Do call it a comeback. The hardware sequencer, once a forgotten relic of the computer age, has returned with a vengeance. And the reason is simple: we need it. Sure, we might play with a computer, but we’ve fallen for other synthesizers and drum machines – a lot of it quite cheap, too. We want hands-on control so we can play live again, improvise with our hands rather than furrow our brows over a mouse and screen. And we might even have beloved analog gear and want it to groove along with everything else.
Few companies represent the blossoming of love for gear quite like Arturia. It was just a few short years ago that the name meant plug-in emulations of vintage gear. Now, people are more likely to think of something like the hardware MicroBrute synth.
Arturia’s first BeatStep was cool – a combination step sequencer and drum pad controller. But it was also limited: you could only sequence one part, and pattern triggering options were woefully limited.
This month, the company has shipped the long-awaited BeatStep Pro. I’m finishing a review now – it’ll be an in-depth hands-on, and I’m also waiting to make sure I have the latest firmware changes.
But since I’m focusing on those details rather than rushing, we can meanwhile watch some videos of just how this gear looks in action. And you can let me know if that raises other questions – what do you want to know? What gear do you care about working with? I’ll answer as much as I can in our review.
For starters, here are ten analog synths – plus Ableton Live. (Digital or analog? Yes.)
SonicState have gone into a detailed hands-on video:
SonicSense (not to be confused with the previous) have a film that shows how you’d use this live as both an analog (CV) and digital (MIDI) controller, with other hardware.
They’ve also gone step by step through a demo as a sort of tutorial, walking you through how you get started with the hardware:
Source have a hands-on with simultaneous live use of the analog and digital modes:
For more detailed breakdown, Arturia have gone into each individual mode. First, here are your connection options:
While it’s obvious you can do rhythmic sequencing from those pads, it’s also worth seeing the dedicated melodic mode:
And yes, that drum sequencing, too:
And even with all those jacks round the back, it is very possible that you would decide to justify the purchase of your BeatStep Pro solely on the basis of working with a computer. Here’s Arturia on combining it with Ableton Live (though workflow with other DAWs would be reasonably similar, too, so this remains relevant):
Some nice experiments from Tomeso in Germany – love the techniques here:
Seq1 controls Arturia MiniBrute SE via CV
Seq2 controls Arturia MicroBrute SE via CV
Drum Seq controls Arturia Spark 2 software via MIDI
The EPSi convolution reverb is integrated as a send effect via the recording interface. No additional effects.
Lastly, with all the talk of gear, let’s finish with some music making. Arturia traveled to Utrecht to visit the lovely Sonar Traffic and see how they work:
So, what would you like to see? And did we miss any good videos (like yours, for instance)? Let us know in comments.
I still think musicians who use hardware sequencers are like writers who use manual typewriters. If it’s good for your creative flow then use it, but expect a lot of blank looks from everyone else.
I don’t see the comparison. For one thing, it’s not an either/or matter – there’s actually *more than one* example above showing Ableton Live. So this is one way to get more hands-on control, and to make a bridge between your computer workflow and other gear.
In other words, this is less like a writer who likes to use a manual typewriter instead of a computer, and more like one who likes to drink coffee while writing. 😉
I sequence almost everything in Ableton but I use a hardware step sequencer for some tasks. I don’t think your analogy works… the mechanical typewriter was error prone, inefficient, and produced work that couldn’t be edited in a non destructive manner. It was replaced by the word processor which, surprise, also uses a keyboard as it’s HID.
Definitely not an either/or matter. I use iOS sequencers like Koushion and other sequencers like Nodal tied into Ableton and Logic all the time, and with a fair number of analog synths, the BeatStep Pro would fit into my setup nicely as well.
Actually lots of writers still use manuscript — and have assistants to do the typing etc. At least this is true for several celebrated writers I know in a couple of countries. And I don’t think anyone would give a “blank look” to a writer still using a typewriter. On the contrary, it might even have the “hipster” retro thing going for it.
