Music sequencer
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 be sequenced in a sense using trackers such as ModPlug Tracker, and a drum machine can be viewed as a specialized music sequencer.
Software sequencers / DAWs with sequencing features
In alphabetical order:
- Ableton Live
- Acid Pro [1]
- Anvil Studio
- Ardour
- Audacity(Only audio editing, no sequencer included)
- AudioDesk a simpler form of Digital Performer
- Babya Logic
- BeRoTracker
- Cakewalk range of software (e.g. Sonar)
- CheeseTracker
- Cubase range of software from Steinberg
- Digital Performer
- EnergyXT [2]
- FL Studio
- GarageBand
- Jazz++ [3]
- Logic Pro from Apple
- Magix Music Maker [4] (also supports video sequencing)
- Magix Music Studio [5]
- MIDI Maker
- MidiNotate Composer
- MusE (not to be confused with MuSE, the streaming audio engine)
- MusicPhrase music sequencer [6]
- Nuendo
- Vision, AKA Studio Vision - from Opcode Systems (Classic MacOS MIDI/audio sequencer)
- Orion Platinum from Synapse Audio Software
- PowerTracks from PG Music
- ProTools from Digidesign
- Reason from Propellerhead
- Rosegarden
- Sagan Technology Metro
- SawStudio [7]
- Schism Tracker
- Seq24 [8]
- Techno Ejay [9]
- Tracktion [10]
- Vision, AKA Studio Vision - from Opcode Systems. (Once-popular Classic MacOS MIDI/audio sequencer)
- Yamaha SOL2
- Yamaha XGworks ST
- Zadok Audio & Media Products' WinAudio
Hardware music sequencers
In alphabetical order (and by no means exhausitive):
- Fairlight CMI
- Moog 960 Sequential Controller--part of the Moog modular synthesizer system and possibly the earliest sequencer
- RCA_Mark_II_Sound_Synthesizer. 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 TB-303
- Yamaha QY10
- Yamaha QY700
- Yamaha RM1x