Editing Music sequencer (section)

== Types of music sequencer ==

Music sequencers can be categorized by handling data types, such as:
* [[MIDI]] data for MIDI sequencers (implemented as [[List of music sequencers#Hardware MIDI sequencers|hardware]] or [[List of music sequencers#Software MIDI sequencers|software]])<ref name=Rothstein1995>
  {{cite book | last = Rothstein | first = Joseph
   | title     = MIDI: A Comprehensive Introduction
   | series    = Computer Music and Digital Audio Series
   | volume    = 7
   | publisher = A-R Editions, Inc.
   | date = 1995
   | isbn     = 978-0-89579-309-6
   | pages     = [https://books.google.com/books?id=ajDaXh-qgDUC&pg=PA77 77], [https://books.google.com/books?id=ajDaXh-qgDUC&pg=PA122 122]
  }}</ref>
* [[CV/Gate]] data for [[analog sequencer]]s<ref name=Pinch2009>
  {{cite book | last1 = Pinch | first1 = Trevor. J.
   | last2     = Trocco | first2 = Frank
   | chapter   = Buchla's Box
   | chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CoUs2SSvG4EC&pg=PT48
   | title     = Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer
   | edition   = reprint
   | publisher = Harvard University Press
   | date = 2009
   | isbn     = 978-0-674-04216-2
   | pages     = [https://books.google.com/books?id=CoUs2SSvG4EC&dq=analog%20sequencer%20synthesizer&pg=PT55 55–56]
  }}<div style="margin-left:1em;font-size:90%;line-height:2.5ex;">"Subotnick suggested that using a light source to control sound might be promising. ... Later he [Buchla] turned this into an electro mechanical sequencer by introducing step relays and a dial. ... Buchla, like Moog, realized that voltage control ... But Buchla was after something different; ... Buchla was led to the electronic sequencer—a device that later was used to make much influential pop, rock, and dance music. A sequencer produces predetermined control voltages in a cycle or sequence and can endlessly recycle ..."</div>Note: for a sequencer using a light source, see "Circle Machine" on [[#Analog sequencers]] and [[Raymond Scott#Electronics and research]].</ref> and possibly others <!-- (i.e. several [[step sequencer]]s and [[digital sequencer]]s) --> (via CV/Gate interfaces)
* [[Digital audio workstation#Common functionality|Automation]] data for [[mix automation|mixing-automation]] in DAWs,<ref group=note>
Automation parameters in DAWs are often interoperable with [[MIDI messages]], i.e. Control Changes (CC) or [[System Exclusive]] (SysEx); in that case, it can be controlled in [[real-time computing|real-time]] via pre-assigned MIDI messages generated by [[MIDI controller]]s or [[MIDI sequencer]]s, ''etc''. &emsp; And even more so, in several DAWs, automation parameters are explicitly recorded as MIDI messages on their embedded MIDI sequencers. (See {{harvnb|Price|2006}})
</ref><ref>
  {{cite magazine
 |ref         = {{sfnref|Price|2006}}
 |last        = Price
 |first       = Simon
 |title       = Using Mixer Automation In Reason – Reason Tips & Techniques
 |url         = https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep06/articles/reasontech_0906.htm
 |department  = Technique: Reason Notes
 |magazine    = Sound on Sound
 |issue       = September 2006
 |url-status  = live
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160310132431/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep06/articles/reasontech_0906.htm
 |archive-date = 2016-03-10
}}<div style="margin-left:1em;font-size:90%;line-height:2.5ex;">"'''Controller Data Vs. Automation''' / ''... sequencer package such as Logic or Pro Tools, ... are akin to automation on professional hardware mixing consoles, ... This type of automation system is different to using MIDI Continuous Controller ''[Control Changes]'' (CC) data, ...<!-- which is traditionally used to control parameters on MIDI synths, but can also be used to automate software synths and sometimes mixer parameters. --> In Reason, automation is MIDI Controller ''[Control Changes]'' data, but with some specialised tools for handling the data and playing it back. ...''",<br />"'''Recording Mixer Automation''' / ''As automation in Reason is MIDI CC data, it must be recorded on a sequencer track.''"</div></ref> and [[software effect processor|software effect]]&thinsp;/&thinsp;[[software instrument|instrument]] [[Audio plugin|plug-ins]] for [[List of music sequencers#Software sequencers and DAWs with sequencing features|DAWs with sequencing features]]
* [[Audio signal|Audio]] data in [[audio sequencer]]s<ref name=Pejrolo2011>
{{cite book
 | last      = Pejrolo | first = Andrea
 | chapter   = 1.7.1 The Primary Goals You Want to Achieve with Your Audio Sequencer
 | title     = Creative Sequencing Techniques for Music Production: A Practical Guide to Pro Tools, Logic, Digital Performer, and Cubase
 | chapter-url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=k-vFPYjwpW0C&q=Music%20sequencer%20analog%20step%20digital%20realtime&pg=PR5
 | publisher = Taylor & Francis
 | date = 2011
 | isbn     = 978-0-240-52216-6
 | page      = 48
}} (sub-section title contains the expression "''Audio Sequencer''")
</ref><ref group=note name="audio sequencer">
The term ''[[audio sequencer]]'' seems to be relatively new expression and seems to be not clearly defined, yet.  For example, "DAW integrated with MIDI sequencer" is often referred as "Audio and MIDI sequencer".  However, in this usage, the term "audio sequencer" is just a synonym for the "DAW", and beyond the scope of this article.  In that case, please check [[Digital audio workstation]].
</ref> including DAWs, [[loop-based music software]], etc.; or [[Sampler (musical instrument)#Types|phrase samplers]] including [[groovebox]]s, etc.

