Arturia Beatstep USB, MIDI, and CV Controller and Sequencer

The Arturia Beatstep serves as a USB, MIDI, and CV controller and sequencer, designed to operate without the need for a driver, ensuring USB class compliance. This versatile device allows users to manage digital audio workstations (DAWs), loop-triggering applications, drum software, VST instruments, VST effects, DJ software, MIDI devices, and analog equipment equipped with control voltage (CV) connections. It is equipped with sixteen pads that are sensitive to pressure and velocity, along with sixteen rotary encoders. Additionally, it includes transport and preset controls, offering a total of sixteen presets, as well as a jog wheel for adjusting transpose, rate, and level settings.

In controller mode, the pads emit a red glow through backlit LEDs. This configuration allows performers to utilize the pads and rotary encoder knobs to manipulate drum software on an iPad (using a camera connector kit) or on computers running applications such as BFD, Kontakt, Ableton Live's Drum Rack, EZ Drummer, Addictive Drums, Reason Kong, or Geist. Additionally, the controller can trigger clips or tracks in production and DJ software like Ableton Live, Traktor, and Serato. The rotary encoders are capable of being MIDI mapped to adjust filters, EQs, delays, and various effects. The accompanying MIDI Control Center software offers a user-friendly interface for MIDI mapping the controller's functions, along with the ability to save preferred presets. The pads can be configured for note generation, MIDI CC buttons, and sending program change messages for diverse applications.

In sequencer mode, the pads also light up red through backlit LEDs. This setting allows the device to connect with MIDI modules, synthesizers equipped with CV connections, and software instrument plug-ins on a computer via USB. The pads and encoders facilitate the programming of sequence steps and the adjustment of pitch for each step. The device features scale modes that quantize the pitch of the encoders to specific notes within a designated scale. It can store up to sixteen sequences in its internal memory. Users can swiftly toggle between controller and sequencer modes, enabling versatile workflows that incorporate both hardware and software instruments.

For input and output, the device is equipped with a class-compliant USB input for connecting to a computer or iPad, a MIDI breakout cable for linking to traditional MIDI modules, a 1 volt-per-octave CV output, and a CV gate output for interfacing with hardware synthesizers and other devices. The unit is powered through a USB connection to a computer or a USB power adapter.