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

Hardware sequencers

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

  • Barrel or cylinder with pins (since 9th or 14th century) — utilized on barrel organs, carillons, music boxes
  • Metal disc with punched holes (late 18th century) — utilized on several music boxes such as Polyphon, Regina, Symphonion, Ariston, Graphonola (early version), etc.

Punched paper

Sound-on-film

Oramics (1957) controls sounds by graphics on films
  • Variophone (1930) by Evgeny Sholpo—on earliest version, hand drawn waves on film or disc were used to synthesize sound, and later versions were promised to experiment on musical intonations and temporal characteristics of live music performance, however not finished. Variophone is often referred as a forerunner of drawn sound system including ANS synthesizer and Oramics.
  • Composer-Tron (1953) by Osmond Kendal—rhythmical sequences were controlled via marking cue on film, while timbre of note or envelope-shape of sound were defined via hand drawn shapes on a surface of a CRT input device, drawn with a grease pencil.[3]
  • ANS synthesizer (1938-1958) by Evgeny Murzin—an earliest realtime additive synthesizer using 720 microtonal sine waves (1/6 semitones × 10 octaves) generated by five glass discs. Composers could control the time evolution of amplitudes of each microtone via scratches on a glass plate user interface covered with black mastic.
  • Oramics (1957) by Daphne Oram—hand drawn contours on a set of ten sprocketed synchronized strips of 35 film were used to control various parameters of monophonic sound generator (frequency, timbre, amplitude and duration).[4] Polyphonic sounds were obtained using multitrack recording technique.

Electro-mechanical sequencers

Wurlitzer Sideman (1959)

Analog sequencers

Analog sequencers with CV/Gate interface

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)
  • Doepfer MAQ 16/3—MIDI analog sequencer, designed in cooperation with Kraftwerk
  • Doepfer Regelwerk—MIDI analog sequencer with MIDI controller
  • Frostwave Fat Controller
  • Infection Music Phaedra
  • Infection Music Zeit
  • Latronic Notron
  • Manikin Schrittmacher
  • Quasimidi Polymorph (1999)—Four-part multitimbral tabletop synthesizer, with an analogue-like step sequencer
  • Roland EF-303—Multiple effects unit with 16-step modulation, also usable as the analog-style MIDI step sequencer[15]
  • Sequentix P3
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.

  • Doepfer Schaltwerk—MIDI pattern sequencer

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.

  • MFB Step 64—Standalone step sequencer dedicated for drum patterns (16 steps/4 tracks or 64 steps/1 track, 118 programs×4 banks, 16 song sequences, each with up to 128 sequences)[16]

Embedded self-contained step sequencers

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

  • Casio VL-Tone VL-1 (1979), Casiotone MT-70 (c.1984), Sampletone SK-1 (1986), etc.—Timings of musical notes stored on the step sequencer, can be designated by the two trigger buttons labeled "One Key Play", around the right hand position

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

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

CV/Gate

Also often support Gate clock and DIN sync interfaces.

Proprietary digital interfaces (pre MIDI era)

  • NED Synclavier series—CV/Gate interface and MIDI retrofit kit were available on Synclavier II. Also MIDI became standard feature on Synclavier PSMT[18][19]
  • Fairlight CMI series—CV/Gate interface was optionally available on Series II, and MIDI was supported on Series IIx and later models
  • Oberheim DSX (Oberheim Parallel Bus)
  • PPG Wave family (PPG Bus)
  • Rhodes Chroma (Chroma Computer Interface)[20]
  • Roland JSQ-60 (Roland Digital Control Bus (DCB))
  • Sequential Circuits PolySequencer 1005 (SCI Serial Bus)
  • Yamaha CS70M (Key Code Interface)[21]

Hardware MIDI sequencers

Standalone MIDI sequencers
  • Akai ASQ10
  • Alesis MMT-8—a buddy of HR-16 drum machine
  • Korg SQD-1
  • Korg SQD-8
  • Kawai Q-80
  • Roland MC-327
  • Roland MC series: MC-50/MC-50MkII/MC-80/MC-300/MC-500 Microcomposer
  • Roland MSQ-100 (1985)
  • Roland MSQ-700 (1984)—one of the earliest multitrack MIDI sequencer (8tr),[22] a buddy of TR-909
  • Roland SB-55—SMF recorder
  • Yamaha QX series: QX1/QX3/QX5/QX7/QX21
MIDI phrase sequencers
  • Zyklus MPS
Embedded MIDI sequencers
Sequential Circuits Six-Trak has embedded realtime MIDI sequencer.
MIDI sequencers with embedded sound module
  • Yamaha TQ5—desktop version of EOS YS200 FM workstation
  • Yamaha QY10—with embedded GM tone generator (1990)
  • Yamaha QY20—with embedded GM tone generator (1992)
  • Yamaha QY300—with embedded GM tone generator (1994)
  • Yamaha QY20—with embedded GM tone generator (1995)
  • Yamaha QY700—with embedded XG tone generator (1996)
  • Yamaha QY70—with embedded XG tone generator (1997)
  • Yamaha QY100—with embedded XG tone generator (2000)
Palmtop MIDI sequencers
Yamaha QY70
  • Korg SQ-8—palmtop sequencer
  • Philips Micro Composer PMC100
  • Roland PMA-5—palmtop sequencer with touch screen
  • Yamaha Walkstation series: QY8/QY10/QY20/QY22/QY70/QY100—palmtop sequencer with embedded sound module
Accompaniment machines
Wersi Wersimatic CX1
Wersimatic CX2
Boss DR-5
Yamaha QR10
  • Boss DR-5 Dr.Rhythm Section
  • Yamaha QR10 Musical Accompaniment Player

Open-source hardware

  • MIDIbox Sequencer modules—Analog-style MIDI step sequencer/MIDI effect processor modules of MIDIbox project
  • oTTo Sampler, Sequencer, Multi-engine synth and effects - in a box.

Software sequencers and DAWs with sequencing features

Free, open source

Scorewriters

DAW with MIDI sequencers

Drum machines

  • Excluding Mozilla Firefox)

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.
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