I use a keystep pro outputting on midi channel 10, set cycles or samples to receive on midi 10. It will control all tracks selected one at a time. Allows you to record each track on cycles/samples independently into the model cycles/samples sequencer. No need to change midi channel on the controller. Just select active track on the cycles/samples. Can record on the fly. Thanks for your videos, you have helped me learn!
A cool thing you can do with the model cycles and the keystep. If you record a pattern into the keystep, then turn on the count in on the model cycles. You can enter live record on the cycles and if you hit play on the keystep during the count in it will automatically start in time with the key step. Sorta like you're doing only you don't have to play live. Useful for putting in complex melodic patterns that are hard to play
@@FreeBeat as far as i can tell its just responding to the MIDI start command so it should work with pretty much any sequencer. Very handy. I hate that my sp404 can't do that
Sorry for the thread necromancy but I've been trying to figure out how to transfer sequences from my Keystep Pro to my Model:Cycles and thank you so much for this comment because I would have never thought to try that.
Thank you. Awesome vid. I’m not that familiarized yet in the world of electronic hardware, but just placed an order for a Cycles and was hoping that my Arturia KeyStep would come in handy. You have given me all the confidence in the world that it will. Can’t wait until my Cycles arrives!!
I think the chord track is easily the most tedious part of the Model:Cycles. If you want to use various chords, you have to set the chord type on a step-by-step basis. Would be nice if they could add an option to set a key and scale, and from there it would automatically set the chord type value appropriate for the provided pitch.
@@mariog1051 Well hopefully you could still parameter lock chord types, but the default changes per note would be within the scale? Then I suppose you'd have to set the scale somehow...
▲ indeed they look similar, but arturia uses different polarity 3.5mm midi than elektron. in the model:cycles (and samples) software you can switch between the polarities though. that means you could hook op your microfreak and model:cycles using only a 3.5mm stereo cable, no adapters needed.
You can definitely use a MIDI keyboard with the circuit tracks! It's got 5 pin in and out ports right on the unit :) it's super easy, and you can even control external synths with it as well.
@@FreeBeat If the Cycles cannot be placed in midi single channel mode so all 6 tracks have say 50 yo 90 cc allocated on one channel it will not work with Keystep Pro. So the question is does cycles have a single midi channel mode for all 6 tracks?
So I contacted Elektron and the answer is as follows: "You can either control the six tracks of the Model:Samples on their dedicated MIDI channels (which are user configurable), or you can trigger all six tracks on a single MIDI channel with specific notes. Note numbers 0-5 (the lowest six MIDI notes) will always trigger track 1 through track 6 regardless of which track is active. It is also possible to control the Model:Samples on what we call the AUTO channel - a user configurable MIDI channel that always gives access to controlling the currently active track. This is very useful when using an external MIDI keyboard and often changing between tracks on the Model:Samples. "
How do clear just one tracks parameters. Sometimes I mangle the knobs and just want to completely clear everything on that track and start over I end up only being able to clear the trigs or entire pattern
Thanks! Is the model/cycles can receive velocity message from the keyboard?? Seems that it doesnt... but im not sure. That would add soooo much in my opinion
This is very helpful. I have the Cycles and was looking at the Keystep wondering how it might work as a controller for it. I wonder if it is possible to send different MIDI sequences to the different Cycles Tracks from the Keystep in real time via the different channels? Or can the Keystep only send one at a time?
Hello :) I have a similar set up but with the akai mpk mini ! How can I change the machine with this midi controller ? Because I don’t have the shift button 😂
I have the Model:Samples. It has pretty much the same MIDI functionality so I wanted to ask if you tried to use the Model as your master clock for the KS37. My main concern is how easy is to use the Model as a master clock and play/record sequences on the KS37 with the incoming clock. My idea is to use the KS37 as an additional sequencer track synced to the Model:Samples.
It seems like it should be plug-and-play, as your video suggests, but I have the same set-up, and a non-responsive M:C. What did you program for MIDI and Ports in the M:C? That was one step not focused on, the M:C side of the set-up.
