New! Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 - First Look

Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2. What's New, Who It's For & How It Compares

Arturia has officially unveiled the KeyStep 37 mk2 today, and it's the update a lot of people have been waiting for since the 32-key KeyStep mk2 landed back in November 2025. The original KeyStep 37 has long been a go-to for producers, modular enthusiasts and hybrid performers who wanted one extra octave, hands-on knobs and that deeply versatile CV/Gate connectivity in a compact, portable form. The mk2 version keeps all of that and layers on a string of meaningful upgrades: a new OLED display, generative tools from the mk2 family, an extra CV output, USB-C, a power switch, and a revamped arpeggiator and sequencer workflow.

If you're deciding whether to upgrade, jump in fresh, or pick a competitor like the Novation Launchkey 37 mk4 instead, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is the Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2?

The KeyStep 37 mk2 is a compact 37-note MIDI controller and polyphonic sequencer aimed at producers, performers and hardware enthusiasts working across DAW-based, hardware-only and hybrid setups. It sits in a well-established product lineage that began with the original KeyStep in 2016, a product that practically created the category of affordable, connectivity-rich compact controllers.

Like its predecessor, the KeyStep 37 mk2 is not a standalone synthesizer. It makes no sound on its own. What it does is give you an expressive keyboard with velocity and aftertouch, a capable polyphonic step sequencer, a powerful arpeggiator, and an impressive array of connectivity options for talking to virtually any instrument: hardware synths, Eurorack modular, drum machines and your DAW simultaneously. The "37" in the name refers to the three-octave keybed, which gives you a more practical playing range than the 32-key version without pushing the footprint into unwieldy territory.

The mk2 lands as a significant generational step up from the original KeyStep 37, introducing the generative tools and visual feedback of the new KeyStep mk2 family while retaining the slightly larger keybed, the four dedicated encoders and the deeper hands-on control that made the 37 a favourite over the more minimal 32-key model.

What to Consider Before Buying a Compact Controller Sequencer

Are you DAW-centric or do you work with hardware? The KeyStep 37 mk2 is genuinely useful in both worlds, but it particularly shines in hybrid and hardware-heavy setups. Its CV/Gate outputs, MIDI DIN In/Out and Sync I/O mean it can talk to modular systems, vintage synths and modern desktop units without a computer in the chain. If your entire world is software, the Novation Launchkey 37 mk4 offers more dedicated DAW integration at a similar price point.

Do you need generative tools or pure control? The mk2 introduces Mutate, Spice and generative Phrase Arpeggio patterns. These are tools for people who want sequences and arpeggios to evolve in real time without having to program every variation manually. If you want something more immediate and simple, the original KeyStep 37 mk1 is still widely available at a reduced price and covers the fundamentals well.

How important is playability to you? Three octaves (37 keys) versus two-and-a-bit (32 keys) makes a real difference if you're playing melodic parts or performing with any kind of technique. The KeyStep 37 mk2 uses the same Slimkey keybed as the KeyStep Pro, with velocity and aftertouch. It's slim but responsive, and for a controller at this price it feels like a proper instrument.

What about portability? The KeyStep 37 mk2 weighs 1.09kg and measures 547x148x43mm. It's genuinely portable and travels easily in a bag. It is, however, bigger than the 32-key models, which you should factor in if desk space is tight.

Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2: What's New Over the mk1?

The jump from the original KeyStep 37 to the mk2 is substantial. Here is what has changed.

OLED Display and Clickable Encoder

The most visible addition is the new OLED screen paired with a clickable encoder. On the original KeyStep 37, settings were accessed via a small screen and fixed knobs, which meant a fair amount of hunting around the layout to adjust things. The new display and encoder let you navigate settings directly on the hardware without reaching for a computer, a significant quality-of-life improvement for DAWless sessions.

Mutate: Generative Sequencing at One Button Press

Mutate is the headline new feature. Press it and your current sequence or arpeggio is immediately transformed, reshuffling melodic and rhythmic content to produce a variation. It can be subtle or dramatic depending on settings, and crucially it works without stopping playback. This is borrowed from the larger MiniFreak and MiniFreak Vocoder, and it makes the KeyStep 37 mk2 a legitimately generative instrument rather than just a step sequencer.

Spice and Dice Tools

Alongside Mutate, Spice (accessed via Shift + Mod strip) injects controlled randomness into rhythm patterns, keeping sequences feeling alive and unpredictable over time. Dice adds further randomisation options for pitch and timing. Neither of these existed on the mk1.

16-Mode Arpeggiator with Generative Pattern Arpeggios

The original KeyStep 37 had a capable 8-mode arpeggiator. The mk2 doubles this to 16 modes, adding generative pattern-based arpeggios alongside classic up/down/random styles. The Phrase Arpeggiator is particularly interesting: rather than running a fixed pattern, it generates a looping musical phrase using whichever notes you hold down. Use Mutate on top of a Phrase Arp and things get genuinely unpredictable in a musical way.

Pattern Chaining and Improved Sequencer

The sequencer now supports pattern chaining, allowing you to link multiple sequences together to create longer arrangements or evolving live sets. Unquantized recording is also available (long press the Seq button to toggle), which lets you capture natural timing and groove rather than snapping everything to the grid. The mk1 had a solid sequencer, but this is a meaningful step forward for live performance and compositional depth.

