Controlling Parameters On The Microfreak - Arturia KEYSTEP 37 User Manual

8.3.2. Controlling parameters on the MicroFreak

Let's try and control some parameters on the MicroFreak. If you don't own a MicroFreak it
doesn't matter, the description below fits every type of synth.
The MicroFreak, currently one of the most popular Arturia Synthesizers, has very sonically
interesting CC# control options: sending a sequence of MIDI CC 23 messages with varying
values to the MicroFreak will have the same effect as turning the filter knob by hand:
sending CC 23 with a value of 0 closes the analog filter completely; sending CC 23 with a
value of 127 opens it fully. The MicroFreak has a total of 20 different CC#'s that are available
to control its parameters.
In the example below, we'll use the first knob to open and close the filter of the MicroFreak,
and the second, third and fourth knobs to control Attack, Decay and Sustain of the Envelope
generator.
Before starting to make changes, we'll have to make certain that there is a valid MIDI
connection between the KeyStep 37 and the MicroFreak.
• Connect the MIDI out on the KeyStep37 to the MIDI-in on the MicroFreak and turn
it on. Select a preset with a sound that has an audible response when you tweak
the filter.
• Play some notes and check whether the Microfreak responds when you play the
KeyStep 37 keyboard
To control the Filter on the Microfreak with the values stored in the White Bank we'll have to
change the values currently stored in the white Bank.
By default, the first knob of the first Bank (B1) is set to CC# number 74. we'll have to change
this to CC# number 23:
• First, we'll select CC page the white CC page by holding Shift and pressing the
Chord button repeatedly until it turns white
• Next, we'll keep holding Shift, we press the Chord/CCbank button for two
seconds. The button will blink to indicate that we are now in CC update mode
• Now we turn the first knob and select 23 as CC#
• Finally, we press the CC page button again to exit editing
Play some notes on the KeyStep 37 and wiggle the first knob. You should hear the filter on
the MicroFreak responding.
The envelope on the MicroFreak will respond to CC# 105 (attack), 106 (Decay) and 29
(Sustain). To create a control stream from the KeyStep 37 to the MicroFreak we'll have to
assign these values to the last three CC knobs on the Keystep37
To do so we'll have to repeat some the above steps, hold Shift for two seconds:
• wiggle the second knob and select 105 as CC number
• wiggle the third knob and select 106 as CC number
• wiggle the fourth knob and select 29 as CC number
• press the CC page button to exit editing
That's it!

♪: Another CC# number to explore is '2'. It controls the amount of spice (variation) that is applied to
a sequence or an arpeggio.
Arturia - User Manual KeyStep 37 - Controlling external synths 72