Arturia KEYSTEP PRO User Manual
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Arturia KEYSTEP PRO User Manual

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  • Page 1 USER MANUAL...
  • Page 2 Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Arturia. The software described in this manual is provided under the terms of a license agreement or non-disclosure agreement. The software license agreement specifies the terms and conditions for its lawful use.
  • Page 3 Be sure to register your KeyStep Pro as soon as possible! There is a sticker on the bottom panel that contains the serial number of your unit and an unlock code. These are required during the online registration process.
  • Page 4 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.
  • Page 5 These keys make the product smaller and more portable but—make no mistake—KeyStep Pro is built like a tank so that it can be taken on tour with confidence. We hope the four polyphonic sequencers will unleash your most interesting musical ideas.
  • Page 6 MIDI Control Center. You’ll also find links to our tutorials and FAQs. KeyStep Pro is easy to use, so you’ll probably start experimenting with it right out of the box. However, please be sure to read this manual even if you are an experienced user as we describe many useful tips that will help you get the most out of your purchase.

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    2.1. Usage Precautions................................6 2.2. Warning ...................................... 6 2.3. Register your Instrument..............................6 2.4. Connecting the KeyStep Pro to the World ......................6 Basic Operations ................................7 3.1. Plug and Play................................... 7 3.1.1. Slimkey Keyboard ........................................8 3.1.2. Keyboard MIDI Channel Selection ................................... 8 3.1.3.
  • Page 8 5.2.3. Editing an arpeggio ........................................ 52 5.2.4. Arpeggiator features......................................53 5.2.5. Making the most of the Arpeggiators ................................57 5.2.6. Mixing Arpeggios........................................57 5.2.7. Spicing up your Arpeggios....................................57 5.3. The Four Sequencers ..............................58 5.3.1. Exploring the sequencers..................................... 58 5.3.2.
  • Page 9 Revise a Template........................................126 9.3.3. Revise a pattern ........................................127 9.4. Store To/Recall From..............................128 9.4.1. Store a Project to the KeyStep Pro ................................128 9.4.2. Recall a Project from the KeyStep Pro..............................129 9.4.3. Template Utilities ........................................129 9.5.
  • Page 10 Declaration of Conformity..........................145 Software License Agreement ........................146...

  • Page 11: Welcome And Introduction

    Whatever you do, take the time to get to know the Keystep Pro inside out. To sustain the fascination you feel, learn the functions of the Keystep Pro one by one and test your knowledge continuously. The Keystep Pro is an advanced controller with many levels of understanding.

  • Page 12: Installation

    2. INSTALLATION 2.1. Usage Precautions The Keystep Pro uses an external power adapter. Do not use any power supply or adapter other than the unit provided by Arturia. Arturia accepts no responsibility for damage caused by the use of an unauthorized power supply.

  • Page 13: Basic Operations

    3. BASIC OPERATIONS 3.1. Plug and Play Connect the KeyStep Pro to your computer or an external device as shown in the image below and you're ready to go! Here are a few pointers to make the most of your first session.

  • Page 14: Slimkey Keyboard

    The KeyStep Pro can transmit notes and other MIDI messages on 32 channels numbered from 1 to 32. Each of the four tracks of the KeyStep Pro transmits on its own channel: Track 1 on MIDI channel 1, and Tracks 2, 3 and 4 on MIDI channels 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Track 1 is a special case because it has both a melodic sequencer and a drum sequencer.

  • Page 15: Pitch And Mod Touch Strips

    If you have a momentary footswitch, plug it into the Sustain jack socket on the rear panel. If it works the wrong way around, disconnect KeyStep Pro from its power source and then reconnect it. KeyStep Pro will sense the polarity of the pedal, and it should work fine after that.

  • Page 16: Octave - / Octave

    - Hold the SHIFT key (the leftmost button on the KeyStep Pro) and press 'Semi Up' or 'Semi Down' and hear how your sequence is transposed up or down in semitones (half steps) on the fly.

  • Page 17: Time Division

    Imagine starting with a simple pattern, copying it to the three other sequencers, modifying those copies with Invert, Nudge and Transpose, then running them simultaneously with the first sequence. You get the idea ... Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Basic Operations...

  • Page 18: Using The Arpeggiator

    KeyStep Pro. Pressing HOLD lets you lift your fingers off the keys without stopping the arpeggio. What's more, once HOLD is active and if you keep at least one key pressed down, you can add notes to the arpeggio;...

  • Page 19: Scales & Chords

    ♪: If at a later moment you want to check where the split point is, press the same two track buttons simultaneously. The KeyStep Pro will display the ranges in the colour of the tracks that are part of the split.

  • Page 20: Keystep Pro Overview

    4.1. Making the Connections There are countless ways to connect the KeyStep Pro with your music-making gear. It's impossible to cover every scenario in this guide, but here are some typical setups: Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...

