Tutorial: Making House Music with Arturia's KeyStep Pro (Firmware v2.0)

In this video, Leroy (aka Binofski / binofski_music ) gives us the rundown on how he uses the Arturia Keystep Pro to create his beloved house grooves alongside Ableton Live, the Korg Minilogue xd, Korg NTS-1 and the Make Noise 0-coast semi-modular synth.
More details here: noisegate.com.au/tutorial-mak...
This workflow tutorial uses a number of new features found in the KeyStep Pro v2.0 firmware, for the full rundown, check out noisegate.com.au/is-this-the-...
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[@robbezanson2058]

This video basically finally put all of the pieces together for me. So funny - I just started typing "struggling to find a simple workflow" and I see a comment from a year ago saying the same bloody thing! Thank you.

[@kudre7]

So far, this is the very best and most comprehensive Keystep tutorial I have seen, cheers mate!

[@garygimmestad4272]

Thanks for a very clear walk-through and how-to. The order and pacing is spot on and it taught me what I needed to know to get started with my KSP. This skill set applies to any genre of music we can make on the KSP. Well done!

[@Noisegate]

Cheers Gary, appreciate the feedback

[@EricF]

This is legit the most helpful tutorial about the KSP I’ve seen. Got it a month ago and have struggled to find my workflow. This is brilliant. Cheers!

[@Noisegate]

Cheers Eric, enjoy your KSP

[@djcham1]

Just ordered one. Cant wait to use it! Great video😊

[@rbgeluidservice1179]

One of the best videos explaining the KSP. Very helpful to me.

[@TROGULAR10000]

Killer vid building a nice groove showing all the functions of this puppy. Well worth the money.

[@Indianabones007]

Can’t thank you enough for making a clear tutorial, so helpful! Awesome

[@pirminborer625]

Just ordered it yesterday. Seems such a versatile yet simple sequencer. Can't wait jamming with that thing.

[@davidyoungblood9772]

Most useful tutorial I’ve found so far. Thanks dude.

[@dlanier2622]

Outstanding tutorial - many thanks!

[@lisabock220]

OMG, thank you so much for this video! The single best tutorial on keystep pro I've found!

[@Noisegate]

Cheers

[@bigupz6818]

Mad jam. Have thought about getting one of these. Looks like a lotta fun 🤩

[@macstar8317]

Great video - it's helped my get to grips with my KSP and TR8S

[@bullet0657]

Best Tutorial for keystep pro hands down.

[@sunnyheartley7184]

Thank you for this video...it opened up keystep Pro making it useful

[@RRKS69]

Great demo/tutorial

[@zainawoz]

Thanks for this video❤

[@BottleMakesMusic]

Having just bought a KSP last week, and finally getting it out of the box this weekend, this is a timely video. Got it to work with my Volca Drum easily enough (although that needed a firmware update to fix a bug in its MIDI implementation). Understand a little more about the power of the step sequencer now. Great job!

[@Noisegate]

Cheers, thank you

[@JJ-vp3bd]

is that a good tandem to get both the keys and the drum

[@cryptout]

Very clear explanation, nice track too.

[@Noisegate]

Cheers

[@dalexeiblues]

Thank you so much, I just got my Keystep Pro, it was really helpful

[@Noisegate]

Cheers Alex, enjoy

[@thisiserratic]

Thanks Binofski, I love my keysteppro too.

[@ericwycoff1399]

Great vid!

[@HouseMusicTools]

Haha first note on the minilogue and I knew it’s Binofski 🙃 great tutorial 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Noisegate]

Haha, cheers..

[@speakebreathe]

Is that the patch?

[@magicmodulator]

Thanks great work

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

Great video. Helped fill a bunch of knowledge gaps for me.

[@MediaMusik777]

on my 37 i use the 8 banks and i add my velocity by adding the 64 notes in tandem and then same for snare and hihats . so 3 banks for dynamic changes usually bridges and build ups . 4 on the floor is really easy just press the kick note 16 times and then set you rate knob to 1/4 instant 4 kick

[@freestylersuk]

Nice one!

[@yalngulbahar4160]

Amazing tuturial and intro to this toy. Thank you so much for that. I am wondering after finalising this project or let say track, how you can smoothly jump to another song created in the device when you play live ?

[@suntzu6122]

Nice tutorial man!!

[@Noisegate]

Cheers

[@FurryNightmare666]

I generally can't stand house music, but this is a very good walk through where the simplicity of house makes it very clear what's happening.

[@Noisegate]

Cheers Johann

[@patansy3455]

First tutorial I have seen on this machine that covers the things I couldn't figure out. Thank you so much!! Do I have to set specific settings on the gate and pitch out in menu to get it to control my synths?

[@Noisegate]

Cheers Patrick

[@Noisegate]

Hey Patrick, For Modular Synths? Generally not.

[@gerryk9]

This was a lot of help. Thanks. I would just like to know how all are connected

[@gastondartevelle]

Hermosa musica amigo!

[@jamessusbilla]

thank *YOU*

[@craigschmidt1634]

Awesoem video! I watched it twice and learned a lot. My biggest challenge so far has been hooking up my drum machine how you have here. How evaxtly do you have it plugged in here? I have a Roland Tr-08 and i cant get it so that i can play the drums on the keyboard of the keystep. I would really like to do what youve done here

[@zemertz]

Great video, are you using a mixer, just wondering where the audio outs are going, , was it back into Ableton as separate tracks and to control the mix volumes

[@Noisegate]

Yeah mate, all the outputs from each synth are going to an input on the Komplete Audio 6 Interface, then into Ableton Live.