Also, a music sequencer can be categorized by its construction and supported modes.

=== Analog sequencer ===
[[File:Korg SQ-10.JPG|thumb|right|150px|An analog sequencer <!-- INSUFFICIENT SPACE + MODEL NAME IS NOT REQUIRED ON HERE AT ALL: -->]]
{{See also|#Analog sequencers|List of music sequencers#Analog sequencers}}

[[Analog sequencer]]s are typically implemented with [[analog electronics]], and play the musical notes designated by a series of knobs or sliders corresponding to each musical note (step). It is designed for both [[composition (music)|composition]] and [[live electronic music|live performance]]; users can change the musical notes at any time without regard to recording mode.  The time interval between each musical note (length of each step) may be independently adjustable.  Typically, analog sequencers are used to generate repeated [[minimal music|minimalistic phrases]] which may be reminiscent of [[Tangerine Dream]], [[Giorgio Moroder]] or [[trance music]].

=== {{Vanchor|Step sequencer}} (step recording mode) ===
<div style="clear:right;float:right;margin:-1.65ex 0 -1.65ex auto;">
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical |width=150
 | <!-- header   = Step sequencers -->
 | image1   = Elektron MACHINEDRUM SPS-1.jpg
 | caption1 = A ''step rhythm sequencer'' on the drum machine <!-- INSUFFICIENT SPACE + MODEL NAME IS NOT REQUIRED ON HERE AT ALL: -->
 | image2   = Firstman SQ-01.png
 | caption2 = A ''step note sequencer'' on the bass machine
}}</div>
{{See also|#Step sequencers|List of music sequencers#Step sequencers (supported on)}}

On step sequencers, musical notes are rounded into steps of equal time intervals, and users can enter each musical note without exact timing; Instead, the timing and [[duration (music)|duration]] of each step can be designated in several different ways:
* On the [[drum machine]]s: select a trigger timing from a row of ''step-buttons''.
* On the [[acid bass machine|bass machines]]: select a step note (or [[rest (music)|rest]]) from a ''chromatic keypad'', then select a step duration (or [[tie (music)|tie]]) from a group of ''[[duration (music)|length]]-buttons'', sequentially.
* On the several [[electronic keyboard|home keyboards]]: in addition to the real-time sequencer, a pair of ''step trigger buttons'' is provided<!-- for "One Key Play" -->; using it, notes on the pre-recorded sequence can be triggered in arbitrary timings for the timing dedicated recordings or performances. (See {{slink|List of music sequencers|Step sequencers (supported on)}}).