  • Page 21: With A Computer

    4.1.1..with a Computer The KeyStep Pro is a USB class-compliant controller, so at its most basic level it can be connected to any computer with a USB port, through which it receives its DC power supply, and can be used as an input device for various applications. The downloadable MIDI Control Center software lets you choose which MIDI messages will be sent by the mod strip and also enables you to specify global KeyStep Pro parameters.

  • Page 22: Analog Connections (Cv And Gate)

    Pitch, Velo/Mod and Gate connectors on the back panel. Each of the KeyStep Pro's four tracks has its own dedicated set of connectors, allowing you to hook up to and control as many as four devices at the same time! 4.1.4.1.

  • Page 23: Midi Connections

    MIDI channels. Connect the KeyStep Pro to a USB port on your computer using the supplied USB host cable. We first have to 'tell' Ableton that we want to use the KeyStep Pro as a controller in Ableton: •...
  • Page 24 On Track 1 of the KeyStep Pro, press the Drum button.  ♪: By default, the KeyStep Pro's drum track (only available on Track 1) will always transmit on MIDI channel 10. Because you've set the Ableton drum track to listen on MIDI channel 10, the two will match.
  • Page 25 Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...
  • Page 26 4.1.5.2. Tutorial 1: Using MIDI to Control Arturia's MINI V VST synth In this tutorial, we will use the KeyStep Pro to control the filter cut-off frequency of Arturia's MINI V VST synth. The MINI V is part of Arturia's V Collection, a great series of software emulations of classic hardware synths.

  • Page 27: Clock In/Out

    If clock signals are being received but Play is not active, the unit will start as soon as you press the Play button. • If Sync is set to an external source and a TRS connector is used, the Keystep Pro will follow the master and will: •...

  • Page 28: Master Or Slave

    4.1.7. Master or Slave KeyStep Pro can be the clock master for an entire MIDI rig, or it can just as happily serve as a slave to several clock sources. Clock In and Clock Out can synchronize with older clock types such as 2, 24 or 48 ppqn (pulses per quarter note), or even a single pulse per step.
  • Page 29 4.1.7.2. KeyStep Pro as Slave The KeyStep Pro can function as a slave to an external clock source. To use the KeyStep Pro as a slave, in Utility>MIDI Setting>Clock receive must be on. This is the default setting. You can set the Slave sync options in Utility>Sync>Input. To access the utility menu, hold down SHIFT and press the Project button.

  • Page 30: Front Panel Overview

    Looper Keyboard 4.2.1. Tempo Section Here you can find the tempo-related controls of KeyStep Pro. When KeyStep Pro is internally synchronized, your settings here will affect the internal sequencers/arpeggiators and any external equipment connected to KeyStep Pro. The Tempo/Fine knob sets the tempo from 30-240 beats per minute (BPM). As you turn this knob, the BPM value is automatically rounded off to the nearest whole number and shown on the KeyStep Pro's OLED display.
  • Page 31 Swing/Offset knob lets you adjust the timing offset for a track  ♪: If the KeyStep Pro is externally synchronized, the master tempo will be determined by an external clock source and the Tempo/Fine knob and the Tap Tempo button will be ignored.

  • Page 32: Transport Section

    The Stop button has an additional function. If for some reason you end up with a stuck note playing, just press the Stop button quickly three times in a row. The KeyStep Pro will then send an All Notes Off command via MIDI.

  • Page 33: Control Section

    The KeyStep Pro has many internal settings that you may want to adjust. The Utility menu is where you set and change most of the global settings for the KeyStep Pro. 'Global' means that these setting are shared by all projects. They will be saved as soon as you exit the Utility menu, which you access by holding down SHIFT and pressing the Project/Utility button.

  • Page 34: Track Sections (4X)

    Center. 4.2.6. Track Sections (4x) The KeyStep Pro has four separate tracks, each of which has its own dedicated set of buttons to give you instant control over important features. The track controls are identical except for one button: Track 1 has a Drum button for the drum sequencer, but Tracks 2, 3 and 4 each have an Arp button for the arpeggiators.
  • Page 35 Step Buttons or Keyboard LEDs. 4.2.6.4. Sequencer and Arpeggiator Buttons The KeyStep Pro has four tracks, each with its own independent sequencer or arpeggiator. Sequencer Arpeggiator...

  • Page 36: Arrangement Section

    This is a special drum or 'trigger' sequencer that sends signals to the Drum Gates outputs on the back panel of the KeyStep Pro. The Drum sequencer has eight gate outputs (labelled 'Drum Gates 1-8'). You can use these outputs to trigger connected drum machines or synthesizer modules with gate (or 'trigger') signals.

