Keystep Vs Keystep Pro: Which one is for YOU? A real user comparison

Keystep vs Keystep Pro comparison from a long time user of the keystep and recent user of the Pro. A few thoughts on strengths and weaknesses of both and who they might better serve.
I would love yo hear about your experience on either one of these in the comments!
Support the channel with affiliate links!
Keystep pro: amzn.to/2HFUKRz
Original Keystep: amzn.to/33jrk40
My synths:
The amazing OP-1: amzn.to/3l4xQ55
Op-1 Top Accessories
Awesome case for your OP-1: amzn.to/2GaPmW7
Decksaver: amzn.to/3cAudR3
Bigger Knobs + Antenna: amzn.to/3mTcucl
Legendary Maschine MK3: amzn.to/3ikIpyZ
The little MPC that could, the ONE: amzn.to/30oenUN
The portable battery packed powerhouse, MPC LIVE MK2: amzn.to/3jjNMji
The Mother ship, MPC X: amzn.to/2Sky0IR
Awesome polysynth Novation Peak: amzn.to/3kZO7bg
Moog Sub 37:amzn.to/3l2VOgK
Moog Subharmonicon: amzn.to/3ipo4J2
Moog Grandmother: amzn.to/3jk3Lh8
Studio Mic, Rode NT1: amzn.to/30jcF71
Audio interface: amzn.to/36jYt1t
COLOR AUDIO CABLES!!: amzn.to/2G53uk1
My KZbin Video GEAR:
Main Camera: amzn.to/3kSc8kE
B Cam: amzn.to/2HAw7G5
20mm Lens: amzn.to/30dXZ9v
Zoom lens: amzn.to/3kRVxx4
Monopod: amzn.to/30ajEPV
NTG Videomic: amzn.to/3ijXqRJ
Edited on Ipad pro 12.9: amzn.to/2G41Uyz
Macbook pro 16 inch: amzn.to/3cJHJSy
Magic Mouse 2: amzn.to/30mmqkS
follow me on instagram: @midlifesynthesist

[@seancraig5373]

very helpful indeed-thanks! LOVE your videos, nice clear and easy to understand explanations of lots of different gear.

[@jfjlive]

The standard keystep is an AMAZING controller for the price... so much fun! The only complaint I can make is just that it doesn't have a BPM readout or a way to precisely set BPM from the front. Keystep pro addresses all that and more.

[@torbentitze1096]

Hey, I am really enjoying your channel. You will be happy to hear, that in update 2.0 for the KSP Arturia has added the option to play arpeggios with the sequencer stopped. Keep it up!

[@TheFlippertube]

The cuts make me feel like I'm blinking on ecstacy.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Sorry for that😅 my editing has gotten better over time I think, my more recent videos aren’t as glitchy. Thanks for watching though!

[@ezrajoel870]

I guess it's kind of randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to watch newly released movies online ?

[@saintgabriel790]

@Ezra Joel i watch on FlixZone. You can find it on google =)

[@joachim595]

Yes I agree. I’m sorry but I can’t watch this however much I think the comparison is very interesting. It just sets off too much stress to watch.

[@coldnoise]

Thanks for that. Really helpful.

[@psmaulehlien]

Easy to understand information. Thanks.

[@jeffneria]

I always appreciate your videos/reviews. One significant difference is the 37 won't run off of iphone bus power. Could be a non issue for many people, but for those that may want to use their iphone as a super convenient and portable sound source, its worth noting.

[@garyhendrie4001]

Love your vids man, such sn easy like Sunday morning style. Just waiting on a keystep pro coming and super excited.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thank you so much my friend! Cheers!

[@jfjlive]

Thank you for sharing, good stuff!!

[@lorislrs3975]

Very good and relevant video. Thank you !

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thank you for watching!

[@maarzt]

Dude I have this and love it too. Its like youre saying my mind - worth every penny despite the fact I have alot of sequencers in other gear (Elektrons, Deluge, CMS). Cheers!

[@harukalynnsakurai1714]

Thank you for this video! Now keystep 37 is out.. I'd love to see your video talking about difference between Keystep pro and Keystep 37!!

[@noiselabproject9659]

Nice video. Some of us have been hoping for this for a long time now and it`s a massive stepup from the original Keystep which I found was great as a compact midi controller with the odd bit of arp for me but that`s all I used it for and I did buy 2 to add to my large midi setup but mainly because they made affordable extra usable midi controllers. Hoping to get a Keystep Pro at some point in the not to distant future and then run it alongside my faithful old Beatstep Pro ( which in turn was a huge stepup from the original Beatstep ) .... `appy dayz ....

