The original Arturia BeatStep already looked good. Start with a compact drum pad controller, add some encoders for more control, then add a step sequencer that can control MIDI and analog gear.
But the problem is, the execution of the sequencer idea is complex. It turns out you need even simple sequencers to do a lot. And so the original BeatStep, while still an amazing buy for a hundred bucks, was a little disappointing. It was just hard to actually sequence on the thing. You could get one sequence going, but that’s not enough for really playing, and simple rhythmic operations could too easily knock things out of sync.
And that’s why I’m excited about the Arturia BeatStep Pro, coming in April. Because it doesn’t just tick the boxes on my complaints about the BeatStep. It rethinks the whole control interface to make the kind of sequencer that could be at the center of a really amazing gig.
In other words, even if the price is jumping to US$299/€249 list, this could be a time for them to shut up and take my … you know.
And at its heart is a really simple concept. See, you probably don’t want to sequence one bass line, or one drum pattern. (Oooh, minimal!) No, you want more than one thing at once. So, there’s this simple idea: Combine two melodic sequencers with one drum sequencer. Run them independently. And provide easy access to all three.
I don’t care what sort of music you make, whether it’s techno or experimental ambient klezmer. The ability to do three things at once well is better than doing one thing sort of poorly. And doing more than one thing at once is the essence of live electronic music. So, yes, it’s about time.
As before, play each live in real-time or step sequence. Then add the ingredients together:
Two monophonic step sequencers
Add your melodic sequences here…
Up to 64 steps per sequence
Note, velocity and gate time settings per step
Note tie
This is beautiful too — Arturia tells CDM exclusively that all changes to the sequences can be linked, or independent. So, for instance, you can transpose your melodies individually, or all together, all at once, right from the pads.
One drum sequencer
Multitrack drum sequencing makes it easy to add rhythms…
16-track drum sequencer (one track per pad)
MIDI controller mode
Fully customizable for knobs, step buttons and velocity and pressure sensitive pads
Send MIDI CC, note data, program changes
Projects
You can combine your setup into a single project – think “song.” You get 16×2 sequences, 16 drum sequences and a controller map.
Performance controls
Touch sensitive knobs – with (finally) feedback on the display so you can see what you’re doing
Tap Tempo
Per-sequence swing settings
More performance goodies
This is like being on your way out of the door and someone running after you and shouting “wait, no – we want to give you a free cake! And a bottle of champagne!” Because while you don’t need it and didn’t ask for it, Arturia are adding more:
There’s a Randomizer for spicing up the sequences, with Amount and Probability settings. (That’s one of the things I very much like on another step sequencer/controller, the Faderfox SC-3)
And there’s a real-time looper/roller touch strip.
Apparently this functionality came partly from Spark, adding the features from that excellent drum machine software to the Beatstep-inspired step sequencers.
That makes this into a performance instrument and not just a utility.
Oh, and it’s a USB controller
This is still an excellent compact drum pad controller with mappable knobs, so ideal for controlling performance. Add in those new touch-sensitive knobs, and you’re in even better shape.
Play Spark, your own drum machine software, Ableton Live clips, whatever.
I almost forgot about this after the much-expanded sequencing features.
Connectivity
You get everything you need. USB alone is enough to justify the purchase, probably, but there’s also standalone operation.
CV/GATE outputs (1 volt per octave CV, 10 volt gates)
8 drum gate outputs
Clock sync with multiple standards
MIDI In/Out with supplied MIDI adaptors
Competition: It’s On
So, there’s now both this and the new Korg SQ-1 step sequencer, which has a street price of just US$99. The Korg has some really nice volca-inspired step/jump features, the price is terrific, and those knobs are cute – and it also does CV.
Then again, that mostly means the Korg is something you might pick up after this. But with the added functionality of the pads, the multi-layered sequences, and so on, there’s no question that this will be more useful if executed right.
It looks like we’ll be testing some step sequencers this spring. And we’ll have ultra-mobile live rigs, just in time for open air season. And no reason to worry about glare or heavy loads, as a result. Bring drum machines, not records; bring synths, not laptops.
Hallelujah.
http://arturia.com/beatstep-pro/overview
so i think the answer is clear, because it’s not mentioned, but I want to ask anyway: will the Beatstep Pro do polyphonic sequencing on one track? (i.e. can I use any of the tracks to sequence chords?)
Otherwise it looks freakin’ sweet.
so i think the answer is clear, because it’s not mentioned, but I want to ask anyway: will the Beatstep Pro do polyphonic sequencing on one track? (i.e. can I use any of the tracks to sequence chords?)
Otherwise it looks freakin’ sweet.
so i think the answer is clear, because it’s not mentioned, but I want to ask anyway: will the Beatstep Pro do polyphonic sequencing on one track? (i.e. can I use any of the tracks to sequence chords?)
Otherwise it looks freakin’ sweet.
I like it that they have changed the layout for notes on the pads.
I like it that they have changed the layout for notes on the pads.
I like it that they have changed the layout for notes on the pads.
Neat!
Neat!
Neat!
Could you power it through a USB connected to a wall wart rather than a computer? Thinking this would be a great sequencer for my modular synth but I’d prefer to have no computers around when I’m using it.
Yes. Everything works without computer. Just use wall wart 🙂
FYI you could power the old Beatstep of a non iPhoneWall Wart phone charger. I even used a Phone External battery pack. (Like a Mophi)
Could you power it through a USB connected to a wall wart rather than a computer? Thinking this would be a great sequencer for my modular synth but I’d prefer to have no computers around when I’m using it.
Yes. Everything works without computer. Just use wall wart 🙂
FYI you could power the old Beatstep of a non iPhoneWall Wart phone charger. I even used a Phone External battery pack. (Like a Mophi)
Could you power it through a USB connected to a wall wart rather than a computer? Thinking this would be a great sequencer for my modular synth but I’d prefer to have no computers around when I’m using it.
Yes. Everything works without computer. Just use wall wart 🙂
FYI you could power the old Beatstep of a non iPhoneWall Wart phone charger. I even used a Phone External battery pack. (Like a Mophi)
Just commenting before I throw away my laptop and buy one of these.
LOL
you win
big mistake!
Just commenting before I throw away my laptop and buy one of these.
big mistake! My critical comment removed..
Just commenting before I throw away my laptop and buy one of these.
big mistake! My critical comment removed..
Transpose both sequences at the same time? Will it transpose when the sequence ends or when you hit the button? This may be exactly what I want. 64 steps and a bunch of outputs.
Transpose both sequences at the same time? Will it transpose when the sequence ends or when you hit the button? This may be exactly what I want. 64 steps and a bunch of outputs.
Transpose both sequences at the same time? Will it transpose when the sequence ends or when you hit the button? This may be exactly what I want. 64 steps and a bunch of outputs.
Is it completely beyond the realms of modern human science to make a hardware sequencer with a usable number of channels? Maybe it’s just me but without at least 8 fully polyphonic channels these things seem like not much more than toys. Not saying there’s anything wrong with toys, just that the “OMG THROW OFF YOUR LAPTOPS FREE AT LAST FREE AT LAST” rhetoric seems a bit overblown when we’re talking about two damn channels of MIDI.
