Take scissors to your music with the KeyStep Pro
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- In the past, when writing lyrics, one tool that I've made use of is a pair of scissors.
Taking the scissors to a text, whether that's something you've written yourself or maybe a book or newspaper, and chopping it up into words or phrases, allows you to take that pre-existing body of work and re-combine it into something new. Maybe you change the order, maybe you throw parts away or recontextualise passages to play with the meaning or tone. This technique can be a fun way to spark new lyrical ideas.
Recently though, as I've been exploring techniques of generative music, this idea of decomposition and reconstruction has become really interesting to me in a musical context and it's something I've been playing with, both as a way to spark ideas and as a compositional means to an end.
Today I want to take a look at some ways to approach this idea using some of the really neat features on the Arturia Keystep Pro.
The KeyStep Pro was kindly provided to me by Arturia.
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Probably the most inspiring KSPro review I've seen in recent days. And definitely one of the most motivating to buy this inspiring device :)
Thank you so much!
Thank you oscillator sink this was wonderful I want to try this on all my stuff. also your voice is dulcet as hell.
Can't wait to hear what you do with it! The secret to the dulcet is extreme tiredness.
Isn't the internet a weird place? I know who you are, I listen to your music, and I can message you right now and you would see it, but we probably would never meet. I wonder what the future looks like?
+1 for this. I was feeling anxious about the coming winter this morning and started watching this. I feel like I could go to bed now feeling all warm and fuzzy. Oscillator Sink should make guided meditation tracks.
The dream machine!
I Waited so long for this. Couldn't afford it for a whole year but got one now. Thanks for the cool tips. I shall try on my ambient project.
This video makes me realize just how amazing Brian Eno was back in the 70’s - instead of using a machine’s natural functionality to create and shape musical ideas, he had to reshape, so to speak, the functionality of his machines so he could create & realize his musical ideas.
Does the Keystep Pro send NRPNs? Some of the Circuit Tracks program control changes (reverb decay) only have NRPN numbers. Thanks
I'm pretty certain that as of the current firmware it's only CCs.
@@OscillatorSink Thanks. Jeez, the only controller I have that sends NRPNs is an old minilab - but that only connects to my computer or iPad (tried the midi input on the Tracks but doesn't communicate for some reason). Ugh.
Wow! Great lesson on the "ambient side" of the Keystep Pro sequencers sliding into generative music. 😎
Gorgeous! you tipped me over to purchasing the KeyStep pro because of how peaceful you were able to make it. So many wonderful ideas without just hammering on the arpeggiator. Thank you! And I am excited to explore!
I hope you enjoy it!
Lovely indeed, thank you very much!
As you said at the end - lovely. Got my KSP yesterday, really to control my one-day-soon modular. But watching videos like yours shows I've accidentally bought a sequencing powerhouse and creator of beauty. Thanks.
Masterpiece in 25 minute 🙏 Such an amazing presentation! Very inspiring ❤
Thank you friend!
Just what I needed. Thank you. Just Beautiful
Just bought a keystep pro and looking for tutorials and inspiration this popped up (I'm already subbed to your awesome channel), and I've just gotta say, what a beautiful piece you made here. Exactly the sort of semi-generative ambient tracks I'm aiming to make with it!
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy your new KSP!
As always, a polished video with a teriffic soundtrack! My very generous brother has just ordered one for me (he is a lot better off than his older freelancing brother who is unable to work during lockdown!). Looking forward to putting some of your ideas into practice. It's actually how I do improv already, but it's good to see it described as a process, rather than just happening, as is the case with me. Keep up the excellent work.
You have a very kind brother, I hope you have a lot of fun with it and I hope some of the ideas I showed of spark some inspiration!
Beautiful, inspiring and informative, thank you!
brilliant video, nice and chilled for a sunday night. thanks.
