MIDI Sequencing Basics using Reason

When modern keyboard musicians create music, they can use synthesizers to produce a great many sounds - nearly every instrument in existence, all from the controls of their keyboard rig. At the heart of all these instruments is the sequencer which acts like a conductor coordingating the music. If our collection of synthesizers is an orchestra, the sequencer supplies the actual sheet music and beats the time. And how does the sequencer know what music to put in front of each synthesizer? You tell it! You play (or program) each instrument's part into it.

The Sequencer

How does the sequencer receive this information? It is not as complicated as it might sound. A sequencer records and plays back sequences of notes. Similar to a tape-recorder, the sequencer records a musician's performance - in this case, playing a MIDI keyborad. The sequencer then plays that performance back, through a sound module, and we hear the performance. We can record different tracks into the sequencer, like we used different tracks of a multitrack tape recorder, to combine different sounds or instruments.

The key difference is that the sequencer records MIDI data. The actual notes are converted into numeric computer code. That's all MIDI data really is" a numerical description of notes and other musical information. When the computer plays back the code through a sound module, the sound is reproduced. The sequencer does not record actual audio sound, as would a tape recorder.

Why not just use a tape recorder, you may ask? Because using numerical representations of the notes themselves has advantages. Once a performance is in this numeric form, we can easily and quickly use the sequencer to:

• Edit that performance, much like editing a document in a word processor
• Speed it up or slow it down, without changing the pitch
• Transpose it
• Change the volume of one note or a set of notes
• Combine performances, which use different sounds to make up a musical group performance
• Play it back with a different instrument sound
• Save it as a file, and email it to a friend

Propellerhead Reason Online Courses at Berkleemusic:

Producing Music with Reason

Desktop Music Production for Mac

Desktop Music Production for PC

Sound Design for the Electronic Musician

Sampling and Audio Production

MIDI Sequencing Intermediate

Hip Hop Writing and Production

Remixing with Pro Tools and Reason

Propellerhead Reason Certificate Programs at Berkleemusic:

Master Certificate in Music Production using Reason
Specialist Certificate in Electronic Music Production using Reason
Specialist Certificate in Music Creation using Reason
Specialist Certificate in Sound Design using Reason

Production Resources