Arturia Keylab Mk3

The Lounge Other Gear
21

Any experience comparing mkii and mkiii keybed? Ive sold my astrolab but i think i want a keylab of some sort.

22

Limited edition mint green would be my recommendation…

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This sweet baby is a looker

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23

it’s a nice color

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24

Im going keylab49 mkii because theyre $250 at proaudiostar :slight_smile: hopefully the keybed feels decent.

25

I think the keybed is pretty good on the mkii. Reminds me of most Fatar keybeds on medium/high end synths, I mean, I think it is that standard fatar synth keybed? but idk. It’s close to that. kinda a heavy press synth action. Feels premium!

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26

I wish they made the Keystep 37 in this color.
Black is cool, the white is ‘eh’
but this would be fun.

these little ones are just too few keys for me I think.

Maybe Arturia should release something like the Akai Mini Plus

Just like this here control-wise but 37 keys (so wider definitely) and maybe a bit slimmer

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27

I bought the Minilab MKIII and really liked it when used with my Digi boxes… however, the build was so light and flimsy that I couldn’t keep it. The knobs and encoders are so cheap, and the plastic feels almost like styrofoam. Too bad, since the functionality is excellent. Outrageous that it costs $110. Wish I could buy a nicer version.

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28

have you found a better alternative?

29

I’m still looking. Here are my criteria.

  1. Must have a key mechanism that will last, and can be serviced by me. This eliminates all key mechs which use plastic hinges, where multiple keys are all made from a single piece of injection molded plastic and can be replaced only in blocks. I’ve included a photo below. Korg and many other manufacturers use this junk, and it is garbage.

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  2. Must be able to be transported. Most of these controllers don’t have any way to stick them in a backpack or case without exposing the knobs to damage, and there is no option like a Decksaver for the vast majority of them. I want one with a lid or something like a Decksaver, or a branded Decksaver included.

  3. Able to be powered by AA batteries. Not as important as the others, but I would like the option. Cuts way down on cable spaghetti in a mobile setup.

  4. NO INCLUDED SOFTWARE. In the case of the Minilab III and many other controllers, you are paying a certain not-insignificant amount for the included software, which you almost certainly don’t need unless you’re just starting out. The Minilab III feels so amazingly cheap that I can’t imagine that their cost to build them is even 10% of the selling price. The included software maybe costs Arturia the same amount or more than the hardware. After owning a Minilab III for a week, I can say that the $110 for that piece of hardware is ludicrous. The flimsiest piece of music equipment I’ve ever touched by far.

Basically, I want a good quality mini keyboard, but I don’t want any of the disposable junk that’s being pushed these days. I want something like the Digitakt in regards to quality materials, portable, and built to last.

I have heard that the OMX-27 keyboard may be getting an upgraded and refreshed model soon, so I’m looking out for that.

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30

I think the keylab MKiii has a nicer keybed than the MKii, but I’ve not touched a MKii in a while.

I got it specifically to use with software. I don’t think I’d pick this for a hardware focused controller (I’d go back to a Novation SL MK3 in that use case, for full size keys or keystep pro for mini keys).

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31

Is Minilab keybed really that bad? I have Keystep 37 and it’s a pretty nice keyboard, way better than e.g. Launchkey mini MK2. Also no complaints about general build quality, feels nice and sturdy. I wouldn’t expect premium quality at this price point though and I doubt there are many people willing to pay premium prices for mini keys anyway…

32

This would be my ideal keyboard if they could make better pads (or maybe just leave 'em off?!) Novation and AKAI are the best when it comes to pads and that sort of thing, but they are less good on keys.

What’s great about the Keystep is how direct it is. The DAW integration isn’t there, but with MIDI capture in Ableton all the sync/MIDI trigger issues aren’t really an issue. Just play along and capture ideas that way instead of the “normal” way.

So maybe a 37 key keyboard, combining the DAW control of the Minilab but with the direct/hands on sequencer/arp of the Keystep, they’d have a good option on their hands that would be different from the others out there at the moment.

33

Can anybody who owns this device confirm whether it can send clock out through the MIDI 5-pin out?

34

This works:

  1. Connect KeyLab Mk3 to audio interfae with a MIDI 5 pin cable.
  2. Set DAW to sync receiving MIDI clock from the controller.
  3. In the KeyLab’s arpeggiator, select bpm.
  4. Send arpeggiated notes to an armed track in the DAW.

The DAW gets the right tempo. Changing the tempo in the controller updates the tempo in the DAW.

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35

Thank you.
I guess the DAW only receives tempo when the arpeggiator is activated?

36

Changing the tempo in the controller is not enough to update the tempo in the DAW. Having the arpeggiator activated alone is not enough either. As far as I can see, you need to send notes, and not just one or two. At least for big jumps in tempo it takes several notes for the DAW to “catch up”. Why this happens, I have no idea. I’m just here pressing buttons and keys to answer your question. :slight_smile:

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37

Thanks, appreciated it.
Sounds like KL mk3 is definitely not the master clock solution I need.
Frustrating for me that Arturia wouldn’t make this part more robust but probably doesn’t matter for most people.

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38

Starting to consider this one to pair with my freshly black friday aquired V collection and my iPad.

Any deal breaking bugs despite all the not fulfilled expectations ?

39

Can’t decide between this and launchkey 49 for a logic controller. Seems like Lk49 has more value/feature but KL has the VCollection integration and a more premium aesthetic that also matters a lot.

40

Having had both now, I would 100% recommend the LaunchKey if you work with Ableton. The integration is just waaay deeper and much better. it’s pretty good with logic too.

more thoughts

I liked the semi-weighted keys, but they KL definitely has the ‘more premium’ keybed.

I did think the encoders were a bit too close together on the LaunchKey, and KL has the touch encoders which is nice, but sometimes work kinda wonky so I didn’t always enjoy them.

The Keylab 100% if you really use Arturia plugins a lot, but I mean really actually use them. If it’s aspirational like you want to use them more or sometimes use them, I don’t think it’s worth it.

I have the KL now and I wish I had the LaunchKey actually, but guitar center misrung the KL when I bought it, as a Keylab essentials, so with a discount I paid under $200 for a KL Mk3 61, so I feel like I can’t let go of such a good deal for such a high quality keybed, but the LaunchKey Ableton integration is so good that I yearn for that a bit.

Ah, the KL has a power switch and the LaunchKey doesn’t. That’s actually turned out to be a big pro for me, I really like having the power switch lol

1 Like