OFF: Sequencers, What they are (in a nutshell)

[Craig Shipley]

Someone asked about sequencers, here's what little I know...

The original sequencers came out in the early '70's. They were basically
a timing device that would play a sequence of notes over and over again.
The early versions were limited to eight to sixteen notes. Tangerine Dream,
Synergy, JM Jarre and Heldon/Richard Pinhas (amongst _many_ others) made
use of these devices. These beasts were analog, FWIW.

Then came digital and cheap computers. Now the sequencers are/were digital
or software in nature. Sequences are no longer limited to the sixteen note
limitation of the older analog boxes, as the (theoretical) limit is as much
as the capacity of the program/storage media (think "player piano' with a
_really_ long roll...). In reality, a performer could sequence all of the
backing tracks, with all of the progressions, time changes, voice changes,
effects, etc, etc. and play solo over the sequences. And you probably
wouldn't know...

I keep waiting for the day when a composer walks out on stage, with his
computer center stage, surrounded by synth modules and announces his latest
piece of music. He clicks on "PLAY", leaves the stage and lets the hardware
perform the show. At the end of the concert, he returns, to accept the
applause and shut the system down. Would you feel cheated?

objCassette Deck: Pat Metheny Group / We Live Here

--
      -m------- Craig Shipley   aka: craigs at pyramid.com
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