Step Sequencer Battle: Arturia BeatStep Pro, Korg SQ-64 and Torso T-1

In our video we battle 3 of what we believe are the best hardware step sequencers on the market today. The Arturia BeatStep Pro, Korg SQ-64 and Torso T-1, all offering a heap of features and different workflows. Leroy, Lachlan and David battle it out and describe what they love about these step sequencers.
These days, the modern studio is filled with a mix of software and hardware technologies from synths, guitars, drum machines, effects, mixers and modular synths. Step sequencers can be a never-ending source of beat making and other creative ideas that can elevate your next masterpiece!
00:00 Intro
01:30 Arturia BeatStep Pro
05:27 Korg SQ-64
09:14 Torso T-1
12:26 Verdict!
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[@Noisegate]

Who won the battle? was it the Carhart Champion Leroy? The Tallboi Lachy? Or David '303 Uncle Fester' Dr Honeysmack Acid Guy?

[@KHTCKHTC]

I think it wasn't about who won or lost, it was about the sequences we made on the way

[@franciscojaviergomez4807]

SQ-64 is fantastic !!!!

[@jodd5534]

beatstep is very nice and simple, but Torso is on another level from the other two, its not even a fair comparison, and also its twice the price

[@maikvanrossum]

You’re absolutely right… for that price tag one could almost buy a Beatstep Pro + a Keystep Pro.

[@maikvanrossum]

I thought it’s since version 2.0 that Arturia also added the ‘one midi channel per pad’ for the drums section of the BeatStep Pro, which you have to setup through the Drum Map in the controller software. The Drum Map also makes it possible to remap the Note used for the drum sound. Both come in handy when drum sounds / samples are on multiple channels or instruments.

[@montxsuz]

Not sure why, but I happen to own all 3 of these sequencers, and not for that long, so I am a newby at all of them. This review left me a bit unsatisfied, but it spurred me on to try out all 3 - synced together. The syncing in itself was a bit of a technical challenge. But I managed to make a DAW-less song using 4 legacy hardware synths, and recorded it. The Arturia BSP was the master, that was easier. Anyways, here is my quick feedback. The Arturia BSP is the easiest to use. Why? It is the only one which allows you to create the sequence in software, then save it to hardware. You don't need a course to get started. The other two forces you to learn obscure button sequences. The learning curve of the Torso T-1 is the steepest and deepest - but it is by far the most powerful of the three in terms of flexibility, generation and randomisation. Best suited for melody composition. But the software is the weakest, can't do much with it at all. The Korg SQ-64 is somewhere in the middle: the hardware is fairly powerful and not easy, the software is not great at all, but at least you can easily backup your sequence to your hard drive once you've learned the buttons. Oxi? Dunno. Can't afford it now.

[@richardlynneweisgerber2552]

Which one has the most stable master clock? Thanks!

[@montxsuz]

@@richardlynneweisgerber2552 I was only able to use the Arturia BSP as master. I tried the other two, but could not even get them working as master, esp over the Arturia. So I would say the BSP.

[@richardlynneweisgerber2552]

@@montxsuz Thank You. I am considering my Presonus Quantum 2626 as the Master Clock for my studio. DAWless, my BSP. I am a bit stymied on what percussion gizmos for the 8 Gates channels. DIY little $5 individual 'percussion' devices with a DIY Multiplexer for one I will do anyways. But, under $1k, who makes the 'most' versatile drum module? An old Alesis for starters, but... I just need some clues. Reviews generally focus on the unit itself. The one I did find was a Composer DIY Genius on his demo. ;-) Thanks!

[@tolikfilter]

You didn’t even scratch the surface of torso features and it’s like comparing Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla with Koenigsegg. A fair comparison would be torso, hapax and oxi one

[@paradockz]

this is the video i'm looking for right now lol

[@rustyjaw]

100%, I have the BSP and Torso, and while both are great at what they do, the Torso operates at a whole other level. I like to give folks the benefit of the doubt, but when he starts off by saying it “has a lot of knobs, 16” I kinda just have to laugh. It has 18 knobs, my man! It makes me wonder how much time was spent learning it’s very deep feature set.

