Music sequencer
Encyclopedia
The music sequencer is a device or computer software
to record, edit, play back the music
, by handling note
and performance information in several forms, typically :
In today, software music sequencers integrated with DAWs are often supporting digital audio
. However, bare musical sequencers normally not directly handle the digital audio (except for “audio sequencers” which often means DAW). Instead, the audio engine consisted with DAW
and plug-in host
handles digital audio, and collaborates with bare music sequencer for synchronization and automation. Thus, handling of digital audio is not the essential role of music sequencers, in general.
Similarly, today's software music sequencers often mainly support MIDI and plug-ins
(running on plug-in host). However, these are not essential on generic definition of music sequencers. On the long history of electronic music, various type of music sequencers handled various forms of music information, as following:
Over the all, definition of music sequencer
shouldn't be limited with specific data formats. Instead, more generic information including notes and performance information, various control parameters of instruments/effects/DAWs, and even audio data itself, should be taken into account.
And also possibly includes :
Note that normally bare music sequencer doesn't directly handle audio; instead, musical instruments/effects devices controlled by sequencers, or audio engines/DAWs integrated with software sequencers, are used to handle audio. Also note that computer software (or dedicated systems) mainly handle digital audio are traditionally called “Digital audio workstation
” (DAW).
On the other aspect, music sequencers are categorized with its sequence mode/record mode:
on electronic keyboard.
}}
on bass machine.Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
to record, edit, play back the music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, by handling note
Note
In music, the term note has two primary meanings:#A sign used in musical notation to represent the relative duration and pitch of a sound;#A pitched sound itself....
and performance information in several forms, typically :
In today, software music sequencers integrated with DAWs are often supporting digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio is sound reproduction using pulse-code modulation and digital signals. Digital audio systems include analog-to-digital conversion , digital-to-analog conversion , digital storage, processing and transmission components...
. However, bare musical sequencers normally not directly handle the digital audio (except for “audio sequencers” which often means DAW). Instead, the audio engine consisted with DAW
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
and plug-in host
Audio plugin
An audio plugin is a dynamically linked library containing digital signal processing or sound synthesis functionality, which can be loaded by a computer program at runtime...
handles digital audio, and collaborates with bare music sequencer for synchronization and automation. Thus, handling of digital audio is not the essential role of music sequencers, in general.
Similarly, today's software music sequencers often mainly support MIDI and plug-ins
Audio plugin
An audio plugin is a dynamically linked library containing digital signal processing or sound synthesis functionality, which can be loaded by a computer program at runtime...
(running on plug-in host). However, these are not essential on generic definition of music sequencers. On the long history of electronic music, various type of music sequencers handled various forms of music information, as following:
- Analog sequencerAnalog sequencerAnalog sequencers were early generation of electronic music sequencers. Their peculiarities and limitations left a lasting stylistic imprint on Berlin School electronic music, and hence, indirectly, in many later rhythmic synthesizer-driven music genres such as techno, trance music, 1980s synth...
s handle analog control data (ex. CV/GateCV/GateCV/Gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The Control Voltage typically controls pitch and the Gate signal controls note on/off....
) - Several digital devices/music software handle proprietary digital format data on its sequencer. (ex. earlier Music workstationMusic workstationA music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
s and sequencers developed before MIDI era, self-contained integrated environments, or relatively simple devices without MIDI/USB IF). - Plug-inAudio pluginAn audio plugin is a dynamically linked library containing digital signal processing or sound synthesis functionality, which can be loaded by a computer program at runtime...
's numerous parameters and DAW's automation data are often handled without MIDI mapping; in the case, these data might be clearly non MIDI data.
- Also modern integrated DAWDigital audio workstationA digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
s often manipulate notes on the audio tracks in the analogy of MIDI notes, with the help of “beat slicingBeat slicingBeat slicing is the process of using computer programs to slice an audio file of a drumloop in smaller sections, separating different drumhits...
” (ex. ReCycle! (1992)), “independent control of pitch/timeAudio timescale-pitch modificationTime stretching is the process of changing the speed or duration of an audio signal without affecting its pitch.Pitch scaling or pitch shifting is the opposite: the process of changing the pitch without affecting the speed...
” (ex. loop-based music software such as ACID PROACID ProSony ACID Pro is a professional digital audio workstation software program. It was originally called "ACID pH1" and published by Sonic Foundry, but is now developed and sold by Sony Creative Software....
(1998), Ableton LiveAbleton LiveAbleton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
(2001), GarageBandGarageBandGarageBand is a software application for Mac OS X and iOS that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is developed by Apple Inc. as a part of the iLife software package on Mac OS X.-Audio recording:...
(2004)), or various “source separationSource separationSource separation problems in digital signal processing are those in which several signals have been mixed together and the objective is to find out what the original signals were. The classical example is the "cocktail party problem", where a number of people are talking simultaneously in a room ,...
” technique (ex. IRCAMIRCAMIRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
AudioSculpt (1994), Melodyne Direct Note Access (DNA) (2008/2011), Roland R-MIX (2011)), (often) without MIDI mapping. - More over, piano rollPiano rollA piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s and drawn sound interfaces appeared in the last century are still used on modern sequencers/DAWs as graphical user interfaces.
Over the all, definition of music sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
shouldn't be limited with specific data formats. Instead, more generic information including notes and performance information, various control parameters of instruments/effects/DAWs, and even audio data itself, should be taken into account.
- MIDI data (on MIDI sequencers)
- CV/GateCV/GateCV/Gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The Control Voltage typically controls pitch and the Gate signal controls note on/off....
data (on analog sequencerAnalog sequencerAnalog sequencers were early generation of electronic music sequencers. Their peculiarities and limitations left a lasting stylistic imprint on Berlin School electronic music, and hence, indirectly, in many later rhythmic synthesizer-driven music genres such as techno, trance music, 1980s synth...
s and others)
And also possibly includes :
- Automation data for various Plug-insAudio pluginAn audio plugin is a dynamically linked library containing digital signal processing or sound synthesis functionality, which can be loaded by a computer program at runtime...
and DAWDigital audio workstationA digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
s-
-
-
- (software instrumentSoftware instrumentA software instrument can be a synthesized version of a real instrument , or a unique instrument, generated by computer software...
/effect Plug-ins and DAW features on software sequencers)
- (software instrument
-
-
-
- AudioAudioAudio is an electrical or other representation of sound.Audio may also refer to:*Audio, audible content in media production and publishing*AUDIO , an American R&B band of 5 brothers formerly known as TNT Boyz and as B5...
data -
Note that normally bare music sequencer doesn't directly handle audio; instead, musical instruments/effects devices controlled by sequencers, or audio engines/DAWs integrated with software sequencers, are used to handle audio. Also note that computer software (or dedicated systems) mainly handle digital audio are traditionally called “Digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
” (DAW).
On the other aspect, music sequencers are categorized with its sequence mode/record mode:
on electronic keyboard.
}}
- Realtime mode: On the realtime sequencer, musical notes are recorded in realtime as on audio recorder, and played back with designated pitchPitch (music)Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
, tempo and quantizationQuantization (music)In digital music processing technology, quantization is the process of transforming performed musical notes to an underlying musical representation that eliminates this imprecision. The process results in notes being set on beats and on exact fractions of beats...
. For realtime editing, "punch in/punch out" features are often supported, however, to edit details, another editing mode may be needed. Built-in sequencers on electronic keyboards often support realtime mode.
