KVR Audio

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:14 pm

:I would like to control my Virus Desktop with hardware.

I would like a device (Keystep 37, Akai lpd8 or others for example) to be able to change the Sound Banks, program changes, patches.

Do you have an idea to perform this manipulation?

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:19 pm

Novation Remote SL mk1 (or mk2, but you lose one screen). You can get one for dirt cheap on the secondhand market, set up custom templates to control any/all of your hardware synths, and it has an excellent Fatar keybed.

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:34 pm

Thank you very much for your answer.

I prefer to buy new equipment.

Do you have another idea ?

I already have a master keyboard, as an extra keyboard, so I would like to have a solution of a module or a master keyboard but new.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:35 pm

why not use the master keyboard you have?

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:39 pm

It's a back-up master keyboard and I don't think it can do that sort of thing.

It is a M Audio keystation 61 notes Mk3.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:43 pm

Trancer wrote: Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:34 pm Thank you very much for your answer.

I prefer to buy new equipment

So would I, but guess what? Nobody is making anything nearly as capable as the old Remotes for controlling hardware and, believe, I’ve looked high and low. There is a Remote mk3, which is current and would also work, but they put a cheaper keybed in it (if that’s a concern for you).

What keyboard(s)/controller(s) do you currently own?

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:55 pm

Thank you for your reply.

I have an M Audio keystation 61 Mk3

With the Remote Mk3, it can manage everything (Change banks, Program changes, load patches, etc.)?

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:59 pm

Trancer wrote: Sat Jul 22, 2023 4:39 pm It's a back-up master keyboard and I don't think it can do that sort of thing.

It is a M Audio keystation 61 notes Mk3.

well a keystep is just a keyboard with an arp/seq. it doesn't have any controllers for anything.

i believe you can reassign the mod "wheel" to other controls but not sure program change is one of the available.

as cryophonik says, the old novations are king here. which is why i keep mine despite the keys being broken after an idiot uncle put a table leg on it while packing the van for a move...

egbert101 · Post by **egbert101** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 7:16 pm

Well Keystep 37 has some dials you could use as controllers. Or there's Keylab 49.

Not_even_a_good_Thief · Sun Jul 23, 2023 7:58 pm

I control mine with an Ipad, running mididesigner pro, or an old M-audio Axiom. I know you said you wanted new, but an M-audio Axiom has the ability to send bank and instrument change commands, assignable encoders and sliders, transport controls, and a FATAR Tp9piano keybed with channel aftertouch, and I paid $28 shipped for it. The closest I can come to that in a modern keyboard is an arturia keylab mk2/mk3 for 10x the price, and I havent played on one of those, so I dont even know if the aftertouch is useable or not... Keystep aftertouch sucks, and I forget it even has it because of how hard you have to press it to do anything. Axiom on the other hand has a very easy to actuate, but not accidentally activate aftertouch.

Trancer · Post by **Trancer** » Tue Aug 22, 2023 4:39 pm

Thank you for your answers.

Finally, I chose a more specific option that I use for other applications.

I took an Akai Force.

Totally different from the basic idea, but it responds to other choices I was considering for the future.

It perfectly fulfilled the function I wanted, program change, patches, sounds.

Drive Virus Ti2 Desktop with hardware