Arturia - BeatStep - Compact MIDI Controller & Sequencer with Creative Software for Recording - 16 Pads, 16 Encoders

I'm a bit of a later adopter of the Arturia BeatStep, but I put a lot of thought into which of the affordable pad/knob MIDI controllers I thought would work best for me, and the BeatStep was the clear favorite. To seal the deal, Amazon randomly put it on sale for quite a bit less than the usual asking price of around $100 U.S. At that price (or even at the usual street price), it feels like a very nice device for the money.PROS - The build quality of the BeatStep is impressive. The overall unit has a weight and toughness to it that you just don't find in products in this price range. I've owned comparable MIDI controllers from Akai and Korg, and while they function just fine, the lightweight plastic feel of them just doesn't feel like as nice of a product as what you get from Arturia. The additional heft from the metal backing probably help stabilize the pads during finger drumming, too.The original BeatStep is a MIDI controller and (very basic) sequencer that doesn't necessarily excel at any one task, but is capable of more than you might expect. I thought the connectivity options were amazing - USB MIDI and 5-pin DIN MIDI out, plus CV Sync in a $100 controller!? It's pretty amazing that you could hook this single device up to a desktop DAW, iPad, or hardware synth and have all sorts of options for controlling notes and sequencing. A lot of older hardware gear only uses 5-pin DIN, so that's a major advantage to have that connectivity right off the bat. A lot of popular affordable gear from Korg, Teenage Engineering, etc. uses CV to sync between units, also. I haven't tried it with all my gear yet, but I've seen enough online to suggest it should work, and you can adjust the voltage and other parameters though a very robust online editor.I primarily bought the BeatStep to use as a MIDI controller, and it's probably best suited for that purpose. Plug this thing into an iPad sampler, and it's like have the control surface of an MPC with a powerful software sampler behind it. With 16 rotary knobs to adjust CC parameters, plus 16 more pads (and a single large knob usually mapped to volume, but it can be reassigned), there's a lot of flexibility here. I actually thought the pads needed to be more sensitive, but again, that can be adjusted by the software.In sequencer mode, the BeatStep is very easy to use and interesting as a creative tool. The pads light up in this mode to visually display progress through the sequence. You can change the step time to stretch single bar patterns into multiple bars, or morph slow progressions into frantic note runs. You also have the ability to play the sequence backwards or at random. You adjust the note on each step by turning the 16 corresponding knobs (which are notched for feel), kind of like an old-school step sequencer. It's not a terribly deep or one-size-fits-all solution for writing music, but it's still well-implemented and a lot of fun to work with the sequencer in this way.CONS - Overall, I'm happy with the BeatStep, but there are some limitations you need to know about. The sequencer is basically monophonic, so you cannot really use the BeatStep to sequence proper drum beats. There's also no velocity control in the sequencer, unlike in controller mode where the pads are velocity-sensitive. As I've hinted at already, there are sequencer apps on the iPad costing a fraction of this already affordable device that are infinitely more powerful.Arturia has addressed some of the other complaints, such as the CC knobs not working fast enough to be used for filter sweeps, etc. As a controller, the default setting for the pads are chromatic notes. You can change this to a number of different scales, which is neat. But there isn't a convenient way to switch octaves like you would on a keyboard with octave up/down buttons. I believe you can hold "shift" and turn the big knob to transpose a number of steps, and this feature was expanded in a later firmware update. But I can't imagine that would be a practical way to reach the "D" note in the octave above after you just played a "B" note in the lower octave on the pads.Finally, the BeatStep has no visual display, and in my experience with some of the other budget equipment I've used, this becomes a limiting factor pretty quickly. For example, how do you use the BeatStep to sequence other gear via MIDI or CV if you have no visual readout of the BPM setting? Or, if you want to transpose a sequence by 5 semitones, how can you tell how far you've turned the knob without a display? I think the original BeatStep had the bones of a much more powerful controller and sequencer, but Arturia left out just a few important things that could have taken it to another level. This appears to be part of the lesson that led to the BeatStep Pro, although that's a notably more expensive device at about $250 U.S.CONCLUSION - Despite everything it's missing, I really like what the BeatStep offers as a controller, and think I might enjoy some of the sequencing features as well. Considering I got it for not much more than the price of a Korg NanoKontrol2, there's really a lot to like here. Also, the software editor is one of the more straightforward experiences I've had with a piece of hardware, and that's a big help. The BeatStep doesn't do everything, but I've found that what it does do is handled efficiently and reliably in an attractive package.UPDATE (09/26/16): It's been a frustration of mine that the pads on the BeatStep are a bit stiff and really require a firm touch to register. I'm not talking about "touch velocity" - they definitely sense velocity, but it seems like you should be able to configure it so that even very light touches register as hits, and I haven't really figured that out yet. Considered downgrading to 4 stars, but I'm not doing that yet because there's a lot of other good things about this controller, and I suspect it might be user error or my own inexperience with pads talking. But I am considering a used Korg nanoKontrol (the 2006 model) or another option.

