Arturia’s KeyStep mk2 is a refined and feature-packed MIDI controller keyboard$169 / €129, arturia.com
Arturia struck gold with the KeyStep in 2016, with it quickly becoming a go-to compact keyboard controller for myriad bedroom producers. KeyStep Pro and KeyStep 37 followed in its wake, but it’s only now — nearly a decade on — that the Grenoble-based company has unveiled the mk2 version of the original, 32-key format.

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With a sleeker design, workflow refinements, and new generative features, mk2 makes a strong case but the miniature keybed remains an inherent limitation of such a small footprint.
Despite its size-related constraints, I’m eager to discover where KeyStep’s place in serious production workflows lies. I plug it into my MacBook (with the supplied USB-C to USB-A cable) and flick the new power switch to the left, and the controller becomes a futuristic dashboard of coloured light.
Image: Press
Is KeyStep mk2 well-made?
KeyStep mk2 feels solid in the hands, and there’s enough weight to keep it steady on the desk. Around six inches longer than my 15-inch MacBook, it’s easy to imagine throwing it in a roomier rucksack for out-and-about music-making, and it should tuck neatly into even the most cramped of studio setups.
The matte white finish is stylish, and the new OLED screen used for sequencing and menu navigation is a significant upgrade to the seven-segment displays of previous models. It also means more configuration can be done directly on the unit, without requiring Arturia’s MIDI Control Center software as previous KeySteps did. Both aspects lend the unit a premium air, despite the fact it’s a relatively affordable controller at $169.
Mk2 has plastic buttons instead of rubber. While they look cleaner and benefit from bright backlighting, they also feel a little brittle, and I’d hoped for a firmer, more satisfying click. Still, the brightly coloured LEDs are a pleasing touch, offering visual feedback for various settings — whether chord or scale modes are active, for example.
One concern is the device’s sole encoder, which feels less durable than the rest of the unit. Its presence also signals a move towards more menu-driven control, eschewing the handful of knobs found on previous KeySteps.
Thankfully, many core functions like arp and sequencer settings can be accessed via key combinations using the piano keys, which becomes a surprisingly quick and intuitive workflow once I get used to it.
Setup on macOS is instant and I load up Arturia’s Jun-6 V in Ableton Live. That’s the plug side covered, so what about play?
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How does KeyStep mk2 feel to play?
The mini keybed is solid for its size. There’s a pleasing springiness to the keys; they’re firm, but not so stiff to be uncomfortable, and the action is relatively quiet unless you’re hammering out maximum velocities.
Like all mini keys, the mk2’s keybed can feel cramped. My hands aren’t overly large, but I find it hard to play fast runs, and even simple triads take a bit of finger contortionism. It casts doubt on whether any mini keyboard can be used for serious composition. But ultimately, this is the trade-off for a compact, portable controller.
Fortunately, KeyStep Mk2 scores playability points elsewhere. The capacitive touch strips for pitch bend and modulation feel remarkably responsive and expressive, although I do wish they were more recessed within the chassis. I find my hand brushing the mod strip when reaching for other controls — not the end of the world in the studio, but it could be a nuisance during live performance.
One feature returning on the mk2 is the latching Hold button. Using it musically takes some getting used to, but it’s a handy stand-in for an external sustain pedal.
Another welcome addition for modular hardware users is the KeyStep mk2’s expanded CV outputs, which can be assigned per-note to aftertouch, velocity, mod wheel, or random/pulse.
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Using chords and scales on KeyStep mk2
For production newbies or theory slackers, KeyStep mk2’s Scale mode locks notes to the chosen harmony, keeping things in key. Layer Chord mode on top and you can trigger full voicings — simple triads, jazzy extensions — with a single finger, and you can even rake through the notes by enabling Strum. It’s a surprisingly addictive way to develop progressions, especially when paired with a lush polysynth like Jun-6 V.
Arturia hasn’t skimped on options here. Alongside simple scales like major, minor, and pentatonic, you get more unusual modes like Japanese, Freygish, and Gypsy, and rich chord voicings that open the door to more leftfield territory.
However, configuring scales and chords is where the menu diving becomes a little more apparent. Where the KeyStep 37 offered instant access via rotary knobs, KeyStep mk2 hides them in submenus that take a few steps to get to. That’s fine for setting and forgetting, and ultimately means more options and flexibility, but it’s a speed bump if you’re experimenting on the fly.
I do like how scale quantisation sits at the end of the MIDI chain. I record a jumble of raw, off-key notes and flip through scales, unearthing new melodic ideas as I go — it’s a creative tool as much as a safety net.
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How does KeyStep’s arpeggiator work?
KeyStep’s arpeggiator behaves exactly as you’d expect — strike a chord, and off it goes. It’s easy to set up and control, with simple key switches for adjusting parameters including rate, octave range, and direction. Combined with the shift key, the pitch and mod strips control gate length and a somewhat opaque parameter called Spice, which adds randomisation to the gate length and note triggering.
Along with basic arpeggiator patterns like up, down, and random, KeyStep includes nine further preset sequences. But once I discover the new Mutate function, that number becomes virtually infinite.
Mutate is a creative shortcut that rewards a bit of trial and error. My foray calls to mind the sort of hypnotic rhythmic phrasing you’d hear from someone like Barker, and I can see this feature becoming an incredibly easy way to kickstart a new track.
Image: Press
Using KeyStep’s integrated sequencer
KeyStep mk2’s polyphonic sequencer is more powerful than its size might suggest. You get up to 64 steps per pattern, with space to save 64 patterns in total. There’s also a pattern chain for building a single long-form arrangement that plays back automatically.
Sequences can be recorded and overdubbed live, with or without quantisation. I’m unsure how easy it’ll be to keep in time, but my worries are quickly quelled by the on-screen metronome’s clear visual reference. Automation data for pitch bend, mod, gate length, and Spice can be recorded as well.
You can also enter notes manually, with up to eight notes per step — handy for chords or dense rhythmic parts — but frustratingly, you can’t directly edit note velocities.
Just as the arpeggiator can be exported to the sequencer, the reverse is also true. Once a pattern is selected or recorded, swapping to the arpeggiator’s User Sequence mode loads it in. This doesn’t copy the entire sequence, per se. Rather, it’s a handy way to create an arpeggiator blueprint using the sequence’s rhythm, velocity, and polyphony data, while note pitches are determined by the keyboard.
I then discover another powerful feature of KeyStep mk2: the sequencer and keyboard can be set to output notes on separate MIDI channels. This lets you lay down accompaniment on one instrument and play improvised lines on another, for example.

