Starsky Carr Unleashes the Beetlecrab Tempera V2.2: Granular Mayhem Gets a Dirty Upgrade

The Beetlecrab Tempera just got a serious shot in the arm with its V2.2 update, and Starsky Carr wastes no time showing off the new muscle. Forget minor bug fixes—this update brings a Euclidean generator, improved reverb, master dirtification effects, and poly aftertouch, all crammed into a box that already looked like it was plotting to overthrow your DAW. The interface might remind you of an MPC at first, but don’t be fooled: those pads are portals into granular chaos, not just sample triggers.

Starsky’s approach is classic—no hand-holding, just a straight-up breakdown of how the Tempera’s four granular engines chew through up to eight stereo samples, each sliced into eight parts. The result? A workflow that’s more genius than gimmick, letting you build complex textures without getting lost in menu hell. If you’ve ever stared at a granular synth and wondered what the hell was going on, this walkthrough finally connects the dots—without dumbing it down.

V2.2 isn’t just about shiny new buttons—Starsky digs into the real upgrades. Modulation gets a turbo boost, with poly aftertouch now on tap and a modulation matrix that lets you target pretty much any parameter you’d actually want to mess with. Want to twist grain density, spray, or filter cutoff with a flick? Sorted. The new modulation options aren’t just for show; they make the Tempera feel like a proper performance weapon, not a static sound lab.

Grain controls have levelled up too. You can now fine-tune grain length, density, trigger points, and even spray them across X and Y axes for that extra layer of unpredictability. The expanded performance capabilities mean you’re not just stuck in ambient pad land—this thing can get percussive, glitchy, or downright filthy when you want it. Starsky’s no-nonsense demo proves these aren’t just incremental tweaks—they’re the kind of upgrades that make you want to actually use the box live.

Starsky isn’t just here to show off presets—he drops a load of practical tips for getting the most out of the Tempera. From chopping samples in your DAW for maximum control to using macros for quick performance tweaks, it’s all about making the box work for you, not the other way around. The canvas system gets a shout, letting you save and load entire setups without breaking a sweat.

There’s plenty of workflow wisdom here, like setting up percussion to hit bang on the beat or using randomness to keep things fresh. Starsky even admits he prefers prepping samples in Logic before bringing them into the Tempera—proof that sometimes the best hacks are outside the box. If you’re after hidden tricks and real-world advice, this section is pure gold.

The final act is a masterclass in sound design. Starsky walks through effects like the new ‘age’ and ‘slit’ for instant dirtification, plus compressor and mix tweaks that take the Tempera from clean to crusty in seconds. The global effects system works like a mini mixing desk, with each emitter sending audio through your chosen flavour of chaos.

Visual demos of grain syncing, Euclidean sequencing, and poly aftertouch modulation show why the Tempera isn’t just another granular box. It’s flexible, expressive, and—thanks to V2.2—capable of sounds you won’t get anywhere else. If you want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes, you’ll need to watch the video. Trust me, no amount of text can capture the filth and finesse this thing delivers in the hands of someone who knows how to push it.