USER’S MANUAL
PROGRAMMING: Sebastien Colin Olivier Delhomme INDUSTRIALIZATION: Nicolas Dubois MANUAL: Randy Lee Sebastien Rochard DESIGN: Glen Darcey Morgan Perrier Axel Hartmann © ARTURIA SA – 2016 – All rights reserved. 11 Chemin de la Dhuy 38240 Meylan FRANCE http://www.arturia.com Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Arturia.
Thank you for purchasing the Arturia KeyStep! This manual covers the features and operation of Arturia’s KeyStep, a full-featured USB MIDI keyboard controller complete with a polyphonic sequencer, arpeggiator, a robust set of MIDI and C/V connections, and outfitted with our new Slimkey keyboard for maximum playability in the minimum space. In this package you will find: One KeyStep controller, with a serial number and unlock code on the bottom.
Special Message Section SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE: The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at the time of printing. However, Arturia reserves the right to change or modify any of the specifications without notice or obligation to update the hardware that has been purchased. IMPORTANT: The product and its software, when used in combination with an amplifier, headphones or speakers, may be able to produce sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss.
Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 9 2 KEYSTEP OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.1 MAKING THE CONNECTIONS .................................................................................................................. 10 2.1.1 …with a Computer ......................
4.1 CHORD MODE........................................................................................................................................ 21 4.1.1 Chords and the sequencer............................................................................................................. 21 4.1.1.1 4.1.1.2 Seq Recording and Chord mode................................................................................................................ 22 Seq playback and Chord mode ..........................
8.1 PITCH AND GATE SIGNALS ..................................................................................................................... 40 8.1.1 How do Pitch and Gate work? ...................................................................................................... 40 8.1.2 Can my DAW send CV/Gate signals? ........................................................................................... 40 8.2 MODULATION (MOD) OUTPUT ..............................................................
10.9 WORKING WITH DEVICE SETTINGS ........................................................................................................ 60 10.9.1 Common features .......................................................................................................................... 60 10.9.1.1 10.9.2 MIDI Channel ....................................................................................................................................... 60 MIDI Controller settings .........................
1 INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the Arturia KeyStep! This unique keyboard controller gives you everything you need to make music wherever you and your portable tech will be. Its compact size is due in part to its Slimkey keyboard; these great-feeling keys are smaller than standard piano keys but still large enough to allow for maximum playability. But this is no toy; as with all Arturia products, it’s built like a tank.
2 KEYSTEP OVERVIEW 2.1 Making the connections There are quite a few ways to connect KeyStep with other types of equipment, from vintage to modern. Below are some examples of potential setups: 2.1.1 …with a Computer KeyStep is a USB class-compliant controller, so at its most basic level it can be connected to any computer with a USB port and used as an input device for various applications.
2.1.2.1 CV/Mod/Gate KeyStep will send control voltages to non-MIDI devices through its Pitch, Mod and Gate connectors. It also can send data to those devices from the USB port of your computer. 2.1.2.2 MIDI devices Lots of mid-vintage devices have MIDI jacks but don’t have CV/Gate connectors or USB ports. KeyStep can plug directly into them and also serve as a USB MIDI converter. 2.1.2.
2.2 Front panel overview 2.2.1 1. Sequencer / Arpeggiator section (see 2.2.1) 2. Tap Tempo / Rest / Tie (see 2.2.2) 3. Transport section (see 2.2.3) 4. Hold / Chord (with Shift) (see 2.2.4) 5. Shift button (see 2.2.5) 6. Keyboard functions (with Shift) (see 2.2.5) 7. Oct - / Transpose (with Shift) (see 2.2.6) 8. Oct + / Kbd Play (with Shift) (see 2.2.6) 9. Pitch / Mod touch strips (see 2.2.7) Sequencer / arpeggiator KeyStep provides a sequencer and an arpeggiator.
2.2.1.1 Seq / Arp toggle switch When this switch is set to Seq a sequence can be played or recorded. The controls in this section select which sequence is active and the time division at which it will be played back. When the switch is set to Arp the controls select the pattern and the time division for the arpeggiator. 2.2.1.2 Seq / Arp modes The function of the Seq / Arp Mode encoder changes depending on which mode is selected. In sequencer mode it selects which of the eight sequences is active.