  • Page 37: The Step Edit Button

    On the KeyStep Pro, these 16 Step buttons can do many other things that just active or deactivate steps. For example, holding down the Lst Step (Last Step) button while pressing one of the Step buttons lets you set the sequence's length.

  • Page 38: The Main Encoders (5X)

    Settings>Velocity Curve and the downloadable MIDI Control Center you can choose a suitable velocity scaling. In Arpeggio (Arp) mode, the Velocity encoder functions as a global encoder that simultaneously affects all velocities in your arpeggio. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...
  • Page 39 Track 1, 2, 3 or 4 button, then hold down a Step button while adjusting one or more of the main encoders. Doing this will set specific values for that step that are different to the default parameters (as described above). Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...

  • Page 40: Keyboard Section

     ♪: The KeyStep Pro will remember the last position of the Mod strip of the currently selected track when you switch to another track. In a sense, you therefore have four modulation strips, one for each...
  • Page 41  ♪: To quickly reset the octave to the default mid-point, hold down both Octave arrow buttons simultaneously. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...
  • Page 42 You can always tell whether you're in add or replace mode: if you are in Quick Edit or Step Edit mode, when the LED above a key blinks the existing notes of the step will be replaced. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...

  • Page 43: Looper Mode

    Step buttons. With the Looper, you can loop a range of steps in a sequence. The length of the loop is determined by the indentation you press: 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 or 1/32. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...

  • Page 44: Keyboard

    4.2.13.1. Keyboard LEDs Each key of the KeyStep Pro has a corresponding multi-colour LED located directly above it. These LEDs blink to provide visual feedback on what the four sequencers/arpeggiators are playing. The colour of each LED changes to match the selected track (Track 1 is green, Track 2 is orange, Track 3 is yellow and Track 4 is red).

  • Page 45: Shift Functions

    It's the leftmost button on the front panel and it's black. The blue SHIFT text reveals its crafty secret: it is linked to all KeyStep Pro functions that are printed in blue on the front panel. Take a good look and you'll find many of them: in the Transport section, to the left of the keyboard, above the keys of the keyboard (except the highest C), below the 16 step buttons, and in the Sequence Extend section.
  • Page 46 F#, G, G#, A, Bb or B in the lower octave). The KeyStep Pro can transform any chord you are holding down on the keyboard into an arpeggio. It can arpeggiate your chord in seven ways: up, down, exclusive pendulum, inclusive pendulum, random, in the order you played them or polyphonically.
  • Page 47 When you select a scale by pressing SHIFT + a Scale key, everything in the currently selected track ‒ the notes you are playing on the KeyStep Pro's keyboard, the active track's sequence and the active track's arpeggio ‒ will play in that scale. This is a pattern setting that is stored with the pattern when you save it.
  • Page 48 All sequencers and arpeggiators can send their output signals to the four Voice outputs on the KeyStep Pro's back panel. By default, the output of Track 1 will be sent to Voice 1, the output of Track 2 to Voice 2, etc. There may be situations where you want more control of the tracks' routings.
  • Page 49 Semi Up This function is for intelligent semitone (half step) upward transposition of the current sequence. Again, it's intelligent because the transpose function takes the current scale setting into account. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...
  • Page 50 It is also possible to change the wait-to-load behavior of Scenes and Projects. Should the KeyStep Pro wait for 1 bar, 2 bars or 4 bars before switching to the next Scene or Project? Changing Scene and Project behavior is done in Utility>Launch Quantize or in the MIDI Control Center.

  • Page 51: The Sequence Extend Section

    Pressing SHIFT + Lst Step / Follow lets you follow the actively playing step while the sequence is playing. In Drum mode, when Poly is activated, the individual drum tracks can have different lengths. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - KeyStep Pro Overview...

  • Page 52: Back Panel Overview

    KeyStep Pro! In addition, the KeyStep Pro has powerful voice-routing options.  ♪: Arturia's MIDI Control Center software and the Utility menu allow you to configure the type of electrical signals that are generated and sent to each output. See Chapter 9 [p.116]...

  • Page 53: Drum Gates

    [p.136]. 4.3.2. Drum Gates The KeyStep Pro's Track 1 can be configured to work as an eight-output drum-trigger sequencer by pressing the Drum button on the top panel. These are the individual gate outputs for that sequencer.

  • Page 54: Clock Section

    (such as early drum machines produced by Korg and Roland). The KeyStep Pro is capable of both sending and receiving synchronization signals. It also has a Reset Out, allowing external sequencers with a reset input to re-start from the beginning of a sequence whenever a KeyStep Pro sequence is restarted.

  • Page 55: Metronome Section

    Connect an optional sustain pedal to this input. It is best to connect the pedal before switching on the KeyStep Pro, so that it can correctly sense the pedal's polarity. Be sure to keep your foot off the pedal when switching on the KeyStep Pro or its operation may be reversed.