As for hardware sequencers this is where the analogy breaks completely. If anything we’ve seen a HUGE resurgence of hardware programming and control the last 5 years (from Korg’s cheap and cheerful stuff to the Monome), and tons of artists experimenting without a DAW controlling stuff.
Blank looks from non-musicians I guess? Any musician understands the appeal of a stand alone instrument.
I still think musicians who use hardware sequencers are like writers who use manual typewriters. If it’s good for your creative flow then use it, but expect a lot of blank looks from everyone else.
I don’t see the comparison. For one thing, it’s not an either/or matter – there’s actually *more than one* example above showing Ableton Live. So this is one way to get more hands-on control, and to make a bridge between your computer workflow and other gear.
In other words, this is less like a writer who likes to use a manual typewriter instead of a computer, and more like one who likes to drink coffee while writing. 😉
I sequence almost everything in Ableton but I use a hardware step sequencer for some tasks. I don’t think your analogy works… the mechanical typewriter was error prone, inefficient, and produced work that couldn’t be edited in a non destructive manner. It was replaced by the word processor which, surprise, also uses a keyboard as it’s HID.
Definitely not an either/or matter. I use iOS sequencers like Koushion and other sequencers like Nodal tied into Ableton and Logic all the time, and with a fair number of analog synths, the BeatStep Pro would fit into my setup nicely as well.
Actually lots of writers still use manuscript — and have assistants to do the typing etc. At least this is true for several celebrated writers I know in a couple of countries. And I don’t think anyone would give a “blank look” to a writer still using a typewriter. On the contrary, it might even have the “hipster” retro thing going for it.
As for hardware sequencers this is where the analogy breaks completely. If anything we’ve seen a HUGE resurgence of hardware programming and control the last 5 years (from Korg’s cheap and cheerful stuff to the Monome), and tons of artists experimenting without a DAW controlling stuff.
Blank looks from non-musicians I guess? Any musician understands the appeal of a stand alone instrument.
I still think musicians who use hardware sequencers are like writers who use manual typewriters. If it’s good for your creative flow then use it, but expect a lot of blank looks from everyone else.
I don’t see the comparison. For one thing, it’s not an either/or matter – there’s actually *more than one* example above showing Ableton Live. So this is one way to get more hands-on control, and to make a bridge between your computer workflow and other gear.
In other words, this is less like a writer who likes to use a manual typewriter instead of a computer, and more like one who likes to drink coffee while writing. 😉
I sequence almost everything in Ableton but I use a hardware step sequencer for some tasks. I don’t think your analogy works… the mechanical typewriter was error prone, inefficient, and produced work that couldn’t be edited in a non destructive manner. It was replaced by the word processor which, surprise, also uses a keyboard as it’s HID.
Definitely not an either/or matter. I use iOS sequencers like Koushion and other sequencers like Nodal tied into Ableton and Logic all the time, and with a fair number of analog synths, the BeatStep Pro would fit into my setup nicely as well.
Actually lots of writers still use manuscript — and have assistants to do the typing etc. At least this is true for several celebrated writers I know in a couple of countries. And I don’t think anyone would give a “blank look” to a writer still using a typewriter. On the contrary, it might even have the “hipster” retro thing going for it.
As for hardware sequencers this is where the analogy breaks completely. If anything we’ve seen a HUGE resurgence of hardware programming and control the last 5 years (from Korg’s cheap and cheerful stuff to the Monome), and tons of artists experimenting without a DAW controlling stuff.
Blank looks from non-musicians I guess? Any musician understands the appeal of a stand alone instrument.
Heck I get a lot of strange looks because I don’t even have a laptop onstage- Just an old School 3 tier Keyboard rack with hardware- and I’m the sequencer LOL. (I still have my Alesis MMT-8 and use it occasionally – the Beat step is gathering Dust and will head to ebay soon. This beat Step Pro looks great……. But a little bird told me the Roland is going to be making announcement soon- We know nothing other than “Roland was moved by our Requests” and Hardware Sequencer for the AIRA line has been on a lot of folks lists..
