your favorite MIDI sequencer(s) ?

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chaocrator
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your favorite MIDI sequencer(s) ?

Post by chaocrator »

this topic is inspired by „The ocean of EQs“.
so, let's chat about our favorite MIDI sequencers, who use what and why.
(i suspect that the majority of us use MIDI capabilities of one's favorite DAW, but anyway ;) )

well, let's start from me. i use three of them (yes, simultaneously):

1) sequencer64 (FOSS) is the main one.
it's actively developed, it's usable at the moment, it had several releases last couple of years, and i wonder why it's still so underestimated by the community.
why i like it: works very well for live setup where much of toggling patterns and/or groups of patterns required; support of polyrhythms (somewhat limited, but absolutely usable).
similar tools it replaced in my setup: non-sequencer (used to love it, but it's difficult to handle polyrhythms with it); harmonyseq (excellent support of polyrhytms, but no jack MIDI).

2) B-Step sequencer (proprietary).
has some excellent features unavailable elsewhere, like step probability, advanced step ratcheting, etc etc etc.
the best sequencer for danceable electronic styles, period.

3) machina (FOSS).
using it for some parts to generate similar, but always different variations.

that's it.
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Re: your favorite MIDI sequencer(s) ?

Post by gimmeapill »

1) Renoise https://www.renoise.com/ (proprietary).
I never felt comfortable with piano roll / horizontal sequencers.
Renoise is fully keyboard driven (I just hate touching the mouse while composing), an it gets me where I want to be with the minimum amount of fuss.
It's timing is very tight, it is stable and light on resources + it never ever broke compatibility across versions, I can safely open some 8y old files.
Oh, and it is very easy to control live also (pattern matrix, triggers via midi, phrases, etc...)

2) Jeskola Buzz http://jeskola.net/buzz/ (proprietary, Windows only).
I have 15+ years of work there (including a full live set that I never managed to migrate to anything else).
So I'm still using the old version on wine.

3) Sequencer64 https://github.com/ahlstromcj/sequencer64(OSS).
The closest thing to a usable horizontal looping sequencer, also the dev's dedication is contagious ;-)
This being said, I prefer an integrated environment than a modular set up those days, so I'm hardly touching it anymore.
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Re: your favorite MIDI sequencer(s) ?

Post by VanHammen »

Keeping an eye on this project, interesting version control concept: https://helioworkstation.com/
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Re: your favorite MIDI sequencer(s) ?

Post by Michael Willis »

Oddly enough I've found that my favorite midi sequencer is Ardour, despite the fact that it's primary designed for audio, didn't even support midi until v3, and some people still consider its midi features half-baked.

A big part of what I like is the connect-the-dots automation of midi CC events. Additionally, as I'm learning more about audio processing Ardour has not given me any roadblocks to doing so.
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Re: your favorite MIDI sequencer(s) ?

Post by bluebell »

Qtractor. I like its MIDI editor (separate window per clip). Audio capabilities are fine. Mixing/Routing is ok.

Qtractor can act as an interface between MIDI clock and jack transport.

Linux – MOTU UltraLite AVB – Qtractor – http://suedwestlicht.saar.de/

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