Atom SQ is a new PreSonus controller designed both as a compact melody and beat player with keys/pads that double up for both tasks. As ever with PreSonus controllers, you can expect deep integration with the company’s Studio One DAW (the very good Artist version of which is supplied with it), and it is optimised for standard and step sequencing (within the Pattern editor) in that DAW. It also comes with Ableton Live support so you can get deep with that DAW too, but also boasts MCU, HUI and MIDI modes to get to grips with MIDI hardware and other DAWs (although not as deep as with Live and Studio One).
Solid control
Atom SQ is solid, compact and feels up to the job. It’s not angled, which would be a bonus, but any worries about seeing the screen better with the unit angled quickly dissipate – it’s pin sharp wherever you place SQ on your desktop.
The unit is powered by USB and connects up to Studio One straight away – the latest version that is. Studio One 4 didn’t recognise it but the supplied 5 Artist did, as did the PreSonus Universal Control software.
We were very quickly impressed by the speedy integration with Artist. The ‘keyboard’ performs better than we had expected – we thought that the pads might be a little difficult to play, but they are much more sensitive than anticipated and respond pretty well to changes in velocity.
This story is from the January 2021 edition of Computer Music.
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This story is from the January 2021 edition of Computer Music.
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