ZAQ Audio has announced that the Zaquencer – custom firmware for the Behringer BCR2000 that turns it into a multi-channel step sequencer – is now available.
The Zaquencer is not a preset, but a new operating system for your BCR2000, effectively turning it into a whole different device. In a nutshell, it’s a brain transplant that transforms the BCR2000 from a MIDI controller into a step sequencer.
“We wanted to give everybody access to an inexpensive but powerful hardware MIDI step sequencer,” says ZAQ Audio’s Christian Stöcklmeier. “The Behringer BCR2000 is the optimal hardware platform for a step sequencer. It is very affordable, widely available and has the perfect controls and layout.”
Here’s an example of the Zaquencer inaction, with German house producer Jacob Korn:
“I already use mostly hardware synths and sequencers, but the Zaquencer still brings something to the table,” says Korn. “It´s as fun and intuitive as an oldschool analog sequencer, but it goes much deeper with possibilities if you want it to.”
Key Features:
- no Computer needed for operation (except for the initial firmware upload)
- 32 steps
- 4 independent tracks (configurable as Drum- or Notetracks (poly- or monophonic))
- store up to 192 patterns and all global parameters in Flash,
- external/internal clock
- pattern chain
- tap write mode
- note repeat
- global scale
- transpose
- wave generator etc. etc.
The Zaquencer firmware is available now for EUR 69,00. There is a free time- and feature limited demo. An overlay comes with the download to print out yourself and a pre-printed overlay is available for purchase at the ZAQ Audio site.
I look forward to hearing real world reports of this, especially the stability and timing.
SOLI! Used the demo mode! All functions work as described…have yet to purchase the full, thus far this is quite legit!
*SOLID
Thanks for the feedback! Im getting it for sure!
I got a BCR just for this last week! Looking forward!
Can one undo this, if I decide I don’t like the software?
You can if you just provision to save the default, current, BCR 2000 firmware as a syx file.
You just re-upload the default Behringer firmware, very straightforward.
FYI – you can download the original firmware from Behringer here:
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/BCR2000.aspx
Very cool.
Cooolll !!! That’s what I call a HACK !
Awesome to hear this is moving forward – I’d like to see how well it holds up synced to external MIDI in particular. I’d love to get some numbers on the clock stability for that, too… 🙂
“It is very affordable”
Not for long!
A really brilliant idea.
This could be what I’ve been looking for. Anyone have a suggestion on a super-cheap device that I could store drum sounds on to trigger with this?
Akai mpx8sd!
Or emu esi 32 actually even better, bought mine for fifty bucks. Although you will have to sample everything in unlike the akai which has sd.
I’d actually prefer to sample everything in. I passed on the MPX8 because of the crazy-long load times people reported.
It also only holds 8 sounds, and the 16 version is more expensive.
Also I can’t quite tell from the manual and haven’t watched the videos yet – but can you play in notes with a MIDI keyboard and it will record them to the steps?
Ooh, not sure but that would be warmly welcomed!
just want to update you guys that the We bought a lot of bcr2k at 198Rmb last year in China Taobao. because they sold too many and now the price was increased to 268… And the firmware is great but I just try to persuade myself to spend 700 Eur over the firmware update. /_\
i think it’s too expensive. should be €40
You don’t buy it then!
Bought it for my >10 year old bcr2000. It’s amazing! Great interface with lots of smart tricks. Eg you can run the sequencer and program notes from an external keyboard while it’s playing. Midi implementation is superb. Optimal usage of both the midi out ports. I really love it. Worth every penny. I would only like a finer control over the shuffle amount. But for the rest..Great work!
Picked up a BCR for €35, so for €125 all in I have a pretty decent step sequencer I can use live
Just copped a BCR! Looking forwards to having some fun with this one 😀
I just bought this, after not doing so because I thought it was too expensive… I shouldn’t have waited – it’s worth every penny – this guy’s thought of everything and you can get at ANYTHING so easily!