I bought this for myself as a birthday gift earlier this month. As one who began this exploration into MIDI in the late '80s with my brother, and has learned to thrive in this ever-growing virtual world, I can say without hesitation that this product got the feels big time. Combined with my Arturia Keystep for sequencing, this machine is light years beyond the Behringer Motor 61 (though I still love the rest of my Beh gear) I've been using for years now and only compares in my mind to my Brother's Ensoniq on which I began my journey. I cannot more highly recommend this solid piece of MIDI gear to anyone that wants to experience this limitless realm.
Awesome controller! I had this & the KK S61 MK2 and decided to keep this one. Needs 3 things IMO - arpeggiator is a must have, drum pads are in opposite order of nearly every drum machine on market (16 pad drum pads start with 1 at the bottom left, not top left - forces finger drummers to relearn their playing or reprogram their drums), breath control slider. Oh, & I guess everyone is excited about light guides & color screens now, so may add that also.
Coincidentally, I also bought this for myself last month as a Birthday present. I am just getting started and I love every single part of this Keyboard. I have the full version of Analog Lab V collection 8 and I couldn’t see myself using any other midi controller, including the 88 key version of this Keyboard. Most of the VIs in Analog Lab are synthesizers or other Keyboards which did not have weighted keys when they were released. Also, these other Keyboards had limited octaves and this is true for all Organs, Mellotron, and Synthesizers. For Piano sounds, including Electric Piano sounds, one needs weighted keys. For these sounds, I recommend getting a high quality Digital Piano that has USB and Midi/In/Out jacks. This way, one can take full advantage of the Piano V2 software that comes with this Keyboard controller as a download. Sure, you could simply get the 88 Key version of this Keyboard but it will never feel right for anything other than Piano type sounds. This is a fact of modern Keyboard music, not supposition. Lastly I have read some rather disturbing things about the action on the 88 key version of this. I was dead set on buying the 88 key version of this Keyboard, but I had already obtained the full version of Analog Lab V collection 8 and with that being the only VIs that I have, I felt the 61 Key version of this controller is the best fit. I already own a great Digital Piano, so when it comes time to really investigate the Piano and Electric Piano sounds in Analog Lab V, I will use that as my midi controller. The keys on this controller are “full size synthesizer keys” not full size Piano keys so that is or can be a deciding factor for some. If you’re in the market for a versatile, intuitive, quality midi controller, look no further than the Arturia Keylab 61!
Very happy to have access to your tutorials. A lot of useful information here. This is much appreciated. After watching and reading many reviews, I am looking forward to get my KeyLab MkII 88. But I am a complete newbie to MIDI keyboards. After watching your 1st tutorial, I see that I will have a lot of things to learn... I will have to watch the tutorial quite a few time with the KeyLab MkII manual handy... 😊
Get one today , feels realy nice sturdy not a plastic toy, key's are very responsive. Have set it up with reaper and works flawless no problems at all. I'm verry glad that I chose this one.
Just purchased the 49 key version, love it! I prefer this one to the 61 version since the 49 one has the pitchbend and modwheel located to the left of the keybed instead of above the keybed to the left. Such a high-quality instrument, the aluminium construction is epic, and I’m not sure if the modwheel and pitchbend are of the same material, but they are some sort of metal and feel very cold/luxurious :) My Acess Virus TI2 Polar feels envious with its plastic modwheel/pitchbend. They fit nicely together with the white color scheme. Oh and the Las Vegas mode is awesome :D blinking/pulsing delight!
I actually hate when the two wheels are placed next to the keyboard, ruining the center of the keys/the playing position. Also that encourages screwing around with the wheels instead of playing the keyboard like an instrument. If the keyboard has 2, or 3 octave length, then the wheels can be placed next to keys, since you gonna be playing with one hand anyway.
