In theory the Arturia KeyStep is a great master device in the MIDI chain of a recording musician that values simplicity. In practice though, the lack of control over and display of "rate" make this impractical. Because I am fine with basing the tempo on feel rather than convention, the lack of display is totally cool, and maybe even preferred! The fractional BPMs created by the rate knob are not cool (for me) though.
The Problem:
Arriving at fractional BPMs such as 123.7 is the norm on the Keystep
Why it's a Problem:
Fractional BPMs lead to clock jitter in other devices. They make working with the results in a DAW more difficult. They make doing performing rhythmic calculations more difficult.
The Solution:
Add a MIDI Control Center option to quantize the rate to whole number BPMs such as 120—or even limit the BPMs to a set based on intervals within a range such as 80-140 & 20 = 80 100 120 140.
