If you are watching this video because you have GAS and are thinking of buying one, and you NEED a sequencer, buy one. I got mine for a couple hundred off at guitar center. Then…. Fiddle with it. Press the buttons. Screw it up and erase, reset, over and over. Afterwards, come back and watch this video again. Trust me, when you come back later with some hands on experience (like I am now!) this video will blow your mind. Fantastic tutorial and overview. Top down view and small zoom in windows, actually explaining versus showing you know how to play…. EXCELLENT video and I’ll definitely recommend to others.
Just because a lot of people are complaining about the keyboard online i wanted them to know that if you have an Midi-Patchbay and send multiple Synthkeyboards also back in the Arturia Midi IN you can simuntanesly record multiple tracks without even select the tracks on the arturia you want record. So what this means is u can actually without selecting one of the 4 tracks record polyhony notes played directly on multiple synths as long as u have your Midi channels selected correctly. I have done this it works and is really great.
@@gerap31337 hey, did you got any answers? I did some search and looks like you need external midi-through box which can be programmed to map different channels for each connected device.
This convinced me to buy this. Waited months, got it last week. Oh. My. God. So happy. I send it to 4 synths and it sends clock to my drum machine. I cannot believe how inspiring it has been. I'm able to make such explosive transitions to choruses or bridges. Also, one thing I absolutely love is writing a rhythmic bass sequence on my MS-101 and using the keysteps sequencer to transpose the ms-101 sequence. Money VERY well spent.
Im trying to figure out how to chain 4 of my vintage synths to work with my keystep. Do I just go from the midi out to the first synth then send the out from the first synth to the next and so on and will it just automatically recognize which is 1st, 2nd and third? Sorry to ask just confused on how to get them to each channel
I also like the design. It's clean, it's easy to understand, and looks alright. But then again, I also like the Behringer Neutron, so my standards may be off.
@@designator7402 I'm right there with ya. I think the Neutron is a very psychedelic-looking synth and I find it rather inspiring to look at when it's in front of me. The Keystep Pro looks gorgeous and I would love to eventually get one.
I completely agree. I just had to ditch my NI S49 Mk I due to it not being supported by the Komplete Kontrol anymore. I went through three other bad keyboards before I got to the S49, and now it is obosolete... I do have the Keystep Pro too, though, and it really shines!
Got my dark limited edition Keystep Pro today. Arturia threw in Ableton Lite and 14 braided patchcables with no extra cost. Cables are black of course. Thanks again Mr Loopoperator for making my decisions easier. Over and out!
That chaining patterns section sold me, you can EASILY make whole songs with chord progressions and changes without a computer or fancy keyboard playing. WOW This is a game changer.
An excellent review! There's a nifty trick when using the metronome: for a quick edit of the metronome time-division hold Tap Tempo and press one of the time-division settings above the keyboard. While the button is held, LEDs above the keys will show the current time division. Another great feature is step skip: you can hold a step and press the 16, 32, 48, 64 buttons to select whether or not a step will play. By default, all four 16, 32, 48, 64 (aka page-) buttons are lit. Suppose you have created a sequence with 3 copies of the first 16 steps, so all 64 steps have content. If you do not want the 5th step to play in the 32 page and in the 64 page, HOLD the step and press 32 and 64. My personal favourite: have three arpeggiators in hold playing simultaneously and transpose them individually, each arpeggio running in a different scale and in a different time-division.
I've spent the last two years wondering what would come out the other end if you threw a Beatstep Pro and a Keystep into the teleporter from The Fly...but this is an even more fantastic beast than I was expecting. The Brundlefly of controllers.
@@brentgreeff1115 the KeyStep has a different approach to step recording where you can append notes on-the-fly to an existing sequence, extending it as it loops. The BeatStep has the Pads + 16 Knobs. I think the KeyStep Pro supersedes on some common features but each of the 3 has some interesting specifics which may attract different ways of use. Some will end up having all 3 exactly because of those slightly different approaches.
Thanks for this overview. The keystep pro has so many features it's almost overwhelming but the way you broke things down it made it easy to understand.
Great video as usual. I don't _think_ you mentioned (and I didn't see another comment about) the function that allows a pattern to play some of its steps on only some of its repeats. For example, let's say you have a kick drum playing a 4 on the floor plus a final half beat ("four-and…"). You can hold the step you want to only play on certain play-throughs and switch it on and off with the pattern extend keys (16/32/48/64) for that play through. So you can get the kick to only do the extra half beat hit every 4th time. It's a lot more convenient than copying using Extend, because then if you want to make a change across the whole 64 steps you have to do it on each 16 separately. Of course, for this example it's trivial, but if it was a slightly complicated keyboard figure that you want to repeat but resolve differently at the end of each four bars, it's super handy (plus you can see the whole pattern at once.)
Thanks! You're right, I didn't mention it - for some reason I couldn't get it to work on my firmware (or maybe it's user error...) so I skipped it (ironically, it's called skip step)
Been watching vids for awhile and just have to personally thank you. You are an absolute gift to the world of electronic musicians. In a world of confusing gear and difficult financial decisions you explain everything so well that people can understand the gear and get what they need to create the music they dream of making. You are personally responsible for improving the quality of music and joy of musicians knowing how to properly use their gear to its potential. Thank you very much, wishing you inner peace and outer prosperity, and infinite wisdom :)
I don't mind the keys on the original KeyStep, but the aftertouch is a little flaky on some of them. I recently returned one that had weak aftertouch on two of the keys, and the replacement I got had a similar (though not as bad) issue on a couple other keys instead. I was able to "fix" the ones with less reliable aftertouch response by wedging a thin piece of cardboard into the gap between the top of the key and the outer case. Basically some of them don't apply enough pressure to the aftertouch strip. For anyone else who has this issue, try holding down one of the problem keys, then use another finger to gently press down the top/rear part of the key, where it meets the case. If that makes the aftertouch respond properly, try my lazy cardboard hack and see if it helps. There's probably a better way to fix this properly, but I didn't want to open mine up and mess around inside. Other than that, the original is a great little keyboard. The aftertouch (when it works) is pretty decent. Pro version looks cool.
