Keith McMillen SoftStep User manual
SoftStep Reference Manual
SoftStep V1.1
February 2011
Keith McMillen, Conner Lacy, Chuck Carlson, Nick Bonardi, Justin Catalana, Dennis
Cao, Diane Douglas, Tom Ferguson, David Hishinuma, Sarah Howe, Keith Johnson,
Daniel McAnulty, Michael McHam, Danny Piccione, Dennis Saputelli, and Barry Threw
Copyright 2007-2011 Keith McMillen Instruments a wholly owned subsidiary of
Kesumo LLC. All rights reserved. Made in USA.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any
purpose without the express written permission of the copyright holders.
The content of this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to
change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Keith
McMillen Instruments. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in
this manual is accurate. No warranties, express or implied, are made with regard to
the quality, suitability or accuracy of this document. Keith McMillen Instruments
reserves the right to change the contents of this document and/or the associated
products at any time without the provision of prior notice to specific persons or
organizations. Keith McMillen Instruments shall not be held liable for damages of any
kind arising from the use, or the inability to use this product or its documentation,
even if the possibility of such damage is known.
Product and brand names contained in this document are used for identification
purposes only. Keith McMillen Instruments, the Keith McMillen Instruments Logo, the
SoftStep and SoftStep logo are trademarks of Kesumo LLC. Apple, Finder,
GarageBand, Mac, MacBook, Macintosh, Mac OS and QuickTime are trademarks of
Apple Inc, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is a registered
trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Intel is
a registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States
and other countries. SONiVOX is the brand name trademark of Sonic Network, Inc.
VST and ASIO are trademarks and software of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
ReWire, Recycle and REX2 are trademarks of Propellerhead Software AB. All other
product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders. All other names and designations of companies, products,
trademarks, or brands used in this document are the registered property of their
respective holders.
Table of Contents
1. Welcome ................................................................................... 4
1. Questions or Feedback? Contact Us! ............................................ 4
2. Before Getting Started............................................................... 4
1. System Requirements................................................................ 4
2. What's in the SoftStep Package................................................... 4
3. The Hardware............................................................................ 5
1. Practical Applications ................................................................. 5
4. How to Connect the SoftStep ..................................................... 6
5. SoftStep MIDI Expander ............................................................ 7
6. Getting Started.......................................................................... 8
1. Downloading the Software.......................................................... 8
1. Updating the Software ............................................................ 9
2. Updating the Firmware............................................................ 9
1. MAC .................................................................................. 9
2. WINDOWS.........................................................................10
7. Quick Start Guide .................................................................... 10
1. Standalone..............................................................................10
2. Using the SoftStep Application to Program the SoftStep ................12
1. Modlines ..............................................................................13
2. LEDs and Display ..................................................................15
3. Saving ................................................................................. 16
8. SoftStep Software ................................................................... 17
1. The Basics ..............................................................................18
2. Ports ......................................................................................18
1. MAC .................................................................................... 19
2. WINDOWS ...........................................................................19
3. Standalone vs. Hosted ..............................................................20
4. Main Window Overview .............................................................21
5. Saving Scenes & Presets ...........................................................23
1. Managing Scenes and Presets .................................................24
2. Factory Presets .....................................................................25
1. Hosted Mode...................................................................... 25
2. Standalone Mode................................................................26
6. Scenes ...................................................................................29
7. Setlist ....................................................................................29
8. Settings..................................................................................30
9. Sensor View ............................................................................33
10. SoftStep Keys..........................................................................34
1. Modulation ...........................................................................34
11. Nav Pad..................................................................................37
12. Preset Modulation ....................................................................40
9. Appendix ................................................................................. 40
1. SoftStep Sources .....................................................................40
2. SoftStep Parameter Destinations................................................43
3. Using SoftStep with Ableton Live (in Hosted mode).......................45
10. Glossary .................................................................................. 48
11. Troubleshooting ...................................................................... 51
1. DAW/Host Application Trouble ...................................................52
2. Display Trouble........................................................................ 53
3. Noise Trouble .......................................................................... 54
4. Connectivity Trouble................................................................. 55
Welcome
Thank you from Keith McMillen Instruments! We are excited to welcome you to the
world of SoftStep, the world's most expressive foot controller.
Questions or Feedback? Contact Us!
If at any time you have any questions, please contact us:
Web: www.keithmcmillen.com
Forum: forum.keithmcmillen.com
Email: support@keithmcmillen.com
Before Getting Started
There are a few things that you need to know before you start using your SoftStep.
