Here Are The 15 Best Sequencers For Music Production and Live Performance For Artists In 2024

Step into the future of music creation with our top picks of the 15 best sequencers for 2024, designed for both studio innovation and live performance dynamism. Whether you’re orchestrating complex beats or layering melodies, these sequencers are the artist’s ally for intuitive control and creative prowess. 

They bridge the gap between your musical vision and reality, offering unparalleled hands-on control, cutting-edge features, and flawless gear integration.

Arturia Beatstep Pro

If you’re a music producer who loves getting hands-on with hardware sequencing and has a diverse range of electronic music gear, you’ll want to check out the Arturia BeatStep Pro. This versatile MIDI sequencer is a dream come true, offering seamless compatibility with MIDI, USB, CV/Gate, and DIN Sync platforms. You’ll have plenty of room to experiment and create with two independent sequencers, each with 64 steps per sequence. 

See how Third Son uses the Arturia Beatstep Pro in his live setup in a recent interview that he did with our leading gear editor!     

The onboard 16-track drum sequencer offers real-time recording and classic step sequencing options. But that’s not all – the Arturia BeatStep Pro also features performance effects, a looper, a randomizer, and tactile controls, making it a pleasure to use. Don’t miss out on the power and creativity of the Arturia BeatStep Pro in your MIDI sequencing setup.

The BeatStep Pro has various performance functions to enhance creativity, including a looper with a touch strip, a randomizer, swing settings, and more. Lastly, the BeatStep Pro boasts a flexible MIDI controller mode, which allows for extensive DAW and virtual control, making it a powerful and versatile addition to any music producer’s toolkit.

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MPC X

The Akai Professional MPC X is a standalone DAW and one of the best grooveboxes we’ve seen this year, with everything you need for sampling and beat-making. It features a 10.1-inch multi-touch screen, 16 velocity-sensitive pads, and hands-on controls for a seamless production experience. With 16GB of internal storage and external complex drive support, it’s preloaded with an extensive collection of sounds, and firmware 2.10 introduces 14 new plug-ins.

New plug-ins include four instruments, seven insert effects, and an AIR Vocal Insert Effect Suite. There’s support for USB class-compliant audio interfaces for DAW-less recording of vocals and instruments. The MPC X also features an MPC Drum and Keygroup Engine with enhancements such as Akai Pro Sample Tail and a Keygroup Portamento. Finally, its pro-quality analog I/O connects to everything, with extensive MIDI, CV/Gate, and USB I/O controlling your entire setup.

To top it off, the MPC X comes with a 10GB Vault sample library filled with production-ready content. All in all, it’s the modern MPC all beatmakers have been waiting for.

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Digitakt

The Elektron Digitakt is an impressive digital drum machine and sampler perfect for standalone use and as a sequencer for your hardware synths. It boasts an eight-track audio engine, each with its multi-mode filter, assignable LFO, and onboard Delay and Reverb send effects. There’s over 1GB of onboard storage and 64MB of sample memory, and the machine supports USB and MIDI connectivity with Overbridge support.

In addition to the eight audio tracks, the Elektron Digitakt also features eight dedicated MIDI tracks for sequencing external instruments, keyboards, and MIDI-capable effects. The sequencer also has powerful Elektron sequencing with Trig Conditions and Parameter Locks, plus MIDI features such as a +3 note offset for every step, allowing you to sequence chords up to four. With USB 2.0 connectivity and MIDI In, Out, and Thru ports, the Elektron Digitakt is a versatile and powerful tool for any musician or producer.

Overall, the Elektron Digitakt is an excellent option for those needing a sample-based drum machine that offers a range of sequencing capabilities. The eight stereo audio tracks support one-shot samples and sample chains. In contrast, the one multimode filter per audio track and one assignable LFO per track offer many sound-shaping options. The Digitakt is also a great MIDI sequencer, with eight dedicated MIDI tracks and support for Overbridge. And with USB 2.0 connectivity, you can easily connect it to your computer for DAW integration.

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Akai Professional Fire Grid Controller for FL Studio

The Akai Professional Fire is a dedicated controller explicitly designed for FL Studio software, created in collaboration with Image-Line. This powerful controller offers comprehensive control for production and performance, featuring a 4 x 16 matrix of velocity-sensitive RGB pads that allow you to easily navigate the Channel Rack, Browser, Tool Bar, and Playlist menus. 

With the ability to connect up to four Fire grid controllers to FL Studio, you can create a physical 8 x 32 matrix right on your desktop or in your live rig.

