Keystep Pro: My favorite hardware sequencer? 🎹 // Arturia Keystep Pro vs. original Keystep
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
- In this video, I compare the "Pro" version of the Keystep with the original Keystep, and discover the Keystep Pro is not just one of the best a MIDI controllers in its price range, it's actually a full-fledged sequencer with a focus on hardware integration.
- Hudba
A couple of months ago I was walking through a Guitar Center in decay, and came across a stack of Keystep Pros on clearance for 50% off. Without even needing a new keyboard, I knew I had to make the purchase on a whim. It’s great!
Wholesome
Great score!
Dope, that's easily worth it. Especially if it was the black model.
For 250 I would have been in for two.
Same bro I bought that faster than I could blink
Top tip - Pressing shift while using the control knobs will affect every note in the sequence. This is particularly useful on the Probability function as every pass is different, which is cool for generative type stuff.
Thanks!!
I don't really know anything about synthesizers and this sort of thing, but this is so fun to watch regardless. Great presentation!
Me neither. It's like music theory, very interesting - now let me get back to that sandwich.
1982 no sequencer, I used to pull and plug the CV cables manually lol
Thank you! Just got mine yesterday and your manner of explaining things really clicks with me.
I have gone for the Keystep 37. It is so amazing how Arturia managed to put so much functionality into such a small device, while at the same time keeping the user interface so crystal clear, and every function at most 2 or 3 button clicks away (as opposed to endless menu diving or the neccessity to enter stuff via cryptic numbers which you type in through the keys or so).
And from a classical piano player's point of view, given its size, I find the keybed to be very 'musical' regarding its responsiveness, key travel distance etc. So after getting used to it, one can actually play musical phrases live with it, instead of just being able to enter single notes into sequencers, as it is the case with most other mini-key keyboards.
I appreciate the way you organize your thoughts - thanks for this video!
A great tutorial on some lovely hardware. Your demo tunes are very nice pieces of music in their own right. Your channel will be a great resource for me as I reassemble my studio after a long break and begin to explore the world of modular.
Thank you.
This is exactly the kind of hands on tutorial I've been looking for. Connecting a bunch of synths and then seeing how it all works. Thanks!!
This video made me understand more about how we can think when building a sequence or idea.
Much appreciated! This is GOLD!
Best video on sequencers I`ve seen. Easy to understand for a beginner.
This was a really helpful review, I love how you speak in plain English and explain technical terms. Many other channels don't do this. I learned a lot watching this. Thank you
GREAT job on the video/tutorial of the KSP. I absolutely love mine which I have yet to fully maximize (or learn) its potential.
Wow! Thank you for this video! Really made me see how simple it is to make a full song with Keystep Pro!
I often feel like when there's too many buttons and functions, it just becomes difficult for me, but you really managed to make this seem like it will rather be easier than more difficult with the Pro over the regular Keystep
Hey David , this was really informative ! I'm learning as we go, and your video really made things logical. Love your content! Cheers
Mate… I’m just gonna say it, this video is awesome! Great job on pace, buildup and the creative use-cases you came up with.
I’ve been producing on and off for the last 14 years but always with software synths in a daw. Now I just bought my first synth and I’m already so hyped to start exploring the rest of this wonderful analogue and physical world. This controller will be part of it I’m sure 🍻
Thanks David. Just got one, and this vid is really helping me get a handle on the basics.
What a fantastic presentation. Thank you.
That was an excellent tutorial so well and slowly explained.
I just have the basic keystep at the moment but I can see me getting the pro pretty soon.
I am not a keyboard player but a musician and I can clearly see how to dial in the steps.
I like your musicality and it makes a change from just pressing any old buttons which miraculously also works,
I also like the fact that you have a small work space just like me and you use the side walls left and right to stack your gear. Brilliant idea and thank you so much.
You taught me a lot.
This is a superb video that booth showcases the key step and gives a tutorial! I kinda wish you did a tutorial on the original key step as well. But I’m gonna try reading the manual first!
Really good summary of its capabilities, and some good mini demo's in there too. Thumbs up.
I love the simplicity of the KSP, combined with how powerful it is, I feel like I've only scratched the surface of what it can do.
And agree, the sequencer is a lot of fun to use. Only the 3x more expensive Polyend Seq is easier to use.
