Arturia has updated the Beatstep Pro firmware to version 2.0, with a number of new, powerful features, including:
- New Polyrhythm Mode — The new polyrhythm feature for the drum sequencer of the BeatStep Pro lets you to define different sequence lengths for each of its 16 tracks.
- Roller/Apeggio Function — Holding the BeatStep Pro touch strip and pushing a pad will repeat the related sound at different resolutions. This feature is now available for each of the BeatStep Pro sequencers. Pushing several pads while holding the touch strip will create an arpeggio based on the related sounds. And of course, you can use it along with the real-time recording to create and rewrite sequences.
- Saving Pattern Chains — Each of your 16 projects can contains up to 16 scenes each, which means you can chain up to 16 patterns for each of the three sequencers.
- Octave Randomization — When using the new Randomness feature, the pitches of your active steps will only be shifted up or down one or several octaves.
- Pad-based Step Edition — Instead of editing the steps of your sequences one-by-one using the knobs, you can now hold a pad to define the pitch and push the step buttons to say when this note will be played. This is especially effective when the same note is repeated many times in a sequence.
In addition to these major features, v2.0 firmware includes many other enhancements:
- Volca compatibility
- The velocity CV outputs can now be rescaled to comply more effectively with the greatest number of devices and modules.
- When using the looper by holding the touchstrip, you can now move the starting point of the loop simply by pushing one of the step buttons.
- You can now clear individually the tracks of the Drum sequencer by holding [SHIFT] plus pushing the step button [2] and then pressing one of the pads.
- The Drum sequencer now allows you to tie steps.
- Global Tempo Mode allows you to keep the same tempo when switching from one project to another.
- Improvements to the stability and accurateness of the sequencer, reducing the jitter to an imperceptible level.
The BeatStep Pro firmware update is a free download for all registered users.