Excellent work sir! I’ll be having a play around with these ideas later on... Also, in addition to the ideas you discuss, there’s the Step Skip function accessed with the Extend buttons. This determines whether or not a step will play in any given cycle (16/32/48/64) so one can add even more randomness, giving it a further generative feel. Cheers man, peace ✌️
This was awesome. If I could hug you, I would. I follow your Digitakt videos and love those too. Thanks a million.
Fantastic expression. Looks like a must have tool 👍😎
such a great controller. seems like very intuitive to use as well
I've watched so many videos about this thing, but I think this is the one which convinces me to buy one. I love my Beatstep Pro, but the Keystep Pro is on another level. Thanks for the great work.
Yeah, I am a big fan of the BSP and the original Keystep, but it feels like Arturia was reading my mind as to what I'd hoped a Keystep Pro would be!
I think I'm in the same boat
I also have the other 2.. This demo definitely convinced me that I need to add this as well.. now just a matter of funds.. ❤️ the sequencer options..
This thing is like the conductor in an orchestra and all the hardware are the instrument players, brings everything all together, in sync giving you all the control via brain (ksp), noice
What a fantastic presentation, thank you sooooo much for sharing it ... KSP was on my list and now I will go forward to order one ;-)
this is wonderful! hopefully my keystep pro arrives this week.... i love this video, sir. well done.
Thank you, and have fun with it when it arrives, I'm really enjoying using it!
Great video to quell my hangover. Ordered one of these in Jan and am still waiting, impatiently. Subbed!
I hope it arrives soon and you can get to jamming. Glad to help with the poorly head this morning and thanks for the sub!
I've had my ksp for a month or so, it's helped take my synth programming away from the computer and make music in a different way, it's a lot of fun, I've never tried any of the functions you use here though, very nicely put together video that will help me get more out of this thing. Thanks
I'm a big fan of the Arturia 'step products for how immediate they are for jamming, but when you dig in - especially on the KSP there are loads of really cool, deep functions in there to explore! I'm happy I could point you in the direction of some of them!
Such a good video.
I have only just got my kspro so a lot to learn.
Its certainly a master at ambient.
Imagine that hooked up to a Lyra 8. Would be punishing but music is only our take on it.
Its either music ( acceptable to a particular brain) or not.
( A noise)
I completely agree about wanting the ability to adjust randomness/other settings for multiple/all steps at once. I came into purchasing a KSP after owning a Model: Samples and I love the ability to adjust Chance per multiple tracks/steps.
David Bowie and many other, cool to point out this method as many will find it helpful for their lyric and songwriting :)
What great sum up and use of the different random (and semi random) functions on the KeyStep Pro. I similar these techniques on my modular, but after seeing this I must be better to use this on my KeyStep Pro too. Thanks for a great video a👌🏻
Amazing! I get mine this week! This is incredibly useful video
Enjoy it!
Brilliant ideas all! I’m going to try this with my Keystep Pro! Thanks mate!!
Have fun with it!
@@OscillatorSink You know it!
Sounds a lot like Eno's ambient music, very pleasant and immersive and a useful look at the keystep pro as well. thanks
Thank you, thanks for watching!
You made me want one of these even more
I'm really enjoying using mine, its very immediate and satisfying in use.
@@OscillatorSink I went with the novation 49SL MK3 but this one is still on my radar. Great demo.
Beautiful. My mind is blown.
Can´t wait to get my paws on it. Get mine at the end of the week !!
Yesss! Enjoy it!
Unreal. I absolutely love your videos. Your channel convinced me to get a monologue, and I couldn't be happier with it. I know that you've dove pretty deep into the Volca FM before, but have you gotten into the Volca Sample? I've had mine for about a year and a half now, and I honestly think it is one of the most versatile synths out there, especially for the price. Theres a reddit user who just posted an unofficial software update for the Sample, and it added a bunch of new features, one of them being probability mode. I've only messed with it for about a week, but it has already let me make infinitely more complex sequences. I really wish I could afford more gear, but the Keystep Pro is definitely on my list after this video. Just the probability and randomizing features you showed here are enough to convince me.
