4 YEARS with the BeatStep Pro - Things i have picked up along the way

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

This video was spurred on because of the questions from the "mind over matter" live video here :- kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5bEqXWNndp1mNU

[@CausticCatastrophe]

sam, did you know that the control bit with the custom cc's also has a sequencer? You can use that to automate CV-able junk. How cool is that? its like sequencing knobs! I think with your setup, youd need to connect it up to a midimuso situation.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

@@CausticCatastrophe aaah yeah that makes sense i hadnt actually given that a go!! and also not to mention you get the velocity output on each channel which can be used to play another set of notes too! so technically 5 note lines right????

[@CausticCatastrophe]

@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER This is at least true of the keystep pro. I have more experience with it, and only briefly had a BSP. Sorry if its not true of the BSP. Also, as you mentioned its a bit annoying, but at least on the KSP you can load up a bunch of empty patterns by holding the pattern button + pattern number + last step + 64 OR i find more simply, to just page through with the pattern +/-. Do this for all the 16 patterns, and then with 16 empty patterns with 64 steps, you can press chain+1, +2, +3 etc to chain them up. This gives you 1024 steps of sequencing you can live record to. I just save the empty pattern and stuff to the project with save + project [press the menu encoder to confirm]. Then you have a template for making sequences for that track of that length. Might be more or less effort than the cirklon, i dunno.

[@griffgames9538]

Appreciate the deeper look - cheers. Was often curious about this device, build quality, etc.

[@davidegrotto9910]

💯💯💯

[@stephenmorring3370]

Besides the really cool demonstration, I look at your gear and notice the contrast between how pristine my equipment looks versus yours -- with markers, tape and notes written directly on the equipment. ...and I realize why you're really good at what you do. You USE the equipment to its fullest and customize it however best fits your needs -- while I want to keep my clean and not break it. Maybe I should just find the joy of creating and not care if I break something or mark it up to fit my needs.

[@ericMT]

When you are playing live you really need to do anything you can to make sure things go as planned. It’s pretty common for live keyboard players to write notes or put tape in places to help see what you need to press when you are playing under questionable lighting conditions.

[@SeamlessR]

Arturia are actual hardware wizards. I am always in awe of how tightly packed but available functionality is in their gear.

[@electricblade5]

Hey, seamless. Good to see you here. :)

[@AnalogDude_]

well, the software part isn't that hard, anyone can do that, but their products do feel solid and deserve a A. My keystep shows quality.

[@UNSCPILOT]

Love my Microfreak even if I barely understand what I'm doing, so much fun to just explore and experiment with

[@cranky-turtle]

Their software synths are very solid too. I am a big fan of Pigments, particularly!

[@grimm3040]

Just purchased a used one last week, after watching you use them for so long. Grabbed one of the black edition beat step pros and the seller shipped it out wrapped in a sweet adidas track jacket. Awesome surprise. Thanks for all the inspiration Sam!!

[@CountDoucheula]

Time to go gopnik and create a phat hardbass beat wearing the trackie

[@finonomastropiero4261]

Woooooo!! Lets Go!. Tomorrow, im purchasing for so cheap a secondhanded beatstep pro black edition

[@carlbeese2059]

those little moments where it just works so nicely and you can really tell you know this stuff inside out are just magical. love it

[@_rlb]

We live in a wonderful time where we can just ask our favourite artists all kind of questions and they give these in-depth answers! Well some of them do :)

[@ReconnaissanceDroid]

Yo, to play notes when not recording, just mute the channel, sounds weird, but thats the way its intended; it mutes the sequencer, and therefore allows live playing ;)

[@wideyxyz2271]

Sam your such an inspiration. I'm a long time guitarist (40+ years) and all round muso. I dabble in keys (not very well) but watching you build and play stuff really makes me want to get more into this side of music production! Brilliant, Many thanks.

[@stevezafeiriou]

Amazing artist, amazing engineer im watching you for years and i really enjoy your evolvement. Congrats!

[@wolfgang4468]

You create more interesting and exciting music on the fly than I hear listening to radio all day! (Says a 60-years old.) Love your synth punk attitude!

