Operation Manual
Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Marion Bröer, Sabine Pfeifer, Heike Schilling, Benjamin Schütte This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images. The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
Table of Contents 5 Introduction 49 Live Pads and Chain Play Mode 5 6 Welcome Key Command Conventions 7 System Requirements and Installation 7 7 8 About this Chapter Minimum Requirements Installing Sequel 49 49 50 50 51 Introduction Performance Parts Live Record Mode Playback Mode Step Input Mode 53 The Beat Page 9 Setting Up Your System 9 9 9 9 11 15 16 About this Chapter General Notes on How to Set Up Your System MIDI Requirements Audio Hardware Setting Up Audio Setting Up MIDI Optimizin
101 Advanced Features 101 101 102 103 105 107 108 110 114 Introduction Adding Silence About Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms Audio Quantization and Free Warp Step Envelope Editing Detecting the Tempo of an Audio File Smart Transpose Remote-controlling Sequel Quick Controls 116 Key Commands 116 116 Introduction The Available Key Commands 119 Effects and Instruments Reference 119 119 122 Introduction Effects Parameters Instrument Parameters 123 Index 4 Table of Contents
Introduction Welcome Welcome and congratulations on purchasing Sequel 3. With Steinberg’s latest version of Sequel you are now able to create, record, mix, and perform your own musical ideas within one powerful music production center – in the most intuitive way. It’s your idea. Let’s hear it! Sequel 3 is designed to support you in turning your ideas into reality.
Key Command Conventions Key Command Conventions Many of the default key commands in Sequel use modifier keys, some of which are different depending on the operating system. For example, the default key command for Undo is [Ctrl]-[Z] under Windows and [Command]-[Z] under Mac OS X.
System Requirements and Installation About this Chapter This chapter describes the requirements and installation procedures for Sequel. Minimum Requirements To use Sequel, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements: Windows - Windows 7 Intel or AMD Dual Core CPU 2 GB RAM 9 GB of free hard disk space Windows compatible audio hardware; ASIO compatible audio hardware recommended for low latency performance.
Installing Sequel Installing Sequel Depending on your system, the Start Center program on the DVD may start automatically. If no interactive start center appears, open the DVD and double-click the file “Start_Center.exe” (Win) or “Start_Center.app” (Mac). From the Start Center you can initiate the installation of Sequel and browse through the additional options and information presented there. In case you do not want to install Sequel via the interactive Start Center, follow the procedure below.
Setting Up Your System About this Chapter In this chapter, you will find information on the basic computer setup and on more advanced audio and MIDI system setups. General Notes on How to Set Up Your System ! On the Steinberg web site, under “Support–DAW Components”, you find detailed information on what to consider when setting up a computer system dedicated to audio work. • RAM – There is a direct relation between the amount of available RAM and the number of audio channels that you can have running.
Audio Hardware Using the Built-In Audio Hardware of Macintosh Computers All current Macintosh models provide at least built-in 16 bit stereo audio hardware. For detailed information, refer to the documentation describing your computer. Depending on your preferences and requirements, using the built-in audio hardware may be sufficient for use with Sequel. It is always available for selection in Sequel – you do not need to install any additional drivers.
Setting Up Audio Testing the Audio Hardware To make sure that the audio card works as expected, perform the following two tests: • Use any software included with the audio card to make sure you can record and play back audio without problems. • If the card is accessed via a standard operating system driver, try playing back audio using the computer’s standard audio application.
Setting Up Audio In the example below, four busses are used for feeding signals to the audio hardware inputs. The four outputs are connected back to the mixer for monitoring and playback. Remaining mixer inputs can be used for connecting audio sources like microphones, instruments, etc.
Setting Up Audio About Recording Levels and Inputs When you connect your equipment, you should make sure that the impedance and levels of the audio sources and inputs match. Typically, different inputs may be designed for use with microphones, consumer line level (-10 dBV), or professional line level (+4 dBV), or you may be able to adjust input characteristics on the audio interface or in its control panel. Refer to the audio hardware documentation for details.
Setting Up Audio • Under Mac OS X, you can open the control panel for your audio hardware from the System Preferences, opened from the Apple menu or from the Dock. If you are using the built-in audio hardware of the Macintosh, you use the Sound control panel in the System Preferences to set levels, balance, etc. If you are using ASIO audio hardware, you can click the “Control Panel” button to bring up its panel.
Setting Up MIDI About Monitoring In Sequel, monitoring means listening to the input signal while preparing to record or while recording. Sequel always monitors the signal in realtime. The audio passes from the input into Sequel, possibly through Sequel effects and EQ and then back to the output. You control monitoring via settings in Sequel. This allows you to control the monitoring level from Sequel and add effects to the monitored signal only.
Optimizing Audio Performance Optimizing Audio Performance This section gives you some hints and tips on how to get the most out of your Sequel system in terms of audio performance. Two Aspects of Performance There are two distinct aspects of performance in respect to Sequel: Tracks and Effects Simply put: the faster your computer, the more tracks, effects, and EQ you can play. Short Response Times (Latency) Another aspect of performance is response time.
The Sequel Window Overview The Sequel window is divided into three main sections: the Pilot Zone, the Arrange Zone, and the Multi Zone. Pilot Zone MediaBay Arrange Zone Multi Zone Click here to open the MediaBay Click here to open the Output Effects section The Pilot Zone The Pilot Zone gives you access to the Sequel menu functions.
Overview The MediaBay The MediaBay is a browser for media files that allows you to search for media files on your computer. It can be displayed in the Arrange Zone by clicking the corresponding button in the lower right corner of the program window. For further information on the MediaBay, see “Working with the MediaBay” on page 75. The Output Effects The output effects are effects that are applied to the overall output in Sequel.