Got a 61key MKII and Beatstep Pro this week - absolutely amazing with V Collection and pretty much everything else too! Got a nice weekend of experimenting ahead 🤗🤗
I just bought the KeyLab 61 MKii and i can't wait to receive it ... It will replace my KeyStep 37 which i really like, but i need more keys, a good keybed and others functions for the daw and plugins.
Such a beautiful master keyboard this is, given its price though I find it unbelievable that there is no arpeggiator or at least a sequencer. They put it in the cheap keystep but in none of their more expensive lines. Extra frustrating since keystep only has 32 keys (release a 49 key version please). I bought the Keylab Essential 49 but I miss an arpeggiator so much, that I begin to consider another keyboard from another "A" brand, but I hope Arturia will repair this mistake and at least let us have a 49 key version of Keystep. Arpeggiator and sequencer should be standard on a $450+ midi controller.
I'm really thinking of a purchase but split between this and the NovationSL Mk111, As there is no built-in Sequencer with this keylab is it possible to connect my Keystep pro and use as a built-in sequencer? Thanks
what is a user midi channel, like when you hold the midi key and hit a the number key to go to said channel. does that just switch between instruments in the daw ?
That's one of the things it does, yes. Like if you had an instrument track with Kontakt in your project, with a few instruments inside Kontakt with each one on their own midi channel, you could toggle between them from the keyboard. Or if you had different midi devices assigned to different midi channels, you could determine which one you were playing/controlling based on the midi channel that the keyboard is set to. A real world example is the Roland MV-1 that has 8 tracks, where you want to play the sounds on each track from an external midi keyboard. In order to switch over from playing sounds on track 1 to the sounds on track 4, for example, you would have to switch the midi channel on this keyboard from channel 1 to channel 4.
Hello, excellent Arturia keylab 61 mkii controller keyboard although I think it already needs an update in 2024. I would add an additional octave (76 keys) waterfall design with a better feel or equal to the drl Essential 88 mkiii, I would also add a larger comfortable screen. Be careful, without sacrificing the aftertouch... Regards
Compliment for your tutorial. Synthetic but exhaustive, well divided the explanation. Allow me to ask you a few questions. Answer me as the 88 keylab mkii model arrives today. 1) can I use it simultaneously with analoglab by audio card on mac and with power supply to connect it to the network, using midi out to in expander viscount organ legend? 2) I have a lot of equipment to control, would it be better to buy a device with 2 midi in and 4/5 out midi? 3) I have this configuration: imac retina, 192/6 m-audio card, a korg 4x 76 keys, an m-audio oxigen 49, an expander ketron sd2, (enough audio outputs with mixer), expander viscount legend, the 88 mkii coming today . I know the midi falls out, in, thru. But I have doubts as to be able to drive everything with the arturia as master, the korg 4x could be a second master, the m-audio oxygen 49 controller. I am sure of an urgent technical and professional suggestion and the possible configurations. Regard. Modesto
is the hammer-action better than the Fatar action in the older model? The fatar was magnificent, other keyboards made a little thump sound that my neighbors complained about at night, when I write.
At 3:06 you say the large knob is dedicated to ... there is no mention that this scroll know is all assignable for CC. This means you can use the scroll knob as a scrub controller for your tracks within the DAW.
I'M ABOUT TO RETURN IT. THE PADS HAVE SOME ISSUES. WHEN YOU PRESS ONE, 3 OF THEM PLAY AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE BEEN USING ALL KIND OF MIDI CONTROLLER FOR 4 YEARS.
is there an Auto OFf feature in Arturia keylab 88 mk 2?......becos it keeps shutting down the audio after about an hour of play.......am set up wth Minifuse 4.......my computer runs fine wth other audio setups...... had to reboot to vet Arturia back to normal.... these are the drawbacks to Not buying Arturia
I just got the keylab 49 mk ii, but the knobs are really jumpy. A quick look online and lots of people having the exact same promblem and arturia have offered no solution. Recording smotth automation is impossible. any ideas?
