Sequencing and MIDI

Step sequencing

1970s technique where notes are individually inputted and sequenced one by one

Analogue/hardware sequencers

Used CV/gate systems to trigger notes on synthesisers

using voltage - ultravox vienna

Digital Sequencing

created using voltage control with computer memory

MIDI

introduced in 1983 allowed electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other and allowed them to connect to computers

Range of values for continuous controllers such as volume

0 to 127

Range of values for switched controllers such as Sustain

on or off/ 0-1

OSC

Open Sound control

Open Sound control

language protocol which enables you to network synthesisers, computers and other multimedia devices

messages transported across the internet

Drum machines

use sequencing to create rhythmic patterns

early drum machines relied on pre-set patterns

first programmable drum machines introduced in the 70s

Rhythmicon (1931)

first electronic drum machine

Roland TR-909 (1984)

used in Daft Punk Revolution 909

Quantisation

timings of the beginning of a note to the nearest grid division

percentage quantised

used to retain some of the music’s natural flexibility

swing quantise

adds swing feel by lengthening first note of a pair and shortening the second

Donna Summer - I Feel Love (1977)

song which’s use of sequencing was ground-breaking

how sequencing made music easier to make

one person could programme multiple parts

those without musical talent could make complex lines

led rise to bedroom music

music genres birthed out of sequencing

Dance, EDM

Ease of Sequencing in DAW

Software sequencers

Rhythm and pitch processing have made it possible to easily correct pitch and rhythm errors in audio recording

looping

looping of sections repetitive in genres like Hip hop and Dance