  • Page 56: Usb And Power Section

     !: If your host device cannot supply enough current, you will need to power the KeyStep Pro with the included 12V power supply adaptor. !: The KeyStep Pro can be powered with a standard USB powerbank.

  • Page 57: Making Tracks

    5.2. The Three Arpeggiators One of the unique features of the Keystep Pro is that has three (!) arpeggiators. What makes it even more unique is that these arpeggiators can run in different scales and time signatures simultaneously.

  • Page 58: Hold And The Arpeggiator

    Note: The HOLD state is not saved with the pattern. Note: HOLD does not work with external MIDI. If you need to hold an external MIDI note(s), send the Keystep Pro a Sustain message using a sustain pedal. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...

  • Page 59: Arpeggiator Features

    'Poly' will repeat the entire chord instead of arpegiatting the notes inside of the chord. The octave of the notes repeated will depend on the Arp octave parameter and will basically transpose the chord, then switch back to the current octave. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 60 The Keystep Pro Arpeggiator will keep the pitch of your arpeggio intact. If you change the octave down or up the new notes you play will be added to the arpeggio in the new octave range.
  • Page 61 5.2.4.4. Scale and Root When an arpeggio is running you can alter its scale on the fly. Please refer to the to the Scales [p.84] section later in the chapter for more information. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 62 5.2.4.5. Chord Mode The KeyStep Pro can 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. It's a feature that gives new meaning to the word arpeggio. Chord mode enables you to create blindingly fast and intricate polyphonic scale quantized arpeggios;...

  • Page 63: Making The Most Of The Arpeggiators

    (LFO->Filter Cutoff), the Attack, Sustain and Decay stages of the note and its volume (keyboard pressure. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...

  • Page 64: The Four Sequencers

    16 notes per step. The KeyStep Pro thus enables you to create and carry up to 64 unique sequences wherever you go. And in spite of its small footprint, there are lots of ways to modify your sequences during a performance.
  • Page 65 In Drum mode, Mono mode means that all 24 tracks share the same length. In Poly mode, each track can have a separate length. Note: When Poly is active, Last Step operations (copy, extend) only affect the currently selected track. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 66 5.3.1.5. Scales, Chords and the sequencer The Keystep Pro gives you complete control over the tonality of your sequence. once you 've programmed a sequence you can change its root note and the scale it plays in.

  • Page 67: Recording

    Note: The previous pattern, the one you erased is still in memory. Hold SHIFT + Exit/Undo to restore it. Exit/Undo will blink whenever there is something present in the undo buffer. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 68 Start playing and observe how the steps fill. At the end of the pattern the KeyStep Pro will loop back to the beginning and overwrite the steps that you played before.

  • Page 69: Editing Steps

    You enter Step edit mode by pressing the step edit button. The Step Edit button is probably one of the most important buttons on the Keystep Pro. You use it to edit the steps of the sequence individually.
  • Page 70 When it's off you use it to turn steps on or off. That seems a trivial thing but it can make a big difference to the feel of your sequence. When your sequence is running the Keystep Pro will light up the keys that active in your sequence. You can do several things now: •...
  • Page 71 NOTE: New notes you add when OVERDUB is ON will automatically be selected for editing. Once in this mode (Step edit/OVERDUB on) you can press other steps to select subsets of chords in them. Press OVERDUB once more to return to regular step edit mode. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...

  • Page 72: Working With Patterns

    32 steps or longer. It's called the step skip feature: hold a step and press the sequence page buttons in with do not want the Keystep Pro to play this step. If you have four identical patterns in each range, hold steps 8 and 16, and press 32 and 64, the 8th and the 16th step will not play in those ranges.
  • Page 73 It's important to understand how the Keystep Pro handles your pattern edits. When ever you work with a pattern it is kept in memory. If you would switch off the KeyStep Pro during the edit proces and restart it, your project would show up empty. To save it permanently you have to save it to make your edit permanent.

  • Page 74: Copy, Paste & Erase (Steps)

    ! Erasing steps is immediate; there is no message asking you whether you really want to erase. On step level this makes sense as the consequences of an accidental erase are not serious. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...

  • Page 75: Copy, Paste & Erase

    5.3.6. Copy, Paste & Erase (Pages) There are four step groups on the KeyStep Pro: up to step 16, up to step 32, up to step 48 and up to step 64. In the text below we'll refer to these groups as pages; pages 16, 32, 48 and 64.

  • Page 76: The Drum Sequencer

    As explained in the overview chapter the Drum Sequencer can be in POLY and MONO mode. In POLY mode each track can have its own length. This feature enables you to create complex Polymeter rhythms. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...

