Using Arturia's Keystep Pro with VCV Rack

[@OmriCohen-Music]

00:00 - Overview 01:35 - Syncing VCV Rack with the KEystep Pro 09:52 - Creating a basic sequence 22:08 - Polyphonic sequences and chaining 28:41 - Arpeggiators 36:25 - The drum sequencer 45:01 - The control section 50:21 - As a "simple" controller 54:56 - As a Midi to CV converter

[@7177YT]

That video appeared just when dinner is ready, so todays menu is pasta, beer and Omri (: thx for the timeline! Cheers!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Oh man, nice :) I hope you enjoyed both

[@rodericklopez9850]

Great video! Thank you! Subscribed! The Keystep Pro seems like a low budget partial alternative to an ES-8... what would you say? I already own the Keystep Pro and a few eurorack modules, and I want to integrate the VCV rack.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@rodericklopez9850 Thanks! Well, I wouldn't call it an alternative, but it can definitely do a lot. You can also use it as a Midi to CV converter, converting sequences and modulation from VCV into CV to use with your hardware.

[@rodericklopez9850]

@@OmriCohen-Music Thanks!

[@chitlun]

Great video Omri, inspirational as always! I learned a couple of natty tricks from you today so thanks for that man. I've been having so much fun wuth the KS Pro since it arrived last week! It's such an inspirational instrument, the way you can bend things around so quickly. I have it hooked up to My Laptop running primarily VCV but sometimes using Ableton, MiniBrute 2S, Neutron and iPad. The possibilities are endless... By the way, putting our friend the Attenuverter between the MIDI module's V/Oct out and Oscillator puts a leash on the Randomness from the KS Pro's arpeggios, although a further Quantizer is required. It also yields some very interesting results from different +/- Arp Octave settings... Thanks again for a top video sir. Peace!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thanks so much! And yes, totally, you can use an attenuator in VCV or even Fence to limit the range, but the quantizer is needed and it's a bit complicated thing to do in other software or hardware so I wish there was a way to limit this within the KSP.

[@jazzbluesshred]

just getting into vcv rack man your channel is a degree level course in this program. thankyou so much for taking all this time and also for this extensive bank of knowledge.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I'm really happy you enjoy my work :) Thank you!

[@hasan7786]

Thats what im talking about. I'm literally looking out my window every 5 minutes waiting for the ups man to drop off my keystep pro. Can wait to try tit with vcv rack.

[@chitlun]

That was me last week, constantly checking my emails for a delivery notice. I'd had it on order for almost a month, I was going nuts. Enjoy it when it arrives man, it's a whole bunch of fun!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Oh nice, I hope it will arrive soon, it's lots of fun!

[@earlgrey2130]

I'm so jelly bro. I hope you have a lot of fun with it :)

[@averagepainter]

Mention of Steve Reich - thumbs up. but your walkthrough of the KSP is glorious. even better than the manual. thank you so much for explaining the controller.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I appreciate it, thanks so much!

[@bleedingkansan]

You’re an amazing teacher and an amazing source of knowledge. I’m learning a huge amount from your extensive experience and lovely attitude. Thank you so much 🙏 I have one question, and forgive me if I missed it, but what interface are your using into your computer running VCV Rack?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thank you so much! Currently I'm using the Motu Ultralite mk4.

[@thrashcomics]

I am just getting into all of this stuff, does anyone know if this would also work with MiRack on an iPad?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Do you mean using a Midi controller? I'm pretty sure it will work if you have the right cable...

[@audiocl1932]

> showing this to gf telling her I just bought one > she all mad yelling at me > Omri Cohen at the speakers: _"Oh man, oh man!!"_

[@earlgrey2130]

Why is she mad. It's your money, right?

[@errolsidelsky]

Thank you soo much for this series. I am totally new to music. I have spent years working as a frontend developer writing code and designing. But this stuff is mind-blowing! Without these videos, I'd be lost! OhYe!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Hey, that's great, thank you!

[@waytooslow]

Omri--- what audio interface are you using?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Hi, I have the Motu ultralite mk4. I'm really happy with it.

[@dscapes1]

Cheers Omri. That was an amazingly concise review. I simply can't wait to get the K pro.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, thanks!

[@plumcharlie]

Thank you! You just sold me on this. Arturia, pay this man.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

You will have so much fun with it! Cheers!

[@erralb]

"Ooh yeah" :)

[@earlgrey2130]

Why do you have no delay between the input on the KSP and the Audio Output of VCV Rack? I have an almost 0.25sec delay and it sooo annyoing :/

[@OmriCohen-Music]

What is your block size setting?

[@earlgrey2130]

@@OmriCohen-Music I finally figured it out.. so dumb. I was using Bluettooth Headphones and their connection caused the delay. There is zero delay now that i got my monitors.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@earlgrey2130 I'm happy it works!