From all the videos I've watched in this channel this is the one in which you make the best music in my opinion. This set up really favors you. Great content, keep it up!
Jumped straight in and used mine with a big modular setup and some midi stuff and it works perfectly. Think the 4CV polyphony is my favourite thing about it, but it's incredibly nifty as an interface / hub for a whole pile of gear. They've fixed a couple of short comings of the BeatStep Pro which I've been using for two years, so I'm pretty pleased about that too! You're a massive hero for stepping through the whole thing in absolute exquisite detail. You're a huge asset to the entire community Ziv - hats off.
I’ve had my Keystep Pro for a year but just watched this video. I learned a few things I didn’t know. As always Loopop has created an excellent review video.
One of my fantasies in life is running into you at some event somewhere and just sitting down and picking your amazing brain! Thank you once again for an incredible review!
This is a great device !! I hope Arturia will make Control Mode available for each of the four tracks, so that every track has it's own independent CCs automation . That would be super !!!
Years later and we still need this! I would even settle for having the global knob defaults but allowing a knob to be programmed to override that default on a per-project basis!
Loopop, you do a FANTASTIC job explaining these electronic devices! No one does a better job than you. Thank you for your services! You have taught me how to half my gear. And I have a lot of gear. The manufacturers should hire you to make video manuals. You should have WAY MORE subscribers in my opinion. It amazes me that companies spend millions of dollars developing these things but little on training/tutorials. I just spent $4,000 on a Roland Fantom 8 and am struggling to find good in depth tutorials. I check up on your channel on a regular basis hoping to see a tutorial on the Fantom. Please please please!!!!! Thank you for all that you do!
Ive watched this, and many of you other videos in a bid to gain knowledge of the equipment that I can't even begin to understand and I've just realised that I haven't yet commented on one of your vid's yet. I am compelled to say that if ever there was a top standard of video, then yours would be it. So concise and relaxing, thank you for doing what you do.
Most of the presentations seen here are a mix of possibilities but all a bit vague. I was therefore unsure whether I would buy it or not. But this presentation has given me a clear picture of the possibilities and the power of the Keystep Pro. Great job.
I love these videos, the chances of getting any of the things reviewed in the video are slim to none, but damn I like watching people create nice sound in the reviews.
this is so a real complete review. Thanks for all your videos. You're are so neutral, professional with so much real details in your reviews. You're the best out there.
I'm always hooked on to ur narration..... just so much that you have taught me already....I am a novice with MIDI controls and DAW... trying to learn constantly....whenever I have time... a heartfelt thanks !!!
@@d_cl Not within the settings specifically (probably because there's a Western keyboard attached to it), but you could maybe try dividing the pitch CV out?
I come back to this video so often while exploring my new Keystep Pro at the moment. Thanks so much for this. This is without the best step-by-step tutorial out there. Watch this video, have the manual at hand for some more deep-diving and nothing can go wrong.
Oh my, this is inspiring on every level. Makes me want to know my gear at this depth while designing sound this pleasing. It’s the journey not the destination.
Thanks! - Awesome walk-thru! Ever since I've had my Beat Step, I dreamed Arturia could add features that this Pro now provides (and there's a lot more added than I ever imagined). I have been struggling w/ keeping mult sequencers tied together (a global reset doesn't cut it) and I have other mult-voice sequencers, but the Pro is so accessible and logical it justified the expense. I swore I'd stop buying mo gear but I think this is the best purchase I've made in a decade.
Thanks for a very thorough, detailed review. And thanks also for answering my question about real time recording. A job well done! I love my Beatstep Pro - even though it has taken me quite a while to get used to, and I certainly see the Keystep Pro as an ideal partner/upgrade. I see no reason why i couldn't use them both together! Oh dear - yet another thing to add to the shopping list!
#Loopop Another brilliant review! Thanks for the in-depth, insightful, and engaging videos. Your channel has some of the best tutorials in the industry. Keep up the great work. We're depending on you. A drink to world peace!
after watching countless of hours on modular synthesis over the past days, the truest comment I've heard in any of these videos, comes from this one: "this can either sound good or bad, depending on your taste" ;)
Having given up waiting for this and getting the Novation SL MKiii, and already having two Keysteps and a BSP, this will be very hard to justify. But if they make a black version...
I like it a lot, but probably can't really say that I love it. If the sliders were the same quality as those on a Launch Control XL, and if you could use the Arp on multiple tracks at the same time, it would certainly move into the love category. But I do like it. Having 8 tracks is awesome, and it works great as my main controller. I don't use Ableton, so I can't take advantage of that tight integration, but it works fine with Bitwig and Mixcraft. It's pretty easy to use after a slight learning curve, and there's still plenty under the hood to exploit if I want to take it further. I wouldn't trade it for even two Keystep Pros, because I prefer full size keys. Still, might get a KSP some day too.
@@brianbrill You forgot to say a few things more: - The Scales option (Is fantastic) - The CC messages (In the MKiii is almost perfect) is one of the important things when you controlling hardware today without DAW - The Component software is a powerful tool when you learn how to use - Is in Black Lol At this time is a way solid option for a bit more.
@@macronencer Fair play! I wish they'd update the other colours too, as they do not sit happily together. That said. a great machine...colour aesthetic aside :)
I usually don't nitpick designdesisions much but i really really don't want a white controller. I'll have to wait for the black one. Looking good featurewise. Thanks for review and video.
