1st of all I thought it was a plastic housing. Oh but no, the unit is made of steel, and has weight to it. I wouldn't want to be hit over the head with it. Able to have CV/Gate and midi options to trigger old and new modular system. The unit triggers my 1980s Simmons SDS 8 drum module with no issues at all. It seems Arturia was custom made to trigger the Simmons SDS 8 drum mod. Good simple design and simple to use. However, I need to put on my special helmet and/or hat, and deep dive to learn more. Then post silly vids on multimedia. No not really.

I got this to use as a sequencer for hardware synths/drum machines and for the money nothing competes with it. Build quality is good and the workflow is great for quick and dirty production but takes a while to learn all of the button combos to get the most out of it. I'm don't do much writing in the Daw so Im barely using half of the functionality this thing offers

I purchased the BeatStep Pro to control an ancient analog drum synthesizer. Works flawlessly. I was up and running in minutes. Highly recommended .

I bought this sequencer from Sweetwater 6 years ago for it's current price. This works good as intended and is a go-to controller for modular and software synths. At the time there weren't many options like this available, and I would have recommended. Now is a different story. The price should be lower due to other offerings from Arturia that have the same features and more. I also had an issue with the micro usb port breaking the solder joint on the circuit board. This is a common occurrence for this device, but is fairly simple to repair. It doesn't have midi thru either, so that can be a pain depending on your midi setup. If the price was lower, or bundled with some Arturia software I would recommend it.

This thing brings me to ideas I would otherwise never realize. It's a central tool in my writing. Setting some of the different options are a little confusing to learn at first, but once you learn them they become second nature.

It's impressive what this thing can do. The Beatstep Pro is really easy to set up and even easier to learn. Within a few days I introduced it into my workflow without any issues. I already notice a positive difference in my projects. The swing and randomize settings alone make this worth the money.

I was originally looking at the new Keystep Pro before making this choice. However, since I was sequencing monophonic, semi-modular synths, a drum machine and already had a great keyboard on my Moog Grandmother, the BeatStep Pro better fit my needs at a much lower price.

The advantage to buying the "middle-aged" BeatStep Pro is that the firmware has gone through many updates over the years to chase out most all of the known bugs, making this sequencer reliable and well-behaved.

I guess you could say I collect hardware and Eurorack format sequencers. MAQ16, a couple Dark Times, Orb, Europa, Renee, Eloquencer, ADM Sequencer One, Pyramid, Metropolis, 3 different Kilpatrick units, Zillion, Detroit SEQ, Modcan Touch, etc... And I'm on the Cirklon waiting list. They all have strengths and most have some serious weaknesses. Where BSP gets heavy for me is all the switching around between modes, different drum channels, bars, and so forth. But there's always a price for functional density. Yet when I consider price, UI, connectivity, sync, the BeatStep Pro is very hard to beat.

You can do so much with this thing. And as a recent major firmware update demonstrates, I think Arturia will continue to support this product and add new functionality, which I look forward to!

I bought this puppy primarily for the CV I/O, having recently purchased an MS-20 mini. Though the CV outs are labeled pitch, velocity, and gate, you can really use them for anything. It's fun to use the CV outs to control the filter cutoff, gate, and (fill in the blank... let's say frequency amplitude modulation), and then play notes by hand. In this case, the BSP acts more like an add-on to the synth, allowing you to create more complex patches that morph while you play them.

You can also use the drum sequencer to play and record polyphonic melodic sequences if you want. Or to trigger anything really. I sometimes use the drum sequencer to trigger envelopes or a sample & hold circuit. Or use the "pitch" and "velocity" CV outs to control the pitch CV of separate VCOs to play duophonically (which works great on the MS-20, which isn't velocity responsive anyway).

You get the idea...

I had some issues with the BSP's midi functionality, but Arturia's technical support was able to help me find a solution within about a day, which was much appreciated.

My only initial gripe with the BSP was how stiff the pads feel -- it takes a fair amount of pressure for a note to register, and I don't think there's a way to adjust pad sensitivity. However, I'm more of a keyboard player so perhaps I'm just not used to pads (I felt the same about Maschine when I first got it many years back). Though I can already tell my fingers are getting used to the pads (building those muscles!) so the issue less pressing now (no pun intended). On top of that, you can also record sequences into the BSP using an external keyboard, so if you're not that into pads, you're all good.

Lastly, my wife, who has a great eye for design, said the BSP was pretty, especially with all the lights going. That's gotta count for something, right?!

Huge props to Nick LaMendola at Sweetwater for consistently excellent customer service!

You can"t find anything else even close to this price range that can compete. BSP is literally in a league of its own. As an owner of some other Arturia products the Beatstep Pro was easy for me to get going on. There"s still some new tricks to learn but it"s a very intuitive piece of kit. Feels sturdy. There"s no wiggle in the knobs. The buttons are responsive and feel nice to press. I bought it to sequence a Vermona DRM1 but it"s also working great to sequence my Minibrute (the original with no sequencer). I would love to have had dedicated midi out ports for the three sequencers. It"s not a deal breaker and can easily be remedied using something like a Quadra Thru or a simple Y connector to split channels but it would have been a great addition and saved me from having to use another piece of gear. Maybe we"ll see that for BSP 2.

These are some observations regarding the Beat-Step Pro for your consideration. I've used it frequently for about 6 months with a variety of analog and digital gear.