I wish they could come up with a fix for the stuck on notes that happen consistently when you do a palm slides …..only on black keys. It’s a nice controller except for this problem.
even having problems with email or saying it already exists, or password problems, does this controller need Drivers for it to register on my IMAC?? it shows nothing when connected.
Hello , the operation of different virtual synthesizers vst is optimal? playing drums with the pads are soft to the touch? Because the pads of my fantom x8 are very hard and the whole keyboard shakes, finally, do the keys that you have on your arturia mk2 feel resistant?
Although i hope this functions more reliably than version 1 i will still stay with the first version . The very simple reason is that here all the faders and encoders have been moved to the right side when they should have been clearly to the left side. That is the function of the left hand , to play with the real time controllers, the right hand to play the melody. This is very basic and you should had someone who can play the piano/synth in the design team to tell you that. There is a reason why the pitch and modulation wheels are on the left side. You could even had the drum pads to the left together with the faders and the encoders, how sweet that would had been. I guess i ll have to wait for version III
Both hands agree with you, just commented on that too. Faders are the next most important feature of the MIDI keyboard after the mod/pitch and should be easily reachable. I think the first version looked even better!
I adore my MkII 49 and use it daily. The one single feature I wish it had was a scale mode like on the new Essential MkIII. I wonder if that could be a firmware upgrade for the MkII?
Anybody else struggling to get pro which is bundled with the leylab 49? The link online doesnt work, you get an oops error. The Arturia Downloader is screwd as it keeps downloading Intro which is also called 5. I want Pro. I bought Pro. Sort it out Arturia. I have uninstalled EVERYTHING and still the same result when doing a fresh install. Pathetic waste of time. The thing has so much lag it is rubbish anyway.
@aturia Can we get a fl20 integration on the next firmware update PLEASE! 🙏🏼 I don't use Ableton you guys could also make some money selling the fl20 button label pad for the new update
Hi .. thanks for the great video.. quite informative. I interest to have this arturia MIDI controller. Question, in multilayers, can we assign the faders to control each sound layer? Is this type of arturia good enough for live band stage performance?
Can anyone tell me if the modwheels’ midi CC parameters can be changed? Say if I wanted to assign the pitch wheel to be expression.. I apologize if this question was already answered
Hello sir, i recently purchased arturia keylab 61 mk2, which cable do i need to connect it with MacBook Pro's thunderbolt 4 port ? A usb type b to type a cable included with arturia.
Does the aftertouch compare in expressivity to the hydrasynth? This means each key has its own assigned aftertouch not affecting other simultaneous key presses and that it is sensitive to allow for multiple gradual pressure to maximal pressure ranges?
@@dishankification Do you know how to make the aftertouch effect the modwheel? I'm not sure what it does out of the box but I'm not sure how to change what the aftertouch is assigned to...
Hello! Thank you for the valuable information! I am new to midi, but I play some piano and I'd love to purchase this quality device and not have to worry about upgrading for.... the rest of my life haha! One question. Once you've opened your DAW, and opened your VST, how do you route the Arturia to be audible? Can it be heard through a pair of monitors or headphones or does the sound come from the computer itself? I know sound doesnt come from the controller itself. Thank you!
Is there a way to make faders to soft take over in logic? Tried changing mode to relative under controller assignments in logic with no luck. Track volumes just keep jumping without me even touching the faders which make it unusable...
Hi, I suggest you to get in touch with our support team with this link: www.arturia.com/support/askforhelp I’m sure they will be able to help you :) Best regards.
Can't seem to get the midi working right.. I am using live it seems a few of the keys have no sound. On the controller I have it set to Live, in preferences I have it set to Keylab MkII with surface. But I find all the keys work only when I set the surface to just keylab. The other thing I notice the auto mapping of all the controls does not exactly happen with Live as the DAW. None of the knobs and sliders work with live. I thought abelton live and the Keylab MkII were compatible automatically. Hmmm.