  • Page 77: Gates And Triggers

    It is essential to understand that gates and triggers are two different things. A trigger is a very short pulse that can be used to sync modules to each other, or in the case of the Keystep Pro, to start Envelopes. A gate is usually longer: anywhere from a few milliseconds to a few seconds.

  • Page 78: Creating Drum Patterns

    5.4.3. Creating Drum Patterns For this section, we'll assume you have your KeyStep Pro in Drum mode. If you are not sure, press the DRUM button on Track 1. 5.4.3.1. Drum Quick edit mode Quick edit is the fastest way to create and experiment with rhythmic patterns.
  • Page 79 Utility>DrumMap>Config>Custom. This Utility setting enable you to map each key on the KeyStep Pro to a specific drum in you DAW. The MIDI Control Center has similar options if you prefer to work from there. Last but not least: the first eigth keys/tracks on your keyboard are mapped to the Drum Gate outputs on the back of the KeysTep Pro.
  • Page 80 's a great way to introduce tension. You can start with a pattern will several muted drum tracks and gradually unmute them one by one when you need the extra drive the provide. There are two ways to mute drums on the KeyStep Pro: The first is Quick mute, the second MUTE mode.
  • Page 81 This can help add a human feel to your drum patterns. The range is -50 to +50, or half of the Time Division value. Randomness Randomness randomly mutes notes/triggers in your sequence. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 82 SHIFT and press Shift/Follow. This takes the KeyStep Pro in- and out of Pattern Follow mode. When this mode is active during playback, the Step Group LEDs and the Step buttons will show steps 1-16, then steps 17-32, 33-48, 49-64 then return to steps 1-16, and so on.
  • Page 83 32 steps, but the Step buttons will stay focused on steps 17-32. Simply edit the steps as desired with the Step buttons and encoders. When you're finished you can re-enter Pattern Follow mode with SHIFT + Lst Step if you like. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 84 Triplet options are available, too.  Note: When Keystep Pro Clock is set to 1 pulse per step, changing Drum Time Division is only available when Keystep Pro is stopped.
  • Page 85 To clear the triggers currently stored in a drum track hold SHIFT and press 'Clr Steps'. To Clear the entire pattern and reset all of its settings like track lengths, time divisions etc. hold SHIFT and Clr Ptn. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 86 Especially if your patterns are 32 steps or longer. It's called the step skip feature: hold a step and press the sequence range buttons in with do not want the Keystep Pro to play this step. If you have four identical patterns in each range, hold steps 8 and 16, and press 32 and 64, the 8th and the 16th step will not play in those ranges.

  • Page 87: Rhythmic Examples

    Africa. To convert the rhythm to the Keystep Pro you might want to read 'S' as a drum hit with maximum velocity and 's' as a drum hit with medium velocity. The same applies to 'T' and 't'.
  • Page 88 To deactivate a step press it once more. Things to try: SHIFT + Rand Order SHIFT + Seq Pattern (random and walk) SHIFT + Time Division (1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and the triplet variations) Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 89 Central Africa. Setting Pattern rotation By shifting a pattern one position to the right with the KeyStep Pro's NUDGE function (SHIFT + NUDGE>) you change the overall character of the rhythm. If you start the above rhythm on the second step, as in [× · · × · ], it suddenly becomes a rhythm often found in Central Africa, Bulgaria, Turkey, Turkestan and Norway.

  • Page 90: Special Features

    5.5. Special features The KeyStep Pro has many features you use to add so spice and variation to your Track. Below we'll have a look at them. 5.5.1. Scales Scales express emotion in music. A single melodic line can evoke many emotions, but when you add chord notes from the scale of the melody to that melodic line, the feeling will become much stronger.
  • Page 91 Blues scale (C, D, Eb, F, Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb) To hear (and see) the effect of selecting a scale on your Keystep Pro, switch it on if it isn't on already (do you ever turn it off?) and select a preset on your external synth with a fairly simple sound.
  • Page 92 This, as opposed to 'dumb' transpose that adds a halve or a whole tone to every step of the scale. Note: If you want to know more about the fascinating subject, search "music theory" on a search engine or YouTube. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Making Tracks...
  • Page 93 5.5.1.3. User Scales The KeyStep Pro comes with 6 predefined scales, but if you can create your own scale and store it as user scale 1 or 2. In the example below, we'll add Bhairavi, a well known and popular scale in Indian music.

  • Page 94: Chord Mode

    Chord Mode lets you experiment with chord transpositions in new ways. It's a unique new Keystep Pro feature. When in chord mode you play a chord of up to four notes on the keyboard, the KeyStep Pro will switch to chord mode. It will remember the interval structure of chord you played when initiating Chord mode and allow you to play this chord with just one key.

