As the best ideas usually emerge when not in the studio or at a computer, the Yamaha SEQTRAK Orange serves as the ideal companion for capturing spontaneous inspiration and working on new music while on the go. Equipped with an internal battery, this groove box operates independently, and with two synthesizer engines, samplers, effects, and sequencers, offers all the tools needed to create club-worthy tracks. The design prioritises effective controls, allowing the user to focus completely on drawing up their own musical ideas. Control buttons on the side maintain the tidy overall design of the panel, and yet the SEQTRAK doesn't shy away from being integrated into a modern production environment. The device can also be fully app-controlled and features Audio-I/O, USB, Bluetooth-MIDI, Wi-Fi and MIDI-I/O interfaces for flexible connection to additional devices.
The SEQTRAK's interface is clearly structured for smooth and straightforward operation. Drums, synth/samplers, effects, and sequencers all have their own respective areas. The sound generation with drums, synthesizers, and samplers is distributed across 11 designated tracks, operating with a 128-note polyphonic AWM2 engine and an eight-voice 4 OP-FM engine. 500 megabytes are available for storing samples, and extensive options covering insert FX, master FX, HP/LP filters, and delay/reverb sends provide plenty of scope for spicing up those sounds. Easy editing functions and sequencer programming can be directly controlled on the device via knobs, buttons, and fader strips, and for a deeper dive into the sound engines and specialised sequencer features, the SEQTRAK app (available for Mac, PC, iOS, and Android) combines editing tools, project and sound management, tutorials, and video animations.
The Yamaha SEQTRAK is primarily aimed at EDM producers and performers and features an expansive sound library with over 2,000 sounds spanning various genres, including House, Minimal, Electro, Trance, Techno, and Hardstyle as well as Trap, Hyperpop, Drum & Bass, and many more. Thanks to its high-quality synth engine and effects, the beats, sequences, and grooves created on the SEQTRAK can be exported and used in productions right away. The sampling feature allows users to jazz up the preset sounds with their own individual sound ideas, while live performers will appreciate the straightforward use and design concept, featuring fixed assigned tracks that minimise the risk of getting lost. And for those who fancy a darker approach, the SEQTRAK is also available in black.
For decades, Yamaha has been one of the world's best-known manufacturers of musical instruments and audio technology. The Japanese company's long history began at the end of the 19th century with the harmonium. The product range has constantly expanded since then, which has made Yamaha one of the few manufacturers today to offer almost the entire range of existing musical instruments: From upright and grand pianos to guitars, wind instruments, and bowed string instruments and from drums and percussion to electronic keyboards and synthesizers. Yamaha is also a major force in the field of audio engineering as a manufacturer of mixing consoles, amplifiers, PA systems, and more. Yamaha's guiding principle is to combine traditional craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology.
Since the early rave parties, computer-generated animations have been an integral part of Techno and similar genres as projections at events or backgrounds in video clips. The SEQTRAK app's visualiser can generate moving 2D and 3D objects, which can be merged with real-time images to even create augmented reality elements using smart devices. These objects can be adjusted using multiple parameters such as surface, colour, motion, position, and size, and can also be further edited with Post FX. As these objects and their transformations can be controlled via the sequencer tracks, they can be rhythmically displayed or dynamically altered in shape in sync with kick and snare beats, for instance. The final complete animation can be consequently recorded as a video along with "camera movements" and exported to be posted on social media platforms.