Starsky Carr Unleashes the Arturia KeyStep 37 MkII: Sequencer Mayhem and Mutant Arps

Meet the Mutant: KeyStep 37 MkII Gets Serious

Starsky Carr wastes no time showing off the KeyStep 37 MkII, and right out of the gate, it’s clear this isn’t just a minor facelift. The sequencer and arpeggiator have been turbocharged, with mutate functions and a workflow that’s all about fast, dirty creativity. If you’re used to the original KeyStep 37, the differences jump out – more controls, more hidden tricks, and a layout that begs you to poke, prod, and generally misbehave.

Starsky’s approach is hands-on and unapologetic, running through modes and menus with the kind of confidence that comes from years in the synth trenches. He’s not here to baby you through every button – instead, he throws you into the deep end, showing how the new interface, extra modulation outputs, and USB-C power make this a serious upgrade for anyone who wants to get weird, quick.

"It's got a completely upgraded sequencer and arpeggiator with mutative capabilities, giving all sorts of options for manipulating chords and sequences."

© Screenshot/Quote: Starskycarr (YouTube)

Mutation Station: Arps and Sequences Gone Wild

The mutate function is where things get spicy. With a single button press, your arpeggios and sequences start evolving in ways that would make a geneticist blush. Starsky demonstrates how you can take a standard arp, twist it with mutate, and then slam it straight into the sequencer for further abuse. It’s a workflow that rewards experimentation and happy accidents – exactly what you want when you’re chasing that next killer riff.

He doesn’t just talk about it; he shows how these features actually sound and feel, making it obvious that this isn’t just a gimmick. The mutate button, scale quantisation, and pattern copying are all about breaking out of stale loops and stumbling into something fresh. If you’re bored of static patterns, this is your new playground.

Chords, LFOs, and Performance Tricks: Not Just a Pretty Face

Chord mode on the KeyStep 37 MkII is a playground for the harmonically adventurous. Starsky dives into strum types, voicings, and spread options, showing how aftertouch and velocity can turn a simple chord into a living, breathing thing. Want your bass two octaves down? Sorted. Need strums synced to BPM? Easy – and it sounds lush.

But it’s not just about chords. The three LFOs (plus vibrato) and flexible CV outputs mean you can send envelopes and modulation wherever you like, making this a proper hub for both studio and live chaos. Starsky’s demo makes it clear: this isn’t just a controller, it’s a performance tool that begs to be pushed.

Plugged In: DAWs, Modulars, and Everything Between

Integration is where the KeyStep 37 MkII really flexes. Starsky runs through the global menu, showing how MIDI CC banks, CV formats (V/Oct, Hz/V), and gate settings make this thing play nice with just about anything. Whether you’re running a DAW, a modular rig, or a pile of hardware synths, it’s ready to slot in and take control.

He points out the flexibility of the LFO and envelope routing, and how easy it is to configure outputs for whatever weird setup you’ve cobbled together. This isn’t just for the modular elite – it’s for anyone who wants their controller to do more than just spit out notes. If you want to see the real-world impact, you’ll have to watch Starsky’s hands fly across the panel – some things just can’t be captured in text.

Arp-to-Seq Alchemy: The Secret Sauce

"That's quite nice though."

© Screenshot/Quote: Starskycarr (YouTube)

Here’s where the KeyStep 37 MkII earns its underground stripes: the ability to morph arpeggios into sequences and back again. Starsky shows how you can start with a basic arp, mutate it, save it as a sequence, and then use that sequence as the basis for a new arp. It’s a feedback loop of inspiration, and it’s dangerously addictive.

The workflow is slick and musical, letting you overdub, automate modulation, and jam out ideas on the fly. Starsky’s verdict? This is the kind of feature that turns a good controller into a must-have street weapon. But don’t take my word for it – the real magic is in the sound and the flow, so if you want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes, you’ll need to watch the video.