The Akai Fire also has a dedicated transport section for comprehensive session control and a performance mode that allows you to create sequences and play instruments in real time. With its seamless integration and hands-on control, the Akai Fire offers a powerful and intuitive way to interact with FL Studio, taking your music-making sessions to the next level. 

The Akai Fire has a USB cable, Quickstart Guide, and FL Studio 20 Fruity Edition software license, making it the perfect choice for new and experienced producers.

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Akai Professional Force

The Akai Professional Force standalone sampler and the sequencer are robust music production systems that can be used independently or integrated with Ableton Live on your computer. With its sampling capabilities, looping, four built-in synth engines, clip launching, step sequencing, and DJ functionality, the Force can handle all aspects of your music-making needs. The 7″ multi-touch display lets you quickly launch clips, manipulate effects, and navigate projects, while the 8 x 8 velocity-sensitive pad matrix lets you play instruments and launch clips.

The Force is also ready to integrate with your favorite hardware, thanks to its CV/Gate and MIDI connectivity. The 360-degree rotary encoders feature OLED feedback, providing real-time feedback as you tweak parameters. The comprehensive sampling capabilities include real-time time stretching and pitch shifting. 

With over 10GB of sound included, you can start creating music right out of the box. You can even record your samples directly or load them via USB, SD card, or SATA drive. The Force also features deep mixing capabilities, including internal aux sends, master bus processing, and more. Whether working in the studio or performing live, the Akai Professional Force standalone sampler and the sequencer are among the most comprehensive music production systems ever created.

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Korg Volca Bass

The Korg Volca Bass analog synthesizer offers the distinctive, classic sound of an ultra-affordable 303 bassline synth but with the added benefit of being easy to program. Regardless of your genre preference, the Volca Bass’s fat, authentic analog bass sound will complement any electronic music production, including EDM and hip-hop. You’ll have three oscillators to create massive bass sounds and a 16-step sequencer to develop your grooves. Moreover, the Volca Bass boasts MIDI and Sync I/O, making integrating with the rest of your gear effortless.

Check Out Our Full Review Of The Korg Volca Bass Here

The unit features three analog oscillators that self-tune for a consistent and stable pitch, while the Slide function allows you to generate classic acid-style basslines. The Sync In/Out capability also lets you play in time with other Volca machines or the Monotribe. You can control the Volca Bass via the onboard ribbon or with a MIDI input. And to simplify your workflow, you can save your patterns for future recall.

In summary, the Korg Volca Bass is a versatile and affordable analog bass synth with the classic sound of a 303 bassline. The unit’s three oscillators and 16-step sequencer provide ample opportunity for crafting grooves, and its MIDI and Sync I/O make integration with other gear a breeze. 

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Analogue Solutions Impulse Command

The Analogue Solutions Impulse Command synthesizer is a versatile semi-modular analog synthesizer module that offers impressive creative potential for producing melodic and percussion loops. The synth features dual voltage-controlled oscillators, a voltage-controlled filter, two envelope generators, two LFOs, and digital reverb and delays effects, giving you an expansive palette of sounds.

One of the highlights of the Impulse Command is its Sequercizer, a 16-step analog sequencer that encourages real-time experimentation. With the ReOrder! Function: you can create new melodies from your sequencer that are more musical than randomize, taking your creativity to the next level. Additionally, the synth offers seven CV inputs and eight CV outputs, providing plenty of options for creating custom patches or interfacing with other modular synths.

With its stereo output and comprehensive set of features, the Analogue Solutions Impulse Command synthesizer is an excellent choice for music producers who want to explore the creative possibilities of analog synthesis. Whether you’re looking to create melodic loops or add depth to your percussion, the Impulse Command offers plenty of tools to help you achieve your desired sound.

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Novation Circuit Tracks Groovebox

The Novation Circuit Tracks is a portable, battery-powered production workstation that expands on the success of its predecessor, the Novation Circuit groovebox. The Circuit Tracks features two polyphonic synthesizers with 128 factory patches and four independent drum tracks, making it a powerful tool for creating full-fledged electronic productions. The 4 x 8 matrix of RGB-backlit pads provides an intuitive way to play and sequence your music, while the ten responsive control knobs make tweaking parameters a breeze.

The Circuit Tracks also includes two MIDI tracks for controlling external devices, and a browser-based editor/librarian allows you to load your samples. You can store your creations in 64 project memory slots for easy recall and performance. Additionally, Circuit Packs allow you to combine a complete library of sessions, samples, and patches into a single file.

