Moog Mother 32 Tutorial: Using 2 Separate Keyboards with the M32 (Keystep + MIDI Controller)

[@pageljazz]

At about 6:00, I say that the tracking on the VCO is bad. Obviously, that's not true. I meant the LFO. Oops.

[@destineon9438]

Do you know how to make audio visualizers? I need some for my music. I just made a song btw.

[@pageljazz]

DestiNeon Not really. I use an app called Pixeltoy for Mac. It’s not really made for like making videos, but if you use a screen capture, it sort of works. I will check out your song! Thanks!

[@destineon9438]

Ok thank you. I don't know if you have time, but I am really getting into music now and wanted to check out all the softwares you have. Do you think I could maybe... see you some time, maybe come over to your house to check them out? :)

[@synthcurry]

22:01

[@kevineldred5725]

I really appreciate your calm explanations and level of detail. I learned a lot watching this video and look forward to more. I’m new to synths and basically have been relying on midi keyboards with the m32.

[@Kyoshii_epic_weird_wonderful]

Nice demo at the end, sparks my inspiration as a newcomer to al of this, to apply in my own "genre".. thanks you1

[@Eleth]

Wow, you just showed me what I’m going to be spending some hours after work tonight :) , the sound after minute 15 is what I was looking for, thank you!!!

[@pageljazz]

Ki Eleth Haha-thanks! Enjoy!

[@vivianintheflesh]

exact same here. watching this at work and can't wait to get home and try this out

[@drewdubs]

I really appreciate how this helped me visualize the scale of using modulation. It has my wheels turning for sure.

[@railinly610]

What a great video, thankyou. I'll be returning to this one again.

[@pageljazz]

Thank you very much! Stop by soon... after a bit of a hiatus, I'll be uploading new videos soon. 🙂

[@MatthewMouras]

Thanks for this. I thought your playing of the filter at around 9:51 was lovely.

[@pageljazz]

Blush. Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it!

[@smallshopproductions5334]

Your roll-top desk reminds me of mine! Thanks for the demo and the patch ideas!

[@marcocelis2104]

Wow wonderful tutorial , thanks so much for sharing your knowledge . I'm really surprised this tutorial does not have more likes and viewers .

[@pageljazz]

Well, it's the second most I've ever gotten on a video. But feel free to share! And thank you! :)

[@TomBuhrman]

Amazing tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing your discoveries.

[@pageljazz]

Glad you found it useful. thanks!

[@tempo.rarity]

Fantastic demonstration, thank you very much for sharing

[@fo76]

Thank you!! Lots of inspiring ideas... and well presented...

[@pageljazz]

glad you liked it. thanks!

[@Phargoomax]

Thank you for your great video tutorial! With this I made my very first MM32 patches!

[@pageljazz]

64Interaktiv Hey, thanks! Hearing that actually means a lot. If I did a tutorial on just the M32, would that be useful? There are tons already, but maybe a “how to make your very first patch” video would be of use to beginners (which is exactly what I was a year ago).

[@Phargoomax]

This would be really great! I watched a lot of videos, and there was always missing something (a patch not well explained or showed, a cable too much etc etc). At the beginning, I just wanted to know how I can put together a keyboard with a MM32 and get out some sounds to modify with the MM32. I also like your written descriptions in the video (just taking photos of all of them as a reminder). Thanks a lot and greetings from Germany!

[@grandmasterjo1]

Excellent vid. Thank you so much ❤

[@pageljazz]

Thank you too! 🙂👍

[@jonaseggen2230]

: D From ca 8:30 it sounds like children's tv in the 70's Thank you for great tips

[@pageljazz]

As you probably know, Moog synthesizers (and other analog synths) were used a lot in those soundtracks, so it's not surprising that you hear a similarity. That's also why music on children's TV sounded so hip back then! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!

[@pageljazz]

Thanks for the great feedback, everyone! It’s very encouraging. I will make more tutorials, but first I’m going to edit and upload the jam video I did last night. Should be up in a day or two. Thanks again, and please subscribe so you can continue to see and hear what these great instruments can do!

[@steveallenmashburn8815]

I have three Mothers - I cant wait to try these ideas using a Midi-Thru box with all three synths.

