ARK music production computer

Overview Befaco ARK is a Eurorack music production system that brings sequencing, sampling, sound generation and CV control into one integrated creative workspace. Build complete tracks with internal instruments, drive your external synths, or combine both in a setup where melodies, modulation and rhythms work together. At its heart is a 16-track canvas supported by composition tools built around scales, chords and harmonic relationships. Create chord progressions, generate melodies that follow them, and introduce probability and variation without losing the musical structure of your patch. ARK is supplied as two connected components: ARK-Core handles sound generation, processing and routing, while ARK-Controller provides hands-on sequencing and performance control. Mount them together, place them in separate rows, or house the Controller in an optional self-printed external enclosure connected by a single USB cable for power and data. Features Integrated sequencing and sound generation: A 16+1-track sequencer combines internal instruments, effects, sampling and external hardware control. Harmony-aware composition: Build melodies and CV sequences around shared scales and chord progressions. Extensive instrument selection: Choose from drum synths, synth voices, oscillators, chord and pad voices, and physical-modelling instruments. Flexible sampling: Work with RAM and SD sample players, a loop slicer and granular sampling, with eight banks of 128 samples each. Per-track instruments and effects: Load one device and one effect per track, subject to available CPU capacity. Detailed parameter sequencing: Record real-time gestures and use 12 parameter locks per pattern/track to create changing sounds. Internal modulation: Shape patches with 16 internal modulation sources/arpeggiators and generate note data from CV, LFOs and other sources. Performance-focused controls: Access slides, rolls, divisions, triplets, random generators, probability and conditional steps, plus track muting and pattern selection. Project and song organisation: Store 255 projects with 64 patterns each, up to 64 notes per pattern, and use 16 Parts for complex pattern chaining in Song Mode. Instant sound recall: Use 16 Scenes to switch between sound configurations. Extensive connectivity: Route audio and CV through eight outputs, control external voices with eight gate outputs, and assign six CV inputs to multiple parameters. MIDI integration: Generate and record MIDI, control parameters and play MIDI files, with TRS and class-compliant USB connectivity. Integrated stereo mixing: A 16 × 2 × 2 stereo digital mixer includes reverb, delay and dynamics. Tactile, serviceable controls: Hot-swappable mechanical keyboard buttons provide responsive operation and straightforward replacement. Specifications Format: Eurorack, supplied as ARK-Core and ARK-Controller Total width: 40 HP, comprising 18 HP Core and 22 HP Controller Depth: 30 mm, including connectors Weight: Approximately 400 g Power consumption: 270 mA at +12V, 50 mA at −12V, 0 mA at +5V Audio quality: 16-bit / 44.1 kHz Internal processing: 32-bit floating point DACs: Eight 16-bit, DC-coupled converters Processor: ARM Cortex-M7, 600 MHz, overclockable SRAM: 16 + 1 MB, with approximately 12 MB available for sampling Display: 1.77-inch colour TFT, 160 × 128 pixels CV/audio outputs: Eight, ±10V DC, 20V peak-to-peak Gate outputs: Eight, +10V CV inputs: Six, −5V to +10V DC, 8-bit resolution Gate/reset/clock outputs: +10V Clock/reset inputs: 10V tolerant; above 1V recognised as ON MIDI I/O: TRS, USB-A and USB-C, class-compliant Expander port: Connection for future expansion modules