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Keith McMillen Instruments SoftStep 2
Photo: Reverb
Keith McMillen Instruments

Keith McMillen Instruments SoftStep 2

MIDI
Key facts
TypeMIDI Foot Controller1
MakerKeith McMillen Instruments1
Pads10, with Smart Fabric pressure and directional sensing1
MIDI messagesNotes, CCs, Program Change, MMC, OSC, from every pad1
PowerUSB powered1
Size17.5" x 4.2" x 1" (44.45 x 10.6 x 2.54 cm)1
Weight1 lb. 5 oz. (595 g)1

The Keith McMillen Instruments SoftStep 2 is a MIDI foot controller, a floor unit that sends MIDI messages from your feet rather than shaping your guitar signal directly. It sits in the wider family of MIDI pedals: instead of overdrive or delay, it is a control surface for software instruments, DAWs, MIDI-capable amps and multi-effects units. Each of its 10 pads is layered with Smart Fabric that detects your foot's pressure and directional movements, so a pad can do more than switch on and off.1

What it does

The SoftStep 2 is capable of sending Notes, CCs, Program Change, MMC and OSC messages from every pad. In practice that means a pad can trigger a note, sweep a continuous parameter, change a preset on a MIDI device, send MMC transport commands to a recorder or DAW, or speak OSC to software that uses that protocol. The unit is fully customizable with downloadable editor software, so each pad's behavior is set by the player rather than fixed at the factory.1

Controlling 5-pin MIDI hardware without a computer requires the KMI MIDI Expander, which is sold separately.1

Size and weight

The controller is a slim, low profile unit, weighing 1 lb. 5 oz. (595 g). It is USB powered, so it draws power from the USB connection rather than a separate supply.1

SpecificationValue
Dimensions17.5" x 4.2" x 1" (44.45 x 10.6 x 2.54 cm)1
Weight1 lb. 5 oz. (595 g)1
PowerUSB powered1
Item numberK-7121

Videos

Introducing SoftStep 2
Muse Kinetics
Analog Keys Pedal Solution Softstep 2 - CUCKOO
True Cuckoo
KMI Softstep 2 and Ableton Live Demo
Seed To Stage

Questions

Does the SoftStep 2 need a computer to work?

For USB MIDI use, the SoftStep 2 works with a computer as a MIDI controller. It can also control 5-pin MIDI hardware without a computer, but only when it is connected to the KMI MIDI Expander, which is sold separately. Without that expander, the controller's output is over USB.

Can the SoftStep 2 control 5-pin MIDI gear?

Yes. According to Keith McMillen Instruments, the SoftStep 2 can control 5-pin MIDI hardware without a computer when used with the KMI MIDI Expander, which is sold separately. The expander is the bridge between the controller's USB connection and traditional 5-pin MIDI equipment.

What MIDI messages can the SoftStep 2 send?

Keith McMillen Instruments lists the SoftStep 2 as capable of sending Notes, CCs, Program Change, MMC and OSC messages from every pad. That covers the common MIDI messages a player needs for switching presets, triggering sounds and controlling parameters, plus OSC for software that speaks that protocol.

Is the SoftStep 2 powered over USB?

Yes. Keith McMillen Instruments states that the SoftStep 2 is USB powered, so it draws its power from the USB connection rather than from a separate power supply or batteries.

How big is the SoftStep 2?

The SoftStep 2 measures 17.5 by 4.2 by 1 inches (44.45 by 10.6 by 2.54 cm) and weighs 1 lb. 5 oz. (595 g), according to the maker's product information. That is a slim, low profile footprint designed to sit under a foot on a pedalboard or floor setup.

Is the editor software free to download?

Keith McMillen Instruments describes the SoftStep 2 as fully customizable with downloadable editor software. The maker's product information does not give a price for the editor, so the cost is not stated here.

Sources (1)
  1. product-info-softstep, Keith McMillen Instruments, 2015