Each button has an addition function when creating a sequence (Append, Clear Last, and Restart). These features will be described in detail in section 5.2.1. 2.2.3.1 All Notes Off The Stop button has an additional function. If for some reason you end up with a stuck note, just press the Stop button quickly three times in a row. KeyStep will then send an All Notes Off command over MIDI. 2.2.
More about these features in section 4.3.3. 2.2.7 Pitch / Mod touch strips These innovative controls take the place of the standard “wheels”. Their MIDI Channels can be assigned separately by the MIDI Control Center, and the Mod strip can even be assigned to any MIDI Continuous Controller number (CC#). See chapter 10 to learn more about using the MIDI Control Center. 2.3 Rear panel overview 2.3.1 USB/DC IN This jack provides the power and data connections to a computer.
2.3.4 Sustain pedal input Connect a momentary footswitch (optional) to this input. It is best to connect the pedal before supplying power to the KeyStep so it can sense the pedal’s polarity. Be sure to keep your foot off the pedal when first making the connection or could work backward. If this happens, disconnect KeyStep from the power source and start over. 2.3.
3 BASIC OPERATIONS 3.1 Plug and play Connect KeyStep to your computer or an external device as shown in section 2.1 and you’re ready to go! Here are a few pointers to make the most of your first session. 3.1.1 Slimkey keyboard The Slimkey keyboard is both velocity- and pressure-sensitive (sometimes called “aftertouch”). You can specify the velocity curve and aftertouch response using the MIDI Control Center. See chapter 10 for details. 3.1.
3.1.5 Sustain pedal If you have a momentary footswitch, plug it into the Sustain jack on the rear panel. If it works backward, disconnect KeyStep from its power source and then reconnect it. KeyStep will sense the polarity of the pedal and it should work fine after that. There are several configuration options for the Sustain pedal in the MIDI Control Center. See chapter 10 for information. 3.1.6 Oct - / Oct + Pushing one of these buttons can transpose the keyboard by as much as four octaves up or down.
You can record your own music into any one of the eight sequences; we’ll learn how to do this in chapter 5. 3.2.3 Transport section Press the Play/Pause button and the sequence will start. Press it again to pause the sequence, and another time to resume playback from where you stopped. To start a sequence from the beginning, press the Stop button and then press Play again. 3.2.4 Set the tempo Use the Rate knob or the Tap button to adjust the playback tempo.
To start an arpeggio pattern from the beginning, press the Stop button. Then press Play again and hold down some keys. It will be more obvious what the different Arp Modes do when you are holding down three or more keys. 3.3.4 Set the tempo Use the Rate knob or the Tap button to adjust the playback tempo. You can also set the exact tempo of the arpeggio pattern before starting the arpeggiator by pressing the Tap button a few times.
4 SHIFT FUNCTIONS KeyStep has many secondary functions that can be accessed by holding the Shift button and pressing other buttons or a key. These functions are listed in light blue text under each button and over each key. For a complete chart of all the Shift functions, see section 4.4. 4.1 Chord Mode KeyStep has the ability to memorize a chord. You can then play an entire chord by pressing a single key on the keyboard. The chord will transpose automatically as you play different notes.
4.1.1.1 Seq Recording and Chord mode Chords from Chord mode will be recorded as independent notes in the sequencer. So if you have a 6-note chord it will occupy 6 of the 8 note maximum that is allowed in a sequence step. 4.1.1.2 Seq playback and Chord mode The keyboard is in one of two modes during sequence playback: Transpose or Kbd Play. When the keyboard is set to Transpose mode, the keys are used to transpose the sequence.
4.3 Seq / Arp playback functions 4.3.1 Gate The Gate time of a Seq/Arp note is the percentage of time it stays “on” before the next note happens, with 10% being the shortest time and 90% being the longest. Hold Shift and press the appropriate key to make a selection. Each sequence can have its own Gate setting. Arp mode has an independent Gate setting also. When creating a sequence it is also possible to enter a value of “Tie”, which holds a note into the following step. See section 5.2.1.