The sequencer is one of the standout features of the Circuit Tracks, with the ability to chain multiple 16- or 32-step patterns to create sequences up to 256 steps. The Synth Micro-nudge feature allows for off-grid rhythm creation, and tie-forward settings make it easy to create tied and drone notes. The Circuit Tracks also includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for music production on the go. With USB and MIDI connections, the Novation Circuit Tracks is a versatile addition to any electronic music setup, and the Components web-based tools expand its functionality even further.

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Polyend Tracker

In 1987, the first tracker software program was launched, which appeared more like a moving spreadsheet than a music production sequencer. Nevertheless, as musicians began exploring the program, they discovered that its vertical column design provided a highly effective workflow, allowing visibility over every aspect of a composition. The Polyend Tracker hardware unit pays homage to those pioneering software trackers while liberating them from the computer and giving them a modern hardware spin. 

It also has backward compatibility with old-school tracker files called MODs, making it possible to finish that old jungle track you started in the 90s. The device allows up to 48 instruments and 256 patterns with 128 steps per pattern for building massive tracks. You can upload samples via microSD card or capture them on the unit through its mic and line inputs, and it even includes a radio receiver for grabbing samples off the airwaves.

The Polyend Tracker is an all-in-one, go-anywhere music production system that offers performance features to take your production live. It is also MIDI-equipped to sequence hardware devices or to receive MIDI commands from your DAW or an external MIDI controller. You can export your projects as master stereo tracks or stems to a microSD card, it is powered by a USB bus. 

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Polyend Play

Polyend’s latest offering, the Play, is a groovebox that gets right to the point. This sampler/sequencer hybrid features a range of intuitive controls and an impressive selection of sounds, allowing musicians to focus on the creative process without getting bogged down in the technicalities—plenty of room for experimentation with eight audio and eight polyphonic MIDI tracks. At the same time, the customizable pattern arrangement allows for easy mapping of sequences on the grid for live performances. The Play also boasts a range of onboard FX and versatile MIDI functionality, making it a versatile tool for both studio and stage.

We Did A Comprehensive Review Of The Polyend Play: Check It Out!!!

The Play encourages polymetric and polyrhythmic writing, with individual track modifications for length, swing, and playback mode. Musicians can immediately dive into exploratory writing with 30,000 track variations and 3,000 pre-loaded samples across 35 sample kits. The 64-step sequencer also means longer, more complex sequence lengths for modular writing arrangements. The Play includes a single MIDI-TRS adapter, easily integrating other hardware devices.

In short, the Polyend Play is a multi-purpose sound-design groovebox that prioritizes creativity and simplicity. With a range of playback functions, including randomizer and step repeater functions, and an intuitive interface that seamlessly transitions between studio and stage, this sampler/sequencer is a versatile tool for musicians of all skill levels.

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Roland MC-101

Roland MC-101 Groovebox is the ideal compact sequencer for music production on the go. This versatile device packs the power of the flagship MC-707 Groovebox into a portable, battery-powered unit that offers up to five hours of operation from just four AA batteries. The MC-101 offers a compact solution for creating your samples and loops, and its powerful sequencing capabilities make it an excellent choice for integrating with other synth modules.

With over 3,000 built-in sounds and 80 drum kits, the MC-101 offers a modern groove production center. It features four sequencing or audio playback tracks, each with up to 64 sequence steps. The 16 expressive pads allow you to play bass lines, grooves, and melodies, and clip-based sequencing offers up to 16 clips per track and a total of 128. The device also has an SD card media to save your custom sounds and projects.

The built-in multi-effects include 90 types of track effects and mastering effects, and the looper supports time to stretch and pitch shift. The MC-101 combines sequencing and groove production in a single portable package, and it is equally suited for making music on its own, as a master sequencer for external synths, or as a groove station locked to a master sequencer. Whether you’re looking for a portable production center or a compact sequencer to go with your other synth gear, the Roland MC-101 Groovebox is an impressive choice.

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MPC One

The Akai Professional MPC One Standalone Sampler and Sequencer packs a powerful multi-core processor into a compact form factor, offering producers a wide range of creative possibilities on the go. The MPC One is the ultimate portable music production center with everything from sampling and beat programming to editing, mixing, and effects. The 7-inch touchscreen allows users to edit and chop samples with hand gestures, while 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads make it easy to program beats and play melodies.