• When you first receive your SoftStep, please check the SoftStep downloads
for the latest firmware and applications: http://www.keithmcmillen.com/
softstep/downloads/
• Keith McMillen Instruments cannot be held liable for damage
resulting from installation and operation errors or improper use.
System Requirements
We recommend the following for using the SoftStep and SoftStep applications:
MAC:
• An Intel Core 2 Duo 2.3GHz or greater Mac OS 10.5 or later
• has 90 MB free hard disk space
WINDOWS:
• Windows XP, or Windows 7
• 1GB of RAM with 50 MB free hard disk space
What's in the SoftStep Package
When you open up the box you should
find:
• 1 SoftStep
• 1 USB A-to-USB B cable (15ft.)
• 1 SoftStep Protective Sleeve
• 1 eighth inch to quarter inch
adapter for expression pedal
• SoftStep MIDI Expander
(optional)
◦ 1 USB A-to-B Mini USB
4-pin cable (15ft.)
◦ 1 USB power plug
◦ 1 USB A-to-USB B cable
(6ft.)
The Hardware
The SoftStep is the worlds lightest, smallest, and most expressive foot controller. It
weighs about 566 grams and is 105mm x 450mm x 24mm. The key pads are about
40mm X 40mm. The Nav Pad is about 50mm X 50mm and turned so that it is
diamond shaped.
It's USB bus powered and has an
expression port to plug in a expression
pedal (volume pedals are not
supported). There is also an
Expansion port for the SoftStep MIDI
Expander (sold separately) to enable
use without a computer to control your
MIDI synth and/or rack. Power can
also be supplied through the expansion
port.
It has blue backlighting so you can see it well on stage. There is a 4 character alpha
numeric display that is user programmable. There are also LEDs for each key that
can be programmed to display your choice of data.
The SoftStep is rubberized and has a carbon fiber back to give it maximum strength
and stability.
Each key is responsive to 5 degrees of control: X and Y axis,
clockwise rotation, counter-clockwise rotation, and pressure. These
control sources are mappable to any MIDI or OSC destination.
Practical Applications
SoftStep is an extremely flexible controller allowing you to use it in a variety of ways.
You can use it with software on your computer to control effects, looping, sample
triggering, etc.. Use it with DAWs to control punch-in, panning, levels, and transport
functions. You can also use your SoftStep to control your MIDI synth and/or rack
with the SoftStep MIDI Expander (sold separately). In addition to controlling sound,
the SoftStep can be used with anything that will accept MIDI or OSC data: lighting
effects, video, robotics, pyrotechnics, and more.
How to Connect the SoftStep
1. SoftStep foot controller
2. Computer - connected to the SoftStep via USB
3. Expression Pedal - connected to the SoftStep via Expression port
4. SoftStep MIDI Expander (Optional) - connected to the SoftStep via USB
Expansion port
5. Effects Processor - connected to the MIDI Expander via MIDI cable (for use
with MIDI Expander). You could also connect to an interface that is
connected to the computer (for use with computer).
6. Musical Instrument - Plugged into effects processor via instrument cable (for
use with MIDI Expander). Plugged into audio interface that is connected to
the computer (for use with computer).
The SoftStep can also be set up with an iPad:
You can even use a MIDI Expander with an iPad:
SoftStep MIDI Expander
Setup A:
Connect the “Expand” port of SoftStep
to the “to SoftStep Expand” port on
SoftStep MIDI Expander using the USB
A to mini B cable. Connect the
SoftStep MIDI Expander “ to the
provided USB power supply using
either the 6 ft. or the 15 ft. USB A to B
cable.
The SoftStep MIDI Expander
enables you to use SoftStep
with your hardware MIDI
devices. Plug in your MIDI
devices to the SoftStep MIDI
Expander and you're ready to
send and receive MIDI data
with or without a computer.
Setup B:
Connect the “Expand” port of SoftStep
to the “to SoftStep Expand” port on
the SoftStep MIDI Expander using the
USB A to mini B cable. Connect
SoftStep to the provided USB power
supply using the USB A to B cable.
Setup C:
Connect the “Expand” port of SoftStep
to the “to SoftStep Expand” port on
the SoftStep MIDI Expander using the
USB A to mini B cable. Connect
SoftStep to a computer using the USB
A to B cable. There is no need to use
the USB power supply.
