Squarp Instruments built its name on sequencers that think about music differently, from the Pyramid to the Hapax. Now the French maker brings that approach to Eurorack with the Core, a MIDI-to-CV/Gate interface designed to sit between your computer, your keyboards, your sequencers and the rest of the rack. It is available now and priced at 190 euros.
A routing hub as thin as a card
The Core stands out for its footprint: just 25mm deep, slim enough to fit in a skiff or a travel case where space is always tight. The interface centres on a crisp OLED screen and navigation that Squarp calls immediate — the whole point of a routing module is not forcing you through ten sub-menus just to re-patch an output.
The module handles CV pitch, gate, velocity, aftertouch and control change (CC) messages. For connectivity it uses TRS mini-jack MIDI in/out and, crucially, dual USB: a host port and a device port. In practice you can hook up a computer and a hardware sequencer such as the Hapax at the same time, with the Core converting USB MIDI to classic MIDI ports complete with MIDI sync.
XP32 expanders to multiply outputs
On its own, the Core has no CV outputs: it relies on the XP32 expanders already familiar to Hapax owners. With one XP32 you get 32 CV outputs (8 × 4). Add a second and you reach up to 64 outputs (16 × 4). This modular architecture means you don’t pay for outputs you won’t use and lets the system grow with the rack.
- Core alone: conversion and generation, no direct CV outputs.
- Core + 1 XP32: 32 configurable CV outputs.
- Core + 2 XP32: 64 CV outputs for pitch, gate and modulation.
Generative engines, not just an interface
This is what separates the Core from a plain converter. The module packs engines that generate LFOs, clocks, Euclidean generators, ADSR envelopes and melodic loops that mutate over time. Squarp quotes a telling figure: in theory you can output up to 64 different LFOs or 64 Euclidean generators. One module can irrigate an entire system with modulation voltages without adding a row of dedicated modules.
Eight global presets store complete routing setups so you can move from one track to another without rebuilding everything. For a modular rig that runs live as well as in the studio, that kind of detail saves real time. If CV and Gate still feel fuzzy, our MIDI and CV/Gate guide covers the basics, and our look at the Intech Studio ZONA shows another take on modular control.
Price and availability
The Core sells for 190 euros. Squarp naturally pushes a bundle with one XP32 at 590 euros, versus 680 euros if you buy both separately. The module is available now. For anyone looking to add movement to a rack, it is a credible alternative to the generative firmwares cropping up elsewhere, such as Cyma’s Forma RND.
My take
The Core solves a genuine problem: getting computers, keyboards and modular to talk without stacking boxes. The dual USB host/device is clever, and 25mm of depth is a concrete argument for anyone travelling with a skiff. The onboard generative engines change the picture — you aren’t just buying a converter, you’re buying a near-endless modulation source. The catch is the XP32 dependency: with no expander the Core outputs no voltage, and the bill climbs fast once you target 64 outputs. For a Hapax owner the fit is perfect; for everyone else, the 590-euro bundle is the real entry point.
