The favorite keyboard of modular synth geeks is getting a proper sequel after 10 years

If you’ve ever watched a synth video on YouTube, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Arturia KeyStep at some point. This affordable keyboard and controller has been a steady presence since its release in January 2016, especially in DAWless circles. Now Arturia is finally launching a suitable successor: Keystep MK2On paper, it sounds like a big upgrade.

The essence of what makes the KeyStep so beloved remains unchanged: 32 powerful mini-keys with aftertouch, a small footprint, convenient connectivity options, and a low price. The mk2 features a USB-C port for power and MIDI, five-pin MIDI in and out ports, analogue synth in and out, a sustain/expression pedal input, plus CV and Gate outputs for connecting modular equipment.

The major updates here are the new generative capabilities, Mutate and Spice, borrowed from the company’s Freak product line. Mutate makes near-random changes to an arpeggio or sequence, repeating ideas endlessly. And if you find something you like, you can save it as a new sequence. Thanks to this ability to create happy accidents, turn arpeggios into sequences and back again, YouTubers episode “A new standard has been set for what the keyboard can do as a compositional assistant,” he said.

While Mutate will change tones, creating entirely new patterns, Spice is a little more subtle. It changes gate length, speed, adds ratchets, and at higher settings, will introduce octave jumps. It focuses almost exclusively on rhythmic variation.

Compound effect Starsky Carr He said there’s “a lot of fun and a lot of inspiring tools” inside the KeyStep mk2. But some reviews were Bottom line on build quality. While the original had a metal plate that made it surprisingly heavy for its size and helped it withstand long-term abuse, the MK2 has an all-plastic build. Will people still be playing KeyStep mk2s in 10