[@youmnarabie6593]

This is amazing!! I absolutely love it. I was just debating whether I should get the Keystep Pro or not and you sold me on it.

[@chitlun]

Do it! You won't be disappointed...

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thanks so much! Yeah, it's a fun one :)

[@ubustudio]

I’m fascinated by way you use the drum voice to trigger a filter (at 37:40). I’d love to see a separate video of something like a whole bank of drum triggers doing odd things. That would be crazy fun.

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Fantastic demo Omri, thank you! SOLD!! (well... that's why Arturia send you stuff) 😁 It really seems like a very very nice controller. If I didn't have my Keystep I would definately have bought this instead. I might still do that in the future... I see what you mean about the random notes being too high/low. It would be nice if the default random mode would be to insert notes from the existing ones in the sequence, and then perhaps a shift function to insert random notes outside that range. Ratchets and repeats would also be really nice, is it capable of that, on the fly?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thanks! Yeah, it's a great instrument :) And I'm sure that things will be updated soon so new features like ratches and such will be added.

[@TheNimasan]

omri where in ur inerface going with the clock I/O . in my case 4 instance with the RME fireface uc??

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I use a line input/output

[@TheNimasan]

@@OmriCohen-Music you mean any line in and out should work? wit the latest keystep update that should be very fun. i never used the keystep with vcv. now i will ass soon as i get home!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@TheNimasan Yeah, any line in/out. Just make sure it's not going to your speakers/headphones. Have fun :)

[@TheNimasan]

@@OmriCohen-Music danke vielmals mein bester!

[@petermican]

Holy cow, I had no idea what this controller is able to do, with the correct input by a MASTER like you of course ... This baby is now on top of my list ;-)

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Yeah, it's definitely deep and very capable

[@jmparis83]

This KSP looks like a Swiss Army Knife! Impressive. What's about having another MIDI device with a dozen of knobs controlling VCV Rack?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Yeah, it's great! About another Midi controller, yes, that's a good point. I use the nanoKontrol2 from Korg and the Minilar from Midilar. It can get complicated at times remembering what is doing what, but it's very helpful usually.

[@Gin-toki]

So, you are using USB from the Keystep Pro to connect to a PC where you are running VCV Rack. Yet when the Keystep Pro is running as master clock, it drifts?! That seems like a bug, either in VCV Rack or the Keystep Pro is jittery. Otherwise great review! :)

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thanks! Well, it might be something in VCV, I'm not so sure. Although, I remember once trying this with Reaper and it was also not perfect like when using the actual clock.

[@Gin-toki]

@@OmriCohen-Music Ah ok, it would be sad if the Keystep Pro had an unstable midi clock, rather important for a sequencer to be stable :P And thanks for the answer :)

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Two things: With a computer + USB + MIDI, there will always be at least a tiny amount of Jitter. Secondly: Most of the jitter will be fixed in VCV Rack version 2 (any day now), where MIDI packets will be timestamped and much more steady.

[@alessandroscialanga2430]

Quarantine + vcv + Omnri =..... Mom... I m a musician......

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I'm happy you enjoy my work :)

[@alessandroscialanga2430]

@@OmriCohen-Music Omri, buongiorno, have a request: a clone of ob6 Whit vult stable??? Do you think??? I tried to do it but I miss a couple things for sure....

[@Nemorosus]

Great channel and super informative videos, Omri! Found you because of this Keystep "review". I wish I could get into VCV, but I am quite intimidated and overwhelmed by it haha. Keep up the great work!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thank you so much! Yeah, VCV can be intimidating, but if you just stick to the basics and not install everything else, you can learn so much from using it and discover new ways to explore sound, even if you don't plan to have modular in the future.

[@AndrewPlaster]

Arturia should hook you up with some more swag cause yeah I definitely just bought one, this video being the tipping point.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

You will love the KSP!

[@SleeveZipper]

The part with the simple controller is amazing. I am so happy with the KSP + VCV combination.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Cheers!

[@erlinvelberg2079]

Just got my KeystepPro in the mail! Would be really nice if you could post the patch you were using on this video. It’s hard to see what’s going on in the video. Pretty much all of the patches and tutorials out there are not set up for external sequencers.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

You will have so much fun with it! Here are the patches - patchstorage.com/using-arturias-keystep-pro-with-vcv-rack/

[@wimwijn1]

Thx a lot Omri, this thing is Just made for VCV, and more😁 now i have to find a webshop who has it in stock

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Cheers, Wim! I'm pretty sure it will be available soon :)

[@ursbasteck]

Sooo, you may have seen my comment under your latest video from about two hours ago? In which I mentioned how I wonder how well the Keystep integrates with VCV? KZbin, in its occasional wisdom, just recommended this right here which I hadn't seen before. Your channel is like a freakin' treasure chest :D

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I'm happy I can help :)

[@ursbasteck]

@@OmriCohen-Music Update. According to Thomann, it should arrive on Wednesday :)

[@floatingsketches290]

I think I got a great impression of it! Thank you! One question: What program do you use to show the vcv screen in the video in real time with these nice shadows?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Nice! I use OBS to record the screen and then I add some shadows in Hitfilm :)

[@GaryBarnes]

Finally got one of these, great video Omri, got me all set up in no time so thank you. This thing is amazing!!!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Oh nice, have fun!