Really glad to hear you've enjoyed the stuff I've been putting out. The sample is one of three Volcas I've not owned (nubass and bass are the other two); I skipped over it and jumped straight to buying a Digitakt! The new unofficial firmware looks great though - especially with the probability features opening up the sequencer some more.
This sounds so nice - really lovely synth tones whatever is making those sounds.
Digitone, Microfreak, Minilogue in that order!
Oscillator Sink , so it takes three more machines to get it to sound this pretty?
@@toddmphoto The unit the video is highlighting is a sequencer - it doesn't make any sound, just send sequences. It will only ever sound like the synth you connect it to.
Exactly this - it is a sequencer it makes no noise of its own, it tells other things what to play.
Another wonderfully restful video which is also inspiring and educational, I look forward the video showing ideas for combining this with NDLR. Meanwhile I'll have to buy another toy :D
I just got one from guitar center for $200! It's been a blast thanks to your video, thank you. Do you have any updates for us?
Just ordered one today and a Pittsburgh Lifeforms. Yes I'm gonna go down that rabbit hole!
Good luck to you (and your bank balance)!
wonderful video dude :) thanks for putting out such good content
Thank you for watching!
Nice little piece
love this channel
Beautiful + inspiring.. thank you..
Beautiful ! Merci ! 🙏
Hey, nice video! Not sure if you figured it out yet, but multiple step edits, hold shift then adjust pitch, it offsets all the notes in the given sequence, same with the other parameters :) hope that helps! I recently figured it out and it's been very helpful for me
Yes! This was introduced in version 2.0, so if you couldn't find it before the middle of last year - that was why! It didn't exist as a feature when I made this video sadly.
Phenomenal ! Period.
Thanks for this video! I’m always on the lookout for videos on compositional techniques and approaches in any type of music or art in general. Any books or CZcams channels you could recommend?
You can hold shift + track 1 to adjust randomization rather than changing each step individually
The scissors treatment was one of Bowie's methods for composing lyrics.... As a freckled youth I used to laugh at the notion, now I can see it's potential. Enjoy the new toy :)
ive always used the same method , because I'm a big bowie fan , I use a piece of software now to help me decide the next words, its called word pallette , its on IOS
William S. Burroughs was the writer that pioneered the cut-up method and was the inspiration fo Bowie.
I Am A RODOT Cool, maybe it explains why Burroughs shot his wife ;)
@@iamarodot8587 I was going to say that...but you got there before me!
@@fincorrigan7139 Nothing explains Phil Spector though!
I will maybe go off topic a bit but - following your main premise from this video, being generative music composition and production - I basically stumbled into something while working on a video game soundtrack and effects. So, in FMOD Studio, which is a middle ware for programming audio, many modules are designed like so that they offer random triggering (with perfect control of the content and randomisation, or better said, generation of playback). I realised that if i threat the project musically rather than what I usually do, and thats connecting music and effects done for game events, I could use my stems to do this randomisation i very interesting fashion. Of course, I prefer Eucleidian/Generative sequencers since FMOD works with audio tracks only, but it was a nice revelation. What do you think abut hardware Generative Sequencers? Any chance you will try one soon? I am using very neat one from Reactor, Spyral, but i would like to try hardware seq that works in this fashion.
I just wish it had more projects you can save in internal memory (16?!) + the sequencer plays motion sequences stepped only. No smooth function. Really weird that they would miss this. Other than that, it’s a fun pice of gear to get creative with.
I depend heavily on Rhyme Zone! Often a word that rhymes that I would never have thought of leads me to a train of thought I wouldn't have thought of either. I always wanted to get a set of Eno's Oracle Cards but that seemed a bit heady for my brain.
Good stuff, thanks 👍
I think that ‘walk’ mode is Brownian motion if you wanna dig deeper
This is so good...
