BEATSTEP
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When used as note sending pads, these ultra sensitive backlit pads can send velocity and pressure information and support both Gate and Toggle modes of operation.
STEP SEQUENCE MODE
The Step sequence mode turns BeatStep into a completely different product. A step sequencer is the most basic type of music sequencer. They were popular in the 1960's and 70's. They have come back into fashion with the popularity of modular synthesizers. There are examples of step sequencers in our Arp2600 V, Modular V, and Jupiter 8 V software.
In SEQ mode, the pads and encoders work together to set and enable steps in a sequence and set pitches for each step.
By simply pressing a pad, it will enable or disable the current step in a melodic pattern. With a few presses, you are creating and changing up musical patterns in real-time.
BeatStep allows for 16 sequences to be stored in memory and recalled instantly. This allows you to play multiple patterns and create your own songs.
Setting pitches on a step sequencer can be difficult, to allow you to find the notes you want we added scale modes that quantize the pitches of the encoders to a specific set of notes. This means that instead of having the encoders move up and down chromatically like most step sequencers, you can set BeatStep so that you will only be allowed to pick notes that belong to the scale you want to work in. Look ma, no wrong notes !
MASSIVE CONNECTIVITY IN A LITTLE BOX
BeatStep goes beyond most other MIDI controllers by having many ways to connect to your other gear.
USB
It features USB Class compliant I/O for using it with your laptop or iPAD. This gives you the control you would expect to have from a pad controller. Control the transports on your favorite DAW, sequence your favorite plug-in, set up the encoders to modulate filters and eq's or mixer channels. All this and more.
MIDI
BeatStep does not stop where the competition stops however, we added MIDI out as well. You can use the pads to control that old drum module or the drum sounds on your workstation. Use the Step Sequencer mode to bring new life to your MIDI equipped synthesizers. This controller will give you limitless ways to create and be great.
CV/GATE
BeatStep has a standard 1 volt per octave CV output as well as a standard 1 volt per octave GATE output. You can directly interface them with our famous MiniBrute or MicroBrute synthesizers. Combining Beatstep's step sequencing capabilities with a modular synth allows for all kinds of hands on control and pattern generation.
TWO IN ONE AND BOTH AT ONCE
Now it is clear that this is both a pad/knob controller AND a step sequencer but it might not be clear that you can run them both at the same time.
Yes, that is right. You could be using the CV/gate output from the step sequencer playing your MiniBrute and then switch to CONTROL mode and have it controlling clips on Ableton Live and using the encoders to manipulate your VST version of SEM V.
Maybe playing the drum sounds on a vintage Roland drum module via the MIDI output and sequencing a SH-101 using the CV/GATE in SEQ mode is more your style.
What if you want to step sequence Jupiter 8V on MIDI ch 1 while controlling the MMC transports in Logic and playing the drum sounds from BFD on MIDI ch 10 both via USB? You can do that as well.
The combinations are truly limitless.
MIDI CONTROL CENTER
The MIDI Control Center software provides you with a fast and easy way to edit parameters.
Editing your MIDI setups and sequences is a cinch with this software.
Export your presets to back them up or create archives of your favorite presets to share with others.