Worthy of waxing poetic about.
Excellent video! I own and love the original KS which I use for controlling my Model D and Blue Marvin analog synths, but seeing this vid I finally understood the possibilities of the Pro version, thanks!!
Best video I've seen on the Keystep thus far....now I understand it all and am very interested.
Madd respect on knowing your gear ✊ seems like kind of a steep workflow at first but probably is super gratifying when eventually you're in the zone and not even thinking about it anymore - def would like to have a better DAWless setup in the future and this may be the way to go 👍
I've been wanting to tap into the modular world but have been hindered by cost, thank you for introducing this controller to me!
Excellent overview. KSP is an outstanding midi controller - simple to use and endlessly versatile. I use two, thus 8 tracks available.
Fun fact but this is the first video (and maybe hardware) that really made sequencing intuitive to me! Thanks muchly for that!
This is a great overview of the KSP. Thank you. One BIG PROBLEM for potential buyers to be aware of is that the keys are terrible when it comes to velocity sensitivity. If you want to use the KSP to play velocity sensitive instruments (for example, a piano over MIDI), it's not going to work well. The black keys, especially, can end up sending out really high velocity values you didn't intend and it's pretty much impossible to get consistent values while playing the keyboard live.
I assume this applies to the original Keystep as well, in which case thank you for the heads up. I'm fortunate enough to have good MIDI keyboards for that purpose, and want to get the Keystep specifically for the CV capability.
I love mine. Got it on release. Cool video!
Really great video. I already own a KSP but don't use it as much any more. This has inspired me to use it more, as it really is a magnificent device, which I really just never put in the effort to get comfortable with. So, thank you!
Btw, around 10:30 something weird happens and the audio cuts out (at least for me). Just FYI!
Brilliant review and info!
Great video David! I love my key step! Hope to get the pro one day
The piece you made is sick as hell
Loved the video, great demo. Thanks and God bless 😊🙏🏼❤️
This was an awesome tutorial!!
Thank you for this video,. Very good explanation of all the functions.
Your knowledge is astonishing
Very useful video that explains a lot, thanks for the nice efforts 👌
Very good tutorial on these control keyboards!
That’s an awesome video. I’m sold!
This is great! I have the non-pro version and never really knew the difference. But I've thought about trying some DAW-less composing in the future and will definitely pick up one of these if I do. Great video!
guitar center had them for ~$200 for a little while, I'm almost expecting sequel.
Thats a great overview of the Keystep Pro. I just own the original Keystep and now thinking about buying a pro. What a great seqencing tool.
Thanks. I have been debating getting the Keystep Pro for my master controller (eurorack + a bunch of hardware synths...very polyglot + polyphonic). This has pretty much confirmed that this is probably the master sequencer I need
Great demo 🔥🔥🔥🤘
Thank you for this easy to understand review. 👍
All this time I was copying a pattern by copying each note separately when I could have just hit copy pattern button! Thank you for this knowledge! Thought they were crazy for not having this feature but it was there all along!
great tutorial well done!!
I've barely got started with my KSP as I've been busy setting up my gear after moving house. I now have it on my "desktop synths" table so that I can wire it up to CV inputs, but also I use MOTU MIDI Express XT to route MIDI, so if I need to access my full-size synths on my keyboard stand I can set up a routing that way. I'm looking forward to seeing how much time I spend with this device, vs how much time I'm going to spend with my DAW. Should be interesting! I'm used to DAW because I've been working with orchestral music for years, but my roots are really in my 1970s Gary Numan fandom, and if I'm honest, I love the knobs and flashing lights :D
I have been using a Roland Groovebox, Jupiter X and EP133 for attempting to sequence my stuff, this looks like the answer to all my problems!
Well apart from the DAFM needing 6 midi channels . . . 😭
Thanks for the great review!
Very interesting. For hardware synth fans it's great for sure. I am tempted to buy the Microfreak since a while too...
But I have to say it is way more complex and costly than just using say, a soft Synth like U-He Hive2's recordable sequencer. It has similar functions in this regards as to record the notes, one by one to create the sequence and then adding the slide, octaves or notes change afterward.
For an even more detailed sequencer and with more steps (32 if I recall correctly), there is U-He Repro-1 that does a very very good job too. Impressive soft synth!
