Ahead of Superbooth 2024, being held in Berlin May 16-18, Tubbutec has introduced the Brainstep, a Eurorack sequencing brain, modulation generator & sample player.
Brainstep is a four track sequencer, arpeggiator, sequence recorder, envelope and modulation generator, live performance tool, sample player, clock distributor, MIDI interface and more for Eurorack.
They describe it as “The brain of a Eurorack system.”
Features:
- Four independent tracks, each with the following features:
- Step sequencer with multiple patterns, song mode and probability per step.
- Up to 24 patterns, 64 steps each.
- Notes have four per-step modifiers to trigger accents, portamento or tie.
- Each note can also be programmed to have one of 4 different gate lengths
- Gates and modifiers can have various probability levels.
- Seven directions including smart random modes allow even more sequence variation.
- Feature rich arpeggiator with multiple octaves and seven direction modes including ‘order of key press’.
- Can inherit the ‘chemistry’ of existing sequences, for expressive, evolving arpeggios
- An Euclidian arpeggiator mode creates rhythmic arpeggios on the fly.
- Optimized for live performance: Quickly create or modify patterns, switch between arp and sequencer, record, change patterns while playing.
- Live recording
- Record keyboard presses or arpeggiator output into patterns. The overdub mode makes this a perfect live composing tool.
- Envelope and modulation generator
- Each track can output up to 4 envelopes and 2 LFOs for a total of 16 envs and 8 LFOs:
- ADSR envelopes with loop mode
- Per step triggerable accent envelopes
- Free running or syncable LFO with multiple waveforms including random S/H and a wide frequency range
- Each track can output up to 4 envelopes and 2 LFOs for a total of 16 envs and 8 LFOs:
- Drum sample output
- Each track can output drums samples:
- Select between different sample packs or create your own
- per step modifiers: Accent, double speed, half speed, reverse, gate length
- Each track can output drums samples:
- CV control: The four bipolar CV-inputs can be freely mapped to many parameters of envelopes, LFOs, sequencer, arpeggiator, probabilities and more
- Multiple clocking options: Internal clock generator, MIDI clock, analog clock / trigger
- Clock input and output: Can convert MIDI clock to analog clock, or be used as a central clock source. Clock divider per track.
- Swing generator for every clock.
- MIDI input and output: TRS-Midi and USB-C MIDI (Host or Device)
- Microtonal support: Load scales / tunings from the SD card
- Save / Load complete sets via SD card
They are also introducing a major firmware update for their MC-2oh2 mod for Roland MC-202 synthesizers. The update brings a live recorder with overdub, per-step probability, a swing/shuffle function and other improvements. The update will be available for download a few weeks after Superbooth.
Finally, they plan to show a prototype of “a rather long TR-style drum step sequencer in 1U.”
Pricing and Availability:
The Brainstep is expected to be available in August 2024, priced around €500.