[@braien25980]

Hi, thanks for the video. Can I also record chords from my external chordbot in the keystep and beatstep sequencer? Do both have the same poliphony?

[@animishmusic5817]

Quick question - would you be able to send midi from Ableton to your different hardware synths ( let’s say I didn’t want to program a sequence on Arturia KeyStep pro and instead have it triggered to the synth via Ableton ) will this be possible ?

[@whiteperill]

👏🏻

[@niaralosusa]

Hello. Thank you for the great info! Can all of the work you did in the video now be saved as a Project so it can be called up later, say for a live performance? Thanks!

[@Hakucho64]

Yes, you can save up to 16 projects.

[@GrootsieTheDog]

For some reason, when using control knobs, the sequenced control knob movements playback in steps instead of smooth. So for instance, a filter sweep sounds choppy. It doesnt sound choppy when controling the synth(s). But as I said, when the sequenced contol plays back, its playing in steps and not smooth. Am I missing a control setting that I cant find? Thx.

[@davidalarconquinones87]

Hi and thanks for your detailed information. I have a question... I have not been able to record different bpm velocities on a same project. For example pattern one two and three 94bpm and pattern 5 and 6 112bpm on the same project. If you know can you please help me 😩

[@studiotkt2991]

Also did firmware 2 fix the problem with recording the first beat in realtime record?

[@tomstillwagonmusic]

There are a limited number of moments (2 or 3) in this very good video, where it sounds like the volume drops out when the sequencer is running....is that the Keystep missing steps? Seems weird. I'm seriously considering purchasing this item, but I worry about things like that. Thanks in advance for your insight.

[@Noisegate]

Hey Tom, its more to do with the video edit than the KSP

[@tomstillwagonmusic]

@@Noisegate Thanks for clarifying! :)

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

Is it true that only one midi din out works at once? Every time I connect the second midi din to a synth, it can't be heard or cancels out the other one.

[@PFDarkside]

Is there anyway to make the chord mode diatonic? If you enable minor/major/Dorian will chord mode follow?

[@ChristopheTornieri]

Yes

[@djcham1]

Wait. You can record arpeggios into the sequencer now? Happy days!

[@Hakucho64]

Can you use the drum sequencer with a MIDI-connected sample player, such as the Volca Sample? If not, what's a good entry-level hardware drum machine?

[@Noisegate]

Yes you can..

[@Hakucho64]

@@Noisegate I could only get my VS2 to play via the sequencer, not the drum mode, until I realised from another video that for track 1, the MIDI channels for the sequencer and drum mode are set separately. I'd set the sequencer's channel correctly, but the drum mode's channel was still on channel 10, the default. Changing this to the actual MIDI channel of my VS2 fixed the problem. Hope this helps someone.

[@soundsofthenewberlin]

Awesome tutorial thanks for covering the important areas of the KSP! Btw, how do you "midi learn"/assign the minilogue xd to a specific channel? From the Midi control center or in another way? Minilogue xd has been assigned to Channel 1 and i am not sure how to move it or reassign it to channel 2 of KSP for example. Thanks in advance!

[@9877joseph]

You have to find the cc values and attach them to the knobs

[@cageynaturelab]

Im using garage band because Im a noob. When I do exactly what you do at 2:53 -> 3:00, nothing plays. My keystep is connected; I can hear the kick drum when I push the keys. What do I need to change?

[@rickmorty4921]

There is a undo last move button?

[@onapermo]

If I bought this as my first ever bit of kit to hook up to my mac, do I still need an audio interface to play it straight away? I wouldn't be able to get the audio interface until a month later.

[@Noisegate]

Yes you will need an audio inerface

[@onapermo]

@@Noisegate thanks for the quick reply :D

[@pyrox2518]

wouldn't it be easier to make the snare roll/shuffle part just 3/4 shorter? as its just the same thing repeating.

[@studiotkt2991]

I'd love a response to this cos iv'e posted it on a bunch of videos and nobody has responded. As far as midi connection goes, i realise there are only 2 midi outs, however, with a 4 channel midi thru module, can you assign midi channels to say another 2 midi synths, to one of the 4 tracks?

[@Noisegate]

Yes you could, but the 2 additional 2 midi synths will be assigned to the same midi channels

[@bakerbakerbaker305]

such a sick sequencer I guess it’s ok that it cost so much because it’s worth it

[@crnkmnky]

Yeah. I think this seems quite intuitive compared to most grooveboxes or standalone sequencers for sale today. The sticker shock is reduced once I realize how much less-enjoyable gear this will replace. But I should still get rid of some other gear before buying it. 😅

[@bakerbakerbaker305]

@@crnkmnky well it does a lot compared to others and it looks like a solid keyboard, the recording function on sequencers I think is a cool thing, to be able to record your play style rather than programming patterns is a win I think.

[@drcentertainment4756]

Can the Keystep be used without a computer (DAW) with the exception of firmware updates?

[@Noisegate]

Yes its main purpose is to be used without a DAW

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

I wish it had the 37’s strum mode tho

[@jdssurf]

Would you say this controller works ok with Ableton

[@Noisegate]

Hey, yes it certainly does

[@ChristopheTornieri]

Great keyboard but so disappointed that there is only one control track shared between all the tracks… I was expecting to have 5 CC per track but that is not the case :(

[@vroteg]

I do love this controller but 5 only cc encoders for all 4 tracks? 😠 At least give us 5 cc of each track… 🤦‍♂️