My next main midi controller. That’s all I need, and it’s gonna free up so much desk space. This thing is glorious. Thanks for the deep dive loopop. Perfect review as always.
Great tutorial Loopop. Just got mine and it’s good...but it’s driving me crazy that you can’t record the arpeggiator. Is it just me or is it absolutely ridiculous that Arturia did not include such a simple function? Yes, you can use hold but that’s just 1 chord, meaning you can only have 1 chord running for the length of a pattern with the arpeggiator. So for anyone like me who likes to use such a simple thing known as a chord progression in their music, the arpeggiator is practically useless besides for playing live, but then my hands are tied and I can’t do any sequencing. So I’ve already pretty much given up using the arpeggiator. Really hope Arturia will fix this in the future.
@@nickademuss42 Thanks man, I've since figured this out. Only thing is it only works reliably with synths that have beat sync, so it works fine with my Subsequent 37 but is unreliable with my Prophet 12, which has clock sync but not beat sync.
What an amazing review/tutorial. I have been watching/studying for days while I am getting up to speed with the KS. And beautiful track btw! Thanks loopop.
Ok this thing is cool af. I'm jealous you got your talented sausage fingers on it first. EDIT: Also, MK3 doesn't allow free unquantized recording. That is a HUGE functional difference. Not just size and cost, this is a massive feature. Which could POSSIBLY be implemented in future firmware releases of Novation.
Me when seeing other reviews: "So it's like a beatstep and three keysteps. That's cool, I guess, but meh." Me when seeing loopops review: "Holy moly, this thing has SO MUCH FEATURES!" If I actually did live stuff I'd buy one. Or four. One question though, does this sequenced work like the KeyStep, ie, that you can append and remove the last step, or change a note at a time? That's why I got the KeyStep, so I can slowly evolve sequences.
Your reviews are amazing! Thanks for making them both so thorough and entertaining and at such high quality! You are the man! This convinced me to order the Arturia Keystep Pro.
I have the SL MKIII and is a great MIDI keyboard overall, but I've been having a mechanical issue with the keybed and wrote Novation about it, if they don't fix it I will be considering the Keystep Pro as an option. As always, great review and thank you. PD: Arturia... like loopop said at the end, a black edition is needed.
so... the price of this is comparable--maybe just a wee bit more expensive--to something like the polyend poly 2. (I really love polyend. so no slight to them whatsoever, but...) why would anyone buy the poly 2 over this? I know they each do a number of different things, but... I mean this thing... wow!!
your avg view time must be 1000% higher than other tubers... I just watched this in 1.25x time and replayed so many sections, my view time was still like 2x the video length... So helpful!!
When you set a scale for a pattern or held chord/arp and then use transpose, does it stay in key? Most sequencers just transpose chromatically, which gives less freedom with choosing chords. Thanks for the awesome review! I also noticed you changed your voice mastering a little and I think you nailed it this time; Very clear without sounding too compressed, always louder than the music, great job all around!
Thanks! Yes, it stays in scale (doesn't just transpose chromatically). Regarding my voice - first, kudos you're very observant. By mistake I forgot to activate the compressor in this video and only left a hard limiter on. So, perhaps compression isn't necessary at all (I always balance the synth audio manually for every shot though...)
@@loopop That's great so you're free to experiment with chords in the sequencer always knowing the chords will be in key? When you're editing steps for chords do the lights show you keys you pressed or the keys you should have pressed to remain in the chosen scale? I also assume random things still conform to scale do they?
Very good I recommend 😉👌 Thank you for all support and attention to give to all of us a lesson how to use keystep pro! Go on with more tutorials like this one 🙏😉👌
I have the SL MKIII and feature for feature the Keystep Pro craps all over it imo. Arturia thought of everything in-terms of live performance and it shows. I like the SL MKIII I really do but it's missing so many things that the Keystep Pro does. On the plus side you can pair a SL MKIII withe BSP and get pretty close.
Coming up on a month since the original release date and 2 since I pre-ordered haha. I can't wait to get my hands on this beauty! Great breakdown of the features/review loopop, I appreciate your videos and what you put into them. Shout out to all the people still working the factories shipping these out, respect, excited to hopefully get mine soon!
Loopop, You are a god! I just bought a keystep today to use with my volca fm and sample (plan to make sega genesis inspired music) and I swear, if you didn't make this video I would've been so lost! Thanks so much!
Thanks for another generously informative video. I almost "upgraded" to the Pro from the Keystep 37 until watching this and realizing that the Pro is not really an upgrade in the areas that matter to me most about the KS37. I was hoping to use the multi-track features of the Pro in conjunction with the "generative" abilites of the KS37. Those generative abilities are absent on the Pro! I bought a Keystep 37 after watching your review of it and it's been great. The the generative abilities of the KS37' that you outlined in your video are, along with the NDLR (which I purchased after watching your video ruclips.net/video/fhKxsjaTJz4/видео.html and Oscillator Sink's video ruclips.net/video/9j290YI_7YU/видео.html), allowing me to explore rabbit holes that have been much less productive in the past. I don't look forward to designing an ergonomic solution to the space that three KS37's will occupy in a live rig but it's looking like that's the solution I'll need to consider.
Its been driving me crazy for the last year that the keystep(s) has all this control, but no drum pads, the electribes and beatsteps have alot of control, but no keybeds, and the launchkey has both, but no sequencer(s). Evertthing else lacks standard midi out. Each 1 is soooo close to surpassing great and becoming amazing portable all in one rig controllers. anyway I Am glad we so have another great midi/cv option.
the biggest question is still unanswered; why does arturia insist on making music gear that looks like hospital equipment. i cant stand their white clinical looking controllers. great gear, shitty aesthetic. i have the black bsp and keystep and i do not want this unappealing color next to them and my other gear
Great presentation as ever, from you. Just got a notice tonight from the music shop, that mine will be delivered at the end of the week :) After seeing your review, I was right to place my order early.