The article does not tell you to throw your laptop away. It proposes to you to create a laptop-free set up with the recently released small-size drum machines, synths, etc that can all talk to each other.
I can imagine hooking my Access Virus b to this sequencer and then syncing it to my Volca Keys as well as my old Korg Electribe ER-1 and throwing in a Volca Sample in there as well as an iPad running what-not. It will actually be somewhat larger (at least in area covered on table) than my computer set up but it will definitely be more physical (than my already quite physical setup) and more “instant”.
Oh then I could use soon-to-be-mine iConnect2+ to merge midi data from another sequencer, say Korg SQ-1, to sequence some more parts on the Virus. The virus is not a very portable synth (it’s the desktop version I have) but as far as I am concerned, is one of the best hardware virtual analog synths manufactured.
I’d use my laptop to design sounds for use with Volca Sample and Samplr on the iPad.
As a matter of fact, I’m about to snag a Virus B, and was looking at the original beatstep to sequence it but this looks much more versatile for my setup, which is mostly ableton based. Would you have happened to see something that I’ve missed about the two instrument sequencers on the Pro being able to control midi gear, or do they also go through the MIDI and USB ports? I’d prefer to run directly from the Pro to the Virus via MIDI, but I’d settle for bouncing the sequencer output over USB through Ableton to it as well. Just curious if you’ve read anything that’s passed beneath my radar.
Hi Jacob, if you watch the promotional video, you will see that the first thing the musician does is to connect it to a Microbrute over MIDI.
yes, but it’s impossible to connect it to a normal midi expander and send bass or lead voice patch changes.. (A total nightmare)
I do not think that is the idea behind a hardware step sequencer.
I have the Beatstep and I used to play my Virus either through my DAW (beatstep usb -> DAW midi -> virus) or directly (beatsep midi -> virus). If you are asking if the beatstep will send contemporarily midi signal trhough usb and midi i didn’t try but i guess yes
im in the market for virus B looks great considering it’s age is it up to par in terms of midi sync capabilities ?
I just saw this sorry. The Virus b is 16-part multitimbral and all parts can have arpeggiators that can sync to MIDI clock at different time divisions. Its single reverb/delay effect (acts globally on all parts, but each part has its separate send level) can also be synced. There is even a feedback reverb which is incredibly cool – the predelay time acts as a sort of a delay that can be fedback onto itself.
All three LFOs per part can also be synced to MIDI.
I am waiting for the iPad sequencer “modstep” to become available. It may prove to be more useful than the beatstep pro.
It may be just you lol! A lot of classic electronic music has been done with similar minimal setups…but kidding aside, I’m sure that is the next step. This is all business-based coming off of the new interest in EDM and analog hardware. We are in a cycle where polyphony will be “discovered” in 2 years!
What is interesting to me about this is that Arturia always seems to leave a large gap with integration – I wonder if they are just going to shift away from software altogether. You would think they would have at least shown a demo of this running Spark and some of their analog synth VSTs in addition to hardware analog synths – but I guess like I said, it’s a cycle!
Well, a dead-simple eight-track sequencer sounds interesting. Like a MicroOctatrack, basically. 🙂
Given the number of people who at least claim to be looking for old 90s hardware for the sequencing capabilities (RM1x, etc.), I’m sort of surprised that no one has released something that hearkens back to those machines.
Beatstep Pro gets close, and it looks really fun!, but I need the ability to sequence chords. Monophony just doesn’t do it for me — I want all of the notes!
Same here .. I need chords.
Alesis MMT-8. Still the best MIDI sequencer money can buy.
I have the black MMT-8 .. its good at what it can do but it doesn’t have step sequencing.
Oh no.. Those terrible rubber buttons that you have to press down at the edges, and they still don’t work, and the miserable little display that corrupted and was invisible sometimes.. They made me severely ill.
🙂 hehehehe
If you were playing live and had a sequencer with you, the most important parts to come with the help of a sequencer would be bass and drums. You could always play chords in live and they always sound better when played. Best things always come when possibilities are limited. If possibilities are endless, then usually things end up with stuff being overproduced.
See: Big Room EDM.
Octatrack has 8 channels. The new Electribe 2 does 16 channels with polyphony and sounds good to boot. It actually has a damn good sequencer as long as you don’t also need to sequence CC. If so, Octatrack is probably your best bet, or perhaps Maschine, if you want to bring a PC into it.
Electribe can seq CC. Korg calls it motion sequencing… Realtime knob twist or step program the knob value per pad..at least u could on the gen 1 electribes.
The new one does not transmit cc from recorded motion sequences. Only live knob tweaks.
It also has numerous other bugs and feature omissions, go to korg forums and read all about it. I’m actually more excited for the beatstep pro.
Yeah, absolutely, if you want an Octatrack, you want an Octatrack.
I mean, this thread has raised a good point… and one I’ll explain more clearly in the review. But the reality is, in live use, sometimes you don’t need more than three things at once. Of course, you do need *three* things at once which is why the KORG SQ-1 and previous Beatstep might leave you wanting… 😉
and trigger finger pro (once again)
Agreed. Yamaha did 16 channels of seq on the RM1x back in the 90’s. Why cant they scale it down and just sell it as a seq? Emu did 32,MPC 64…
Right, and the RM1x had means of putting content onto those channels. 😉 So I’m back where I started.
EMU Mp7 had monstrous capabilities.
I have the EMU MP7 and have just ordered a Beatstep Pro. I also have 2 x EMU Proteus 2500’s and will incorporate them all together into a rack.
I figure to use the Beatstep Pro as ‘production pads’ over midi, and I won’t use USB at first anyway. There is no note repeat on the MP7, and no real ‘swing’ and certainly no ‘random’ or ‘percentage’.
The MP7 pads are not so responsive and are not easy to play. Then I’ll record sequences from Beatstep Pro to the MP7’s sequencer memory, and use the expanded MP7’s voices and also those of the expanded EMU 2500’s. I shall still trigger some drums from Beatstep Pro, and clock all of the EMU gear from it. (I hope)
I play Starr Labs Ztars, and have a Mini ZX. They are very compact controllers and I hope to have a really powerful but fairly compact system, once I have configured everything.
Since Yamaha now own Steinberg, it’s probably not in their best interests to release a new hardware sequencer even though there would be a market for it. I much preferred sequencing on my RM1x to any software sequencer I’ve ever used.
Three channels of MIDI. For three separate sequencers. With three separate controls. And each of those sequencers is monophonic.
Pardon, but — yes, as the others say, this is basically for simple monophonic sequencing. There’s no reason you couldn’t use it alongside a computer, which is a better choice for polyphonic sequencing.