But you give us a nice idea of how it's done the hard (ware) way. 🙂
Great video David.
Great tutorial! Thank you.
I like the built-in metronome, it's a life saver when starting a live recording.
This thing seems pretty sweet, want one more and more
Nice, may be a good upgrade to my xkey which I use when iPad creating. Great video
A very concise and clearly explained video on the KS Pro, nee subscriber here, cheers!
👌🏼😎
I made the error of selling mine a few years ago since then I’ve struggled with DAWS and then a Novation circuit (great but so obtuse) - tonight I’m
buying another Keystep Pro!!
😄👍🏼👍🏼
I'm ole school when it comes to making music. Hardware, hardware, hardware is where it is. And i pretty much stayed away from controllers for the reason that you had to have a DAW to use them (in most cases). Change is good, and change can bring your music production to new heights. I accept this change by purchasing the Artuia Keystep Pro, the hybrid between Hardware use and software. And I'm glad i did. Thanks for the video.
Brilliant video👍
Thank you for a very simple and informative video. I’ve nearly pulled the trigger in the KS pro so many times and this may actually push me over the edge, however I still wonder if, due to its success, there’s a KS pro II on the horizon, perhaps with a bigger screen and even more functionality.
I found a good deal on the KSP and am very excited to have my hands on it. Going to be using all Software sounds, so not Daw-less, YET!!, looking at you Behringer Pro800, anyways, thanks for this video, lots of great info and tips and tricks
great review made me realize i eeed it asap
I have a BSP, and have been saving for a KSP to go with it since. I find the way they work perfect for live performance. I dont use them much for recording, or driving software alone, but for driving some of my hardware and a couple of soft synths together, its just fun and simple to learn.
If youre looking dor delicate midi capture of performances, this isn't the thing you want, probably. Get a nice big weighted piano controller for that.
Also, the free basic arturia software is everything you'd pay $800, minus the animated gui for old synths and less factory presets. Basically all the controls are there, just in a generic interface.
Very clear tutorial and the music sounds great - thank you 👍
Great review, thank you! I watched a couple of reviews when this came out, but you managed to demonstrate some features and how it actually feels like to work with better than any of them. I think I have to get me one now :-)
PS: Do you really have to change the step note from the encoder? Can’t you just hold down the step button and press a key?
they need to make a full size keys version of this ... like stat.
I bought the Keystep 37 recently and then the Beatstep pro a few weeks later. The combo is probably more versatile than the Keystep pro but like how compact it is.
Hi, I am looking at this setup to use with a few synths, Can you explain the "more versatile" than the keystep pro itself? what features are better? I imagine you use the keystep 37 only as a keyboard and then the beatstep pro as the sequencer?
@@SusumoKakinotane Think it's more versatile because you've got more midi channels to play with (I think), and between them, they've got more pads and knobs, for more control.
Sounds awesome, specially the kick (everything really but I got enamored of the kick X) )
After all these years I might finally pull the trigger on a Keystep Pro. I have a 0-Coast that would pair perfectly with it.
It makes me want to press buttons. Good job.
Amazing video thanks
@7:00 "there is a bad note right here. Lets edit that out" and its literally the only good part about that loop lol
Ha, I thought the same. The note is slightly off, with a little tweaking it could have become the signature note :) Each their own, though.
That was a great piece of music that you made there. Do you think about uploading the track separately?
I was so excited when they announced it back in the day but I fell for the SL mk3 in the end because I needed a master keyboard controller with all the hands-on controls for Ableton Live. Since then I have been still longing for this for my live jams :/ I could swap the SL for this but then I'd miss all the knobs and faders.
Nice review - thanks! I have an original Keystep - it's such a versatile and awesome thing - the fact that you can stuff it in a bag and it runs offf just USB power is great - just need a macbook and a set of phones! I also use it in my hardware rig as it's so simple to use. I had a BSP for a while, but anyone looking for a very capable sequencer for hardware that does MIDI and CV (and a whole lot more) check out the Squarp Pyramid. I have a very old demo of one on my channel if you are interested.
My Keystep Pro was gathering dust....... after watching this vid...I gonna drag it out and make more use of it! .... Thanks David...
Same here! I love it but for some reason I rarely use it. This is making me really want to again. GAS for gear you already own is a really great feeling!
Excellent tutorial, David. I’m wondering if there’s a way to delete an entire sequence at once?