KeyStep mk2 vs other compact controllers
In 2025, there’s a bounty of mini keyboard controllers in the KeyStep’s price bracket. Most offer comparable keybed quality, so the real differentiation lies in features and workflow.
Akai’s MPK Mini range offers an all-in-one solution available in 25-key and 37-key formats, and even a standalone Play version with built-in speaker and onboard sounds. CV outputs, pads, and assignable knobs make it a strong (and lower-priced) KeyStep challenger, but it doesn’t offer the same depth of arpeggiation or sequencing chops.
Novation’s LaunchKey Mini 25 and 37 are also popular, with the Mk4 versions similarly priced to KeyStep mk2. Powerful DAW integration is the selling point here, and LaunchKeys are superb choices for in-the-box setups. There’s no CV output, so they won’t be controlling your modular gear.
Should I buy KeyStep mk2?
The powerful combination of sequencing, arpeggiation, and chord and scale modes is KeyStep mk2’s core appeal. The synergy between these features is where it shines most brightly, and many will be picking one up specifically to interface with outboard gear or modular setups.
The lack of programmable knobs and faders might put DAW-centric users off, and pianists will be left wanting by its mini keys. But the KeyStep is less about controlling nuanced virtual instruments and more about building patterns and motifs quickly.
There’s likely not enough new here to warrant an upgrade for owners of the previous models, and it’s not a MIDI controller workhorse in the traditional sense. But paired with the right instrument, KeyStep mk2 becomes a focused, inspiring tool for exploring sequence-based composition. If that’s your goal, there’s little else at this size and price that can match it.

Key Features

32-key velocity-sensitive miniature keybed with aftertouch
Polyphonic sequencer with up to 64 steps and live recording
Storage for 64 sequencer patterns plus pattern chain for longer arrangement
Chord and scale modes with Strum
Generative Mutate function
Powerful arpeggiator with multiple patterns
Touch-sensitive strips for pitch bend and modulation
OLED screen for step-by-step-sequencing, visual metronome, menu and settings
USB bus power (USB-C to USB-A cable included)
USB-C port, MIDI in/out, sync in/out, CV/gate output
Comes with Arturia Analog Lab Intro

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