I have most of the classic Roland drum machines and analogue synths - I sequence the synths on Ableton mainly but program all the drums on the machines themselves as it's so much fun, using them to trigger sequences on the 101 and run the arp on my JP6 and Poly61. My perspective is written as a 50YO who has been making electronic music (acid/electro/techno) since I got my first Amiga at 17! I still can barely play the keys, but I am master of the sequencer. Not all the time, but it's nice to be able to use your gear and a sequencer without using the keyboard and mouse - if you are reading HN there's a fair chance you use a computer all day, and it's nice that when you are being creative you can put the computer to one side and treat it as a giant digital recording studio / tape recorder, as you create and make music on your synths/grooveboxes/drum machines Something I always agree with is that not doing it sitting at the computer is important. I'll put that on a rough scale from Vangelis-style arrangements epics on the left, to synthwave in the middle, to electro and techno on the right, with the scale labelled "suitability of drawing patterns on screen" The reason that is important is that it can have a big influence on the tools you use to create your music - whether that is playing by keyboard then using a computer to tidy up your playing, or sitting with a blank piano-roll or step sequencer and creating loops. The reason I am on the fence is that, for me, there is an important question missing from the article and that is "What style, or genre, of music are you trying to create?". The one part I am on the fence on is on being able to play in notes, as opposed to just sequencing them on-screen. I had a cynical face on when I clicked this, but I found it a great article and I'd agree with all of the advice in it.
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