Arturia introduces KeyLab Essential 88 mk3
Arturia expands the KeyLab Essential mk3 range with a new 88-key controller keyboard – a new standard for stripped-back, multi-octave MIDI control.
Last year, Arturia unveiled mk3 versions of its KeyLab Essential range of affordable controller keyboards. In their third iteration, the 49 and 61-key controllers offered improved DAW integration, a redesigned interface and new features like the Chord and Scale Modes.
Today Arturia introduced their new KeyLab Essential 88 mk3, a full-sized 88-key controller keyboard boasting the same updated feature set as its 49 and 61-key KeyLab Essential range.
Adding to the 49- and 61-key models of the KeyLab Essential range, Arturia’s KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 puts a semi-weighted full piano range at the fingertips of musicians and producers.
KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 features a full-size, 88-note range, semi-weighted keyboard, designed for DAW production, hybrid setups, and controlling MIDI hardware instruments.
Above the keyboard, you will find a 2.5″ display and DAW controls, next to a 2×4 grid of pressure and velocity-sensitive pads and a bank of nine faders and nine full-rotation encoders, all of which arrive pre-mapped to parameters in your DAW and bundled software instruments such as Analog Lab V.
KeyLab Essential mk3 is equipped with custom DAW scripts for majors DAWS such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase and Bitwig. You can design your own customised mappings, or control other DAWs via the MCU/HUI protocol.
Arturia is hoping to make writing melodies and chord sequences easier with Chord and Scale Modes and a built-in arpeggiator. Chord Mode assigns chords to single keys across the keyboard while Scale Mode locks the keyboard to one of a selection of pre-defined scales, so you won’t be able to hit a wrong note if you try.
All KeyLab Essential mk3 controllers arrive bundled with a two-month subscription to Loopcloud and a software package that includes Analog Lab V, a software instrument that offers thousands of presets lifted from its V Collection bundle of synth plugins, and Ableton Live Lite.
New with KeyLab Essential mk3 controllers:
- New creative features: Scale Mode, Chord Mode, and Arpeggiator
- Custom DAW integration (FL Studio, Ableton, Logic Pro…)
- More versatile presets
- Easier controls & interface
- Expanded software package for beginners & pros
Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 is priced at £299. Find out more on Arturia website.