Have to say, I'd be way more interested, if it would have 49 full size keys, or well, even the amount it has now, but definitely in full size with a price tag this high. Now I think this kinda falls in the middle: it's not compact enough to be really that portable, but it isn't big enough to be a proper master keyboard. I hope they'll release some full size model later. THAT I would most likely buy.
FastRCToys that’s true, but with all the sequencing looping and arpeggio functions the keystep pro was designed to do, it’s not only perfect for integration into the studio, but a live set as well. Just wait until Jordan Rudess gets his hands on one, and I’m sure your opinion will soon change.
Absolutely brilliant video which contains more information than the manual seems to. You've given me a very useful point of reference for things I've got to practise using. Thanks. 10 out of 10.
Double checked the Arturia Keystep Pro Forums and like most new gear there are some suprising "early adopter" features that currently are not available in the current firmware shipping with the unit. For example; unlike other Keystep models there is no easy Midi Channel Select function for the tracks using the keys on the keybed. Also seems there isn't currently any support for Program Changes within a Scene or even within a sequence (no MSB/LSB Bank Select or Midi CC) . Check out the Arturia Community Forums to discover what new KSPro owners are hoping for in future releases. Hopefully there will be alot more capabilities coming soon.
With the new firmware update 1.3.1 the world has finally changed for me. They fixed the bug when starting the DAW, there was no transport start sync to my devices over MIDI out. Now I am happy again. Before I was freaking out and didn't understand the world. .-)
If loopop doesn't review it,
I don't know how to use it.
good one!!
agreed
Only buy something he has reviewed. Delayed gear acquisition syndrome......
This should be his slogan 🤣
He's my favorite "manual" when the actual manual isn't any good.
If you are watching this video because you have GAS and are thinking of buying one, and you NEED a sequencer, buy one. I got mine for a couple hundred off at guitar center.
Then…. Fiddle with it. Press the buttons. Screw it up and erase, reset, over and over. Afterwards, come back and watch this video again.
Trust me, when you come back later with some hands on experience (like I am now!) this video will blow your mind.
Fantastic tutorial and overview. Top down view and small zoom in windows, actually explaining versus showing you know how to play…. EXCELLENT video and I’ll definitely recommend to others.
Just because a lot of people are complaining about the keyboard online i wanted them to know that if you have an Midi-Patchbay and send multiple Synthkeyboards also back in the Arturia Midi IN you can simuntanesly record multiple tracks without even select the tracks on the arturia you want record. So what this means is u can actually without selecting one of the 4 tracks record polyhony notes played directly on multiple synths as long as u have your Midi channels selected correctly. I have done this it works and is really great.
can you please explain how you're doing this? are you able to assign seprate sequences to different channels/ports?
@@gerap31337 hey, did you got any answers? I did some search and looks like you need external midi-through box which can be programmed to map different channels for each connected device.
This convinced me to buy this. Waited months, got it last week. Oh. My. God. So happy. I send it to 4 synths and it sends clock to my drum machine. I cannot believe how inspiring it has been. I'm able to make such explosive transitions to choruses or bridges. Also, one thing I absolutely love is writing a rhythmic bass sequence on my MS-101 and using the keysteps sequencer to transpose the ms-101 sequence. Money VERY well spent.
do you use the ms101as just a sound module, sequenced by keystep, or do you use the keystep to trigger the ms101 sequencer?
@@xisotopex I was wondering about that
Awesomeness
@@garyhendrie4001 it is mini keys. but its a great keybed. i was apprehensiv at first, but this thing won me over.
Im trying to figure out how to chain 4 of my vintage synths to work with my keystep. Do I just go from the midi out to the first synth then send the out from the first synth to the next and so on and will it just automatically recognize which is 1st, 2nd and third? Sorry to ask just confused on how to get them to each channel
This wasn't only a review, but a living manual as well. You are beyond legend, thank you very much! I will get this when I can afford it.
Probably the only one here who actually likes the design, hehe. But thanks for listening and so diligently answering our user questions!
I also like the design. It's clean, it's easy to understand, and looks alright.
But then again, I also like the Behringer Neutron, so my standards may be off.
@@designator7402 I'm right there with ya. I think the Neutron is a very psychedelic-looking synth and I find it rather inspiring to look at when it's in front of me. The Keystep Pro looks gorgeous and I would love to eventually get one.
I like it too! I think it looks kinda futuristic
It's good to see companies making new equipment that doesn't depend only on software.
very wise words.
Working with, but not relying on, Software is definitely a good route
I completely agree. I just had to ditch my NI S49 Mk I due to it not being supported by the Komplete Kontrol anymore. I went through three other bad keyboards before I got to the S49, and now it is obosolete... I do have the Keystep Pro too, though, and it really shines!
Got my dark limited edition Keystep Pro today.
Arturia threw in Ableton Lite and 14 braided patchcables with no extra cost. Cables are black of course.
Thanks again Mr Loopoperator for making my decisions easier.
Over and out!
ah sweet finally a black one!
Wow, I never thought I’d be impressed by a midi keyboard. I NEED one!
That chaining patterns section sold me, you can EASILY make whole songs with chord progressions and changes without a computer or fancy keyboard playing. WOW This is a game changer.
An excellent review! There's a nifty trick when using the metronome: for a quick edit of the metronome time-division hold Tap Tempo and press one of the time-division
settings above the keyboard. While the button is held, LEDs above the keys will show the current time division. Another great feature is step skip: you can hold a step and press the 16, 32, 48, 64 buttons to select whether or not a step will play.