[@oskie66skye]

I got a couple of keystep white and black and a black limited beatstep pro...i just love them

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

That’s awesome! The arturia ‘step family rocks! I really hope they come out with a black keystep pro eventually👌🏻

[@geekindakitchen]

Keystep 37 versus Keystep Pro would be dope - keep up the good work

[@randomaztec2208]

Nice video great content, one suggestion, too many camera switch edits ..

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Random Aztec thank you very much for the feedback! I’m still very much in the learning fase, so this really helps! See you around!

[@avtargill]

@@MidlifeSynthesist +1 on slowing down or reducing the number of cuts. Good review though!

[@JUNO-69]

The sequencer in the original key step was completely useless until I found a really easy Workaround so I can record a sequence in real-time. I set the time division knob to 1/16, clear all by pressing (shift oct + oct -), set sequence length by holding record and pressing the 16 step button 4 times which gives me 64 steps. Now with it connected and midi synced to any other piece of gear that I have that has a metronome and 16 step sequencer such as my korg volca or circuit (it really doesn’t matter) I hit play and record on the key step and let it play through the 4 sets of 16 once through and start playing on the next cycle. It’s super easy once you get the hang of it and really doesn’t add any time to my workflow.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Roy G Biv that’s some great advice! Thank you and please keep ‘em coming😁👍🏼

[@agerven]

Actually Arturia has a video somewhere (on their site or on youtube, i don't remember) dedicated to sequencing on the original keystep. That's the video that actually got me going on that.

[@gchristyer]

Very professional !

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

gordon christer thank you!!!

[@stevelind8273]

Besides this (keystep) being an awesome tool, I like the speed of the vid. It is direct, speedy and comes to the point quit fast. Like I said awesome tool, bought it yesterday and already in love with it. Keep up the good work.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thanks so much my friend! Appreciate you stopping by, cheers!

[@blackjid]

Nice video!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Grande compa!! Mil gracias! Nos vemos post pandemia🤟🏻

[@audiolego]

I have one Keystep 1. It's soo good because it has that step sequencer. Big fan of step sequencing. Like the Pro 1 step sequencer, hit or miss

[@e8n]

This was very helpful and saved me a couple hundred $$$ on going to the pro. Maybe someday but your summary sold me on the Keystep! Thank you for taking the time to do this!

[@jiraiyasdiary9147]

i love this review

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thank you! (Also, I frikin love Jiraiya!)

[@istvantoth7431]

I see you had the Walking Dead hair style back then, during the pandemic. Like many of us. Well done. You are truly one of us.

[@chopshop523]

Clown! Can’t be a grown man talking. Embarrassing with that soft bs!

[@RiczWest]

Would be great to get a Keystep Pro v Keystep 2 comparison video - Arturia should send you one for evaluation :)

[@BrandonAaskov]

As straightforward as it is, I would love to see a MIDI channel jam where you switch gear/VSTs by switching MIDI channels. I don’t think I’ve seen one.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Hi! I was looking in my channel for one and realized I haven’t uploaded a jam where I do this😅 It’s extremely useful for live “midi looping” with the digitakt. Say you have a piano sample on track 6, a bass on 7 and a vocal chop on 8. You can live record and loop by inputting the notes on each track by easily switching channels on the keystep as you go along playing the samples cromatically. I hope that makes sense lol. It’s a great way to get out of writers block and a wonderful performance tool. I sold my OG keystep, but as soon as the keystep 37 arrives I’ll make a video on that, promise👍🏼 thanks for watching my friend!

[@not_n_no]

awesome video, actually made me think about with one I should get, could you do a demonstration of the quick change with of the midi channels with Ableton and the vsts you mentioned in this vid?

[@agerven]

Very nice comparison! For me the original keystep was and is sufficient. I use it as a complement to the D50: One of the big issues on the D50 is its aftertouch sensor. After some years it just fails. I know how to revive it but hate to open up the D50 and get tangling on it. Where the keystep comes in: The D50 does not have a sequencer or an appegiator. What it does have is dual (separate) mode, in which you can access two patches, each on its own midi channel, simultaneously. So the keystep allows me to play both patches independently at the same time. As i seldom use a computer to fine tune the keystep settings it is perfect for me. Only wish i had bought a second one for the original price, to control my synth (19" rack that is) modules.