I have the samples and cycles and now the Arturia keystep 🎹 , ty for making this 😁👏🙌 almost got the novation mini mk 3 but I think I made the right choice .I got the black ver though and mine in the keystep mini 32 keys original will this work the same?
interesting, so when you change the length of track 5 to 64 steps, it also fills in the data from the other tracks? I'm asking because the other tracks, you only programmed data for 16 steps, yet, now all 64 steps for the other tracks are all filled in.
Hi, I hope you stil read comments from old videos.. What are you thoughts on making the keystep the primary clock. I trying to do this, but can't figure it out. This way I feel that I could get the most out of the keystep, like using the arp and sequencer on the keystep... I am also afraid of losing the time, when the keystep controls the clock becauase my keystep is the older one - bpm display.
Trying to decide between this (a model samples actually) and a volca with pajen firmware. The key feature for me is volca 1 with pajen can control ALL 10 loaded samples on one midi in channel. Model: Samples and Cylces don't seem to be able to do this. Anybody know of a workaround on the elektron devices?
yo. i think you never pressed first the instrument channel on del Model to see if the keystep react to the program change. So , does the Keystep 37 receive program change ?
Could the keyboard be used in syncing the cycles with a pocket operator? I've tried what seems like every combination, regardless I'd be much appreciated if you could answer. I've been meaning to ask Ricky as well
At first I was thinking you could have the midi out of the keystep controlling the clock of the Cycles, while a sync out of the keystep controls the clock of the PO. I'm not sure if that would work though, since on the keystep 32 you have to choose between MIDI and sync mode. Maybe the keystep pro might work better since it's got 4 tracks Actually, after thinking about it more, if you have a Volca laying around, they have midi in and 3.5mm sync out. Cycles midi out -> Volca Midi in -> Volca Sync Out -> Pocket operator
Ok this video is quite misleading as it suggests you need a midi channel per track which you dont. Also the way you do it you cannot share all drums to record you have to keep changing channels. because the way you do it. So in short you are doing it a drum type per channel which means making beats you would have to do per drum swopping the channel for each drum track. You can control the tracks with one midi channel as default, you do not need to do the channel set up as you have done. Why do I say this, because I contacted Elektron and got the following answer. "So I contacted Elektron and the answer is as follows: "You can either control the six tracks of the Model:Samples on their dedicated MIDI channels (which are user configurable), or you can trigger all six tracks on a single MIDI channel with specific notes. Note numbers 0-5 (the lowest six MIDI notes) will always trigger track 1 through track 6 regardless of which track is active. It is also possible to control the Model:Samples on what we call the AUTO channel - a user configurable MIDI channel that always gives access to controlling the currently active track. This is very useful when using an external MIDI keyboard and often changing between tracks on the Model:Samples. "
how can you say it's mono when the headphone output is TRS stereo? if you're plugging into a mono source you're only getting the left channel. There is no mono output on the cycles according to the manual, they're both always stereo.
Ok so this wont work with Keystep Pro as its drum track uses one single midi channel. Can Cycles be used in single channel mode like the Volca Sample 2 can which you just change from multichannel to single channel in the Volca?
So I contacted Elektron and the answer is as follows: "You can either control the six tracks of the Model:Samples on their dedicated MIDI channels (which are user configurable), or you can trigger all six tracks on a single MIDI channel with specific notes. Note numbers 0-5 (the lowest six MIDI notes) will always trigger track 1 through track 6 regardless of which track is active. It is also possible to control the Model:Samples on what we call the AUTO channel - a user configurable MIDI channel that always gives access to controlling the currently active track. This is very useful when using an external MIDI keyboard and often changing between tracks on the Model:Samples. "
I use a keystep pro outputting on midi channel 10, set cycles or samples to receive on midi 10. It will control all tracks selected one at a time. Allows you to record each track on cycles/samples independently into the model cycles/samples sequencer. No need to change midi channel on the controller. Just select active track on the cycles/samples. Can record on the fly. Thanks for your videos, you have helped me learn!
As a Model Samples owner, I really appreciate this!
Thanks for watching!
Your video sold me on the model cycles. How about a playlist of all your model cycles vids? You’ve done quite a few! Great content here. 🙏🏾
I'll have to make one, thanks!
