Masterbits masterBEAT 2.1

masterBEAT is new to the wave sequencer scene. It borrows a few things from other programs reviewed here, especially FruityLoops. At first, this product seems like a glorified version of HammerHead, one of the first wave sequencers to hit the Windows world. Essentially, it is an eight-track drum machine program that works with 16 or 32-step patterns. This means you can load up to eight samples, create drum patterns and then sequence those patterns into a song.
One feature that rescues masterBEAT from being just a drum machine is the Notes window. Here you can specify a pitch note to play a sound at, enabling you to create melodies. Being able to set volume, distortion, filter cut-off and resonance levels for each note is also good and allows for wide of variation in sound from the original sample.
Another useful feature of masterBEAT is the ability to assign a VST plug-in effect
to each track. This allows you to use third-party plug-in, which dramatically expands the range of sounds and effects you can use.
For additional control, you can assign MIDI controllers to common controls like song tempo, volume, filter cut-off and distortion levels. You can also send and receive MIDI clock timing for synchronising with other music programs with Masterbits’ masterSYNTH.
The combination of these two programs gives you a virtual drum machine and virtual synthesiser with far more versatility than a virtual synthesiser like ReBirth, and for a fraction of the price.
To produce a less mechanical rhythm, there is a flexible shuffle control, allowing for predelay, delay and humanisation. You can specify whether to shuffle eighth, 16th, quarter or all notes, and which tracks to apply the shuffle to. This is the most versatile ‘groove’ editing APC has seen in any wave sequencer.
You can copy and paste between tracks as well as patterns. There is a randomise feature for when you need inspiration, and you can mute and solo tracks as well.
Overall, masterBEAT makes an excellent virtual drum machine. It can be used successfully for writing whole songs, but it wasn’t made with this in mind. Instead, it’s a great tool for constructing beats and for combining with other programs, particularly audio multitrackers.