You should definitely get an affiliate link on this because if I end up buying this thing, it's 100% because of this video. I've watched a dozen other demos of this and never found it necessary until now.
I bought the Chase Bliss Habit after watching this channel.
Thank you for the great tutorial. Could you do one on chaining parts to make songs?
It's a great sequencer indeed, but I also have the Elektron Digitakt, which has no keybed but does have its own 64-step sequencer of up to eight MIDI devices. I still haven't figured out the best way to use them together. Any ideas or tips?
I am kind of a noob when it comes to hardware synth set ups but am finally taking the dive and have a Korg Wavestate, and am planning on grabbing another synth and maybe drum machine soon, as well as using my soft synths still.. Wonder if this would integrate well into that setup as i am need of a new midi controller. With it having just one midi in and out, how would I go about connecting more than one synth through it? I assume it doesn't have after touch as well? Awesome video thanks!
Are you sure this isn't sponsored, cuz you really nailed the review !👏
Thanks! My approach to doing videos like this is to only talk about devices I already really like :)
Great video, as always David! I have question -- when you moved up to the Keystep Pro, did you look at any other hardware sequencers, specifically the Korg SQ-64? I'm curious as to how you'd compare the two. Obviously, the Korg doesn't have a keyboard, but the sequencer is what I"m more interested in.
I didn’t, but I’ve heard really great things about the SQ-64.
Great video. Just curious if I can play an external full size keyboard and output that midi to this and record it?
Great great video snd thank you.
Say you have a collection of patterns.
Can you do a live performance by hitting a button and varying the sequences as you perform?
Amazing thank you
Thank you! I had my ksp for a while & still love it. My only 2 problems are that it doesn't hold enough projects and i dont like the software for backing up. I even doubled my projects by using half the patterns for one and the other half for other projects. I was hoping the Korg SQ-64 would be the answer and while its very good there are quarks including that their software doesnt work on my M2 Macbook Pro.
Aww, they colour-matched the tempo lights to the panel fascia! How cute. And definitely marginally added to the cost, so good for them.
Very cool keyboard. Makes me wish I had a musical sense of some sort.
Dangit David, now I need to buy a keystep pro!
I'm sold. Just a little worried there will be a new version with strum mode and a bunch of other stuff right after I buy it since it's about 4 years old already.
The keystep 37 is the next bigger sibling
I have a Keystep 37, and I'm trying to decide if it is worth having the Pro and 37. There are features on the 37 that are more accessible than on the Pro, and other features that simply aren't present on the Pro.
Been wanting one of these for a long time... I think you have convinced me to get it! Do you know if this will work with a Juno 106?
@ghost mall yeah I had a feeling. Fred Everything said it wouldn't.. but maybe he misunderstood me. Thanks for the reply, buying one today.
I love my Keystep Pro. The only MAJOR downside is that it cannot send midi program changes. For each project I've created I need to load my patches on my connected hardware synth first :(
Also, not being able to record pitch bend, mod-wheel, and aftertouch.
PART of the fault for not being able to send program change is that it's not a MIDI CC value. Bank change is tho, which seems odd to me.
thanks
Looks great, but tell me can I create tunes solely with this without external machines and the main thing is once recorded send to Dropbox etc
My trouble with using the Arturias in this way is just that on things like the Volcas, there are all these nice motion sequencing effects that you lose if you use an external sequencer.
Can we not just run the motion sequence? without notes being played by the volcas?
NGL Keystep is also have the best feel keyboard I've ever tried. Though I didn't tried that much of a keyboards, but I tried Roland D-50, Waldorf Blofeld and some synth action keyboards here and there, and Keystep is basically the best. Even better than Blofeld's Fatar one.
And it's also super compact.
Dont forget the keytstep 37 :D
Great and inspiring video!
But I wonder, have you not have any problems with your KSP?
I’m now on my third KSP and I want to love it, but problems keep coming up such as stuck Midi notes. And I keep hearing from other users with comparable complaints. It would apper that the KSP is notoriously famous for its unreliability. The weirdest thing is that it seems to work fine for some and not so much for others.
I wonder sometimes if reviewers just shut up about bugs because you know, youtube
I have never had such problems. I've had mine since it was first available.
@@artao5 Glad to hear!
Interesting!