Thanks Omri!
Just splashed out on a KSP after a year of debating whether to get one. Gonna pair it with my NDLR for even more controllability and generative possibilities. Definitely gonna try some of the tips out. Would be interesting if all the sequences were of different lengths that weren't a multiple of 16 (like the nine-step sequence you had on track 3). I know that worked particularly well in your NDLR video a few months back. Oh, and you've made me GAS for the OpSix too (damn you!!!!)
Well, I mean, the opsix responds to aftertouch so the KSP would be a great controller for it.... (the opsix is great)
@@OscillatorSink I don't need another synth. I don't need another synth. I don't need another synth. (ad infinitum). Dang that reverb tail just keeps going.....
@@OscillatorSink But in all seriousness, this has just opened up a whole other possibility with incorporating longer sequences on the KSP with the NDLR inserted in to drive different parts. Don't get me wrong, love the NDLR to bits, but the built-in Rhythm and Pattern features are a bit limited in the number of steps. Having access to up to 64 steps on the KSP does grant me some opportunities for longer generative sequences with some larger prime numbers (IIRC 61 is the largest prime below 64). Plus can chain patterns together etc. Exciting times ahead!
Arturia better be doing more than giving him a free keyboard. I for one am buying one ENTIRELY on the strength of this video.
If i wanted to control model cycels and digitkt with keystep pro while getting sounds from typhon and mc101 all at same time?
I think Yu sold me a key step pro 🤩
Hey, I subscribed simply by how you started this vid. Thanks
Hey, welcome!
Awesome! if you can only choose one, which one will you pick between The Ndlr and the Keystep pro? I'm planning to get a master sequencer to control my Digitone, Rytm MKII, Sub37, Nord Electro 6 and a big case of Eurorack modules. Deep down I know I want the Ndlr mostly after seeing one of your videos, and also because I tend to like more the experimental, controlled unpredictability of it, but there's no harm in asking. cheers!
If you have the Elektron stuff then you already have super powerful step sequencers when you need them so I think in that context the NDLR brings more new stuff to your rig - as long as you already have something to do midi-to-CV of course...
@@OscillatorSink Yep I have a Hermod in my eurorack case to do all the midi to CV... Thank you!
I can do all of the random options i cant do it with the knobs why is that? I can do it with the shift key but the knobs dont seem to do anything? Maybe you can give me a better idea
thank *YOU*
No - thank *YOU* for watching and taking the time to comment.
Great!
Cheers!
Arturia should hire you for their marketing... I want a KeyStep Pro now O_o
William Burroughs - Cut up
Is the keystep pro dawless? And can you arrange a full set of midi info to sequence all your hardware gear instead of just playing wav backing tracks from ur phone
Keystep Pro user here. Are you still using the key step pro for anything like this? This video was a few years ago and a lot of other options are out there. Recently, I’ve been wondering if I should get the Oxi one. Thanks.
Nice video, thanks! Does the keystep pro come with its own sounds or does it need to be played thru a synth?
It needs to be controlling a synth or other sound source - it is just a controller, doesn't make any sounds on its own. That said I think it might come with some free versions of Arturia's soft synth plugins, but don't quote me on that.
Brion gysin, William Burroughs, and Genesis p-orridge would approve!👌👍✌
this is wonderful - thank you - i am going to get one of these after watching this. do you know if it is possible to synchronise 2 or three or even more keystep pros together so that you can create a number of little generative ecosytems together with different sets of gear - ultimately all related to each other through a syncronised connection but also all independent of each other by virtue of what is connect to each keystep and the way each one might be programmed
You can certainly synchronise multiple units - I suspect distributing MIDI clock between them would be easiest. Daisy chaining the sync signals would work too.
