Arturia BeatStep Pro Controller Dynamic Performance Sequencer

Product Information

It’s incredible how much control NDLR has over chord triggering and sequencing, especially because you can control up to four different synthesizers. The act of turning encoders tends to lead to patterns you wouldn’t ordinarily play as emphasis is added here, a note lengthened there. Ties and slides can be added too — functions that are treated equally by MIDI synths, but there’s a subtle difference at the CV outputs. There, slide events generate fixed-voltage slews of 60ms, for that instant acidic touch.

For those unfamiliar with the BeatStep Pro (where have you been?), in essence, it’s a hardware sequencer that offers two channels of melodic sequencing, partnered with eight channels of drum triggering, all of which can happen over any number of steps up to 64. Many will choose to use it as a traditional 16-step affair, with its 16 pads and correlating pots for controlling note pitch, etc viewed immediately from the front panel. For Ableton Live control, nothing still beats Ableton's own Push 2, which has simply been designed with nothing more than Live in mind so its control focus with that software is second to none and it has become the perfect hardware extension of it. This instantly makes this a far more expressive controller and, while the ‘virtual’ faders used for mixing are still no match for the real thing, this allows for cool, velocity-controlled manipulation of the speed at which level and parameter changes occur. The new custom modes are great for bespoke MIDI control too, and are a breeze to set up in Novation’s Components app.

The BeatStep Pro?s array of connections covers an astonishing range of interfaces for both drum sequencing and note-based patterns. For the step sequencers, there are voltage outputs for pitch, gate, and velocity. The pitch CVs can operate in either volt-per-octave or Hertz-per-volt mode, allowing them to integrate smoothly with both Moog and Roland gear (and of course, Arturia?s own Brute series of analog synths) as well as Korg?s MS-20, which relies on the less common Hertz-per-volt standard. There are also connections for MIDI and USB, allowing the BeatStep Pro to control MIDI hardware and soft synths, respectively. From a sequencing point of view it's very hands on and intuitive. I haven't looked at the manual yet (just a couple of youtube videos) and I have managed to create a couple of sequences without much effort.

Whether you want to play a drone, rhythmic or arpeggiated chord pattern you will get a lot of control over the chord types, scale types, and pattern types you want to use.Note that once the KeyStep has entered the bootloader mode, all LEDS should be OFF as well as the screen. Switch over to Controller Mode and the looper becomes a roller — for the MIDI events explicitly mapped in this mode. Instead of looping it repeats the events assigned to pads held down, but is clever enough not to repeatedly send MIDI program changes, if you defined that particular MIDI event. Real–time note input is just as straightforward and accompanied by a MIDI metronome if necessary. With or without the metronome, you simply hit record (the record button turns blue) and begin playing on the pads or an external MIDI controller. There’s one final recording method too which involves touching any encoder while playing a note — its value is captured into the step. Specific velocities can also be set via the knobs, which allows for some really detailed hihat and shaker patterns. Finally, the knobs can be used to shift timing offsets for each of the drums on a per-step basis. These shifts deliver some really funky and/or humanizing results, like allowing you to push or pull your snares or claps on the two and four. Kudos to Arturia for their attention to detail on this point, as it really takes the rhythmic feel of the BeatStep Pro up a notch. But the buttons on the NDLR control the chord degrees you want to use for your sequence, so you can sequence both rhythms and chords.

It's not just the CV outputs and sequencer that have made the KeyStep such a popular companion to hardware synth rigs. It's also pretty much the only super-mini that's got MIDI ports as well as USB, and so isn't reliant on a computer or other USB host. But while the KeyStep is great as a portable controller, or as an add-on keyboard for a single instrument, it's not a performance and sequencing hub for several devices. But the KeyStep Pro certainly is! I've Got The Key While it's not as powerful as Live’s own Push 2, being more portable and cheaper it doesn't need to be. Its standalone MIDI capabilities give it a distinct edge, too. Version 3 adds a powerful standalone polyphonic sequencing mode, which can be used to control hardware without the need for connection to a computer (although it can, of course, be used with plugins too). Even though I've had the BSP for a few years and got pretty familiar with it, I can't say it has revolutionized the way I make music, mostly because it's pretty techno-oriented (monophonic melodic sequencers being one giveaway). Maybe you've been able to make it play the blues, I don't know. But I just sat down with the Push 2 in the past few days and came up with some funky grooves including some chords and leads and drum patterns. I'd say that even drum pattern sequencing is easier on the Push, I just hadn't given it the proper chance. Immediate access to an unlimited number of options means your performances will always be fresh and exciting.Programming drum sequences is a breezily straightforward process, with no real surprises if you have any previous experience with drum machines. That said, there are several added amenities that allow for really precise control over your grooves. For example, you can use the knobs to dial in exact gates when working with voltage-controlled equipment, an essential for getting accurate triggers. 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). Using this simple system, even a total novice can create sequences in minutes - it's great. There are two step sequencers for musical riffs, each of which can be configured for different outputs, so you can have one control analog gear via the voltage outputs while the other sends its data to your MIDI hardware. On the voltage side of things, I had no problems using the BeatStep Pro to control my beloved Roland System-1m, Doepfer Dark Energy, and Korg MS-20. In all cases, it performed like a champ. The X in the name of this third-gen Launchpad marks a decade since Novation’s original 8x8 pad controller hit the market. There’s no doubt that, in that time, the Launchpad has proved hugely influential, inspiring the design of many other clip-launching MIDI controllers, providing the centrepiece of countless electronic live shows and founding a whole genre of YouTube mashup videos. while the KeyStep is great as a portable controller, or as an add-on keyboard for a single instrument, it's not a performance and sequencing hub for several devices. But the KeyStep Pro certainly is!