doepfer, Make Noise, and Intellijel were expanding their lines, but most sequencers were either wide, complex beasts like the Makenoise René or minimal gate generators with no pitch control. The Seq was compact, affordable, and melodic, and it didn't sacrifice usability for size. It wasn't the first 2HP module - 2hp had already proven the concept with the TM and Q - but it was the first to deliver full musical sequencing in that footprint.

Its closest competitors were the Erica Pico Sequencer (released later) and the Doepfer A-155, both wider and more expensive. The Seq is monophonic and skips MIDI entirely, which keeps it lean. It also helped define 2hp's brand identity: minimalist design and no wasted space.

Collectibility & Value

The 2hp Seq trades between $150 and $220 on the used market, depending on condition and finish (black or silver). It's not a rare module, but most cases that have one tend to keep it. The build is solid: aluminum faceplate, sturdy knobs, and a simple PCB layout that rarely fails. There are no known catastrophic failure points. The most common issue is LED dimming over time, which is cosmetic. There are no electrolytic capacitors to dry out and no power regulation to fry. It's a low-draw design that works with any power supply.

When buying used, check that the scale selection menu works (hold the reset button while powering on) and that the CV output tracks accurately across the full 8V range. Some early units had slight calibration drift, but a trimmer inside corrects it. Also verify that the portamento glide is smooth and not stepped. A faulty op-amp is rare but possible. Otherwise there's no need for a recap, no firmware updates, and no known hidden flaws.

Owners report using the Seq for basslines, drone generators, filter sequencers, and even as a control voltage source for non-musical modulation. Its small size means it doesn't block adjacent modules, and its low power draw won't strain your bus board.