[@pageljazz]

I'm saving up for a second. So many times I've been programming mine and thought, "if ONLY I had another LFO...!" I've thought about getting the 2-tier rack and filling it with another synth, but I already know the Mother is great, so I don't feel like gambling. But I'm sure after a year with two, I'll be thinking, "if ONLY..." :) Anyway, thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed it.

[@SuperMegaWoofer3000]

I enjoyed it! The problem I had with my mother 32 is that the VCO and filter sound so good I never ventured very far! Thanks for the video. Please upload more knowledge! :D

[@pageljazz]

It really doesn't need much tinkering to sound awesome. Most of the time I just use it as a great lead monosynth or for running a sequence with just a pretty straightahead classic "Moog sound." But when I'm in the mood to dig deeper, there's a lot you can do. I guess it depends on the context, and the style of the music you're making, which for me can be anything on any given day. Anyway, thanks. I'm glad you liked it. Don't expect more tutorials soon (this one took a week to produce) - I need to record and upload some jams!

[@ttothey34]

This is awesome! Might I suggest a korg SQ-1? it has both a gate an pitch out so you can use it to modulate via sequencing. That way you if you're tired of playing with your right hand, you'll have something random and automatic! :)

[@pageljazz]

I have since gotten an SQ-1. It behaves strangely sometimes, but yes. It's a nice addition. Having all 3 is great. But the advantage of a keyboard is that it's neither random nor automatic: you have total control! :)

[@guiom77]

Very very very interresting ‼️‼️💥💥👍👍👍👍👍 Thanks ‼️

[@bvl3574]

Great video Karmadog! Apologies if this is incredibly obvious, but what exact cables do I need to connect the moog mother 32 to a midi keyboard? I'm not sure if the diagram at 00:53 suggest that plenty of cables are needed(?) One final question - in a response to a comment below, you mention that you use an 'audio line' to connect your mother 32 to your computer in order to record into garage band. Again, what cable is this exactly? Fundamentally, I just really want to play melodies on my mother 32 via a keyboard, and record them on my laptop! Any help would be hugely appreciated.

[@pageljazz]

Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you. This comment wasn't in my notifications, for some reason. Anyway, at 00:53, all of that stuff is to depict what is happening *inside* the Mother 32. No cables needed! If you do want to do patching, the Mother 32 comes with a half-dozen or so patch cables (3.5mm), but you don't have to use them. If you just want to use it as a great-sounding monosynth, you absolutely can! Any MIDI keyboard with a standard MIDI cable will work perfectly! That's all you need. It's actually a very easy synth to get accustomed to, and it makes great sounds without having to get into any of the patching and stuff. The manual does, however, have some very clear diagrams that show some simple patching ideas to get you started, and in a short time, that starts to make sense opens some new possibilities.

[@SuperMegaWoofer3000]

This is great!

[@pageljazz]

Thanks again, my brother.

[@freejazzbone]

great workshop, thanks

[@pageljazz]

Glad you liked it. I hope you find it useful!

[@SimonLongo]

Great!! good tutorial !

[@pageljazz]

simon longo Thank you very much!

[@loussonaground]

Helpfull !!! Thank you ;-))

[@mergazos]

Can you use the midi cable on the key step alone (with the mother 32)? Can you use the midi and cv outputs at the same time on the keystep with the mother 32?

[@pageljazz]

Yes and yes. Edit: If you're considering a controller for the Mother 32, the Keystep is fantastic. The 37-key version and the Pro (or SuperDeluxe or whatever it's called) have more features and some advantages, but just the regular Keystep is great. It will give you many cool ideas and things to try. The CV out is great to plug into cutoff, mixer, Pulse width, etc. And the CV velocity/aftertouch out can likewise be patched to these things, which give you innumerable creative and expressive possibilities. Velocity to LFO rate can make some really bonkers sounds. So get the Keystep. If you get the itch for more gear, you might want to get one of the higher models, but I'd suggest not falling into that trap. I've had mine for 4 years and am nowhere near tired of it. Have fun!

Thanks. Nice explanations!