Recording Recording Audio In this section, you will learn how to record a guitar line, how to add a drum loop, and play it back. Make sure that you have your audio card set up correctly, see the chapter “Setting Up Your System” on page 9. Creating a New Project By default, Sequel creates a new project on startup. You can change this in the Settings Page. For more information, see “The Settings Page” on page 99.
Recording Audio Saving a Project 1. Open the Project menu and select “Save Project”. 2. Type in a name for your project, for example “First Sequel Project”. 3. Click OK. The project is saved in the folder you specified on the Settings Page. Adding an Audio Track The following sections make reference to tutorial projects, located in the default Sequel project folder. • Load the project called “Recording” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 1” folder. You will now add an audio track to record onto.
Recording Audio Click here to select a different input. Activating the Metronome Click To align your recording with the bars and beats displayed in the ruler, you can activate a click or metronome. • Activate the Metronome button in the Pilot Zone. • Adjust the metronome volume using the slider. The metronome is automatically set to add a two-bar precount before recording starts. You can now specify the project tempo in the Tempo field, see “The Tempo (TEMPO)” on page 64 for more information.
Recording Audio 5. Make sure the Preview button is activated and step through the list on the right until you find a suitable loop. 6. Drag the selected drum loop into the Arrange Zone and line it up with bar 1, just below the guitar track. 7. Click in the middle of the right edge of the event and drag to the right up to the beginning of bar 5 to make the loop 4 bars long. 8. Rename the track “Drums”. Ö The tempo of the project has changed to match the drum loop.
Recording Audio Tuning your Instrument Sequel features a built-in tuner for tuning guitar or bass, for example. 1. Make sure the guitar track is selected and the Record Ready button is activated so that you hear the input. 2. Activate the Tuner in the Pilot Zone. Tuning indicator Note and octave 3. Pluck a string on your guitar or bass. The Tuner automatically detects which string you are hitting as long as it is in fairly close proximity to the right tuning. The tuning indicator moves left or right.
Recording Audio Playback To listen to what you have just recorded, you have to play it back. • Load the project “Playback” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 1” folder. Starting Playback To start playback, you have the following possibilities: • Click the Play button. • Press [Space] on your computer keyboard. This toggles between start and stop. • Press [Enter] on the numeric keypad. • Double-click in the lower half of the ruler.
Recording Audio Recording Multiple Takes of your Audio Sequel offers the possibility to record multiple takes of your performance. This allows for recording a section multiple times and then selecting the best take, or assembling a perfect take from the different takes. Proceed as follows: 1. Draw in a cycle region from bar 3 to 4, and set the project cursor to the beginning of the cycle. 2. Activate the Cycle button. 3.
Recording Instrument Parts Recording Instrument Parts In this section, you will learn how to record instrument parts on instrument tracks. • Load the project called “Recording MIDI” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 1” folder. Creating an Instrument Track 1. Click the “Add Track” button below the track list. The Add Track dialog opens. 2. Select the Instrument option. 3. Use the Category filter and select a sound for your project, for example a Synth Pad sound. 4.
Recording Instrument Parts 4. Click the Record button to start recording. 5. Record 4 bars. 6. Press [Space]. 7. Deactivate “Record Ready” so that you do not hear the input any more. Congratulations! You have just recorded your first instrument part in Sequel. 8. Load the project “MIDI Playback” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 1” folder. 9. Set the project cursor to bar 1 and press [Space] to listen back.
Editing Introduction In this chapter, the basic editing methods are described. • The following sections make reference to tutorial projects, located in the default Sequel project folder. Importing You can import audio files, instrument sounds, pattern banks, or MIDI loops by simply dragging them from the MediaBay or your desktop and dropping them in the Arrange Zone. Common Editing Functions In this section, you will learn how to edit audio events.
Common Editing Functions Resizing In the bottom left and right corners of an event, the resize handles are shown. Click and hold either one of them and drag left or right to lengthen or shorten the event. For this example, resize the Guitar and Synth events. • Position the mouse pointer over one of the triangles at the lower left or right of the event. Click and adjust the Guitar and Synth events.
Common Editing Functions 5. Undo your actions by selecting “Undo Split” from the Edit menu. Splitting with Snap to Grid Having “Snap to Grid” activated allows you to split with precision, directly on bars or beats. 1. Make sure that “Snap to Grid” is activated. 2. Split the Drums event on the third beat of every bar. If you cannot see beats in the grid, zoom in using the [H] key on your keyboard until you can see them. 3. Cut on bar 1 beat 3, bar 2 beat 3, bar 3 beat 3, and bar 4 beat 3. 4.
Common Editing Functions 3. With all of the events selected, click and drag them so that the events line up with bar 2. All of the events move together, maintaining their relative positions. Muting Muting an event stops you from hearing just that event. You can mute events on a track so that the track continues to play back except for the muted events. Ö This is different from muting a track. • To mute an event, click the Pause button in the top right corner of the event. The event turns gray.
The Draw Tool Copying using the [Ctrl]/[Command] Key 1. Place the cursor in the center of the Synth event and hold down [Ctrl]/[Command]. 2. Click and hold the selected event and drag to the position where you want the copy to be made. In this case, drag until the copy is lined up with bar 5. 3. Release the mouse button. You now have two Synth events. Deleting 1. Select an event to delete. 2. Press [Delete] or [Backspace] or select the Delete option on the Edit menu.
The Sample Editor The Sample Editor The Sample Editor is used for detailed audio editing. These features are described in the chapter “Advanced Features” on page 101. • To open the Sample Editor, select an audio event and then open the Editor Page in the Multi Zone. • You can also double-click the event in the Arrange Zone to open it in the Sample Editor. The selected audio event is displayed in the center of the Editor Page. Here you can see a detailed waveform rendering of the audio file.
The Key Editor Copying Notes Now, copy all notes from the second bar into the first bar. 1. Select the notes in bar 2. 2. Hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] and drag the notes from bar 2 to bar 1. Resizing Notes You can shorten or lengthen notes in the Key Editor. For example, to change all the eighth notes in the first two bars into quarter notes, proceed as follows: 1. Select all the notes in the first two bars. 2. Position the mouse pointer at the end of any of the selected notes.
