Music sequencers are hardware devices or application software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and performance information.

Hardware sequencers

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Many synthesizers, and by definition all music workstations, groove machines and drum machines, contain their own sequencers.

The following are specifically designed to function primarily as the music sequencers:

Rotating object with pins or holes

Punched paper

Sound-on-film

Oramics (1957) controls sounds by graphics on films

Electro-mechanical sequencers

See also: Drum sequencer (controller)
Wurlitzer Sideman (1959)

Analog sequencers

Analog sequencers with CV/Gate interface

See also: § Analog-style MIDI step sequencers
Moog 960 Sequential Controller and 962 Sequential Switch

Analog-style step sequencers

Analog-style MIDI step sequencers

Since the analog synthesizer revivals in the 1990s, newly designed MIDI sequencers with a series of knobs or sliders similar to analog sequencer have appeared. These often equip CV/Gate and DIN sync interface along with MIDI, and even patch memory for multiple sequence patterns and possibly song sequences. These analog-digital hybrid machines are often called "Analogue-style MIDI step sequencer" or "MIDI analogue sequencer", etc.

Quasimidi Polymorph (1999) has built-in step sequencer with a series of value knobs (bottom)
Analog-style MIDI pattern sequencers

Several machines also provide "song mode" to play the sequence of memorised patterns in specified order, as per drum machines.

Step sequencers (supported on)

Typical step sequencers are integrated on drum machines, bass machines, groove machines, music production machines, and these software versions. Often, these also support the semi-realtime recording mode, too.

Embedded self-contained step sequencers

Casio VL-Tone VL-1
Casio Sampletone SK-1

Several tiny keyboards provide a step sequencer combined with an independent timing mode for recording and performance:

Embedded CV/Gate step sequencers

Several machines have white and black chromatic keypads, to enter the musical phrases.

Embedded MIDI step sequencers

Groovebox-type machines with white and black chromatic keypads, often support step recording mode along with realtime recording mode:

Other groovebox-type machines (including several music production machines) also often support step recording mode, of course:

Button-grid-style step sequencers

See also: Monome and Tenori-on

Recently emerging button-grid-style interfaces/instruments are naturally support step sequence. On these machines, one axis on grid means musical scale or sample to play, and another axis means timing of notes.

Tenori-on

In addition, newly designed hardware MIDI sequencers equipping a series of knobs/sliders similar to analog sequencers, are appeared. For details, see #Analog-style MIDI step sequencers.

Digital sequencers

See also: Programmable logic controller

CV/Gate

See also: § Embedded CV/Gate step sequencers

Also often support Gate clock and DIN sync interfaces.

Proprietary digital interfaces (pre MIDI era)

Hardware MIDI sequencers

See also: § Analog-style MIDI step sequencers, and § embedded MIDI step sequencers
Standalone MIDI sequencers
MIDI phrase sequencers
Embedded MIDI sequencers
Sequential Circuits Six-Trak has embedded realtime MIDI sequencer.

See also: § Embedded MIDI step sequencers
MIDI sequencers with embedded sound module
Palmtop MIDI sequencers
Yamaha QY70
Accompaniment machines
Wersi Wersimatic CX1
Wersimatic CX2
Boss DR-5
Yamaha QR10

Open-source hardware

Software sequencers and DAWs with sequencing features

See also: Comparison of MIDI editors and sequencers, Digital audio workstation, and Tracker (music software)

Free, open source

Scorewriters

DAW with MIDI sequencers

Drum machines

Commercial

Scorewriters

Software MIDI sequencers

by Alfred Faust] at http://bnp.hansfaust.de/indexeng.html

Loop-oriented DAWs with MIDI sequencers

Tracker-oriented DAWs with MIDI sequencers

DAWs with MIDI sequencers

Integrated software studio environments

See also

References

  1. ^ "Das Siemens-Studio für elektronische Musik von Alexander Schaaf und Helmut Klein" (in German). Deutsches Museum. Archived from the original on 2013-09-30.
  2. ^ Holmes, Thom (22 May 2012). "Early Synthesizers and Experimenters". Electronic and Experimental Music: Technology, Music, and Culture (4th ed.). Routledge (published 2012). pp. 190–192. ISBN 978-1-136-46895-7. (See also excerpt of pp. 157–160 from Holmes 2008)
  3. ^ "The Composer-Tron (1953)". 120 Years of Electronic Music (120years.net). Archived from the original on 2012-04-02.
  4. ^ "Daphne Oram and 'Oramics' (1959)". 120 Years of Electronic Music (120years.net). Archived from the original on 2011-11-19.
  5. ^ "Wall of Sound (sequencer)". RaymondScott.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-13.
  6. ^ "Circle Machine". RaymondScott.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27.—includes 2 sound files: Raymond Scott's demonstration, and commercial soundtrack for new batteries of Ford Motors.
  7. ^ US patent 3,207,835, Howard E. Holman and Joseph H. Hearne (Wurlitzer Company), "Rhythm Device", issued 1965-09-21 
  8. ^ Holmes, Thom (2008). Electronic and experimental music: technology, music, and culture (3rd ed.). Routledge. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-135-90617-7. Moog admired Buchla's work, recently stating that Buchla designed a system not only for "making new sounds but [for] making textures out of these sounds by specifying when these sounds could change and how regular those change would be."
  9. ^ "Moog 960 Sequential Controller". MoogArchives.com.—3×8-step sequencer module
  10. ^ "Moog 961 Interface". MoogArchives.com.—interface module to convert several signal types including audio input, V-trigger (CV), and S-trigger (short-to-ground trigger for Envelope Controller)
  11. ^ "Moog 962 Sequential Switch". MoogArchives.com.—switching module for 960 to convert 3x8-step sequence into 1x24-step sequence, etc.
  12. ^ "Synthesizer 2C with optional 960 and 961 - 1968 Modular System "Synthesizer 2"". MoogArchives.com.—On the MoogArchives.com, the photograph with caption "Synthesizer 2C with optional 960 and 961" on this page seems to be the earliest record of Moog's sequencer module.
  13. ^ MFB-URZWERG, MFB Musik Elektronik, archived from the original on 2011-12-02
  14. ^ MFB-URZWERG Pro, MFB Musik Elektronik, archived from the original on 2012-06-18
  15. ^ Roland EF-303 Groove Effects - Owner's manual (PDF), Roland Corporation, pp. 48, 53, 54, archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-31
  16. ^ Sequencer MFB-STEP64, MFB Musik Elektronik, archived from the original on 2012-04-05
  17. ^ "SM0600 Project - A Digital Sequencer - Rebuilding the Roland CSQ-700". Emulator Archive.
  18. ^ Amison, Brandon (17 Jul 1999). "Yaking Cat Music Studios QAQA answers - Subject:0033 Re:Clothing ETC". Yaking Cat Music Studios (Synclavier Assistance).
  19. ^ Furia, Steve De; Joe Scacciaferro (1986). The MIDI implementation book. Third Earth Pub. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-88188-558-3.—MIDI Implementation Chart of Synclavier MIDI Option v0.9 in 1985.
  20. ^ Williams, Tonny (January 24, 1984), Rhodes Keyboards Instruments Chroma Computer Interface Model 1611 Rev 5—Sequencer Manual (PDF), CBS Inc.
  21. ^ "External Key Code Interface Circuit" (PDF), Yamaha CS70M Servicing Manual, Yamaha Corporation, October 1981, p. 24, archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-21, retrieved 2016-09-18
  22. ^ "AM MSQ700 Nexus - MIDI Sequencer". Emulator Archive.
Category