  • Page 95: Using Sync

    Time Division allows you to sync proportionally; at double speed, at half-speed, or even slower than that. The KeyStep Pro can also sync to your Modular system; the clock-in jack on the rear panel accepts clock signals that sync the Keystep Pro to the clock of your Eurorack system, be it a sequencer and LFO or a dedicated Clock module.

  • Page 96: What Is A Project

    Projects are designed for this kind of situation. The internal memory of the KeyStep Pro holds a total of 16 Projects. You could think of a Project as a single song (although it could be an entire performance). Each project contains: •...

  • Page 97: Saving A Project

    Note: Again, if you change your mind during the erase process press EXIT to stop the process, and return to the currently loaded Project. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 98: All About Tracks

    Pressing this button again (with or without SHIFT pressed) exits SOLO mode, goes back to mutes if there were some active ones. Except for current track that becomes unlit. SOLO takes priority over Mute. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 99: Creating Splits

    Note:Transpore ignores the split point. Holding TRANS and pressing a key transposes the track that is in focus. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 100: Patterns

    Why is this important? The KeyStep Pro is very much an improvisation tool when you load a pattern you have many tools available to create variations of the current pattern. When making these changes some of them will turn out ok others will turn out disastrous.

  • Page 101: Copy, Paste & Erase Sequencer Patterns

    If you now press steps, the content of the copy buffer will be pasted into the patterns you select. Press the Exit button to exit the Paste process. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 102: Copy, Paste & Erase Of Drum Patterns

    If you now press steps, the content of the copy buffer will be pasted into the patterns you select. Press the Exit button to exit the Paste process. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 103: Erasing Patterns

    6.3.6. Undo There's of course always the risk that you erase something unintentionally. Fortunately, the Keystep Pro has an UNDO function. It can't save you all the time, but when available, usually after a critical erase, the Exit button blinks.

  • Page 104: Arranging

    OLED screen, it will display how many patterns are currently stored in the chain. When you press play, the chains you programmed in each track will take care of changing patterns. An existing Chain is replaced when you create a new one. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?
  • Page 105 (1) dummy (1) dummy (1) first sequence first sequence dummy (1) dummy (16) second sequence second sequence first sequence dummy (16) dummy (16) dummy (16) second sequence Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 106: Scenes

    Save button pressed and save to multiple Scenes. Scenes are automatically saved within the project when you save a project. Press Exit to cancel saving. Scenes can be Erased, Copied and Pasted in the same way as Patterns. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 107: Wait To Load

    You can perform the magic you need with the 'Wait Load ' button of step 16. If Wait Load is activated with SHIFT + 'Wait Load' the Keystep Pro will check the settings in Utility to see whether it changes should be instant or delayed until a Pattern/Project/Scene ends.

  • Page 108: Step Skip

    NOTE: This also works in Step Edit mode. 6.4.5. Top-Down There are two ways you can start composing and songwriting on the Keystep Pro. The first is the top-down approach. It's similar to a writer who sketches a storyline for a book. She will start by writing a series of scenes that will make up the story.

  • Page 109: Bottom-Up

    By combining patterns of these lengths it is easy to keep your patterns more or less in sync. Of course, if sync is not what you're after, throw in a few odd numbers. And don't forget to enjoy it. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - What is a Project?

  • Page 110: Timing

    7. TIMING This chapter is about timing. How do you sync your external gear to the Keystep pro? Or the other way around; how do you sync sequencers and arpeggiators to an external sequencer or a DAW? Hopefully, you'll find all the answers here.

  • Page 111: Metronome

    7.1.2. Metronome The Keystep Pro has a metronome function that enables you to hear the tempo as well as count in's before real-time recording. By default, the Metronome is off. To turn it on hold SHIFT and press the Tap Tempo button. An encoder on the back of the KeyStep Pro enables you to change the volume of the built-in piezo speaker.

  • Page 112: Sync

    DAW of the Eurorack system, you'll need a way to sync that external device to the KeyStep Pro. That is where Sync comes in. The KeyStep Pro has a Sync out for sending sync signals and a Sync in for receiving sync signal from external devices.

  • Page 113: Sync/Clock And Reset Outputs

    Eurorack modules. 7.3.1. Stop, Start & Continue Other settings in the Utility menu will determine how the Keystep Pro will send and respond to the Stop, Start & Continue commands it receives. For details please refer to Chapter 9 [p.116]...

  • Page 114: Control Mode

    MIDI CC# codes have existed for over 40 years and despite their enormous potential they are not widely used. When you turn one of the five encoders on the KeyStep Pro and the Keystep Pro is in Control mode it will transmit a CC# code.

  • Page 115: Cc# Patterns

    Control Mode on the KeyStep Pro If you now turn the encoders you will see their CC# values displayed in the console window. Note: If you're the lucky owner of Arturia Pigments you could map these four controllers to Pigment's four macro knobs.

