I tried Loomer a little bit, not sure if there’s more documentation now but the lack of it made it a bit of a struggle at the time. It did seem fantastic, quite complete and the developer is really responsive on KVR etc. but worth noting it’s been in beta a very long time now so does have slight ‘will this ever be finished’ vibes.
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revisiting this thread since i’m officially in the hybrid camp for a while – software MIDI sequencer, hardware sound generators/processors. a bit like back in 80s – early 90s.
so what i can say:
- sequencers on computers/laptops are so XX century
- there’s no iPad except iPad
-
Drambo rocks:
- if I only need MIDI sequencing/processing stuff – i just use only that stuff, either Drambo’s own modules and 3rd party MIDI plugins
- so, hosts 3rd party MIDI plugins
- clip/pattern-based workflow, very convenient to build arrangements
- has either piano roll (which i never use) and super cool step sequencer with P-Locking features
- live friendly
- etc etc etc
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…do the bitwig trick…
runs on all platforms…
makes no difference between midi and audio, internally as externally…
features heaps of note fx, stepsequencing, arpeggiating…where any kind of midi patterns can be created or cheated in realtime in any preferred way or key…
is a full fledged and beyond modular system of it’s own, THE modular daw without any focus but overall easy smartness no matter what U like to do…
detects and connects with pretty much all kind of external controlers out there…
same goes for audio and midi interfaces to bridge and sync and trigger all kinds of external gear in both ways…while anything can modulate/transform/morph/affect and effect anything with ease…also in realtime…from super simple to ultra complex…whatever is ur game…
and if u really just want any sort of midi sequencing only for now, well, whatever u got in mind and wanna try, it’s in there…promise…while any kind of daw dreams and final capture/mixdown option is just around the corner, ready for u in the xact same workflow and mainframe fashion…
one piece of code to rule them all…seriously.
Xequence 2 on iPad is the most pure play MIDI sequencer I know of without the bells and whistles of a DAW. Works for hardware and other iPad apps.
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there are others, e.g. Genome, Modstep, etc.
tried many of them.
Drambo wins.
Renoise. Great as a midi sequencer or sampler
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Bitwig is pretty awesome for sequencing, automating and modulating.
You can create pretty much anything with Notegrid.
i tried Bitwig as MIDI sequencer and did not like at all, even despite modulation capabiliies.
in general it’s too linear and not convenient for clip/pattern-based workflow.
but what killed me was Bitwig’s MIDI export – only notes and no CC data.
(recording clip by clip to/from hardware sequencer to overcome this limitation is no fun either.)
i’m still using it on Linux since it’s the only major DAW that has native Linux version, and it’s very stable.
but since they killed 16-track and replaced it with Producer that is twice more expensive, i won’t buy upgrade plans anymore and will stick with v5 on Linux until it stops working at some point.
and on Mac i can get Logic for $199 one-time instead of $199 yearly (well, $159 yearly if buying upgrade plan during sales).
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Or get a Yamaha qy700 
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i prefer Roland MC-80 EX 
Ableton with its various M4L devices is the most powerful and customizable sequencer around imo. Pretty much all of the great eurorack sequencers get ported into M4L in some shape or fashion.
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Why not go for a hardware sequencer? No clutter.
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Because they don’t really exist anymore without severe limitations. A Raspberry Pi with any of the software options listed in this thread would offer more functionality for 1/10th the cost of anything on the market today.
It’s kind of depressing that devices are released in this day an age with so many limitations. There is no processing reason why that the Digi* range should be limited to 4-8 midi tracks, and 4 note polyphony, especially at the price point they’re at.
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Very few of them are running on full CPUs — they’re almost all on microcontrollers, and in that world, 16mb is still a lot of memory, and that does mean things like track and polyphony limits. Part of the reason there is jitter — it’s much easier to get accurate timing in a microcontroller when you have to output to hardware ports (which on a real CPU host, including a pi, would be attached via USB). We’re getting better realtime OS images for small arm boxes like the Pi, so this is changing, but hardware dev cycles are slow, and only new hardware is going to take advantage of that. Also, most folks building hardware sequencers are focused on performance and workflow. If you want the infinite flexibility of a DAW, we already have a tool for that — the DAW, although it comes with the accompanying jitter issues if you want to sequence other hardware.
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there is tidal cycles and stuff like that don’t ask me how that works tho. 
If you’re not familiar with the code, I wouldn’t even bother.
You can’t run max for live apps without live, can you?
Actually, if you have a full Max license, some kinds of M4L devices can be made to work in standalone Max, as long as they are midi-in/out (like many sequencers) or audio in/out and don’t depend on controlling other aspects of live via M4L APIs. (I have done this, as I have both standalone full Max and Live Suite)
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LOL
I came in here to see what the replies were going to be because I had a mild curiosity about the subject and holy shit, the suggestions in here are so disconnected! Like, how is this possible? Do people read? Do people understand context? Like, “I’m looking for a cheeseburger that only has a patty and a slice of cheese”, “oh you should try the chicken sandwich at this other place…” wtf!?
LOL, I kid, I kid, and still, what’s going on? Haha
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Have you considered a Hawaiian pizza?
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Oh no, I haven’t. I’ve been thinking about switching car insurance though.
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