Today's article will focus on the role of a sequencer in hip-hop production. A sequencer allows one to be a virtual conductor, and it is the hub where a producer control the numerous hardware instruments, virtual instruments, and audio sounds that he/she has going on at once. The choice of sequencer is one of the most important decisions that an aspiring hip-hop producer can make and we'll discuss the reasons for this.
Many times, a producer must touch something on the sequencer to record or playback a sound in his/her studio. It is for this reason that the choice of a sequencer is extremely important. A producer must really enjoy the workflow that a sequencer provides them with. An enjoyable workflow that complements a producer's production style will make creating music extremely fun. As a result, the quality of the music will be better. However, if a producer finds a workflow tedious and cumbersome, making music will not be enjoyable and the resulting music will sound uninspired. A producer should not skimp on the choice of a sequencer to save money. They should take the time to research and buy the program that he/she truly enjoys. Sequencers can be broken down into 2 broad types:
Linear: In a linear sequencer, you construct each track in a song from beginning to end. Each track and every part must be programmed from the intro until the end of a song. For parts that repeat constantly, you can usually copy and past or duplicate the same song over and over again until it repeats. This is the classic sequencer and is found on programs such as Cubase, Pro Tools, and Sonar.
Pattern Based: With pattern based programs, you record sections of a track at a time and specify which parts play in that section. For example, in section 1, you may have the drum and bass playing. In section 2, you may drop out the bass. You then arrange these sections so that they form a full song. Fruity Loops, Ableton Live, and Maschine are examples of pattern-based programs.
Which sequencer you choose is up to your individual preference. However, for the hip-hop crowd, a pattern-based sequencer is strongly advised. This type of sequencer complements the nature of how hip-hop is produced very well and will save you tremendous time when arranging parts. I have a few linear and pattern based programs in my arsenal, and for hip-hop, I use the pattern-based programs exclusively.
Whatever your choice of sequencer may be, a producer should thoroughly research the sequencer program before making a purchase. The choice of sequencer will have a tremendous effect on the music you make.
Many times, a producer must touch something on the sequencer to record or playback a sound in his/her studio. It is for this reason that the choice of a sequencer is extremely important. A producer must really enjoy the workflow that a sequencer provides them with. An enjoyable workflow that complements a producer's production style will make creating music extremely fun. As a result, the quality of the music will be better. However, if a producer finds a workflow tedious and cumbersome, making music will not be enjoyable and the resulting music will sound uninspired. A producer should not skimp on the choice of a sequencer to save money. They should take the time to research and buy the program that he/she truly enjoys. Sequencers can be broken down into 2 broad types:
Linear: In a linear sequencer, you construct each track in a song from beginning to end. Each track and every part must be programmed from the intro until the end of a song. For parts that repeat constantly, you can usually copy and past or duplicate the same song over and over again until it repeats. This is the classic sequencer and is found on programs such as Cubase, Pro Tools, and Sonar.
Pattern Based: With pattern based programs, you record sections of a track at a time and specify which parts play in that section. For example, in section 1, you may have the drum and bass playing. In section 2, you may drop out the bass. You then arrange these sections so that they form a full song. Fruity Loops, Ableton Live, and Maschine are examples of pattern-based programs.
Which sequencer you choose is up to your individual preference. However, for the hip-hop crowd, a pattern-based sequencer is strongly advised. This type of sequencer complements the nature of how hip-hop is produced very well and will save you tremendous time when arranging parts. I have a few linear and pattern based programs in my arsenal, and for hip-hop, I use the pattern-based programs exclusively.
Whatever your choice of sequencer may be, a producer should thoroughly research the sequencer program before making a purchase. The choice of sequencer will have a tremendous effect on the music you make.
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