Thanks for your response. I have to agree. I bought both Arturia and Novation and LK49 is the clear winner despite my wanting to like KL49 better due to aesthetics and Arturia software integration.
LK49 has significantly better DAW integration, chord/scale feature implementation, exponentially better pads and ARP features.
Edit: I’m less disappointed with KL49 now having spent the day controlling V Collection and Pigments. I no longer find the price nasty. Aftertouch and the much nicer Keybed matter. The larger full color display matters. The aesthetic matters.
I maintain that LK49 is the better value with all things considered but I am strongly considering keeping both now
To add a different voice, pretty happy with my keylab ! I had a novation sl61 mk3 and absolutely hated the exeprience despite all the power and possibilities.
The keylab feels intuitive to me and seems to fulfill my needs ! Keybed is really correct, pads are specials, really different from anything I tried until now ( maschine, mpc, beatstepPro etc…) the feel is more like a hard surface but they register slight variations pretty well, the build feels premium, buttons and faders are really nice to operate, and the different integrations are correctly implemented. ( I have v collection and bitwig, not perfect but sufficient. )
I don’t need cv out so I don’t care for those and since I never had the previous version I don’t compare them in term of features.
Hey any update? I bought the KL MK3 61 and feel a little bit disappointed. This is my first “prosumer” keyboard, I have a Casio ctk4200for learning piano.
I am very underwhelmed by the KeyLab but I think it was a me thing and I just expected too much. I just have a move and a push and both have good pads, both have 8 encoders that will auto map to analog map, the faders are nice but I can’t justify having something such big on my desk to use faders lol.
I am thinking of returning and going with a Launchkey 49 to have pads faders and everything but on a smaller footprint and half the price.
I can’t really appreciate the nicer keybed, it’s okay but I’m too bad at playing to feel a big difference between the Casio
I preferred the LK49 of the two. However, recently got both DN2/DT2 so it turns out I won’t be needing the faders as much as I thought I would. The Lk37 freed up a ton of space while still offering the creative features I need.
Just got a brand-new KeyLab 49 Mk3 from the store; the packaging looks pristine. But when I put it on a flat surface, it wobbles because it seems slightly bent - it doesn’t sit flat on the table. The rubber feet that aren’t touching the surface have about 2 mm of clearance.
It depends on the synth or effect, but most Arturia integration is a handful of macro controls and a few direct controls. Their synths usually have too many controls for 100% knob per function, but you can control the filter, resonance, and at least one envelope.
I’d say they’re great for performing, but too limited for sound design.
