Arturia KeyLab Essential Series

French company Arturia are a leading software and hardware developer. From their universally acclaimed V Collection to the innovative analogue powerhouses in their Brute range of synthesizers, Arturia continues to push boundaries in both the virtual and physical realm. Arturia’s KeyLab Essential series of MIDI keyboard controllers are one of our best sellers, providing a wealth of top features and portability at an affordable price.

Analog Lab Software

A huge advantage of the KeyLab Essential series is that it comes with Arturia’s renowned Analog Lab software - a complete virtual suite of sought-after keyboards that are harnessed from the V Collection. With Analog Lab, you have stunningly accurate emulations of 17 keyboard icons at your disposal, including vintage synthesizers, classic electric & acoustic pianos, prized organs and more. It’s like having a museum of desirable keyboards inside of your computer! Using Arturia’s proprietary True Analog Emulation™ technology, every one of Analog Lab’s presets boasts a truly authentic sound that’s primed to enhance your music and productions.

Navigating and customising the impressive array of over 6,000 presets is effortless with the KeyLab Essential, which has been designed to intelligently integrate with Arturia’s software instruments. Once connected to Analog Lab or any of Arturia’s virtual instruments, the KeyLab Essential instantly maps its hands-on controls to key preset parameters, allowing you to quickly tailor and tweak Analog Lab’s astounding presets to your needs. If you want even deeper control over a particular instrument, you can purchase it and access the full range of customisation directly from Analog Lab. You can use Analog Lab on its own in Standalone mode or as a VST, VST3, AU or AAX plug-in within your DAW of choice.

Live Lite & Grand Piano

As an added bonus, not only do you receive Analog Lab alongside your KeyLab Essential controller keyboard, you’re also given Ableton Live Lite and UVI Grand Piano Model D. Ableton’s Live Lite is a streamlined version of their fantastic DAW software, giving you the key tools you need to start composing and producing multi-tracked arrangements, and UVI’s Grand Piano Model D is a faithful sample-based recreation of a legendary Steinway model. All in all, the KeyLab Essential is an inspiring package that enables you to start creating and recording music.

Tactile Controls

Every KeyLab Essential is equipped with traditional pitch & mod wheels, 9 endless rotary encoders, 8 backlit pads, 9 slick faders and a velocity-sensitive keyboard that dynamically responds to your playing expression. Plus, the pads send out polyphonic aftertouch, allowing you to add individual articulation to certain notes depending on how hard you press down on the pad. There’s also a Chord Play mode, which gives you the ability to play up to 10-note chords with just one finger, and a dedicated Transpose button for when you want to shift to another key.

Easy Customisation

Arturia have intuitively designed the KeyLab Essential’s tactile controls to give keyboardists and producers a fun & seamless experience when performing & creating. In addition to its tight integration with Analog Lab and Live Lite, the KeyLab Essential’s arsenal of rotaries, pads and faders can be freely assigned to anything - whether that be a third-party virtual instrument, plug-in, piece of hardware or DAW parameter - that can receive MIDI data. You can create up to 6 User configurations that can be swiftly recalled and edited with the handy twin-line LCD screen or Arturia’s free MIDI Control Center software.

DAW Integration

Whilst the KeyLab Essential is deeply integrated as a control surface for Ableton Live, it can also be easily mapped to other major DAWs such as Logic Pro X, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper, FL Studio and Studio One. The KeyLab Essential’s onboard transport controls and large clickable encoder form the DAW Command Center. They’re ready to speed up your recording workflow and keep you focussed on creating, providing you with instant access to play/pause, record, save, undo, punch recording, looping, metronome toggle and track navigation.

Great Connectivity

With its USB MIDI, full-sized MIDI Out and sustain pedal connectivity, the KeyLab Essential can perform as a powerful master MIDI controller for your hardware and software setup. If you prefer to use the KeyLab Essential independently from a computer rig, you can power it via a 9V DC power supply (sold separately).

Thanks to its Class-Compliant USB, you can use your KeyLab Essential keyboard in tandem with your iOS and Android devices.

Multiple Sizes

The KeyLab Essential series comes in three different configurations - with either 49, 61 or 88 keys - so you can pick an ideal size depending on your needs and playing style. The 49 and 61 key models share a smooth synth-action keybed and the 88 key models boast a beautiful hybrid synth/piano feel with full piano-sized keys. Despite their varying sizes and robust build, each KeyLab Essential features a compact and lightweight form factor.

If you’re in the market for a well-priced, feature-packed and transportable controller keyboard, the Arturia KeyLab Essential series is an excellent choice. With the addition of Analog Lab, Live Lite and the UVI Model D, you’re getting a potent software package as well as a top-notch MIDI 'board.