Reddit reviews Arturia Keystep Controller & Sequencer

I can second pretty much everything in this comment.

-A decent pair of headphones or an amp, (which you'll need either a 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter for a standard instrument cable or a just a 3.5mm to 1/4" cable)

-the first thing I realized after getting my first volca was how beneficial a midi controller was for it. The Keystep gives you the ability to control not only your FM and midi devices but USB and CV stuff as well (which if you get hooked after opening the door with your volca you may need)

It also gives you slots to make 8 polyphonic sequences with 64 steps each. Which is pretty neat.

-a multi effects guitar pedal (or even a mixer with onboard FX which could come in handy if your collection grows) is also a great investment. A little delay or chorus goes a looong way.



i_dont_like_reddit is right about FM synthesis, it's like learning to swim in a wave pool. But if you play with it and watch some good videos, it can be very fun.

watch cuckoo's Volca FM video. It will greatly speed up your proficiency with the box.

And his FM tutorial is pretty good in getting to understand the FM world.


Lastly, Start saving up. You're gunna need it.

Don't know about the Midiplus Classic 25, but two options I've seen on here a lot are the Artuira Keystep and the Rock Band 3 Keyboard controller

https://www.amazon.com/Arturia-430201-KeyStep/dp/B01BPSBU40/
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Band-Wireless-Keyboard-Wii-WiiU/dp/B003RS19XE/

Both have 5-pin midi out. The rock band keyboard can be powered by batteries, and is probably the cheapest midi keyboard control you can get with the midi out option. I haven't used it, but it seems like it'd be perfect for a portable setup.

I have the Keystep. Ended up going with it even thought it is 4x the price of the rock band controller for a few reasons. It has a bigger range (32 vs 25 keys I believe), more controls (not sure if the rock band keyboard has octave controls), and a nice built in appegiator and sequencer that can sync with the volcas. It's not "sit on a park bench and play" portable but it's pretty small (while still being very playable), and can be powered by USB, so you could run it off a small battery pack.

or get an arturia keystep. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BPSBU40)

still love my microkey, but i’m really tempted to go the keystep route so as not to have to yet carry another device if i’m on the road.

cheers and good luck!

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1. Arturia KeyStep https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BPSBU40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SgL3Db1SM8F60
   
   Keys not bad(but they aren’t full size keys), size is ok, a few knobs.
   
   
2. IK Multimedia iRig Keys 2 Pro Full-sized 37-key MIDI Keyboard Controller with Velocity-sensitive Keys for iPhone, iPad, Mac and PC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XSGJ4ZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZqL3Db1WRRY7R
   
   Keys 50/50, small, but knobs and size of the keyboard fits.
   
   
3. Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32 Controller Keyboard https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N2VQ1NH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XwL3DbTJTQYHF
   
   I’d say this one is 1st place, keys are ice, knobs, software, size.
   
   These are some light size keyboards with knobs(you want to automate).
   
   Without knobs there are more good options!
   
   And these are without full size keys.
   
   Unfortunately, 49keys with knobs are usually heavy and huge.
   
   The best way to understand what do you like/dislike, go to the nearby musical shop and try some keys.
   
   And be aware, that reviews about keyboards are usually really subjective.
   
   Also, i thought about the way you can play keys while standing and watching the monitors. You could use some foam plastic materials to do additional legs for the keyboard, so the whole construction would look like “H” without upper sticks. You could easily place it above your laptop/pc keyboard.

I've had the Electribe for about half a year and can relate to some of the frustrations you have mentioned. Just keep using it and the workflow will start to grow on you. Here are a few things that helped me in the beginning:

1. Navigate to settings and turn the pattern change long ON. This makes it so you have to hold shift to change from the pattern you are working on. I no longer have it locked, but when I first started I would constantly accidentally switch the pattern and lose all my progress. Lock dat shit up.
   
   
   
   
2. Get a midi keyboard. Also coming from a piano background I really hated having to use the Electribes pads to make melodies. Constantly changing the scale to hit the note I'm after? F that noise. I highly recommend the KeyStep. it's compact but the keys are top notch for the price. I purchased it because of how easily you can switch between midi channels. Each midi channel (1-16) controls it's respective pad on the Electribe. It greatly enhanced my workflow.
   
   
   
   
3. Like someone mentioned before, take the time to create the patches before sequencing you jams. You don't need to do all 16 right away. I usually get the basics out of the way( kick, snare, base synth, lead synth, etc) and then start recording. Once I make a hook I like, I create patches that try to complement what I've created and add flavor.
   
   
   
   
4. Have fun with it man. Of course there are better groove boxes out there, but in this price range I think we made the right choice.