Hi, these outputs are made for modulation pedals and devices, the sound won't come from these ports but from your computer/audio interface. I hope it helps!
Doesn't anyone know how to teach how to use it instead of simply advertising it? I can't get it to talk to my DAW. Is there a magic key to press to get it to pair with Studio One?
I own the KeyLab MKll 49, and I want to ask 2 questions please: 1. Regarding using the pads with Ableton Live: Where in the manual can I find specific directions, and explanations in DAW mode, where I get my mapping? I'm having trouble getting the pads to map to an Ableton drum machine. 2. Is there a "factory reset", or a clear all previous "command option with the MKll?
Hello everyone! Can someone help out? I just got a MKII 61 keys and is just amazing but the sales here in Brazil didn't sent me the overlays and said that is not included anymore. Is that true? How could figure it out the control for each DAW?
Hi! I suggest you to get in touch with our support team with this link: www.arturia.com/support/askforhelp I’m sure they will be able to help you :) Best regards.
This is the most beautiful MIDI keyboard on the market and well-built, I want one! Please tell more about the key quality and key actions, this is a selling point for a MIDI controller, at least to me. I care much less about random features, like a chord function than about the key quality. I heard it has a super-quality keybed (the same model as in a high-end Arturia Matrix Brute synth). Just being curious, does anybody need/use a chord trigger feature? It's strange to have it, but okay! It'd be better to have a sequencer instead, esp. when connecting to real synths. But either of that is available in any DAW anyway if you connect to a computer (and a sequencer is a part of most Arturia soft synths). Is it convenient to have Mod and pitch wheels above the keyboard? Every keyboard player is used to having them to the left (yes, with 61 keyboards too). I know, it's an engineering compromise to keep the sturdy layout between 48/61, but is it convenient to users? I think, probably not. After all, it's natural for pianists to reach left or right without even looking at the instrument. Reaching left-top involves another muscles and requires more attention (and there're another buttons in the way that can be accidentally pressed, e.g. MIDI channel or pads). I also think that knobs in a 61 version are too far away from the center of the keyboard (under the play or record key). When playing something in C3-B3 (first octave) with your right hand, tweaking parameters may be problematic with your left hand. Outside of Keylab's interface, I think knob placement over the faders isn't a great placement too. @Arturia, split point seems hard to set. It should be like: press a button, then press a key on your keyboard - bam, that's it, without fiddling with a super knob. It'd be nice to have multiple zones (it's tempting to separate 5 octaves into 3 instruments, plus drums on pads). Most concerns are about usability and controls layout. No concerns about the look, quality and feature set whatsoever. In conclusion to this long-ass comment I must point out that Arturia Keylab is outstanding! No other keyboard is equipped with that.
Sounds like it, right? Being an Arturia's fan, I'm still practicing for the moment when they want to pay me:) They make sleek products, whether software or hardware. VST are usually ugly (like Spectrasonics, even if it sounds great). Despite the design, I actually liked the layout of the previous gen more.
Points are: look, quality, key action, plugins. I do not own this particular keyboard. 88 keylab is what I ended up with (Fatar keybed). If I were to choose 61 keyboard, it would've been this keyb for sure.
As it's just a midi controller it neither has any sound outputs nor it produces sounds of its own. You can only hear other devices it controls, as a synth or your pc.
Excuse me, but expressivity? Since when did we start using this word in this context? Just like "disactivate" in the Ep. 3 video. Seriously? Who wrote the scripts? Someone from France?
Hi! Yes it has been written by French people, and we've used this word too much, but our copywriter in UK explained us our mistake and it won't happen in the future. Cheers!
@@ArturiaOfficial I thought it sounded just fine. Thanks for making great products and great videos to support your customers. Most of us are not worried or bothered about a small grammatical variance when we are so grateful for your efforts. Best wishes.