The Key Editor 4. Click and drag to draw in an eighth note G. 5. Draw in notes above the rest of the notes in bar 1 and 2. The Controller Lane The controller lane allows you to add or modify instrument data such as velocity and controller information. The most common use for this is to edit velocity or pitch bend. If you find that the velocity is too strong or too weak on certain notes, you can view and edit them at the bottom of the Key Editor. Controller lane Controller pop-up menu 1.
The Key Editor In the controller lane editor, so called smart spots appear on the borders of the editor. These smart spots allow you to activate a specific editing mode: Editing mode To activate this mode… Description Move Vertically Click in an empty area on the upper border of the editor. Scale Vertically Click the smart spot in the Use this mode to relatively scale middle of the upper border the curve, i. e. to raise or lower the of the editor. values in percent (not by absolute amounts).
The Beat Page The Beat Page The Beat Page is where you can make changes to the data on beat tracks. You can draw in steps, set velocity values, and specify the sounds, for example. The steps are shown in the step display, each step representing a beat position in the pattern. By default, 16 steps are shown per lane. The Beat Page is described in detail in the section “The Beat Page” on page 53. Adding Tempo Changes In this section, you will learn how to add tempo changes to your project.
Adding Tempo Changes • To delete a tempo change, select the corresponding tempo curve point and press [Delete] or [Backspace]. • To change the maximum and minimum tempo values that are shown in the curve display, click the values and drag up or down or double-click the values and enter a specific value. Ö If you use the Tap Tempo function in the Pilot Zone tempo display, the current tempo curve is removed and the tapped tempo is used as a single constant tempo, see “Using Tap Tempo” on page 65.
Mixing Introduction In this chapter, you will learn how to create a mix ready with proper levels, EQs, and effects. You will also add automation and export the audio. Ö The following sections make reference to tutorial projects, located in the default Sequel project folder. Setting Levels The first thing that you need to do is to set the levels for the project so that you can add EQ and effects later. • Load the project “Mixing 1” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 3” folder. 1.
Setting Pan Setting Pan • Load the project “Mixing 2” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 3” folder. • Setting the pan for each track moves its position in the stereo mix. You can either keep the signal balanced in the middle of the left and right speaker, slightly to the left or right, or be completely in the left or right speaker. • Keep the Drums track in the middle. Move the bass track slightly to the left and move the guitar track almost all the way left and the synth track almost all the way to the right.
Adding EQ 3. Open the Equalizer panel. 4. Play back a part on the Drums track so that you can hear your EQ changes. The low band allows you to modify the low-frequency portion of the signal (bass), the middle band the mid frequencies, and the high band the high frequencies (treble). • To adjust the frequency of a band, drag the corresponding frequency slider to the left or right. The exact frequency range is displayed in the EQ settings display. The middle EQ is a parametric EQ.
Audio Effects 6. Experiment with the EQs on all your tracks. • Listen to, and see the EQ changes by loading the project “Mixing 5” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 3” folder. Audio Effects • Load the project “Mixing 6” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 3” folder. You will now add some effects to the project. In Sequel, there are three types of effects: - Insert effects - Send effects - Output effects For details on each effect and its parameters, see the chapter “Effects and Instruments Reference” on page 119.
Audio Effects 6. Add a flanger to the Synth track to make it stand out a little bit more. Select the Synth track in the Arrange Zone. 7. Open the first insert slot, and choose Flanger from the Modulation submenu. 8. Make changes to the effect manually, or select a preset from the Preset pop-up menu. Effect Preset menu For details on each effect and its parameters, see the chapter “Effects and Instruments Reference” on page 119.
Adding Automation Output Effects Output effects are like insert effects, but are applied to the Master channel. Open the “Output Effects” section by clicking the button in the lower right of the Multi Zone. The Output Effects section features three assignable effects and a fixed Maximizer effect. The effects are controlled via sliders and a Bypass button. • Use the Maximizer to raise the overall volume of the project. 1. Move the Optimize slider until the effect is at a suitable level. 2.
Adding Automation Now, make the whole project fade out by changing the volume automation on the Master track. 1. Click the “Toggle Automation Mode” button in the Pilot Zone. Edit mode is activated and the Master track is shown in the Arrange Zone. Toggle Automation Mode 2. Make sure that Volume is selected on the automation pop-up menu of the Master track. 3. Create two anchor points by clicking on the volume automation line – one at the beginning of the last bar and one at the end of the last bar.
Adding Automation Now, select a different parameter to automate. In this case, use the Panner on the Synth track. 1. Make sure that the “Toggle Automation Mode” button is set to Edit mode. 2. From the automation pop-up menu on the Synth track, select “Panner - Left-Right” so that you can see how the automation is written to the track. 3. Press [Space] to start playback, click in the panner value field, and drag up and down to pan the signal left or right. 4. Stop playback when you are done.
Exporting Exporting Now that you have your project mixed, you can export it so that you can send it to others, burn it to a CD, or listen to it on your iPod. • Load the project “Mixing 9” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 3” folder. Exporting Audio Files 1. To export your project in a different format, open the Project menu and select “Export Project as Audio File”. 2. A dialog opens, where you can choose an export location and a file name.
Exporting • In the Export Project as Audio File dialog, specify the export location and the file name in the corresponding fields, and activate/deactivate the following options for MP3 files: Option Description Bit Rate In this field, you can select a bit rate for the MP3 file. As a rule, the higher the bit rate, the better the audio quality and the larger the file. For stereo audio, 128kBit/s is often considered to result in good audio quality.
Live Pads and Chain Play Mode Introduction In this chapter, you will learn how to use Sequel to make live performances fun and easy. The following sections make reference to tutorial projects, located in the default Sequel project folder. Performance Parts • Load the project “Live Mode 1” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 4” folder. In the following example you will use performance parts to separate intro, verse, chorus, and extro into different sections. 1.