[@manuelgodchaux]

Thank you for your videos. I am totally new to using synthesizers of any kind. I have a Mother-32 and a Keystep, and I've got a hopefully straightforward question I'm hoping you can answer. It's been driving me crazy looking around trying to find a solution. I'm running into an issue where--when using Midi cable connection between the two--pressing 'play' on the Keystep (in both sequencer or arpeggiator) will trigger the Mother's own sequencer to start as well, which is a mess. I looked around and some suggest a workaround where you record a sequence of a single 'rest' on the Mother, and then when you press 'play' on the Keystep, the Moog sequence will not interfere (because it's only rest). However, I tried this and when I press play on the Keystep (in both Seq. and Arp.), the single-rest-sequence on the Mother seems to override the Keystep and I will only hear silence unless I manually stop the Mother's sequence. Any thoughts on what I can do to make these machines work together with a Midi connection? Right now, all I'm able to do with the Midi cable connection is play single notes through the Mother. Thank you!!

[@pageljazz]

Andrew Culler Hey, there. Sorry I didn’t reply sooner. Just saw this comment. Anyway, I don’t think I’ve ever had that issue... 🤔 Have you tried connecting your keystep to a computer and looking for a solution in the MIDI Control Center software? It sounds like something that might be fixed by changing one of the settings on the Keystep. See if there’s a reason pressing “play” on the Keystep would trigger an external sequencer. I don’t *think* it should be doing that, but it might be an option that you can turn on or off. I’ll be honest-I don’t tinker much with the more sophisticated applications of MIDI... different channels etc. Sorry if this isn’t helpful, but if you’re still stuck, keep asking around and I’m sure someone can help. The Mother 32 Facebook group is really good. Good luck!

[@manuelgodchaux]

thanks for your reply! i ended up concluding that the sequencer/arp 'crossing' when using midi connection is built in to the mother and unavoidable. i've stuck with connecting via cv. with this, though, i'm running into another question, which is when i patch keystep' pitch out to mother's VCO 1V/OCT, i can only get very high pitched sounds--and these only when the filter is cranked high. If i patch pitch to VCO FM on the Mother, i can get the Keystep to mimic the Mother's keyboard, but everyone else i see online seems to have it the first way. Any idea what's happening?? thx v much!

[@pageljazz]

Could it be as simple as the Keystep is transposed to a very high octave? I have a feeling there's some very simple thing we're overlooking here… Like toggle some switch and smack your forehead and go, "Duh!" :) The Keystep is such a great instrument but it has so many features-it can be tricky getting all your "ducks in a row", so to speak. Have you tried flipping those weird little "dip switches" in the back? Keep fiddling with it. I bet it's something easy. Have you checked out any other keystep/M32 tutorials?

[@pn6719]

Hello KarmaDog ~ I have Keystation Mini32 controller (as depicted in your video), but it did not did include a Midi cable in the box ~ the only output connector that it came with is a USB cable....any suggestions on how to convert a USB signal to Midi and to connect it to the Midi input on the Mother 32?? It’s driving me crazy trying to find the right solution for this!!

[@pageljazz]

Hi there, and thanks for watching. I'm afraid that I'm using an Arturia Keystep, not a Keystation Mini32. I'm using the Keystep because it has analog CV input/output. There are a few ways to convert USB to MIDI. Check here: www.amazon.com/s?k=usb+to+midi+cable+converter&crid=1HEP2IU1C4BSZ&sprefix=usb+to+midi%2Caps%2C175&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_11 Hope that helps. Good luck!

[@drlohertz8233]

Very useful tips, thanks! Does the Keystep have midi in as well as out? I’m thinking, with a little clever routing, one could use the midi keyboard to transpose the arpeggiator on the Keystep for some interesting effects

[@pageljazz]

I haven't used it, but it *does* have MIDI in as well as out. So I think you could indeed use another MIDI controller to transpose the sequence on the Keystep. In fact, you could even do this: Use another keyboard - even better, a sequencer or apreggiator - to transpose the keystep sequence according to a pattern, at a synchronized tempo. Then you could use the sequencer or arpeggiator in the keystep transpose a sequence on the M-32's onboard sequencer! For example, you could have a 14-step sequence transposing a 15-step sequence, transposing a 16-step sequence! So you would have overlapping patterns of different lengths resulting in a super-long mega-pattern of notes that plays for a really long time before repeating. The Keystep is a crazy little monster of a machine. It's a must-have, I think!

[@drlohertz8233]

Greg Pagel wow! You just exploded my brain! I don't have a Keystep but I do have an Arturia MicroBrute which has MIDI (via DIN and USB) and CV out and a sequencer. It has MIDI in thru the USB. The drawback of the MicroBrute is the small keys. A Keystep would be a welcome addition to my setup because if I want to avoid playing on the small keys, which I do most of the time, I would have to employ a third keyboard

[@pageljazz]

Sorry about the exploded brain, but since you're a doctor, maybe you can fix it? FWIW, the small keys on the Keystep have never bothered me. They're actually quite comfortable, but I have small hands (for a piano player). I did play an entire Thelonious Monk concert on it (Including Four In One and Trinkle Tinkle), and it wasn't a problem.