[@thedeepblueskys]

There all for me. I bought one of each Step controller except the Beatstep non pro. I kinda want another KS37 and KSP

[@funkbungus137]

I fuckin laughed so hard at the sponsorship hah. good stuff.

[@fernandoplanes7969]

When looping if you want precision try pressing the steps you want at the same time :) I love the keystep pro because of how simple it is to record music.. you can be very precise on what you want without having to press too many keys, or go deep on the menus, you can do everything on the fly. I think it is also a great tool for performance, and it being good for both things naturally brings me to performing variations of what I might be recording, and in that sense I think it does enhance creativity a lot more than any other piece of gear I've tried

[@nebula0697]

Are you referring among other things to live-record sequencing? On the keystep and minibrute 2 I have a hard time getting the swingy sequences I want by using the rest and ties, and almost feel as if I need an "unquantized" mode to record more natural feeling lines like I do on a looper. It seems like combining the metronome and ratchets on the Keystep Pro allows you to do this, like you can on the DSI Pro 3 and Volca Keys for instance.

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

10:27 Could have also put up a picture of the Korg Electribe--WHICH, I'm selling today in favor of this intuitive awesome piece of hardware from Arturia

[@zenithpinch]

keystep pro is one of the best purchases I've made.

[@davidsobel3303]

as if I wasn't confused enough, Arturia just dropped the Keystep 37 this week...4 encoders with MIDI CC plus a bunch of other stuff!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

David Sobel I’m totally in the same boat as you on that my friend! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it 🤣 gonna have to make a new video I guess🤷🏻‍♂️

[@CraigMcNutt]

@@MidlifeSynthesist The Keystep 37 is an excellent performance controller IMHO. I hope you get a chance to check it out. Many more features for not much more money over the original.

[@SkywalkFPV]

Nice video! Would you able to sequence 4 external synths at the same time and also a separate drum machine? And would you be able to adjust for example reverb or any filters of the synths on the fly, while they are being sequenced? And would you be able to change a preset on synths and overdub, without affecting the sequence that already is in play from that synth?.. If not, what sequencer on earth would be able to do these things that has been asked above, thanks in advance!

[@silverxgt1125]

Can the key step pro show you the scale with the lights?, besides the user scales that is. That would be very educational.

[@chrisyuo6474]

Hello, what’s is the connection to electro digikat to sequence from key step pro? Nice video and subscribed!

[@Tyler_Durden987]

A camera cut after every damn sentence... STAHP! Great information, just some honest criticism about the video.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Lol sorry about that😅 thank you for the constructive criticism, at the time I was starting out and could barely get through a whole sentence on camera. That’s why it’s so chopped up. In my latest videos I feel I’ve improved but there’s still alot of room to grow. I’ll keep trying my best till I get it right 👍🏼 Thank you for watching, stay safe!

[@AppAxis]

Yeah, the step sequencing on the baby Keystep was NOT fun for production or composing. But it plays well w/ the Blackbox

[@Leo9ine]

Advice from someone who bought the 37 then upgraded to the Pro - If you want to *play* music, get the 37. If you want to *make songs* - but still record tracks one at a time and edit them together in a daw, still get the 37. If you want to *make songs or play live,* and arrange 4 tracks in realtime without needing to edit them together later, get the Pro. The 37 is an amazing midi controller. The Pro is four amazing midi controllers. Simple as that. If you want to go dawless, the Pro is almost essential. If you're fluent in a DAW, the Pro might be redundant.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Great insight! Thanks for sharing and see you soon👍🏼

[@QuantizStudioRecords]

How is Keystep Pro vs. Novation SL? MK3?

[@ASH-ou4cg]

Awesome video, thanks so much for sharing! I do hope you can help me, with an answer to this question? I see you really harped about how the original KeyStep could very easily jump between midi channels, by holding shift and pressing keys 1-16 on the keyboard. You said this isn't dead on the Keystep Pro, but how exactly do you do it? I don't yet have the Keystep Pro, but I immediately noticed that first 16 keys are now populated by other functionality, other than being able to quickly and easily jump between midi channels. How would you jump between midi channels on the Keystep Pro, like one would on the original Keystep? Thanks again!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Hi Andrew! Unfortunately the 16 midi channel quick jump is only available on the original keystep. When I said “it’s not like it died” I was referring to the original keystep still being alive and well in production. On the keystep pro you only get quick access to the 4 midi tracks on the panel, which you can assign to any channel via the menu. It’s something I definitely miss, but believe me that the trade off is totally worth it! Cheers!