[@gazroach9019]

You are the dawless synth wizard kid! Always inspired and educated after your videos. Mass respect! All the best for 2022! ❤️💯👊🏻

[@Endres1994]

Great Video! I just used to get a BeatStep Pro as my very first hardware sequencer two weeks ago and enjoy it very much. I'm looking forward to wire it up to my very own analog synth modules once I finish them. For now I use it together with the Axoloti, which is kind of a DSP powered programmable hardware synthesizer which is open source / hardware. I really can recommend the Axoloti as well, because it's software look and feel is very much like building, wiring and controlling a modular, while it is indeed only a small board with an ARM and some MIDI and audio jacks and GPIO headers. I added 16 pots to the Axoloti, and this is quite a nice tiny setup you can already produce quite some sound out of.

[@georgekay372]

I’ve literally sold my BSP this week. Loved it for many years, but I mainly use my Elektron boxes as both sound sources and sequencers these days. Four polyphonic midi tracks on the Digitone and another eight mono (I think?) tracks on the Octatrack. Works similar enough to the BSP, with the addition of all the beautiful Elektron features (midi LFOs!!! Parameter locks!!!)

[@lafoudrepasslafoudrepass5238]

I hear octotrack has a midi sequencer cool😮

[@MystiQ078]

I was one of the persons that did not understand how you did the chords. Thank you for your explanation and hopefully I can use it on my BSP in my own music.

[@STurnStefan]

Thank you for this video, and for summing up my life with the idea of an infinite step loop… great to glimpse your process.

[@Pytchblend]

Very interesting, I've often wondered how you use the BSP. I'm looking forward to the Circlon video now :=

[@TheOneandOnlyAP]

Awesome, thanks for sharing your secrets Sam! Just bought a boatload of parts on Mouser, going to get my Kosmo synth up and running very soon…

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Oddly this is the first demo of the beatstep pro that uses the midi in and out. Just what i was looking for. Thanks

[@ctrlartdel]

Ohhhh buddy! You have come a long way! Congratulations!

[@adrianluz2991]

Very nice way to use this. Live performing vs pre-programming. Plus the dirty look if amazing, keeping it real! 🙌🏻👍🏼✨

[@dondonaudio8191]

I really like the way you use your gear! No dust covers, no deck savers, just rock n roll! 🤟

[@javinshki17000]

7:02 the heck were u talking about? i honestly loved that topline bro

[@tmp_techno]

You can play live without rec when you mute the sequencer. Works on mine. Its 3 years old. Thanks for the Video !!!

[@DanielHofer]

I always wondered about the glowing white device, thanks for the very detailed and funny description

[@johnbain3763]

So happy you did this! I'm looking at getting the KeyStep Pro as my next purchase (want to also have the mini-keyboard, as well).

[@rinkzate]

"This is where it gets a bit confusing" bruv I've been lost this whole time

[@DerGanner]

I spilled a glas of beer over my BSP. Disassembling, cleaning and drying was a breeze. Still going strong. Pretty awesome hardware.

[@je7647]

I left my microfreak out in the rain and it was kinda stuffed for 4 weeks then it repaired itself even the screen started working again company seems to make good quality stuff

[@hughman8597]

I am also a BSP user through Sam and I love this part! It's built like a tank. The only weak point is the USB Port, but mine is bombproof no problems. So if you want to be on the safe side, glue the socket or use this practical magnet USB charging cables. So you only have the small plug in the BSP and nothing can break. However, the magnet solution is not suitable for live use! It is definitely enough for at home. When I bought mine, the Keystep Pro didn't exist. Since I have a small setup and little space, that would have been even more perfect for me but you can't have everything :) By the way, the protective films are still on the displays of my BSP - am I weird?!? So a clear buy recommendation from me! THXS Arturia for this beautiful piece of hardware. Greetings to: Dud, analogoutput, Jos, BlackDeath, Caustic, Hagiwo, devicex, d42kn355, Dave and the rest of the LMNC Fam. ! THOGRE

[@jdigital3794]

after a year and still got the protective film on mine too XD

[@RicardoPenders]

I really liked this video, looks and sounds so cool when you show how you start up your sequencers and in just seconds it almost turns into a song.

