SoftStep Preview

This is a first look at the new SoftStep continuous foot controller from Keith McMillen Instruments. The SoftStep is a lightweight fully programmable USB foot controller with 5 degrees of freedom on each key.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Keith McMillen Instruments
• SoftStep
• K-Bow
• StringPort

[fredfx]

I'm assuming that you have to be seated to use this device. I'm not sure that you'd be able to do these foot manipulations while standing. From a user perspective, I think that the buttons are too close together. I would thing with all the circling and left and right that the chances of hitting another controller pad are pretty high.

[bthrew]

I can't speak for every user, but we find it simple to do these foot gestures standing. You just place your foot right on top of the pad and roll it. The pads are very sensitive.

In our software the adjacent pads are blocked out when you are interacting with one pad. It works very well.

[Apexyy]

@djdubadutch i get your point but i think im getting old :P stickin oldschool :P

[djdubadutch]

@Apexyy yes this would be handy if ya had no hands, also foot control/pedals are very useful if ya hands are busy playing a keyboard, scratching on turntables or playing a guitar ect.... This controller and other pedal/foot controllers are extremely useful to access controls/fx while your hands are busy playing instruments. Shouldn't really need to point that out

[2mjam]

Can you use it without a computer

at all? Eg Just directly into it's midi box and from there to hardware synths and rack units etc?

[Apexyy]

how on eart would this be at any use ? maby if u dont have any hands

[theedwardcunningham]

why is it so expensive?? I don't want to pay nearly 300 for this.... but i would for 100ish

[ZupaZunk]

I like the idea but I just don't see it being very practical in a live setting... I'd be prone to just use it with my hands if I bought it - which I highly doubt that I will for nearly $300 - and with that said, why not just buy another midi controller?

[LubricatedBeat]

The pedal is a bit rubbish if you ask me, but the software Dream Foot is probably the only salvation for this hardware.

[ransisua]

I don't get. It's basically a midi controller, right? why is it as expensive as rig kontrol 3?

[gbevin]

Looks really nice, actually can't wait to get one :-)