Superbooth 2025: Stepan Engineer - MPE Retrofit

We spoke to Stepan Vogt from Stepan Engineer, a Prague-based one-man operation, who showed us a set of projects focused on expressive control and MIDI automation. The first was a retrofitted MPE keyboard, using Stepan's custom PCBs that replace the originals while keeping the internal synth untouched. The result is full-range pressure sensitivity and MIDI output, with configuration handled over USB-C and WebMIDI.

Stepan mentioned you could order just the PCBs or a fully modified keyboard, with prices starting around €100 per octave.

He also demonstrated Synth Mate, a MIDI-powered microcontroller that records automation via knob movements and plays them back like an LFO. It also features a mode remapper and optional generative functions, with open-source firmware and a target price under €100.

Finally, he previewed a prototype MPE foot controller, designed for hands-free performance and MIDI triggering, which he planned to build in small, configurable batches.

More Info:

https://www.stepan.engineer/