Synthesizer Yamaha SEQTRAK (Black)

Yamaha Corporation is a Japanese company founded in 1887 that specializes in the production of various products, including musical instruments, sound equipment, etc. Yamaha is known for its quality products and innovative approach to technology development in the field of music and sound. Its products are used both professionally and at home and are popular with musicians and audiophiles around the world.

In early 2024, at NAMM, Yamaha introduced the new SEQTRAK synthesizer in two color variations: black and light gray with orange. What interesting is hidden in such a small device?

What's inside?

SEQTRAK's design is minimalistic. With compact dimensions (343 x 38 x 97 mm) and lightweight (0.8 kg), this synthesizer combines a 128-step sequencer, a four-operator FM synthesizer with 8-fold polyphony, a sampler that allows you to record sound from external sources, a drum machine, and a wide selection of sound effects.

The synthesizer itself is divided into 3 parts: the left part - drums, in the middle - a sampler, and the right section, which contains control of effects and functions for sound design.

Synthesizers

SEQTRAK offers 3 polyphonic digital synthesizers. 2 built-in AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2), which are sampler-based subtractive synthesizers and provide a wide collection of various authentic sounds and instruments, including pianos, guitars, strings, etc. The number of sounds exceeds 2000, and the engine itself supports 128-fold polyphony, which makes it possible to reproduce a truly powerful sound.

There is also an FM synthesizer based on the sounds of the classic Yamaha DX7 synthesizer. With four operators and 8x polyphony, this engine allows you to immerse yourself in the world of FM synthesis, creating vivid and diverse sounds such as leads, pads, electronic pianos, basses, plucks, and more.

Each of the synthesizers can be switched between monophonic, polyphonic, and chordal modes, and melodies can be played via the seven SEQTRAK keys, which can be set to individual scales. The step sequencer can also be used as a chromatic keyboard. The sequencer itself contains six patterns per track of up to 128 steps, which can be selected using 16 steps on the Seqtrak interface.

Sampler

Yamaha decided not to limit themselves to synthesizers and added a sampler with the ability to record sound from external sources. You can record through the built-in microphone or connect an external one using the TRS 1/8 (3.5 mm) audio input. The sound is recorded with a depth of 24 bits and a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz. In addition to recording external sound, you can also sample (record) the internal signal, which expands the possibilities for sound design and experimentation. A special feature is the ability to download samples via a Wi-Fi connection or USB Type-C.

Drum machine

For a complete arrangement, only the drums of the part are not enough. However, Yamaha engineers anticipated this and added a drum machine. It consists of seven tracks (kick, snare, clap, 2 hi-hats, and 2 percussion sounds). Sounds can be loaded from the built-in library.

Sequencer

The sequencer is the key element of this synthesizer for arranging and playing music tracks. Yamaha SEQTRAK has 11 tracks (7 for drums, 3 for synths, and 1 for sampler). It is possible to adjust the tempo of the composition, adjust the swing, and control individual tracks. The sequencer itself contains 6 patterns in 1 track and has up to 128 steps. All this makes it possible to arrange the instruments as you like.

Effects

We decided on the sounds and instruments, programmed the drum part, and created the arrangement. Next are the sound effects, which will be useful for audio processing. SEQTRAK has a huge selection of effects, including 12 types of reverb, 9 types of delay, modulation, distortion, compression, 5-band EQ, and low-pass and high-pass filters on each track. This opens up an incredible number of variations for audio processing, creating a virtual space using reverb and delay, working on the dynamics of instruments using a compressor, etc.

Connection

Despite its small size, this synthesizer has a wide range of options for connecting to the SEQTRAK visualizer program. Wi-Fi for transferring samples in WAV format without using cables or using USB Type-C. Also on the right is the MIDI In/Out (connection is possible only using the included adapter). The TRS 1/8 audio input allows you to connect an external microphone, drum machine, synthesizer, etc. and record sounds directly into the sampler. There is also a TRS 1/8 (3.5 mm) headphone output. All this together makes SEQTRAK the perfect tool for both the studio and on the go and provides a variety of connectivity options.

Portability

Yamaha SEQTRAK contains a battery with a capacity of 2100 mAh, which provides up to 3-4 hours of operation without recharging. Charging time is from 3 to 5 hours. By combining a battery and great functionality in such a small body, Yamaha has created a synthesizer that can be taken on a trip and generate ideas on the go.

SEQTRAK application

The SEQTRAK application for smartphones and computers expands the capabilities of this synthesizer, facilitates access to detailed sound editing, and visualizes various parameters.

As a result, the Yamaha company managed to create a wonderful instrument that has the functionality of a synthesizer, a drum machine, and a sampler. It can be both a separate device for writing music and a part of the studio, for experiments on sound and the generation of new ideas.

Features

• Compact dimensions (343 x 38 x 97 mm) and lightweight (0.8 kg)
• 3 synthesizers: 2x AWM2 and 1x FM synthesizer
• Drum machine
• Built-in sampler with the ability to record audio
• 128-step sequencer
• 11 tracks (7 for drums, 3 for synthesizers, and 1 for sampler)
• Up to 4 hours of battery life
• SEQTRAK app for Android, Windows, iOS and macOS
• Connectivity via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB Type-C, headphone output, audio input, MIDI input/output
• A large selection of effects

User manual