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Arturia announces availability of KeyStep

Arturia announces availability of KeyStep

Arturia KeyStep guided tour

Arturia KeyStep guided tour

Arturia presents KeyStep, Controller and Sequencer

Arturia presents KeyStep, Controller and Sequencer

Arturia

Description

Small but mighty, the Arturia KeyStep redefines what’s possible with a small-format sequencer. Featuring a 32 slim-key keybed with aftertouch, musicians can use it to create rich, polyphonic step sequences with real-time recording and rewriting. Letting you layer up to eight notes per step, and with sequences up to 64 steps long, the only limit is your imagination. KeyStep packs in many other features usually found in sequencers several times its price, including user memories, an 8-mode arpeggiator, playing a melody over a sequence, a chord mode and comprehensive connectivity including CV gate and MIDI.

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.
Arturia KeyStep Limited Black Edition
Arturia KeyStep Limited Black Edition
Arturia KeyStep Limited Black Edition

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

Keyboard
  • Number of keys: 32
  • Action: Synth
  • Key size: Slim
  • Velocity sensitive: Yes
  • Aftertouch: Yes
Connectivity
  • 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
Controls
  • Encoders: 3
  • Faders: None
  • Drum pads: None
  • Pitch bend/Modulation: Both
  • DAW transport: Yes
Onboard Features
  • Number of presets: Not applicable
  • Display: No
  • Bundled Software: Ableton Live Lite
  • Chord play: Yes
  • Arpeggiator: Yes
  • Step Sequencer: 64 steps
Other
  • 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

5

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!

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

3

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.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Practicing2
  2. Back-Up1
  3. Portable1
  4. Producing1
  5. Midi Controller1
Cons
  1. Not Functional2
  2. Cheap Looking1
  3. Difficult To Use1
  4. Poor Quality1
  5. Not entirely intuitive1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced7
  2. Novice5
  3. Professional Musician2
Pros
  1. Easy To Use13
  2. Good Quality13
  3. Functional11
  4. Portable1
  5. Great Value1
  • I would buy this product again.

    5

    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!

    5

    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!

    5

    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

    5

    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

    5

    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!

    5

    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!

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Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • 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

    Open Reply - Thomas
    Yes
  • 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.

    Open Reply - Ronald
    This is just a midi controller so you won't be able to play it as a keyboard.