ARTURIA – KeyStep – USER’S MANUAL 9
1 INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Arturia KeyStep! This unique keyboard
controller gives you everything you need to make music wherever you and your portable
tech will be. Its compact size is due in part to its Slimkey keyboard; these great-feeling
keys are smaller than standard piano keys but still large enough to allow for maximum
playability. But this is no toy; as with all Arturia products, it’s built like a tank.
All the essential features of a keyboard controller are here, including aftertouch, touch-
strips for pitch bend and modulation, a footswitch input and a Hold button.
The polyphonic sequencer will capture your ideas and the arpeggiator will unleash them.
You can specify the exact feel of your music through the Swing and Gate parameters,
which are instantly accessible from the front panel. And the chord memory feature will
make you seem like even more of a musical monster than you already are.
KeyStep has an unlimited number of potential uses and setup options, thanks to its
simultaneous USB, MIDI, CV/Gate and synchronization capabilities. There’s an additional
Mod connection to complement the CV and Gate outputs, allowing for even more
creative options with external devices such as modular synthesizers. And the included
MIDI Control Center software allows you to configure KeyStep the way that works best
for your style and system.
KeyStep is very easy to use, so you’ll probably start experimenting with it right out of
the box. But be sure to read this manual completely, because in addition to covering the
basics we’ll also describe several ways to integrate this little powerhouse of a controller
with your system. You will find KeyStep to be a great source of musical inspiration and
creativity.
Be sure to visit www.arturia.com. That’s the place to go for the latest firmware and to
download the MIDI Control Center. You’ll also find links to our tutorials and FAQs.
We will leave the two of you alone now. You have a lot of great music to make!