By default, all four 16, 32, 48, 64 (aka page-) buttons are lit. Suppose you have created a sequence with 3 copies of the first 16 steps, so all 64 steps have content. If you do not want the 5th step to play in the 32 page and in the 64 page, HOLD the step and press 32 and 64.
My personal favourite: have three arpeggiators in hold playing simultaneously and transpose them individually, each arpeggio running in a different scale and in a different time-division.
next to the Keystep Pro being a super intuitive machine I love your way of condensing the manual down to a few minutes. superb. thanks!!
I've spent the last two years wondering what would come out the other end if you threw a Beatstep Pro and a Keystep into the teleporter from The Fly...but this is an even more fantastic beast than I was expecting. The Brundlefly of controllers.
but do the other two offer anything unique or is this just a superset.
@@brentgreeff1115 the KeyStep has a different approach to step recording where you can append notes on-the-fly to an existing sequence, extending it as it loops. The BeatStep has the Pads + 16 Knobs. I think the KeyStep Pro supersedes on some common features but each of the 3 has some interesting specifics which may attract different ways of use. Some will end up having all 3 exactly because of those slightly different approaches.
That would include me.
@@KoshDukai - oh yea I saw the "append notes feature" - I really like that.
@@brentgreeff1115 I sold my keystep and BSP for this. Not disappointed. It does the functionality of both, but better in a lot of ways.
Thanks for this overview. The keystep pro has so many features it's almost overwhelming but the way you broke things down it made it easy to understand.
Man I’ve been waiting for this almost as long as I’ve been waiting for my KS Pro to arrive!
Top notch demonstration, clearly spoken without nonsense verbiage.
Great video as usual.
I don't _think_ you mentioned (and I didn't see another comment about) the function that allows a pattern to play some of its steps on only some of its repeats. For example, let's say you have a kick drum playing a 4 on the floor plus a final half beat ("four-and…"). You can hold the step you want to only play on certain play-throughs and switch it on and off with the pattern extend keys (16/32/48/64) for that play through. So you can get the kick to only do the extra half beat hit every 4th time. It's a lot more convenient than copying using Extend, because then if you want to make a change across the whole 64 steps you have to do it on each 16 separately. Of course, for this example it's trivial, but if it was a slightly complicated keyboard figure that you want to repeat but resolve differently at the end of each four bars, it's super handy (plus you can see the whole pattern at once.)
Thanks! You're right, I didn't mention it - for some reason I couldn't get it to work on my firmware (or maybe it's user error...) so I skipped it (ironically, it's called skip step)
Been watching vids for awhile and just have to personally thank you. You are an absolute gift to the world of electronic musicians. In a world of confusing gear and difficult financial decisions you explain everything so well that people can understand the gear and get what they need to create the music they dream of making. You are personally responsible for improving the quality of music and joy of musicians knowing how to properly use their gear to its potential. Thank you very much, wishing you inner peace and outer prosperity, and infinite wisdom :)
Thanks very much for the kind words and taking the time to write!
I don't mind the keys on the original KeyStep, but the aftertouch is a little flaky on some of them. I recently returned one that had weak aftertouch on two of the keys, and the replacement I got had a similar (though not as bad) issue on a couple other keys instead. I was able to "fix" the ones with less reliable aftertouch response by wedging a thin piece of cardboard into the gap between the top of the key and the outer case. Basically some of them don't apply enough pressure to the aftertouch strip. For anyone else who has this issue, try holding down one of the problem keys, then use another finger to gently press down the top/rear part of the key, where it meets the case. If that makes the aftertouch respond properly, try my lazy cardboard hack and see if it helps. There's probably a better way to fix this properly, but I didn't want to open mine up and mess around inside.
Other than that, the original is a great little keyboard. The aftertouch (when it works) is pretty decent. Pro version looks cool.
From all the videos I've watched in this channel this is the one in which you make the best music in my opinion. This set up really favors you. Great content, keep it up!
Jumped straight in and used mine with a big modular setup and some midi stuff and it works perfectly. Think the 4CV polyphony is my favourite thing about it, but it's incredibly nifty as an interface / hub for a whole pile of gear. They've fixed a couple of short comings of the BeatStep Pro which I've been using for two years, so I'm pretty pleased about that too!
You're a massive hero for stepping through the whole thing in absolute exquisite detail. You're a huge asset to the entire community Ziv - hats off.
Thanks Alex - likewise the world is a better place with what you do!
@@loopop 👊
You two guys Rock in my world of Synths 😀😊👋
I’ve had my Keystep Pro for a year but just watched this video. I learned a few things I didn’t know. As always Loopop has created an excellent review video.
My hero, I was just looking up how to combine the 0coast with the keystep pro.
One of my fantasies in life is running into you at some event somewhere and just sitting down and picking your amazing brain! Thank you once again for an incredible review!
This is a great device !!
I hope Arturia will make Control Mode available for each of the four tracks, so that every track has it's own independent CCs automation .
That would be super !!!
Years later and we still need this! I would even settle for having the global knob defaults but allowing a knob to be programmed to override that default on a per-project basis!
Loopop, you do a FANTASTIC job explaining these electronic devices! No one does a better job than you. Thank you for your services! You have taught me how to half my gear. And I have a lot of gear. The manufacturers should hire you to make video manuals. You should have WAY MORE subscribers in my opinion. It amazes me that companies spend millions of dollars developing these things but little on training/tutorials. I just spent $4,000 on a Roland Fantom 8 and am struggling to find good in depth tutorials. I check up on your channel on a regular basis hoping to see a tutorial on the Fantom. Please please please!!!!! Thank you for all that you do!
Thanks very much for the comment and your support on Patreon :)
You make some beautiful tracks whilst demonstrating gear. I'll have to check your links
Thanks very much - I appreciate the comment and interest!
Ive watched this, and many of you other videos in a bid to gain knowledge of the equipment that I can't even begin to understand and I've just realised that I haven't yet commented on one of your vid's yet.
