Today, computer musicians around the world use special tools called sequencers to write their own compositions or create musical works of any complexity, which can be presented in the form of hardware and software. But what is a sequencer? Novice users have a very vague idea of this. Let’s try to understand the basic terminology, talking about such definitions, so to speak, “human” language, so that the material is understandable to any person, even very far from creating music.
The concept of sequencing (Sequence) and sequencer (Sequencer): translation
First of all, let's define the term “sequence”. In the future, this will help to understand what a sequencer is, and also to understand the principles of operation of instruments of this type.
A sequence, by definition used in music, is a certain musical phrase or sequence that is constantly repeated either in its initial form, or with increasing or decreasing tone, with a change in key (major / minor), volume, etc. Thus, speaking about what a sequencer is, it is easy to conclude that it is a hardware component or a program installed on a computer that allows you to build a musical composition based on such pieces that are often called a pattern s.
What is a MIDI music system?
Recording a part can be done in several ways. On the one hand, you can record a melody using a connected instrument or a MIDI keyboard, which uses the appropriate interface (MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface) through which standard-type MIDI events related to the choice of an instrument from the main or additional set are transmitted and received, setting the pitch of its sound, adjusting the volume or pressing force of a key, setting the range of displacement relative to the main tone (Pitch Shift or Transpose), changing the panorama, adding effects, etc.
On the other hand, in modern music applications it is completely optional to use MIDI commands or record from the corresponding devices.
In many applications of this direction, the so-called step sequencer is provided, in which it is possible to create separate patterns by entering the desired part in the editor with a virtual keyboard (Piano Roll Editor) with full control of all the related parameters mentioned above.
Note: in spite of the fact that the standard set of sounds used for editing MIDI events includes 128 sounds (General MIDI - GM or GS), sometimes it is possible to use extended sets like XG (Extended General), which are a standard developed by the company Yamaha In addition, any modern program supports working with virtual hosts based on VST (Virtual Synth Technology) from Steinberg, DX (DirectX), RTAS, etc., which significantly expands the capabilities of editors and opens up unprecedented horizons for realizing creative fantasies.
In hardware terms, it can be not only modern soundcards that support MIDI standards and work on the basis of corresponding MIDI drivers, but also many pads, say, for DJs or other external controllers connected to computers or electronic instruments.
Most popular apps
As for music software, today it is customary to distinguish several types of sequencers. Firstly, there are MIDI sequencers programs in which you can use exclusively recording from a connected instrument and standard sound sets.
Secondly, one of the varieties is somewhat outdated tracker applications in which MIDI events or part input are edited using mathematical components.
Thirdly, the most common and popular can be called entire virtual studios like FL Studio, Cubase, Ableton Live, Studio One, Logic Pro, Reason, Cakewalk Sonar and many others (they are usually called DAW digital workstations - Digital Audio Workstation). True, among such applications, one can often find sequencers based on using only predefined (already recorded) patterns to combine them when creating your own project in any sequence. The brightest representative is MAGIX Music Maker. But such applications are more suitable for beginners, who only comprehend the basics of working with software systems for writing music, since their own imagination will not work out in them.
Brief Summary
This is briefly and all about what a sequencer is. In principle, you will have to deal with the intricacies of functioning and try all the possibilities of such software products directly in the selected application, however, for most programs in this area, the principles of creating and recording musical parts, processing effects, using virtual synthesizers, etc. are very similar. An exception may be called trackers and a rather complicated Reason studio, which a beginner musician will be somewhat problematic to deal with without some necessary skills.