BLEASS Arpeggiator

Classic synth-based arpeggiators' up-down patterns can be tedious, says Stuart Adams. Can Arpeggiator bring the variability he craves?

Arpeggiators have been a common feature of synths for decades, but many modern examples can blur the lines between arpeggiator and pattern sequencer. Features that increase randomness are fine for generative music and the like, but programming these advanced arpeggiators is typically a longwinded process that lacks the spontaneous playability of a classic - yet basic - synth arpeggiator.

Getting triggered

The new BLEASS Arpeggiator, developed in collaboration with French producer Canblaster (see our interview in issue 332), flips this state of affairs on its head, delivering complex arpeggio patterns via an intuitive, synth-like interface. To do this, the plugin breaks the arpeggiation process into a series of discrete stages.

The first of these, Trigger, creates the underlying clock that drives the arpeggiator. This can run freely or be synced to your DAW, with-or-without groove and time multipliers applied. More tantalisingly, the Trigger section can respond to an incoming MIDI note, allowing you to step through an arpeggio using a pattern, or manually by pressing a key.

The Trigger section feeds to the Pattern section. This defines 62 different rhythmic patterns of varying step lengths, with each defining the steps that will and will not sound. Here also is a Chance setting that adds a randomising element to the pattern output, and this operates even if the Pattern selection is set to "Off".

Rhythms and pitches