4.3.3 Transpose / Kbd Play These two modes are mutually exclusive so we’ll cover them both in this section. You can switch from one to the other by holding the Shift button and pressing the appropriate Octave shift button (Oct– or Oct+). 4.3.3.1 Transpose When this mode is active you can use the keys to transpose a sequence while it is running. To activate Transpose mode, hold the Shift button and press the Oct– button. It will become lit and the Kbd Play button will go dark.
Turn the Time Div encoder until you reach the proper value Release the Shift button and the new Time Division will take effect. 4.3.6 Restart Seq / Arp from beginning It’s possible to repeat the first half of a sequence or arpeggio manually, or perhaps repeat the first few notes several times, etc., as a spontaneous performance option. To restart a sequence or an arpeggio pattern from its beginning, hold the Shift button and press the Play/Pause button.
5 CREATING SEQUENCES KeyStep holds a total of 8 sequences, and each sequence can be up to 64 steps in length. The sequencer is polyphonic, capable of stacking up to 8 notes per step. In this chapter we will cover the front panel features, but there are more parameters available in the MIDI Control Center. You can also save and swap sequences using the MIDI Control Center, so you’ll want to read chapter 10 for more information. 5.
5.2.1 Step-time recording This may be the best place to start while you are learning to work with the sequencer. At the most basic level, all you have to do to create a sequence is: Press the Record button Note: the next step will erase the existing sequence. Play one or more keys at the same time Lift all fingers to advance the step Repeat the last two items When you’re done, press the Stop button. You must lift all fingers between each step in order for the sequence steps to advance.
If you want the rest between two notes to be longer, press the Tap button as many times as you need. 5.2.1.2 Tie notes It’s possible to make a note hold over into the next step, or even longer.
Play C and E, then release the keys Play C, E, and G, and then release the keys Release the Tap button Press Tap another time to add a rest Press the Stop button. The result will sound like this: In the example above, for the chord to hold through the final step you would need to set the Gate time to 90% for the sequence. Otherwise the final step will not sound like a quarter note. 5.2.
5.2.2.2 Restart A sequence can have up to 64 steps, which can seem like a long time when you want to replace a note near the beginning of the sequence. There’s a shortcut you can take if you don’t want to wait for the sequence to loop: use the Restart function. All you have to do is hold the Shift button and press Play/Pause. You will hear the sequence jump immediately to its beginning.
See chapter 10 for more information about these features. 5.2.4 What it does not record Here are the types of data not captured by the KeyStep sequencer: The duration (gate time) of the note. However, a note will be tied into the next step if you hold it down long enough. Time division changes Swing percentage Controller data Notes from Chord mode that exceed the limit of 8 notes per step. Only the bottom 8 notes of the chord will be recorded. Data that arrives via MIDI or USB.
Remember: the CV/gate outputs will drive a single voice on a monophonic synthesizer. The MIDI Control Center has a parameter that specifies which note will be favored when a chord exists in a sequence step. See chapter 10 for details. 5.3.2 Clear Last This feature allows you to remove the last step of a sequence. It works whether the sequencer is playing or recording, and even works if the sequencer is not running at all.
6 THE ARPEGGIATOR 6.1 What’s an arpeggiator? ‘Arpeggio’ is a musical term that basically means ‘the notes of a chord played one after the other’. For example, if you play a C chord and then play its component notes C, E, and G independently, you have played an arpeggio in the key of C. An example of notes in a chord The same notes as an arpeggio And you can play those three notes in any order and still have played an arpeggio in the key of C.
6.3 Arpeggiator modes 6.3.1 Start the arpeggiator The arpeggiator will not run if the sync selection switches are set to something other than Internal and no external clock is present.
Arp Mode: Inclusive 6.3.5 Arp Mode: Exclusive With the Arp mode encoder set to Exc the arpeggiator will play the held notes in order from low to high, then from high to low, without repeating the high note and low note. Arp Mode: Exclusive 6.3.6 Arp Mode: Random With the Arp mode encoder set to Rand the arpeggiator will play the held notes in a random order. There will not a predictable pattern, so it is possible that a note could be repeated one or more times before a new note is heard.
