Arturia KeyStep Quickstart Guide
With one of the keyboards in the Arturia KeyStep series: the KeyStep mk2, KeyStep 37 mk2, or KeyStep Pro, you’ve got a full-featured MIDI keyboard controller, sequencer, and arpeggiator for recording and live performance. Your KeyStep is also tailor-made for the Arturia Analog Lab Intro virtual instrument for Mac and Windows PC, which comes with your purchase, providing synthesizer and keyboard sounds from Arturia’s V Collection. To get started, let’s set up Analog Lab Intro, the Arturia Software Center, and Arturia MIDI Control Center.
- Register Your Purchase with Arturia
- Download the Owner’s Manual
- Download Arturia Software Center
- Arturia MIDI Control Center
- Arturia Analog Lab Intro
- Arturia KeyStep Tutorial Videos
- Sweetwater KeyStep Videos
- Arturia KeyStep Resources
Register Your Purchase with Arturia
Before you go any further, you need to set up your account with Arturia to obtain the software packages for Mac or Windows PC that are included with your KeyStep purchase.
Your KeyStep has a sticker on the bottom with the serial number and the all-important Unlock Code.
Log in to the Arturia website with your username and password, or create a new account if you don’t have one already.
Download the Owner’s Manual
Click the links below to locate and download the newest version of the owner’s manual for your KeyStep model on the Arturia website.
Download Arturia Software Center
Log in to Arturia Software Center
Arturia Software Center is the app that lets you manage all your licenses, download the Arturia apps, and install updates when they are available. It’s also where you can update the firmware on your KeyStep.
- Download and install Arturia Software Center for macOS or Windows from the Arturia Downloads page.
- Launch Arturia Software Center and log in with your username and password.
- Connect your KeyStep to your computer using the USB data cable. The KeyStep 37 mk2 is powered over the USB connection. Turn on the power switch.
Update the Firmware
Updating the firmware in Arturia Software Center
Right away, Arturia Software Center will inform you if there’s a firmware update available. Follow the prompts to install the update. Don’t turn off the unit or disconnect the USB cable until Arturia Software Center informs you that the update is complete.
Register Your KeyStep, Activate Your Software
With the KeyStep 37 mk2, Arturia Software Center will automatically record your unit’s serial number and Unlock Code, which are also printed on a sticker on the underside of the hardware. Click Register controller.
Activate Analog Lab Intro by clicking Get Started.
Download Analog Lab Intro
Under My Products, if you don’t see “Analog Lab Intro,” then type its name into the search field.
Select “Analog Lab Intro” and click the button to download and install it. It’s a large file so this may take some time.
Download Ableton Live Lite
- In your web browser, log in to your account on the Arturia website.
- Under My Products, scroll down to “Free licenses with your product.”
- Click the button to expand the item. You’ll see “Ableton Live Lite.” Under “Serial Number” you will see a code. This is the activation code to register the app. Copy it.
- Download Ableton Live Lite from the Ableton website.
- Run the installer you just downloaded.
- Launch Ableton Live Lite.
- In the Welcome screen, click on Authorize with ableton.com. This will open the Ableton login page in your web browser.
- Create a user account at Ableton, with a username and password. Log in.
- On the Register a Product page, in the field named Registration code, paste in the serial number from the Arturia My Products page. Click Submit.
- Follow the prompts to return to the open Ableton Live app. Follow further prompts and you’ll see a message that you have successfully authorized Live. You can now use Ableton Live.
Download Arturia MIDI Control Center
Back in the Arturia Software Center app, under My Products, find and install Arturia MIDI Control Center.
You can also download it directly from the Arturia website here.
Arturia MIDI Control Center
KeyStep 37 mk2 settings in the Arturia MIDI Control Center
Arturia MIDI Control Center is the app you use to configure your KeyStep to control external synthesizers and virtual instruments other than Analog Lab, and to dive deep into customization for anything you want the keyboard, pads, sliders, buttons and control knobs to do. You can save and recall templates for different projects.
Install MIDI Control Center from within Arturia Software Center, or download it directly from the Arturia Downloads page.
Be sure to download the newest version of the MIDI Control Center Owner’s Manual from the same link.
Arturia Analog Lab Intro
Analog Lab Intro
One reason that many folks buy an Arturia KeyStep is to work with the Analog Lab Intro Keyboard Anthology app for your Mac or Windows PC, which lets you play presets from Arturia’s catalog of V Collection instruments. The Intro version of Analog Lab is included with your purchase.
Selecting the KeyStep in Analog Lab’s MIDI settings on macOS
- Within Arturia Analog Lab Intro, click the Settings icon in the upper-left corner. Select Audio MIDI Settings.
- In the Audio MIDI Settings dialog, under MIDI Settings > MIDI ports, check the box next to your model of KeyStep. Click OK.
- Select and configure your audio interface in the Audio Settings section.
Now you can play Analog Lab from your KeyStep.
Download the newest version of the Analog Lab owner’s manual to learn more.
Arturia KeyStep Tutorial Videos
Here are overviews of using the keyboard and its sequencer and arpeggiator functions.
Arturia: Tutorial: KeyStep mk2 – Overview
Arturia: Tutorial | KeyStep 37 mk2 | Overview
Arturia: KeyStep Pro Tutorials: Episode 1 – Overview
Sweetwater KeyStep Videos
Sweetwater Soundcheck: Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 MIDI Controller and Sequencer Demo
Sweetwater: Arturia KeyStep Pro Controller/Sequencer — Daniel Fisher
Arturia KeyStep Resources
Bookmark these Arturia Resources pages. Here you’ll find tutorial videos, manuals and downloads.
Here are the Downloads and Manuals pages for the original KeyStep units:
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