Live Record Mode Live Record Mode • Load the project “Live Mode 2” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 4” folder. If you want to create spontaneous performances, the live record mode allows you to create and record your performances on-the-fly. To record your performance, proceed as follows: 1. In the Multi Zone, open the Performance page and click the “Record Performance” button. The record button starts blinking. 2. Open the “Define Jump Grid” pop-up menu, and select a grid resolution.
Step Input Mode 5. [Alt]/[Option]-click in the lower section of pad A and name it “Intro”. Do the same for pad B (Verse), pad C (Chorus), and pad D (Extro). 6. Click the Stop pad. This way you can queue up the pads in the order you want for live playback. Experiment with the Jump modes and have fun creating different arrangements with your project. Ö Using remote controllers together with this mode gives you even more flexibility, see “Remote-controlling Sequel” on page 110.
Step Input Mode Right now, the performance timeline plays back the project in its original arrangement, so let’s change things a bit. 5. Stop playback. 6. Delete all performance parts on the performance timeline by selecting them and pressing [Delete] or [Backspace]. 7. Create a new performance as described above, but use a new sequence, for example, A, B, C, C, B, C, C, D. 8. Start playback to listen to the new performance.
The Beat Page Introduction In this chapter, you will learn how to create rhythm patterns and pattern parts and how to make editings on the Beat Page. Adding Pattern Banks Sequel comes with a large number of pre-configured pattern banks. You can drag a pattern bank from the MediaBay into the Arrange Zone to add the pattern to your project. Proceed as follows: 1. Click the MediaBay button in the bottom right corner of the Multi Zone to open the MediaBay. 2. Set the Browse Location to “Factory Content”. 3.
Editing Patterns on the Beat Page Editing Patterns on the Beat Page Creating a Pattern You can now preview the beat patterns and edit them on the Beat Page. 1. Start playback. The beat pattern shown in the Beat Page step display is played back. Pattern Functions menu Lane selectors Pattern Selector Pad Steps in the step display 2. Click the lane selector for a drum sound. The corresponding lane is highlighted in the step display. 3. Click the highlighted lane to enter a step.
Editing Pattern Parts Editing the Velocity You can edit the velocity in the following ways: • Fine-tune the velocity for a step by clicking it and dragging up or down. The current velocity value is shown while you drag, allowing you to find the corresponding setting easily.
Assigning Audio Samples to Pads Selecting Pattern Parts If you create a pattern part on the beat track, pattern 1 is used by default. To change this, click the little arrow in the upper left corner of the pattern part to open a pop-up menu and select another pattern. An asterisk behind the pattern name indicates that this pattern has steps assigned. • If you select several pattern parts in the Arrange Zone, only the first one is displayed on the Beat Page. See “The Beat Page” on page 89 for details.
Saving your Pattern Bank The audio file is now assigned to the pad. The corresponding step display lane is highlighted and indicates where you can enter the steps that trigger the sample sound. Selecting a pad in the pad display highlights the corresponding lane. 8. Enter some steps on the highlighted lane. 9. Assign further audio files to the empty pads as described above until you have set up all drum sounds you want to assign to your drum kit. You can assign up to 16 drum sounds per group.
The Pilot Zone Introduction In this chapter, you will learn more about the layout and functions of the Pilot Zone. Sequel, Project, and Edit menu Virtual Keyboard Edit Remote Control Assignment Pilot Zone display Tuner Enable/Disable Performance Mode Metronome On/Off and Metronome Level Transport controls The Sequel Menu Help Selecting this option opens the manual.
The Project Menu The Project Menu The Project menu contains the following options: New Project Selecting this option creates a new empty project. Open Project… Selecting this option allows you to open an existing project. Save Project Selecting this option allows you to save your project. Save As… Selecting this option allows you to save your project under a different name. Manage Projects… Selecting this option opens a dialog that allows you to manage all your Sequel projects.
The Edit Menu Export Project as Audio File… Selecting this option opens a dialog that allows you to export your project, for example, to burn a CD. You can specify file name, path, file format, and bit depth. See also “Exporting Audio Files” on page 47. Ö To burn a CD, you need the appropriate software on your computer. Export Project to iTunes Selecting this option allows you to export your project to an iTunes compatible format for easy uploading to your iPod, see “Exporting to iTunes” on page 48.
The Edit Menu Duplicate This option allows you to create copies of an event that are aligned directly behind the selected event in the Arrange Zone. Split at Cursor This option allows you to split the selected event at the cursor. If no event is selected, all events that are intersected by the project cursor are split. Bounce Selection This option allows you to combine various selected audio events or instrument parts into one audio event or instrument part.
The Edit Remote Control Assignment Button The Edit Remote Control Assignment Button You can remote-control certain Sequel functions using external controllers. For this, you need a mixer or keyboard controller with USB or MIDI connection and the ability to send MIDI messages. If you activate the “Edit Remote Control Assignment” button, the main user interface is dimmed. The elements that can be assigned to remote controls are indicated by green frames. Click the button again to switch back to normal mode.
Musical Keyboard Input Activity Musical Keyboard Input Activity This indicator becomes visible when any input activity of connected USB/MIDI keyboards, including controller activity, is detected. The Musical Keyboard Input Activity indicator in the Pilot Zone The Musical Keyboard Input Activity indicator in the track list (for instrument tracks). The Transport Controls Cycle Play Record Jumps to previous/next marker The transport controls are similar to those you would find on a VCR or DVD player.
The Metronome The Metronome Activate the Metronome On/Off button to add a click sound to playback and/or recording. The metronome follows the project tempo and time signature. For more information on the metronome and its settings, see “Activating the Metronome Click” on page 21. Ö On the Settings Page, you can specify if you want to hear the click during playback or recording, see “The Settings Page” on page 99.
