Yamaha SEQTRAK: 5 Things to Know Before You Buy

The Yamaha SEQTRAK is a powerful and highly portable groovebox packed with features. But that compact size and button-heavy design come with a learning curve. After a few months of diving into its workflow, here are five key things I wish I had known when I first started beatmaking on the SEQTRAK.

1. Use the Yamaha SEQTRAK Companion App to Learn the Ropes

The free SEQTRAK app (available on iOS, Android, MacOS and Windows) is a game-changer for navigating the SEQTRAK’s many features. It acts as a wireless screen and editor, making it much easier to understand complex functions, access parameters, and visualize your tracks.

While nearly everything can be done on the hardware, the app makes it far easier to:

• See track layouts and FX routing

• Automate parameters visually

• Adjust synth, sampler, and drum tracks

• Preview effects and tweak granular settings

If you’re new to the SEQTRAK, the app is the fastest way to learn what it can do.

2. Per-Track Mixing Tools Are Powerful

Each drum, synth, and sampler track on the SEQTRAK has its own:

• EQ (low cut, high cut, flat)

• Resonance control

• Per-track FX (delay, distortion, etc.)

That means you can do basic mixing and shaping without needing a DAW:

• Carve out high-end from kicks to make room for snares and hats

• Boost resonance to emphasize transients or harmonics

• Use tempo-sync delay or filter FX to add groove and glue

Everything can be done on the hardware, but the app again makes it easier to visualize and tweak. For live jamming or mobile setups, this onboard mixing is a huge plus.

3. Step Automation Unlocks Dynamic Beats

Like the Elektron Digitakt, the SEQTRAK lets you apply per-step automation. You can hold a step and tweak:

• Volume

• FX amount

• Filter cutoff

This opens up expressive sequencing, including:

• Ghost notes with low-volume kicks or hats

• FX hits that only trigger on specific steps

• Variation within otherwise static patterns

You can even hold multiple steps and apply changes across all of them. This feature alone lets you breathe life and swing into your drum programming.

4. Play and Record Basslines or Leads with a Hidden Keyboard

To move beyond the default 7-step pitch grid, hold All + Key to access a mini keyboard. It’s not the most comfortable for performance, but it lets you:

• Play melodies or basslines in any key

• Transpose easily

• Record more expressive synth parts

Want more control? You can connect a MIDI keyboard. But for ultra-portable workflows, the built-in option is great once you learn the button combos.

5. The Sampler Is Simple, But Still Useful

The SEQTRAK’s sampler isn’t built for deep sample chopping—you won’t get waveform views or precise slicing—but it has creative potential.

Two main use cases:

• External prep: Chop samples in an app like Koala Sampler, then import full loops or one-shots

• Manual chops: Load the same sample to multiple pads, then adjust start/end points to mimic slices, but no waveform or visual cues are provided

Each pad gets:

• Individual pitch, filter, and EQ settings

• Shared track-level effects

• A powerful pitch envelope, great for risers, warped transitions, or subtle detuning

While limited compared to full-featured samplers, the SEQTRAK’s sampler shines as part of a larger performance workflow.

The SEQTRAK rewards time spent learning its shortcuts, quirks, and capabilities. While some functions are menu-dense, others (like automation and EQ) are impressively flexible for a compact box.

If you’re just getting started, use the app to build muscle memory. Then, dig into automation and sample tricks to really unlock your creativity.

Want to learn how to make the most of the SEQTRAK and get your music heard? Check out my coaching sessions tailored to your gear and goals with personalized feedback and one-on-one help with your workflow.

Free Sample Pack: