BeatStep Interceptor

This is a command-line program to make the Arturia BeatStep work in different ways than the firmware is meant to.

The Arturia BeatStep is a really nice-feeling device, that is pretty cheap (~$100 new.) The built-in firmware for the device is OK, but a bit wonky for sequencing complex drum-patterns. Since I don't have access to the firmware's source, I made this so I'd have a sequencer that works how I want.

It starts a virtual midi device that can be plugged into other software.

Using the CLI will set your device up with specifc mappings and stuff, so make sure to back up your settings in the desktop program, if you care about them.

installation

npm i -g beatstep

You can also run it without installing:

npx beatstep list

usage

command-line

beatstep list       # list MIDI devices
beatstep seq        # start sequencer on system's most likely midi-device

interaction

My main goal was just to have more simultaneous tracks & more possible sequences.

• STOP/PLAY start & stop current pattern
• Enter SEQ mode (CTRL/SEQ is blue)
• You can select your current track with CHAN, and the current pattern will update.
• Select your current sequence with scale (SHIFT + top-row of pads)
• Select your current pattern with RECALL
• Save your current pattern with STORE
• Knobs just work as regular CC knobs, on the same channel as pads

This means that we have 8x16 patterns (each with 16 tracks), instead of 16 patterns (with 1 track), by sacrificing scale & live channel-setting, without having to sacrafice too much.

as a library

You can also use this as a nice BeatStep interface, in your own code

The class constructor has 2 params, which are the names of input and output device (you can get with require('easymidi').getInputs() and require('easymidi').getOutputs().)

TODO

Fill in the docs: api & docs.

thanks

I couldn't have made this without the awesome hacking in this blog post.