[@gabrielshepard]

Thanks for your take on this controller..... even though it is so much more than a mere "controller". .....been following you for a few years now. You amaze me man!!! Keep up the good work bud.... hopefully you make to the states someday and I can buy you a beer!!!

[@maxrose8845]

Dude thank you!! Linking the two beatsteps is exactly what I was looking for

[@AnalogDude_]

Dude, i got the MPC X a few days ago, it's frikking awesome machine. It would be a very welcome addition to your setup. even if u wouldn't use it as (drum) sampler, it's still very useful. It allows you make midi / Cv sequences, than you can make mini songs of these midi / Cv sequences, than you can add these mini songs to a single pressure sensitive pad (16 physical / but 128 can be assigned) available ... and rock and roll ... with automation, random events, etc, etc. but you can also use a "sample" and loop into a LFO and assign it to a free audio output. provided you build some 8 line level to 10 V.p.p. converters and use it in your synthesizer. the cool part is, you can follow the position of the song on the screen while it's coasting along. However it's very extended, it takes days of video tutorials to understand the machine. maybe you wanna check it, buy a second hand Akai MPC live version II .. that one has 4 CV/gates where as the MPC X has 8 ... and ditch it if it doesn't fill your needs.

[@theelmonk]

I lost a knob from my beatstep (not pro). Wrote to Arturia and they very helpfully and quickly supplied me replacements. Nice company.

[@Chris0612]

Where to start with synths, you made me want to build one myself. Keep it up, your music kicks in ways i havent discovered before.

[@JohnTrasher]

Great help! I asked under the mind over matter video if you could explain your setup, and the midi sequencing is what i needed. Already figured out you must have pre recorded some of the midi patterns, but yeah i am gonna sell the keystep pro again and stick to my deluge (same reason you keep the circlon). :D Thanks again Sam!

[@s3nsec0rruptr80]

Can I just say how much I love your beat up BSP lol. It's tough!

[@whiskyandsynths]

HI Sam! Re the mic, you could hang the xlr cable round your neck /shoulders (in a safe way ie not looped!) so when you need to go hands free when not singing, it'll just hang there! I've tried that and like it :)

[@BlackRoseCloud]

I just got myself a beatstep pro been fumbling around with it but this left me in awe really shows off what it can do and oh boy do I have some learning to do lol

[@McTroyd]

Thanks for the nerdy deep dive on the BeatStep Pro. I'm a relative noob to all things MIDI, and while there is limitless theory and specification out there, it seems like everyone protects their setup like a national security secret. 🕵‍♂ Seeing an actual production system in use is hugely helpful. Plus I want to get one for use with VCV (along with my keyboard). 😁 Would love your review of the Cirklon, if only for morbid curiosity. 👍

[@OriginalAutobat]

This video did it, I finally purchased a sequencer and a modular synth!

[@lafoudrepasslafoudrepass5238]

modular seems best but I like drum machines a lot

[@electronicgarden3259]

Awesome video with good explanation of your very creative use of the BSP 👏👏👏

[@roblikestotalk4984]

Love your stuff, man. So many of my friends in America love your stuff.

[@jkuebler89]

This is super duper helpful. I've just been using mine for the CV outs, been kinda apprehensive to dive into MIDI. Although, you specifically were the inspiration behind me getting into modular and acquiring the BSP in the first place so it's only fitting you are helping to educate me and give that nudge forward. Thanks Sam!

[@mattcreighton2352]

1:26 is the start of a sick track, sam so talented even his random dropped-beatstep sounds are 👌

[@cwxdaf152]

Picked one of these up recently, cheaply too. These tips will be genuinely useful, so ta very much! More blabbin' please.

[@NevilleHayfield]

Still haven't had a chance to pick mine out with the box yet, or the key step 37, or the microfreak, or my monologue, Volcas, Electribe and Jdxi . Started getting back into synths after 25 years not touching one. Started buying bits to try and get my kids back into it and the bit of a midlife crises. Haven't set it up yet because of building work. Going on. Watching your videos is making me want to plug it all in 👊💪🔥

[@onecubicmetreofsound8949]

Thank you for this video. I've learned a thing or two from this and it's always good to see the live set application for this kind of gear.