Ha, wait, now *not* having a laptop gets strange looks? 😉
What is he doing if he’s not checking his email? Fake set!
Yeah I know right? What a difference a Decade Makes..
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bfa3d678a7c62de2e7db357c5faef38ab16a5c4783ebd365c13034bba6395b55.jpg
(New-OldSkool)
Yes that IS a MIDI cable hanging out of my back pocket; not sure why the pic is rotated though I could not change it.
Heck I get a lot of strange looks because I don’t even have a laptop onstage- Just an old School 3 tier Keyboard rack with hardware- and I’m the sequencer LOL. (I still have my Alesis MMT-8 and use it occasionally but it IS old and little finicky so bringing it out is not high on my list. The Beat step is gathering Dust and will head to ebay soon. This BeatStep Pro looks great……. But a little bird told me the Roland is going to be making announcement soon- We know nothing other than “Roland was moved by our Requests” and Hardware Sequencer for the AIRA line has been on a lot of folks lists.. Of course it could be a new t-shirt or Software updates for the TR-8 or TB-3 but who knows. I still may get the Beatstep because it fills a niche and has that CV stuff from my new Modular crap.
Ha, wait, now *not* having a laptop gets strange looks? 😉
What is he doing if he’s not checking his email? Fake set!
Yeah I know right? What a difference a Decade Makes..
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bfa3d678a7c62de2e7db357c5faef38ab16a5c4783ebd365c13034bba6395b55.jpg
(New-OldSkool)
Yes that IS a MIDI cable hanging out of my back pocket; not sure why the pic is rotated though I could not change it.
Heck I get a lot of strange looks because I don’t even have a laptop onstage- Just an old School 3 tier Keyboard rack with hardware- and I’m the sequencer LOL. (I still have my Alesis MMT-8 and use it occasionally but it IS old and little finicky so bringing it out is not high on my list. The Beat step is gathering Dust and will head to ebay soon. This BeatStep Pro looks great……. But a little bird told me the Roland is going to be making announcement soon- We know nothing other than “Roland was moved by our Requests” and Hardware Sequencer for the AIRA line has been on a lot of folks lists.. Of course it could be a new t-shirt or Software updates for the TR-8 or TB-3 but who knows. I still may get the Beatstep because it fills a niche and has that CV stuff from my new Modular crap.
Ha, wait, now *not* having a laptop gets strange looks? 😉
What is he doing if he’s not checking his email? Fake set!
Yeah I know right? What a difference a Decade Makes..
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bfa3d678a7c62de2e7db357c5faef38ab16a5c4783ebd365c13034bba6395b55.jpg
(New-OldSkool)
Yes that IS a MIDI cable hanging out of my back pocket; not sure why the pic is rotated though I could not change it.
Peter. It would be great if you could show very simply something i haven’t seen in the videos yet: How to use the BeatStep Pro to sequence a iOS synth like iMini or Animoog. On the vintage gear side of things, I have a Roland MKS-7 and would like to use it both for Seq1, Seq2 and the drum sequencer. Can you help?
Ah, that’s a good question. And you’d like a hardware synth rather than software? (Why not, I suppose! Otherwise, switching between apps is a pain…)
I have lots of hardware synths – most analog (the usual mono-suspects) and some early digital Korgs, Yamahas…
Switching between apps have become easier with Audiobus Remote 🙂
Looking forward to reading your input as usual.
Peter. It would be great if you could show very simply something i haven’t seen in the videos yet: How to use the BeatStep Pro to sequence a iOS synth like iMini or Animoog. On the vintage gear side of things, I have a Roland MKS-7 and would like to use it both for Seq1, Seq2 and the drum sequencer. Can you help?
Ah, that’s a good question. And you’d like a hardware synth rather than software? (Why not, I suppose! Otherwise, switching between apps is a pain…)
I have lots of hardware synths – most analog (the usual mono-suspects) and some early digital Korgs, Yamahas…
Switching between apps have become easier with Audiobus Remote 🙂
Looking forward to reading your input as usual.