[@ASH-ou4cg]

@@MidlifeSynthesist Thank you so much for your reply! The trade off may be a bit of a subjective thing. Yes, the Pro adds a lot, but it loses a lot too. That is a HUGE setback, going from quick and easy access to 16 channels on the fly, to only 4, where you have to menu dig, in order to make a change. I have been in contact with support over this last week and they say it is on their agenda to be addressed in a future update. Let us hope that is the case and it comes sooner, than later. Thanks so much for your reply!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Andrew Henderson that’s great news!! The pro would be killer if you could quick jump the 16 channels! Lets hope they do it! Happy music making my friend!

[@mikehemens9359]

Can you sequence 2 drum machines with the pro?

[@coyotesynth]

The original Keystep is not a 2 octaves keyboard, but 2,5.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

coyotesynth Correct! Sorry for the mistake in the video👍🏼 That’s why I mentioned that I never really felt “crammed” on the original. Thank you for pointing that out, peace!

[@coyotesynth]

@@MidlifeSynthesist that's ok, nice video though. Keep on!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

coyotesynth thanks bro!

[@superproducercbiz]

Does the pro have note repeat ?

[@paulsarodh5460]

Superb 😃🎉🎉🎉🎈🎈🎄🎄🐎🐎🏆

[@ckjjclan]

Can something like the keystep pro play multiple parts on a single synth? Like sending a bass seq to one midi Chanel on the synth, and then on another midi Chanel sending another seq to the same synth? Or are there synths that can do that? Ugh, I hate being a beginner…

[@engelberthumperdinck7723]

Yes, it can. Many polyphonic synthesizers with robust sequencers can do this on their own, but it’s often less hands-on and intuitive and fast than the KSP.

[@jolomuhmad2925]

I'm stuck here wondering how the mispronunciation of digitakt spread through youtube. Where did this start?

[@chatolars]

Video topic: why did you sell all your modular ?

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Hi! That’s a really good idea, thank you👍🏼 by the way, love your user profile👏🏼

[@chatolars]

The Midlife Synthesist thank you 🙏

[@caseylockwood5512]

4:05 Why do you hate having to press play to use the arp? Makes perfect sense to me, it functions as a normal keyboard until told to behave in different fashion, aka now you're an arp.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Hi bro, sometimes my hardware setups get kinda hectic, and I use the keystep mainly to input notes into other devices and “midi live loop” if that makes sense. Having to push play/start to use the arp means extra midi configuring my devices so they don’t respond to that signal in that instance. Then when I want to use the keystep as a master clock/sequencerI have to go configure my devices to respond etc. It’s not a deal breaker or a flaw really, but it would be more convenient to me if it had a dedicated arp on/off switch. Happy new year!

[@caseylockwood5512]

@@MidlifeSynthesist Ah I see, that makes sense. Happy New Year to you too!

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

I love Arturia, own a MicroBrute and a solid metal cased controller keyboard....but....calling a controller made from plastic with mini-keys PRO is not acceptable. Would a PRO guitarist buy a PRO guitar in all plastic with a strange scale and size? NO!!!!!!!!!!

[@winddealer1]

Please consult the Arturia Forums first to read the owners comments before buying any Keystep product. Product Reviews point out the "glittering generalities" of product features while owning the product forces you into "reality". If the KSP is any example of the "top of the line" there isn't much hope for this new Keystep. Yes, the metronome; the greatest feature of the KSP.

[@crnkmnky]

0:18 your sponsor from G.A.S. Anonymous? 🤔

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Lol🤣

[@technodrone313]

denim?

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

lefthandedpolack I knew that shirt was a mistake🤣

[@technodrone313]

@@MidlifeSynthesist I guessed right :D

[@williamshaneblyth]

Minikeys suck unless you aren't a keyboard player

[@drcentertainment4756]

3 octaves not 2.

[@lime31373]

You have some solid arguments, but the editing in this video is really annoying. Please stop zooming in and out! It feels like the editor had short attention span and needed to change angle as much as possible to not get bored.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Lol, I know, sorry about that😅 This was one of my earliest videos and I couldn’t go more than a few words without messing up, so I tried to edit it with jumpcuts (unsuccessfully 🤣). I eventually got a little better at it👍🏼 cheers!

[@frontier9]

because you just talked and didn't give any examples ... pretty frustrating

[@Drsdmjones]

too many cuts.

[@MYLIFE-hq7je]

Today I was in the store and watched keystep 37. On some keys, the plastic creaks not by ear, but tactilely. Is this normal for this model?