Open Box: Zoom ZAR96 ARQ AR-96 Aero RhythmTrak

The ZOOM ARQ AR-96 is an all-in-one production and live performance instrument which includes an integrated drum machine, sequencer, synthesizer, looper, and MIDI controller with a built-in accelerometer. Even more, ARQ is freedom. With its wireless Bluetooth Ring Controller, you can escape the booth, move the music, and get in front of the crowd.

The AR-96 Base Station houses 468 drum/instrument sounds ("one-shot" sampled waveform sounds), 70 types of synthesizer sounds, and dozens of digital effects. Dual 1/4" line-level audio inputs enable phrase recording and looping. There are also stereo 1/4" line-level outputs, as well as a dedicated 1/4" headphone jack with its own volume control. A USB port allows connection to your computer, and an SD card slot lets you save patterns and loops, import prerecorded audio, and update the firmware.

The detachable Ring Controller communicates with the Base Station, as well as DAWs, via wireless Bluetooth. It offers 96 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads for clip launching and playing drum sounds, instrument sounds, and sequences. Phrases and sounds can be played chromatically, or you can choose from dozens of preset scales in any key. And with AR-96's Firmware V2.0, a new pad layout in Instrument mode now provides you with a visual for where instruments are mapped on the ARQ, and Scale layout maps out the note range of the instrument selected.

Traditional devices take a linear approach to sequencing, but AR-96 is anything but traditional. For the first time, you can visualize your music as a true loop, up to 5 parts at a time.
Individual patterns or complete songs can be constructed one step at a time or by recording a real-time performance, with an onboard mixer for setting volumes, muting, and soloing. Instruments can be assigned to single or multiple pads and up to 3 parts can be created at a time. Up to 33 parts can be played back simultaneously, and the timbre or note of each part can be changed with the touch of a button. 384 patterns can be combined in any order to form a complete song, then flattened into an audio loop that can be played back from a single pad—all without the use of a computer.

AR-96 allows you to create completely original loops from onboard sounds or patterns, or by capturing external audio. Set start and endpoints, change the pitch if desired, choose between forward or reverse playback, then assign each loop to a different controller pad. Up to 16 loops can be played simultaneously and synchronized to the same tempo. ARQ makes creating loops a lot more fun.

Use the Ring for wireless control of all your MIDI instruments and devices connected to your computer—samplers, synths, and drum machines, as well as MIDI-enabled effects processors. Its 96 pads are velocity-sensitive and can also send aftertouch (MIDI messages generated based on the pressure applied to the pads once they are being held down).

The Ring's onboard 3-axis accelerometer can be used to change sounds and effects in real-time. Wave and tilt it to alter onboard effects parameters and to generate MIDI control messages. You can even link it to your digital mixing console and use the accelerometer to fly sounds around the room. ARQ utilizes wireless Bluetooth LE for low power consumption, giving you lots of performance time between battery charges.

Product Specifications:

Number of LEDs: 160

LED color:  Multi

Number of pads:  96

Sensitivity curves:  4 types

Accelerometer:  Yes

USB MIDI:  Yes

Bluetooth LE:  Connect to Mac/iOS via MIDI over Bluetooth LE

Media type:  SD, SDHC, SDXC

Internal memory:  32 MB

Battery life:  About 4.5 hours (differs according to use conditions)

Recharging times:  2.5 hours