Just the video I needed! Thanks! Answers a bunch of questions I had about doing this with my Model: Samples.
Glad I could help!
A cool thing you can do with the model cycles and the keystep.
If you record a pattern into the keystep, then turn on the count in on the model cycles. You can enter live record on the cycles and if you hit play on the keystep during the count in it will automatically start in time with the key step.
Sorta like you're doing only you don't have to play live. Useful for putting in complex melodic patterns that are hard to play
Oh that's really smart, super creative!
@@FreeBeat as far as i can tell its just responding to the MIDI start command so it should work with pretty much any sequencer. Very handy. I hate that my sp404 can't do that
wait, so you don't have to play live?? So then how do i enter each note?
Sorry for the thread necromancy but I've been trying to figure out how to transfer sequences from my Keystep Pro to my Model:Cycles and thank you so much for this comment because I would have never thought to try that.
Thank you. Awesome vid. I’m not that familiarized yet in the world of electronic hardware, but just placed an order for a Cycles and was hoping that my Arturia KeyStep would come in handy. You have given me all the confidence in the world that it will. Can’t wait until my Cycles arrives!!
Oh yeah it works great! It's so much easier to record stuff live with a proper keyboard. Have fun :)
I think the chord track is easily the most tedious part of the Model:Cycles. If you want to use various chords, you have to set the chord type on a step-by-step basis. Would be nice if they could add an option to set a key and scale, and from there it would automatically set the chord type value appropriate for the provided pitch.
That would be so cool, the amount of time you would save would be ridiculous!
What about chords out of scale? like a major E in C? you lose a lot of expression by limiting chords as you suggested
@@mariog1051 Well hopefully you could still parameter lock chord types, but the default changes per note would be within the scale? Then I suppose you'd have to set the scale somehow...
Nice! Just got the same Keystep recently.
Really opened up the playability of these synths!
Having proper keys makes all of these budget synths and groove boxes punch so much harder!
@@FreeBeat no kidding. Adds a lot of expressiveness. Right on, man.
congratulations, you built yourself a workstation. lol
edit: those midi adapters look similar to the 2 that come with the microfreak.
▲ indeed they look similar, but arturia uses different polarity 3.5mm midi than elektron. in the model:cycles (and samples) software you can switch between the polarities though. that means you could hook op your microfreak and model:cycles using only a 3.5mm stereo cable, no adapters needed.
@@triandgle thx 4 the info
Beat me to it haha
Thanks again, Free Beat for another very helpful video!
Very useful! I think the models is the one for me. I think the key step 37 is too.
I hope you enjoy both of them very much!
Great VId!!! always love your content!!!!
Thanks so much!
Great tutorial! Thank you!
Thanks so much for watching!
From 7:00 minute ,,was aswesome
Thanks so much!
Great content! New sub. Love the way u demostrated, don't have to be so serious, enjoyed!
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Great video. Can we do the same thing with the circut tracks. They really need to implemented if not.
You can definitely use a MIDI keyboard with the circuit tracks! It's got 5 pin in and out ports right on the unit :) it's super easy, and you can even control external synths with it as well.
Thanks for the video✌️
Thanks for watching!
Any idea of how to do this with the Keystep Pro? Thanks!
I'm not familiar with the keystep pro, sorry!
@@FreeBeat If the Cycles cannot be placed in midi single channel mode so all 6 tracks have say 50 yo 90 cc allocated on one channel it will not work with Keystep Pro. So the question is does cycles have a single midi channel mode for all 6 tracks?
So I contacted Elektron and the answer is as follows: "You can either control the six tracks of the Model:Samples on their dedicated MIDI channels (which are user configurable), or you can trigger all six tracks on a single MIDI channel with specific notes. Note numbers 0-5 (the lowest six MIDI notes) will always trigger track 1 through track 6 regardless of which track is active.
It is also possible to control the Model:Samples on what we call the AUTO channel - a user configurable MIDI channel that always gives access to controlling the currently active track. This is very useful when using an external MIDI keyboard and often changing between tracks on the Model:Samples. "
Nice video! But what happens if you DON'T have a midi port in your MIDI keyboard, like you don't have on the MPK mini mk3? You can't connect it?