Getting Started
Before you begin working with the SoftStep make sure you do all of the following in
this order:
1. Purchase a SoftStep and the software application at http://www.mcssl.com/
store/kmi/softstep1
2. Download the application from http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/
downloads/
3. Install the application onto your computer:
1. for mac: Install the application using the .dmg file
2. for windows: Unzip the file and move the entire SoftStep directory
into your Program Files directory. Make sure you keep the
SoftStep.exe in the SoftStep folder so that it stays with the presets.
4. Check to see if you need a firmware update and update your firmware if
needed
5. Plug the SoftStep into your computer via USB
6. Open up the SoftStep application and you're ready to start
If you have problems with or questions about any of these steps see the chapters of
this manual below that are devoted to them (linked to above). If you continue to
have problems consult the troubleshooting chapter. If these problems persist e-mail
us at support@keithmcmillen.com with an explanation of your problem. The more
descriptive you are about your problem, the more we will be able to help you.
Downloading the Software
When you purchase a SoftStep you should also download the latest version of the
firmware and software at http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/downloads/
Make sure the software and the firmware versions are compatible with each
other.
Note: If you used the Mac version 1.099 or RC1 please archive or delete them before
updating to version 1.1 so you don't accidentally launch either of these older versions
(particularly important if your firmware is not VK1 or higher).
The firmware version that goes with the version of the SoftStep application is located
in the firmware folder of the SoftStep directory along with instructions for performing
the update.
Once the software has finished downloading, install using the .dmg file (mac) or
unzip it and drag and drop the entire "SoftStep" folder into your Program Files folder
(windows).
The SoftStep folder will contain the SoftStep application, which should not be moved
from this folder. The SoftStep folder will also contain your presets, this folder should
not be moved out of this folder either unless you are transferring your presets from
an earlier version. A Firmware folder will also appear in the SoftStep directory which
contains the corresponding firmware version for your SoftStep to be compatible with
this version of the software. There are also several useful documents including a
version notes file which includes information about the current version you have
downloaded and the full SoftStep Reference Manual.
Updating the Software
After downloading an upgrade from the SoftStep downloads site you can just unzip
the file into your applications folder or program files folder. At that point you can
keep your older version if you would like to, this will cause no problems or conflicts
with the newer version. If you should decide to delete your old version remember to
save your presets. See the Managing Presets chapter of the manual for more
information on how to transfer your presets to a new version.
Updating the Firmware
Make sure the software and the firmware versions are compatible with each
other.
Note: If you used the Mac version 1.099 or RC1 please archive or delete them before
updating to version 1.1 so you don't accidentally launch either of these older versions
(particularly important if your firmware is not VK1 or higher).
To check which firmware version you have on your SoftStep just plug it into your
computer and the firmware version will flash on the alpha numeric display for a
moment just before it begins to flash "Soft...Step". Check this Version against the
firmware version that is in the "firmware" folder with your application. It is also
available here: http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/downloads/. VK or VK1 is
the firmware version that is required for software version 1.1 (the version this
manual goes along with). If your SoftStep already displays this version there is no
need to follow the steps below for your computer.
You can find tutorial videos for performing the firmware update for both Mac and
Windows here: http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/downloads/
These are the steps to perform the firmware update:
MAC
1. If you have not already, download and install SysEx Librarian from
http://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/
2. Download or locate the firmware version you wish to install.
3. Plug in your SoftStep and open SysEx Librarian.
4. Click "Add…" in the lower left corner of the screen. When browser window opens,
navigate to the latest SysEx file in the firmware folder: SoftStepVK1.syx, and hit
"Open."
5. Select Port 1 from the drop down menu labeled "Destination."
6. Now select the file in the main window of the SysEx Librarian application. Once
selected it should become highlighted blue.
7. Hit the "Play" button in the top left corner. At this point a progress bar will pop
up, and the display on your SoftStep will go blank. The firmware will take a moment
to update.
8. Once the update is complete the SoftStep will briefly display the firmware version
and subsequently flash "SOFT" and "STEP." Make sure you see this happen on the
SoftStep display before you exit the Sysex Librarian or disconnect your SoftStep.
A video tutorial on how to do this can be found here:
http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/downloads/
Now you can open up the SoftStep application and begin!
WINDOWS
1. If you have not already, download and install SysEx Box from
http://miostools.midibox.org/ It's the one at the top of the page.