I am compelled to say that if ever there was a top standard of video, then yours would be it. So concise and relaxing, thank you for doing what you do.
Been waiting for this vid. Hope they don't wait a year for the black one.
White is so pretty :D
FourTet until it becomes yellow
@@FourTetTrack black matches everything I've got.
White looks like hospital equipment
@@dmomcilovic9185 I wsh it were black for sure!
This is the sequencer I've been waiting for! Can't wait to get my hands on one, Great vid as usual mate
Most of the presentations seen here are a mix of possibilities but all a bit vague. I was therefore unsure whether I would buy it or not.
But this presentation has given me a clear picture of the possibilities and the power of the Keystep Pro. Great job.
I love these videos, the chances of getting any of the things reviewed in the video are slim to none, but damn I like watching people create nice sound in the reviews.
this is so a real complete review. Thanks for all your videos. You're are so neutral, professional with so much real details in your reviews. You're the best out there.
I'm always hooked on to ur narration..... just so much that you have taught me already....I am a novice with MIDI controls and DAW... trying to learn constantly....whenever I have time... a heartfelt thanks !!!
11:00 You can record quantized or non quantized, finally
I'm wondering if we can unquantize the pitch to create atonal patterns...
@@d_cl Not within the settings specifically (probably because there's a Western keyboard attached to it), but you could maybe try dividing the pitch CV out?
@@sliceofsparta8985 Yes I thought of it. But it would be cool if the pitch button could be linear for each key.
Thanks for a great tutorial! Got mine a few weeks ago! (Waited for the black one to be avaible!)
23:03 - 24:41 best product demonstration in the least amount of time I have ever seen.
I come back to this video so often while exploring my new Keystep Pro at the moment. Thanks so much for this. This is without the best step-by-step tutorial out there. Watch this video, have the manual at hand for some more deep-diving and nothing can go wrong.
*without doubt
Enjoyed the music as much as learning about all the doo-dats.
Thanks :)
same. did you released it or put it somewhere? :)
loopop 6:28 please give us a full melody 🤗
Oh my, this is inspiring on every level. Makes me want to know my gear at this depth while designing sound this pleasing. It’s the journey not the destination.
Yes! Been waiting for this one!
What an excellent review / tutorial...thank you. I pre-ordered mine yesterday...so excited to get my hands on this great machine!
Thanks! - Awesome walk-thru! Ever since I've had my Beat Step, I dreamed Arturia could add features that this Pro now provides (and there's a lot more added than I ever imagined). I have been struggling w/ keeping mult sequencers tied together (a global reset doesn't cut it) and I have other mult-voice sequencers, but the Pro is so accessible and logical it justified the expense. I swore I'd stop buying mo gear but I think this is the best purchase I've made in a decade.
The unquantized recording totally sold me on this keyboard !!
Thanks for a very thorough, detailed review. And thanks also for answering my question about real time recording. A job well done! I love my Beatstep Pro - even though it has taken me quite a while to get used to, and I certainly see the Keystep Pro as an ideal partner/upgrade. I see no reason why i couldn't use them both together! Oh dear - yet another thing to add to the shopping list!
Glad it was helpful!
These are the most useful reviews/tutorials on youtube I could find so far. Thumbs up!
#Loopop Another brilliant review! Thanks for the in-depth, insightful, and engaging videos. Your channel has some of the best tutorials in the industry. Keep up the great work. We're depending on you. A drink to world peace!
after watching countless of hours on modular synthesis over the past days, the truest comment I've heard in any of these videos, comes from this one: "this can either sound good or bad, depending on your taste" ;)
6:30 Cheeky bit of Nils Frahm
I'm getting mine on Thursday and watching as a refresher :) Thanks Loopop!
Having given up waiting for this and getting the Novation SL MKiii, and already having two Keysteps and a BSP, this will be very hard to justify. But if they make a black version...
I like it a lot, but probably can't really say that I love it. If the sliders were the same quality as those on a Launch Control XL, and if you could use the Arp on multiple tracks at the same time, it would certainly move into the love category. But I do like it. Having 8 tracks is awesome, and it works great as my main controller. I don't use Ableton, so I can't take advantage of that tight integration, but it works fine with Bitwig and Mixcraft. It's pretty easy to use after a slight learning curve, and there's still plenty under the hood to exploit if I want to take it further. I wouldn't trade it for even two Keystep Pros, because I prefer full size keys.
Still, might get a KSP some day too.
Black is the new...
@@brianbrill You forgot to say a few things more:
- The Scales option (Is fantastic)
- The CC messages (In the MKiii is almost perfect) is one of the important things when you controlling hardware today without DAW
- The Component software is a powerful tool when you learn how to use
- Is in Black Lol
At this time is a way solid option for a bit more.
@MrSergit All good points. It's a nice machine.
@@MrSergit well, Keystep Pro also has CC sequencing and the Scales feature, and it is most probably going to be available in black in the future.
Finally got around to getting this after watching this demo on quite a few occasions. Beautifully executed as always sir. Thanks!
Same here! Just ordered mine, and this is the review that swung it for me.
@@macronencer Black ones are out now too!!
@@theboytheycalljonny1 I know! I settled for a white one though as they were significantly cheaper for some weird reason...
@@macronencer Fair play! I wish they'd update the other colours too, as they do not sit happily together. That said. a great machine...colour aesthetic aside :)
I usually don't nitpick designdesisions much but i really really don't want a white controller. I'll have to wait for the black one. Looking good featurewise. Thanks for review and video.
Thank you for another very helpful video. I’m evaluating different controllers and sequencers and this one feels naturally intuitive to me.
turn it to BLACK, NOW!
History says they will! But not for a while.
