Arturia BeatStep Pro Controller Dynamic Performance Sequencer

Product Information

The roller is limited to common time, so isn’t usually a good mix with other time-signatures or patterns with odd lengths, although it does understand triplets. Which brings me to my first quibble — I would have liked the option to use a dedicated external power supply instead of having to rely on a single Micro–B USB port for both power and data.

With 16 slots for projects, which comprise 16 sequences each for both melodic sequencers and the drum sequencer, you can compose an entire setlist worth of material using a single BeatStep Pro. My main issue is that the drum sequencer has no solo button and requires you to press 3 buttons to mute a single drum channel.I wish there were a step-advance function that would let me just fill the sequencer positions without having to program them with the encoders or perform them live on the pads.

It takes power from the USB port so if you are getting a ground loop (not the BSP’s fault) and you want to keep it connected to a computer, using the Y adapter is the only way. These were of little interest until the day I needed to find and fix a single drum hit I’d shifted accidentally.The pads are mapped using the Midi Control Center software, with several presets- chromatic, General MIDI, user specified.

As well as switching patterns, you can just as easily switch to a new project, all without stopping the music. Immediate access to an unlimited number of options means your performances will always be fresh and exciting.Sequences, or even entire projects can be changed in real-time, the MIDI and analog clock inputs and outputs ensure that everything stays in sync. This provides most of what a random direction would, with the added bonus that it won’t mess up synchronisation. Not only can it do the task, it also seems like it might be the kind of fresh air my workflow needs at the moment.

The sequencing tools are extremely comprehensive, so much so that it required keeping my iPad nearby so I could reference the PDF-based manual as I got up to speed with everything.For a spot of harmless gratification, small sections of the running patterns can be looped, to a resolution of between quarter to 32nd notes. To take care of external drum modules there are eight drum gates, for all your hits to be triggered from the on-board sequencer. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. For post-performance editing, the 16 numbered rotaries correspond to the matching step numbers, and adjust things like the note of each step, Shift (nudging notes slightly off the timing grid), Velocity (effectively step volume) and Gate (the length of the note).