[@SpectrumDIY]

I really love mine so far, I can't waiit to get a second one! But really polyphonic is what I'm aiming for XD

[@CausticCatastrophe]

keystep for poly!

[@SpectrumDIY]

@@CausticCatastrophe it's next on the list! I just haven't quite saved enough yet 😅 probably by January!

[@MrSpiderkells]

Haha, with all the comments of people saying they are going to buy one after watching this, maybe Arturia can send you a black one. Thanks Sam, you are the reason I bought mine 2 years ago. And in black oh yeah!

[@georgsv]

I noticed if you mute the melody channel, you can control it with the midi controller and it doesn't have to be on record. Even if it's muted, it's still playing

[@notanimposter]

When you eventually have to crack the thing open to replace the micro usb with a type c port, it’ll be a great opportunity to dye the plastic black! ;)

[@BendApparatus]

I understand that type C is superior and even works once the connection gets loose... But I've always liked standard type B...it just feels...beefy? And secure...🤷🏻‍♂️ As far as a black Beat Pro?... Got one...😎...it automatically leveled up my skills from 0.25 to 0.35...😐

[@MisterMotel]

how do you still not have over a million subscribers? your so unique on KZbin.

[@ToysintheStatic]

Yeah, the bsp is pretty awesome- I’ve had it for a few years and can’t say anything bad about it! Actually came across this channel while looking up something about the bsp back when I first got it.

[@delta-9969]

Have you done a video on that midi keyboard? Such a simple thing, a rotary switch to select MIDI channel -- and yet I can't think of a single commercial product that has that feature. Would love to know how you built it.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

arduino! yep wiil do

[@nicholasboatright41]

Awesome dude. The video I've been waiting for.

[@toddspeck9415]

So cool. Always amazed watching what you do.

[@s3nsec0rruptr80]

Good call on polyphony! My current drum machine is the elektron model samples, and I haven't figured out midi routing to control each drum sound from the bsp. But I do have a polysynth to sequence...🤔🤔🤔

[@No.0.o.0]

Jamie Lidell is why I know what the Cirklon is and that dude is a genius so it must be pretty neat. Wish Orthogonal Devices were easier to come by. Cool video though heh heh

[@dykodesigns]

Does the save function on the beatstep pro save onto flash memory or does it use old school battery backed up ram? Recently saw an Espen Kraft video about some midi sequencers from the 80’s and only the more high end models of the time had the ability to store data on floppy disks. The Yamaha QX1 looks quite interesting. It’s like an 80’s home computer purpose built for midi sequencing.

[@lafoudrepasslafoudrepass5238]

I don’t see a battery slot pretty sure it’s flash

[@galaxyclique]

That Maschine Sounds so beautiful

[@TheOdyssey3001]

On the KSP you can chain empty patterns up to 64 steps each, live record on to this and it will automagically switch to the next pattern thus creating any length sequence you need. Can you do this on the BSP? It's important you chain the patterns first. I used to have one but replaced it with the KSP as I needed the polyphonic sequencing. Enjoy your channel a lot and hope one day to get to your museum as I live in Ramsgate.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Not on the beatstep. You have to save the pattern. That’s cool you can do it on the key step that must have come in an update

[@baronvongreenback]

Perfect timing! mine arrived today.

[@MrStanley85]

If you adjust the shutter speed of your cam you may get rid of the led flickering :) Nice video! Have to use my one more... it got a little abandoned since Erica Synth Drum Seq and Black Seq went into the case

[@SynthBiker]

Coming here after living in the VST world is quite shocking : D Still counting those cables

[@dillipphunbar7924]

I use the save function to store mapping settings for different devices, like the microgranny, to play /sequence the different voices, or switch between volcas.

[@julienl8648]

what!!! ? you can store différents cc mapping ? tel me more !!!