Positives: versatile, easy and fun to use, pleasing to look at and solidly built, price is low, included colored patch cables and bag are nice, knobs feel good and can be touched to display note data without changing note. Drum sequencer pairs well with my digital kits on my other devices. Sequencer itself is snappy and pleasingly rhythmic.

Negatives: If machine goes off by mistake or bad luck, all current settings are lost, reverting to your last save point. Occasionally hangs midi notes. The USB Y connection cable system is bulky and doesn't integrate well. Has no stand or rack or method of propping up towards the user.

For the price the Beat-step Pro delivers a lot of performance capability, and does a great job of integrating analog and digital devices, but after regular use the shortcomings become glaring and nearly disqualifying for production in my setup. A hung midi note during a recording can ruin a track. Someone kicking or bumping a power cable can destroy a composition. Having to set up your gear based off of the length of the double USB cable system is limiting and not ideal. If you want a professional sequencer for music production, I would definitely consider other options (if you can afford to). However, If you are looking for a fun, easy, and relatively inexpensive sequencer for anything but serious audio production, I would strongly recommend this product.

Just got it and build quality is way better than expected (was thinking plastic for some reason). Made out of (I imagine) aluminum...pads and knobs feel like they'll outlast styrofoam. The box is even high quality with a magnetic closing feature to double as a carrying/storage case. First box I'm going to keep. Great product!

Exactly what I needed to merge my eurorack gear, old midi and Ableton.
Extra bonus, I can control my stuff live w/o a computer.

I purchased the BeatStep Pro to control some of the synths I have in my collection. It's a really useful product with great build quality.

If I was to try and dream up a sequencer on my own, it would be pretty much exactly like this. It can be simple or you can go deep, very deep. This unit can be configured in a custom setup to be as unique as your sounds are. I like to think of the way this sequencer works as a type of audio braiding.

One comment i would like to share with people thinking that this may be what they need is to point out that most of the videos and comments could be more forceful in describing the solidity of the BSP, it is no lightweight toy. If i saw this in the 1980's I would have sold my motorcycles and paid a fortune. Someday, sure, someone (maybe Arturia) will make something that goes even further in the sequencer design field, something yet un-invented. Mean while, I am absolutely convinced that this is one of the best tools in my home studio environment, well, except for my brain.
This is a wide open slate to draw on and if you are a preset synth player you can live without it. If you are the kind of musician who hears a buzz or bleep and thinks, "I am making you into a sound that expresses my music, my music, not some rehashed and boring work..." this is the tool you need to massage the music into a form you feel is best. I doubt that I will let this go within the next decade. It's that good. Massive sequence ability, huge flexible approaches, and user friendly for people who are ready for it- and attractive as can be-that's beat step pro. Arturia, you have it together. Thanks to Sweetwater I have one now. When these vanished off the shelves recently I thought I was too late...

The BeatStep Pro is everything that I had hoped for and more. It is the electronic glue that holds my entire rig together, and changed the way I create music. The ability to run 2 sequences and drums is enhanced by the fact that I can clock all of my devices, as well as trigger samples (manually) on my Volca Sample, from one device.

All but one complaint that I might have posted here has been solved with the latest firmware update. The only remaining issue I have is the inability to save your MIDI assignments on a per-project basis. As of this writing, MIDI assignments are global, and although this is not a big deal for me, might be a small hurdle for a live performer.

A few major issues I had that were solved include the addition of pattern chaining, waiting to load a selected pattern after completing the one that is running, and being able to copy patterns between sequencers.

A few bugs were added (or not fixed) with this update as well. I've noticed that I have issues with double-triggering during live recording drum patterns. This does not occur on playback. The other thing is when notes are tied, they get stuck on when muting a sequencer. i.e. There is no "note off" when hitting mute.

The build is solid, and the pads are nice and thwackable. You actually have to push/hit them pretty hard to get full pressure/velocity out of them. The knobs feel really good, and the fact that they are touch sensitive (so much so that you don't actually have to touch them), is great for feedback when you want to make adjustments on the fly.

All of the features and technology that Arturia put into this (and other hardware) should be a wake up call to other manufacturers that these things can be done well… and more affordably. Between this and my MiniBrute, I look forward to seeing what else this company has in store.

I have many different sound producing devices including an old 80s simmons drum brain and various moogs and so on and this one unit can unite and controll them in a small and affordable package .My only real critical wish is that that they give pattern selection a one touch option instead of the 2 button method of needing to hold down a button and then selecting the pattern.PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE update

First off, I was really impressed at the build quality of the BSP. It's very solid and a lot heavier than I thought, but that weight keeps the controller from bouncing around when jamming on the pads. The different scale features are great and the "randomness" feature really helps a short sequence seem more exciting. I gave it four stars because since it's so new there are some bugs to be dealt with. With a few more firmware updates, this thing will be almost perfect. Also, coming from Maschine, I was a little disappointed in the pad sensitivity, but for the price its a great controller.

The things you can do! Very quickly replacing my Doepfer Mag 16 sequencer (at 4x the cost). Definitely the new standard to beat.

After months and months of waiting for it's release, the Beatstep Pro is here! I have only had it a few days and all I can say is that my sequences never sounded so solid and the BSP really makes you program in a way you wouldn't do with software sequencers.

I use it to trigger my Aira TR-8, Juno-106, and Moog Minitaur

I just got it the other day so I don't know it inside and out yet, but I am sure it will be a blast getting to that point. Also, I want to give a huge THANK YOU my Sweetwater rep Paul Rowan ext. 1380 for keeping me in the "loop" on the release of this awesome/ fun product.