}}
- Step mode: On the step sequencer, musical notes are divided into steps, and each steps are recorded without exact timing. Instead, timing of each step are separately designated by order of entering steps (on bass machines), or selection of column buttons (on drum machines). Analog drum machines and bass machines often utilize this mode, along with semi-realtime mode.
Modern sequencers
With the advent of MIDIMusical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
and particularly Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
in 1980s, programmers were able to write software that could record and play back the notes played by a musician. Unlike the early sequencers used to play mechanical sounding sequence with exactly equal length, the new ones recorded and played back expressive performances by real musicians. These were typically used to control external synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, especially rackmounted sound module
Sound module
A sound module is an electronic musical instrument without a human-playable interface such as a keyboard, for example. Sound modules have to be "played" using an externally connected device...
s as it was no longer necessary for each synthesizer to have its own keyboard.
As the technology matured, sequencers gained more features, and integrated the ability to record multitrack audio
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
. Sequencers mainly used for audio are often called digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
s (or DAWs).
Many modern sequencers can also control virtual instruments
Software synthesizer
A software synthesizer, also known as a softsynth is a computer program or plug-in for digital audio generation. Computer software which can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed are allowing softsynths to accomplish the same tasks that previously required dedicated...
implemented as software plug-ins
Audio plugin
An audio plugin is a dynamically linked library containing digital signal processing or sound synthesis functionality, which can be loaded by a computer program at runtime...
, allowing musicians to replace separate synthesizers with software equivalents.
In today, the term "sequencer" is often used for software, however, also hardwares sequencers are remained. Workstation keyboards
Music workstation
A music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
have their own proprietary built-in MIDI sequencers. Drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
s and some older synthesizers have their own step sequencer built in. There are still also standalone hardware MIDI sequencers, although the market demand for those has diminished greatly due to the greater feature set of their software counterparts.
Software sequencers / DAWs with sequencing features
Free/Open Source
-
- DAW with MIDI sequencers
- Frinika - Java (cross-platform)
- LMMSLMMSLinux MultiMedia Studio or LMMS, is a free software digital audio workstation. Music can be produced by synthesizing sounds, arranging samples, and playing on a MIDI keyboard by combining the features of trackers, sequencers and synthesizers. It supports LADSPA and VST plugins.LMMS is available for...
- GNU/Linux, Windows - MusEMusEMusE is a free software MIDI/Audio sequencer with recording and editing capabilities. It was originally written by Werner Schweer and now is developed by the Muse development team....
- Linux - QtractorQtractorQtractor is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application for Linux. Qtractor is written in C++ and is based around the Qt4 library. Its author is Rui Nuno Capela, who is also responsible for the very widely used Qjackctl, Qsynth and line of Linux audio software...
- Linux - RosegardenRosegardenRosegarden is a free software digital audio workstation program developed for Linux with ALSA and QT4. It acts as an audio and MIDI sequencer, scorewriter and musical composition and editing tool...
- Linux
- MIDI sequencers
- BRELS Midi Editor - Windows
- Edge - online MIDI Sequencer, (requires a web browser and Quicktime Player plugin installed)
- PianoRollComposer - Windows
- Sekaiju - Windows
- Loop-based MIDI sequencers
- harmonySEQ - Linux
- Seq24 - Linux, Windows
- DAW with MIDI sequencers
-
- Loop-based audio sequencers
- ThunderBeatD3 - Windows XP Vista 7(freeware)
- Integrated software studio environments
- The Buzz Machines - Windows
- Drum machines
- HydrogenHydrogen (software)Hydrogen is an advanced drum machine created by Alessandro Cominu, an Italian programmer who goes by the pseudonym Comix. Its main goal is to provide professional yet simple and intuitive pattern-based drum programming....
(cross platform, drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
) - Linux, Mac OS X (Windows version discontinued)
- Hydrogen
- Scorewriters
- MuseScoreMuseScoreMuseScore is free and open source music notation software for Microsoft Windows, Mac and Linux. MuseScore is a WYSIWYG editor, complete with support for score playback and import–export of MusicXML and standard MIDI files...
- Linux, Windows, Mac
- MuseScore
- Loop-based audio sequencers
Not categorized yet
-
- DAWs/HD recorders
- ArdourArdour (audio processor)Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It runs on Linux, Mac OS X and FreeBSD. Its primary author is Paul Davis, who is also responsible for the JACK Audio Connection Kit...
- Linux, Mac OS X, FreeBSD (Note: No sequence feature found)
- Ardour
- Others
- DAWs/HD recorders
Commercial
-
- DAWs with MIDI sequencers
- Audio Evolution from eXtream Software Development
- Cubase and NuendoNuendoNuendo is a music software product developed by Steinberg for music recording, arranging, editing and post-production as part of a Digital Audio Workstation. The package is aimed at audio and video post-production market segments, but it also contains optional modules that can be used for...
from SteinbergSteinbergSteinberg GmbH is a German musical software and equipment company based in Hamburg. It mainly produces music recording, arranging and editing software as used in digital audio workstations and VSTi software synthesizers.- History :... - Digital PerformerDigital PerformerDigital Performer is a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation/Sequencer software package published by Mark of the Unicorn of Cambridge, Massachusetts for the Apple Macintosh platform.-Ancestry:...
from MOTU - energyXT from XT software
- FL StudioFL StudioFL Studio is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer...
from Image Line Software - Logic ProLogic ProLogic Pro is a hybrid 32 / 64 bit digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform. Originally created by German software developer Emagic, Logic Pro became an Apple product when Apple bought Emagic in 2002...
and Logic ExpressLogic ExpressLogic Express is a "light" version of Logic Pro, a MIDI sequencer and digital audio workstation software application maintained by Apple that runs on the Mac OS X platform. It was announced on 15 January 2004 for release in March 2004....
from Apple - Metro from Sagan Technology
- MixcraftMixcraftMixcraft is a multitrack recording application for Windows. The software functions as a Digital Audio Workstation , MIDI sequencer, virtual instrument host, non-linear video arranger, and as a music loop remix program....
from Acoustica - Orion PlatinumOrion PlatinumOrion is a music production suite developed by Synapse Audio Software for Microsoft Windows.The software supports all stages of music production, from composing and arranging music to mixing and mastering. Its features include multitrack audio recording, audio generation, audio effects, and a...
from Synapse Audio - Pro ToolsPro ToolsPro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
from Avid - SamplitudeMAGIX SamplitudeMAGIX Samplitude is a computer program made by MAGIX for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. The first version was released in 1992 for the Amiga and three years later for Microsoft Windows...
, SequoiaMAGIX SequoiaMAGIX Sequoia is a digital audio workstation. It is the most powerful of the MAGIX audio software family, essentially offering a superset of Samplitude's functionality...