[@dillipphunbar7924]

@@julienl8648 i am still a noob, so I might be wrong. As sequence data, and setup in midi control centre, I changed the starting note from C0 to C-2 as the lowest note, so that I could sequence the microgranny. I set this for a couple of slots (prog 4 5 and 6; project 1, on the green seq channel), because I swap the midi channels around depending on what I'm doing. The cc values can be set in "control mode", to be performed whilst the seq's are doing their thing. "Undulations" with Dr Nimm on youtube does an excellent explanation. Check out his channel.

[@PaulOrtiz]

I love how you’ve bought/built/engineered everything you need but don’t have your mic on a stand hahaha. Great video though. Got me very curious about the BSP. Love it.

[@leewightman8619]

Can tell this dude is serious about his craft all his gear is written on covers in tape ect

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

They are tools. Definitely serious. Hence using them as tools and not ornaments 👍

[@ultrablack7271]

You are like the complete opposite to me xD You are writing stuff into your gear and stick tape everywhere for whatever reason, while I always want to keep the factory look of things xD

[@danielmendes5682]

meanwhile i am here blowing up some DACs trying to build a midi to cv xD, beatsteps are kinda expensive in my country, but an amazing equipment by arturia nonetheless

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

have you looked second hand?? uk you can get one for about £50 if your up for waiting on bids on ones in a little rough condition which i think is well good deal for what it is. what country you at?

[@danielmendes5682]

@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER never tought looking at second hand ones, thats a good idea! i think it will be a bit difficulty to find one here in Brazil, arturia gear and diy synthesizers are almost inexistent around here. but thank you for the advice anyways, i ll go take a look right now on the interwebs

[@SullenSecret]

I guess you could try the software synths. Cherry Audio makes some good ones.

[@AnalogDude_]

the simple Arturia Keystep is awesome too, it allows you to enter rests or tie notes with a knob not using software. if you program a manually sequence and hit the play button you can hit random keys and you sequence will evolve around the key you have hit last on the keyboard. you will be maestro of techno music within minutes, 120€ new. several years old, should be available on the second hand market for a lot less. Why would you blow DAC's? you only need to set the Chip select pin, clock in the bits, power it. you could add npn transistors and leds on the clock / data / chip select lines to see activity if you don't have a scope and use Chip sockets and plant the DAC's after confirming the pins you selected do what you want.

[@blunderspublik]

Super interesting. I use my Beatstep Pro in the totally opposite way - program in the sequences, save patterns and chain them, mainly use the CV and trigger outputs...but that's all for recording, not playing live of course.

[@cordycepstriffidus5149]

I agree with your micro USB critique. So many boards where the pads have simply been ripped off. Gotta hate that bro.

[@davidlynch4338]

I love the BSP, super fast to get ideas up and running. But recently I have moved on to the Synthstrom Deluge. It does pretty much everything an Elektron sequencer does, but you have infinite steps and the granularity is very deep. Plus all the other things it does quite well, sampling, audio looping, decent synth engines, midi control, CV/Gate and runs on an internal battery. I would say it is the pinnacle of hardware sequencers at the moment, but I would really like to see an in depth video on the Cirklon.

[@MikesonYT1]

I also own a Deluge and agree. That said, i've always had a soft spot for the Cirklon and always wanted one since way before I bought my deluge.

[@davidlynch4338]

@@MikesonYT1 Yeah me too. The Cirklon looks awesome.

[@vertigev]

Can we talk about how good that kick drum sounds?

[@s3nsec0rruptr80]

And that snare!

[@ManuPro3]

Hey Sam I was wondering how you build the keyboard under the beatstep pro. It looks diy. Maybe it’s a old organ keyboard? You should make a video explaining how to make it

[@ToyKeeper]

People always seem to want the latest and greatest, but they forget that great music can be made on older models like the Beatstep Pro. It may not have every bell and whistle, but musicians in the past did more with less.

[@ToyKeeper]

However, that said, I like my bells and whistles... so I'm using an Akai Force. It's basically a DAW though, so if you used one, you'd probably have to change your name to "Look Mum Linux Computer".

[@LaKuS]

thanks for the video! just re-purchased the beatstep pro. I have two more questions: 1. how does the midi switcher in your keyboard work? 2. sometimes you hit your big white buttons to trigger drums, which then are looped by the beatstep. sounds like you sending triggers to the beatstep? how does that work?

