What Is a Sequencer? – Daniel Fisher

Daniel Fisher, Sweetwater's sequencing specialist, presents this Glossary Terms breakdown that dives into the sequencers' core functions while demonstrating their awesome capabilities using a Modal Electronics COBALT5S. Check it out!

0:00 – What is a Sequencer?
0:15 – Analog Sequencers
0:48 – Roland MC-500 Digital Sequencer
1:01 – Modern Built-in Sequencers
1:23 – Real-Time vs. Step-Time Sequencers
1:51 – Real-Time Recording Example
2:45 – Step-Time Recording Example
4:28 – Computer-Based Sequencers (DAWs)
5:14 – Thanks for Watching!

#Sweetwater #DanielFisherSweetwater #DanielFisher

[sweetwater]

Daniel Fisher breaks down the pattern-building power of sequencers 🎹

[funkingitup]

I feel like Daniel Fisher is the Mr. Rogers of my synthesizer education, and I mean that in the best way possible.

[rayderrich]

I have been sequencing since Opcode released Vision decades ago, yet I still enjoyed Daniel explaining these basics. He is such a great teacher.

[Priyaam]

Perfectly explained, you guys are the best

[Tony-Madisson]

I love the series of synth basics and digital audio. Perfect for beginners like me :)
Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[MxM]

Just thank you for this short though super educative format. Straight to the point, pro and passionate. Exactly what I could previously experience with the Sweewater team.

[aristoxflynt]

Thank you very much! A very good explanation to understand the very basics and I finally understood it! I read through lots of articles on the internet all skipping the basics and I just didn't understand them until now. Thank you so much!

[justinnaramor]

Here's something interesting that's worth noting:

A mechanical music box is also a form of music sequencer, if you think about it. When you understand how a music box works, it's easy to see how it is incredibly similar to how a MIDI sequencer works. Like MIDI (and even sheet music, for that matter), a music box does not record the actual sound waves produced in music, rather they only record the "data" behind the music. So when you play it back, the type of sound waves you hear is determined entirely by the characteristics of the sound-generating part of the music box (I.E the actual "instrument"). So you could have the same sequence being played on different music boxes, but the sound could be completely different; one music box would just sound like bells or chimes (you know, like what a typical music box sounds like), but then another music box that plays the same sequence could sound like a set of drums! So the musical data is the same, but the sound is an entirely different instrument. This kind of drastic change in sound is impossible to achieve with audio: if you record the sound of a piano and then play it back, it's always gonna sound like that piano every time you play the recording (even if you do add equalization or distortion or whatever) because you literally recorded the actual sound waves coming from that piano. You can't just change that piano sound recording to make it sound like an entirely different instrument... it's impossible. But this is also an advantage, if you think about it, because it'll sound the same regardless of what you play the recording on. This can't be said about MIDI, because in the same way as with the music box, MIDI does not record any kind of audio waveform at all, so the same MIDI file will "sound" different when played through different synthesizers/instruments.

[MosEisleySpacePort]

Thanks, Daniel! Because of your demonstration, I finally understand what a step sequencer is.

[futur_sunds]

Sweetwater is the only company of any kind that I’m subscribed to. They just have really informative and entertaining vids.

[RoyMaya]

You're taking it way back with that MC sequencer. I still have my MC-500 along with a Yamaha QX1. Old school for sure.

[RocketChild]

Thank you for this video. I took music classes before, but i've been seeing these deviced played by musicians online for ages and had no idea what they were and what they were actually doing.

[alfredocassano]

thanks for this video. I was thrown off when I bought my Korg modwave because I thought I had a sequencer to build songs but it's actually a sequencer to build the single keystroke. I keep wondering if there are workarounds to use it as a song sequencer

[ramencurry]

So it’s basically a looper but with the ability to alter it and create a variation

[etouringalain]

Thx
ou pouvez-vous apprendre cela qui le dit comme vous le faites MBC thx

[carlosserrano]

I remember those Roland MC-500, they were very good and reliable but a little bit slow loading from the disk.

[PsychedelicSkull]

I LOVE the background music. If someone happens to know where to find it, I'd appreciate the info <3

[Geepstar]

I am looking for the answer can and/or how can a sequencer help me better than the sequencer of ableton?

[mohig]

Hello sir,
Can you guide...
Which is best midi keyboard for cubase 12....
61 key controller....
🙏🙏🙏

[Clintthecoolguy]

I really like all these synth education videos. They are very educational and helpful. Just wish I had more Moog money! And room. And time...