But I don’t understand why it would make any sense to add channels if you don’t have additional controls to determine content being sent *to* those channels. I mean… you’re essentially then asking for a useless and meaningless spec for the sake of being able to say it’s there.
where are we seeing the three channels of midi? there is definitely only one port, so the only real destination for the midi is a laptop, correct? or at least a hardware synth/sampler that can route 3 channels off one port?
i hoped i could drive a couple Volcas with it, but if it’s only one midi out, i’ll have to think of something else.
it’s a nice looking piece of kit.
Ever heard of midi thru? One midi port can carry 16 channels of data. If your gear doesn’t have a thru port, buy a midi thru box. Midi solutions makes a nice 4 port thru box.
The third channel is drums.
never tried using one. I didn’t think a thru box was smart enough to take one port with 2 channels and know which was which. the demo video doesn’t show it, but I wondered if you could connect two Volca units to it.
you set one volca to one of 16 MIDI channels, another volca to another MIDI channel and then send them the exact same MIDI signal over a MIDI Thru box.
Three MIDI channels do not mean three separate outputs. It sends data over three separate MIDI channels.. three out of 16 MIDI channels. It’s elementary MIDI knowledge, really.
One could use this to perform with multitimbral synth like a Virus, creating Multi programs that have drums, one bass line and one lead line. Changing presets could be super easily done manually on the Virus.
ONE channel is standard in Eurorack Modular world. This baby sells one channel for $700 and it’s sold out: http://www.audiodamage.com/hardware/product.php?pid=ADM06
You just don’t belong to the target group.
one channel _was_ standard in eurorack. KOMA just definitively blew that ‘standard’ out of the water !
The Koma sequencer is… not a Eurorack module.
Is it completely beyond the realms of modern human science to make a hardware sequencer with a usable number of channels? Maybe it’s just me but without at least 8 fully polyphonic channels these things seem like not much more than toys. Not saying there’s anything wrong with toys, just that the “OMG THROW OFF YOUR LAPTOPS FREE AT LAST FREE AT LAST” rhetoric seems a bit overblown when we’re talking about two damn channels of MIDI.
The article does not tell you to throw your laptop away. It proposes to you to create a laptop-free set up with the recently released small-size drum machines, synths, etc that can all talk to each other.
I can imagine hooking my Access Virus b to this sequencer and then syncing it to my Volca Keys as well as my old Korg Electribe ER-1 and throwing in a Volca Sample in there as well as an iPad running what-not. It will actually be somewhat larger (at least in area covered on table) than my computer set up but it will definitely be more physical (than my already quite physical setup) and more “instant”.
Oh then I could use soon-to-be-mine iConnect2+ to merge midi data from another sequencer, say Korg SQ-1, to sequence some more parts on the Virus. The virus is not a very portable synth (it’s the desktop version I have) but as far as I am concerned, is one of the best hardware virtual analog synths manufactured.
I’d use my laptop to design sounds for use with Volca Sample and Samplr on the iPad.
As a matter of fact, I’m about to snag a Virus B, and was looking at the original beatstep to sequence it but this looks much more versatile for my setup, which is mostly ableton based. Would you have happened to see something that I’ve missed about the two instrument sequencers on the Pro being able to control midi gear, or do they also go through the MIDI and USB ports? I’d prefer to run directly from the Pro to the Virus via MIDI, but I’d settle for bouncing the sequencer output over USB through Ableton to it as well. Just curious if you’ve read anything that’s passed beneath my radar.
Hi Jacob, if you watch the promotional video, you will see that the first thing the musician does is to connect it to a Microbrute over MIDI.
yes, but it’s impossible to connect it to a normal midi expander and send bass or lead voice patch changes.. (A total nightmare)
I do not think that is the idea behind a hardware step sequencer.
I have the Beatstep and I used to play my Virus either through my DAW (beatstep usb -> DAW midi -> virus) or directly (beatsep midi -> virus). If you are asking if the beatstep will send contemporarily midi signal trhough usb and midi i didn’t try but i guess yes
im in the market for virus B looks great considering it’s age is it up to par in terms of midi sync capabilities ?
I just saw this sorry. The Virus b is 16-part multitimbral and all parts can have arpeggiators that can sync to MIDI clock at different time divisions. Its single reverb/delay effect (acts globally on all parts, but each part has its separate send level) can also be synced. There is even a feedback reverb which is incredibly cool – the predelay time acts as a sort of a delay that can be fedback onto itself.
All three LFOs per part can also be synced to MIDI.
I am waiting for the iPad sequencer “modstep” to become available. It may prove to be more useful than the beatstep pro.
It may be just you lol! A lot of classic electronic music has been done with similar minimal setups…but kidding aside, I’m sure that is the next step. This is all business-based coming off of the new interest in EDM and analog hardware. We are in a cycle where polyphony will be “discovered” in 2 years!
What is interesting to me about this is that Arturia always seems to leave a large gap with integration – I wonder if they are just going to shift away from software altogether. You would think they would have at least shown a demo of this running Spark and some of their analog synth VSTs in addition to hardware analog synths – but I guess like I said, it’s a cycle!
Well, a dead-simple eight-track sequencer sounds interesting. Like a MicroOctatrack, basically. 🙂
Given the number of people who at least claim to be looking for old 90s hardware for the sequencing capabilities (RM1x, etc.), I’m sort of surprised that no one has released something that hearkens back to those machines.
Beatstep Pro gets close, and it looks really fun!, but I need the ability to sequence chords. Monophony just doesn’t do it for me — I want all of the notes!
Same here .. I need chords.
Alesis MMT-8. Still the best MIDI sequencer money can buy.
I have the black MMT-8 .. its good at what it can do but it doesn’t have step sequencing.
Oh no.. Those terrible squidgy rubber buttons that went all sticky after a lot of use, and that you had to press down at the edges, and they still didn’t work..
And the miserable little display that corrupted lines, and was invisible sometimes.. They made me severely ill.
🙂 hehehehe
If you were playing live and had a sequencer with you, the most important parts to come with the help of a sequencer would be bass and drums. You could always play chords in live and they always sound better when played. Best things always come when possibilities are limited. If possibilities are endless, then usually things end up with stuff being overproduced.
See: Big Room EDM.
Octatrack has 8 channels. The new Electribe 2 does 16 channels with polyphony and sounds good to boot. It actually has a damn good sequencer as long as you don’t also need to sequence CC. If so, Octatrack is probably your best bet, or perhaps Maschine, if you want to bring a PC into it.
Electribe can seq CC. Korg calls it motion sequencing… Realtime knob twist or step program the knob value per pad..at least u could on the gen 1 electribes.
The new one does not transmit cc from recorded motion sequences. Only live knob tweaks.
It also has numerous other bugs and feature omissions, go to korg forums and read all about it. I’m actually more excited for the beatstep pro.
Yeah, absolutely, if you want an Octatrack, you want an Octatrack.
I mean, this thread has raised a good point… and one I’ll explain more clearly in the review. But the reality is, in live use, sometimes you don’t need more than three things at once. Of course, you do need *three* things at once which is why the KORG SQ-1 and previous Beatstep might leave you wanting… 😉
and trigger finger pro (once again)
Agreed. Yamaha did 16 channels of seq on the RM1x back in the 90’s. Why cant they scale it down and just sell it as a seq? Emu did 32,MPC 64…
Right, and the RM1x had means of putting content onto those channels. 😉 So I’m back where I started.
