Arkanoid is a rotating melodic sequencer inspired by the classic arcade game. The grid interface is the primary way to interact with Arkanoid. Both control surface 8×8 button grids and mouse clicks can be used to control the UI.

Designed by Ableton Certified Trainer Mark Towers the main 8×7 grid represents a walled space in which up to 4 balls can bounce around in diagonal patterns. To start a ball moving, first select one of the 4 sequencers using the numbered selected panel or with a control surface’s ‘scene launch buttons’, then trigger one of the bottom row buttons on a control surface or by using the mouse. Once started, balls will follow a diagonal pattern which will result in them gradually going out of phase until returning to their starting point. To trigger additional sequencers select the next numbered engine and repeat the process.

Notes are triggered when moving balls cross activated cells. Cells can be activated by clicking on them with control surface pads/mouse clicks. The pitch of activated notes are automatically laid out via the ‘note grid’ mode (see sequencer engine). Notes can be accentuated by initiating ‘accent edit’ in the ‘global controls’ to the right of the device or by holding shift and clicking a cell.

Within the Ableton Live pack you’ll find devices that are compatible with Novation LaunchPad MKI, MKII, Pro, Ableton Push 1 & 2 as well as a universal device that can be used with any MIDI Controller via MIDI Mapping or the mouse and keyboard.