  • Page 116: The Automation Sequencers

    8.2. The Automation Sequencers Without a doubt, the control track is one of the most exciting features of the Keystep Pro. If you've used a DAW like Ableton or Logic in the past you will be familiar with automation lanes. The control track is the KeyStep Pro variant of an automation lane. The control track A sequence pattern record notes (the pitch of a note) and velocities (the strength with which you hit the key);...

  • Page 117: Recording Control Values In Step Edit Mode

    If however your KeyStep Pro is connected to several synths and a DAW and you want to be able to send different control data to each synth, you'll have to assign a different MIDI channel to each synth and adjust channels on the KeyStep Pro accordingly.

  • Page 118: Controlling Parameters On A Daw

    KeyStep Pro to knobs on the plugin. Imagine the new sonic options you have when using the Encoders on the KeyStep Pro to control the filters on the CZ V, the DX7 V, and the Buchla Easel V simultaneously.

  • Page 119: More About Cc# Sequences

    CC. If a knob has no recorded automation, its LED ring will have all LEDs lit up to the value of the CC#(plus one dimmed LED at the end if applicable). Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Control mode...

  • Page 120: Real-Time Recording Cc# Values

    To drop-out of control mode press the button of the Live track again. All SHIFT functions are now again at your disposal. Note: The Overwrite button has no effect while Control mode is active. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Control mode...

  • Page 121: Top Panel Functions

    Chapter 6 [p.90]. 8.3.4. Transport section The Transport section works the same way in Control Mode as it does in the other modes unless instructed otherwise by the MIDI Control Center. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Control mode...

  • Page 122: Keystep Pro Configuration

    Utility>MIDI Settings>Knob Acceleration. The answer to many of you questions can be found in the Utility menu of the Keystep Pro or the Device settings of Keystep Pro in the MIDI Control Center. In Utility on the KeyStep Pro, you can adjust settings specifically for a project.

  • Page 123: Sync

    To use the Metronome activate it with SHIFT + Tap Tempo/Metronome. The default time signature is 4/4. For example, to set the time signature to 5/8 set Time-division to 8 and Time signature to 5. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 124: Launch Quantize

    Pattern In this menu, you 'tell' the Keystep Pro how it should continue to the next Pattern, Chain or Scene. Should it wait for 1 bar, 2 bars or 4 bar to make the switch? This is useful in live performance settings where you may not want to interrupt the flow of the music between Projects.
  • Page 125 9.1.5.6. Clock send Set whether the KSP will transmit clock signal to external MIDI devices. 9.1.5.7. Clock receive Set whether the KSP will receive a clock signal from external MIDI devices. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 126: Cv Settings

    This is where you set the output voltage level of the drum gates. Different brands of Synths and Drum synths may require a specific voltage to trigger them properly. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 127: Controller

    5. Encoder 2 could transmit CC 19 on the first MIDI port on MIDI channel 6 with the range set to a minimum of 50 and a maximum value of 80. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 128: Touch Strip

    MIDI CC value 1/16 1/32 release value However, if you draw a controller curve for the touch strip in your DAW the KeyStep Pro will respond to the values in the following way: MIDI CC value received Touch strip region selected...

  • Page 129: Drum Map

    Set the start time of the VEGAS LED pattern. Screen Saver [2min (d), 10min, 30min] Set the start time the screen saver will kick in. Reset Factory Confirm [Yes,No] Restore factory settings Firmware version Displays current Firmware version Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 130: Midi Control Center

    The MIDI Control Center is an application that allows you to configure the MIDI settings of your KeyStep Pro. It works with most of Arturia's devices, so if you have an earlier version of the software you'll want to download the latest version. It will work with those products as well.

  • Page 131: Device Projects

    Projects is selected from the list the MIDI Control Center can recall that Project from the internal memory of the KeyStep Pro and place it into the User Project area in the Project Browser window. See the Store To/Recall From [p.128]...

  • Page 132: Project Browser

    KeyStep Pro internal memory at that Project location.  !: This process will overwrite the selected Project in the KeyStep Pro internal memory. Be sure to save what you were doing before you transfer the file! Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 133: Revise A Pattern

    KeyStep Pro.  !: When the MIDI Control Center sends a pattern to KeyStep Pro it will overwrite the pattern in that memory location. Be sure this is what you want to do before you transfer one of these files!

  • Page 134: Store To/Recall From

    !: When you follow the steps below you will overwrite the current Project that resides inside the KeyStep Pro. Be sure this is what you want to do! If not, please store it to another location inside the KeyStep Pro.