[@benzmobil]

I had beatstep pro and now have t1 . I would say the t1 can quite replace the beatstep pro (which I loved too) and add a lot more on top. But the main thing with t1 is how fast you can create a full track with it. The speed of workflow is unmatched.

[@hermask815]

If you didn’t include the keystep pro, can you make a comparison with the novation sl mk3 ?

[@sammadden5540]

Would love one of these on live 11 controllers

[@romanyel]

I was looking for something similar to Keystep Pro and went with SQ64. Both have 4 tracks but SQ has 64 projects. KSP only has 16. I see the T1 has 8 tracks and 64 projects but cost twice what the SQ cost and 1/3rd more than KSP.

[@ReformedWhiteKnight]

Which midi splitter did you use for the midi clock to sync all of the hardware (with the Arturia)? Please let us know! Cheers! ;-)

[@sunnyfpv3694]

To me, the BSP visually looks like an average daw with its tracks making it easier to start working with

[@nostandingonlydancin]

Sweet paprika. I’ll let fresh chilli do the heavy lifting for heat.

[@PatternMusic]

The T-1 is my secret superpower. (Maybe not so secret any more!) I have both a T-1 and a Beatstep Pro. And they are both very capable. But they exist on different ends of the spectrum. I had a SQ-64 for a little while, and I sent it back. It just didn't seem to be worth the effort to get past what I felt were significant fundamental shortcomings.

[@dr.feelicks2051]

V1 or 2?

[@PatternMusic]

@@dr.feelicks2051 I tried the SQ-64 v1 and v2. Neither worked well for me.

[@sompfy]

What does the number 1 mean in each window? Beststep pro. You send midi Channel on each Sequenz to another Synth? Or all on channel 1?

[@mathiasfriman8927]

Those 01 numbers are patterns. MIDI channels are set in a different way, usually one per track. You have 16 patterns per track that you can mix and match with the other tracks. Here they just have pattern 01 selected on all tracks. You can also chain patterns in some particular order if you want to. Like 01-01-01-02-04-04-03-14 and then that track will loop through those patterns and start over. Kinda neat.

[@richardlynneweisgerber2552]

​@@mathiasfriman8927it took me a 'bit' to figure-out how to undo the person who made this an Open Box buy left the first track on 02. heh ;-)

[@realmchat6665]

The 8 track sequencer in my Novation SL61 MK3 seems to beat out anything else I've seen so far.

[@bretsimon6125]

T1 hands down ,that’s the one that belongs to 21st century

[@Sepelman]

Who won the battle? 🤨

[@sullycliftona888]

I must be really thick. I just can’t use the step sequencer beat step pro .. I’m that close to selling it

[@iloveACID]

Nooooooo you're not thick. Hope you worked it out. 😊 we all have product overloads

[@mvaudio5]

oxi one not here? wtf ?

[@touthowzander]

The beat step pro could really use a firmware upgrade. It seems like it has so much unused potential 😭😭

[@Noisegate]

What would you like to see from the next firmware update?

[@touthowzander]

@@Noisegate maybe.. Being able to change midi CC and drum notes on the machine, rather than in the editor. A MIDI Control Track, or more. And if they could put out a web editor, it could solve a lot of that also.

[@CantComply]

@@Noisegate it would be neat if we can record live transposing in a sequence, also trying to copy patterns between step pages is impossible. Gotta use the editor for that. Not sure what else but those are some things ive noticed

[@kudre7]

copy pattern feature would be great, manbe arpergiator as well :D

[@Jomaha_Jomaso]

And the winner is... KeyStep Pro.

[@richardlynneweisgerber2552]

Which one can run DOOM?

[@ex_centric2933]

The Korg has a real arpeggiator or not?

[@Deep_Flux]

No it doesn’t. It’s more like a ratchet mode.

[@ProfessorPepper17]

None of the above. Oxi one Ftw

[@RyanBreaker]

Okay but if we don't have $750?