Arp Mode: Up x2 6.3.9 Arp Mode: Down x2 With the Arp mode encoder set to Dwn x2 the arpeggiator will play the held notes in order from the top to the bottom. But unlike the Dwn mode it will play each note twice before the next note plays. Arp Mode: Down x2 6.4 Build a multi-octave arpeggio Having read section 3.3.6 you already know that the Hold button allows you to keep the arpeggiator running after you take your fingers off the keys.
It’s possible to let go of the original note(s) at any stage in the process as long as you keep holding down at least one of the new notes you add. The MIDI Control Center can configure the sustain pedal to do all of the same things the Hold button can do. See chapter 10 for more information. 6.5 Pausing an arpeggio It is possible to pause an arpeggio in the middle of its pattern.
7 SYNCHRONIZATION KeyStep can be the master clock for a wide range of musical devices, or it can serve as a slave to any one of several sources. See section 2.1 for connection diagrams. The Sync options are selected using different combinations of the rear panel switches. For example, in the illustration below the USB sync option has been selected: Sync switches set to USB option It’s important to remember that the physical switch caps correspond to the white boxes in the graphics to the left.
When the external source is not running, KeyStep will function according to its internal clock at the last known tempo. KeyStep will pass the synchronization messages it receives from the external source to all three clock outputs, and will convert all clock types to MIDI clock for the MIDI and USB outputs. 7.2.
8 CV/GATE/MOD FUNCTIONS KeyStep provides direct access to some of the best music technology the world has produced since humans harnessed electricity: USB, MIDI, Sync and CV/Gate connectors are all present on its rear panel in a space the size of a candy bar. Connection diagrams for each of these interfaces are available in section 2.1. In this chapter we’ll focus on the features of the KeyStep CV/Gate circuitry.
8.2 Modulation (Mod) output 8.2.1 How does the Mod output work? The Mod output connector sends voltage values generated by one of three sources inside the KeyStep: the Mod strip, aftertouch, or velocity. You can use this output to control volume, filter frequency, or any number of other modules on the target device. The MIDI Control Center allows you to specify which of the three sources you want to use to control the Mod output. See chapter 10 to learn about this parameter. 8.2.
The Mod output has eight options ranging from 0-12 volts. See chapter 10 for a description of the related MIDI Control Center parameters.
9 MIDI CONTROL CENTER BASICS The MIDI Control Center is an application that allows you to configure the MIDI settings of your KeyStep. It works with most of Arturia’s devices, so if you have an earlier version of the software you’ll want to download the KeyStep version. It will work with the other Arturia products as well. 9.1 System requirements PC: 2 GB RAM; CPU 2 GHz (Windows 7 or higher) Mac: 2 GB RAM; CPU 2 GHz (OS X 10.7 or higher) 9.
9.4 Back up your sequences If you want to make a quick backup of your KeyStep sequences, click the Sync button: This will grab whatever is in the sequence memory and pull it into your computer. MIDI Control Center will give this file the current date/time stamp for a name, but you can name it something else if you like. After this, every change made in the software will also be made inside KeyStep.
10 USING MIDI CONTROL CENTER The built-in MIDI Control Center manual has general descriptions of the features that are common to all Arturia products. To learn how to access the manual, see section 9.5. This chapter will cover only the MIDI Control Center features that are unique to KeyStep. 10.1 The Sync option As mentioned in section 9.4, clicking the Sync button is a quick way to back up your KeyStep sequences. It also allows you to do other things we’ll cover later in this chapter.
10.2 Device Projects 10.2.1 The Working Project When the MCC and KeyStep are in sync, the Working Project is the internal memory of the KeyStep. Edits made to sequences inside the MCC are made simultaneously to the KeyStep. When they are not in sync the Working Project functions as a sort of ‘target’ onto which Templates or sequences can be dragged and then transmitted to the KeyStep memory. But edits made to sequences inside the MCC when not in sync do not edit the sequences inside the KeyStep. 10.2.1.
10.3 Project Browser The Project Browser shows a list of all Projects available to you inside the MIDI Control Center (MCC). They have been stored on your computer. These are divided into two main groups of Templates: Factory and User. The User Templates are the ones you have recalled from your KeyStep with the MCC. See section 10.4 to learn how to do this. The Project Browser window A Template contains the patterns from the sequencer along with their settings for swing, gate and sequence length.
