Arturia KeyStep Midi Keyboard

It's something I would suggest to amateurs and professionals alike. It's cheap as compared to other midi keyboards and the features are just so amazing. The built quality is very impressive. Doesn't have full keys but that doesn't bother me. The keys are strong and tight unlike in other midi. I'm also using a novation launchkey49 and the keys on it are very soft compared to this unit. It's a pretty solid unit. I'm using it with volca bass.

If only this had 4 assignable knobs and 4 assignable pads on a separate channel + a small display for BPM/Midi Channels, this would the greatest portable controller keyboard. But for all of that and it's annoying white aesthetic, I will drop it one star - it's a nice keyboard functionally.

There's been a lot of things I've bought in my life at this price point, but none have lived up to what this product is. It's brilliant and sturdy and handles really really well. Really easy to learn complex things about it and am absolute wonder to write stuff and explore ideas on.

I am very happy as it successfully works with fl studio. By overwriting Mdulation strip using it as 8+8 soft touch patch changer which very much essential in live performance. Thanks Arturia keysep.

High quality product. The built quality is really good & the keys are good enough for a portable device. Highly recommended!

Offers a lot, absolutely wonderful.

solid build quality. made to last.

Perfect at this price range

I had great hopes that this midi controller would be a great addition to my small army of Korg Volca analogue sysths, but I returned it after a frustrating few days of trying to get it to work.The hardware is solid. Very well built and the is a real weight to the keyboard. The knobs feel robust. One thing I don't like is the absense of some form of display giving you information such as beats per minute when you adjust the rate knob. I do find accessing all the different functions very confusing and without the display you don't get any feedback other than flashing buttons.Where the product failed to impress me was with the software. To begin with it was hard to find, but when I did and install it, I was really dissapointed. It looks amateurish and is much more complicated than it needs to be, and there are a few really stupid ommisions.The first one is an option to switch off keyboard velocity. You can select three different curves, but why not "off" too? This is really a pain because you can't switch the velocity off on the Volcas. To be honest this really is a key ommission by Arturia.The second one is the option to switch off midi sync signal. When you set the KeyStep to sync via sync in socket it still sends sync signals via midi. So if you try to use say your Volca Bass to set the tempo (because it does have a display telling you beats per minute) then you can't use the sync cable from the Volca Bass to the KeyStep while also having the Volca Bass connected via midi because the whole thing then goes bonkers. Tried every and all settings in the software, but nothing solved the problem. There is no simply option in the software to switch off the synch out via midi. Another major ommision from Arturia.I really don't understand why Arturia are not investing in some better software. It really takes away from the quality of the whole package.FInally, a key reason I got the KeyStep is because I also have a Volca Modular with CV in. I managed to get it all conencted and set up but the result was awful. There tone was completely unstable and whatever I tried I once again was not able to rectify the issue. My guess is that the control voltage produced by the KeyStep is not very stable. since I have used other control voltage sources without any problems.The above problems really make it a pretty useless piece of kit with my collection of Korg Volcas, so I have returned it. Really dissapointed, I will probably not bother with Arturia products again.

It isn't often that you see a product where the designers have managed to fit in a lot more than you expected. The KeyStep feels like it has been designed by people who actually understand what users want their gear to do, and in a world where this is rarely the case, it feels like a breath of fresh air. There's lots of online material describing what it does, so here I'm just going to say that if you want to do sequencing and don't have one of these yet, then what are you waiting for?

Excellent midi controller, with hidden depths if you want to dig down, but simple functions if you just need a quick and easy keyboard.

clever bit of kit. one key doesn't work anymore but great otherwise.

Unfeasibly clever. Compact and works with Volcas well - IF you use the editor from Arturia. Accepts input from Beatstep so you can send Prog Changes and CC Messages too. Fab.