In the field of electronic music, a sequencer was originally any device that recorded and played back a sequence of control information for an electronic musical instrument. Nowadays, the term almost always refers to the feature of recording software which allows the user to record, play back and edit MIDI data. This is distinct from the software features which record audio data.

Early analog music sequencers used control voltage/trigger interface, but were replaced by digital hardware- or software-based MIDI sequencers, which play back MIDI events and MIDI control information at a specified number of beats per minute.

As computer speeds increased in the 1990s, audio recording, audio editing, and sample triggering features were added to the software. Software so enhanced is called a digital audio workstation (DAW). DAWs almost always include sequencing features but, strictly speaking, go beyond what a sequencer is.

Many sequencers have features for limited music notation, or are able to show music in a piano roll notation. (For software designed specifically for music notation, see the scorewriter article.)

Though the term 'sequencer' is today used primarily for software, some hardware synthesizers and almost all music workstations include a built-in MIDI sequencer. There are also standalone hardware MIDI sequencers.

Music can also be sequenced in a using trackers such as ModPlug Tracker, and some of those are able to sequence MIDI events too.

A drum machine can be viewed as a specialized music sequencer.

Software sequencers / DAWs with sequencing features

For a list of trackers, see the tracker article.

In alphabetical order:

• Ableton Live
• ACID Pro ^*
• Anvil Studio
• Ardour
• AudioDesk a simpler form of Digital Performer
• Cakewalk range of software (e.g. Sonar)
• Cinescore by Sony Media Software
• Cubase range of software from Steinberg
• Digital Performer
• EnergyXT ^*
• FL Studio
• GarageBand
• Jazz++ ^*
• Jeskola Buzz
• Live Step Sequencer ^*
• Logic Pro from Apple
• Logic_Express from Apple
• Magix Music Maker ^* (also supports video sequencing)
• Magix Music Studio ^*
• MIDI Maker
• MidiNotate Composer
• Mozart Music Notation Software ^*
• MusE (not to be confused with MuSE, the streaming audio engine)
• Musicator ^*
• MusicPhrase music sequencer ^*
• Nuendo
• Orion Platinum from Synapse Audio Software
• PowerTracks from PG Music
• ProTools from Digidesign
• Psycle from your contributions
• Pyramix from Merging Technologies ^*
• Reaktor from Native Instruments ^*
• Reason from Propellerhead
• Rosegarden
• Sagan Technology Metro
• SawStudio ^*
• Seq24 ^*
• Techno Ejay ^*
• Tracktion ^*
• Vision, AKA Studio Vision - from Opcode Systems. (Once-popular Classic Mac OS MIDI/audio sequencer)
• Yamaha SOL2
• Yamaha XGworks ST
• Zadok Audio & Media Products' WinAudio

Hardware music sequencers

In alphabetical order (and by no means exhaustive):

• Clavivox, keyboard synth patented in 1956 by Raymond Scott
• Doepfer MAQ 16-3
• Doepfer Schaltwerk
• Doepfer Regelwerk
• Fairlight CMI
• Frostwave Fat Controller
• genoQs Octopus
• Infectionmusic Phaedra
• Infectionmusic Zeit
• Manikin Schrittmacher
• Moog 960 Sequential Controller -- part of the Moog modular synthesizer system, and possibly the earliest sequencer.
• Radikal Technologies Spectralis
• RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer (Victor). Room-filling device built in 1957 for a half-million dollars. Included a 4-polyphony synth with 12 oscillators, a sequencer fed with paper tape, and a shellac record lathe for output.
• Roland MV-8000
• Roland SB-55
• Roland TB-303
• Roland TR-909
• Sequentix P3
• Yamaha QY10
• Yamaha QY700
• Yamaha RM1x

External links

• Early Roland sequencers (1977–1984)
• Early sequencer controllers from the Vintage Synth Explorer

Music technology | Music software | Music hardware | Electronic music

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