The Arturia Keystep 37 makes its entrance as a top-notch MIDI controller in Chris Laps’ latest video. Known for its innovative scale and chord modes, this device is a favorite for those seeking sonic inspiration with minimal effort. Chris takes us on a detailed journey through the features, showing how it can unlock musical creativity—whether you’re noodling around or seriously crafting beats. A must-watch for anyone looking to up their game with this versatile tool!
23. November 2025
RILEY
Chris Laps Dives into the Arturia Keystep 37 Magic
Meet the Arturia Keystep 37 – A Compact Marvel
If someone’s looking for a MIDI controller that’s as packed with personality as it is with features, Chris Laps presents the Arturia Keystep 37 like it’s the last slice of pizza at the party. Right from the get-go, Chris sings its praises, calling it probably his favorite MIDI controller ever—packed tight with innovative features like the scale and chord modes that can whip up complex ideas with the ease of pushing a broken elevator button. This bad boy offers octave control with a twist of a knob. And for those who believe in the power of going beyond the basics, it shifts effortlessly from simple octaves to sus chords and all those jazzy and major extensions—funky yet functional.
"This is the keystep 37 from Arturia and it's probably my favorite midi controller ever."
© Screenshot/Quote: Chris Laps (YouTube)
Chord Modes – Turning Chords into Child's Play
Diving into the chord modes, Chris takes viewers on a quick journey where playing more than one note is not just a possibility but a delight. With a turn of a knob, you’re no longer the synth novice but a maestro orchestrating an ensemble of notes. With access to an entire world of chords such as minor, minor seven, and the heavenly minor nine, it’s like turning on the radio to your favorite throwback mixtape. He shows off the controller’s ability to take a simple note and elevate it up to a glorious eleven chord, providing a buffet of musical options any beatmaker could feast on. This isn’t just about playing chords; it’s about having a full plate of musical sushi right in front of you—ready to mix and match to your beat’s taste.
Scale Modes – The Key to Infinite Creativity
"...you can go ahead and just start hitting keys and figure out a chord progression pretty easily."
© Screenshot/Quote: Chris Laps (YouTube)
Next up, Chris shows how scale modes on the Keystep 37 cut out the noise and keep things in key. This feature limits your options to specific notes within a chosen scale, so you’re always cooking with the right spices. For anyone who’s ever hit a sour note and ruined the groove, this safety net is a game-changer. Chris makes it look easy, switching from chromatic to major with a flick, showing how even a non-musician can get into the groove of a complex progression without really trying. By blocking out notes that aren’t in the scale, it makes bad music decisions a thing of the past—allowing you to focus on creativity instead of damage control. It’s like having a culinary expert guiding you through a cooking show, making sure every flavor hits just right.
Injecting Feeling with Velocity Control
Velocity control adds another layer of dynamism to the Keystep 37. Chris highlights how varying pressure on the keys affects the number of notes played, giving rise to a tapestry of textures just waiting to explode into a full-on groove. With velocity, soft touches yield fewer notes while harder presses amp up the excitement, like turning a dim-lit dive bar into a full-blown concert—each touch becomes a different musical journey. Chris masterfully demonstrates how this feature can be dialed in to add emotional weight to any performance, echoing the subtle yet profound shifts that bring a beat to life.
Strum it Up – Adding Rhythm to Chords
The strum function on the Arturia Keystep 37 might just be the unsung hero of this MIDI controller. It’s the kind of feature that turns heads and has people asking, ‘How’d you do that?’—a digital nod to the irresistible charm of street performers. Chris shows off how the strum adds a rhythmic nuance to simple chords, letting users strum up or down with intuitive grace. Whether fast or slow, adding a positive strum injects a sense of motion and energy into static notes, while a negative strum brings an entirely different vibe. It’s akin to adding a dash of hot sauce to a beat—suddenly, things are poppin’!
Sampler and Synth Mastery – Versatility Unleashed
Versatility is the name of the game, and the Keystep 37 isn’t one to play single matches. Chris highlights this when he plugs it into an MPC sampler, showcasing the controller’s adaptability between various setups. It seamlessly glides from controlling samplers to synthesizers, a versatility akin to a street performer switching from a harmonica to a guitar without missing a beat. Emphasizing its role as a creative catalyst, Chris explains how the Keystep 37 easily adapts to different sonic textures—showing sketches of various soundscapes from soft pads to plucky strings, it’s like stepping into a soundscape buffet.
"It almost feels like you can't play something that sounds bad because you're just locked into a certain note set."
© Screenshot/Quote: Chris Laps (YouTube)
Conclusion – A Melody Machine for Modern Musos
"I really think they actually nailed this name sound explorers."
© Screenshot/Quote: Chris Laps (YouTube)
In wrapping things up, the Keystep 37 is painted as a melody machine ready to inspire any musician willing to twist a knob and strum a chord. Chris captures how this compact dynamo is more than just another gadget; it’s a playground for sound explorers. Its creative features serve as antidotes to creative ruts, giving musician’s blocks the boot. Just like grabbing a box of crayons invites immediate creativity in a child, the Arturia Keystep 37 is for the grown-up musician who’s about making those sweet, sweet tunes.
This article is also available in German. Read it here: https://synthmagazin.at/chris-laps-taucht-in-die-magie-des-arturia-keystep-37-ein/