[@drlohertz8233]

Greg Pagel I was under the impression the Keystep had full- size keys since , in the video it looks like the Keystep has larger keys than your other keyboard. You do look like you're comfortable playing both keyboards. BTW, I'm not a real doctor, I just play one on the bass

[@pageljazz]

Yeah, the keys are small… but I've played a 3/4 size accordion for years, and other small keyboards. In fact, the Keystep has really nice action for its category. I don't know why, but I just find it easy to play. In the video, you can see that I can at least play a very easy baroque piece on it. Maybe I'm just used to it! Fun fact: the bass player in my band is actually a doctor, but not a medical one. He has a Phd. in Biology and is a college professor. But he hates when we introduce him as "Doctor", because then people always come up asking him to check some lump rash on their butt or something.

[@noi1989]

I have the exact same cheap MIDI keyboard and the Keystep. Was surprised to see it in a video.

[@pageljazz]

I got a lot of use out of that little MusicStar! It fit in my backpack. Heck, it practically fit in my glove compartment! I could take it anywhere and use it with Finale when I had compositions to work on.

[@ChumlyPage]

this is awesome...I would like to know more...

[@pageljazz]

Thanks! Keep watching. I have more stuff coming soon. 🙂

[@koldobarrosospacemusic2851]

How do you manage to avoid the Keystep triggering Mother 32's sequencer on play? I just can't figure it out how to solve this without loosing Midi.

[@pageljazz]

Hm. I don't think I've had that problem. If you use the CV GATE out on the Keystep to GATE input on the M32, and the PITCH output on the Keystep to the VCO 1v/OCT input on the mother, it should work like a regular monosynth without MIDI. Sorry for the delayed reply. Your comment ended up in my "likely spam" folder, for some reason. :)

[@mchyiporosty]

you have a very pleasant voice

[@pageljazz]

Oh, yeah. I'm bloody Morgan Freeman. But I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@whitenoisefromelectronicto1728]

So what’s the difference between connecting a keystep to the mother via midi and via CV?

[@pageljazz]

That's a great question, and a complete answer would be pretty lengthy. But as a user/musician, you don't need to know all the specifics. The short answer is that a MIDI keyboard (or other controller) will send a digital signal that contains numerical values regarding what note is being played, when the note starts, and when the note stops. Some will also send a value regarding "velocity", or how quickly a key is being pressed (for a player, this basically means how "hard" or "loud" he/she is playing). A controller that sends a CV signal sends an analog, electronic signal that can be patched to into any of the input points on the patch bay. So, for example, each key on the keyboard sends a CV signal (higher voltage you go up) that can be routed to the pitch of the VCO (the "main" oscillator, which typically determines the pitch being played), but can also be routed to the cutoff filter, or the LFO (a low frequency oscillator, which may serve a variety of functions), or any of the other patch point on the Mother, or any other compatible analog synth. Also, a CV controller like the Keystep can send an analog signal via "velocity" (how hard you play) or "aftertouch" (pressing a key harder or softer after you initially press it), which can be patched to any of these patch points as well. A great example is patching it to the filter, which means you can control volume as well as the "brightness" of the sound via "touch", rather than fiddling with the knobs. You can also patch it to the VCO, which means you can "bend" pitches with aftertouch, or alter the pitch based on how hard you play. Many synths and other electronic keyboards have some of these features "built in", but with a CV controller like the Keystep, along with a modular/semi-modular synth, the user has more flexibility and can decide how these CV signals can be used. They open up a world of many possibilities in a way that MIDI does not. TO BE CLEAR: MIDI controllers, especially sophisticated ones, can offer a huge range of possibilities as well, but not with a Mother 32 or other modular/Euro-rack-type instrument. They typically work best with digital synths, software synths, etc. Neither approach is "better", but most musicians have a preference for one or the other, depending on what they find most inspiring. Does that make sense?

[@whitenoisefromelectronicto1728]

Karmadog Karmadog Man I wasn’t expecting such a detailed explanation! You are great and I am subscribing to your channel now

[@pageljazz]

Thanks, friend!