, Music MakerMAGIX Music MakerMagix Music Maker is a commercial digital music editor, which was designed by the company MAGIX for the consumer sector. In its present form, its program attributes originate from Magix's professional digital audio workstation, Samplitude. The first version of Music Maker was published in 1994...
and Music Studio from MagixMAGIXMAGIX AG is an international provider of software, online services and digital contents for multimedia communications based in Berlin, Germany. The Company also operates from branches in the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands... - SAWStudio with Midi Workshop from RML Labs
- SonarCakewalk SonarCakewalk SONAR is a digital audio workstation made by Cakewalk for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. The latest versions of the software are SONAR Home Studio 7, SONAR Home Studio 7 XL, SONAR X1 Producer Edition, SONAR X1 Studio Edition, SONAR X1 Essential Edition, and...
and Home Studio from CakewalkCakewalk (company)Cakewalk, Inc. is a company based in Boston, Massachusetts that develops and sells music production software. The company's best known product is their comprehensive music sequencer named SONAR, which is designed for professional use. SONAR incorporates multi-track recording and editing of both... - Studio OnePreSonus Studio OnePreSonus Studio One is a music creation, production and mastering application for Mac OS X and Windows made by PreSonus.-Early development:In 2006, KristalLabs Software Ltd., a start-up company founded by Wolfgang Kundrus and Matthias Juwan, began working on Studio One in cooperation with PreSonus...
from PreSonusPreSonusPreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. is an American manufacturer of recording and live sound equipment, founded in January 1995 by engineers Jim Odom and Brian Smith, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana... - Turbo Play (in test stage)
- UsineUsineSensomusic Usine is a Multitouch digital audio workstation used to manipulate, record and edit audio and MIDI in live situations.Usine is developed in Delphi by the French double bass player Olivier Sens, running on Microsoft Windows....
from Sensomusic - PodiumZynewave PodiumPodium is a Digital Audio Workstation software program that integrates audio recording, VST plugins and external MIDI and audio gear. An object based project structure allows for advanced media and device management....
from Zynewave (gratis) - Z-MaestroZ-MaestroZ-Maestro is a MIDI and digital audio sequencer designed with a focus on ease of use and power for the Windows platform. Developed by , it has seen over a dozen regular releases spaced two to six months apart.-History:...
from Z-Systems
- Loop-oriented DAWs with MIDI sequencers
- ACID ProACID ProSony ACID Pro is a professional digital audio workstation software program. It was originally called "ACID pH1" and published by Sonic Foundry, but is now developed and sold by Sony Creative Software....
and Cinescore from Sony Creative SoftwareSony Creative SoftwareSony Creative Software is a subsidiary of Sony, focused primarily on their line of media production software... - LiveAbleton LiveAbleton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
from AbletonAbletonAbleton AG is a Berlin-based music software company that produces and distributes the production and performance suite Ableton Live and a collection of related instruments and sample libraries.- History :... - GarageBandGarageBandGarageBand is a software application for Mac OS X and iOS that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is developed by Apple Inc. as a part of the iLife software package on Mac OS X.-Audio recording:...
from Apple - MU.LAB UL / XT / FREE - Windows Mac OS (gratis)
- REAPERREAPERREAPER is a digital audio workstation created by Cockos. It is distributed with an uncrippled evaluation license with a nag screen explaining the license cost. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X...
from CockosCockosCockos, Inc is an American digital audio technology company founded in 2004 by Justin Frankel. The company's stated goal is: "to develop software sustainably while preventing profit rationale from forcing engineering compromises... - TracktionTracktionTracktion is a digital audio workstation for recording and editing audio and MIDI. The software is cross-platform, running on Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows.-History:Tracktion was originally developed by a single UK designer/programmer, Julian Storer...
from Mackie
- ACID Pro
- Tracker-oriented DAWs with MIDI sequencers
- RenoiseRenoiseRenoise is a contemporary digital audio workstation based upon the heritage and development of tracker software. Its primary use is the composition of music using sound samples, soft synths, and effects plug-ins. It is also able to interface with MIDI and OSC equipment...
- Renoise
- MIDI sequencers
- Bars and Pipes Professional - Amiga (classic) (gratis)
- Master Tracks Pro from GVOXGVOXGvox is a music-software company best known for notation software. During its long and turbulent history, it developed and acquired ground-breaking products. Typically, these programs are designed by musicians for musicians.- History:...
- DAWs with MIDI sequencers
-
- Integrated software studio environments
- ReasonReason (program)Reason is a music software program developed by Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software. It emulates a rack of hardware synthesizers, samplers, signal processors, sequencers, and mixers, all of which can be freely interconnected in an arbitrary manner...
and RecordRecord (software)Record is a music software program developed by Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software. Designed for recording, arrangement and mixing, it emulates a recording studio, with a mixing desk, a rack of virtual instruments and effects and an audio and MIDI sequencer...
from PropellerheadPropellerhead SoftwarePropellerhead Software is a music software company, based in Stockholm, Sweden, and founded in 1994. They are most notable for the studio emulation Reason.- History :... - Project5 from CakewalkCakewalk (company)Cakewalk, Inc. is a company based in Boston, Massachusetts that develops and sells music production software. The company's best known product is their comprehensive music sequencer named SONAR, which is designed for professional use. SONAR incorporates multi-track recording and editing of both...
- Storm from ArturiaArturiaArturia is a software company located in Grenoble, France and founded in 1999 by Frédéric Brun and Gilles Pommereuil, both INPG-qualified engineers. The company's focus is on the development of electronic music software and tools - primarily emulation of vintage analog synthesizers...
- Reason
- Loop-based audio sequencers
- Live Touch XJ, from Ematrade - Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet
- Loopseque from Casual Underground Lab - iPad/iPhone
- Realtime arrangers with MIDI sequencers
- Piano training software
- PianoCheater - Windows (gratis) (Guitar HeroGuitar HeroGuitar Hero is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, April 7, 2006 in Europe and June 15, 2006 in...
style)
- PianoCheater - Windows (gratis) (Guitar Hero
- Scorewriters
- Musette - Windows (gratis)
- Integrated software studio environments
Not categorized yet
Early sequencers and trackers
Barrel with pins on large stationary barrel-organ (1615) |
Music roll Music roll A music roll is a storage medium used to operate a mechanical musical instrument. They are used for the player piano, mechanical organ, electronic carillon and various types of orchestrion. The vast majority of music rolls are made of paper... on barrel organ Barrel organ A barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated... |
||
Player piano Player piano A player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via pre-programmed music perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home in... (1920) controlled by piano roll Piano roll A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data... s |
RCA Mark II RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer The RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer was the first programmable electronic music synthesizer and the flagship piece of equipment at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center. Designed by Herbert Belar and Harry Olson at RCA, it was installed at Columbia University in 1957... (1957), controlled via punch tape |
||
Buchla 250e Buchla 200e The Buchla 200e is a modular synthesizer designed by electronic music pioneer Don Buchla and built by Buchla and Associates.- History :The 200e is based on the earlier Model 200 system. Many of the modules in the 200e series share similar functionality and layout with Model 200 modules, and... (2004), seems to be influenced from Circle Machine |
Drawn sound films on Oramics Oramics Oramics is a drawn sound technique designed in 1957 by musician Daphne Oram. The machine was further developed in 1962 after receiving a grant from the Gulbenkian Foundation... (1957) resembles strip chart |
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| xx | x | ||
Earlier sequencers
The earlier music sequencers had appeared in the form of various automatic musical instruments, including music boxes, mechanical organMechanical organ
A mechanical organ is an organ that is self playing, rather than played by a musician.Usually, mechanical organs are pipe organs although some instruments were built using reeds similar to those found in a harmonium. Since the 1950s, some instruments have been built using electronics to generate...
s, and player piano
Player piano
A player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via pre-programmed music perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home in...
s. For example, several piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s were recorded by composers themselves, sometimes edited by specialists for the preparation of duplication, and finally played on consumer's player piano. And this process resembles definition of musical sequencer.
The origin of automatic musical instruments seems considerably old. As early as 9th century, Persian inventors Banū Mūsā
Banu Musa
The Banū Mūsā brothers , namely Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir , Abū al‐Qāsim Aḥmad ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir and Al-Ḥasan ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir , were three 9th-century Persian scholars of Baghdad who are known for their Book of Ingenious Devices on automata and mechanical devices...
brothers invented hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
ed organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
using exchangeable cylinders with pins, and also automatic
Automatic
- Technology :* Automatic transmission, or a car with an automatic transmission* Automatic firearm* Automatic watch* Automatic , a defunct American automobile company- Albums :* Automatic * Automatic...
flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
player using steam power, as described on their Book of Ingenious Devices.