The Pilot Zone Display Using Tap Tempo The Tap Tempo function allows you to specify a tempo by tapping. 1. Click the Learn button in the upper left corner of the tempo display to activate the Learn mode. The button turns red to indicate that you can tap the tempo. 2. If you want to tap the tempo of some recorded material with unknown tempo, activate playback. 3. Tap the tempo on the space bar of the computer keyboard or on a connected MIDI keyboard. 4.
The Virtual Keyboard The Project Root Key (KEY) This shows the project root key. To change the root key, you have the following possibilities: • Click on the value and select a key from the pop-up menu. • Select a loop in your project that has the key that you want to use and drag it onto the key field. This works only if the key information was saved with the original file.
The Virtual Keyboard 4. Use the “Note Velocity Level” fader to the right of the virtual keyboard to adjust the volume. 5. Use the “Octave Offset” icons to the left and the right of the virtual keyboard to offset the octave range of the keyboard. Ö You can also use the virtual keyboard to preview instrument presets in the MediaBay.
The Arrange Zone Overview The Arrange Zone displays the parts and events of the project along the timeline. In the Arrange Zone you can record, edit, and arrange your project. On the left, the track list is shown, and on the right you can display the MediaBay or the Output Effects section. • To resize the Arrange Zone, move the mouse pointer over the bar at the bottom of the Arrange Zone until it turns to a double arrow, click and drag up or down.
Overview The Track List Buttons Show Performance Track Show Transpose Track Show Tempo Track Draw Tool Toggle Automation Mode Unmute All Tracks Add Track Reset All Solo States Reduce/Increase Track Size Toggle Automation Mode Clicking this button toggles between the automation modes. You can show, edit, and hide the automation for your project. For more information about automation, see “Adding Automation” on page 44. Show Performance Track Clicking this button shows/hides the performance track.
Overview Draw Tool Clicking this button activates the Draw tool that allows you to draw elements in the Arrange Zone. For further information, see “The Draw Tool” on page 32. Unmute All Tracks Clicking this button unmutes all tracks in your project. Reset All Solo States Clicking this button deactivates all Solo buttons in your project. Reduce/Increase Track Size The buttons for resizing tracks allow you to reduce or increase the track height. The greater the size, the more controls are visible.
Overview The Snap to Grid Function The “Snap to Grid” function can be activated by clicking the button at the far right of the ruler. When “Snap to Grid” is activated, all editing you do snaps to the grid. The grid resolution is determined by the zoom factor. When “Snap to Grid” is deactivated, events can be moved and performed freely without snapping to the grid. The Zoom Commands Clicking the “+” button zooms in, clicking the “-” button zooms out.
Overview The Track Controls Each track includes a set of track controls. These are described in the following sections. • To display all the available track controls, you may have to adjust the track height. Mute Clicking this button for a track stops the output from the corresponding track. Solo Clicking this button for a track stops the output from any other track. Record Ready Clicking this button enables recording on a track. You can record on up to 8 tracks at once.
Overview When you freeze a track, the following happens: • The program renders the output of the track, including all insert effects or instrument track presets, to an audio file. • On playback, the rendered audio file is played back. You can still adjust level and panning, make EQ settings, and adjust the send and output effects. • Frozen tracks cannot be edited or removed.
Working with Tracks Working with Tracks Selecting Tracks To select a track, click the track name. To select multiple tracks, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] and click them. Renaming Tracks To rename a track, double-click the Track Name field and type in the new name. Numbering Tracks Tracks are automatically numbered according to the order in which they are arranged. You can rearrange tracks by clicking and dragging it up or down.
Working with Parts and Events Working with Parts and Events For a description on the editing functions in the Arrange Zone, see “Common Editing Functions” on page 28. Working with the MediaBay The MediaBay allows you to search for media files on your computer. Here, you can also define so-called tags or attributes for media files that allow you to filter the search results. The MediaBay is divided into two sections: the filter section and the results list.
Working with the MediaBay Filtering Media Files Filtering by Attributes If you click the “Show Filter” button, the filter section is displayed. Here, you can filter the list according to the attributes that are defined for the content, like Category/Sub Category, Style/Sub Style, and Character. This makes it easy to find files of a certain sound or style. If you click one of the items in the attribute columns, the files containing this attribute are shown in the results list to the right.
Working with the MediaBay Filtering by Family When you select a factory content file that is tagged with the Family attribute, the “Show Family Items” button becomes available. Activate this button to display only files that are part of the same family. The Family Name column in the filter section allows you to browse all families. Click the “Show Family Items” button again to return to the previous unfiltered view.
Working with the MediaBay Adding User Content Sequel comes with thousands of great loops, but you can also add loops from other libraries or content that you created yourself. ! If you add new content to Sequel, the MediaBay has to learn about it and scan the added files. Under Windows, this happens automatically when the transport is stopped, so make sure Sequel is not playing when you add loops. Under Mac OS X, you have to restart Sequel after adding new content.
Working with the MediaBay Setting Attributes To set or change the attributes that are associated with the selected media file in the results list, you have the following options: - To change the rating, click in the Rating field and drag with the mouse. - To change the Tempo or Bars & Beats attributes, click in the corresponding field to highlight it, then click again, and type in the new value.
Output Effects Output Effects You can apply three custom output effects to the Master channel. These effects are pre-fader. Additionally, you can activate the post-fader Maximizer effect. For details on the effects and their parameters, see the chapter “Effects and Instruments Reference” on page 119. To open the Output Effects panel, click the corresponding button in the bottom right of the program window.
The Multi Zone Introduction The Multi Zone is where all of your project’s mixing, effects processing, and advanced editing takes place. Furthermore, the Multi Zone includes a Performance Page for taking your project out to the world to play live. The Settings Page contains global options for configuring Sequel according to your needs.