[@Joshua_Griffin]

Prices on these are still up there haha. A worthy sequencer. My end game is the oxi one. But i think I'll pick up one of these until i can afford the more expensive beast

[@jche34]

Well, my friend, I use the saves and presets all the time, chain, copy, modify them and create elaborate polyrhythms and compositions - no need to whip everything up from scratch every time I sit down to write music.

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Different methods for each person 👍 not my thing. For me it is clunky for that method. I use other things but each to their own!

[@jche34]

Of course! ..just answering your question "does anyone use those" - love everything you do, btw.!

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

@@jche34 all goood :D cooo

[@Dasunterschtrich]

Aiii thanks for your video, i like the beatstep but the idea to make infinite MIDI patters via cirklon is insane! Would love a video on that 0.0

[@leoslawik]

Nice one! And yes, please, a Cirklon video would be highly appreciated :)

[@nickfbatombrew1436]

Had mine (black) for about a year and it’s brilliant. I’m thinking about a second unit. You mentioned linking two together for larger midi controls but is it possible to have one unit operating 1-16 and the other 17-32 so it flows from one unit to the other perhaps making it 32-64 or 128 sequencer? Very informative video cheers 👍☢️

[@liamread3215]

Now I know why there was no studio version of "Mind Over Matter"

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

I love your snare 😍 so dry and meaty

[@guywith_dog]

just bought a beatstep pro for an upcoming trip to meet some internet friends bc of this video :)

[@Merluso0822]

I was hooking up by midi cable the midi sync and didn’t work with a regular audio cable works, man you just solve a problem, thank youu

[@nalaeel219]

Imagine if elektron did something like this with their sequencers and plocks. Would be kewl. I have key step pro, but would gladly use this if I had one

[@GODANMEDIA]

Your like a mad scientist I love it

[@niallmacdonald2710]

+1 for Cirklon use. Colin Fraser is a genius. I still love my P3.

[@transition6559]

Saved in my tutorial folder. Thanksalot!😀👍

[@CraftYourDreamLB59]

Everything you do sounds awesome, even singing onomatopeia over music

[@reggiep75]

I've always wondered about that hardware and thought it seemed to be very intuitive (with no waffle or shite) and that's that you need in the heat of the moment in live gigs when everything is at your finger tips. A few more buttons wouldn't go a miss but I'd really enjoy a blend of this and the keystep pro. Now that would be a killer unit for me! 🤔👍

[@leewightman8619]

Think this is what I need as I don't use daws except from building the beat and sometimes the bassline then everything else gets played real time on top and layered .. pretty hard handplaying full on riffs for sometimes full length of a track

[@TDB_Music]

Do you not feel limited with only two melodic tracks? That’s what’s been holding me back on the Beatstep Pro, but I guess you could duplicate the bass notes to the modular and use it to transpose another sequencer

[@TDB_Music]

I guess the video answered: just get two!

[@ThatSockmonkey]

There's also the keystep and keystep pro which are 8 voice polyphonic and 4 channel 8 voice poly respectively. My rig is currently a BSP and a Keystep, and I'm saving for another BSP and a Keystep Pro.

[@nitfumble]

Thanks!! Needed to know this!

[@dameck9570]

I have no Idea of how you are doing that. But that is just art or magic!

[@CircularMirror7]

Nice to see your work flow. Been interested in getting one might have to now. What is your DIY keyboard salvaged from? A old organ cool.

[@corncobjohnsonreal]

I have no idea how to shorten the pattern length. You'd think you just hold shift and press «, but no, and I don't understand how no one else is annoyed by this. I dont even know a workaround, but starting with 64 measures then changing my mind to use 32 happens all the time so i just cant use the machine lol I've been on like a two year long quest to figure out how to shorten the measure length

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

pattern length then click on the one of 16 step buttons to end it on.

[@corncobjohnsonreal]

​@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER that was just enough information for me to google what to do

[@JustinKimball]

This was dope - thank you for the info!!

[@davidbyourplanb]

Awesome setup 👍

[@Socrates-]

Ordered one immediately after seeing this video