@@sliceofsparta8985 underrated comment
White is waaaay better!!
@@TheGreatPanicker dangerous statement to make online 😂
@@earlgrey2130 😂😂😂😂😂 unpopular for sure in this day and age
My next main midi controller. That’s all I need, and it’s gonna free up so much desk space. This thing is glorious. Thanks for the deep dive loopop. Perfect review as always.
That's a great point, keyboards usually take a lot of desk space, this one not that much.
Please put this track on Apple Music. Love it :)
great device! great quality and perfect integration possibilities with my modular system and software
Great tutorial Loopop. Just got mine and it’s good...but it’s driving me crazy that you can’t record the arpeggiator. Is it just me or is it absolutely ridiculous that Arturia did not include such a simple function? Yes, you can use hold but that’s just 1 chord, meaning you can only have 1 chord running for the length of a pattern with the arpeggiator. So for anyone like me who likes to use such a simple thing known as a chord progression in their music, the arpeggiator is practically useless besides for playing live, but then my hands are tied and I can’t do any sequencing. So I’ve already pretty much given up using the arpeggiator. Really hope Arturia will fix this in the future.
You can use an instrument with a built in arp, then control it with the keystep, thats what I do. A sequence running an arp is very cool sounding!
@@magnify.the.mirror Yes just latch...don't think so but I haven't tried because I bought this to get away from my daw.
@@nickademuss42 Thanks man, I've since figured this out. Only thing is it only works reliably with synths that have beat sync, so it works fine with my Subsequent 37 but is unreliable with my Prophet 12, which has clock sync but not beat sync.
What an amazing review/tutorial. I have been watching/studying for days while I am getting up to speed with the KS. And beautiful track btw! Thanks loopop.
I just bought my beatstep pro! ;_;
Well, pretty much everything I've been looking for in a device for my setup! Love it and super video as always loopop!
Ok this thing is cool af. I'm jealous you got your talented sausage fingers on it first.
EDIT: Also, MK3 doesn't allow free unquantized recording. That is a HUGE functional difference. Not just size and cost, this is a massive feature. Which could POSSIBLY be implemented in future firmware releases of Novation.
I think it just has been in fact!
www.synthtopia.com/content/2020/03/29/novation-sl-mkiii-update-adds-unquantized-recording/
JUST GOT MY TRACKING NUMBER after 2 months. Gonna be watching this once a day til it gets here, and probably for a while after!!!
Me when seeing other reviews: "So it's like a beatstep and three keysteps. That's cool, I guess, but meh."
Me when seeing loopops review: "Holy moly, this thing has SO MUCH FEATURES!"
If I actually did live stuff I'd buy one. Or four.
One question though, does this sequenced work like the KeyStep, ie, that you can append and remove the last step, or change a note at a time? That's why I got the KeyStep, so I can slowly evolve sequences.
Thanks! Not exactly the same but better and more flexible
Your reviews are amazing! Thanks for making them both so thorough and entertaining and at such high quality! You are the man! This convinced me to order the Arturia Keystep Pro.
hmm Philip Glass might want to see about this.
Thanks to your video, I've just pre-ordered one. This is exactly what I've been looking for.
I have the SL MKIII and is a great MIDI keyboard overall, but I've been having a mechanical issue with the keybed and wrote Novation about it, if they don't fix it I will be considering the Keystep Pro as an option. As always, great review and thank you.
PD: Arturia... like loopop said at the end, a black edition is needed.
Tino Fiumara Arturia really has the best mini keys with aftertouch. Also the only ones. And I want mine in beige ;-)
Geez. What DOESN'T this thing do? Amazing. Than you again to the gear professor Loopop. Always appreciate your excellent tutorials!
so... the price of this is comparable--maybe just a wee bit more expensive--to something like the polyend poly 2. (I really love polyend. so no slight to them whatsoever, but...) why would anyone buy the poly 2 over this? I know they each do a number of different things, but... I mean this thing... wow!!
your avg view time must be 1000% higher than other tubers... I just watched this in 1.25x time and replayed so many sections, my view time was still like 2x the video length... So helpful!!
When you set a scale for a pattern or held chord/arp and then use transpose, does it stay in key? Most sequencers just transpose chromatically, which gives less freedom with choosing chords.
Thanks for the awesome review! I also noticed you changed your voice mastering a little and I think you nailed it this time; Very clear without sounding too compressed, always louder than the music, great job all around!
red13emerald I guess it works when you are in the right scale. But I am curious to find out :-)
Thanks! Yes, it stays in scale (doesn't just transpose chromatically). Regarding my voice - first, kudos you're very observant. By mistake I forgot to activate the compressor in this video and only left a hard limiter on. So, perhaps compression isn't necessary at all (I always balance the synth audio manually for every shot though...)
I've heard Sebastian from Arturia mention this. The scaling is done at the end of everything. So it will always be in the correct scale.
@@loopop That's great so you're free to experiment with chords in the sequencer always knowing the chords will be in key? When you're editing steps for chords do the lights show you keys you pressed or the keys you should have pressed to remain in the chosen scale? I also assume random things still conform to scale do they?
No, the lights don’t show you notes in the scale. Scales are applied regardless of the pattern
Very good I recommend 😉👌
Thank you for all support and attention to give to all of us a lesson how to use keystep pro!
Go on with more tutorials like this one 🙏😉👌
Not buying this until they make black.
same here! I really like the Keystep Pro, that's all what I need at the moment to control my synths etc... but I'm not gonna buy a white one...
best vid referring back to this so much when setting up my system. thanks so much!
Thanks arturia i just bought a beatstep pro 🤦♂️
I bought a BSP 3 months ago. Wish I would have waited
It's been announced for quite a while ;-)
A lil beast there... me likey. I really appreciate your thorough, well organized and clear videos!
