Update your beat-making experience with version 1.5 of the MOTU BPM (Mac / Win) rhythm production virtual instrument and UVI sound library.

Version 1.5 is a significant update, bringing the BPM virtual instrument an expanded sound library, new FlexLoops and musical styles, better support for hardware MIDI controllers, a note repeat function, and bank effects that can be saved with kits.

BPM 1.5 comes with Beat Box Anthology, a 4 GB collection of legacy rhythm sounds (over 10,000 samples) from 80 classic drum machines from the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. You can browse individual samples, kits, and patterns from three categories of devices: classic, analog, and digital. Samples are also organized by type (kick, snare, and so forth) and are offered in 24-bit, 96 kHz audio quality.

Hundreds of new FlexLoops (fully programmable kits and patterns that give users control of every loop element) are included in version 1.5, as are dozens of expanded musical styles, including big beat, dancehall, dirty south, dub, electro, hard trance, hip-hop, R&B, house, jungle, drum 'n' bass, minimal, progressive, ragga, trip-hop, and vinylized. You can combine kits and patterns from each style to create unique hybrid beats.

BPM 1.5 also introduces Bank Aux FX, a new feature that lets you create three independent effects-processing chains for a bank of sounds, apply the effect chains to each individual component sound of the bank, and then save the effects with the bank. Bank Aux FX makes the effects an integral part of the bank, so that when the bank is saved with a pattern, it turns into a programmable FlexLoop.

With its enhanced MIDI controller support, BPM 1.5 offers programmable MIDI remote control features that allow it to work with third-party hardware controllers, including pad controllers and MIDI keyboards. BPM ships with hardware template files for several popular drum pad controller products, such as the Akai MPD Series. When loaded into the hardware, the template file programs the controller for use with BPM 1.5.

Another way to customize beats is provided by BPM’s new MIDI Remote preferences, a long list of BPM functions that can be attached to any MIDI controller key, switch, fader, or knob using MIDI Learn. Likewise, the new MIDI Select feature gives direct access to each pad (up to 64 simultaneous pads per scene) for quick editing and directly from a MIDI controller.

Lastly, Note Repeat lets you repeat the currently held note by holding down the Note Repeat button. Any note repeat value, from triplet 64ths to dotted quarters to 32nds can be chosen. The Note Repeat button can be used onscreen or mapped to any control item on a MIDI controller, and the volume (Velocity) of repeated notes is controlled with Aftertouch pressure.

MOTU BPM 1.5 is now available for $295. Registered users of BPM 1.0 can upgrade to version 1.5 for just $79.

For more information, please visit motu.com.