The Template will be named automatically with a date/time stamp, but you can give it a more descriptive name if you like. 10.3.2 Revise a Template 10.3.2.1 While synced If the MIDI Control Center and KeyStep are already in sync, it’s easy to modify an archived Template. Simply select one in the Project Browser and its sequences will appear in the Seq Editor window. They will also be transmitted to the KeyStep internal memory.
10.3.3 Send one sequence to KeyStep 10.3.3.1 When synced Important: The following process will send a single sequence to KeyStep and will overwrite the sequence in the target memory location. There are two ways to send a single sequence to the KeyStep when it is synced to the MIDI Control Center. First use the +/- buttons in the Project Browser to open the Template and locate the sequence you want to send. Then you can do one of two things: drag the sequence on the Working Project.
10.4 Store To/Recall From 10.4.1 The ‘Store To’ button The upper left-hand section of the MIDI Control Center has a button called “Store To”. It is used to transmit a Template from the Project Browser window to the KeyStep. The following process will overwrite the internal memory of the KeyStep. If you are not sure those sequences have been backed up, be sure to archive them to your computer using the Recall From button.
This process will store all eight sequences from the selected Template into the KeyStep. 10.4.2 Recall edited sequences from KeyStep If you changed any sequences inside the KeyStep you need to pull those sequences into the MIDI Control Center to back them up. To do that, click the Recall From button. A new file containing all eight sequences will appear in the Project Browser with the current time/date stamp for a name. You can rename it if you like.
To export the Device Settings, click the Export button. Then navigate to the appropriate location in your computer and follow the screen prompts to save the .keystep_ds file. 10.5.2 Import Device Settings To import the Device Settings, click the Import button. Then navigate to the appropriate location in your computer and follow the screen prompts to load in the .keystep_ds file. 10.6 Editing basics 10.6.
Simply click on a tab to select its window. 10.6.3 Seq tab The Seq tab contains eight numbered sequence tabs: The Seq tab These tabs allow you to select each of the sequences and fine-tune their note data. You can even create brand new sequences here. In the graphic above sequence #6 is selected. From here you can view and edit the Length, Swing % and Gate settings for this sequence. It is also possible to edit the pitch, velocity, and gate time of individual notes.
10.7.1 Navigation 10.7.1.1 Scroll If you have a scroll wheel you can move the piano roll view up and down. Place the cursor in the piano roll field first, not over the keyboard graphic. If you hold the Shift key on your computer keyboard the piano roll will move sideways. You can also click/drag the scroll bars at the edge and bottom of the window to reposition the sequence view. Scroll bar locations 10.7.1.2 Zoom To zoom in and out of the horizontal view, place the cursor in the piano roll field.
The knobs display that sequence’s Length (in steps) and Swing %. The pull-down menu on the right allows you to select the Gate Length for the notes in that sequence. Remember: each sequence can have its own Length, Swing and Gate settings. 10.7.2.1 Seq Length A sequence can be as short as 1 step and as long as 64 steps. There are two ways to change the length value: click on the knob and turn it, or click in the field and enter a value between 1 and 64.
10.7.2.3 Seq Gate length The Gate parameter will adjust the length of all of the notes in the selected sequence. The potential values are 10% (short), 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% (long). Each sequence can have its own Gate setting. To make a selection for the selected sequence, click the pull-down menu. In the graphic on the right the current value is 25%, and the value of 90% is about to be selected. 10.7.3 Sequence events 10.7.3.
Note: if one of the selected notes moves outside the MIDI note range, the entire piano roll will glow red. The same thing happens if the notes are moved beyond the 1 st or 64th steps in the sequence. 10.7.3.3 Copy/paste notes After selecting a group of notes you can make another copy of those notes in another section of the sequence. Just hold the Alt key (Option on a Mac), select one of the notes, and drag them all into the new area.
10.7.3.6 Tie a note If you drag the horizontal cursor far enough to the right a value of TIE will appear. The right edge of the note box will become an arrow: If you double-click in the next step a new note will appear. The overlapped arrow shows that the two notes are tied: You can click on the second note and drag the cursor to the right again until the second note’s length value also becomes TIE, and so on.