In 14th century, rotating cylinder with pins were used to play carillon
Carillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
in Flanders, and at least in 15th century, barrel organs were seen in the Netherlands.
In 19th century, as the result of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, various automatic musical instruments were invented, includes music box, barrel organ
Barrel organ
A barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated...
and barrel piano
Barrel piano
A barrel piano is a forerunner of the modern player piano. Unlike the pneumatic player piano, a barrel piano is usually powered by turning a hand crank, though coin operated models powered by clockwork were used to provide music in establishments such as pubs and cafés...
using barrel / cylinder / metal disc with pins, or mechanical organ
Mechanical organ
A mechanical organ is an organ that is self playing, rather than played by a musician.Usually, mechanical organs are pipe organs although some instruments were built using reeds similar to those found in a harmonium. Since the 1950s, some instruments have been built using electronics to generate...
, orchestrion
Orchestrion
An orchestrion is a generic name for a machine that plays music and is designed to sound like an orchestra or band. Orchestrions may be operated by means of a large pinned cylinder or by a music roll and less commonly book music. The sound is usually produced by pipes, though they will be voiced...
and player piano
Player piano
A player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via pre-programmed music perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home in...
using book music
Book music
Book Music is a medium for storing the music played on mechanical organs, mainly of European manufacture. Book music is made from thick cardboard, containing perforated holes representing the musical notes to be played, with the book folded zig-zag style...
/ music roll
Music roll
A music roll is a storage medium used to operate a mechanical musical instrument. They are used for the player piano, mechanical organ, electronic carillon and various types of orchestrion. The vast majority of music rolls are made of paper...
s (piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s) with punched holes, etc. These instruments widely spread as the popular entertainment devices, before the invention of phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
Also in 20th century, earliest programmable music synthesizers , RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer
RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer
The RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer was the first programmable electronic music synthesizer and the flagship piece of equipment at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center. Designed by Herbert Belar and Harry Olson at RCA, it was installed at Columbia University in 1957...
in 1957 and Siemens Synthesizer in 1959 were controlled via punch tapes similar to piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s.
On the other hand, Raymond Scott
Raymond Scott
Raymond Scott was an American composer, band leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor....
, an American composer of electronic music, invented various music sequencers in 1940s–1960s for his electric compositions. The Wall of Sound, once covered on wall of his studio in 1940s, was a electro-mechanical sequencer to produce rhythmic patterns, consisted with stepping relay
Relay
A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many relays use an electromagnet to operate a switching mechanism mechanically, but other operating principles are also used. Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit by a low-power signal , or where several circuits must be controlled...
s (used on dial pulse telephone exchange
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
), solenoid
Solenoid
A solenoid is a coil wound into a tightly packed helix. In physics, the term solenoid refers to a long, thin loop of wire, often wrapped around a metallic core, which produces a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through it. Solenoids are important because they can create...
s, control switches, and tone circuits with 16 individual oscillators. Later, Robert Moog
Robert Moog
Robert Arthur Moog , commonly called Bob Moog was an American pioneer of electronic music, best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.-Life:...
explained it “the whole room would go 'clack - clack - clack', and the sounds would come out all over the place”.
The Circle Machine, developed in 1959, had dimmer
Dimmer
Dimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light. By decreasing or increasing the RMS voltage and, hence, the mean power to the lamp, it is possible to vary the intensity of the light output...
bulbs arranged in a ring, and a rotating arm with photocell scanning over the ring, to generate arbitrary waveform.
And relatively well known Clavivox
Clavivox
The Clavivox was a keyboard sound synthesizer and sequencer invented by American composer Raymond Scott in 1952, and patented in 1956. Scott had earlier built a theremin as a toy for his daughter Carrie. In his first Clavivox prototype, he used a theremin module built by a young Bob Moog...
, developed since 1952, was a kind of keyboard synthesizer with sequencer. On its prototype, theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
manufactured by young Robert Moog was utilized to enable portamento
Portamento
Portamento is a musical term originated from the Italian expression "portamento della voce" , denoting from the beginning of the 17th century a vocal slide between two pitches and its emulation by members of the violin family and certain wind instruments, and is sometimes used...
over 3-octave range, and on later version, instead photographic film
Photographic film
Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...
and photocell were utilized to control pitch by voltage
Voltage
Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
.
With the relation to the photographic films, the drawn sound technique that appeared in the late 1920s, may be also important as a precursor of today's intuitive graphical user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
s. On this technique, notes and various sound parameters were controlled by hand-drawn waves on the films, resembling piano rolls or strip charts on the modern sequencers/DAWs. It was often utilized on early experiments of electronic music, including "Variophone
Variophone
The Variophone was developed by Evgeny Sholpo in 1930 at Lenfilm Studio Productions, in Leningrad, the Soviet Union, during his experiments with graphical sound techniques, also known as ornamental, drawn, paper, artificial or synthetic sound...
" developed by Yevgeny Sholpo in 1930, and Oramics
Oramics
Oramics is a drawn sound technique designed in 1957 by musician Daphne Oram. The machine was further developed in 1962 after receiving a grant from the Gulbenkian Foundation...
designed by Daphne Oram
Daphne Oram
Daphne Oram was a British composer and electronic musician. She was the creator of the "Oramics" technique for creating electronic sounds....
in 1957, etc.
Step sequencers
The step sequencers played rigid patterns of notes using a grid of (usually) 16 buttons, or steps, each step being 1/16 of a measure. These patterns of notes were then chained together to form longer compositions. Sequencers of this kind are still in use, mostly built into drum machineDrum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
s and groovebox
Groovebox
The term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer to its MC-303, but the term has since entered general use. It refers to a self-contained instrument for the production of live, loop-based electronic music with a high degree of user control facilitating improvisation.A groovebox...
es. They are monophonic by nature, although some are multi-timbral, meaning that they can control several different sounds but only play one note on each of those sounds.
Computer music
 CSIRAC CSIRAC CSIRAC , originally known as CSIR Mk 1, was Australia's first digital computer, and the fourth stored program computer in the world. It was first to play digital music and is one of only a few surviving first-generation computers .The CSIRAC was constructed by a team led by Trevor Pearcey and... played earliest computer music Computer music Computer music is a term that was originally used within academia to describe a field of study relating to the applications of computing technology in music composition; particularly that stemming from the Western art music tradition... in 1951 |
 Max Mathews Max Mathews Max Vernon Mathews was a pioneer in the world of computer music.-Biography:... playing a violin connected to the GROOVE system(c.1970) |
On the other hand, software sequencers were continuously utilized since 1950s, in the context of computer music
Computer music
Computer music is a term that was originally used within academia to describe a field of study relating to the applications of computing technology in music composition; particularly that stemming from the Western art music tradition...
including computer played music (software sequencer), computer composed music (music synthesis), and computer sound generation (sound synthesis).
In June 1951, first computer music Colonel Bogey was played on CSIRAC
CSIRAC
CSIRAC , originally known as CSIR Mk 1, was Australia's first digital computer, and the fourth stored program computer in the world. It was first to play digital music and is one of only a few surviving first-generation computers .The CSIRAC was constructed by a team led by Trevor Pearcey and...
, Australia's first digital computer.