I have the SL MKIII and feature for feature the Keystep Pro craps all over it imo. Arturia thought of everything in-terms of live performance and it shows. I like the SL MKIII I really do but it's missing so many things that the Keystep Pro does. On the plus side you can pair a SL MKIII withe BSP and get pretty close.
Coming up on a month since the original release date and 2 since I pre-ordered haha. I can't wait to get my hands on this beauty! Great breakdown of the features/review loopop, I appreciate your videos and what you put into them. Shout out to all the people still working the factories shipping these out, respect, excited to hopefully get mine soon!
Ahh damn. I was really keen on this until realising they were mini keys
I hate minikeys, but on the Keystep, its never really bothered me for some reason.....
Loopop, You are a god! I just bought a keystep today to use with my volca fm and sample (plan to make sega genesis inspired music) and I swear, if you didn't make this video I would've been so lost! Thanks so much!
Thanks for another generously informative video.
I almost "upgraded" to the Pro from the Keystep 37 until watching this and realizing that the Pro is not really an upgrade in the areas that matter to me most about the KS37. I was hoping to use the multi-track features of the Pro in conjunction with the "generative" abilites of the KS37. Those generative abilities are absent on the Pro!
I bought a Keystep 37 after watching your review of it and it's been great. The the generative abilities of the KS37' that you outlined in your video are, along with the NDLR (which I purchased after watching your video ruclips.net/video/fhKxsjaTJz4/видео.html and Oscillator Sink's video ruclips.net/video/9j290YI_7YU/видео.html), allowing me to explore rabbit holes that have been much less productive in the past.
I don't look forward to designing an ergonomic solution to the space that three KS37's will occupy in a live rig but it's looking like that's the solution I'll need to consider.
surely the generative aspects of the Keystep 37 could be added to the pro via a firmware update in the future, hopefully
- I have the 37, I'm gonna get the Pro, question - what are the 37s generative features ? Isn't strum the only thing missing from the Pro ?
@@pauldablue ruclips.net/video/I3iaHNIJFsg/видео.html
I love your reviews, always so concise and informative! And....this really seems like a sequencer made for players!
I have mine on preorder with Perfect Circuit! Impatiently waiting for it to arrive!
Its been driving me crazy for the last year that the keystep(s) has all this control, but no drum pads, the electribes and beatsteps have alot of control, but no keybeds, and the launchkey has both, but no sequencer(s). Evertthing else lacks standard midi out. Each 1 is soooo close to surpassing great and becoming amazing portable all in one rig controllers. anyway I Am glad we so have another great midi/cv option.
I think I need this if I’m gonna use my setup in a live performance way. I already can imagine how I’m gonna use it. This is so cool!
the biggest question is still unanswered; why does arturia insist on making music gear that looks like hospital equipment. i cant stand their white clinical looking controllers. great gear, shitty aesthetic. i have the black bsp and keystep and i do not want this unappealing color next to them and my other gear
i like it in white.
Disagree, while I would love black, I like their design. The micr freak is lovely for example.
It's a matter of taste. I like their designs.
@@nightnightyasmin the microfreak is not a midi controller. It's a synth. It's also not white. I'm specifically talking about their midi controllers.
The color scheme In the U.S. confirms to HIPAA compliance :)
Great presentation as ever, from you. Just got a notice tonight from the music shop, that mine will be delivered at the end of the week :) After seeing your review, I was right to place my order early.
The price of this keyboard is too high, almost two time the beatstep
pro. This is just ridiculous for a keyboard with small keys...
Have to say, I'd be way more interested, if it would have 49 full size keys, or well, even the amount it has now, but definitely in full size with a price tag this high. Now I think this kinda falls in the middle: it's not compact enough to be really that portable, but it isn't big enough to be a proper master keyboard. I hope they'll release some full size model later. THAT I would most likely buy.
they are targeting a different demographic, its not for the gigging keyboard player.
This is a great keyboard with great features and well worth the price.
@@kentaccordionist You have a very good full size keyboard for this price...
FastRCToys that’s true, but with all the sequencing looping and arpeggio functions the keystep pro was designed to do, it’s not only perfect for integration into the studio, but a live set as well. Just wait until Jordan Rudess gets his hands on one, and I’m sure your opinion will soon change.
just learned the full instrument with you . thanx a lot. (it is fun and very intuitive to play after a short while. am glad i got it.)
Absolutely brilliant video which contains more information than the manual seems to. You've given me a very useful point of reference for things I've got to practise using. Thanks. 10 out of 10.
what an ace review, you (and benhex & mylar melodies) are killing it every time, high fiiiive.
So much look forward to getting one ourselves! Now enjoying your deep dive, marvelous job and awesomely detailed as always.
The definitive review, worth the wait.
Double checked the Arturia Keystep Pro Forums and like most new gear there are some suprising "early adopter" features that currently are not available in the current firmware shipping with the unit. For example; unlike other Keystep models there is no easy Midi Channel Select function for the tracks using the keys on the keybed. Also seems there isn't currently any support for Program Changes within a Scene or even within a sequence (no MSB/LSB Bank Select or Midi CC) .
Check out the Arturia Community Forums to discover what new KSPro owners are hoping for in future releases. Hopefully there will be alot more capabilities coming soon.
As always, fully comprehensive and quite educational. Thanks Ziv!
My pleasure thanks for the comment :)
Super job, so well-produced, informative, and musical!
Love your vids as always, so full of info and details. Keep up the good work!
loved my beatstep pro. cant wait to get one of these ! thanks for the thorough review !
With the new firmware update 1.3.1 the world has finally changed for me. They fixed the bug when starting the DAW, there was no transport start sync to my devices over MIDI out. Now I am happy again. Before I was freaking out and didn't understand the world. .-)
Thank you for this great and clear overview/tutorial!