@@OscillatorSink my beatstep pro arrived today - haven't had chance to play on it yet, but i was wondering...i saw your generative deep mind synth video as well..is it possible (do you think) to combine both generative methodologies (deep mind/beatstep pro) at the same time....would there be incompatible clashes with what the beatstep is doing with its arpegiator and what the deep mind is doing with its LFOs and its envelopes?
the reason i ask is because i also got a deep mind 12D last week as well :-)
I think ultimately with generative patching, you need to take the whole system into consideration. Would the patch I make in that video react well to being played with an arpeggiator? No probably not. Could you build that kind of patch that took that input into consideration? Yes, but you'd want to design it that way from the start.
@@OscillatorSink but...if the DM was doing its own thing independently (in its own generative ecosystem) and the beatstep was doing its own thing independently with some different synths - could the compliment each other? - again maybe linked somehow but ultimately totally independent
hi there! Sending my DN keys (my dedicated controller) out for repair (on warranty thank goodness) so this is the perfect excuse to get one of these that Id been eyeballing anyway. Have you ever hooked it up to the digitakt (a recent purchase that I am just beginning to wrap my brain and fingers around) ?
I haven't used it with the Digitakt - and honestly probably wouldn't - the Digitakt is so tightly integrated that an external sequencer feels like a step back honestly.
@@OscillatorSink thanks for that guidance Id rather not spin my wheels on something that makes little sense.
How well does the Keystep Pro work with the Analog Lab software? I use it with my Keystep and it's fine. Is there any way on the Pro to modify any of the settings of a patch?
You can assign the 5 rotary controls to CC values and control things that way.
@arturia you should buy this video
Hi, does anyone know if I can use the MIDI IN to connect a pad controller just to control modular drum voices using the gate outs and sequencer of the Keystep Pro? Specifically could I connect my Roland SP303 to do this?
ELECTROSONIC I would suspect you can. Last night I had a chord sequence playing on Cubase and was sending the midi to one of the KSP tracks that was set to arpeggio mode, then sending the CV/Gate of that track out to one of my synths and it worked a treat. I reckon if you set Track 1 to Drum mode (defaults to midi ch 10), set your SP303 to midi channel 10 and make sure the pads are sending out the correct note numbers (the 1st 8 of the drum map that start at midi note 36), you should be able to trigger out of the gates from there. Hope this makes sense ✌️
@@chitlun Thanks man of course i just realized the finger drumming would not include velocity so there's less of a case for connecting pads but may try it anyway.
Between the music and your voice I keep drifting off and missing big chunks of what y're saying, lol. 💘
Is this unit too complex for my first midi?
Can this run on batteries? I want to be looping and busking .
Can I connect this into my guitar amp?
What is the black machine above it?
Can I just plug this into an amp and use sounds that come with the keyboard?
Thank u !!!
Todd
Is the unit too complex: I don't think so, the sequencer is very fluid and intuitive if all you want to do is play stuff in.
Can it run on batteries: it doesn't take batteries, but it can be USB powered so you should be able to run it from a USB power brick, but I haven't tested that.
Guitar amp: no. There are no audio outs.
Black machine above it: Elektron Digitone - it's a synth; one of the 3 instruments that are actually making the sounds.
Can you just plug it in: no the Keystep Pro is a controller. It doesn't make any sounds on its own, there are no sounds that come with the keyboard. You need to hook it up to some hardware or software instrument.
Oscillator Sink , thank you very much for your detailed response!!!!
So , a microkorg or a N ovation MiniNova , would be an all in one synth and Keyboard? I saw you can also plug in a guitar to the MIcrokorg to get effects from it as well .
Thanks again . You have been very helpful!!
When you had notes randomized in the sequencer, are they different every time they loop or once they have picked a random order they stick to that for each loop?
When you randomize the *order* it'll stick to that until you change it again.
@@OscillatorSink Fantastic thanks for the reply and fantastic videos, they are appreciated.
Is it possible to assign the keysteps four sequencers separately to the four tracks of the digitone?