EMU Mp7 had monstrous capabilities.
I have the EMU MP7 and have just ordered a Beatstep Pro from Thomann.de. I also have 2 x EMU Proteus 2500’s and will incorporate them all together into a rack.
I figure to use the Beatstep Pro as ‘production pads’ over midi, and I won’t use USB at all at first anyway.
There is no note repeat on the MP7, and no real ‘swing’ facility and certainly no ‘random’ and ‘percentage probability of random’, and the MP7 pads are not very responsive and a bit heavy and clunky, and not easy to play. Dynamics curves are hard (for me anyway) to get right.
I’ll record sequences from Beatstep Pro’s memory to the MP7’s sequencer memory, and use the expanded MP7’s voices, and also those of the expanded EMU 2500’s (all of which have different drum libraries)
I shall still trigger some drums from Beatstep Pro and play it live, and I’ll clock all the locked EMU sequences over midi clock from it. ( I hope)
I am a guitarist mainly and play Starr Labs Ztars, and have a Mini ZX. They are very compact midi controllers and I hope to have a really powerful but fairly compact system, once I have configured everything to work properly.
The musical key sequence shift on the Beatstep Pro should be good, and I think with so many sequence locations on all of the machines, that I’ll have ample memory..
I’m hoping that the Beatstep Pro will make sense of my gear for fairly little money, because the MP7 drum pads are very clunky to play as I said, and the 2500’s have pad inputs set up like rubber pianos 🙁 and IMO are totally useless .
Since Yamaha now own Steinberg, it’s probably not in their best interests to release a new hardware sequencer even though there would be a market for it. I much preferred sequencing on my RM1x to any software sequencer I’ve ever used.
Three channels of MIDI. For three separate sequencers. With three separate controls. And each of those sequencers is monophonic.
Pardon, but — yes, as the others say, this is basically for simple monophonic sequencing. There’s no reason you couldn’t use it alongside a computer, which is a better choice for polyphonic sequencing.
But I don’t understand why it would make any sense to add channels if you don’t have additional controls to determine content being sent *to* those channels. I mean… you’re essentially then asking for a useless and meaningless spec for the sake of being able to say it’s there.
where are we seeing the three channels of midi? there is definitely only one port, so the only real destination for the midi is a laptop, correct? or at least a hardware synth/sampler that can route 3 channels off one port?
i hoped i could drive a couple Volcas with it, but if it’s only one midi out, i’ll have to think of something else.
it’s a nice looking piece of kit.
Ever heard of midi thru? One midi port can carry 16 channels of data. If your gear doesn’t have a thru port, buy a midi thru box. Midi solutions makes a nice 4 port thru box.
The third channel is drums.
never tried using one. I didn’t think a thru box was smart enough to take one port with 2 channels and know which was which. the demo video doesn’t show it, but I wondered if you could connect two Volca units to it.
you set one volca to one of 16 MIDI channels, another volca to another MIDI channel and then send them the exact same MIDI signal over a MIDI Thru box.
Three MIDI channels do not mean three separate outputs. It sends data over three separate MIDI channels.. three out of 16 MIDI channels. It’s elementary MIDI knowledge, really.
One could use this to perform with multitimbral synth like a Virus, creating Multi programs that have drums, one bass line and one lead line. Changing presets could be super easily done manually on the Virus.
ONE channel is standard in Eurorack Modular world. This baby sells one channel for $700 and it’s sold out: http://www.audiodamage.com/hardware/product.php?pid=ADM06
You just don’t belong to the target group.
one channel _was_ standard in eurorack. KOMA just definitively blew that ‘standard’ out of the water !
The Koma sequencer is… not a Eurorack module.
Is it completely beyond the realms of modern human science to make a hardware sequencer with a usable number of channels? Maybe it’s just me but without at least 8 fully polyphonic channels these things seem like not much more than toys. Not saying there’s anything wrong with toys, just that the “OMG THROW OFF YOUR LAPTOPS FREE AT LAST FREE AT LAST” rhetoric seems a bit overblown when we’re talking about two damn channels of MIDI.
The article does not tell you to throw your laptop away. It proposes to you to create a laptop-free set up with the recently released small-size drum machines, synths, etc that can all talk to each other.
I can imagine hooking my Access Virus b to this sequencer and then syncing it to my Volca Keys as well as my old Korg Electribe ER-1 and throwing in a Volca Sample in there as well as an iPad running what-not. It will actually be somewhat larger (at least in area covered on table) than my computer set up but it will definitely be more physical (than my already quite physical setup) and more “instant”.
Oh then I could use soon-to-be-mine iConnect2+ to merge midi data from another sequencer, say Korg SQ-1, to sequence some more parts on the Virus. The virus is not a very portable synth (it’s the desktop version I have) but as far as I am concerned, is one of the best hardware virtual analog synths manufactured.
I’d use my laptop to design sounds for use with Volca Sample and Samplr on the iPad.
As a matter of fact, I’m about to snag a Virus B, and was looking at the original beatstep to sequence it but this looks much more versatile for my setup, which is mostly ableton based. Would you have happened to see something that I’ve missed about the two instrument sequencers on the Pro being able to control midi gear, or do they also go through the MIDI and USB ports? I’d prefer to run directly from the Pro to the Virus via MIDI, but I’d settle for bouncing the sequencer output over USB through Ableton to it as well. Just curious if you’ve read anything that’s passed beneath my radar.
Hi Jacob, if you watch the promotional video, you will see that the first thing the musician does is to connect it to a Microbrute over MIDI.
yes, but it’s impossible to connect it to a normal midi expander and send bass or lead voice patch changes.. (A total nightmare)
I do not think that is the idea behind a hardware step sequencer.
I have the Beatstep and I used to play my Virus either through my DAW (beatstep usb -> DAW midi -> virus) or directly (beatsep midi -> virus). If you are asking if the beatstep will send contemporarily midi signal trhough usb and midi i didn’t try but i guess yes
im in the market for virus B looks great considering it’s age is it up to par in terms of midi sync capabilities ?
I just saw this sorry. The Virus b is 16-part multitimbral and all parts can have arpeggiators that can sync to MIDI clock at different time divisions. Its single reverb/delay effect (acts globally on all parts, but each part has its separate send level) can also be synced. There is even a feedback reverb which is incredibly cool – the predelay time acts as a sort of a delay that can be fedback onto itself.
All three LFOs per part can also be synced to MIDI.
I am waiting for the iPad sequencer “modstep” to become available. It may prove to be more useful than the beatstep pro.
It may be just you lol! A lot of classic electronic music has been done with similar minimal setups…but kidding aside, I’m sure that is the next step. This is all business-based coming off of the new interest in EDM and analog hardware. We are in a cycle where polyphony will be “discovered” in 2 years!