Additional CV Output (Mod 2)

The mk1 had CV Pitch, Gate and Mod 1. The mk2 adds a dedicated Mod 2 output, bringing the total to four CV outputs. Each of the mod outputs can be assigned to aftertouch, velocity, mod wheel, random per-step, pulse per step and more. For modular users, this means you can control two independent parameters on external hardware simultaneously from the same keyboard, opening up considerably more expressive patching options.

USB-C and a Power Switch

Small things, but worth noting. USB-C replaces the older connection type, which is simply better in 2026. The addition of a physical power switch addresses a long-standing complaint: you can now turn the device off without unplugging it from USB. Useful for anyone with a permanent pedalboard or studio setup.

39 LED Light Guide Above the Keybed

A strip of 39 LEDs above the keys now provides visual feedback for notes played, scale positions and sequencer/arpeggio activity. This is an addition over the KeyStep 37 mk1 and gives you an at-a-glance reference for what the device is doing, particularly useful in live performance conditions.

Use Cases: Who Is the KeyStep 37 mk2 For?

Modular and Eurorack performers. With four CV outputs (Pitch, Gate, Mod 1, Mod 2), MIDI In/Out, Sync I/O and a Kensington lock slot, the KeyStep 37 mk2 is clearly built with modular setups in mind. It will happily serve as the keyboard, sequencer and performance hub for a Eurorack rig without a computer anywhere near it. The Mutate and Spice tools make it particularly useful for generative and evolving modular performances.

Hybrid producers. If you have a mix of hardware synths and a DAW, the KeyStep 37 mk2 slots in as a central controller and ideas generator. Use it to sketch melodic sequences in your DAW via USB-C, then connect directly to a desktop synth via MIDI DIN for writing basslines or leads away from the screen. The included Analog Lab Intro and Ableton Live Lite give you something to get started with immediately.

Live performers. Pattern chaining, Mutate and Spice are all designed for live use. You can build sequences in advance, chain them, and then mutate and evolve them in real time without stopping. The 39 LED light guide and OLED display also mean you can monitor what the device is doing in a darker live environment.

Bedroom producers who have outgrown a basic MIDI keyboard. If you own a simple MIDI keyboard and are finding it limiting, the KeyStep 37 mk2 offers a genuine step up in creative capability. The arpeggiator, chord modes, scale modes and sequencer all give you compositional tools that go well beyond simple note input. It's not a beginner's first purchase, but it rewards those who want to grow.

The person who bought the original KeyStep 37 years ago. If you've been running the mk1 for a few years and it still works fine, the mk2 is a meaningful but not essential upgrade. Mutate and the improved arpeggiator are genuinely useful additions. The display, USB-C and extra CV output are quality-of-life improvements that add up. Whether it's worth upgrading from a fully functional mk1 depends on how much you'd use the generative tools specifically.

Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 Feature Comparison

A quick note on the comparison: the "LaunchKey Mini 27 mk4" does not exist as a product. The Launchkey Mini mk4 range includes a 25-key and a 37-key (mini-key) model. The table below uses the Launchkey Mini 37 mk4, which is the closest match by key count and price. On mobile, swipe the table left and right, or scroll each card to see all details.

The KeyStep 37 mk2 vs Novation Launchkey 37 mk4: Which Should You Buy?

These two sit at a similar price point but serve meaningfully different purposes. The decision is cleaner than it might first appear.

Buy the KeyStep 37 mk2 if: you work with hardware synths, modular rigs or anything that uses CV/Gate. The Launchkey 37 mk4 has no CV outputs and only a 3.5mm MIDI out. If analogue or modular connectivity matters to you at all, the Arturia wins decisively. The KeyStep 37 mk2 also offers aftertouch, which the Launchkey 37 mk4 does not, so if you want to map aftertouch to filter cutoff, synth expression or CV modulation, the KeyStep is the only option here.

Buy the Launchkey 37 mk4 if: your entire workflow is DAW-based. Novation's deep integration with Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio and Cubase goes well beyond what the Arturia offers. The Launchkey 37 mk4 has 16 FSR drum pads with polyphonic aftertouch, dedicated transport controls, mixer mapping, clip launching and extensive plugin control. It also comes with a genuinely impressive software bundle. If you rarely touch hardware synths and want a controller that feels completely at home inside Ableton Live, the Launchkey 37 mk4 is the stronger choice.

The Launchkey Mini 37 mk4 is the budget-conscious option for DAW-only producers. At £139 it's extremely capable for the price, with the same creative features as its bigger sibling, just on smaller keys. Fine for sound design and programming; less comfortable for serious keyboard playing.

The Bottom Line

The Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2 is a meaningful upgrade to one of the most popular compact controllers of the past decade. The original KeyStep 37 was already an excellent tool, and Arturia has added to it in genuinely useful ways rather than just updating the spec sheet for the sake of it. Mutate and the generative arpeggiator tools bring a new dimension to live performance and composition, the extra CV output opens up more expressive modular patching, the OLED display reduces menu-diving considerably.

If you're coming from the original KeyStep 37 and use it regularly in a hardware or modular context, the mk2 is a worthwhile upgrade. If you're new to this class of instrument and want something that bridges DAW and hardware worlds with aftertouch, CV and a powerful sequencer in a compact package, the KeyStep 37 mk2 is one of the best options in the category at this price point. And if you're purely DAW-based and have no hardware synths? Look at the Novation Launchkey 37 mk4 instead; it may serve you better.