[@dreamdealer]

perfect device to pair with VCV, excellent video man.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Yes, it's so much fun! Cheers!

[@cryptout]

Great video Omri, I hope mine will be delivered tomorrow! Steady as a Stone!!!!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Oh nice, have fun!

[@MisterMotel]

mine is coming in a week, cant wait!

[@stempek121]

The BPM clock seems to be jumpy because of MIDI clock implementation. The thing is that master does not send info about the MIDI clock itself but it sends 24 clock pulses for a quarter note. Each time slave device receives clock impulse, it reacts to it as it;'s supposed to. Say you wanna play something every 16th note, you just count 6 pulses and fire 16th event. The BPM displayed in that case is just for visual purposes and some devices don't actually display it and just show SYNC instead. Everything is tied to how clock is generated on master and how it's calculated from pulses on slave. Everything will be in sync and you don't need to worry about jumpy BPM info on slave as everything that matters is MIDI data sent from device. I implemented MIDI clock in my own MIDI/Arduino based device and I can confirm that this as far as my project went, clock was in sync for up to 320 BPM as that was the highest clock I could send from my master clock. This stayed in sync for long times even tho BMP clock seemed to be very jumpy if I averaged it from 3 pulses, but when I took average from let's say 10 pulses, the BPM clock seemed to be stable. You don't need to worry about slave devices looking not-so-in-sync as it's only visual thing :)

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Oh ok, that's interesting. The thing is, it also sounds out of sync, especially with percussive voices but as I understood it, it will be improved in the next VCV version.

[@stempek121]

@@OmriCohen-Music huh, maybe this module uses calculated bpm to drive the clock instead just counting pulses and passing through clock packets? That's seems odd.

[@stempek121]

@@OmriCohen-Music A good example of hardware which behaves like this module (except it's in sync :) is Artura Drumbrute Impact in MIDI slave sync mode. The bpm will be little jumpy on the display.

[@PalmMaster]

OH YEAH!!! 💖

[@vincentmartineau232]

Thank you Omri, this sounds great. What is the Phase Distortion Oscillator you use toward the end? Thank you, your videos and music make it easier to be locked up.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Hey, thanks so much! This oscillator is the Cozmic from Animated Circuits and you can get it here -drive.google.com/open?id=1P9gL9JG9uOAQkZ-Fij709aG4xC4_ADD5 :)

[@vincentmartineau232]

Great, Cheers -- Vincent

[@floatingsketches290]

you showed that the stability of midi is very bad. For me, however, it is much worse for me. It jumps up and down 30 bpm with in 10 times every second. I set output ppq 24 and used everything as described. maybe you can help me or did someone else have this problem? :)

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Well, what is your block size?

[@floatingsketches290]

@@OmriCohen-Music Thank you very much! I lowered the block size and it works better (the bpm jumps only 5 bpm up and down). 256 seems to be the minimum or is there a other reason why I cant choose anything lower than 256 vcv automatically changes it to 256 if I select a lower value)Thanks again

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Yeah, you will have to change this on your interface settings and VCV will change it accordingly. I'm happy it helps a bit.

[@Sh1ken]

Hey Omri! I love your vids. You have taught me practically everything I know about synths and VCV. Thank you so much! I have been playing around with VCV and zero hardware other than a Launch Control XL for knobs/sliders for about a year now. Would you recommend KSP if I don't currently have any other piece of hardware other than that? I'm having so much fun just watching this video but I'm also a little bit worried that it can be overkill and maybe there's a cheaper option that would be more suitable if I'm looking to get a physical MIDI sequencer. As a side note, I know that KSP is a really popular option to pair with physical synths and I might be going down that rabbit hole in the near future so maybe it's also a good first step into that abyss? :) Thank in advance for your response! Keep up the good work!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Hi! Well, I'm not so sure what to say, to be honest. If you feel like the KSP is too much, maybe it's a good idea to wait a bit until you start with hardware. The KSP can do many things and it pairs quite well with VCV but if you feel like it's too much, try waiting a bit more.