2. Download the latest firmware version from the SoftStep downloads page:
http://www.keithmcmillen.com/softstep/downloads/
3. Plug in your SoftStep and open SysEx Box.
4. Select the correct MIDI In and MIDI Out ports from the drop down menu. On
Windows XP computers the port will most likely be "USB Audio Device 1". On
other operating systems it will be something like "SoftStep Port 1".
5. Click "Open Sysex File". When browser window opens, navigate to the latest
SysEx file (for example, SoftStepVJ1.syx), and hit "Open."
6. Hit the "Send Sysex" button and the display on your SoftStep will go blank.
The firmware will take a moment to update.
7. One the update is complete the SoftStep will briefly display the firmware
version (for example VJ1), and subsequently flash "SOFT" and "STEP."
Quick Start Guide
The SoftStep can operate two different ways. It can be used in HOSTED mode with
the SoftStep application or it can be used in STANDALONE without the application
and even without a computer if used with the SoftStep MIDI Expander.
Standalone
With your SoftStep equipped with firmware version VK or VK1, there will be some
initial factory settings already downloaded to your SoftStep. These settings come in
the form of several different banks (programs/settings/presets/etc...) that we call
scenes. A scene encompasses 10 different presets, 1 preset for each numbered key
pad on the SoftStep that tells that key what to do and what type of MIDI Data to
send out. So in a nutshell a scene contains 1 set of instructions for all the keys.
You can use the diamond-shaped Nav Pad on the right side of the SoftStep to scroll
through these scenes by stepping on the east and west sides (the x-axis). When
scrolling through the scenes you will see the scene abbreviation appear on the alpha
numeric display to the left of the Nav Pad. These are the default scenes that are
available when using the SoftStep standalone:
PRGM = Program Change - This scene allows you to select programs 0 - 127 over
MIDI Channel 1. The top and bottom keys of the Nav Pad let you scroll through
decades (10's). Then step on one of the 10 keys to determine the last digit (0-9).
This sends out the program change message.
TOGL = Toggles - This scene makes each key a toggle switch triggered by Foot On.
It sends these toggles out CC #s 20-29. The LED indicates whether the toggle is off
or on.
NOTE = Notes - This scene triggers MIDI notes 60 - 69 (C4 - A4). The note on
message is triggered by a foot on and the note off message is triggered when you
take your foot off. Velocity is 127.
PRES = Pressure Live - This scene uses the pressure of your foot on each key to
send out values on CC #s 110 - 119.
11RK = ElevenRack Control - This scene works with an Avid Eleven Rack
Processor. You will need the MIDI Expander in order to connect. The top row
toggles effects and the bottom row modulates the effects’ parameters. Keys 1 and 3
use pressure on the top of the key to increase the value and pressure on the bottom
of the key to decrease the value. For instant gratification, try this scene with the
Eleven Rack’s factory preset program #3 - “A4 Subway God”.
POD = Line6 Pod Control - This scene works with most Line6 processors. You will
need the MIDI Expander in order to connect. The top row toggles effects and the
bottom row modulates the effects’ parameters. Keys 1 and 3 use pressure on the
top of the key to increase the value and pressure on the bottom of the key to
decrease the value. For instant gratification, try this scene with the Line6 Pod’s
factory preset program #30 - “8C Vibro Blues”.
Using the SoftStep Application to Program the SoftStep
There may come a time that the factory scenes available on the SoftStep do not
meet your needs or you want to change a few things to suite you better. At this
point you'll want to use the SoftStep application in Standalone mode so that you can
edit the scenes or program new ones. You might also at some point wish to take
advantage of all the features that are available to you in Hosted mode.
Below is a quick explanation of the main things you'll want to edit with the SoftStep
application. The pictures in this chapter are taken in Standalone mode to show the
things that are unavailable when using the application as an editor for Standalone.
All things grayed out in the pictures are available when in Hosted mode.
The very first thing you need to check before using the SoftStep application is:
Make sure the software and the firmware versions are compatible with each
other.
Note: If you used the Mac version 1.099 or RC1 please archive or delete them before
updating to version 1.1 so you don't accidentally launch either of these older versions
(particularly important if your firmware is not VK1 or higher).
The firmware version that goes with the version of the SoftStep application is located
in the firmware folder of the SoftStep directory along with instructions for performing
the update.
When you open the SoftStep application make sure the SoftStep connected light
comes on in the bottom right corner of the main window.