Peter. It would be great if you could show very simply something i haven’t seen in the videos yet: How to use the BeatStep Pro to sequence a iOS synth like iMini or Animoog. On the vintage gear side of things, I have a Roland MKS-7 and would like to use it both for Seq1, Seq2 and the drum sequencer. Can you help?
Ah, that’s a good question. And you’d like a hardware synth rather than software? (Why not, I suppose! Otherwise, switching between apps is a pain…)
I have lots of hardware synths – most analog (the usual mono-suspects) and some early digital Korgs, Yamahas…
Switching between apps have become easier with Audiobus Remote 🙂
Looking forward to reading your input as usual.
I’ve had one for the last week or so and I’m loving it so far.
A cool approach to it might be how to use it for songwriting. I’ve had a lot of fun using it to create basslines and synth riffs then using those to start off songs.
I’ve had one for the last week or so and I’m loving it so far.
A cool approach to it might be how to use it for songwriting. I’ve had a lot of fun using it to create basslines and synth riffs then using those to start off songs.
I’ve had one for the last week or so and I’m loving it so far.
A cool approach to it might be how to use it for songwriting. I’ve had a lot of fun using it to create basslines and synth riffs then using those to start off songs.
While the controller would be good for the studio, there are few things as boring as a bloke moving from synth to module to twist a couple of dials or slide some sliders like in the video. The formulaic BS music doesn’t help either…
While the controller would be good for the studio, there are few things as boring as a bloke moving from synth to module to twist a couple of dials or slide some sliders like in the video. The formulaic BS music doesn’t help either…
While the controller would be good for the studio, there are few things as boring as a bloke moving from synth to module to twist a couple of dials or slide some sliders like in the video. The formulaic BS music doesn’t help either…
I’d like to see how far you can take the drum track into melodic territory. Can you set the notes for each pad on the fly like the other sequencers or is that only through the desktop software? Can you, say, point 8 pads at the same melodic (MIDI) instrument and still use the other 8 pads in normal drum mode (gate or MIDI)?
I’d also like to see if you can use one of the gate outputs as the clock source by patching it back into itself. Then you could switch the tempo of the entire unit really quickly (and quirkily, presumably) with the 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 clock pads along with fun stuff like moving the clock around depending on which steps you have turned on.
And I want to hear it controlling 3-4 MeeBlips, natch. 😉
I’d like to see how far you can take the drum track into melodic territory. Can you set the notes for each pad on the fly like the other sequencers or is that only through the desktop software?
EDIT: just finished Arturia’s drum sequencer video and see that you have to set the notes for the drum pads in the desktop software. A shame but I get it—I’d rather have step shift on the machine than note setting. So… new question. Can you transpose the entire set of drum pads on the unit? Chromatic is fine for most drum software but some start at different MIDI note numbers (on iPad anyway, NanoStudio, Beatmaker, and iMPC all start at different notes). Would be a pain to have to save different presets for different apps when a transpose would cover all of them. On that note, it doesn’t look like you can import ‘custom’ note setups you’ve already created since it appears to be a part of the global settings vs a preset’s settings. Am I missing something?
Can you set pattern changes to wait until the end of the current sequence?
I’d also like to see if you can use one of the gate outputs as the clock source by patching it back into itself. Then you could switch the tempo of the entire unit really quickly (and quirkily, presumably) with the 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 clock pads along with fun stuff like moving the clock around depending on which steps you have turned on.
And I want to hear it controlling 3-4 MeeBlips, natch. 😉
I’d like to see how far you can take the drum track into melodic territory. Can you set the notes for each pad on the fly like the other sequencers or is that only through the desktop software?
EDIT: just finished Arturia’s drum sequencer video and see that you have to set the notes for the drum pads in the desktop software. A shame but I get it—I’d rather have step shift on the machine than note setting. So… new question. Can you transpose the entire set of drum pads on the unit? Chromatic is fine for most drum software but some start at different MIDI note numbers (on iPad anyway, NanoStudio, Beatmaker, and iMPC all start at different notes). Would be a pain to have to save different presets for different apps when a transpose would cover all of them. On that note, it doesn’t look like you can import ‘custom’ note setups you’ve already created since it appears to be a part of the global settings vs a preset’s settings. Am I missing something?