The Track Inspector Page The Track Inspector Page The Track Inspector Page allows you to add effects and instruments to your project. It features several buttons for showing and hiding different panels with settings for the selected track. The selected track’s channel strip is shown on the left. • To show or hide a panel, click the corresponding button at the top of the Track Inspector page. Global Panel Controls The panels for effects, instruments, and the equalizer share most of the following controls.
The Track Inspector Page Handling Presets • To select a preset, open the preset browser by clicking in the Effect or Instrument Preset field. In the preset browser, you have the following options: • To find a suitable preset, use the Category and Sub Category filters. • To apply a preset, double-click it. • To go back to the last selected preset, click the Restore Preset button at the bottom left of the preset browser.
The Track Inspector Page Parameter Description Transpose Play Direction Determines whether the pattern’s key goes up, down, or both. Arpeggiator Play Mode Determines what type of pattern is played back. If you select Phrase, you can play a single note to trigger a scale. Instrument The Instrument panel contains eight controls that are provided by the selected preset. Insert Effects Panel Each track can have three pre-fader insert effects.
The Editor Page • The Resonance slider determines the frequency range of the middle EQ band. Drag the slider to the left or right to widen or shorten the range. • To reset the EQ settings, open the presets pop-up menu and select RESET. The EQ Curve Display You can also activate EQ modules and make settings using the EQ curve display. • To adjust the gain, drag a curve point up or down. • To adjust the frequency, drag a curve point to the left or right.
The Editor Page The Sample Editor The Sample Editor allows you to edit the selected audio file. The main area of the Sample Editor shows a detailed waveform rendering of your audio file. • Zoom in and out using the “+” and “-” buttons in the bottom right corner or by clicking in the ruler at the top of the Sample Editor and dragging up or down. • Use the scrollbar at the bottom to scroll left or right.
The Editor Page Reverse selected Audio You can reverse the event or a selected region by clicking the Reverse button. All warp tabs are deleted when reversing the audio. Edit Audio – Transpose You can change the key of the event by clicking in the Transpose field and dragging up or down. Alternatively, you can double-click in the Transpose field and enter a value. To the left of the Transpose field, the root key (A, Bb, C#, etc.) of the event is shown.
The Editor Page At the top and on the left of the Key Editor, the following parameters are available: Rename Part You can rename the part by clicking in this field and entering a new name. Draw Tool Clicking this button activates the Draw tool that allows you to draw in notes in the Key Editor. Step Input This function allows you to enter instrument data note by note and beat by beat, using a MIDI keyboard or controller. It is useful for quick entry of instrument parts.
The Editor Page Edit MIDI – Swing Swing allows you to add a more human feel to an instrument part. You can apply swing by clicking in the value field and dragging up or down. Alternatively, you can doubleclick in the field and enter a value. Which notes are affected depends on the grid resolution. If the quantize value is set to eighth notes, only eighth notes are affected. Edit MIDI – Legato This option increases or decreases the amount of legato in the selected instrument part.
The Editor Page Pattern Functions Click the Pattern button to open the “Pattern Functions” pop-up menu. The following functions are available: Option Description Copy Pattern Copies the active pattern into the clipboard. Paste Pattern Pastes the pattern from the clipboard into the active pattern pad. Clear Pattern Clears the active pattern. Insert Pattern at Cursor Inserts one occurrence of the pattern on the beat track at the cursor position.
The Editor Page Flam A flam is a short secondary drum hit that is played just before or after the actual main drum beat. If you want to add a flam to a step, proceed as follows: 1. Activate the “Flam Edit Mode” button to the right of the flam function. 2. In the step display, click a step. A small dot representing a flam appears. 3. Click the Flam value field and drag up or down to adjust the flam value. This way you can specify whether if the flam is positioned before the beat or after it.
The Editor Page Pad Section To the right of the step display, you find the pad section that allows you to associate audio samples with pads. The pad section provides up to 128 pads, organized in eight groups of 16 pads. Each pad is mapped to a particular MIDI note (C-2 to G8). If you convert your beat track into an instrument track, you can trigger the pads via these MIDI notes. • To assign a sample to a pad, drag it from the MediaBay onto a pad.
The Editor Page SOLO If you activate this button, the selected pad is soloed during playback. VMax If you activate this button, all pads are played back with the maximum velocity value of 127. Reset If you click this button, all pad assignments on the Beat Page are cleared. Sound Editing Parameters The section below the waveform display contains sound editing parameters, distributed to three tabs: Amp, Filter, and Voice.
The Track Picture Page The Track Picture Page You can add a track picture to the selected track. Pictures are useful in live performances as they allow you to recognize your tracks at a quick glance. You can choose pictures of the factory content or add new ones to the user library. Adding and Deleting Pictures To add factory pictures, proceed as follows: 1. In the track list, select the track on which you want to insert a track picture. 2.
The Mixer Page • You can increase or decrease the track color tinting by clicking in the Intensity field, and dragging up or down. • You can change the size of the track picture using the Zoom slider at the bottom of the preview panel. • You can change the visible part of the picture by dragging the picture in the preview panel. • You can unassign the picture by clicking the “Clear Picture” button. • You can change the orientation of the picture by clicking the “Rotate Picture” button.
The Performance Page 3. Select a color. The channel on the Mixer Page and the corresponding track in the Arrange Zone are displayed in the selected color. The Master Channel The Master channel is the output of all tracks combined. This channel features a volume fader, a panner, and a button to disable the master automation (see “Removing and Disabling Automation” on page 46). Clipping If clipping occurs, the channel meter becomes red.
The Performance Page Pads The rounded squares in the bottom half of the Performance Page are called pads. Every performance part you create on the performance track can be assigned to a pad. If you click a pad, the corresponding part is played back. Assigning Pads Press [Alt]/[Option] and click at the top of a pad to open a pop-up menu where you can choose which performance part is assigned to the pad. Naming Pads Press [Alt]/[Option] and click at the bottom of a pad to name it.
