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NAMM 2014Arturia announces BeatStep Controller & Sequencer (Hardware)

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Arturia

Arturia has announced BeatStep Controller & Sequencer, a space-saving tabletop pad controller-cum-step sequencer, at the 2014 NAMM Show, January 23-26 in Anaheim, California.

BeatStep will be available to purchase at the end of March, 2014, from the Arturia online store or any authorised dealer for $129.00 / €99.00.

Here's what they say:

BeatStep offers a new level of functionality and performance features in a powerful, portable pad-and encoder-laden USB Class-compliant controller at a hitherto unheard of price-to-performance ratio. Taken at face value, triggering audio clips within powerful, flexible software environments such as Ableton Live or playing drum parts in conjunction with the likes of FXpansion BFD or Toontrack EZdrummer is as easy as exercising your trigger fingers.

Users can comfortably use BeatStep's 16 sensitively-spaced, velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads to create dynamic percussion performances. Performing onstage? Well, when working in CNTRL (controller) mode those pads' backlit LEDs are brightly lit in red — perfect for overcoming far from ideal lighting conditions that are typically associated with onstage operation.

But beyond that trigger-happy, percussion-friendly façade lies a wealth of flexible features for creating music. Switch to SEQ (sequencer) mode and those backlit LEDs become blue for instant visual confirmation of the mode change. The pads now perform a different function, too. Each one represents a step in a 16-step sequence while pitch adjustments for each step is available via BeatStep's 16 encoders. Up to 16 sequence pattens can be conveniently stored for instant recall. Elsewhere, encoder-enabled scale modes, sequencer playback modes, and time division functions allow for realtime performance changes.

Whatever your connectivity preferences may be, Arturia has provided MIDI, USB, and CV/GATE options. Users can drive anything from software instruments to suitably-equipped hardware, including instruments like Arturia's own MiniBrute and MicroBrute Analog Synthesizers. Supporting BeatStep's slender form factor, a custom breakout cable can be used to drive standard MIDI gear. When used with an Apple iPad and Camera Connection Kit combo, BeatStep becomes a flexible iPad app controller too.

Those wishing to use BeatStep as a general purpose control surface are catered for since its pads can be configured to be MIDI CC buttons or assigned to send Program and Bank Change messages as well as note messages. The transport buttons can be MMC controls or MIDI CC to start and stop any connected DAW. With 16 encoders, 16 pads/buttons, and 16 preset memories at your command, you can come up with multiple ways to use BeatStep in any live or studio environment.

BeatStep will be available to purchase at the end of March, 2014, from the Arturia online store or any authorised dealer for $129.00 / €99.00.

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