What is interesting to me about this is that Arturia always seems to leave a large gap with integration – I wonder if they are just going to shift away from software altogether. You would think they would have at least shown a demo of this running Spark and some of their analog synth VSTs in addition to hardware analog synths – but I guess like I said, it’s a cycle!
Well, a dead-simple eight-track sequencer sounds interesting. Like a MicroOctatrack, basically. 🙂
Given the number of people who at least claim to be looking for old 90s hardware for the sequencing capabilities (RM1x, etc.), I’m sort of surprised that no one has released something that hearkens back to those machines.
Beatstep Pro gets close, and it looks really fun!, but I need the ability to sequence chords. Monophony just doesn’t do it for me — I want all of the notes!
Same here .. I need chords.
Alesis MMT-8. Still the best MIDI sequencer money can buy.
I have the black MMT-8 .. its good at what it can do but it doesn’t have step sequencing.
Oh no.. Those terrible squidgy rubber buttons that went all sticky after a lot of use, and that you had to press down at the edges, and they still didn’t work..
And the miserable little display that corrupted lines, and was invisible sometimes.. They made me severely ill.
🙂 hehehehe
If you were playing live and had a sequencer with you, the most important parts to come with the help of a sequencer would be bass and drums. You could always play chords in live and they always sound better when played. Best things always come when possibilities are limited. If possibilities are endless, then usually things end up with stuff being overproduced.
See: Big Room EDM.
Octatrack has 8 channels. The new Electribe 2 does 16 channels with polyphony and sounds good to boot. It actually has a damn good sequencer as long as you don’t also need to sequence CC. If so, Octatrack is probably your best bet, or perhaps Maschine, if you want to bring a PC into it.
Electribe can seq CC. Korg calls it motion sequencing… Realtime knob twist or step program the knob value per pad..at least u could on the gen 1 electribes.
The new one does not transmit cc from recorded motion sequences. Only live knob tweaks.
It also has numerous other bugs and feature omissions, go to korg forums and read all about it. I’m actually more excited for the beatstep pro.
Yeah, absolutely, if you want an Octatrack, you want an Octatrack.
I mean, this thread has raised a good point… and one I’ll explain more clearly in the review. But the reality is, in live use, sometimes you don’t need more than three things at once. Of course, you do need *three* things at once which is why the KORG SQ-1 and previous Beatstep might leave you wanting… 😉
and trigger finger pro (once again)
Agreed. Yamaha did 16 channels of seq on the RM1x back in the 90’s. Why cant they scale it down and just sell it as a seq? Emu did 32,MPC 64…
Right, and the RM1x had means of putting content onto those channels. 😉 So I’m back where I started.
EMU Mp7 had monstrous capabilities.
I have the EMU MP7 and have just ordered a Beatstep Pro from Thomann.de. I also have 2 x EMU Proteus 2500’s and will incorporate them all together into a rack.
I figure to use the Beatstep Pro as ‘production pads’ over midi, and I won’t use USB at all at first anyway.
There is no note repeat on the MP7, and no real ‘swing’ facility and certainly no ‘random’ and ‘percentage probability of random’, and the MP7 pads are not very responsive and a bit heavy and clunky, and not easy to play. Dynamics curves are hard (for me anyway) to get right.
I’ll record sequences from Beatstep Pro’s memory to the MP7’s sequencer memory, and use the expanded MP7’s voices, and also those of the expanded EMU 2500’s (all of which have different drum libraries)
I shall still trigger some drums from Beatstep Pro and play it live, and I’ll clock all the locked EMU sequences over midi clock from it. ( I hope)
I am a guitarist mainly and play Starr Labs Ztars, and have a Mini ZX. They are very compact midi controllers and I hope to have a really powerful but fairly compact system, once I have configured everything to work properly.
The musical key sequence shift on the Beatstep Pro should be good, and I think with so many sequence locations on all of the machines, that I’ll have ample memory..
I’m hoping that the Beatstep Pro will make sense of my gear for fairly little money, because the MP7 drum pads are very clunky to play as I said, and the 2500’s have pad inputs set up like rubber pianos 🙁 and IMO are totally useless .
Since Yamaha now own Steinberg, it’s probably not in their best interests to release a new hardware sequencer even though there would be a market for it. I much preferred sequencing on my RM1x to any software sequencer I’ve ever used.
Three channels of MIDI. For three separate sequencers. With three separate controls. And each of those sequencers is monophonic.
Pardon, but — yes, as the others say, this is basically for simple monophonic sequencing. There’s no reason you couldn’t use it alongside a computer, which is a better choice for polyphonic sequencing.
But I don’t understand why it would make any sense to add channels if you don’t have additional controls to determine content being sent *to* those channels. I mean… you’re essentially then asking for a useless and meaningless spec for the sake of being able to say it’s there.
where are we seeing the three channels of midi? there is definitely only one port, so the only real destination for the midi is a laptop, correct? or at least a hardware synth/sampler that can route 3 channels off one port?
i hoped i could drive a couple Volcas with it, but if it’s only one midi out, i’ll have to think of something else.
it’s a nice looking piece of kit.
Ever heard of midi thru? One midi port can carry 16 channels of data. If your gear doesn’t have a thru port, buy a midi thru box. Midi solutions makes a nice 4 port thru box.
The third channel is drums.
never tried using one. I didn’t think a thru box was smart enough to take one port with 2 channels and know which was which. the demo video doesn’t show it, but I wondered if you could connect two Volca units to it.
you set one volca to one of 16 MIDI channels, another volca to another MIDI channel and then send them the exact same MIDI signal over a MIDI Thru box.
Three MIDI channels do not mean three separate outputs. It sends data over three separate MIDI channels.. three out of 16 MIDI channels. It’s elementary MIDI knowledge, really.
One could use this to perform with multitimbral synth like a Virus, creating Multi programs that have drums, one bass line and one lead line. Changing presets could be super easily done manually on the Virus.
ONE channel is standard in Eurorack Modular world. This baby sells one channel for $700 and it’s sold out: http://www.audiodamage.com/hardware/product.php?pid=ADM06
You just don’t belong to the target group.
one channel _was_ standard in eurorack. KOMA just definitively blew that ‘standard’ out of the water !
The Koma sequencer is… not a Eurorack module.
Scratched every itch from the BeatStep and then some. I want it. Hope they’ll back port at least the pads-as-keyboard to the current BeatStep via firmware update. Being able to record to the step sequencer by playing the pads would be lovely too.
Sort of hoping they’ll take what they’ve learned from this, along with hopefully some economies of scale, and make a BeatStep 2. Just like the current BeatStep but with touch sensative encoders (or fixed knobs), a tiny LCD for feedback and pads-as-notes for entering step data.
Scratched every itch from the BeatStep and then some. I want it. Hope they’ll back port at least the pads-as-keyboard to the current BeatStep via firmware update. Being able to record to the step sequencer by playing the pads would be lovely too.
Sort of hoping they’ll take what they’ve learned from this, along with hopefully some economies of scale, and make a BeatStep 2. Just like the current BeatStep but with touch sensative encoders (or fixed knobs), a tiny LCD for feedback and pads-as-notes for entering step data.