In general, step mode, along with roughly quantized semi-realtime mode, is often supported on the <!-- analog --> drum machines, bass machines and several [[groovebox|groove machines]].

=== Realtime sequencer (realtime recording mode) ===
[[File:Sequential Circuits Six-Trak front.png|thumb|right|150px|A realtime sequencer on the synthesizer <!-- INSUFFICIENT SPACE + MODEL NAME IS NOT REQUIRED ON HERE AT ALL: ([[Sequential Circuits Six-Trak]]) -->]]
{{See also|#Digital sequencers|List of music sequencers#Digital sequencers|List of music sequencers#Software sequencers and DAWs with sequencing features}}

Realtime sequencers record the musical notes in [[real time (media)|real-time]] as on [[audio recorder]]s, and play back musical notes with designated [[tempo]], [[quantization (music)|quantizations]], and [[pitch (music)|pitch]].  For editing, usually "[[punch in/out|punch in/punch out]]" features originated in the [[tape recording]] are provided, although it requires sufficient skills to obtain the desired result. For detailed editing, possibly another visual editing mode under [[graphical user interface]] may be more suitable.  Anyway, this mode provides usability similar to audio recorders already familiar to musicians, and it is widely supported on software sequencers, DAWs, and built-in hardware sequencers.

=== Software sequencer ===
{{See also|List of music sequencers#Software sequencers and DAWs with sequencing features}}

A ''software sequencer'' is a class of application software providing a functionality of music sequencer, and often provided as one feature of the DAW or the integrated music authoring environments.  The features provided as sequencers vary widely depending on the software; even an analog sequencer can be simulated.  The user may control the software sequencer either by using the [[graphical user interface]]s or a specialized [[input device]]s, such as a [[MIDI controller]].

<div style="width:100%;overflow-x:auto;overflow-y:hidden; margin-left:0em; border:1px solid #CCC;">
{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0; font-size:88%;line-height:100%;"
|+Typical features on software sequencers
|-style="vertical-align:top;padding:0;"
|style="width:91px;"|[[Image:Cheesetracker-shot.png|99px]]<!-- Modplug tracker 960.png --><br />Numerical editor on [[Tracker (music software)|Tracker]]
|style="width:110px;"|[[Image:Cubase6 Score Editor.png|110px]]<br />[[Score editor]]<br />&nbsp;
|style="width:112px;"|[[Image:Cubase6 Key Editor piano roll with Note Expression.jpg|112px]]<br />[[Piano roll]] editor <br />with [[strip chart]]
|style="width:117px;"|[[Image:Cubase6 main audio tracks.jpg|118px]]<!-- Protools9screen.png|85px --><br />Audio and MIDI tracks <!-- with strip chart --> on DAW
|style="width:135px;"|[[Image:Cubase 6 feature - software studio environment including software instruments and software effects.svg|135px]]<br />[[Mix automation|Automated]], [[Virtual Studio Technology|software studio environment]] including [[software synthesizer|instruments]] and [[software effect processor|effect processors]]
|style="width: 97px;"|[[Image:Cubase6 LoopMash 2 loop remixer (brighten).jpg|97px]]<br />[[Loop (music)#Modern looping|Loop]] sequencer <br />&nbsp;
|style="width:111px;"| <br />Sample editor <br />with [[beat slicing|beat slicer]]
|style="width:111px;"|[[Image:Cubase6 VariAudio vocal pitch editing.jpg|111px]]<br />Vocal editor <br />for [[pitch (music)|pitch]] and [[Timing (music)|timing]]
|}</div>

