Befaco ARK POD

ARK 16-Track Eurorack Groovebox Bundle with Portable 42HP POD Case

• Bundle featuring the ARK all-in-one Eurorack instrument mounted in a Pod case for standalone use
• Developed by Befaco in collaboration with Tesseract Modular
• 16-track sequencer with deterministic, stochastic, and Euclidean modes
• Each track can run a sound engine, a sampler, or a CV/gate generator
• Drum and synth engines, physical modeling and sampled voices with playback, slicing, and granular synthesis
• 8 assignable CV/audio outputs with corresponding gates, 6 CV inputs, MIDI in and out, clock, reset, and USB host
• Internal mixer with built-in effects and master dynamics
• Harmony tools based on scales and chord progressions, 16 internal modulation sources

The Befaco ARK Pod combines the ARK all-in-one Eurorack instrument into a Pod case, allowing it to be used as a standalone unit. ARK was developed by Befaco in collaboration with Tesseract Modular and combines a 16-track sequencer with synth and drum engines, sampling, CV generation, and an internal mixer. It’s the perfect choice both for those who want a single unit at the heart of their modular system and for those looking for a standalone groovebox capable of communicating with other devices via CV and MIDI.

ARK Groovebox in a Pod case for standalone use

The 16-track sequencer offers deterministic, stochastic, and Euclidean modes, with velocity, roll, legato, slide, repeats, and harmony per step. The tracks are flexible: each can run a sound engine, a sampler, or a CV/gate generator. Harmony tools based on chord progressions and scales help keep tracks in key, while 16 internal modulation sources add movement.

ARK-Core and ARK-Controller

ARK is divided into two parts: the Core, which generates all audio and CV, and the Controller, where you compose. The two parts can be assembled separately. The keys accept Cherry-compatible keycaps.

Drum and Synth Engines, Physical Modeling, and Sampling

The drum engines include kick, snare, hi-hat, tom, FM percussion, and noise; synth voices include acid, FM bells, additive, ladder, super saw, formant, chord, and pad. Physical modeling voices include a Karplus-Strong plucked string and a modal voice based on Elements. Sampling offers playback, slicing, and granular modes, with samples loaded from internal RAM or a microSD card.

CV, gate, and MIDI for sequencing external hardware

In addition to its own engines, ARK can sequence external modules via CV and gate outputs and record and generate MIDI across multiple channels. The 8 CV/audio outputs are assignable and paired with corresponding gate outputs, along with 6 CV inputs, MIDI in and out, clock, reset, and USB host. The internal mixer features effects and master dynamics. The firmware and manual are published on GitHub by Befaco.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Befaco
• Model: ARK Pod
• Type: ARK Eurorack groovebox bundle with Pod case
• Development: Befaco with Tesseract Modular
• Sequencer: 16 tracks, deterministic, stochastic, and Euclidean modes
• Per-step functions: velocity, roll, legato, slide, repeats, harmony
• Tracks: sound engine, sampler, or CV/gate generator
• Drum engines: kick, snare, cymbal, tom, FM percussion, noise
• Synth voices: acid, FM bells, additive, ladder, super saw, formant, chord, pad
• Physical modeling: Karplus-Strong pizzicato, modal voice based on Elements
• Sampling: playback, slicing, granular; samples from internal RAM or microSD
• Modulation: 16 internal sources
• Mixer: internal with built-in effects and master dynamics
• CV/audio outputs: 8, assignable
• Gate outputs: 8
• CV inputs: 6
• MIDI: input and output, multi-channel recording and generation
• Other: clock, reset, USB host
• Memory: microSD card slot
• Keys: compatible with Cherry keycaps
• Synthesis: digital, multitimbral
• ARK width: 40 HP (Core 18 HP, Controller 22 HP)
• Height: 3U
• Depth: 30 mm, including connectors
• +12 V current draw: 270 mA
• Enclosure: 42 HP Pod