The PreSonus ATOM SQ is a sleek, stylish, versatile production and performance controller designed to ensure that making music is fun. In this video and article for Production Expert, Brent March looks at the new PreSonus ATOM SQ. He shows us how the controller’s intuitive design integrates with Studio One and dives into how you can seamlessly use the MIDI and scale only modes.

Deep Integration With Studio One's Pattern Editor

ATOM SQ lets you open the Studio One Pattern Editor without clicking a mouse to select and edit steps individually. Copy, paste, duplicate, and delete events, insert a pattern, change its length, add new variations, and change scales — all using the units tactile controls. You can build compositions faster using the built-in step sequencer in Studio One and ATOM SQ, great for programming and experimenting with 'drum machine' style sequences.

Navigation And Transport Control 

ATOM SQ allows you to navigate many aspects of Studio One without using your mouse and keyboard. The controller has transport controls for stop, play, record, and a dedicated Click Track toggle. You can also zoom in and out of your timeline and navigate among your tracks.

Production Essentials Included

Included with ATOM SQ is Studio One Artist, allowing you to get started right out of the box. Studio One Artist now lets you use your favorite third-party VST and AU plug-in effects and virtual instruments and supports Studio One Remote to use as a second screen or as remote Studio One control on your iPad or Android tablet. Also included are two carefully curated loop libraries with custom Impact XT kits.

Ableton Live Controller

ATOM SQ has been designed for production and live performance with Ableton Live too. Launch clips and scenes during a performance, select devices, edit parameters, navigate tracks and scenes, and control each track’s volume, panning, and send levels — plus do all your drum programming in Ableton Live’s sequence piano roll, direct from the ATOM SQ. Ableton Live Lite is included, which comes with all of Live’s essential workflows, instruments and effects.

Portable and Configurable

ATOM SQ is highly configurable. MCU and HUI modes plus a powerful MIDI mode let you control your favorite DAW or virtual instrument with ease. You can remap instrument parameters to each of the ATOM SQ's controls; for example, rotary encoders can control filter cutoff and resonance or ADSR envelopes of your drum samples.

You can color code the hardware RGB LEDs to have a visual representation of your loops and samples. The ATOM SQ's LCD screen can display context-sensitive information, such as groove swing amount.

The ATOM SQ is USB bus-powered. Staggered-pad layout and sleek size make for an ultra-portable controller that will certainly fit most laptop bags on the market.

Pros

• Fantastic integration with Studio One with many parameters pre-mapped, meaning you do not need to assign any macros.

• A big thumbs up for users of the show page as the ATOM SQ allows you to perform and interact with your audience with a lot more control, especially with the new features added in the Studio One 5.2 update.

• The screen makes it easy to perform live changes without the need to view Studio One.

• Polyphonic aftertouch adds a new level of expression, which we rarely see on MIDI controllers.

• The TR style sequencer makes it even more fun and intuitive when creating patterns within the pattern mode in Studio One.

• Super easy to set up. Plug and play.

• Great build quality.

Cons

• Sustain pedal input is a real miss. You'll need to draw this in using MIDI CC information.

• Bit of a learning curve coming from a traditional keybed to the TR style keybed.

Computer System Requirements:

Below are the minimum computer-system requirements for ATOM with Studio One 5 or later:

• macOS 10.13 or higher (64-bit only), Intel® Core™ i3 or better, Minimum 4GB RAM / Recommended 8GB or more

• Windows 10 (64-bit only), Intel® Core™ i3/AMD A10 processor or better, Minimum 4GB RAM / Recommended 8GB or more

• USB 2.0 port, Internet connection (needed for software installation and activation), Monitor with 1366 x 768 resolution (high-dpi monitor recommended), 20 GB hard-drive space (for Studio One and ATOM SQ-exclusive content), Universal Control 3.3 or later (for firmware updates), Studio One 5+ required for native integration

Final Thoughts

The Atom SQ is a controller that will improve Studio One users' workflow and other DAW's. The cross-platform integration with both the song and show page exemplifies PreSonus' desire to push the envelope with Studio One. Producers, through to performers, can get more intuitive and hands-on with digital music creation.

A favourite feature is the TR style sequencer layout. It makes building patterns in Studio One effortless and very creative. With the drag and drop workflow of samples into Impact XT, it feels like you're building unique patterns using an analogue-style step sequencer.

In the update of Studio One 5.2, we saw the addition of patches and live arranging. With the ATOM SQ, we can work with these new features to create an even more impressive live-looping scenario, triggering patches and assigning macros to the knobs and touch strip.

Once again, PreSonus has gone full circle. Not only have they made a brilliant controller, but they've also designed it from the ground up, with every user in mind. The ATOM SQ will be a welcome addition to composers, producers and musicians who need new inspiring workflows within the song page. Likewise, artists and performers of all backgrounds will find the ATOM SQ enables them to perform in the show page like never before.