Loop base sequencers

Im not a newb as u know. I use Reason and Cubase on my main rig. I have a laptop I toat around and I want to put a sequencer on there that I can use without a keyboard (while on train ride commute to work!). So I need a loop based x0x style sequencer. Preferably one that is low on the cpu and does not take up a lot of screen real estate. Also, I would like it to be able to use VST synths and effects. It needs to have a basic sample player for one shot samples. And if the cost could be below $200 bucks, that would be excellent. I dont know if all this is possible.

Any suggestions?

Rule FLP out, anything else?

d/l the free trial version of orion and see if you like it

It's not VST, but ReBirth is now a free download. You can download ReMaker which converts ReBirth songs to MIDI and vice versa for when you want to move it into Reason or Cubase, not to mention you can run ReBirth as a Rewire item in both those apps. Being free is a plus.

Just a thought.

Edit: Another thought is go to Computer Music magazines site and download their free sequencer/VST plugin's.

Might as well check all the free options first if it's not going to be your primary environment.

I vote for Ableton Live 5. But if you look around at GC, sometimes they will bundle Ableton Live 4 with hardware that will be in your price range.

I use this as a sequencer, looping, as well as a VST host. I can do layers and splits with VST instruments.

I second the Live suggestion, assuming you can expand your budget a bit and snag the edu copy for $250. You can get loops dialed in there so quick it's scary.

The bundled version is Live Lite. If I recall, it's limited to something like 4 tracks.

Most of the modern sequencers have piano-roll style editing, so you don't have to use pattern sequencing unless you want to.

It really sorta depends upon the limitations of your laptop. Do you need something to run on older, slower hardware, or is CPU and RAM not an issue?

It's gotta be Live. I use it without a keyboard quite often. It has a built in drum sampler and a built-in chromatic sampler. Both can easily be triggered from the laptop's qwerty keyboard. Easy as hell to get loops going, and compose them into a linear arrangement for when you get back to your main studio.

The only thing that you really need to carry with you, besides the laptop and headphones, is a mouse IMO. I can't stand a trackpad for any kind of editing or creation.

As for the cost, you can get the trigger finger + Live pack at NovaMusik (or any where else), then sell the trigger finger if you don't need it. That gives you full version of Live for like $230. That's what I did, anyways.

Why rule out FLP (I am assuming you mean FlStudio/Fruityloops)? It seems like a good fit for the price and capabilities in your stated requirements.

Live is a good program too - just a little more expensive.

Does FL support VSTs these days?

Yeah, it can work as both a host and a client for most plugin architectures (vst, rewire, dx).

http://www.flstudio.com/documents/75.html

I am not trying to shill/push FlStudio - I just get the impression that a lot of people dislike it (a lot) and am trying to understand why.

I used to dislike it (FLP), but that was operator error....I needed to stop trying to use it as a DAW and use it for what it was originally intended...loop construction. Once I spent some time with it and got to know it, I love it for that, very quick and easy workflow, at least for software.