Scratched every itch from the BeatStep and then some. I want it. Hope they’ll back port at least the pads-as-keyboard to the current BeatStep via firmware update. Being able to record to the step sequencer by playing the pads would be lovely too.
Sort of hoping they’ll take what they’ve learned from this, along with hopefully some economies of scale, and make a BeatStep 2. Just like the current BeatStep but with touch sensative encoders (or fixed knobs), a tiny LCD for feedback and pads-as-notes for entering step data.
Wonder if you could plug the drum outs into something like an Alesis D4 to convert them to MIDI? That section seems like a strange addition to this unit—do that many people own analog drum units that could be triggered from all of those outs?
On that note, I see that pads 1-8 go out the analog outs and 9-16 go out via MIDI (or usb?). I hope that’s configurable. If the notes themselves are configurable on the drum track and all 16 pads can go out via MIDI we’ll have a sort of fixed-note chord track.
Wonder if you could plug the drum outs into something like an Alesis D4 to convert them to MIDI? That section seems like a strange addition to this unit—do that many people own analog drum units that could be triggered from all of those outs?
On that note, I see that pads 1-8 go out the analog outs and 9-16 go out via MIDI (or usb?). I hope that’s configurable. If the notes themselves are configurable on the drum track and all 16 pads can go out via MIDI we’ll have a sort of fixed-note chord track.
Wonder if you could plug the drum outs into something like an Alesis D4 to convert them to MIDI? That section seems like a strange addition to this unit—do that many people own analog drum units that could be triggered from all of those outs?
On that note, I see that pads 1-8 go out the analog outs and 9-16 go out via MIDI (or usb?). I hope that’s configurable. If the notes themselves are configurable on the drum track and all 16 pads can go out via MIDI we’ll have a sort of fixed-note chord track.
Very impressive specs, i would use this in combination with Maschine..
Very impressive specs, i would use this in combination with Maschine..
Very impressive specs, i would use this in combination with Maschine..
Seriously? Hard get sequence? Come on!
Seriously? Hard get sequence? Come on!
Seriously? Hard get sequence? Come on!
looks great. especially the add of rolls with a touchstrip?!. great layout. a bit chunky ( like a skateboard). One thing the syncing of the beatstep (and that sequence drifiting) sucks, they still ahvent fixed it i think (or did they, i returned it), if not i guess becasue they where too busy with the pro version. . so lets hope they dont ‘forget’ to fix that
looks great. especially the add of rolls with a touchstrip?!. great layout. a bit chunky ( like a skateboard). One thing the syncing of the beatstep (and that sequence drifiting) sucks, they still ahvent fixed it i think (or did they, i returned it), if not i guess becasue they where too busy with the pro version. . so lets hope they dont ‘forget’ to fix that
looks great. especially the add of rolls with a touchstrip?!. great layout. a bit chunky ( like a skateboard). One thing the syncing of the beatstep (and that sequence drifiting) sucks, they still ahvent fixed it i think (or did they, i returned it), if not i guess becasue they where too busy with the pro version. . so lets hope they dont ‘forget’ to fix that
nice review and thread… i hope with this release, arturia finally update the firmware of the original beatstep… using his knobs for midi control is pain :/
nice review and thread… i hope with this release, arturia finally update the firmware of the original beatstep… using his knobs for midi control is pain :/
nice review and thread… i hope with this release, arturia finally update the firmware of the original beatstep… using his knobs for midi control is pain :/
Can someone tell me if this works on an entirely MIDI based system as a stand alone sequencer? Or are some of the features for a CV only set up?
Some of the outputs are CV only (most of them, actually) but all of the sequencing and control features can be used with MIDI exclusively.
Can someone tell me if this works on an entirely MIDI based system as a stand alone sequencer? Or are some of the features for a CV only set up?
Some of the outputs are CV only (most of them, actually) but all of the sequencing and control features can be used with MIDI exclusively.
Can someone tell me if this works on an entirely MIDI based system as a stand alone sequencer? Or are some of the features for a CV only set up?
Some of the outputs are CV only (most of them, actually) but all of the sequencing and control features can be used with MIDI exclusively.
Ahh I should be Ebaying my Beatstep any day now (Prolly not). But all this talk about Polyphonic Sequencing, I’m glad I didn’t get rid of my Alesis MMT 8 LOL. It’s realtime (a la Beatstep) improvisation and Creation is limited to non existent. But if I need to setup 8-track patterns that can do Chords or Drums, it’s hard to beat.
Hmmm… and the top of an MMT 8 would perfectly fit an iPad running Auxy. 😀
Ahh I should be Ebaying my Beatstep any day now (Prolly not). But all this talk about Polyphonic Sequencing, I’m glad I didn’t get rid of my Alesis MMT 8 LOL. It’s realtime (a la Beatstep) improvisation and Creation is limited to non existent. But if I need to setup 8-track patterns that can do Chords or Drums, it’s hard to beat.
Hmmm… and the top of an MMT 8 would perfectly fit an iPad running Auxy. 😀
Ahh I should be Ebaying my Beatstep any day now (Prolly not). But all this talk about Polyphonic Sequencing, I’m glad I didn’t get rid of my Alesis MMT 8 LOL. It’s realtime (a la Beatstep) improvisation and Creation is limited to non existent. But if I need to setup 8-track patterns that can do Chords or Drums, it’s hard to beat.
Hmmm… and the top of an MMT 8 would perfectly fit an iPad running Auxy. 😀
For those of you wanting a polyphonic multi-track hardware sequencer: See Sequentix Cirklon, Social Entropy Engine, and yes, the Elektron Octatrack should be your first ports of call.
Or browse Ebay for an RM1x – or even better – a QY700? Or any of those beauties http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/sequencers.php
For those of you wanting a polyphonic multi-track hardware sequencer: See Sequentix Cirklon, Social Entropy Engine, and yes, the Elektron Octatrack should be your first ports of call.
Or browse Ebay for an RM1x – or even better – a QY700? Or any of those beauties http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/sequencers.php
Or get an MPC – they are still awesome sequencing machines, regardless of whether or not you’d use the sampling features.
It is really not that there isn’t a lot of choice out there…
For those of you wanting a polyphonic multi-track hardware sequencer: See Sequentix Cirklon, Social Entropy Engine, and yes, the Elektron Octatrack should be your first ports of call.
Or browse Ebay for an RM1x – or even better – a QY700? Or any of those beauties http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/sequencers.php
Or get an MPC – they are still awesome sequencing machines, regardless of whether or not you’d use the sampling features.
It is really not that there isn’t a lot of choice out there…
Hi.
I would like to know if it is possible to use the Beatstep pro for seqencing the SP6 Sample slots in Serato DJ?
Hi.
I would like to know if it is possible to use the Beatstep pro for seqencing the SP6 Sample slots in Serato DJ?
Hi.
