Music sequencer
From AudioLexic
In the field of electronic music, a sequencer was originally any device that recorded and played back a sequence of control information for an electronic musical instrument. More recently the term has come to refer to the feature of recording software which allows the user to record, play back and edit MIDI data. This is distinct from the software features which record audio data.
Early analog music sequencers used control voltage/trigger interface, but were replaced by digital hardware- or software-based MIDI sequencers, which play back MIDI events and MIDI control information at a specified number of beats per minute.
As computer speeds increased in the 1990s, audio recording, audio editing, and sample triggering features were added to the software. Software so enhanced is called a digital audio workstation (DAW). DAWs almost always include sequencing features but, strictly speaking, go beyond what a sequencer is.
Many sequencers have features for limited music notation, or are able to show music in a piano roll notation. (For software designed specifically for music notation, see scorewriter.)
Though the term 'sequencer' is today used primarily for software, some hardware synthesizers and almost all music workstations include a built-in MIDI sequencer. There are also standalone hardware MIDI sequencers.
Music can also be sequenced using trackers such as ModPlug Tracker, and some of those are able to sequence MIDI events too.
A drum machine can be viewed as a specialized music sequencer.
[edit] List of software sequencers / DAWs with sequencing features
For a list of trackers, see the tracker article. Commercial Sequencers:
- Acid and Cinescore from Sony
- Cubase and Nuendo from Steinberg
- Digital Performer and AudioDesk from MOTU
- FL Studio from Image Line Software
- Live from Ableton
- Logic Pro, Logic Express and Garage Band from Apple
- Pro Tools from Digidesign
- Reason from Propellerhead
- Samplitude, Sequoia, Music Maker and Music Studio from Magix
- SAWStudio from RML Labs [1]
- Sonar, Project5 and Home Studio from Cakewalk
- Storm from Arturia
- Tracktion from Mackie [2]
Open Source Sequencers:
[edit] Hardware music sequencers
In alphabetical order (and by no means exhaustive):
- AKAI MPC series
- Alesis MMT-8
- Clavivox, keyboard synth patented in 1956 by Raymond Scott
- Doepfer MAQ 16-3
- Doepfer Schaltwerk
- Doepfer Regelwerk
- Ensoniq ASR-10
- Ensoniq ESQ-1
- Ensoniq EPS-16
- Fairlight CMI
- Frostwave Fat Controller
- genoQs Octopus
- Infection Music Phaedra
- Infection Music Zeit
- Latronic Notron
- Kawai Q-80
- Korg SQ-8
- Korg SQD-1
- Korg SQD-8
- Manikin Schrittmacher
- Moog 960 Sequential Controller -- part of the Moog modular synthesizer system, and possibly the earliest sequencer.
- Radikal Technologies Spectralis
- RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer (Victor). Room-filling device built in 1957 for a half-million dollars. Included a 4-polyphony synth with 12 oscillators, a sequencer fed with paper tape, and a shellac record lathe for output.
- Roland MC-4
- Roland MC-8
- Roland MC-300
- Roland MC-303
- Roland MC-327
- Roland MC-50
- Roland MC-50 Mk2
- Roland MC-500 Microcomposer
- Roland MC-505
- Roland MC-808
- Roland MC-909
- Roland MV-30
- Roland MV-8000
- Roland SB-55
- Roland TB-303
- Sequential Circuits PolySequencer
- Sequentix P3
- Yamaha QX1
- Yamaha QX3
- Yamaha QX5
- Yamaha QX7
- Yamaha QX21
- Yamaha QY10
- Yamaha QY700
- Yamaha QY100
- Yamaha RM1x
- Yamaha RS7000
- Zyklus MPS
[edit] External links
- Early Roland sequencers (1977–1984)
- Early sequencer controllers from the Vintage Synth Explorer
- Music tech author Keith Gemmell examines the sequencer in some of its many guises
- The sequencer comparison chart
| This article was started using a Wikipedia sequencer article |