Good mini keyboard with arpeggiator.

[Ben Asaro]

I’ve never had that issue, and I keep my BSP off for months at a time! That sounds rather frustrating, maybe it’s a firmware issue, not the MCC?

I agree with the ribbon critique, I would MUCH prefer a wheel or two to the ribbon strip. In particular it can be annoying if you accidentally press it whilst playing.... but as I said, I’m a remedial keyboard player at best.

[BillB]

. If I were to make a critique it is the perplexing and cryptic MIDI Control Centre.

Nathan will be along shortly to chime in on this one.

[nathanscribe]

. If I were to make a critique it is the perplexing and cryptic MIDI Control Centre.

Nathan will be along shortly to chime in on this one.

Don't know what you're talking about

Yeah I've got gripes about this but with regards to the Keystep specifically, I can only speak about the original. it's fine, it's been reliable, it saw me through a busy Synthfest last year, and that showed how intuitive it was as people came along and noodled happily without asking how to do stuff with the controller. So there's that.

Only got two gripes about the original KS, and the second one goes for all Arturia -step controllers: 1) pain in the bum to add octaves to your arp, there's no simple switch for it like on the Juno for example, 2) Arturia decided they wouldn't let the user switch incoming clock modes without hooking up to a computer. Despite presenting these devices as standalone utility objects, if you want to swap from DIN Sync to pulse-per-step, you've got to plug the damn thing into their software and go through menus and oh dear tentacled gods that grinds my extremeties.

Anyway. That's it, that's the gripe.

[Arpangel]

Why not go the whole way and get the Matrix Brute, or the newer PolyBrute, they look sooooooo nice.

I have and continue to own several buts of Arturia kit and one of the impressive aspects is the build quality. If I were to make a critique it is the perplexing and cryptic MIDI Control Centre. I create various setups, turn off the computer, and latterly turn the computer on again and MCC has lost the settings!

I re-mapped the pads on Beatstep, but latterly wanted to go back to the default mapping and no matter what I try, I cannot get the default mapping back.

But I digress, back to my point, a thumbs up for Arturia from me too

What!
The whole idea was to replace my "Micron" the clue is in the name
Either with an integrated synth, or, a Keystep, and a module, main concern is a decent, flexible arpeggiator.
My Moog's have them, so does my MicroFreak, I’m really getting into arp's, all running together, not in sync, with random patterns, add my Eurorack to this and it’s a whole fantasmagorical world of chaotic loveliness.
Plus, I want to build the Keystep into a brief case, with whatever module I get, probably the Mega FM, and a couple of pedals, as a little portable rig.

[Dan LB]

Have you had this key bed issue that was talked about?

No, I’ve had no issues whatsoever.

[Dan LB]

Arturia decided they wouldn't let the user switch incoming clock modes without hooking up to a computer. Despite presenting these devices as standalone utility objects, if you want to swap from DIN Sync to pulse-per-step, you've got to plug the damn thing into their software and go through menus and oh dear tentacled gods that grinds my extremeties.

Anyway. That's it, that's the gripe.

I *think* this has been addressed on the new Keystep 37.

[Dan LB]

There’s a good video on the 37 here:
https://youtu.be/I3iaHNIJFsg

[The Elf]

If that thing had normal sized keys it would pair with the new crop of 2600s beautifully. Sigh...

I suppose if you're not a 'player' that would still be the case.

[Dan LB]

Arturia decided they wouldn't let the user switch incoming clock modes without hooking up to a computer. Despite presenting these devices as standalone utility objects, if you want to swap from DIN Sync to pulse-per-step, you've got to plug the damn thing into their software and go through menus and oh dear tentacled gods that grinds my extremeties.

Anyway. That's it, that's the gripe.

I *think* this has been addressed on the new Keystep 37.

I’ve been trying to find the source where I thought I read info about the above, but I can’t so I might have dreamt that up

[Arpangel]

I’ll "probably" get a Keystep, note that word "probably"
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that is a "must have" at any cost for me these days, it’s all sort of, almost right, it’s all sort of OK, the build is "OK" operationally it’s "almost there"
Honestly, it’s so boring, generic mediocre, gone are the days when I used to dream about owning things, things I wanted so much I’d save up for years to get them, and when I had the cash, they would still be there, not discontinued or replaced by ten other models by the time I’d saved up.

