TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
A few months ago I had posted a thread about getting an Arturia Beatstep Pro for gigging as my backup band robot, and now that most of the songs are written, it was time to finally crack open the box and start programming. I am going to detail my trials and travails here in case anyone out there is having similar thoughts.
WHAT IS THE BEATSTEP PRO? Simply but, it 3 step sequence loopers in one box. It transmits 3 separate MIDI streams simultaneously and has plenty of pads an knobs to be whatever you need it to be: synth controller, master sync clock, sequencer, or drum pads, keyboard controller. (You cannot use an external MIDI keyboard through the BSP when it is in Sequence mode)
Since I already own a Beatstep, I figured it would not be a far leap to use the Beatstep Pro. I was mistaken; the BSP is a different machine, operates differently from the Beatstep, and uses entirely different key commands. Overall, the BSP is way more intuitive to use, even if you are only going to use it as a drum machine ... it is well worth the extra money. (Though I do keep the Beatstep and use it as a keyboard controller live)
CAN IT ROCK? This was always the paramount question for me ... since this is really designed to be used in electronica, could I warp its purpose enough to be used in a rock context? My desire was to use the 3 sequences to play the 3 main backing instruments: drums, bass, and synth.
STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS. For beat creation, this unit is impossible to beat. It is ultra intuitive, pretty much works perfect out of the box, and integrates perfectly with any performance-based synth (i.e., any synth that has a 'performance mode' that allows multiple MIDI streams at the same time).
Strengths -- setting up a project with a click, tempo, time signature, and step division is so intuitive that you barely need the manual ... though I kept it open until I was comfortable with the necessary button presses. Deleting bad notes or those you don't want to use in real time is a breeze, as is slowly building up a part in real time as the sequence loops. The pads are full-on: they support both velocity, CC, and aftertouch.
Limitations -- there are several, but the thing to keep in mind is that this unit is a fraction of the cost of other hardware sequencers with memory and multichannel MIDI, and a lot less headache than using a computer or laptop. Though you could just run a DAW using USB: MIDI into a synth and call it day ... or even just use soft synths ... I loathe the idea of using a computer on stage.
The biggest limitations of the Beatstep Pro for doing entire songs are all based on memory. You get 16 'Projects', each of which can contain 16 individual sequences; more than enough variation and options for a single 4-minute rock song. However, when chaining sequences in a Project, you are limited to a 16-sequence maximum. One of my biggest issues with the BSP is that when you set up a chain it doesn't allow a pre-roll, nor does it stop when the chain is finished; that means you have to burn one sequence for your pre-roll/count-in/pick up and another one for your ending. That leaves you with just 14 sequences for the entire song!
** I am going to do some research to see if I can send Play/Stop commands via my FC-200. If I can, then it will mean either bringing that to gigs, buying a simpler MIDI controller, or burning a sequence for the song tail... **
The suckiest part of these limitations is that they could probably all be fixed via firmware. There really is no reason to limit the number of sequences in a chain.
The other major limitation of the BSP is that you can only affect the tempo globally. So if you set your tempo for X, you cannot have multiple tempos within a single Project ... you can alter it manually in real time, but if your hands are full, say, playing guitar, then you are stuck.
CAN YOU MAKE IT WORK? Despite these limitations, can you make it work? If your songs are very simple or short to begin with, absolutely. If you are willing to rearrange the songs slightly to fit the limitations of the BSP live, then yes, it will work just fine.
I have fully programmed one song, and am working on the second one now. I am stoked to play out with the new 'band' lol.

WHAT IS THE BEATSTEP PRO? Simply but, it 3 step sequence loopers in one box. It transmits 3 separate MIDI streams simultaneously and has plenty of pads an knobs to be whatever you need it to be: synth controller, master sync clock, sequencer, or drum pads, keyboard controller. (You cannot use an external MIDI keyboard through the BSP when it is in Sequence mode)
Since I already own a Beatstep, I figured it would not be a far leap to use the Beatstep Pro. I was mistaken; the BSP is a different machine, operates differently from the Beatstep, and uses entirely different key commands. Overall, the BSP is way more intuitive to use, even if you are only going to use it as a drum machine ... it is well worth the extra money. (Though I do keep the Beatstep and use it as a keyboard controller live)
CAN IT ROCK? This was always the paramount question for me ... since this is really designed to be used in electronica, could I warp its purpose enough to be used in a rock context? My desire was to use the 3 sequences to play the 3 main backing instruments: drums, bass, and synth.
STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS. For beat creation, this unit is impossible to beat. It is ultra intuitive, pretty much works perfect out of the box, and integrates perfectly with any performance-based synth (i.e., any synth that has a 'performance mode' that allows multiple MIDI streams at the same time).
Strengths -- setting up a project with a click, tempo, time signature, and step division is so intuitive that you barely need the manual ... though I kept it open until I was comfortable with the necessary button presses. Deleting bad notes or those you don't want to use in real time is a breeze, as is slowly building up a part in real time as the sequence loops. The pads are full-on: they support both velocity, CC, and aftertouch.
Limitations -- there are several, but the thing to keep in mind is that this unit is a fraction of the cost of other hardware sequencers with memory and multichannel MIDI, and a lot less headache than using a computer or laptop. Though you could just run a DAW using USB: MIDI into a synth and call it day ... or even just use soft synths ... I loathe the idea of using a computer on stage.
The biggest limitations of the Beatstep Pro for doing entire songs are all based on memory. You get 16 'Projects', each of which can contain 16 individual sequences; more than enough variation and options for a single 4-minute rock song. However, when chaining sequences in a Project, you are limited to a 16-sequence maximum. One of my biggest issues with the BSP is that when you set up a chain it doesn't allow a pre-roll, nor does it stop when the chain is finished; that means you have to burn one sequence for your pre-roll/count-in/pick up and another one for your ending. That leaves you with just 14 sequences for the entire song!
** I am going to do some research to see if I can send Play/Stop commands via my FC-200. If I can, then it will mean either bringing that to gigs, buying a simpler MIDI controller, or burning a sequence for the song tail... **
The suckiest part of these limitations is that they could probably all be fixed via firmware. There really is no reason to limit the number of sequences in a chain.
The other major limitation of the BSP is that you can only affect the tempo globally. So if you set your tempo for X, you cannot have multiple tempos within a single Project ... you can alter it manually in real time, but if your hands are full, say, playing guitar, then you are stuck.
CAN YOU MAKE IT WORK? Despite these limitations, can you make it work? If your songs are very simple or short to begin with, absolutely. If you are willing to rearrange the songs slightly to fit the limitations of the BSP live, then yes, it will work just fine.
I have fully programmed one song, and am working on the second one now. I am stoked to play out with the new 'band' lol.