To alter the settings for a key select which scene you want to edit from the scene
drop-down menu and open up a modulation window for one of the keys. Or if you
want to make a brand new scene just open up one of the modulation windows for
one of the keys.
Each key has 6 rows called modlines. Each row can use a different data source from
the key so that you can have up to six simultaneous data streams for each key. Let's
just start with 1 for now.
Modlines
on/off - click on the circle to enable the modulation line and it will show a blue-
green color. When disabled, the modline on/off appears dark.
mode (not available in Standalone) - this refers to the mode for the initial
value which is how often you want the initial value to be sent:
• None - the initial value is never sent out
• Once - initial value is sent out only the first time that scene is recalled in a
given session (session meaning from the time you open the application until
the time you close the application). Every other time the scene is recalled it
will recall whatever that modline's state was the last time you were in the
scene.
• Always - the initial value is sent out every time the scene is recalled
init-val (not available in Standalone) - the initial value. This is the starting value in
the absence of any raw data from the source. The mode (defined above) dictates
when the initial value is used.
sources - Choose what data source will control the modline. Click on the box and
many parameters will pop up in a scroll menu. For a complete list of sources and
how they work, see the SoftStep Sources in the Appendix.
raw (not shown in Standalone) - The value coming directly from the source is
displayed here (in Hosted mode).
gain - this is the first place where you can use math to modify the signal. Whatever
number is put in the gain box is used to multiply the raw value coming from the
source.
offset - set a number to add to the value after it has been multiplied by the gain
value.
result (not shown in Standalone) - the resulting value of the source modified by gain
and offset (in Hosted mode).
table - after going through the gain and offset the data is entered into the selected
lookup table, and used to plot the index on a chart. There are a number of table
options, each which will affect the modulation differently as it changes value over
time. There are also two toggle options. These either toggle between 0 and 1 or 0
and 127 when a value above 0 is received by the table.
min / max - these allow you to constrain the data values between a minimum and a
maximum number.
slew - The slew value represents the number of milliseconds that it will take to get
to the target value. Use slew to smooth out data when it jumps from one number to
another. The larger the slew, the slower the result will respond to the source.
parameter destination - Click on the drop-down menu to see the many options
available: Note Set, Note Live, CC, Bank, Program, OSC (Open Sound Control), Pitch
Bend, MMC, Aftertouch, Poly Aftertouch, GarageBand, and HUI. These options are
further customizable by selecting the the note, velocity or control change, or the
channel # on which to send the data out. For a complete explanation of parameter
destinations see the SoftStep Parameter Destinations list in the Appendix. OSC,
Aftertouch, Poly Aftertouch, GarageBand, and HUI are currently only available in
Hosted mode.
device/route - this is where you select the port that you want all of your MIDI
messages to go out to. If you'd like to send your data out through the SoftStep MIDI
Expander then you would want to choose "SoftStep Expander" as your device. The
SoftStep MIDI Expander is called "SoftStep Expander" on mac computers and
sometimes "MIDIOUT2 (SoftStep)" or "USB Audio Device (2)" on windows
computers.
For Standalone mode, if you want to send your data out to other applications on
your computer (Ableton Live, Logic, Digital Performer, etc...) then you'll select
"SSCOM Port 1" on Mac and Windows computers (or "USB Audio Device (1)" for
some Windows users).
For Hosted mode you'll want to use the "SoftStep Share" device (for mac users) as
your output device to send data to other applications on your computer. For
windows users in Hosted mode you will have to set up an inter-application MIDI
bus. We recommend using MIDI Yoke which is available to download for free
at http://www.midiox.com/ (for instructions on setting this up see the Ports chapter
of this manual).
output (not shown in Standalone) - this displays what data is being sent out to the
device you've selected.
Tip: If you are in Standalone mode it's a good idea to use a MIDI monitor of some
sort when editing the settings so that you can see the MIDI data you are sending
out from the SoftStep. We highly recommend MIDI Monitor for use on
a Mac computer which is available to download for free here:
http://www.snoize.com/MIDIMonitor/ Our recommended Windows alternative is
MIDI Ox, available to download for free here: http://www.midiox.com/
LEDs and Display
You can also program your LEDs and
alphanumeric display to react to data from the
modlines. There is a green LED and a red LED
for each key. There are drop down menus for
each color and on each modline so that you
can select what you want the LED to do.
None - the light will not come on when you select none.
True - the light will come on when the output of the key is above 0.
False - the light will come on when the output of the key is 0.
Flash True - the light will flash repeatedly when the output of the key is above 0.