  • Page 135: Recall A Project From The Keystep Pro

    Here are some examples of what you can do • Set Knob Acceleration, Aftertouch and Velocity curves and transport modes. • Assign an encoder to control any MIDI CC# and define its operational range. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 136: Device Settings

    The settings you see here are the same as in the Utility menu on the KeyStep Pro. These setting are linked to a Project; each project can have its configuration settings.

  • Page 137: Sync

    9.6.4. Launch Quantize In this menu, you 'tell' the Keystep Pro how it should continue to the next Pattern, Chain or Scene. Should it wait for 1 bar, 2 bars or 4 bar to make the switch? This is useful in live performance settings where you may not want to interrupt the flow of the music between Projects.

  • Page 138: Midi Settings

    MIDI. It can either be OFF, MCC (the KSP will use the setting currently stored in the MCC) or use the current Real-Time setting. 9.6.5.6. Clock send Set whether the KSP will transmit clock signal to external MIDI devices. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 139: Cv Gate Settings

    These parameters enable you to set up the KeyStep Pro as a controller. 'Global MIDI channel' set the default MIDI channel on which the KeyStep Pro will transmit. The Knob (encoder) settings define the functionality of the five encoders. Each Encoder can have a different profile.

  • Page 140: Touch Strip

    MIDI CC value 1/16 1/32 release value However, if you draw a controller curve for the touch strip in your DAW the KeyStep Pro will respond to the values in the following way: MIDI CC value received Touch strip region selected...

  • Page 141: Drum Map

    Set the start time of the VEGAS LED pattern. Screen Saver [2min (d), 10min, 30min] Set the start time the screen saver will kick in. Reset Factory Confirm [Yes,No] Restore factory settings Firmware version Displays current Firmware version Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro Configuration...

  • Page 142: Keystep Pro And Your Modular System

    Another interesting use of the KeyStep Pro is to use it as the master clock of your RackBrute system. To make this possible the KeyStep Pro has a Clock Output. The Clock input allows you to connect the KeyStep Pro to a clock module on your RackBrute.

  • Page 143: The Modular Adventure

    Another interesting use of the KeyStep Pro is to use it as the master clock of your RackBrute system. To make this possible the KeyStep Pro has a Clock Output. A smart solution is to connect the Clock output of the Keystep Pro to a clock divider.

  • Page 144: Using Midi To Control Modules On Vcvrack

    10.3. Using MIDI to control Modules on VCVRACK Another option is to control MIDI-enabled software on your computer. In the example below, we'll use the arpeggiator of the Keystep Pro to control an oscillator on VCVRACK a free virtual Modular system you can download from https://vcvrack.com](https://vcvrack.com/)) •...
  • Page 145 You may have guessed by now that the MIDI-CC module of VCVRACK is a very useful tool to figure out what CC# codes are currently being send by the encoders. Just click on one of the 16 fields and move an encoder on the Keystep Pro; its CC# number will be displayed by the MIDI-CC module.

  • Page 146: Cv/Gate Functions

    Connection diagrams for each of these interfaces are available in Making the Connections [p.14]. In this chapter, we'll focus on the features of the Keystep Pro CV/Gate circuitry. Refer to the MIDI Control Center [p.124] chapter for in-depth coverage of the MIDI features available.

  • Page 147: Routing Signals

    4 note chords in each step and you assign the output of Track one to Voice 1, Voice 2, Voice 3, and Voice 4. What will happen? The Keystep Pro will applaud your idea and distribute the notes in your step over the four voice outputs! If you have more than 4 notes in a step the KeyStep Pro will steal voices to solve that problem;...

  • Page 148: Cv/Gate Signals: Daw Configuration

    CV/Gate jacks in a number of ways. As an alternative you can change these setting in Utility>CV>Voice. These are the electrical signals that can be sent by the Keystep Pro CV and Gate jacks: Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro and your Modular system...

  • Page 149: Drum Gates

    There's a MIDI note number assignment for each Drum Gate, and you can set those values using the MIDI Control Center [p.124] and in Utility>Drum Map When the MIDI channel and the note numbers match, the Drum Gates will be triggered. Arturia - User Manual Keystep Pro - Keystep Pro and your Modular system...

  • Page 150: How Should I Route The Signals

    Fortunately, we've designed the Keystep Pro Drum Gate jacks to operate as either a V- trigger or an S-trigger . These settings will work with the vast majority of the devices you will encounter.
  • Page 151 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.
  • Page 152 The License is not a sale of the original SOFTWARE. 2. Grant of License Arturia grants you a non-exclusive license for the use of the software according to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. You may not lease, loan or sub- license the software.
  • Page 153 (a) return of the purchase price or (b) replacement of the disk that does not meet the Limited Warranty and which is returned to Arturia with a copy of your receipt. This limited Warranty is void if failure of the software has resulted from accident, abuse, modification, or misapplication.

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