Arturia KeyLab 88 Essential 88-Key MIDI Controller
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It does! It includes Analog Lab, which is worth $200 on its own. Keep in mind that "Analog Lab" is a condensed version of "Arturia V - The Complete Collection." "Assortment." So, while it has a lot of presets for classic analog gear, you'll need "V-" to use it. To access all of each VST's parameters, use the "Collection" command. It costs $500 to collect.
Yes. Easily.
Could this be a rebranding? My keyboard arrived in a brown cardboard box with the keyboard's name printed on the outside.
Only the USB cable is required.
Selected User Reviews For Arturia KeyLab 88 Essential 88-Key MIDI Controller
I'm new to piano/keyboard and wanted something with a full 88 keys to learn on while still having extra capabilities to grow into as I learn and progress. Furthermore, I enjoy listening to and playing a wide variety of music (I'm also a guitarist), so I needed something that wouldn't limit my ability to play a variety of genres.
I decided on the KeyLab Essential 88 after a month of research and waiting for it to come in stock on Amazon and it was 100% the right choice br>br>Keep in mind that when it first came out, I was able to get it for $350, which I think is a great deal compared to similar keyboards in that price range. The only thing I would change is to make the keys fully weighted, but for the value you get, it's well worth it.
I came across this MIDI controller and decided to give it a try after reading some reviews. Overall, I'm very pleased with it. It comes with the Analog Lab 4 software, which has an infinite bank of high-quality sounds. However, I initially mistook the specifications of this keyboard for those of their higher-end model, the MKII, and assumed it would have weighted keys. Despite the lack of weighted keys, the spring action is of reasonable quality, especially for a device of this price. I haven't been able to put this down since it arrived, and I haven't had any complaints.
They're made on a shoestring budget. In only THREE years, I've had two controllers malfunction with the mod and pitch wheels. They went insane and started transposing on their own in the middle of a performance. That is ludicrous. br>br>With the first, they offered to send me new mod wheel/pitch wheel kits, but I had to install them myself. That is unacceptable, and I made it clear to them. As a result, they sent a new controller, and about a year and a half later, the same issue arose. So, if you can't decide between the Arturia Essential 88 and the Nektar, go with the Arturia. br>br>In almost every way, there is a night and day difference.
It's a great keyboard because it's simple, compact, sturdy, and functional. There is no DC power cord included; instead, there is a midi input and a USB cable for power. I wish the keys were fully weighted; the semi-weighted keys appear to be less expensive. However, for the money, this is the best 88-key keyboard with a slight weight that you'll find. Ableton Live Light and Arturia software are included.
br>br>My only gripe is the perplexing registration process, which takes you all over the map and isn't very workflow friendly, nor is it well explained in the instructions, but I eventually figured it out; it's just not very user friendly.
- Nation of the Mystic.
The construction is extremely sturdy. The key action has a great feel to it. The connection to Analog Lab is seamless, as is the interaction with it. It's still hard to believe it's powered by the computer's USB cable, but it works (*Make sure the computer you're using has powered USB outputs, especially if it's a laptop or other device. )br>br>NOTE: There is no built-in power switch on these Arturias. So I went to Amazon and purchased an inline USB cable with a built-in power switch. Extension cable for the Andul USB switch.
After installing all of the software, I was unable to get any of them to recognize the device, despite using multiple USB cables with the same result. It took me a day just to hear sound come through analog lab 5, and once I did, the key velocity was terrible, and the amount of force required to make the white keys have the same volume as the black keys was much much more, making playing it very frustrating. Not to mention that all of the software that came with it is not only incredibly beginner unfriendly but also insanely buggy; every program that came with it couldn't even recognize the device, and only after closing every single app on my computer, including apps that shouldn't be using the midi controller in the first place like discord and my anti virus, was I able to get them to recognize the app and install the firmware update, and even then I had the same problem. Overall, this has been one of the most frustrating experiences I've had with a product like this, and any enthusiasm I had for it has vanished. I mostly just feel defeated and can't use the thing when I actually want to, so anyone who took the time to read this review should think about getting a different midi controller because if you have the same experience as I did, you will despise it.
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