Music sequencer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

[edit] List of software sequencers / DAWs with sequencing features

For a list of trackers, see the tracker article.

Main Five

Cakewalk range of software (e.g. Sonar)
Cubase range of software from Steinberg
Logic Pro from Apple
Logic Express from Apple
ProTools from Digidesign

The following is list is in alphabetical order:

Adobe Audition
Ableton Live
ACID Pro [1]
Anvil Studio
Ardour
AudioDesk a simpler form of Digital Performer
Cinescore by Sony Media Software
Digital Performer
EnergyXT [2]
Finale
FL Studio
GarageBand
Jazz++ [3]
Jeskola Buzz
Live Step Sequencer [4]
Logic Pro from Apple
Logic Express from Apple
Magix Music Maker [5] (also supports video sequencing)
Magix Music Studio [6]
MIDI Maker [7]
MidiNotate Composer
Mozart Music Notation Software [8]
MusE (not to be confused with MuSE, the streaming audio engine)
Musicator [9]
MusicPhrase music sequencer [10]
Nuendo
OrganAssist (specifically for Church Organs) [11]
Orion Platinum from Synapse Audio Software
PowerTracks from PG Music
Psycle from your contributions
Pyramix from Merging Technologies [12]
Reaktor from Native Instruments [13]
Reason from Propellerhead
Rosegarden
Sagan Technology Metro
Samplitude [14]
SawStudio [15]
Seq24 [16]
Sibelius
Techno Ejay [17]
Tracktion [18]
Tunafish free software based VST/midi controller
Vision, AKA Studio Vision - from Opcode Systems. (Once-popular Classic Mac OS MIDI/audio sequencer)
Virtual Composer [19]
Yamaha SOL2
Yamaha XGworks ST
Zadok Audio & Media Products' WinAudio