@@loopop At least viewers like me, can like subscribe and like. Such a great review. Btw, you can setup YT channel membership, with videos and guides available to members, similar to Patreon, but more popular among lazy youtube viewers ;)
MiniLab mk2 owner here - I'm really excited by the mk3! USB-C, MIDI Out and countless improvements! The "Control" jack accepts footswitch, sustain, or expression pedals, which would make this a great live performance controller for me!
This is how great this channel is: I accidentally pulled this up even though I already own the Minilab 3 but then I see the Arp in the "side menu" and just learned that it has an arp. For whatever reason I had completely forgotten that it could do this! Thanks, Loopop!
I'm restarting my live work for wedding and party recently, this is just perfect for me. Combined with a 61key pure keyboard, I can play around with all my lovely old songs and funny sound effects. Can't wait for my piece to come. Cheers for this tutorial video, Bravo 👏
I am looking into grabbing one of these do it all small midi guys to finally use some soft synths and all that. With 5 pin midi out this is a no brainer. I am glad to have waited a minute.
Nice update! I would have liked to see led rings around the encoders to directly show the current setting of whichever control it’s mapped to instead of just on the screen…
Brilliant. I'd never had known about the external arpeggio sync and how to make it work in Ableton (16:07). This is the most useful review video, but I didn't find it before I bought this controller. Though, it wouldn't have changed my decision. I am pleased with the quality of the midi control center and analog lab software. Notably since publishing the video: the new firmware now supports a transport control mode so that you don't have to hold the shift key to lock the transport controls. There is also a discount (at least in the US) for the full version of Analog Lab once you have the Intro version license this device provides. It is pretty significant. It is a $130 discount that brings it from $200 standalone purchase price to $70 for the upgrade price for Analog Lab V.
I love the minilab and Arturia hardware in general. I also have the keystep pro and use them side by side at different octaves plus the added encoders and faders. The minilab also fits snugly in my bag for on the go uses. I got the minilab 3 slightly used for $ 80 (no software but i have plenty of that already 😅) and it has become an integral part of my workflow. Great overview, thanks!
Shift commands for transport buttons is insane. Who wants that? A bit smaller throw on those faders and they could have fit in dedicated transport buttons underneath them. Would have made this an instant buy.
Very nice review! and well done visuals I'm about to get a Minilab 3 and then look into integration with Ableton. Thanks for the video and greetings from Buenos Aires.
Dang for the price, it's an impressive piece of gear! Just picked up a used Keylab MkII earlier this year, so probably won't get, but do wish it had an arpeggiator. Makes me wonder if they're going to release a Keylab mk3 soon....
That's what I'm waiting for. Still getting this Minilab because I need (want) a secondary small controller to replace a very old Midiman Oxygen 8 controller I've got. But definitely looking forward to Keylab 61 Mk3!
Hello! I have a question: is it true that the black keys of this keyboard is "louder" that the white ones? I was told that it has unbalanced dynamics and if you press the black key softly enough it will get maximum velocity most of the time
Thanks as always for this informative walkthrough. It looks like a smart board. I just don’t understand why none of these boards in this size with mini keys include aftertouch. Launchkey, Oxygen Pro Mini, Akai. It’s odd. I would’ve thought Arturia would use the keys from Keystep. 🤷♂️
midi out is what I was looking for. companies have annoyingly stopped putting proper midi on their products. that would be fine if usb were peer to peer, but it isn't. presonus support would be nice since that's what I use, but I'll deal with it. Also, I'm going to hate when I buy this one and then see the 37 key version come out a week later. this should really have 37 keys. 25 is just a pita. CV too. just one would be fine.
Many thanks for your ARTURIA mini3 introduction. PLEASE Could you show also the settings! I cannot use analog lab and Ableton live together. I pick a nice sound from analog but I hear nothing when I change DAW. THANKS AGAIN. 🤘
Guess the Arturia free for review models must have all shipped at the same time.. TAetro, loopop, Bobeats, etc... all reviewing the item wihtin a few hours of each other.. LOL... wish I was popular enough to get free gear from manufactures!
They should provide a way to latch the pad page with transport control or to easy change these pages with a button. They really dropped the ball hard on this.
The keys of the minilab looknway better than the mpk which I could see as you are playing them, as I have an mpk and not a big fan of the keys. I'm switching to this controller thanks for the great video
Is there any way in which you can install the configuration software for the Minilab 3 on a computer which is not connected to the internet at all? As in, downloading the installation files on a computer which does have internet, then taking those files (using a USB flash drive or something) to the non-connected computer and running them from there? Or is the internet connection mandatory in order to install the software?
Hi, do you happen to know why when track is armed. The pads does not light up red. Only when I press the pad to start recording will it light up. Any idea? Thank you.
1. Can this be powered from the iPhone alone or does it need an external power source to use it with an iPhone? 2. Feel of keys between this and the Novation LaunchKey MK3? Also which is "better" in integration with Ableton between this and the Novation board? 3. Can note repeat divisions (1/16, 1/32, etc) can be added in a firmware update? Also side question: Why is it not possible to make these mini keyboards have Bluetooth? It would be so convenient to have bluetooth and connect wirelessly to your iPhone/iPad/Mac or Android/Windows machine and be truly mobile with no wires.