[@Starset-nv5nr]

I actually have a question, could i get a midi controller and use it without a pc and just hook it to my amp through a mother moog 32 or do i have to have a pc

[@Starset-nv5nr]

in other words can i get an M Audio hammer 88 key and a Mother Moog and hook it to my amp

[@pageljazz]

@@Starset-nv5nr That will work perfectly! You absolutely DO NOT need a computer for a Mother 32. I have NEVER hooked ANY of my synths to a computer, except to send an audio line out to record in Garage Band. But I run it straight into an amp all the time! In fact, this is true of most analog synths. My 0-Coast, M32, DFAM, Prodigy, Juno60, and Rhythm Wolf have never even been TOUCHED by a DAW.

[@waatchyourhead]

How would I need to connect the keystep to work with a tonestar 2600?

[@pageljazz]

I confess you've got me a little stumped - I have never used a Tonestar 2600 or even seen one in real life! But the Keystep's CV outputs can be patched into any of the inputs of the Tonestar. So if you patched the CV pitch into the 1V/0 input on the Tonestar, I *think* it would control the pitch as if you were playing any normal keyboard. And the CV Mod from the Keystep could be patched into something else-LFO rate, filter cutoff, whatever. I don't see MIDI on the Tonestar, so you couldn't connect the Keystep to it that way, but you *could* connect it to a *second* module or device simultanously (if it had MIDI input), and play both at once, using just one keyboard. That could be awesome. So far, I'm still in the "semi-modular" world. I haven't gone "fully modular"… yet. Anyway, have fun!

[@gabrielesa2733]

What drum machine is that around 18 min?

[@pageljazz]

Gabrielė ša Akai Rhythm Wolf. 🙂

[@PM-yz8fx]

Tracking with with the LFO is not bad is horrible! The only way to use this as "second" oscillator is to play something and tune the LFO as the root of what you are playing and playing only the root note with it and the rest of the notes the Mother oscillator. I don't see any other musical way beside this. In my opinion the LFO as proper second oscillator is pretty useless.

[@pageljazz]

Really? The only way? Huh. Try your imagination.

[@BocaVasionski]

i am your friend after watching this

[@pageljazz]

YAAAYY!!!

[@BocaVasionski]

@@pageljazz :)

[@vaibhavbatra4613]

A noob question here: Why can't I use the same Keystep to send Midi as well as CV to the Mother-32? Feel stupid already, but if someone could explain. :|

[@pageljazz]

Vaibhav Batra You can, of course. But it will send both with the same key, so you won’t be able to send two different notes at once. With one keyboard sending CV and another sending MIDI, you can send two independent signals. So you could play CV eighth notes and MIDI quarter notes, for example, and in different directions, etc. Make sense? :) Like the minuet I play at 5:35. You couldn’t do that with just a single Keystep.

[@vaibhavbatra4613]

Hey, that makes sense. Thank you so much. I guess I will just have to dive into it to understand it better. Still trying to get my head around control voltages and how they can affect different parameters etc. Thanks a bunch for the quick response, though.

[@pageljazz]

Vaibhav Batra Keep in mind you don’t have to completely “understand” something to know what it does. In the 80s, our school had a Juno 106. Just by experimenting, I figured out what a VCF and an LFO DID without even knowing what the letters stood for. But I over-wrote all 64 patches on that instrument with better ones! I didn’t know anything about CV until about 2 years ago. Just mess around a bunch and you’ll figure it out. Some knowledge is helpful, but not much is necessary.

[@destineon9438]

You have the best channel ever. :) Hey would you like me to make you a intro for your channel? I am a motion designer and would love the make one for you. I have an idea that you would love :) Should it just be karma dog?

[@pageljazz]

DestiNeon You’d be very disappointed if you saw my software. I just run all my instruments into a behrenger mixer, and a single mono line out to GarageBand. 😝 I’m poor and cheap and I skimp on software so I can (barely, occasionally) afford new instruments. All my videos are made with GarageBand, iMovie and POWERPOINT!!! I don’t use a DAW or anything else- I program all my sequences into the instruments themselves. Now if you wanted to stop over and check out some of that, I’d be delighted! Maybe we could make a video that actually looks like something!!

[@destineon9438]

Maybe we could make a collab song! I have a cool song I composed on the piano. :D I'm also working on ur intro :D