Flash False - the light will flash repeatedly when the output of the key is 0.
Flash Fast True - the light will flash quickly when the output of the key is above 0.
Flash Fast False - the light will flash quickly when the output of the key is 0.
Blink True - the light will blink once when the output of the key goes above 0.
Blink False - the light will blink once when the output of the key goes to 0.
Off - turns the LED off.
Above the LED menus you can select what information you want to see on the
alphanumeric display. First decide which display mode you want to use:
None - selecting this mode will cause the 4 letter display box to show the scene's 4
letter display when using that key, instead of the key name or prefix.
Always - selecting this mode will display the key name whenever that key is the
most recently activated key. In this mode the prefix is not used.
Once (not available in Standalone) - selecting this mode will display the key name
once at the moment it is activated and will then show the prefix and parameter
value.
Initial/Return (not available in Standalone) - selecting this mode will display the
key name when the key is selected but not active, and will display the prefix and
parameter value when in use. This mode only works well for continuously changing
sources, not for toggles. When the display is showing a source value and the slew
causes the output to persist after the foot is off the key, the display will no longer be
updated, even though the parameter is still being altered. Initial/Return is only
available as a mode for the keys, not the Nav Pad.
Immed Param - stands for immediate parameter. This will show the prefix and
parameter value when that key is the currently activated key. The key name doesn't
ever show up in this mode.
The dots to the right of the LED menus allows you to select which modline will be
used with the prefix when in Initial/Return or Immed Param mode.
The reminder field next to that is just so you can make a little note to yourself
about the modline you just created. This note serves no purpose except to just
remind you about what that modline is for.
Saving
After programming your key's modulation windows you'll want to save your settings
for that key into a preset. After saving all of your key's presets you'll want to save
them all into a scene.
In the upper left corner of your key's
modulation window is where you will
find the save button for saving key
presets.
The upper left corner of the main
window is where you will find the save
button for your scenes.
Make sure to save your key presets first. To save a preset click the Save button and
type what you want its name to be in the Preset Name box.
In the picture to the left, if I were to click "save", my
old preset saved under preset 3 "Toggles" would be
replaced with the latest adjustments, and Preset 3
would be renamed "ProgramChange."
Instead, change the Preset Number to a blank
"unnamed" slot (in this case "4") and type in a new
name in the "Preset Name" field. This enables you to
save multiple custom presets.
Now that you are done making a preset, you easily recall the key preset by hitting
the increment/decrement box on the right in either the top of the keys modulation
window or from the main SoftStep window.
OR
If you edit a preset after saving or recalling it the save button in the main
window will begin blinking red to remind you to save your preset.
You can also revert to your last saved setting by clicking the "revert" button
next to the "save" button.
After saving a key preset you'll want to save your scene. First make sure you've set
all of the keys to the correct presets for that scene. When saving a scene be sure to
give your scene a 4 letter name for the alphanumeric display so that you have a way
of knowing which scene you are on just by looking at the SoftStep.
The scene window is a bit different from the preset
window. There is the option to save keys with scene
so that you don't have to save all of the key presets
individually. This will put all keys in the same slot
(including the Nav Pad preset) and be named the
same as the scene name with their key number.
If you are in Standalone mode and you want to download your scenes to your
SoftStep for use without the application, put them in your setlist and click the
"download" button. Make sure to save all of your changes before clicking download.
For more information see the Saving Scenes & Presets chapter of this manual.
The information presented in this chapter has been somewhat limited in order to get
you started as quickly as possible. The discovery of more features and greater
possibilities awaits in the following pages of this manual. Also check out the
troubleshooting chapter if you are experiencing any problems.
SoftStep Software
SoftStep is not your typical foot controller. Using the SoftStep with the provided
application allows you the ability to create powerful control parameters in a simple,
user friendly way.
The SoftStep application works with the SoftStep hardware controller to manipulate
sensor data that gives the player a nearly infinite degree of control and possibility.
The SoftStep multitouch controller has 10 key pads, each with Sensor Key
Technology enabling 5 degrees of freedom that are unique to each key. These
parameters include X, Y, Clockwise Rotation, Counter Clockwise Rotation and
Pressure. These sources can be mapped to destinations up to six times for each key
providing the possibility of a dense data source from a single motion of the foot.
To begin using the SoftStep, plug in the controller via USB and open up the SoftStep
application.
Make sure the software and the firmware versions are compatible with each
other.
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