I would like to know if it is possible to use the Beatstep pro for seqencing the SP6 Sample slots in Serato DJ?
why cant someone just make an up to date simple midi sequencer capable of sending multiple midi sequences through different channels??? why why why
EMU did what I think you mean long ago, with the Proteus 2500 series including multi-pole filters with ‘Q’ LFO’s, ADSR, tons of samples on-board, plus expansion libraries, and all controllable via rotary encoder knobs. Plus it had very hefty memory sequence locations (with 16 sequences ‘runnable’ at the same time)
why cant someone just make an up to date simple midi sequencer capable of sending multiple midi sequences through different channels??? why why why
EMU did what I think you mean long ago, with the Proteus 2500 series including multi-pole filters with resonance and ‘Q’ LFO’s, ADSR, (with recordable tweaks for all knobs) tons of samples on-board, plus expansion libraries, and all controllable via rotary encoder knobs and 32 midi channels. Plus it had very large memory sequence locations (with 16 sequences ‘runnable’ at the same time)
why cant someone just make an up to date simple midi sequencer capable of sending multiple midi sequences through different channels??? why why why
EMU did what I think you mean long ago, with the Proteus 2500 series including multi-pole filters with resonance and ‘Q’ LFO’s, ADSR, (with recordable tweaks for all knobs) tons of samples on-board, plus expansion libraries, and all controllable via rotary encoder knobs and 32 midi channels. Plus it had very large memory sequence locations (with 16 sequences ‘runnable’ at the same time)
Is it May yet?
Is it June yet? They’ve updated their site to say shipping in June. But that was probably in April.
@peterkirn:disqus Perhaps you’ve already seen it but Arturia quotes this review on their BSP page now.
Is it May yet?
Is it June yet? They’ve updated their site to say shipping in June. But that was probably in April.
@peterkirn:disqus Perhaps you’ve already seen it but Arturia quotes this review on their BSP page now.
Is it May yet?
Is it June yet? They’ve updated their site to say shipping in June. But that was probably in April.
@peterkirn:disqus Perhaps you’ve already seen it but Arturia quotes this review on their BSP page now.
Only 1 midi out…should have been two! For two sequences ffs!
MIDI has 16 channels.
Use midi thru
Only 1 midi out…should have been two! For two sequences ffs!
MIDI has 16 channels.
Use midi thru
Only 1 midi out…should have been two! For two sequences ffs!
MIDI has 16 channels.
Use midi thru
Hello, I have never had a step sequencer and I’m finding it confusing. I have Microbrute which only has a MIDI IN, so
1- would I be able to store the sequences that I write with the Microbrute in the
Beat Step Pro?
2- would I be able to use the Microbrute as an external keyboard for the Beat Step Pro and modulate the sound in real time?
3- would I be able to play the sequences connecting Beat Step Pro to Microbrute MIDI IN to Microbrute Audio Out to DI box to PA when I play live?
Thanks!
Hello, I have never had a step sequencer and I’m finding it confusing. I have Microbrute which only has a MIDI IN, so
1- would I be able to store the sequences that I write with the Microbrute in the
Beat Step Pro?
2- would I be able to use the Microbrute as an external keyboard for the Beat Step Pro and modulate the sound in real time?
3- would I be able to play the sequences connecting Beat Step Pro to Microbrute MIDI IN to Microbrute Audio Out to DI box to PA when I play live?
Thanks!
Hello, I have never had a step sequencer and I’m finding it confusing. I have Microbrute which only has a MIDI IN, so
1- would I be able to store the sequences that I write with the Microbrute in the
Beat Step Pro?
2- would I be able to use the Microbrute as an external keyboard for the Beat Step Pro and modulate the sound in real time?
3- would I be able to play the sequences connecting Beat Step Pro to Microbrute MIDI IN to Microbrute Audio Out to DI box to PA when I play live?
Thanks!
Hi there! I have never had a step sequencer and I’m finding it confusing. I have been checking out the Beat Step Pro, I have a Microbrute which only has a MIDI IN, so
1- Would I be able to store the sequences that I write with the Microbrute in the Beat Step Pro? The Microbrute only has memory for 8 sequences and I need to store more
2- Would I be able to use the Microbrute as an external keyboard for the Beat Step Pro and change the sounds in real time?
3- Would I be able to play the sequences connecting Beat Step Pro to Microbrute MIDI IN to Microbrute Audio Out to DI box to PA when I play live?
Any help would be appreciated!
1. The microbrutes internal sequencer would become redundent. The
sequence you want would be written/created in the BS Pro and therefore
saved in your project.
2. With a sequence running on the BS Pro triggering the MB any amendments you make to the MB, will be heard.
3. Don’t know.
Hope that hepls a little.
Hi there! I have never had a step sequencer and I’m finding it confusing. I have been checking out the Beat Step Pro, I have a Microbrute which only has a MIDI IN, so
1- Would I be able to store the sequences that I write with the Microbrute in the Beat Step Pro? The Microbrute only has memory for 8 sequences and I need to store more
2- Would I be able to use the Microbrute as an external keyboard for the Beat Step Pro and change the sounds in real time?
3- Would I be able to play the sequences connecting Beat Step Pro to Microbrute MIDI IN to Microbrute Audio Out to DI box to PA when I play live?
Any help would be appreciated!
1. The microbrutes internal sequencer would become redundent. The
sequence you want would be written/created in the BS Pro and therefore
saved in your project.
2. With a sequence running on the BS Pro triggering the MB any amendments you make to the MB, will be heard.
3. Don’t know.
Hope that helps a little.
Hi there! I have never had a step sequencer and I’m finding it confusing. I have been checking out the Beat Step Pro, I have a Microbrute which only has a MIDI IN, so
1- Would I be able to store the sequences that I write with the Microbrute in the Beat Step Pro? The Microbrute only has memory for 8 sequences and I need to store more
2- Would I be able to use the Microbrute as an external keyboard for the Beat Step Pro and change the sounds in real time?
3- Would I be able to play the sequences connecting Beat Step Pro to Microbrute MIDI IN to Microbrute Audio Out to DI box to PA when I play live?
Any help would be appreciated!
1. The microbrutes internal sequencer would become redundent. The
sequence you want would be written/created in the BS Pro and therefore
saved in your project.
2. With a sequence running on the BS Pro triggering the MB any amendments you make to the MB, will be heard.
3. Don’t know.
Hope that helps a little.
Does anyone know if this is capable of sequencing two pieces of hardware (a Moog Little Phatty and a Vermona DRM1 (non trigger version), via MIDI simultaneously? I’m a little confused by the amount/capabilities of the outputs. Any advice much appreciated!
You’d want, I think, to get a midi splitter/thru box.
Does anyone know if this is capable of sequencing two pieces of hardware (a Moog Little Phatty and a Vermona DRM1 (non trigger version), via MIDI simultaneously? I’m a little confused by the amount/capabilities of the outputs. Any advice much appreciated!
You’d want, I think, to get a midi splitter/thru box.
