Polyend Step

Polyend Step: Your Beats, Always within Footing Range

For many instrumentalists, a standard drum machine is difficult to operate while playing. The Polyend Step changes this completely by packing a professional beat maker into a rugged pedalboard-friendly chassis. No menu-diving or complicated software; the 16 physical step buttons, six encoders and three sturdy footswitches put you in complete control of your rhythm section. With seamless integration with the Polyend Play series and extensive MIDI capabilities, the Step is the bridge between the world of the guitarist and the electronic musician.

Most important features

• 4 Independent Drum Tracks: Mix and match sounds from over 200 drum kits, ranging from classic analog machines to organic acoustic drums.

• Advanced Sequencing: Per track adjustable swing, speed, length and “step probability” for generative and human rhythms.

• 50+ Punch-in Effects: Use the FX punch switch to instantly activate delays, reverbs, loopers or “rearrangers” during your performance.

• Huge Memory: Comes with 350+ presets and offers space to store up to 1,000 of your own songs on the internal SD card.

• Extensive Connectivity: Stereo I/O, MIDI In/Out (TRS), USB-C and an input for an expression pedal to modulate parameters such as tempo or volume live.

• Ecosystem Sync: Fully compatible with Polyend Play and Play+; easily swap patterns and sequences between your devices.

Why choose the Polyend Step?

Choosing the Polyend Step is a choice for creative freedom on stage. For the solo artist or the guitarist in a duo, it means you are no longer stuck with static backing tracks. You can change patterns live, add effects with your foot and adjust the dynamics of the drum sound to the energy of the audience.

At i4studio, we recommend the Polyend Step to anyone who wants to make rhythm an integral part of their live set without lugging around a laptop. Its “Humanization” features, such as micro-moves and variable velocity, ensure that your beats never sound robotic. It’s a robust, inspiring instrument that literally adds a new dimension to your pedalboard.

Technical specifications

1. Can I load my own samples into the Polyend Step? Yes, you can easily put your own WAV samples on the microSD card and assign them to the Step’s drum tracks.

2. Is this pedal only for guitarists? Definitely not. Although the design is optimized for foot operation, it is a full-fledged drum machine that also works very well on a desktop in combination with other synths and sequencers.

3. How do I synchronize the Step with my other devices? The Polyend Step features MIDI In and Out via 3.5mm TRS. This allows you to sync it with your DAW, other drum computers or effects pedals that support MIDI clock.

4. What does the expression pedal input do? You can connect an external expression pedal to control parameters such as drum volume, filter or even tempo in real time as you play.

5. Can I power the Step with my existing pedalboard power supply? Yes, the Step accepts a wide range of voltages (9V to 18V DC, center negative), allowing it to fit virtually any professional multi-power supply.