[@Sh1ken]

@@OmriCohen-Music Maybe I should've phrased my question better: In short my question was if you think that KSP by itself would be a great fit for VCV. I've been watching some of your session vids and other reviews and I'm almost convinced that it is and I guess I won't know if it's too much or not until I try it by myself so I'll give it a shot. Thank you!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@Sh1ken Yeah, it works great with VCV. The only thing is, since it's a midi controller, you might experience some latency depending on your blobk size settings. But it's still a lot of fun :)

[@Sh1ken]

@@OmriCohen-Music Oh, yeah, for sure, it can't be THAT perfect, right? haha but it seems like a great starting point for making my workflow so much smoother. Thanks again, Omri!

[@nonoise3474]

Thanks Omri, great tutorial!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Cheers!

[@OldPsytrance]

אלוף אתה איזה ערוץ יש לך. תודה רבה.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

תודה רבה ידידי!

[@matteopiccioni196]

51:13 looks fantastic,but for knobs assignation beatstep pro seems better than the keystep pro, because 16knobs,what is your opinion?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Well, there are more, that's true, but I would anyway recommend to have a dedicated controller for knobs and faders. The fact that you have to change to a different track to have control over the knobs is a bit cumbersome in live situations...

[@matteopiccioni196]

@@OmriCohen-Music thanks,the advice I was looking for. My idea was to create patches on vcv and then to change values using a physical device/s : knobs and faders,any suggestions on what model? I was evaluating the "faderfox pc4"(for knobs) m.thomann.de/it/faderfox_pc4.htm

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Well, yes, that's a nice device indeed. You can also check out the nanoKontrol2 from Korg. It's affordable and has knobs, buttons, and faders. If you really want something dedicated to VCV, look at the Midilar - midilar-controller.webnode.sk/

[@matteopiccioni196]

@@OmriCohen-Music thank you very much,I also saw the akai midmix,looks pretty sturdy with 24 knobs,9faders

[@bsidez]

Really nice tutorial!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thank you!

[@electrosonicnebula]

Hi does anyone know if I can use the MIDI IN to connect a pad controller just to control modular drum voices using the gate outs and sequencer of the Keystep Pro? Specifically could I connect my Roland SP303 to do this?

[@OmriCohen-Music]

So you mean using the KSP as a Midi to CV converter? Yes, that's possible :)

[@nebula0697]

@@OmriCohen-Music First I should say thanks for the informative and inspirational video! Now I see your example at the end, and I see that the VCV Rack is actually doing the sequencing. What I would want to do is finger drum into the KSP from external pads but use the KSP to record whatever I'm playing as a sequence of drum gates. Would this also be possible? I remember one time I used a Keystep to control a Novation Circuit and although I could play and hear Circuit notes I could not live record a sequence on the Circuit, which I thought was weird. I could create a Keystep sequence on the Keystep or alternatively Create a Circuit sequence using the circuit pads but not use the Keystep to create a Circuit sequence. I guess the Circuit sequencer only "heard" the pads on the Circuit.

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@nebula0697 Oh ok, now I see, you want also to record the sequence. I wonder if something like this can be done. I think the best would be to ask Arturia themselves before you buy one.

[@nebula0697]

@@OmriCohen-Music Ok, thanks, I will do so. Good idea!

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@nebula0697 Please let me know what is their answer.

[@sirthomassmith]

This is just great.. with 8 channel would be an ultimate solution

[@OmriCohen-Music]

You can always have 2 of them... :)

[@dscapes1]

Or if you have a Beatstep Pro you can link them and have 7. Thats what i'm gonna do!

[@sirthomassmith]

@@dscapes1 Yes it looks the most optimal solution

[@sirthomassmith]

@@OmriCohen-Music I think a conception about cross-product expandability would be a good idea... I have an Arturia KeyLab 88, and if they would create 4 channel core sequencers with the same features, but without any keyboard, step editor, or encoder, and I could easily attach it to my keyboard, or extend it with another 4 channel, to make it 8 channel that would be just fantastic... buying more and more in this size, just problematical because of the lack of the space

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@sirthomassmith Yeah, I see what you mean, that's an interesting idea.

[@Doc_Underkraut]

So great, Thankx for this,....you are so great! Please Poly CV ;-)

[@OmriCohen-Music]

Thanks! What do you mean with poly cv?

[@Doc_Underkraut]

Omri Cohen Monring Omri ;-) i mean to try the Keystep CV Outputs for Polyfonic Chords. And thanks again, the is a great tutorial, Cheers Jörg

[@OmriCohen-Music]

@@Doc_Underkraut Oh yes, you can totally do this! You can have up to 4 notes going out of the 4 CV outputs :)

[@Doc_Underkraut]

Omri Cohen yes i know this but no one show this since you do it maybe for us?!

[@LarsBjerregaard]

@@OmriCohen-Music Will it send out all 4 CV's at any time on the selected sequencer/track in KSP?