Arturia Beatstep

Qualità dei materiali altissima per 95Euro: case in alluminio rivestito con plastica satinata e resistente, potenziometri ergonomici e piacevoli al tatto, pad e pulsanti in gomma/silicone retroilluminati con 2 colori differenti.

Utilizzo:
i driver sono stabili, io uso Windows7, e in aggiunta c'è il software "midi control center" che permette di mappare e personalizzare il beatstep direttametne da PC/Mac.
I pad sono "high responsive" e permettono di sfruttare al massimo la velocity, rendendo l'uso dei plug-in per drums/percussioni una goduria.

il Beatstep si può usare in SIMULTANEA su 2 pagine premendo il tasto CNTRL/SEQ:
La pagina controller permette di usare i 16 pad per la performance, inoltre i 16 potenziometri si possono mappare su qualsiasi parametro direttamente da software (cubase, logic, ableton ecc.)

La pagina Sequencer da pieno controllo grazie ai numerosi parametri (scale musicali, quantizzazione, swing, gate, reverse, random play ecc..) ed è divertentissima da usare sia in ambito live che in studio. Si possono inviare sequenze MIDI anche a synth/drum machine esterne grazie alle uscite CV e MIDI.
L'unica pecca è che si hanno solo 2 canali MIDI assegnabili separatemente, ma se avete necessità di collegarlo a più unità c'è appositamente la versione Beatstep PRO.

parere finale: Consigiatissimo!

You will probably find very little criticism aimed at this little thing. It actually offers three devices in one: Midi controller with pads and knobs, step sequencer and USB midi to CV converter. All that for less than 100 euros is a small miracle. And you cannot see it in the build quality, BeatStep looks and feels very well made, and really solid.

The majority of BeatStep users, including me, has been drawn by its step sequencer with CV outs. However, I can see that most of people are perhaps a bit overenthusiastic when it comes to step sequencing over CV. BeatStep is one-channel sequencer and that means you can control only one signal, either pitch or filter or amp. Lot of times this is not enough. Step sequencing often benefits greatly from "accents" which are either built into sequencer as a function (XOX style) or there is separate channel for filter CV, amp CV, or ideally, both. That is why professional CV sequencers have three channels.

You can come around this by using a couple of (ideally three) BeatSteps in parallel. Maybe not very elegant solution, but still much cheaper than any other alternative. Because, if you want to go all the way into old school step sequencing, you will need something like Doepfer MAQ 16/3, or at least Dark Time (8 steps, two channels). And for that money you can buy handful of BeatSteps.

So, if you want to start exploring old school step sequencing, or to try connecting your pre-midi synth to the midi world, BeatStep is currently the best starting point by far. But, once you would want to add some nuance by controlling either the filter or ampllifier section, you will need to upgrade. For that reason only I am giving one star less than the maximum score.