Modular Synth’s Favorite Keyboard Returns After a Decade
▼ Summary
– The Arturia KeyStep mk2 is a significant upgrade to the popular 2016 KeyStep keyboard and controller, especially in DAWless music setups.
– It retains the original’s core features including 32 mini-keys with aftertouch, compact size, multiple connectivity options, and affordable pricing.
– New generative capabilities include Mutate, which creates semi-random arpeggio and sequence variations, and Spice, which focuses on rhythmic changes like gate length and velocity.
– Influencers praise the mk2’s creative tools, with Loopop calling it a “new benchmark for compositional assistance” in keyboards.
– Some reviews criticize the mk2’s all-plastic build quality compared to the original’s metal baseplate, raising questions about long-term durability.
For anyone deeply involved in the world of synthesizers, spotting an Arturia KeyStep in online videos has become a common sight. This affordable keyboard and controller has earned its reputation since launching in 2016, especially among musicians building setups without a computer. Now, after years of loyal service, Arturia has unveiled its official successor, the KeyStep mk2, which promises significant enhancements on paper.
The fundamental appeal of the KeyStep remains intact. You still get 32 responsive mini-keys with aftertouch, a compact design that fits almost anywhere, a variety of connection ports, and a budget-friendly price. The mk2 model upgrades to a USB-C port for both power and MIDI communication. It also includes standard five-pin MIDI in and out jacks, analog sync inputs and outputs, a socket for a sustain or expression pedal, and CV/gate outputs for interfacing directly with modular synth systems.
The most talked-about new features are the generative functions called Mutate and Spice, which are inspired by Arturia’s Freak synthesizers. Mutate applies semi-random alterations to an arpeggio or sequence, continuously generating fresh variations. If you stumble upon a pattern you enjoy, you can save it as a brand new sequence. This capacity for sparking creative, unexpected ideas, effortlessly converting arpeggios into sequences and vice versa, has led some prominent voices to suggest it establishes a new standard for what a keyboard can achieve as a compositional partner.
While Mutate reorganizes notes to form completely new melodic structures, Spice operates with more subtlety. It adjusts gate timing, modifies velocity levels, inserts ratcheting effects, and at its higher intensity settings, can even introduce octave leaps. Its primary focus is on creating rhythmic diversity and variation.
Influential figures in the synth community have described the KeyStep mk2 as packed with enjoyable and inspiring tools. However, some early assessments have expressed reservations regarding its construction. The original version featured a metal baseplate, giving it a reassuring heft and notable durability for long-term, heavy use. The new iteration adopts a fully plastic chassis, raising questions about whether it will prove as road-worthy and still be in active use a decade from now.
(Source: The Verge)