Can you set pattern changes to wait until the end of the current sequence?
I’d also like to see if you can use one of the gate outputs as the clock source by patching it back into itself. Then you could switch the tempo of the entire unit really quickly (and quirkily, presumably) with the 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 clock pads along with fun stuff like moving the clock around depending on which steps you have turned on.
And I want to hear it controlling 3-4 MeeBlips, natch. 😉
– is polyphony possible ?
– what do you do if you want to control more than 3 pieces of hardware at the same time ?
– is polyphony possible ?
– what do you do if you want to control more than 3 pieces of hardware at the same time ?
– is polyphony possible ?
– what do you do if you want to control more than 3 pieces of hardware at the same time ?
Great source of information, as always Peter.
Question, though: I was (thanks to your previous article) considering Numerology 4 as a sequencer to use with my V Synth GT; what are the initial pros/cons (other than hardware vs. software) that you can see between these two in terms of creativity? (I’m looking for the best sequencer possible!)
Great source of information, as always Peter.
Question, though: I was (thanks to your previous article) considering Numerology 4 as a sequencer to use with my V Synth GT; what are the initial pros/cons (other than hardware vs. software) that you can see between these two in terms of creativity? (I’m looking for the best sequencer possible!)
Great source of information, as always Peter.
Question, though: I was (thanks to your previous article) considering Numerology 4 as a sequencer to use with my V Synth GT; what are the initial pros/cons (other than hardware vs. software) that you can see between these two in terms of creativity? (I’m looking for the best sequencer possible!)
I want to see chords
This type of step sequencing isn’t conducive to chords. Also, all those MiniBrutes and MicroBrutes are monosynths.
You can happily step sequence chords in octatrak. They could easily add some basics to this.
I want to see chords
This type of step sequencing isn’t conducive to chords. Also, all those MiniBrutes and MicroBrutes are monosynths.
You can happily step sequence chords in octatrak. They could easily add some basics to this.
I want to see chords
This type of step sequencing isn’t conducive to chords. Also, all those MiniBrutes and MicroBrutes are monosynths.
You can happily step sequence chords in octatrak. They could easily add some basics to this.
Could you also look into methods for externally controlling the transposition of the sequencer for Berlin School style stuff? On the BeatStep that can only happen over USB MIDI. Also, can you externally transpose the sequences independently? This is probably all in the manual but I’d love to hear about it in practice—I haven’t seen it covered elsewhere.
I’m thinking specifically about using this with another clocked sequencer (at 1/4 time or whatever) where that sequencer sends a new note every 4-8 measures and the BSP transposes in response. Or how about using seq 1 to transpose seq 2?
Could you also look into methods for externally controlling the transposition of the sequencer for Berlin School style stuff? On the BeatStep that can only happen over USB MIDI. Also, can you externally transpose the sequences independently? This is probably all in the manual but I’d love to hear about it in practice—I haven’t seen it covered elsewhere.
I’m thinking specifically about using this with another clocked sequencer (at 1/4 time or whatever) where that sequencer sends a new note every 4-8 measures and the BSP transposes in response. Or how about using seq 1 to transpose seq 2?
Could you also look into methods for externally controlling the transposition of the sequencer for Berlin School style stuff? On the BeatStep that can only happen over USB MIDI. Also, can you externally transpose the sequences independently? This is probably all in the manual but I’d love to hear about it in practice—I haven’t seen it covered elsewhere.
I’m thinking specifically about using this with another clocked sequencer (at 1/4 time or whatever) where that sequencer sends a new note every 4-8 measures and the BSP transposes in response. Or how about using seq 1 to transpose seq 2?
I just picked one of these up and for someone that creates Berlin School style electronic music I think it’s a pretty awesome piece. More modern day electronica artists may shake their heads, but applications are everything. Some will love it, some won’t.