1. I just tried with an iPhone 13 Pro and it works! 2. Better keys on Minilab (subjective opinion), better integration with Novation 3. Can they, probably. Will they? I have no idea. Bluetooth - yes they can, it's probably an issue of cost vs demand
@@tonylancer7367 I don’t remember what I said about the novation keyboard, or what the results of my test were but I just tried powering minilab 3 with an iPhone 13 Pro, and it worked…
Anyone have compared the feel of the keys on this one vs the Novation launchkey mini MK3?, I have the Novation but the only thing I don't like is the feel of the mini keys because you have to press them really hard to get a decent velocity output
Thanks for your terrific review. I have the Yamaha DGX670 (full 88 key arranger keyboard) which I love and use as my MIDI controller with my preferred DAW Cakewalk by Bandlab, NI Komplete Kontrol and PluginGuru's Unify. I am very new to this new world of DAW'S and VST PLUGINS but since my DGX670 unfortunately lacks an Arpeggiator or Modulation Wheel I would like to know if it would be possible to setup the Arturia MK3 to control my software with it's PODS and Sliders while still being able to use my Yamaha DGX670 as my keyboard input device? I apologize if this is a silly question, but I only started learning the piano in my retirement years and although I am comfortable working with software and computers due to my IT background, I still have so much to learn about this music technology. I hope you can find the time to respond to my question and I thank you kindly in advance.
Thanks for the great review @loopop. Do you have any plans to do the review of KeyLab Essential 49 MK3? I am on a market for my first MIDI controller now and considering between Launchkey 37 and KeyLab Essential 49 MK3. Your review would give huge value. Thanks!
I’m looking for a simple laptop living room set up to record tracks for video game development. Will the included recording software all trial versions?
I have a question. For custom User Templates, which would control other external synths via MIDI, is there a way to name the knobs and faders? I don't mind if the screen just shows the MIDI value from 0-127, but it is completely unfriendly for it to just display "Knob 1" or "Fader 1". I'm no expert, but it should be simple to program, considering that it already receives these details for Arturia Analog Lab via USB. And yes, I think that MIDI Control Center would probably require an update as well to allow for these to be saved. Am I missing something? How are other people dealing with this, if at all?
So tempted to sell my Launchkey 49 and replace it with one of these just from the point of view of size. I get it’s not the all-singing, all-dancing of the larger Novation, but it’s a very compelling option for sure. How is it with Garage Band??
Hello Does it work with MPC ? Can the sliders be assigned to some tracks volume on the MPC ? Can the pads be assigned to mute/unmute tracks on the PMC ? Thanks, Daniel
5 custom modes are a huge downgrade from mk2, please pressing shift can I double the 8 knobs+4 faders to have 24 assignable controls for every one of the 5 custom user banks?
Great review! Can’t find the answer to this anywhere- does the FL studio integration work for every feature or just some as a generic midi controller. Am I better off getting Fl Key? I just rly like the look of the mini lab
my eternal doubt minilab vs keystep, I don't own hardware but I really love arp and sequences of keystep, the extra keys too...but then I would miss the control of minilab😭
Not just that, it depends on your imagination for the timing and instrument repeated, but regardless, I see my "job" as to say what a thing does compared to its competitors - it's up to you whether that feature is important.
Loopop, a German reviewer wrote 10 days ago that the endless encoders behave like potis would, i.e. after switching tracks/devices you'd have to move them across their current value (takeover) before having an effect - not registering changes immediately, like you'd expect from an encoder. Which Arturia support confirmed as intended/expected behavior, he claims. Did you notice anything about that in your time with the controller? Was it an issue when/if you used multiple instances of Analog Lab, switching between them?
I don't recall trying this with Analog Lab but in Ableton I indeed encountered this and changed the takeover mode to value scaling which solves the problem somewhat
Question… if i turn the master bass of a preset completely down to -10 dB does that cut out all of the low frequencies or are they just not hearable anymore ? Sorry I’m a newb and would appreciate some help on this many thanks 🙏
Can you please confirm if the Minilab 3 can control all parameters of the V Collection plugins (not Analog Lab) automatically or I have to map everything manually?
@@loopop thanks for the reply! It’s a shame as they could’ve spread the 8 encoders across 8 banks selectable with pads. So theoretically it could be up to 64 parameters per plugin that you could control. 64 is already a lot and could be the most important ones.
With the continued rise of ipad music production, why don’t companies feature integration with their app’s. This looks like a perfect companion to an ipad, so don’t know why they don’t bundle some apps with it.
Quick question - on the Novation SL MKIII, when I click on a parameter in one of my plugins within Ableton, that parameter pops up on the Novation’s screen and I am able to affect that parameter by turning the knob on the Novation. Does that same capability exist on the Minilab 3? So far I have only seen demos of it affecting Ableton’s macros
