BEAST Repeat by Dillon Bastan
BEAT REPEAT. UNLEASHED.
BEAST Repeat by Dillon Bastan is the free, supercharged evolution of Ableton's classic Beat Repeat — packed with pitch shifting, granular stretching, spectral processing, filter sweeps, panning, formant shifting, and a full parameter snapshot system that turns a simple stutter into a full creative performance tool.
- Pitch shifting: FFT and Overlap Add real-time pitch shift or classic repitch mode, with per-repeat pitch envelope and pitch decay up or down
- Granular & FFT stretching: Speed stretch with granular or phase vocoder options, including stepped decay and per-repeat envelope
- Stepped decay & spray: Apply decay and spray to Grid, Width, Panning, Filter, Redux, and Formant parameters
- Per-repeat Width: Gate/silence the middle of each repeat based on width, with stepped decay option
- Boomerang mode: Boomerang any stepped decay parameter back at a set triangle distribution, with gate-matched or custom timing
- Parameter snapshots: Dynamic repeat setting changes with variation control for evolving, unpredictable patterns
- Filter, Overdrive & Redux: Three-mode filter with Q and envelope, overdrive with tone, and sample crush with stepped decay
- Reverse & Formant: Reverse playback with random direction, formant shifting with stepped decay and spray
BEAST Repeat by Dillon Bastan
BEAT REPEAT. UNLEASHED.
BEAST Repeat by Dillon Bastan is the free, supercharged evolution of Ableton's classic Beat Repeat — packed with pitch shifting, granular stretching, spectral processing, filter sweeps, panning, formant shifting, and a full parameter snapshot system that turns a simple stutter into a full creative performance tool.
- Pitch shifting: FFT and Overlap Add real-time pitch shift or classic repitch mode, with per-repeat pitch envelope and pitch decay up or down
- Granular & FFT stretching: Speed stretch with granular or phase vocoder options, including stepped decay and per-repeat envelope
- Stepped decay & spray: Apply decay and spray to Grid, Width, Panning, Filter, Redux, and Formant parameters
- Per-repeat Width: Gate/silence the middle of each repeat based on width, with stepped decay option
- Boomerang mode: Boomerang any stepped decay parameter back at a set triangle distribution, with gate-matched or custom timing
- Parameter snapshots: Dynamic repeat setting changes with variation control for evolving, unpredictable patterns
- Filter, Overdrive & Redux: Three-mode filter with Q and envelope, overdrive with tone, and sample crush with stepped decay
- Reverse & Formant: Reverse playback with random direction, formant shifting with stepped decay and spray
Additional information
| MaxforLive | Audio Devices |
|---|---|
| OS | Mac, Windows |
| Ableton Live Compatibility | Ableton Live 10 Standard with MaxforLive, Ableton Live 10 Suite, Ableton Live 11 Standard with MaxforLive, Ableton Live 11 Suite, Ableton Live 12 Standard with MaxforLive, Ableton Live 12 Suite |
| Min. Requirements | Ableton Live 10 or higher with Max for Live (included in Suite or as add-on for Standard) |
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BEAST Repeat by Dillon Bastan
Beat Repeat is one of Ableton Live’s most beloved devices — a creative stutter machine that’s launched a thousand drops, fills, and glitch moments. But what if it could do so much more? Dillon Bastan asked exactly that question, and BEAST Repeat is the answer: a free, massively expanded Max for Live audio effect that takes everything you love about Beat Repeat and wraps it in a vast, modular system of pitch tools, spectral processing, granular stretching, dynamic parameter control, and expressive performance features.
This is not just Beat Repeat with a few extra knobs. BEAST Repeat is a completely rethought repeat engine where every parameter — from interval and gate to panning, filter, pitch, and formant — can decay, spray, envelope, and boomerang across each repeat cycle. It’s a glitch artist’s dream, a sound designer’s rabbit hole, and a live performer’s secret weapon, all wrapped into a single free device.
Key Features
- All classic Beat Repeat features: The familiar interval, grid, gate, and variation controls you already know and love — fully intact as the foundation.
- Expanded variation modes: Additional variation options for repeat Interval and repeat Gate, with more variation modes and interval options than the original.
- Stepped decay & spray: Apply stepped decay and spray to Grid (repeat length), Width, Panning, Filter, Redux, and Formant — letting parameters evolve dramatically across each triggered repeat sequence.
- Per-repeat Width: A dedicated width control that silences or gates the centre of each repeat based on the width value, complete with its own stepped decay option for evolving gate effects.
- Fade in/out per repeat: Smooth amplitude envelopes applied per repeat for natural-feeling swells and cuts rather than hard on/off triggering.
- Real-time pitch shifting: FFT and Overlap Add pitch shift mode maintains the same playback speed (great for lo-fi textures), plus classic repitch/speed mode. Add pitch decay either upward or downward, and use a per-repeat pitch envelope for expressive melodic stutter effects.
- Speed stretching: Stretch the repeat playback speed using granular or phase vocoder (FFT) algorithms, with stepped decay or per-repeat envelope shaping.
- Sample redux (bit crush): Reduce the sample resolution with stepped decay or spray options for gritty, evolving degradation.
- Panning control: Pan each repeat with stepped decay or spray for wide, moving stereo fields that shift across the repeat cycle.