Does anyone know if this is capable of sequencing two pieces of hardware (a Moog Little Phatty and a Vermona DRM1 (non trigger version), via MIDI simultaneously? I’m a little confused by the amount/capabilities of the outputs. Any advice much appreciated!
You’d want, I think, to get a midi splitter/thru box.
and the “shift” setting is something you absolutely for head-nodding post-dilla beats, and the Beatstep pro has this!
i meant: you absolutely need
and the “shift” setting is something you absolutely for head-nodding post-dilla beats, and the Beatstep pro has this!
i meant: you absolutely need
and the “shift” setting is something you absolutely for head-nodding post-dilla beats, and the Beatstep pro has this!
i meant: you absolutely need
I just got my new beatstep pro today, and am totally underwhelmed to say the least..
Yes, it may be fine for someone running a bass line on a 1 x volt octave hardware synth so that tweaking a bass voice sounds like a ripped paper bag with a swept filter, but, stupidly listening to the Arturia hype, I wanted to buy something that would work very well over midi. (BIG MISTAKE!) The BSP midi implementation is absolutely terrible.
They managed to mess up midi song pointer positioning on the Spark MK1 (or not include the 30 year old essential protocol for some reason,) and now they’ve managed to hide all the most relevant midi commands (or not include any critically needed ones) on the beatstep Pro in the editing software somewhere, but, who the hell knows where? (NOT ME!)
How to change a simple midi bass voice (even in simple GM mode) ?? That is the effing question…! And it’s taken me all afternoon and I still don’t know.!!.
Assign a midi program change to a pad somehow and write it to a sequence location? The excellent (NOT!) manual (download in PDF format only) mentions sweet FA on the topic and the manual is really awful, Critically important steps have been missed out, and it has been written by incompetents who probably know how to use bsp themselves, but can’t communicate anything relevant or even vaguely simple, to any other humans..
Midi implementation and pathetic ‘manual’, 1 out of 10..
Arturia Beatstep Pro, Rubbish!!..
Don’t buy this if you want simple midi sequencing with patch (voice) change commands over midi.. I’m going to switch to a Quasimide Rave-o-lution and send this total load of rubbish back to Thomann, and get my money back..
I just got my new beatstep pro today, and am totally underwhelmed to say the least..
Yes, it may be fine for someone running a bass line on a 1 x volt octave hardware synth so that tweaking a bass voice sounds like a ripped paper bag through a swept filter, but, stupidly listening to the Arturia hype, I wanted to buy something that would work very well over midi. (think Vangelis basslines, or Georgio Moroder..) BIG MISTAKE! The BSP midi implementation (other than simple drum programming) is absolutely terrible.
They managed to mess up midi song pointer positioning on the Spark MK1 (or didn’t include the 30 year old essential midi protocol for some reason) and now they’ve managed to hide all the most relevant midi commands (or not include them ) on the beatstep Pro in the editing software somewhere, but, who the hell knows where? (NOT ME!)
How to change a simple midi bass voice (even in bog standard GM mode) ?? That is the effing question…! And it’s taken me all afternoon and most of the evening, and I still don’t know.!!.
Assign a midi program change to a pad via the amateurish-looking software somehow (mostly dark blue on black background ) and virtually unreadable on a small laptop screen, and then write it to a sequence location? HOW?
The manual (a download in PDF format only) mentions sweet FA on the topic and the ‘manual’ content is really bloody awful, Critically important steps have been missed out, and it has been written by incompetents who probably know how to use bsp themselves, but can’t communicate anything relevant or even minimally educative, to other human beings..
Verdict..
Midi implementation and pathetic ‘manual’, Score; 1 out of 10 each..
Arturia Beatstep Pro, Rubbish!!.. Score; 3 out of 10
(because the pads and buttons light up in nice colours and the randomness and probability over drums are well implemented )
But seriously, don’t buy this if you want simple step or realtime midi sequencing with patch (voice) change commands over midi..( I wanted to switch from slapped bass to double bass and write the program changes into the pattern..) Forget it!
Of course, it may be entirely possible but God knows how.
I’m going to switch back to my Quasimide Rave-o-lution (I stupidly thought that a smaller desktop footprint would make sense) and send this total load of crap back to Thomann in the morning, and get my money back..
I just got my new beatstep pro today, and am totally underwhelmed to say the least..
Yes, it may be fine for someone running a bass line on a 1 x volt octave hardware synth so that tweaking a bass voice sounds like a ripped paper bag through a swept filter, but, stupidly listening to the Arturia hype, I wanted to buy something that would work very well over midi. (think Vangelis basslines, or Georgio Moroder..) BIG MISTAKE! The BSP midi implementation (other than simple drum programming) is absolutely terrible.
They managed to mess up midi song pointer positioning on the Spark MK1 (or didn’t include the 30 year old essential midi protocol for some reason) and now they’ve managed to hide all the most relevant midi commands (or not include them ) on the beatstep Pro in the editing software somewhere, but, who the hell knows where? (NOT ME!)
How to change a simple midi bass voice (even in bog standard GM mode) ?? That is the effing question…! And it’s taken me all afternoon and most of the evening, and I still don’t know.!!.
Assign a midi program change to a pad via the amateurish-looking software somehow (mostly dark blue on black background ) and virtually unreadable on a small laptop screen, and then write it to a sequence location? HOW?
The manual (a download in PDF format only) mentions sweet FA on the topic and the ‘manual’ content is really bloody awful, Critically important steps have been missed out, and it has been written by incompetents who probably know how to use bsp themselves, but can’t communicate anything relevant or even minimally educative, to other human beings..
Verdict..
Midi implementation and pathetic ‘manual’, Score; 1 out of 10 each..
Arturia Beatstep Pro, Rubbish!!.. Score; 3 out of 10
(because the pads and buttons light up in nice colours and the randomness and probability over drums are well implemented )
But seriously, don’t buy this if you want simple step or realtime midi sequencing with patch (voice) change commands over midi..( I wanted to switch from slapped bass to double bass and write the program changes into the pattern..) Forget it!
Of course, it may be entirely possible but God knows how.
I’m going to switch back to my Quasimide Rave-o-lution (I stupidly thought that a smaller desktop footprint would make sense) and send this total load of crap back to Thomann in the morning, and get my money back..
I’m tryng my Beat Step Pro to control MicroBrute via MIDI, but surprisingly it not works correctly — sequence lacks notes/pitches and starts to produce steps on one long note. Sequence via CV/Gate works nice. Is something wrong with my BSP or it can’t correctly send sequence to MB via midi in general?
I’m tryng my Beat Step Pro to control MicroBrute via MIDI, but surprisingly it not works correctly — sequence lacks notes/pitches and starts to produce steps on one long note. Sequence via CV/Gate works nice. Is something wrong with my BSP or it can’t correctly send sequence to MB via midi in general?
I’m tryng my Beat Step Pro to control MicroBrute via MIDI, but surprisingly it not works correctly — sequence lacks notes/pitches and starts to produce steps on one long note. Sequence via CV/Gate works nice. Is something wrong with my BSP or it can’t correctly send sequence to MB via midi in general?