Here’s a sneak preview of Yotaro Shuto’s 2020 SEMI MODULAR BEAT-MACHINE, an upcoming music app for MacOS.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“2020 is the PAST? NO WAY! Movie buffs know that 1984 and 2001 are still in the future, and so is 2020, right?

Anyway, check out this knob-filled screen. It’s the console of a spaceship that jumps into other dimensions. Once you load up some sound files and take off, you’ll be blasted off into the unknown. BOOOOOOM!!

2020 is a BEAT-MACHINE. Just imagine a single fragment that was forcibly torn apart by combining German DAW software, Swedish hardware beat machine, and a cable-tangled modular synthesizer system. That’s exactly what 2020 is! Sounds complicated? Don’t think, BEAT!

2020 is a SEMI MODULAR BEAT-MACHINE. It doesn’t offer a traditional timeline view but instead lets you manipulate, randomize, wire, process, and perform beats in real-time, all in a single window. With 2020, you can explore millions of beat patterns on the fly.”

Features:

• Instruments
  • Sample Slicer.
  • Higurashi Generator.
  • 3x Various Loopers.
  • 12x Various Samplers.
  • Kick Synth.
  • 2x FM Synths.
  • Each instrument module comes with versatile filters built-in. By loading a sound file and tweaking the pitch, envelope, LFO, etc., and seasoning it with the filters, you can create new sounds.
• Sequencers
  • 4x grid sequencers
  • Sequence length can be set between 1 to 32 beats.
  • Trigger, accent, and volume can be sequenced at each step.
  • Resolution of each beat can be set to 1/4, 1/8, 1/12, 1/16, 1/20, 1/24, or 1/32.
  • Probability of triggering and adding trigger can be set.
  • 2x transposers
  • TRP1: Scale-based transposer that randomly modulates pitch based on the set scale and probability.
  • TRP2: Step sequence transposer that modulates pitch according to the set note number for each sound.
• Wiring modules – You can route sounds of each instrument module to 6 Mix Buses, 3 FX Buses, and Send Bus. The sound input to the FX Bus can be processed by 14 patchable modules with freely configurable wiring. Additionally, each patchable module can receive trigger information (CV) from connected instrument modules and use it for effect control.
  • 14x patchable modules with 3 LFO.
  • Highpass / Lowpass filter
  • Flanger
  • Phaser
  • Ring modulator
  • Bitcrusher
  • 2x Granulator
  • Spin effect
  • Glitch
  • Repeater
  • 2x Level
  • 2x Sender
  • 3x LFO
  • 3x Send effects.
  • 2x Delay
  • Reverb
• Randomization – Modules that work with trigger events have a function to randomize parameters. By setting the range and probability of randomization, sound variations are generated every time on trigger event
• Mix and mastering – You can mix the sound input to the 6 buses and send it to the 2 master buses. Each master bus contains an equalizer, filter, compressor, maximizer, performance effect, etc.
• Perform with controllers – You can control almost all parameters with MIDI, OSC, and keyboard. Controllers can be assigned in LEARN mode, giving you even greater control over your performance.
• Sync Beats with Ableton Link Integration – 2020 supports Ableton Link for tight sync between apps on the same network.
• Roll with your colors -2020 comes with built-in inspiring color themes. You can also customize your own.

Pricing and Availability:

2020 is available to pre-order for $119.99 USD, with an expected release date of July 22, 2023.