When Zoom released the ARQ Aero RhythmTrak 96 in July 2016, they broke all traditions regarding MIDI controllers and synthesizers. With its loop-shaped design and innovative hand-held Ring Controller with touch PADs and interactive LEDs, ARQ ushered in an entirely new way to compose and perform electronic music.

Now, a year on, Zoom is proud to unveil the AR-96 Firmware V2.0 which brings a slew of improvements and added functions that make the ARQ experience even more enthralling:

• An overall re-styling of graphics and icons used on the main LCD
• Images on LCD and actions from the Ring Controller are now seamlessly integrated providing a user-friendly approach to pattern and song making
• Sound parameters can now be accessed instantly and edited on the fly through the ARQ’s enhanced onboard knobs and cursor buttons
• In addition, you can expand the ARQ with your own original samples by importing WAV files into the internal synth engine’s oscillator and edit them like a sampler
• A fully-editable arpeggiator is now available
• The accelerometer functions are expanded for controlling the ring controller’s sound parameters and effects
• Integration with Mac/PC has been taken a step further with all parameters now assignable to MIDI Out (via USB-MIDI port) from the base station and ring controller
• The ARQ Editor is made available for viewing and accessing all functions through your Mac screen in the studio or on your laptop during live performance

Firmware version 2.0 can be downloaded here. Further information about the Zoom ARQ can be found on the product page.