This standalone music production center comes with 4GB of onboard storage and is fully compatible with projects, programs, and sequences from previous MPC versions and legacy hardware. You can also load up your custom samples via SD card or USB, making accessing the sounds you need more accessible. The MPC One includes acclaimed instruments such as Electric, Tubesynth, Bassline, and AIR FX mastering processors.

The latest update to the MPC series, standalone firmware 2.10, adds even more functionality to this versatile device. With 14 new plug-ins, including four instruments (Hype, Solina, Odyssey, and Mellotron), seven insert effects (Half Speed, Diode Clipper, Stutter, Diffuser Delay, Sample Delay, Limiter, and Granulator), and an AIR Vocal Insert Effect Suite, the MPC One can now do it all. There’s also support for any class-compliant audio interface, making recording and mixing tracks directly from your MPC unit easy. Whether you’re producing music on the go or in the studio, the Akai Professional MPC One Standalone Sampler and Sequencer is the perfect choice for modern music producers.

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Roger Linn Design LinnStrument

Roger Linn Design’s LinnStrument USB/MIDI controller offers a fresh way for keyboardists and synth enthusiasts to interact with their instruments. With its unique design, the LinnStrument has eight rows that span a two-octave range, each of which can be individually “tuned” like the strings on a guitar. Additionally, every note can be modulated in three ways simultaneously, providing a highly expressive playing experience.

The LinnStrument also allows you to assign different colors to different notes and scales, making it easy to quickly find the notes you need. With USB and MIDI I/O, integrating this controller into your setup is a breeze, and it can be powered via USB or an optional power supply.

At Sweetwater, we’ve seen our fair share of MIDI controller keyboards. The LinnStrument is a unique option to help you discover new chords and intervals you may not experiment with on a traditional piano keyboard. With the LinnStrument, you can control note on, aftertouch, modulation, and pitch bend with a single touch, providing a powerful tool for your music production needs.

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Elektron Octatrack MKII

The Octatrack MKII by Elektron is the ideal performance sampler and sequencer for electronic music production. With eight stereo audio tracks, eight dedicated MIDI tracks, and real-time sample stretching and pitch shifting, this machine has everything you need at the core of your setup. The new and improved version boasts additional performance-focused features such as smooth crossfader, hi-res encoders, and more function buttons.

One of the most notable features of the Octatrack MKII is its OLED screen, which provides exceptional visibility for an easier and more efficient workflow. The backlit buttons on this machine are built to last, with a durability rating of 50 million presses. The ultra-smooth contactless crossfader allows for precise performance control, and the hi-res precision encoders make it easy to fine-tune your tracks.

The Octatrack MKII has an onboard 16-track sequencer (eight internal, eight MIDI) and offers several playback modes, including Slice, Slots, Chromatic, Delay Ctrl, and Quick Mute. Additionally, this machine allows straightforward recording of samples on the fly and supports complete elasticity of loops, remaining in sync when pitching- or tempo-shifted. You can even mold single sounds into virtually any shape. With a compact flash card for massive library storage and a USB 2.0 port for rapid file transfer, the Elektron Octatrack MKII is fully compatible with Octatrack MKI projects and data.

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Korg SQ-64 Polyphonic

The Korg SQ-64 Polyphonic Sequencer is a compact yet feature-packed hardware sequencer designed to complement your synthesizer rig. With a 64-pad sequence matrix, the SQ-64 offers four sequencer tracks that allow you to command your synths, drum machines, and Eurorack modules through Gate, CV, and MIDI. You can also use the matrix pads in keyboard mode to capture your playing in the sequence, providing a hands-on, instrument-like experience that hardware sequencers excel at.

The SQ-64 Polyphonic Sequencer is a versatile machine that can be used as the master clock for your synth rig or synced to your clock of choice via MIDI or audio sync. Dual MIDI outputs can sequence MIDI synths and drum machines, while the CV outputs for Mod, Pitch, and Gate support all common modular voltage standards and can be re-biased for unique voltage needs. With three sequence tracks supporting up to 8-note polyphony each and a fourth D-Sub track supporting up to 8 MIDI notes and 8 CV “notes” for monophonic sequencing of drum parts, the SQ-64 provides the flexibility to create complex and evolving sequences.

Other features of the SQ-64 Polyphonic Sequencer include Per-step Probability, which gives you control over how often that step is active for ever-changing sequences. You can sync with your other gear via MIDI or Audio Sync I/O, perform and record your sequences in real time with Keyboard mode, and save up to 64 projects, each with up to 16 different patterns for each sequencer track. The SQ-64 also has a tempo range of 30–300 bpm, providing the precision needed for your productions or performances.

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