Yes. Just set each sequencer to address each track's MIDI channel.
@@OscillatorSink Thanks! That's great. Of course the Digitone has a very powerful sequencer itself, but it is just a lot more complex to use.
@@Thomasabraser you could also run both at once, but with different pattern lengths for some lovely polymeter action.
@@OscillatorSink Nice! Thanks for your help. The downside is: Now i want it even more :D
Dude, don't stop.🌊🐬🌱🧬🎋🍄🌾🌎🌧🚀🛸⛰🏕🌌📡🕯💯💤🎵🎶🔊🔊🔊🔊
Latest firmware has added global transpose 👍
😍
No u
Great video! Although the music made me a tad sleepy.😂
I'm all about that sleepy music at the moment!
I have a digitakt but this level of probability/control in the keysteps' sequencer is much better, and so inspiring. I still love the digitakt for its beat making oomph, but I'm now wondering if the melodic element would be better from this . So many ideas .
I'm a big Elektron fanboy and you get more precise control on the Digitakt, but I would argue that for quickly sketching and evolving ideas - especially *during a performance* the KSP had the edge. Of course there's no reason why you couldn't be running the takt's sequencer with a load of noteless trigs at the same time to have it mutate the sound, while you mutate the melody...
Damn it. Now I need to buy one.
Soooorrrryyy
If memory serves im sure i once heard David Bowie used this idea many years ago.
Stravinsky moment form. Early 20th century technique.
Is it thrue that has a lot of bugs yet? The fora are full of it.
I've not hit any yet, but different use cases will uncover different bugs I guess?
I wonder how this device would compare to something like the NDLR in terms of inspiration and happy accidents
That's interesting, so I think the NDLR takes a little more work up front, but then offers more control over where you take your ideas when you find something special. The KSP is super immediate but doesn't have the separation of melody and rhythm or the whole "modulation" of the sequence that makes the NDLR special. Actually I can think of some interesting ways to use them together - I might try to develop that idea...
It’s a shame not to use the powerful sequencer of the Digitakt.
It's a really different experience. The Digitakt is great for deep control, but it's not the most "performance based" sequencer, by which I mean: once the sequence is in there, during a performance you're not going to be messing with the sequence itself but more messing with the sounds and playing the mutes. The KSP (and the BSP and original Keystep for that matter) are great for actually changing and evolving the sequence as you perform. The control is nowhere near as deep as the elektron boxes, but it lends itself to improvisation loads more in my opinion.
This thing of not being able to modify all the steps at once is super annoying and was a major complaint of Minibrute 2S sequencer. I can't believe you still can't do it on this. It just doesn't make any sense. Arturia combine some of the very best interfaces with some showstopper errors that they don't fix in updates. Too bad really
Seems like an easy fix too. Something like, holding the sequence select buttons while turning a knob to input a global parameter for the selected sequence...🤔
I know at least one engineer from Arturia has watched this video - hopefully they heard my plea!
the characteristics of the notes are drowned in your effect, so it becomes difficult to locate the changes, it's all a bit of a sauce. Maybe you wanted too much at once, although it's about technics you want to show. A helpful video nonetheless, but it could be easier to follow if you concentrate on the matter at hand - cut up
That's a good way to erase all deep lyrical meaning. ;-p
*Somebody once told me* that.
I really like what keystep does in general, however this let's call it "randomizer feature " is not YOUR music.It's not ANYONE'S music.It's cool. It's NOT music making though, in a professional musician's Sense. It's a toy, a rather expensive and complicate hobbiSt's gadget, that gives to an amateur the illusion and impression he really makes music.
Having considered this for 3 months, I respectfully disagree with your opinion.
The tempo is so SLOW that it's difficult to hear the changes in the sequence. It all sounds slow and boring. Does this controller have a faster tempo control? I was considering buying one of these but it doesn't sound very good to me.
Yes, of course you can change the tempo.