Softstep by Keith Mcmillian

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
1

Softstep by Keith Mcmillian

So, finally figured out what to buy, and bought it.

http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/overview

Previously I had the horrendously implemented Behringer FCB1010.
I modded this out with UNO http://www.ossandust.be/ firmware…
and bought the Fcb Editor, worked well enough, clunky for sure.

Nuff said, that unit finally broke when i kicked the powerstrip during
an update. So i began looking for a new solution.

Let me say… Wow, i absolutely love this Softstep pedal.

Finer details:
10 Multitouch pads with a 4 way x/y nav of which the up/down are assignable. Left/right changes bank.

Let me explain how this works…
Each pad can detect pressure, rotation, direction.
Each pad can send 6 simultaneous midi messages or OSC events.
Each pad can have a LED text string display values or parameter.
Each pad state can have an associated LED state, blinking, on/off

The basic triggers are:
Foot On/Off, Pressure On/Off, Pressure X, Pressure Y, Pressure Latch, X/Y latch, Wait Trigger, Long Hold Trigger, Fast Trigger, Double Tap Trigger.

Note each of these triggers can be assigned at the same time to the same
PAD!!! with different midi output sources and messages. For instance you could multiplex a Foot on message and send to multiple midi interfaces.

Conditional outputs allow min/max range, toggle, or discreet value.

Limitation:
I HAVE BEEN UPDATED WITH INFO, multipad is an option.

Implementation:
I’ve tried many different paradigms so far, still kinda feeling out, what my feet seem most inclined to do.. Fundamentally i am working on a
“do no harm” setup that i can’t mess anything up to bad with my obviously
less dextrous feet.

I created a Traktor FX section. 3 pads are set as X Pressure, and they are
mapped to Effect Amount. Here is an example command chain.

Foot On->Effect 1 On, Deck A
Foot move right/left->Effect 1 Amount increase/decrease
Foot Off->Effect 1 Off, Deck A

I created an autolooper, super simple hold foot down for length of loop to set.

Foot On->Set Cue->LoopIn
Foot Off->Loop Out

I also took and made two banks of Instant Gratification MidiFighter mapping.
Set all the pad’s to Pressure on, and the Echo Delay to a toggle. Mashing
with feet.

I also created a cue section that when you do a long trigger hold it will delete
the cue.

If anyone has some interesting ideas for this device, i would love to chat
and see if we can make it work.

l0rdr0ck

P.S. Did i mention it is made of carbon fiber? LOL, super nice.

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The multi touch implementation is pretty friggin badass, but am I getting it right that you can only press 1 button at a time?

3

RETRACTION " Yes, i must be very clear, 1 button at a time."
ALERT, KMI in this forum updated my ignorance, in the settings
multipad is not on by default, one click, and WOOT!

…
Each button can have 6 assignments. on any interface and any channel.
The more advanced functions require a server applet, Applications can utilize,
the Midi Bus (Softstep Share) on OSX. You can also use Apples IAC for this.
But within each button assignment you can direct the output to any midi device.

For example:

Pad 1:
Foot On CC 15 Value=63, Channel 3, Softstep Share
Pressure X Note C-1, velocity , Channel 4, M-Audio Venom Midi In
Pressure Y Note C#-1, velocity, Channel 4, M-Audio Venom Midi In
Rotation CC 16, Value on rotate, Channel 5, IAC Bus (IAC In ->Ableton)
X latch On hitting velocity 90, Note D-1, Channel 1, hold, Softstep Share
Y Latch On hitting velocity 90, Note D#-1, Channel 15, hold, IAC Bus (IAC In-> Ableton)
Foot Off CC 15 ,Value 0, Channel 16, Traktor Virtual Input

With the Midi implementation in Traktor, i haven’t
decided if i want to offload toggles to the Softstep,
further its debatable whether to use double taps and long
holds as modifiers or to utilize a different bank, at this
point i use different banks.

You can attach any expression pedal to the Softstep
externally, don’t know if it will be simultaneous.

l0rdr0ck

4

hello,

This is Tom from KMI. I just wanted to reply to your post real quick.
First off, thanks for the shout out! We’re glad you’re digging your SoftStep and we’re here to help you dig deeper…

Actually, you CAN use more than one pad at a time (if you wish).
In the SoftStep Settings window, there is a button for “Multiple Key Mode Enable.” By default this is deactivated, but enabling this will allow you to use multiple keys simultaneously.

If you’re not already a member, I would recommend signing up for the KMI Forum. it’s at forum.keithmcmillen.com. There’s a community of users there and our tech support team frequent the boards as well. We hope to see you there-

best-
-Tom@KMI

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Wicked, thanks I am lame

Just tried it, i am soooo stoked. This is now my
FAVORITE piece of kit, absolutely. Thank You KMI.

l0rdr0ck

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Awesome piece of kit, great price!

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Wanted to get one today. This was going to be my summer project.

Moog Audio is out :disappointed: can’t wait for restock. This thing sounds like the sh*t.

Who wants to share their traktor mappings? :slight_smile:

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Just watched the Ableton video - that thing would make an awesome effects controller in traktor

9

exactly.:smiley:

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Mappings

Hey,
I’m officially in charge of mappings/scenes @ KMI and am going to be creating a Traktor map very soon. Would anyone like to share some useful ideas? What would you like the SoftStep to do with traktor?

Hit me up,
Matt@keithmcmillen.com

~Matt Hettich
www.meatmountain.info

11

awesome!