Befaco ARK

Eurorack Groovebox with 16-track sequencer, synthesis, sampling, and CV gate output

• Eurorack-format music production computer, designed to be the heart of your modular system
• 16+1-track sequencer with random, probability, conditions, and parameter lock
• CV generators, drum voices, synths, polyphonic voices, physical modeling, and samplers—including granular synthesis
• Composition system based on scales, chords, and harmonic progressions
• 8 CV/audio outputs, 8 gate outputs, and 6 CV inputs with flexible routing
• MIDI via TRS, USB-A, and USB-C; MIDI generation and recording; and MIDI File Player
• 16 x 2 x 2 stereo digital mixer with reverb, delay, and dynamics
• Two components, ARK-Core and ARK-Controller, for a total of 40 HP, with hot-swappable mechanical keys

Befaco ARK is a Eurorack-format music production computer where algorithms, chance, and signals converge in a single creative space. It offers a 16-track canvas on which to arrange CV generators, drum voices, synth voices, and various types of samplers, including drum players, slicers, and granular samplers. At its core is a composition system based on scales, chords, and harmonic relationships: build progressions, generate melodies that follow them, and introduce chance, variation, and algorithms without losing the musical structure. Get ready to rethink your system.

Eurorack Groovebox with Harmonic and Algorithmic Composition

With ARK, you create evolving chord progressions and generate melodies that follow them, developing musical ideas that are always connected to the track’s harmonic context. The CV generators follow the internal harmony, so even your external voices automatically adapt to scales and chords.

Integrated instruments, parameter lock, and modulation

All devices, effects, and the mixer are tightly integrated with the sequencer, featuring real-time gesture recording and per-step parameter lock for most parameters. You can assign any parameter to the internal modulation system with just two gestures, or set a parameter across multiple steps simultaneously by holding them down and rotating the corresponding encoder.

ARK-Core and ARK-Controller: A Module Divided into Two

ARK is a single system sold as two distinct components. ARK-Core is the engine, which manages and generates all signals; ARK-Controller is where you compose your music. For greater flexibility, you can place them separately—on different shelves of the case or in whatever layout you prefer. The ARK-Controller can also be housed in an external case that you can 3D-print yourself and connected to the ARK-Core with a single USB cable for both power and data.

ARK-Controller with hot-swappable mechanical keys

The ARK-Controller is where you input musical events, such as notes, and fine-tune their nuances. It provides access to a wide range of actions on steps and tracks, including slides, rolls, divisions, and Smart Group selection. The hot-swappable mechanical keyboard buttons offer excellent tactile feedback, as well as durability and easy maintenance. Triplets can be enabled or disabled on the fly, Random Generators are directly accessible, and chance and conditional parameters can be applied to individual steps or entire patterns. From the Controller, you can also manage track mutes and recall patterns.

ARK-Core, the system’s engine

The ARK-Core handles all DSP processing and serves as the main interface for devices, effects, modulation, mixing, and signal routing, as well as for editing the parameters of the internal synths. The front-panel USB port provides power and MIDI connectivity and supports USB flash drives for backing up projects and importing samples.

Hub for modular systems, analog synths, and MIDI instruments

ARK is designed to be the hub of the entire system. Send audio and CV from each channel to your modular synth, analog synths, or MIDI instruments; build complete tracks right within ARK; directly control your hardware; and feed external signals back into the system. Incoming MIDI, CV, and control signals can be transformed into melodies, sequences, and other musical material, always shaped by scales, chords, and progressions.

Available Devices

• Control sources: Envelope, CV Recorder, LFO, V/OCT
• Drum Synths: Kick, Bass Drum, Snare, Cymbal, FM Percussion, Tom, Noise
• Sample players: Sampler (RAM), SD Sampler, Loop Slicer, Granular
• Synthesis voices: Acid, Bells (FM), Harm Osc (additive), Ladder Synth, Rubber Synth, Super Saw, Voice (formants)
• Oscillators: Raw (East Coast), Complex (West Coast)
• Polyphonic: Chords (chord voice), Pad
• Physical modeling: Pluck (Karplus-Strong), Modal (based on Elements)

Sequencer, Projects, and Song Mode

The 16+1-track sequencer offers 12 parameter locks per pattern and track, one device plus one effect per track depending on CPU load, 16 modulation sources or internal arpeggiators, and 16 scenes for instant sound recall. Memory accommodates 255 projects of 64 patterns each, with 64 notes per pattern, and 16 parts with advanced pattern chaining in Song Mode. Rounding out the features are note generation from CV, LFOs, and other sources; an advanced note repeater; a 16 x 2 x 2 stereo digital mixer with reverb, delay, and dynamics; and 8 banks of 128 samples each.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Befaco
• Model: ARK
• Type: music production computer / groovebox, Eurorack format
• Components: ARK-Core (18 HP) and ARK-Controller (22 HP)
• Sequencer: 16+1 tracks, random and probability
• Parameter lock: 12 per pattern/track
• Devices and effects: 1 device + 1 effect per track (depending on CPU load)
• Modulation: 16 internal sources / arpeggiators
• Scenes: 16
• Project memory: 255 projects with 64 patterns, 64 notes per pattern
• Song Mode: 16 parts with pattern chaining
• Harmonic instruments: chord progressions and scales
• MIDI: generation, recording, parameter control, MIDI File Player
• Mixer: 16 x 2 x 2 digital stereo mixer with reverb, delay, and dynamics
• Samples: 8 banks of 128 samples
• Audio quality: 16-bit / 44.1 kHz
• Internal processing: 32-bit floating-point
• DAC: 8 x 16-bit, DC-coupled
• CPU: 600 MHz ARM Cortex-M7 (overclockable)
• SRAM: 16 + 1 MB (approximately 12 MB available for sampling)
• Display: 1.77" color TFT (160 x 128 pixels)
• CV/audio outputs: 8, ±10 V DC (20 Vpp)
• Gate outputs: 8, +10 V
• CV inputs: 6, -5 V to +10 V DC (8-bit resolution)
• Gate / reset / clock outputs: +10 V
• Clock / reset inputs: 10 V tolerant, >1 V = ON
• MIDI I/O: TRS, USB-A, USB-C (class-compliant)
• Expander port: for future expansion modules
• Width: 40 HP (Core 18 HP + Controller 22 HP)
• Depth: 30 mm, including connectors
• Weight: approximately 400 g
• Power consumption: +12 V 270 mA, -12 V 50 mA, +5 V 0 mA