Excellent value for the money. Fantastic build quality. Great functionality.

I bought this for two different uses. Firstly, I bought this to use as a midi controller for photo editing in Capture One. Secondly, I was excited to also use this as a step sequencer, drum pad and overall continuous encoder controller for music production.For photo editing, this controller worked out exactly as I had hoped. I use it with third party software Keyboard Maestro to map the encoders to edit parameters in C1. This does take a large amount of programming, both in KM and it the Arturia setup software. But, it works like a dream and makes for a very fun way to edit.For music production, this controller has some flaws that a lot of people have noted before.Number one: it’s clunky to program the what notes are triggered by the pads and what CC’s are controlled by the knobs. There’s no way to do it from the unit itself— you have to open the Arturia software on your computer. If you’re using something like Battery which has midi learn, it’s not that big of a deal. But, if you’re trying to trigger an instrument in Kontakt, for example, it’s very clunky to assign the notes to the pads.Number two: The Step Sequencer has major flaws. If you’re using it in step sequencer mode, you can change what notes are assigned to the steps, but since there’s no screen of any kind, you’re basically doing by ear/chance. This can make for some cool random patterns, but the real problem is that if you try use the step sequencer synced to a DAW— it doesn’t stay in sync… like at all.So yeah, I don’t use it all for music, but I love it for photo editing. Although, knowing what I know now, I doubt I’d buy it again at full price for that purpose alone…On a positive note, the build quality is very good. The knobs have a nice feel to them, as do the pads. The only exception is that the usb connection is on the side which makes it hard to place with other elements on a desktop.

I've only been using this controller for a few months, I am impressed with the functionality that something this simple contains. The step-sequencer has some great features like conforming to specific scales, time signatures, etc. A bit of a learning curve if you are first starting out with these things. Be sure to download the manual and go over it to see what all its capabilities are and how to access them. I use it with Logic Pro X and had no issues getting the two to play nice. I have one gripe though and it's probably just me. The mini-USB cable it bundles with was faulty and had issues upon connection. It would tell me - in not so many words - that it was drawing too much power from the USB bus it was connected to and fail to start up. I noticed that when I wiggled the connection end at the Beatstep side, it would finally light up and connect. Long story short, I hit up Best Buy later and got a replacement USB cable. Problem solved.First thing you notice right out of the box is it's build quality. Thing is constructed like a tank!!!! I have no reservations dropping this thing or feeling that it is too delicate to take on the road. The bottom of it is made of die-cast and I think the rest of the outside is made with high-impact plastic and heavy gauge rubber knobs. Now, I haven't run this over with my partner's truck. But if I did and it worked fine afterwards, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised. The folks at Arturia must have designed this gear with touring in mind.That being said, it's also has a small footprint and goes well if you are traveling with a laptop and don't want it take up more luggage real estate if you don't have to.In summary, everything you want and nothing you don't.

The only problem I have with it is the pads are super stiff. You really gotta press them. Other than that, it's wonderful. I've used the step function in so many songs now. Highly recommend!