- Three-mode filter: Choose from three filter modes with adjustable Q, stepped decay, and per-repeat envelope control — sweep the repeats into resonant oblivion.
- Overdrive with tone: Add harmonic saturation with a tone knob to shape the character of the distortion.
- Boomerang mode: Make any stepped decay parameter bounce back at a set triangle distribution — timing can be locked to the gate length or set independently for complex rhythmic motion.
- Parameter snapshot system: Store and recall dynamic repeat configurations on the fly, with a variation setting that introduces controlled randomness for unpredictable, evolving repeat performances.
- Reverse playback: Flip repeat playback direction with an optional random direction setting for unpredictable reversals.
- Formant shifting: Shift the formant of repeated audio with stepped decay and spray options — create vocal morphs, alien textures, and deeply strange spectral effects.
- Mono repeat mode: Collapse repeats to mono for focused, punch-forward stutter hits.
How It Works
BEAST Repeat sits in your audio chain just like the original Beat Repeat — drop it on any track and it intercepts the signal when triggered, looping a captured slice of audio according to your interval and grid settings. From there, the expanded engine takes over. Each parameter section — pitch, filter, panning, redux, formant, width, and stretch — operates independently with its own decay curve, spray randomisation, or per-repeat envelope. The result is that a single triggered repeat can evolve dramatically from its first cycle to its last, sweeping through pitch, colour, and space as it decays away.
The Boomerang system adds another dimension entirely: instead of decaying linearly, parameters can snap back toward their starting value in a triangle distribution, creating bouncing, yo-yo style modulation that feels alive and performative. Combine this with the snapshot system — which lets you pre-program multiple repeat configurations and switch between them mid-performance — and BEAST Repeat becomes a genuinely expressive instrument rather than a static effect.
The Vibe
BEAST Repeat is at home across almost every production context. In techno and industrial settings, the stepped decay on filter and pitch creates grinding, mechanical stutter sequences that feel like machinery misfiring in the best possible way. In ambient and experimental work, the FFT pitch shift and formant modes open up ghostly, spectral texture landscapes from otherwise ordinary audio material. For hip-hop and lo-fi production, the sample redux and repitch modes deliver the kind of degraded, warped repeats that sit perfectly in a dusty, crunchy mix. And for live performance across any genre, the snapshot system and boomerang mode give you a dynamic, crowd-pleasing tool that reacts and evolves as you play.
Whether you’re building a track in the studio, designing sound for film and games, or performing live in front of an audience, BEAST Repeat gives you a depth of control that the original Beat Repeat simply cannot match — and it won’t cost you a penny.
What’s Included
- BEAST Repeat Max for Live audio device
- Read Me file with installation instructions and preset setup guide
Technical Requirements
BEAST Repeat works with Ableton Live 10 and above. Max for Live is required — this is included with Ableton Live Suite, or available as an add-on for Standard. If you encounter issues, ensure you are running the latest version of Live 10 or Live 11, and consider downloading the latest version of Max/MSP from Cycling74.com (no licence required) and pointing Live to that version in Preferences.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A: Yes, completely free! Dillon Bastan has released BEAST Repeat at no cost. Simply download it and follow the included Read Me for installation instructions.
A: BEAST Repeat works with Ableton Live 10 and above, including Live 11 and Live 12. Max for Live is required, which is included with Ableton Live Suite or available as a paid add-on for Live Standard.
A: No. Max for Live (bundled with Ableton Live Suite) is all you need. If you encounter compatibility issues, you can download the latest version of Max/MSP from Cycling74.com free of charge and point Live to it in Preferences — no licence is required for this.
A: The FFT and Overlap Add pitch shift mode changes the pitch of the repeated audio while maintaining the same playback speed, giving a lo-fi, time-stretched quality. The classic repitch mode changes pitch by adjusting playback speed, so pitching up makes the audio faster, just like speeding up a tape — the traditional Beat Repeat behaviour.
A: Boomerang makes any stepped decay parameter bounce back toward its starting value rather than decaying linearly in one direction. It uses a triangle distribution, so the parameter rises and falls rhythmically. The timing of the boomerang can be locked to the repeat gate length or set to a custom value for complex, bouncing modulation effects.
A: Yes — BEAST Repeat includes a Parameter Snapshot system that lets you store multiple repeat configurations and switch between them dynamically during performance. There is also a variation setting that introduces controlled randomness into snapshot recall, making repeat behaviours feel evolving and unpredictable.
A: Stepped decay causes a parameter to reduce in discrete steps across each successive repeat cycle — creating a staircase-style evolution. Spray introduces randomisation into the amount of change per step, giving a more chaotic, organic feel rather than a predictable linear decay.
A: Absolutely. The snapshot system, Boomerang mode, and per-repeat envelope controls make BEAST Repeat an excellent live performance tool. Triggering different snapshots mid-set, combined with evolving stepped decay and boomerang parameters, allows for highly dynamic, crowd-engaging moments that go far beyond a standard stutter effect.
Important Information
v1.0.0 – Initial Release
Our Products are generally provided as Zip file downloads which in all cases will need to be extracted before use. For Max for Live Devices please place the extracted device in your User Library. For Ableton Live Packs please double click the extracted .alp file to install. For Ableton Live Projects please place in your projects folder.
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