[Eddy Deegan]

I bought an original Keystep when I was stuck in Amsterdam at the beginning of the first lockdown.

It's a rather nice little unit and although I probably wouldn't use it day-to-day in the studio at home (it's currently still in Amsterdam) it's transportable to the point I could put it in my hand luggage when flying, the arpeggiator is basic but perfectly usable and it's a very well built device.

I used the arpeggiator on the Keystep heavily in the demo track I created for Yoshimi, as Yoshimi doesn't have one built in. The Keystep was used to play all the non-arpeggiated parts as well.

I'm quite looking forward to getting it back actually. It'll make a great little companion for my modular.

[Ben Asaro]

I'm quite looking forward to getting it back actually. It'll make a great little companion for my modular.

It's funny, but I can't bring myself to use a traditional keyboard with the modular; it seems to defeat the purpose, but I have not clue what 'the purpose' is supposed to mean lol. I think part of it is my pitch sensitivity. When I press F on a keyboard, I want to hear F, not F +30 cents! I can be more forgiving when I'm divorced from the notion of fixed pitches via keys. I know that makes ZERO sense, and I can't explain it better than that. (Side bar: I do not have perfect pitch, but I do have pretty good relative pitch, beat into me from years of private tuition and music theory classes)

[Eddy Deegan]

As I'm a pianist I feel somewhat bereft without a keyboard as an input option, though I do also have the Mother-32 and a Squarp Hermod sequencer in the rack. The keyboard isn't so much for playing parts as it is for auditioning sounds quickly and easily at different pitches and working out the occasional riff to program into the Hermod

[Ben Asaro]

Ah. I do the same thing but with pen and notation paper lol.

[Arpangel]

OK, I’ve finally ordered a Behringer Deepmind 6
Yes, out of all the options so far, it’s most suited, plus my partner likes it.
Firstly, the sound is amazing, and it’s capable of being totally "stand alone" and, is a perfect, but better substitute for my Micron, all we need is my little Tascam DR100 and that’s it, this will stay at my partners place, and it'll make a perfect mini space saver set-up.

[Drew Stephenson]

OK, I’ve finally ordered a Behringer Deepmind 6
Yes, out of all the options so far, it’s most suited, plus my partner likes it.
Firstly, the sound is amazing, and it’s capable of being totally "stand alone" and, is a perfect, but better substitute for my Micron, all we need is my little Tascam DR100 and that’s it, this will stay at my partners place, and it'll make a perfect mini space saver set-up.

Ahem: https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... 05#p722205

[Arpangel]

OK, I’ve finally ordered a Behringer Deepmind 6
Yes, out of all the options so far, it’s most suited, plus my partner likes it.
Firstly, the sound is amazing, and it’s capable of being totally "stand alone" and, is a perfect, but better substitute for my Micron, all we need is my little Tascam DR100 and that’s it, this will stay at my partners place, and it'll make a perfect mini space saver set-up.

Ahem: https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... 05#p722205

This is something that’s nothing to do with my studio, it’s a little set-up we can use at my partners place, and I’m being very good and making it as small as possible!

[The Elf]

The DeepMind is a decent enough synth. I had a DeepMind 12 for a while; I found it surprisingly good and dismally frustrating in equal amounts. It also sounded too much like a Juno for my tastes, but if you like that sound I think you'll enjoy it.

As a small controller keyboard it has a lot going for it too.

[Arpangel]

The DeepMind is a decent enough synth. I had a DeepMind 12 for a while; I found it surprisingly good and dismally frustrating in equal amounts. It also sounded too much like a Juno for my tastes, but if you like that sound I think you'll enjoy it.

As a small controller keyboard it has a lot going for it too.

It sort of ticks all the boxes, right size, decent arpeggiator, versatile enough sound wise, I like Juno's! Midi and USB, plus it has onboard effects, not too expensive.