Yamaha SEQTRAK First Impressions: A Surprising All-in-One Groovebox, but There's a Catch

I first saw the SEQTRAK at NAMM and had to see how it would work in my sampler based workflow

I first got hands-on with the Yamaha SEQTRAK back in January at NAMM 2025, and it immediately stood out to me. As someone who usually leans more toward samplers than grooveboxes in my dawless workflow, I didn’t expect to be as intrigued by it as I was. The form factor is compact, the layout is clean and it felt like Yamaha was aiming to pack a surprising amount of depth into this portable unit.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve finally spent some time with the SEQTRAK, putting it through its paces at home, in the studio, and on the go. While I’m still exploring all its features (and working on a full review), I can already say there are things I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did… and one or two quirks that definitely caught me off guard.

Here's my first time opening the box and making a beat. I didn't read any manual or watch videos, instead choosing to see how easy it would be to open and play.

Yamaha did send me the SEQTRAK, but they didn’t sponsor this and have no say in what I share. Everything here is just my honest experience.

Here's my early Yamaha SEQTRAK takeaways:

• The free app is a MUST when starting out

  Think of it as a sort of training wheels: it shows you everything that’s possible on the SEQTRAK (which is a surprising amount), and from there, you can start learning the button combos that let you do it directly on the hardware.

• The sequencer is crazy powerful, but easy to understand

  You can do per-step automation and tweak parameters like volume, pitch, FX, and more on any single step of the sequencer - across all 7 drum tracks. It’s as simple as holding a step and moving the corresponding encoder or knob.

  
  

• There’s a TON of synth presets and drum one-shots

  With a wide range of sonic variety, I’ve been able to sketch out everything from house to lofi beats to ambient drones — all inside the box.

  
  

• The sampler is powerful but limited

  This is where I’ve hit the biggest catch so far. The Yamaha SEQTRAK lacks resampling and true sample slicing — which, as a sample-based musician, is a big deal. I often record my live instruments and chop or mangle them for beats, so this was a notable limitation. That said, the SEQTRAK’s sampler is capable: 7 pads per project, per-pad FX, start/end control, pitch envelopes, it just needs external help to really shine.

  My workaround? I’ve been using the $5 Koala Sampler app to do the slicing and prep work, then importing those loops into the SEQTRAK. From there, its sequencer lets me build out full tracks and variations quickly — with plenty of control.

The full review is coming soon — along with a cheat sheet to help you get the most out of the SEQTRAK, but for now, enjoy the first look and let me know what you think. Are you using the SEQTRAK? Curious about it? Drop a comment on the video or reach out.

Need some drum loops and melodic sounds to get started sampling? Download the Sampler Starter Kit here:

https://www.sunwarper.com/product-page/sampler-start-kit

Learn how to make the most of your gear and get personalized music production coaching, book your first lesson free: https://www.sunwarper.com/lessons