Click and drag to copy Seq 1 to the Seq 5 location. 10.8.2 Drag/drop onto a tab It’s possible to build a ‘Greatest Hits’ group of sequences inside your KeyStep using sequences from different Templates. If the MCC and KeyStep have been synced this process will overwrite the target sequences in the KeyStep internal memory.
10.9 Working with Device Settings 10.9.1 Common features Some parameters have pull-down menus with additional options. For example, the Aftertouch curve has three settings: The options of each field are different for each parameter. 10.9.1.1 MIDI Channel Another option is available for setting the MIDI channel for a parameter. The “User” setting allows you to change the MIDI channel of this parameter when you change the MIDI channel of the keyboard.
10.9.
10.9.2.1 User Channel This sets the keyboard MIDI Channel. It’s the same parameter found on the keyboard that is set by holding Shift and pressing a key. 10.9.2.2 MIDI Input Channel This parameter allows you to perform MIDI-to-CV conversion when the Sequencer and Arpeggiator are stopped. The selected value is the MIDI channel that will be allowed to control an external device through the CV/Gate/Mod connectors. These MIDI messages can either arrive via USB or the MIDI Input connector. 10.9.2.
10.9.2.11 Sustain Message CC Ordinarily a sustain pedal is assigned to MIDI CC #64. But this parameter allows you to set it to a different MIDI CC number so you can use it as another modulation source. 10.9.2.12 Mod strip MIDI Ch This determines whether the Mod strip will send its messages down a fixed MIDI Channel at all times or change MIDI Channels when the keyboard does. 10.9.2.13 Mod strip CC Ordinarily a mod wheel is assigned to MIDI CC #1.
10.9.3 Sequence settings Here’s a quick reference chart for those parameters: Parameter Sync Clock In/Out settings Range/Values Description/Function 1step (Gate/Clock), Set Sync input/output type. Refer to external device documentation to determine what the settings should be. 1pulse, 24ppq, 48 ppq Sync Clock Start On Clock, On Gate Start Determines which sort of signal will start KeyStep.
Next we’ll go through those parameters one-by-one. 10.9.3.1 Sync Clock In/Out settings KeyStep is endowed with the ability to transmit or receive clocking signals from a huge range of vintage devices. Here’s a brief look at each setting: 1step (Gate): Interprets the rising edge of the voltage as a Note On command and the falling edge as a Note Off. Then it will advance to the next step.
This parameter also affects the way the KeyStep responds to incoming MIDI notes on the Transposition Input channel. 10.9.3.7 Transpose Center Pitch The Center pitch decides which incoming note means “don’t transpose”. The default value is MIDI note #60, or middle C [C3]. So for example, an incoming C3 won't transpose the sequence, but an incoming D3 will transpose the sequence +2, etc. 10.9.3.
10.9.4 CV/Gate settings This is where you select the electrical behavior for the Control Voltage connectors. Here’s a quick reference chart for these parameters. Parameter PITCH CV Output Range/Values Volts per octave [*] Hertz per volt [**] Description/Function The two standards.
10.9.4.2 Gate CV Output We’ve included three types of Gate signal response: S-trig: This stands for "Short-circuit trigger", though sometimes it’s called "negative trigger". It involves keeping the voltage high and then shorting the trigger circuit whenever the note should play. This format is used by Dr. Bob’s classics, Korg and Yamaha synths, among others. V-trig: An abbreviation for "Voltage trigger", also known as "positive trigger".
10.9.5 Transport settings First a quick summary of the Transport settings, then the chart: Play/Pause: the alternate setting is “Reset”. This would allow you to perform ‘stutter edits’ on your sequences. Stop/Record/Play: You can define the MIDI channel and CC number for each of the three main Transport commands independently. All three must transmit the same type of MIDI information, though: MIDI CC, MMC, or both.
11 ARTURIA KEYSTEP – LEGAL INFORMATION 11.1 FCC INFORMATION (USA) Important notice: DO NOT MODIFY THE UNIT! This product, when installed as indicate in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirement. Modifications not expressly approved by Arturia may avoid your authority, granted by the FCC, to use the product. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/or another product, use only high quality shielded cables. Cable (s) supplied with this product MUST be used.
ARTURIA – KeyStep – USER’S MANUAL 71