The Performance Page To create a performance with the Step Input function, proceed as follows: • Activate the “Step Input” button and trigger a pad. A part is created on the performance timeline. To the right of the part an insert cursor is displayed. Ö To insert a part at an earlier position on the performance timeline, click a part border to move the insert cursor to this position. Saving Performances You can save up to three performances by clicking on the corresponding buttons (1, 2, 3).
The Settings Page The Settings Page On the Settings Page, you can define main settings in Sequel. These settings are divided into four categories: Sequel Projects, Audio Settings, User Interface, and Options. Sequel Projects Project Location Click in this field to select the directory where your projects are stored on the hard drive. A dialog opens, allowing you to browse the hard drives and find a suitable location or create a new folder.
Computer Usage User Interface Panel Color and Work Area Color Use these sliders to apply different colors and shadings to the frames of the main Sequel program window and the work area. Show Tips Activate this option to show tooltips when you move the mouse pointer over a button or object. Options MIDI Recording – Record Mode Use this pop-up menu to define a record mode for cycle recordings on instrument tracks.
Advanced Features Introduction In this chapter, you will get to know the advanced features in Sequel. Some of the following sections make reference to tutorial projects, located in the default Sequel project folder. Adding Silence Adding silence allows you to mute sections of an audio event. This is great for erasing unwanted clicks or glitches, and for removing headphone bleed from vocal tracks or any other extraneous noise. The process is non-destructive.
About Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms 5. Adjust the selection so that it is as close as possible to the audio that you want to keep. 6. Press [Delete] or [Backspace] on your computer keyboard to remove the selection and create silence. 7. Add silence to any other areas in the Guitar event that you think might need it. • Load the project “Adding Silence 2” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 5” folder to hear the project now that silence has been added.
Audio Quantization and Free Warp The Standard algorithm is optimized for CPU-efficient realtime processing. The following presets are available: Option Description Standard – Drums This mode is best for percussive sounds, as it does not change the timing of your audio. Using this option with certain tuned percussion instruments may lead to audible artifacts. In this case, try the Mix mode as an alternative.
Audio Quantization and Free Warp 5. Open the “Time Stretch Mode” pop-up menu, open the Standard submenu, and select “Standard – Mix”. 6. Make sure that the right audio length is set and that the grid lines are positioned at the visible beats. In this example, leave everything as it is. 7. Set the Quantize value to 1/4. You can see the audio file locking to the nearest quarter note. 8. Activate the “Enable/Disable Quantize” option. The audio automatically snaps to the selected Quantize value. 9.
Step Envelope Editing 4. Drag the Warp tab left or right to the correct ruler time position. The audio is stretched accordingly. 5. Repeat this procedure for any drum beats that are off time. Keep listening back to make sure that you are getting the correct result. If you are not satisfied, you have two options: • You can delete a warp tab by clicking the triangle at the top of the ruler. By deleting the warp tab the stretching is also reset. • You can click the “Reset Warping” button.
Step Envelope Editing Defining Steps To define the steps for your step envelopes, you can choose between two modes: Mode Description Event Grid In this mode, Sequel automatically detects onsets in the audio event and calculates the steps accordingly. Use this mode for percussive audio material with clearly discernible beats. Musical Grid In this mode, the steps for the audio loop have a defined resolution of 1/4 beats by default.
Detecting the Tempo of an Audio File To edit a step envelope, proceed as follows: 1. Select the step envelope type you want to edit, and move the mouse over the waveform display. The mouse pointer turns into a Draw tool. 2. Click a step and drag the mouse up or down to edit the value. • To create a step envelope, that is, modify consecutive steps, keep the mouse button pressed and draw a curve.
Smart Transpose Using Tempo Detection 1. Drag the audio file that you want to analyze from the MediaBay or the Windows Explorer or the Mac OS Finder into the Arrange Zone. 2. Double-click the audio event to open it in the Sample Editor. 3. In the Sample Editor, click “Tempo Detection” to open the Tempo Detection section. 4. Click the “Detect Tempo” button. The following happens: - Sequel analyzes the audio event and defines a single constant tempo for the whole audio event.
Smart Transpose 3. In the search field, type in “Bb guitar”, and press [Return]. Sequel filters the results. 4. Drag the “03 105 Bb Guitar” loop to bar 1. The project’s settings for Tempo and “Project Root Key” change to match the loop. The project root key is now A#, which is the enharmonic equivalent for Bb. Project root key 5. Go back to the MediaBay. This time enter “D horns” in the search field, and press [Return]. 6. Drag the “02 112 D horns” loop to bar 1 underneath the guitar. 7.
Remote-controlling Sequel Remote-controlling Sequel It is possible to remote-control certain Sequel functions by assigning external controllers, for example, small mixers or keyboard controllers with USB or MIDI connection and the ability to send MIDI messages. This way, you can control special program parameters using the assigned faders and knobs on your external controller. The control assignment is saved for the application and will be available for all projects.
Remote-controlling Sequel 3. Select the function that you want to control with your remote device by clicking on it in the user interface. The button turns red and the assignment browser opens to indicate that you can now assign a remote control to this function. 4. Move a control on your external device to map the physical control to the program function. The selected function is now assigned to the control on the remote device. This is indicated by the corresponding program control turning blue.
Remote-controlling Sequel The Assignment Browser The assignment browser consists of the following elements: Name of the Sequel function Assigned remote controllers Show Remote Item Info Sticky Browser Reset Remote Assignment Name of the assigned remote control Remote Object List button - The “Sticky Browser” button in the top left corner of the assignment browser indicates if the browser is fixed (closed padlock symbol) or closes automatically after a few seconds (open padlock symbol).
Remote-controlling Sequel • To do so, click the “Set Remote Focus” button on the corresponding page. The “Set Remote Focus” button This panel has the remote focus Assigning Controllers Using Key Commands You can also assign controllers to Sequel functions using key commands. Proceed as follows: 1. Press [F] to enter Edit Remote Control Assignment mode. The main user interface is dimmed, so that you can clearly see which elements can be assigned to remote controls (indicated by frames). 2.
Quick Controls Quick Controls Quick controls are parameter assignments for effect or instrument plug-ins that are shown on the Track Inspector Page of the Multi Zone. Open/Close Plug-in Window Quick control slots Quick controls Quick Control Learn Mode Get Default Quick Controls from Plug-in For each effect or instrument plug-in, eight quick control slots are available. These give you instant access to the plug-in parameters. Sequel features a default assignment for the main parameters.
Quick Controls You can also change the parameter assignments from within the plug-in’s control panel. Proceed as follows: 1. Click the “Open/Close Plug-in Window” button. The plug-in panel for your effect or instrument opens. 2. Right-click the parameter that you want to assign to a quick control slot, and select an option from the “Add x to Quick Controls Slot” submenu, where x is the name of the parameter. The plug-in parameter is assigned to the selected quick control slot.
Key Commands Introduction This chapter contains a list of the available key commands in Sequel, structured according to the different edit categories in the program.
The Available Key Commands Edit Commands The Edit category contains the following key commands: Option Key command Undo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z] Redo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Z] Cut [Ctrl]/[Command]-[X] Copy [Ctrl]/[Command]-[C] Paste [Ctrl]/[Command]-[V] Delete [Delete] or [Backspace] Duplicate [Ctrl]/[Command]-[D] Split at Cursor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[T] Bounce Selection [Ctrl]/[Command]-[B] Select All [Ctrl]/[Command]-[A] Select None [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[A] Add Track [Ctrl]/[Comma
The Available Key Commands Virtual Keyboard Commands When the virtual keyboard is active, the usual key commands are blocked. The only exceptions are: [*] (“multiply” on the numeric keypad) for recording, [Space] for start/stop, and [Home]/[Command]-[Home] to jump to the project start.
Effects and Instruments Reference Introduction This chapter describes the effects and instruments included with Sequel. How to use effects is described in the section “The Track Inspector Page” on page 82. Effects Parameters Delay Effects PingPongDelay PingPongDelay creates a bouncing effect. It bounces the signal between left and right. SyncNote allows you to sync the bouncing effect to the tempo. Feedback determines how long the delay lasts.
Effects Parameters VST Amp Rack VST Amp Rack is a powerful guitar amp simulator. The sound-related parameters (Bass, Middle, Treble, and Presence) have a significant impact on the overall character and sound of the amp. Gain cuts or boosts the signal, Bass adds low end to the signal, Middle boosts the middle frequencies of the signal, and Treble adds high end to the signal. Presence boosts or dampens the higher frequencies, and Master controls the volume of the output signal.
Effects Parameters Modulation Effects AutoPan AutoPan automatically moves the track’s signal from left to right and back again. Rate determines how quickly the signal moves back and forth. Width adjusts how far to the left and right the signal goes. Chorus Chorus works by doubling whatever is sent into it with a slightly detuned version. Rate changes the speed of the chorus effect. Width adjusts how much the signal is detuned.
Instrument Parameters Reverb Reverb allows you make it sound like your music was recorded in a large hall or cathedral. The Mix parameter determines how much original signal you hear versus the affected signal. Bypass lets you compare the original sound and the reverb sound. PreDelay controls how much time passes before the reverb is applied. Time determines the length of the reverb, thus creating a sense of space.
Index A C E Activated Step Input 88 Activating Sequel 8 Add track 61, 70 Advanced Features 101 AmpSimulator 119 Arpeggiator 83 Arrange Zone 68 ASIO driver 10 Attributes Filtering 76 Setting 79 Audio Connecting 11 Audio Driver Selecting 13 Audio file Detecting the tempo 108 Audio hardware About 9 Mac 10 Settings 13 Audio length 87 Audio quantization 103 Audio Settings 99 Audio tracks Adding 20 Auto Quantize 100 Automatic fades 72 Automation Adding 44 Disabling 46 Removing 46 Toggle 69 AutoPan 121 CD pla
F EQ Adding 40 Curve display 85 Frequency 84 Gain 84 Resonance 85 Equalizers panel 84 Event grid 106 Events Bounce Selection 32 Copying 31 Creating a new file from selection 32 Deleting 32 Moving 30 Muting 31 Renaming 28 Repeating 31 Resizing 29 Splitting 29 Exporting Audio files 47 Mixdown 48 MP3 47, 48 Project as Audio File 60 Project to iTunes 60 Selected tracks 48 To iTunes 48 Instrument tracks 83 iTunes Export project to iTunes 60 F L Family filter MediaBay 77 Files Importing 28 Filtering Media Fi
Q Performance Optimizing audio 16 Show track 69 Performance mode 64 Performance page About 96 Define Jump Grid 50 Recording 50 Step input 51 Performance part Creating 49 Performance track Creating parts 49 Showing 49 Performances Creating 51 Recording 50 Phaser 121 Pictures Adding 94 Pilot Zone 58 Display 64 PingPongDelay 119 Pitch Shift Algorithm 102 élastique 102 Play button 63 POS 64, 66 Presets Handling 83 Preview Media files 77 Project 60 Creating 19 Managing 59 New 59 Open 59 Recent 60 Save 59 Save a
T Step envelopes 105 Editing envelopes 106 Editing Steps 106 Musical grid 106 Random 107 Reset 107 Transient grid 106 Step Input 88 StereoDelay 119 StereoEnhancer 122 Sticky Browser Remote controllers 112 Stretch Mode 86 Swing Audio Events 87 Instrument parts 89 System setup 9 Track Picture Page Adding pictures 94 Track Pictures 73 Tracks Resize 70 Transient grid 106 Transport Controls 63 Transpose Instrument parts 88 Show Track 69 Transpose track Ignore 109 Tremolo 121 Tuner About 62 Tuning 23 T Undo 6