In 1956, Lejaren Hiller
Lejaren Hiller
Lejaren Arthur Hiller was an American composer. In 1957 he collaborated on the first significant computer music composition, Illiac Suite, with Leonard Issacson. It was his fourth string quartet. In 1958 he founded the Experimental Music Studio at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign...
at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
wrote an earliest program for computer music composition on ILLIAC
ILLIAC
ILLIAC was a series of supercomputers built at a variety of locations, some at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In all, five computers were built in this series between 1951 and 1974...
, and collaborated on the first piece, Illiac Suite
Illiac Suite
It is generally agreed upon that the Illiac Suite is the first piece of music composed by an electronic computer. The piece, programmed by the computer and performed from notation, in the form of a string quartet, was the result of a collaboration by Lejaren Hiller and Leonard Issacson in 1956...
for String Quartet, with Leonard Issaction.also available in
In 1957, Max Mathews
Max Mathews
Max Vernon Mathews was a pioneer in the world of computer music.-Biography:...
at Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
wrote MUSIC
MUSIC-N
MUSIC-N refers to a family of computer music programs and programming languages descended from or influenced by MUSIC, a program written by Max Mathews in 1957 at Bell Labs. MUSIC was the first computer program for generating digital audio waveforms through direct synthesis...
, a first widely-used program for sound generation, and 17 second composition was performed by the IBM 704
IBM 704
The IBM 704, the first mass-produced computer with floating point arithmetic hardware, was introduced by IBM in 1954. The 704 was significantly improved over the IBM 701 in terms of architecture as well as implementations which were not compatible with its predecessor.Changes from the 701 included...
computer.
Since then, computer music were mainly researched on the expensive mainframe computer
Mainframe computer
Mainframes are powerful computers used primarily by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.The term originally referred to the...
s at the computer centers, until minicomputer
Minicomputer
A minicomputer is a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the largest multi-user systems and the smallest single-user systems...
s and later microcomputer
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers...
s went into practice on this field in 1970s.
Digital sequencers
In 1971, Electronic Music Studios (EMS) released one of the first digital sequencer products as a module of Synthi 100EMS Synthi 100
The EMS Synthi 100 was a large analogue synthesizer made by Electronic Music Studios Ltd. It was released in 1971 and cost £6,500. It is estimated that fewer than 40 units were built....
, and separated products Synthi Sequencer series.
After then, Oberheim released DS-2 Digital Sequencer in 1974,, and Sequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
released Model 800 in 1977
Also in 1977, Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
released their first microcomputer
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers...
-based digital sequencer, MC-8 Microcomposer
Roland MC-8 Microcomposer
The Roland MC-8 MicroComposer by the Roland Corporation, introduced in 1977 at a price of around US$8,000, was one of the earliest stand-alone microprocessor-driven CV/Gate music sequencer, following EMS Sequencer 256 in 1971 and New England Digital's ABLE computer in 1975...
, also called computer music
Computer music
Computer music is a term that was originally used within academia to describe a field of study relating to the applications of computing technology in music composition; particularly that stemming from the Western art music tradition...
composer by Roland. It equipped keypad
Keypad
A keypad is a set of buttons arranged in a block or "pad" which usually bear digits, symbols and usually a complete set of alphabetical letters. If it mostly contains numbers then it can also be called a numeric keypad...
to enter note
Note
In music, the term note has two primary meanings:#A sign used in musical notation to represent the relative duration and pitch of a sound;#A pitched sound itself....
in numeric code, 16KB
Kilobyte
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. Although the prefix kilo- means 1000, the term kilobyte and symbol KB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 bytes or 1000 bytes, dependent upon context, in the fields of computer science and information...
RAM for maximum 5200 notes (large enough at that time), and polyphony function which allocates multiple pitch CV
CV/Gate
CV/Gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The Control Voltage typically controls pitch and the Gate signal controls note on/off....
into single Gate
CV/Gate
CV/Gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The Control Voltage typically controls pitch and the Gate signal controls note on/off....
. The earliest known user was Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
, an electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
group in 1978, they created new sounds not possible until then.
Software sequencers
In 1975, New England DigitalNew England Digital
New England Digital Corp. , founded originally in Norwich, Vermont and eventually relocated to White River Junction, Vermont, was best known for its signature product, the Synclavier Synthesizer System, which evolved into the Synclavier Digital Audio System or "Tapeless Studio." The company sold...
(NED) released ABLE computer (microcomputer) as a dedicated data processing unit for Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer (1973), and based on it, later Synclavier series were developed. Synclavier
Synclavier
The Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
I, released in September 1977, was one of the earlier digital music workstation
Music workstation
A music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
product with multitrack sequencer. Synclavier series evolved throughout late 1970s–mid 1980s, and they integrated digital-audio and music-sequencer, on the Direct-to-Disk option in 1984, and later Tapeless Studio system.
In 1980, renewed Fairlight CMI
Fairlight CMI
The Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
Series II with its sequencer, “Page R”, combined step sequencing with sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
playback. In 1987, this led to the development of similar software sequencers of this kind, called Trackers, which became popular in the 1980s and 1990s as simple sequencers for creating computer game music, and are yet popular in the Demoscene
Demoscene
The demoscene is a computer art subculture that specializes in producing demos, which are non-interactive audio-visual presentations that run in real-time on a computer...
and Chiptunes.
Short timeline of rhythm sequencers
mechanical (pre 20c)|
|
Rhythmicon
Rhythmicon
The Rhythmicon—also known as the Polyrhythmophone—was the world's first electronic drum machine .-Development:...
(1930)
|
|
Drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
(late 1950s–)
|
|
Step drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
(1972–)
|
|
Digital drum machine (1980–)
|
“Page R” on Fairlight
Fairlight CMI
The Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
(c.1980)
|
|
Groove machine
Groovebox
The term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer to its MC-303, but the term has since entered general use. It refers to a self-contained instrument for the production of live, loop-based electronic music with a high degree of user control facilitating improvisation.A groovebox...
(mid 1980s–)
|
Tracker
Tracker
Trackers are a class of music sequencer software used to create and edit module files; they allow the user to arrange notes stepwise on a timeline across several monophonic channels....
(1987–)
|
|
Beat slicer
Beat slicing
Beat slicing is the process of using computer programs to slice an audio file of a drumloop in smaller sections, separating different drumhits...
(1990s–)
|
Spectrogram
Spectrogram
A spectrogram is a time-varying spectral representation that shows how the spectral density of a signal varies with time. Also known as spectral waterfalls, sonograms, voiceprints, or voicegrams, spectrograms are used to identify phonetic sounds, to analyse the cries of animals; they were also...
editing (1994)
|
Loop sequencer (1998–)
|
|
Note manipulation on audio tracks (2009–)
|}
Hardware sequencers
Many synthesizers, and by definition all workstations and drum machines, contain their own sequencers.Following are specifically designed to function primarily as sequencers:
Rotating object with pins
- Barrel or cylinder with pins (since 9th or 14th century) utilized on barrel organBarrel organA barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated...
s, carillonCarillonA carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
s, music boxes - Disc with pins — utilized on several barrel organBarrel organA barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated...
s
Punched paper
- Book musicBook musicBook Music is a medium for storing the music played on mechanical organs, mainly of European manufacture. Book music is made from thick cardboard, containing perforated holes representing the musical notes to be played, with the book folded zig-zag style...
