How To Use Youtube Sequencer
What is Youtube Sequencer?
Have you ever hit the number keys while watching Youtube? That simple action jumps the video to different timestamps - and creative musicians have discovered you can use this like a primitive sampler. This observation sparked an idea.
As someone who loves experimenting with drum machines like the Arturia Drumbrute, I wanted to take this Youtube "feature" and transform it into something musical. I built Youtube Sequencer using TypeScript and Redux to create a robust, reliable music-making tool that doesn't miss a beat. The result is a sequencer that turns any Youtube video into an instrument.
Traditional sampling can be time-consuming, requiring you to download, trim, and import audio files. Youtube Sequencer removes these barriers - just paste a URL and start creating.
Features
- 32-step sequencer grid
- Use any Youtube video as a sound source
- Adjust volume per track
- Variable tempo control
- Built-in metronome with adjustable time divisions
Getting Started
- Paste a Youtube URL into one of the track slots and click
- Select a pad1and assign it a command to create your pattern. Assign commands using your keyboard or the Addl. Command Select module.
Available Commands:
Icon Key Function 0-9 Jump to video timestamp. seeks to 10% of video duration, to 20%, and so on, up to 90% p Play video o Pause video [ Seek backward 5 seconds ] Seek forward 5 seconds m Mute u Unmute Backspace Clear pad - Press to hear your sequence
- Add more videos to create a full composition
Nudge Controls
Fine-tune the timing of your seek commands ( - ) using the nudge controls. Select any pad and adjust its timing with millisecond precision. For example, a pad with a seek command of and a nudge value of 0.030s will seek to 10% of the video duration plus 30 milliseconds.
You'll see a thin blue bar under each pad indicating the pad's nudge value.
Performance Controls
Quick keyboard controls let you mute tracks and switch sequence banks on the fly while performing:
Quick Mute Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| y | Toggle mute for Track 1 |
| u | Toggle mute for Track 2 |
| h | Toggle mute for Track 3 |
| j | Toggle mute for Track 4 |
Sequence Bank Controls
Each track has two sequence banks (A and B) that can store different patterns. Switch between them instantly:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| e | Toggle Track 1 between Bank A/B |
| r | Toggle Track 2 between Bank A/B |
| d | Toggle Track 3 between Bank A/B |
| f | Toggle Track 4 between Bank A/B |
Save & Load
Save and load patterns using the Save / Load buttons in Global Controls:
Your sequences are saved as .dance files, containing all your video sources, patterns, and timing settings. Share these files with friends to let them play your sequences!
After loading a .dance file, remember to click for each track to load the videos.