Keith McMillen 12 Step Chromatic Keyboard Foot Controller

The Keith McMillen products are different and interesting and add these elements to creativity!

I have only used this sparingly while practicing or writing new songs on my own. After 2 years of barely any use, the G key is acting as if it is constantly being pressed, and other keys are changing slightly in pitch. Before this, a little bit of practice made this 12 step really fun to use and functioned as intended. I recommend not using it on any floor that is carpeted, as this may have caused the structure to bend slightly, possible causing this issue. Hopefully more products like this are created for live use.

Great product - thanks. I wrote the "Glad someone made this review" but forgot that I had a good picture to submit with it. Shows my rig...

I had been looking for this exact product for years before I found it. I loved my first one so much that I now own three. My first unit stopped working - out of warranty - because I used it too much on carpet. Customer service was helpful in this matter - offered to repair it (for a fee) but also sent me instructions on how to replace the broken part myself. And they gave me a significant discount on a new unit. As to function, I have few complaints, almost all praise. Does exactly what I want it to do, which is play backing synth pad chords behind my solo instrument. I run two through Ableton Live and trigger a pad sound. They were plug and play ready in Ableton. The footpads come with some proprietary software for setting up which notes are triggered and how. I found it intuitive. You can also adjust the pressure it takes to cue a note - I have mine set on light pressure and find it takes very little to trigger a note. I have each key set to trigger a root-5-root chord. One pedal holds the tonic chord and one pedal is used to change chords over that. Makes a beautiful thick backing. I get lots of compliments about these things. People find the idea of it and look of it onstage very intriguing and impressive. Thank you, Keith McMillen.

After warranty ran out, one button stopped lighting up, then same button would trigger the select button causing unit to change sounds completely unrelated to what you wanted, or it would freeze the note you were playing until you completely pwred the unit down. Emailed cust serv and was told update firmware would fix, it didnt. Tech said nothing he could do outside of warranty with hardware issue but sell me new one at slight discount. Couldnt really afford this one and I wont chance another one @ a "slight discount". I play bass in a three piece and wanted to add keys to fill out the sound more so Im still learning and this unit is completely useless now. Didnt even make it to the stage.

I tried to use this with two different synthesizers and no matter what I did it kept freezing. I used it with the novation bass station 2 and a korg volca keys. If I tried to switch key settings, it would get stuck on a note and i'd have to unplug and reboot it. The buttons are also incredibly hard to get a feel for. I could not get it the software to work with my computer either. I ended up returning it.