(since 1890) utilized on several mechanical organMechanical organA mechanical organ is an organ that is self playing, rather than played by a musician.Usually, mechanical organs are pipe organs although some instruments were built using reeds similar to those found in a harmonium. Since the 1950s, some instruments have been built using electronics to generate...
s - Music rollMusic rollA music roll is a storage medium used to operate a mechanical musical instrument. They are used for the player piano, mechanical organ, electronic carillon and various types of orchestrion. The vast majority of music rolls are made of paper...
utilized on player pianoPlayer pianoA player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via pre-programmed music perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home in...
s (using piano rollPiano rollA piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s), OrchestrionOrchestrionAn orchestrion is a generic name for a machine that plays music and is designed to sound like an orchestra or band. Orchestrions may be operated by means of a large pinned cylinder or by a music roll and less commonly book music. The sound is usually produced by pipes, though they will be voiced...
s, several mechanical organs, etc. - Punch tape system for earlier studio synthesizers
- RCA Mark II Sound SynthesizerRCA Mark II Sound SynthesizerThe RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer was the first programmable electronic music synthesizer and the flagship piece of equipment at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center. Designed by Herbert Belar and Harry Olson at RCA, it was installed at Columbia University in 1957...
(1957)- Room-filling device built in 1957 for half a million dollars. Included a 4-polyphony synth with 12 oscillators, a sequencer fed with wide paper tape, and output were recorded on a shellac record lathe.
- Siemens Synthesizer (1959)
- RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer
Sound-on-film
- VariophoneVariophoneThe Variophone was developed by Evgeny Sholpo in 1930 at Lenfilm Studio Productions, in Leningrad, the Soviet Union, during his experiments with graphical sound techniques, also known as ornamental, drawn, paper, artificial or synthetic sound...
(1930) — on earlier 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-TronComposer-TronThe Composer-Tron was developed by Osmond Kendal for the Canadian Marconi Company in 1953.It was the first analogue synthesis and composition instrument of its kind. It utilized a unique and innovative control system that had a cathode ray tube input device that could read shapes or patterns that...
(1953) — rhythmical sequences were controlled via marking cue on film, while timbre of note or envelope shape of sound were defined via shapes hand drawn with a grease pencil on a surface of CRTCRT-Medicine:* Capillary refill time, the rate at with blood refills empty capillaries* Cognitive Retention Therapy, a dementia treatment* Cardiac resynchronization therapy, a treatment for heart failure** CRT-D, an implanted cardiac resynchronization device...
input device. - ANS synthesizerANS synthesizerThe ANS synthesizer is a photoelectronic musical instrument created by Russian engineer Evgeny Murzin from 1937 to 1957. The technological basis of his invention was the method of graphical sound recording used in cinematography , which made it possible to obtain a visible image of a sound wave, as...
(1957) — An earliest realtime additive synthesizerAdditive synthesisAdditive synthesis is a technique of sound synthesis that creates musical timbre by explicitly adding sinusoidal overtones together.The timbre of an instrument is composed of multiple harmonic or inharmonic partials , of different frequencies and amplitudes, that change over time...
using 720 microtonal sine waves (1/6 semitoneSemitoneA semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically....
s × 10 octaveOctaveIn music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
s) generated by five glas discs. Composers could control time evolution of amplitudes of each microtones via scratches on glass plate user interface covered with black masticMasticPistacia lentiscus is a dioecious evergreen shrub or small tree of the Pistacio genus growing up to tall which is cultivated for its aromatic resin, mainly on the Greek island of Chios.- Description :...
. - OramicsOramicsOramics is a drawn sound technique designed in 1957 by musician Daphne Oram. The machine was further developed in 1962 after receiving a grant from the Gulbenkian Foundation...
(1957) — 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). Polyphonic sounds were obtained using multitrack recording technique.
Electro-mechanical sequencers
- Wall of Sound (mid 1940s–1950s) — earlier electro-mechanical sequencer developed by Raymond ScottRaymond ScottRaymond Scott was an American composer, band leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor....
to produce rhythmic patterns, consistead with stepping relays, solenoids, and tone generators. - Circle Machine (1959) — electro-optical rotary sequencer developed by Raymond Scott to generate arbitrary waveforms, consisted with dimmerDimmerDimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light. By decreasing or increasing the RMS voltage and, hence, the mean power to the lamp, it is possible to vary the intensity of the light output...
bulbs arranged in a ring, and a rotating arm with photocell scanning over the ring.
Analog sequencers
-
- Analog sequencers with CV/Gate interface
- Sequencers on BuchlaBuchlaBuchla & Associates, Inc. is a manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, notably synthesizers and unique MIDI controllers. The 200e Electric Music Box and Lightning III are currently in production.-Buchla Music Box :...
100 (1964/1966–) — One of the earliest analog sequencer in the modular synthesizer era since 1960. Later, Robert Moog admired Buchla's unique works including it. - MoogMoog modular synthesizerMoog modular synthesizer refers to any of a number of monophonic analog modular synthesizers designed by the late electronic instrument pioneer Dr. Robert Moog and manufactured by R.A Moog Co...
960 Sequential Controller / 961 Interface / 962 Sequential Switch (c.1968)- modules for the Moog modular synthesizerMoog modular synthesizerMoog modular synthesizer refers to any of a number of monophonic analog modular synthesizers designed by the late electronic instrument pioneer Dr. Robert Moog and manufactured by R.A Moog Co...
system, a popular analog sequencer following earlier Buchla sequencer.
- modules for the Moog modular synthesizer
- Sequencers on Buchla
- Analog sequencers with CV/Gate interface
- Doepfer Dark Time
- genoQs Octopus
- genoQs Nemo
- KorgKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
SQ-10
- Serge Modular TKB
- Synthesizers.comSynthesizers.comSynthesizers.com is an American company based in Tyler, Texasfounded by Engineer Roger Arrick which manufactures analog modular synthesizers for music and sound-effect creation.-Products:...
Q119 - Synthesizers.com Q960 — reissue of Moog 960
-
- Analog-style MIDI step sequencers
- Since the analog synthesizer revivals in 1990s, newly designed MIDI sequencers were released. These equip multiple knobs or sliders similar to analog sequencer, CV/GateCV/GateCV/Gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The Control Voltage typically controls pitch and the Gate signal controls note on/off....
and DIN syncDIN SyncThe SYNC standard, often called "DIN sync" or "sync24" , defines an interface for electronic music instruments. It was introduced in the 1980s by Roland Corporation for synchronization of music sequencers, drum machines, arpeggiators and similar devices. The SYNC standard uses the signals clock ...
interface, and even patch memory for sequence patterns. These analog-digital hybrid machines are often called analog-type MIDI step sequencer or MIDI analog sequencer, etc.- DoepferDoepferDoepfer Musikelektronik GmbH is a manufacturer of audio hardware based in Gräfelfing, Germany, founded by Dieter Döpfer.The product range covers analog modular systems, MIDI controller, MIDI hardware sequencers, MIDI-to-CV/Gate/Sync Interfaces, MIDI master keyboards and special MIDI...
MAQ 16/3 — MIDI analog sequencer, designed in cooperation with KraftwerkKraftwerkKraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008... - Doepfer Regelwerk — MIDI analog sequencer with MIDI controller
- Frostwave Fat Controller
- Infection Music Phaedra
- Infection Music Zeit
- Latronic NotronNotronthumb|Notron Mark 1thumb|Notron Mark 1 detailThe Notron is a British-designed MIDI step sequencer used by Björk, Howie B etc. Produced in two models, the Mark 1 was available between 1996 and May 1998. The Mark 2 was a slim blue box produced until about 2001. About 100 Mark 1 units were sold and a...
- Manikin Schrittmacher
- Sequentix P3
- Doepfer
-
- MIDI pattern sequencers
- Several machines have also song mode to play sequence patterns on patch memory in specified order, as on drum machine.
