KeyStep 37 Review, tips and generative ideas and video jam download

Hi!

[EDIT: "Making of" notes for the intro jam below....]

I'm assuming you've seen Arturia's KeyStep as a recurring sidekick in my videos: it doesn't take a lot of frame space; it can sequence and arpeggiate hardware gear and is simple and easy to use.

So, you can imagine my interest when Arturia said they're planning a KeyStep 37. I've been missing the five extra keys, that's for sure.... but Arturia have also added four MIDI CC knobs (4 banks each, 16 params total), advanced chord functionality and a few other features.

In this video I cover the KeyStep 37, and as usual, try to make the most of it... exploring how it can be used as a drum sequencer, generative ideas machine and more.

Only a couple of years ago KeyStep was one of a few MIDI controllers with built-in smarts. Since then, Novation has launched a whole line of keyboards with generative and chord features (from the LaunchKey MK3 series to the SL MK3), and Arturia has come out with the KeyStep Pro. 

The SL MK3 and KeyStep Pro are more suitable for larger setups (with 8 and 4 tracks, respectively) and the KeyStep Pro isn't that much bigger than the KeyStep 37, so if the KSP is within your budget it's probably the better option, but if you're tight on space and/or cash and need to control a synth or two, the KeyStep 37 is well worth a look.

Attached to this post is a download of the intro/outro jam for those interested - everything you hear on the piano portion of this jam is based on a two-note pattern that's "generatively enhanced" with different chords, note counts and strum.

That's it for now, plenty of exciting things coming next week and beyond - stay tuned!

All my best,

Ziv (applying generative manipulations on two-note sequences in youtube as "Loopop"...)

P.S. Native Instruments have just announced the Maschine Plus - I don't have a review unit yet but I'm told it's on the way, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll answer when I can!

INTRO/OUTRO JAM  NOTES:

The jam is really quite simple, it's the chord function that's doing the heavy lifting.

The setup: 

1. A simple two step sequence - C and G - that's it. It's being broadcast on MIDI channel 1 and connected to Ableton Live running Arturia's V2 Piano with RAUM reverb from Native Instruments.

2. Once I get the sequence going, KeyStep is in KBD Play mode, broadcasting notes to channel 9 - which is Ableton's Analog synth running into NI's RAUM again.

3. KS37 knobs 1 and 2 are mapped to macros controlling Analog's filter cutoff and resonance.

4. KS37 is in minor scale mode

The performance:

1. I get the sequence going, start playing the bass line with my left hand and fine tune the filter cutoff and resonance.

2. The main generative and performative movement is a counter clock-wise spin of the strum knob, while varying notes and chords. KS37's chord function is taking the alternating C and G notes, turning them into chords, and strumming them.

3. There's a slight refinement of the Note > Velocity parameter to get additional variation.

That's it!