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Arturia announces availability of KeyStep

Arturia KeyStep guided tour

Arturia presents KeyStep, Controller and Sequencer

Description
Small enough to fit into everyone’s setup, but powerful enough to revolutionize your workflow, KeyStep is ideal for performance as well as studio experimentation. Connect to practically any hardware or software thanks to its great MIDI, CV/Gate and sync connectivity. KeyStep lets you create polyphonic sequences on a virtual instrument in your DAW, sync with a modular drum machine using its CV connectivity, and play a melody at the same time with through an outboard analog synth.
The time has come for you to take full control of your studio. Whether vintage analog synths or tomorrow’s virtual instruments, KeyStep Black Edition has the power to tame the beast. Packed with features to inspire your creativity, KeyStep lets you create polyphonic, evolving sequences up to 8 notes deep and 64 steps long. Combined with its ability to connect to practically any electronic instrument, you’ll be able to do things you never thought possible. Create thick, lush arpeggios, record a sequence in real-time, rewrite it, edit the swing, gate length and play a melody simultaneously on its high-quality 32-note keyboard.



Features
- Slim-key keybed with velocity and aftertouch
- Sequencer mode: 8 polyphonic step-sequences with Rest, Tie and Legato note entry
- Arpeggiator mode: Up, down, inclusive, exclusive, random, note order and more
- Each sequence can have 64 steps, each step can have up to 8 notes
- Capacitive-touch pitch bend and mod wheels
Specs
- Number of keys: 32
- Action: Synth
- Key size: Slim
- Velocity sensitive: Yes
- Aftertouch: Yes
- MIDI I/O: In/Out
- USB: Yes
- Pedal inputs: Yes
- Gate out: Yes
- iOS compatibility: Yes (camera connection kit required)
- Audio I/O: Not applicable
- Other: Not applicable
- Encoders: 3
- Faders: None
- Drum pads: None
- Pitch bend/Modulation: Both
- DAW transport: Yes
- Number of presets: Not applicable
- Display: No
- Bundled Software: Ableton Live Lite
- Chord play: Yes
- Arpeggiator: Yes
- Step Sequencer: 64 steps
- Width: 19"
- Height: 1.4"
- Depth: 5.7"
- Weight: 3 lb.
Reviews
4.44
16 Reviews
86%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend
Most Liked Positive Review
Love it!
My main keyboard is an Akai mpk261. I was looking for a second (smaller) controller to use for playing live, and just also wanted a smaller controller to carry around with a laptop. I first picked up an Alesis v49 and loved it (great keyboard, good constructions, etc), but had some issues with Ableton Live that I just couldn't get past. So, I did some more looking around and started watching videos of the KeyStep. At first I thought it would be too small and have a "toy" feel. But, like mentioned in a lot of videos, even though the keybed is smaller than usual, it does feel nice and is actually playable (totally love the 7 extra keys!!! Two octaves is just not enough). The KeyStep is built like a tank! Nice weight to it. The arp and seq options are awesome!! You can easily kill many hours just messing around with it. Anyway .. I can definitely recommend this keyboard. The price is great for all the functionality you get. If it only had a few buttons/switches on the device for midi mapping I would probably call it the best compact controller ever!
Most Liked Negative Review
Less than perfect controller keyboard
While certainly portable, and exceedingly light in terms of the weight, I was less than impressed with both its performance and the relatively inferior quality of the build. First, the various knobs, keys, and controller elements look like cheap plastic. While I don't expect unbreakable quality for this type of low price, the unit just felt underwhelming. Second, I had trouble using an external clock source to sync the tempo and arpeggio times. Third, the sequencer and arpeggio seemed a bit wonky when it came to playback it didn't seem to do exactly what I had expected it to do. The keys are playable and are velocity sensitive, which is a nice plus. Overall, however, I cannot give this more than three stars and I would probably not buy it again.
- Practicing2
- Back-Up1
- Portable1
- Producing1
- Midi Controller1
- Not Functional2
- Cheap Looking1
- Difficult To Use1
- Poor Quality1
- Not entirely intuitive1
- Experienced7
- Novice5
- Professional Musician2
- Easy To Use13
- Good Quality13
- Functional11
- Portable1
- Great Value1
Reviewed by 16 customers
I would buy this product again.
Verified Buyer
submitted10 months ago
byDaniel
fromHouston, TX
Submitted as part of a sweepstakes
I bought this MIDI controller to use with software like Reaper and synth hardware. I saw a lot of people using this particular Arturia Keystep to control different synthesizers. So far it has been a great product. No complaints.
Is this the perfect controller? Quite possibly!
submitted2 years ago
byJohn
fromHouston, TX
Can't say enough about the simplicity and elegance of this controller. Great for using with your DAW, and of course, your hardware instruments. Ironically I had sold this controller a few years back, and I am happy to own it again.
Excellent little midi keyboard!
Verified Buyer
submitted3 years ago
byBob
fromHyattsville, MD
Submitted as part of a sweepstakes
I love Arturia and this is a fantastic, easy to use portable midi keyboard. The built-in arpeggiator and sequencer are easy to use dawless, but when you use the midi control center for programming it can get really powerful!
Solid device and portable
Verified Buyer
submitted5 years ago
byTBOJOE
fromAmerican Canyon Ca
The device is a solid build. I will need to bump up to the one with the pads and weighted keys.
Arturia rules
submitted5 years ago
byJay Dee
fromBoston
Perfect midi keyboard and arpeggiator for my small home studio, this thing is pretty killer and really easy to use, for this price I would say its perfect for beginners like me who are just getting into electronic music production. This thing is extremely versatile, integrates well with Reaper, and there are so many ways you can mesh this into a stage set-up.
Great product!
submitted6 years ago
byprotocol_jimmy
fromEvanston, IL
The inclusion of CV/Gate ports are great for controlling Eurorack synthesizers. MIDI I/O is greatly appreciated as well!
Q&A
Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.
submitted3 years ago
asked byMatt
fromIrving, TX
Does this product have a usb out to connect to my laptop? It's difficult to see from pictures. It appears to have a type C output. Is that to connect to the laptop DAW? Thanks! Matthew
Yessubmitted5 years ago
asked byJoe
fromBoulder creek CA
Does this only work with computer? Or can it be powered and played with say a set of speakers? Looking for a controller that also functions as a solo instrument.
This is just a midi controller so you won't be able to play it as a keyboard.