- Doepfer Schaltwerk —MIDI pattern sequencer
Step sequencers (supported on)
- Typical step sequencers are integrated on drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
s, bass machines, groove machineGrooveboxThe term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer to its MC-303, but the term has since entered general use. It refers to a self-contained instrument for the production of live, loop-based electronic music with a high degree of user control facilitating improvisation.A groovebox...
s, music production machines, and these software versions. And also these often support (semi-)realtime mode.
- Several machines have white & black chromatic keypads, to enter musical scale of bass lines, etc.
- embedded CV/Gate step sequencers
- Multivox / Firstman SQ-01 (1980) — a forerunner of TB-303Roland TB-303The Roland TB-303 Bass Line is a bass synthesizer with built-in sequencer manufactured by the Roland corporation from late 1981 to 1984 that had a defining role in the development of contemporary electronic music.-History:...
- Roland MC-202Roland MC-202-External links:* * * * *...
(1983) - Roland SH-101Roland SH-101Roland SH-101 is a synthesizer from the early 1980s, manufactured by Roland. It is a small, 32 key, monophonic analog synthesizer. It features one oscillator with 3 simultaneous waveforms, an 'octave-divided' square sub-oscillator, triangle and square/pwm waveform. It has a low-pass filter/VCF...
(1982) — monophonic keytar synthesizer with sequencer, similar to MC-202Roland MC-202-External links:* * * * *... - Roland TB-303Roland TB-303The Roland TB-303 Bass Line is a bass synthesizer with built-in sequencer manufactured by the Roland corporation from late 1981 to 1984 that had a defining role in the development of contemporary electronic music.-History:...
(1981)
- Multivox / Firstman SQ-01 (1980) — a forerunner of TB-303
- embedded CV/Gate step sequencers
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- embedded MIDI step sequencers
- Korg ElectribeElectribeElectribe is the name given to a group of electronic musical instruments by Korg. From its beginnings with the Electribe R to the ESX-1, this series includes both analogue modeling synthesizers and sampling drum machines that can be programmed the same as a drum machine...
series - Roland MC-09Roland MC-09The Roland MC-09 "PhraseLab" is a Roland synthesizer, described as a Roland TB-303 emulator featuring an effects processor and a 4 part phrase sampler.-Features:The key features of the MC-09 are:...
- Roland MC-303Roland MC-303The Roland MC-303 is the first of a series of musical instruments known as a Groovebox. It combines a simple sound module with a sequencer to record and store notation, along with controls aimed at encouraging the musician to improvise the music while it is playing...
- Roland MC-505Roland MC-505The Roland MC-505 is a combination of MIDI sequencer/arranger, synthesizer, and drum machine with built-in real-time Arpeggiator, LFO, VCF and Envelope Knobs for tweaking...
- Roland MC-808Roland MC-808The Roland MC-808 is Roland's latest Groovebox, announced at the Winter NAMM in 2006. It is the successor to the late Roland MC-303, Roland MC-307, Roland MC-505 and Roland MC-909. Though cheaper than the Roland MC-909, it has a number of features the Roland MC-909 lacked including double the...
- Roland MC-909Roland MC-909The Roland MC-909 groovebox combines the features of a synthesizer, sequencer, and sampler. It was released by Roland Corporation on October 8, 2002. This product was announced at the AES Fall Convention in 2002...
- Yamaha RM1xYamaha RM1xThe Yamaha RM1x is a groovebox manufactured by Yamaha from 1999 to 2002. It integrates several, commonly separate, pieces of music composition and performance hardware into a single unit: a step-programmable drum machine, a synthesizer, a music sequencer, and a control surface.The front panel of...
- Yamaha RS7000 — Music Production Studio
- Other grooveboxGrooveboxThe term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer to its MC-303, but the term has since entered general use. It refers to a self-contained instrument for the production of live, loop-based electronic music with a high degree of user control facilitating improvisation.A groovebox...
-type machines (including several music production machines) also often support step sequence mode, of course. :
- E-mu SP-12E-mu SP-12E-mu SP-12 12 also known as the “sampling drum computer” was designed in 1985 and widely released in 1986 by E-mu Systems. Although the SP-12 was quickly superseded by the more powerful SP-1200, the SP-12 is often regarded as the first commercially successful drum machine and sampler.-History:The...
(1986) - E-mu SP-1200E-mu SP-1200E-mu SP-1200 is a classic drum machine and sampler released in August 1987 by E-mu Systems, Inc. as an update of the SP-12, which was originally created for dance music producers...
(1987) - LinnRoger LinnRoger Linn is an industrial designer, mainly of electronic drum machines, and has recently branched out into guitar effects pedals. His products have become underground hits, being used on many famous recordings...
9000 (1984) - Akai MPC series (1988–)
- Native InstrumentsNative InstrumentsNative Instruments is a technology company that develops software and hardware for music production and DJing. The company has originally been identified mostly with software instruments, but has also expanded to various other music equipment segments in recent years.Current products of Native...
Maschine (software)
- Roland MV-30
- Roland MV-8000 — Production Studio
- Sequential Circuits Studio 440Sequential CircuitsSequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
(1986)
- Recently emerging button-grid-style interfaces/instruments are naturally support step sequence. On these machines, one axis on grid means musical scaleMusical scaleIn music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
, and another axis means timing of notes.
- AkaiAkaiAkai is a consumer electronics brand, founded by Saburo Akai as , a Japanese manufacturer in 1929. It is now headquartered in Singapore as a subsidiary of Grande Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which also owns the formerly Japanese brands Nakamichi and Sansui. The Akai brand is now used...
APC40 — interface for Ableton LiveAbleton LiveAbleton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for... - ArduinomeArduinomeAn Arduinome is a MIDI controller device that mimics the Monome using the Arduino physical computing platform. The plans for the Arduinome are released under an open source, non-commercial use only license.-External links:* *...
— interface - Bliptronics 5000 — instrument
- MonomeMonomeMonome is a family of interface devices for computers made by a Pennsylvania company of the same name. Despite being produced irregularly in small quantities since its introduction in 2006, the Monome button-grid controller has had a significant impact on electronic music...
— interface - NovationNovationIn contract law and business law, novation is the act of either replacing an obligation to perform with a new obligation, or replacing a party to an agreement with a new party...
Novation Launchpad — interface for Ableton Live - Yamaha Tenori-onTenori-onTenori-on is an electronic musical instrument, designed and created by Japanese artist Toshio Iwai and Yu Nishibori of the Music and Human Interface Group, Yamaha Center for Advanced Sound Technology. It consists of a screen, held in the hands, of a sixteen by sixteen grid of LED switches, any of...
— instrument
- In addition, newly designed hardware MIDI sequencers equipping series of knobs/sliders similar to analog sequencers, are sometimes called "MIDI step sequencer", etc. For details, see #Analog-style MIDI step sequencers.
Digital sequencers
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- CV/Gate
- Also often support GateCV/GateCV/Gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The Control Voltage typically controls pitch and the Gate signal controls note on/off....
clock and DIN syncDIN SyncThe SYNC standard, often called "DIN sync" or "sync24" , defines an interface for electronic music instruments. It was introduced in the 1980s by Roland Corporation for synchronization of music sequencers, drum machines, arpeggiators and similar devices. The SYNC standard uses the signals clock ...
interfaces.
- EDP SpiderElectronic Dream PlantElectronic Dream Plant was a British firm which manufactured audio synthesizers during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The company was formed by musician Adrian Wagner and electronics designer Chris Huggett; the company was small and none of their products were particularly successful commercially...