=== Audio sequencer ===
Alternative subsets of audio sequencers include:
<!-- Note: This usage of table is based on the guideline for list of items containing the image and long text. -->
{|class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|[[Image:Ardour-screenshot-big (tracks, mixer, x-fade - brighten).jpg|left|120px|A typica DAW ([[Ardour (software)|Ardour]])]]<!-- [[Image:Cubase6 main audio tracks.png|left|120px|A typical DAW (on [[Steinberg Cubase]])]] -->
<!-- | -->{{block indent |left=0.5|1=[[Digital audio workstation]] (DAW), [[hard disk recorder]] — a class of audio software or dedicated system primarily designed to record, edit, and play back [[digital audio]], first appeared in the late 1970s and emerging since the 1990s. After the 1990s–2000s, several DAWs for music production were integrated with music sequencer.

In today, "''DAW integrated with [[MIDI]] sequencer''" is often simply abbreviated as "DAW", or sometimes referred as "''Audio and MIDI sequencer''",<ref>
{{citation
 | title     = MusE – The open source sequencer
 | url       = https://muse-sequencer.org
 | quote     = MusE is a MIDI/Audio sequencer with recording and editing capabilities ...
}}</ref> ''etc''.  On the later usage, the term "''audio sequencer''" is just a synonym for the "''DAW''".</p>}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|[[Image:Cubase6 LoopMash 2 loop remixer (brighten).jpg|left|120px|A typical loop-based music software ([[Cubase]] 6 LoopMash 2)]]
<!-- | -->{{block indent |left=0.5|1=[[Loop-based music software]] — a class of [[music software]] for [[Loop (music)|loop]]-based music compositions and remix, emerging since late 1990s. Typical software included [[ACID Pro]] (1998), [[Ableton Live]] (2001), [[GarageBand]] (2004), ''etc''. And now, several of them are referred as DAW, resulting of the expansions and/or integrations. <br />Its core feature, [[audio time stretching and pitch scaling]] allows user to handle audio samples (loops) with the analogy of [[MIDI]] data, in several aspects; user can designate [[pitch (music)|pitches]] and [[duration (music)|durations]] independently on short music samples, as on MIDI notes, to [[remix]] a song.
<p>
This type of software actually controls sequences of audio samples; thus, it can potentially be called an  "''audio sequencer''".</p>}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|[[Image:Milkytracker Instrument.jpg|left|120px|A typical [[Music tracker|Tracker]] software ([[MilkyTracker]])]]
<!-- | -->{{block indent |left=0.5|1=[[Tracker (music software)]] — a class of software music sequencer with embedded [[sampler (musical instrument)|sample players]], developed since the 1980s. Although it provides earlier "sequence of sampling sound" similar to [[groovebox]]es and later [[loop-based music software]], its design is slightly dated, and rarely referred as ''audio sequencer''. }}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|[[Image:Akai MPC60.jpg|left|120px|A typical [[groovebox]] ([[Akai MPC60]]) providing sampler and sequencer]]
<!-- | -->{{block indent |left=0.5|1=[[sampler (musical instrument)#Types|Phrase sampler]] (or phrase sampling) — similar to above, musicians or [[remix]]ers sometimes remixed or composed songs by sampling relatively long phrases or part of songs, and then rearranging these on [[groovebox]]es or a combination of [[sampler (musical instrument)]] and sequencer.
<p>
This technique<!-- , called "''phrase sampling''", --> is possibly referred as "''audio sequencing''".</p>}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Recycle mac screenshot.png|left|120px|A typical beat slicer ([[ReCycle]])]] -->
<!-- | -->{{block indent |left=0.5|1=[[Beat slicing]] — before the DAW became popular, several musicians sometimes derived various beats from limited drum sample [[loop (music)|loop]]s by slicing beats and rearranging them on [[sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]]. This technique, called "''beat slicing''", was popularized with the introduction of "beat slicer" tool, especially the "[[ReCycle]]" released in 1992.
<p>
Possibly it may be one origin of "''audio sequencing''".</p>}}

|}