You would then need to use a midi hub with an adapter. Thanks for watching!
How do clear just one tracks parameters. Sometimes I mangle the knobs and just want to completely clear everything on that track and start over I end up only being able to clear the trigs or entire pattern
I honestly do not know off the top of my head. I'm sure there's a way, I just can't remember how.
Hi, great tutorial, thank you! Do you know if the keystep pro has the strum function? Thanks! Cheers!
I don't think so, but it might!
@@FreeBeat thanks!
Could you trigger a sp404mk2 with a keystep to play piano?
I'm not sure how the 404 handles chromatic playback of samples, or polyphony, but if it allows both of those things then yes that would work.
Thanks! Is the model/cycles can receive velocity message from the keyboard?? Seems that it doesnt... but im not sure. That would add soooo much in my opinion
It should be able to!
Bonjour , merci pour votre vidéo . J ai une petite question ,ça fonctionne de la même manière avec un keystep pro arturia ? Merci
Oui! Thank you for watching :)
This is very helpful. I have the Cycles and was looking at the Keystep wondering how it might work as a controller for it. I wonder if it is possible to send different MIDI sequences to the different Cycles Tracks from the Keystep in real time via the different channels? Or can the Keystep only send one at a time?
I believe it can only send one at a time sadly.
Nuts. That’s been my impression as well.
Maybe you can do it with the keystep Pro
Hello :) I have a similar set up but with the akai mpk mini !
How can I change the machine with this midi controller ?
Because I don’t have the shift button 😂
Just change the MIDI channel, that's all I'm using the shift button for on the Keystep in this video.
How do I change the midi channel? This is the first time I’ve used a midi controller 😂
@@antoniotiezzi3024 I'm not sure on the MPK Mini, you'll have to look it up in the manual :)
I have the Model:Samples. It has pretty much the same MIDI functionality so I wanted to ask if you tried to use the Model as your master clock for the KS37. My main concern is how easy is to use the Model as a master clock and play/record sequences on the KS37 with the incoming clock. My idea is to use the KS37 as an additional sequencer track synced to the Model:Samples.
I haven't personally tried that, but it should work just fine!
@@FreeBeat thanks! Would be interesting to see it! Haven’t seen any videos on UA-cam covering that.
It seems like it should be plug-and-play, as your video suggests, but I have the same set-up, and a non-responsive M:C. What did you program for MIDI and Ports in the M:C? That was one step not focused on, the M:C side of the set-up.
Here's the aspect overlooked in these videos. Go to M:C menu for MIDI. Choose Filter. Change Receive Note to on.
I don't recall ever doing that, but I must have (way before I made this video even), thanks for pointing it out!
Hey man i heard thrugh the grapevine that you can use MIDI Thru to play polyphonically, I was wondering if you've tried that out?
I'm not sure, I'll have to give that a shot!
@@FreeBeat cool, I'd love to know what you find out
Thank you for this! Can you play the cycles using midi from ableton? And do the notes record in the cycles if you do this?
Yes and yes!
is the cycles monophonic or polyphonic for keyboard? thanks
I have the samples and cycles and now the Arturia keystep 🎹 , ty for making this 😁👏🙌 almost got the novation mini mk 3 but I think I made the right choice .I got the black ver though and mine in the keystep mini 32 keys original will this work the same?
interesting, so when you change the length of track 5 to 64 steps, it also fills in the data from the other tracks? I'm asking because the other tracks, you only programmed data for 16 steps, yet, now all 64 steps for the other tracks are all filled in.
Does the M:C respond to PitchBend midi msg?
Sadly it does not :(
Hi, I hope you stil read comments from old videos.. What are you thoughts on making the keystep the primary clock. I trying to do this, but can't figure it out. This way I feel that I could get the most out of the keystep, like using the arp and sequencer on the keystep... I am also afraid of losing the time, when the keystep controls the clock becauase my keystep is the older one - bpm display.
this is a dawless set up?
Yup!