(late 1970s) — supported LINK and CV/GateCV/GateCV/Gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines and other similar equipment with external sequencers. The Control Voltage typically controls pitch and the Gate signal controls note on/off.... - EMS Sequencer series (1971)
- Max MathewsMax MathewsMax Vernon Mathews was a pioneer in the world of computer music.-Biography:...
GROOVEGrooveGroove or Grooves may refer to:In archaeology:* Grooves In computing:* Microsoft GrooveIn engineering and craft:* Groove , a slot cut parallel to the grain...
system (1970) - MX-8100 / Firstman SQ-10 (1979/1980) — supported V/Oct. and Hz/V
- Oberheim Electronics DS-2 (1974)
- Roland CSQ-100
- Roland CSQ-600 (1980) — 600 notes for individual 4 tracks, a buddy of TR-808Roland TR-808The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
- Roland MC-4 MicrocomposerRoland MC-4 MicrocomposerThe Roland MC-4 Microcomposer was an early microprocessor-based music sequencer released by the Roland Corporation. It could be programmed using the ten key numeric keyboard or a synthesizer keyboard using the keyboards control voltage and gate outputs...
(1981) - Roland MC-8 MicrocomposerRoland MC-8 MicrocomposerThe Roland MC-8 MicroComposer by the Roland Corporation, introduced in 1977 at a price of around US$8,000, was one of the earliest stand-alone microprocessor-driven CV/Gate music sequencer, following EMS Sequencer 256 in 1971 and New England Digital's ABLE computer in 1975...
(1977) — also supported DCBDigital Control BusDCB was a proprietary data interchange interface by Roland Corporation, developed in 1981 and introduced in 1982 in their Roland Juno-60 and Roland Jupiter-8 products...
via OP-8Roland OP-8The Roland OP-8 interface was designed to control Roland polyphonic synthesizers that were equipped with a DCB interface via the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer..The OP-8 and synthesizer were connected together usin a DCB cable... - Sequential Circuits Model 800 (1977)
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- Proprietary digital interface (pre MIDI)
- NEDNew England DigitalNew England Digital Corp. , founded originally in Norwich, Vermont and eventually relocated to White River Junction, Vermont, was best known for its signature product, the Synclavier Synthesizer System, which evolved into the Synclavier Digital Audio System or "Tapeless Studio." The company sold...
SynclavierSynclavierThe Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
series — CV/Gate interface and MIDI retrofit kit were available on Synclavier II. Also MIDI became standard feature on Synclavier PSMT. - Fairlight CMIFairlight CMIThe Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
series — CV/Gate interface was optionally available on Series II, and MIDI was supported on Series IIx and later models. - OberheimOberheimOberheim Electronics is an American company, founded in 1969 by Tom Oberheim , which manufactured audio synthesizers and a variety of other electronic musical instruments.-Oberheim Electronics:...
DSX (Oberheim Parallel Bus) - PPG WavePPG WaveThe PPG Wave was an analog / digital synthesizer built by the German company Palm Products GmbH. The PPG Wave used digital waveforms and analog filters and VCAs. The Wave was a combination of a synthesizer and a sequencer, with sequencer relatively advanced with the ability to influence real sounds...
family (PPG Bus) - Roland JSQ-60 (Roland Digital Control BusDigital Control BusDCB was a proprietary data interchange interface by Roland Corporation, developed in 1981 and introduced in 1982 in their Roland Juno-60 and Roland Jupiter-8 products...
(DCB)) - Sequential Circuits PolySequencer 1005 (SCISequential CircuitsSequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
Serial Bus)
- NED
- Proprietary digital interface (pre MIDI)
- Also YamahaYamahaYamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
used proprietary digital interface on their earlier digital products. For example, YIS PU-I-20/PU-I-10 ca. 1981, a home automation computer system before MSXMSXMSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
, enabled integration of home electronics including player pianoPlayer pianoA player piano is a self-playing piano, containing a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that operates the piano action via pre-programmed music perforated paper, or in rare instances, metallic rolls. The rise of the player piano grew with the rise of the mass-produced piano for the home in...
, ElectoneElectoneElectone is the trademark used for electronic organs produced by Yamaha.-History:After Hammond pioneered the electronic organ in the 1930s, other manufacturers began to market their own versions of the instrument...
(electronic organ), and remote music keyboard.
MIDI sequencers
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- Embedded MIDI sequencers
- PhilipsPhilipsKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
Micro Composer PMC100 - YamahaYamahaYamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
WalkstationWalkstationA walkstation is a portable music synthesizer that can often be programmed with various musical sequences.Typically walkstations are small battery powered units with small size keys that are ideal for the smaller hands of young children. For example, the MU15 has a keyboard with keys that are...
series: MU5/MU10Yamaha MU-seriesThe Yamaha MU-series is a line of sound modules built by Yamaha. All sound modules except MU5 support Yamaha XG. The sound modules were commonly used when computers had slower processors. The computer could send MIDI commands to the sound module, acting as an external sound generation device...
/MU15Yamaha MU-seriesThe Yamaha MU-series is a line of sound modules built by Yamaha. All sound modules except MU5 support Yamaha XG. The sound modules were commonly used when computers had slower processors. The computer could send MIDI commands to the sound module, acting as an external sound generation device...
/QY8/QY10Yamaha QY10The Yamaha QY10 is a hand-held music workstation produced by the Yamaha Corporation in the early 1990s. Possessing a MIDI sequencer, a tone generator and a tiny single-octave keyboard, the portable and battery-powered QY10 enables a musician to compose music while traveling.-History:Released by...
/QY20/QY22/QY70/QY100 — (palmtop sequencer with sound module)
- Philips
- Embedded MIDI sequencers
- Accompaniment machines
- Yamaha QR10
- See also #embedded MIDI step sequencers.
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- Standalone MIDI sequencers
- Akai ASQ10
- Alesis MMT-8
- Korg SQ-8 — palmtop
- Korg SQD-1
- Korg SQD-8
- Kawai Q-80
- Roland MC-327
- RolandRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
MC series: MC-50/MC-50MkII/MC-80/MC-300/MC-500 Microcomposer - MSQ-100 (1985)
- MSQ-700 (1984) — one of the earliest multitrack MIDI sequencer (8tr), a buddy of TR-909Roland TR-909The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is a partially analog, partially sample-based drum machine built by the Japanese Roland Corporation in 1983. The brainchild of Tadao Kikumoto, the engineer behind the Roland TB-303, it features a 16-step step sequencer and a drum kit that aimed for realism and...
- Roland PMA-5 — palmtop with touch screen
- Roland SB-55 — SMF recorder
- YamahaYamahaYamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
QX series: QX1/QX3/QX5/QX7/QX21 - Yamaha QY300 — with embedded sound module
- Yamaha QY700 — with embedded sound module
- See also: #Analog-style MIDI step sequencers
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- MIDI phrase sequencers
- Zyklus MPS
- MIDI phrase sequencers
See also
- Drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
- GrooveboxGrooveboxThe term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer to its MC-303, but the term has since entered general use. It refers to a self-contained instrument for the production of live, loop-based electronic music with a high degree of user control facilitating improvisation.A groovebox...
- Music workstationMusic workstationA music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
- Digital audio workstationDigital audio workstationA digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
- Tracker (music software)
- ScorewriterScorewriterA scorewriter, or music notation program, is software used for creating sheet music.A scorewriter is to music notation what a word processor is to text.-Comparison with multitrack sequencer software:...