Trying to decide between this (a model samples actually) and a volca with pajen firmware. The key feature for me is volca 1 with pajen can control ALL 10 loaded samples on one midi in channel. Model: Samples and Cylces don't seem to be able to do this. Anybody know of a workaround on the elektron devices?
Hmmm, I'm not sure, sorry!
yo.
i think you never pressed first the instrument channel on del Model to see if the keystep react to the program change.
So , does the Keystep 37 receive program change ?
I believe it does yes
I hope
Can the model:samples (and cycles) respond to midi pitchbend? And does it record the pitchbend data into the sequencer? Thank you.
Unfortunately the Cycles can't, I'm not sure about the samples :(
@@FreeBeat ah, it’s the little things isn’t it? :) Thanks anyway! I also asked Elektron, let’s see what they say. Thanks again!
Could the keyboard be used in syncing the cycles with a pocket operator? I've tried what seems like every combination, regardless I'd be much appreciated if you could answer. I've been meaning to ask Ricky as well
I believe it could, but it would definitely take some messing with to get it to work. Maybe I'll give it a shot in the future.
@@FreeBeatIt would be much appreciated, I know I'm not the only one
At first I was thinking you could have the midi out of the keystep controlling the clock of the Cycles, while a sync out of the keystep controls the clock of the PO. I'm not sure if that would work though, since on the keystep 32 you have to choose between MIDI and sync mode. Maybe the keystep pro might work better since it's got 4 tracks
Actually, after thinking about it more, if you have a Volca laying around, they have midi in and 3.5mm sync out. Cycles midi out -> Volca Midi in -> Volca Sync Out -> Pocket operator
Can I use the Model Samples and Keystep combo to sequence an external synth module?
Can you record the audio into ableton live?
Absolutely :)
@@FreeBeatexcellent do I need a audio interface for that to work and also I see using it with midi in/out ports but with about with the launchpad x?
Ok this video is quite misleading as it suggests you need a midi channel per track which you dont. Also the way you do it you cannot share all drums to record you have to keep changing channels. because the way you do it. So in short you are doing it a drum type per channel which means making beats you would have to do per drum swopping the channel for each drum track. You can control the tracks with one midi channel as default, you do not need to do the channel set up as you have done. Why do I say this, because I contacted Elektron and got the following answer. "So I contacted Elektron and the answer is as follows: "You can either control the six tracks of the Model:Samples on their dedicated MIDI channels (which are user configurable), or you can trigger all six tracks on a single MIDI channel with specific notes. Note numbers 0-5 (the lowest six MIDI notes) will always trigger track 1 through track 6 regardless of which track is active.
It is also possible to control the Model:Samples on what we call the AUTO channel - a user configurable MIDI channel that always gives access to controlling the currently active track. This is very useful when using an external MIDI keyboard and often changing between tracks on the Model:Samples. "
how can you say it's mono when the headphone output is TRS stereo? if you're plugging into a mono source you're only getting the left channel. There is no mono output on the cycles according to the manual, they're both always stereo.
All I said is that I was recording the audio mono. Technically I should have said I was only recording the left output.
@@FreeBeat hmmm. would it be just as good or better to run both stereo outputs into a mono sum di box? or does it matter. thank you
@@KodyXXVll I'm not sure. I was just doing it for the simplicity of filming my video at the time.
Oh, don't sell your keyboard skills short.
Hahaha I always feel like I have to
Ok so this wont work with Keystep Pro as its drum track uses one single midi channel. Can Cycles be used in single channel mode like the Volca Sample 2 can which you just change from multichannel to single channel in the Volca?
So I contacted Elektron and the answer is as follows: "You can either control the six tracks of the Model:Samples on their dedicated MIDI channels (which are user configurable), or you can trigger all six tracks on a single MIDI channel with specific notes. Note numbers 0-5 (the lowest six MIDI notes) will always trigger track 1 through track 6 regardless of which track is active.
It is also possible to control the Model:Samples on what we call the AUTO channel - a user configurable MIDI channel that always gives access to controlling the currently active track. This is very useful when using an external MIDI keyboard and often changing between tracks on the Model:Samples. "
That is really good information, thank you!