With the detailed work that Arturia’s masterful emulations receive, we would expect nothing less in the company’s approach to designing the optimal way to interface with those worlds of sound. Now, the KeyLab Essential mk3 delivers a bold, intuitive redesign to make composition, recording, and playback easier than ever. Meanwhile, it introduces new creative features alongside its intelligently reorganized interface, included premium software, and deep integration capabilities. Producers and keyboardists at Music Experience love how seamlessly this controller works with Arturia’s suite of award-winning soft synths. Its completely customizable software connectivity allows you to painlessly use the KeyLab Essential mk3 with any DAW that suits your workflow. Faders, encoders, beat pads, contextual buttons, and real-time visual feedback ensure the mk3 is a playback powerhouse perfect for the studio and the stage.

Newly improved and more powerful than ever

One of the more critical facets of the KeyLab Essential mk3 is its ability to prioritize and enable performance while eschewing cumbersome menu-diving, all while remaining easily integrated with any DAW. It can’t be overstated how many creative barriers that plague other controllers just disappear! New creative tools include scale and chord modes, as well as an arpeggiator to mix up and expand your repertoire of compositional opportunities. Packaged premium software includes the full suite of Analog Lab V’s distinctive array of modern and vintage synths, hybridized instruments, orchestral sounds, and much more, all with 2,000 studio-grade presets to serve as the bedrock of your next project. Each of the nine rotary encoders is accompanied by a fader alongside an RGB-backlit beat pad equipped with velocity and pressure sensitivity. A full-color, 2.5-inch LCD screen provides real-time feedback for all assigned parameters and controls, with context-assignable buttons and completely customizable controls making for an easily tailored performance tool.

What Arturia Says...

Whether you’re a beginner producer, an experienced music maker, or anyone in between, unlock your full creative potential with a MIDI controller that breaks down all the barriers between you, your DAW, and your perfect sound.

Find joy in your workflow

Find the right sound faster than ever. Customize your mix in real-time. Finish that track with ease. Music-making shouldn’t feel like work; KeyLab Essential removes barriers and puts the joy back into your workflow.

Your DAW, upgraded

Your favorite synth sounds, your DAW transport, and your mixing desk all in one. Enjoy next-level control over your sounds & DAW projects, seamless communication with Analog Lab, and a bundle of pro creative software to supercharge your sound.

Quickly inspire new ideas

KeyLab Essential doesn’t just help you play & navigate your projects - it’s also built to inspire. Summon catchy melodies, curious rhythms, and moving chord sequences with its array of creative features, and see where it can take your sound.

That quality feeling

You want the feeling of a premium instrument, the flexibility of a top-class controller, and the ease-of-use of a beginner keyboard. KeyLab Essentials sensitive controls, hybrid synth-feel keybed, and smart layout puts it all at your fingertips.

Your keys to creativity

However you choose to make music, KeyLab Essential has all the creative answers - before you’ve even thought of the questions. This controller fits right into your setup to become an extension of your creative identity.

Control any DAW

Enjoy plug-and-play connectivity and ready-mapped controls with your DAW of choice. KeyLab Essential doesn’t just feature familiar MCU & HUI compatibility; it also has custom scripts for major DAWs for next-level integration.

Customize your workflow

KeyLab Essential easily adapts to your creative needs; recall your favorite ’liked’ presets from Analog Lab, navigate your custom-made playlists, activate custom User programs for your own control assignments, and more.

At one with Analog Lab

Turn Analog Lab into a hardware synth and get hands-on with your sound thanks to KeyLab Essential’s seamlessly mapped controls. Adjust sound parameters, tweak FX, and browse presets without ever needing to touch your computer.

All the software & sounds you need for making music

What software & sounds do you get with KeyLab Essential mk3? From a full copy of Analog Lab to a library of over 4 million samples, you’re fully equipped for whatever music you want to make.

Thousands of synth & keys presets

A library of the finest basses, fattest synths, smoothest orchestral sounds, and more, from vintage to modern, powered by V Collection, Augmented Series, and Pigments.

Music recording software

Record, perform, and produce anything with an introduction to one of the hottest DAWs in the business, including instrument presets, drums, FX, MIDI clips, and more.

Essential, intuitive, flexible controls

Sometimes you just want to get the job done. KeyLab Essential's focused controls give you quick access to the most useful & intuitive elements of your project & sound without complicating things.

Keybed

As comfortable for performance as it is for studio beat-making, KeyLab Essential’s semi-weighted keybed is smooth & responsive, complemented by the familiar Pitch & Mod wheels and Pedal input for sustain, footswitch, or expression.

Display

Get the essential real-time info you need, from parameter values to your current preset, with a bright 2.5” display, complete with contextual buttons that make navigation effortless.

Pads

Switch between MIDI notes, clip triggering, finger-drumming, or whatever you need them to do. KeyLab Essential’s velocity & pressure-sensitive pads are even RGB color-coded so you can keep track at all times.

Encoders

Get that real hands-on feeling and interact with crucial controls right where you need them, from track panning to specific instrument parameters, with full rotation encoders.

Faders

Tweak your track levels, envelope settings, selected parameters on your Arturia instruments, and more with ultra-smooth faders at your fingertips.

DAW controls

Instantly switch from sculpting your synth sounds to piloting your DAW project with KeyLab Essential’s dedicated DAW controls, so you’re in control at all times. Its custom integration scripts even ensure that the most crucial controls work perfectly, whatever DAW you’re using.

A vessel for creativity

For when you want to get experimental, find a new sound, or just need a bit of extra inspiration, KeyLab Essential has a few tricks up its sleeve. Create fun ever-changing melodies, create chord voicings, and always stay in key - without thinking twice.

Chord play

Play rich, full, powerful chords with a single key by selecting from built-in chord presets, or inputting your own custom chord shapes - great for when you need quick inspiration for your next hit.

Scale mode

Set your playing free and never go out of key with KeyLab Essential’s Scale mode, which quickly locks the keybed to one of several built-in scales. Wrong notes? Never again.

Arpeggiator

Turn chords or selections of notes into vibrant melodies and rhythmic ideas with a built-in Arpeggiator, complete with Hold function so you can go no-hands. You can even use all these features together; play & hold a chord with a single key, arpeggiate it, and lock it to a scale of your choice.

A closer look

Explore the controls, layout, and creative features of KeyLab Essential mk3 in detail, from its hybrid synth-feel keybed to its DAW-integrated controls.

Express yourself

Need a bigger note range? Trying to save desk space? Want a darker aesthetic to fit your stage setup? KeyLab Essential mk3 comes with 49 & 61-key options, both available in black or white.

Your eco-designed MIDI controller

A better product for the environment means a more sustainable creative future.

KeyLab Essential mk3 follows in the footsteps of MiniLab 3, the world’s first eco-designed MIDI controller; built to perform better, produce less waste, and reduce our carbon footprint for good. Made with minimum 40% recycled plastic, 100% recyclable packaging, and a material carbon footprint reduction of 18%, this controller takes sustainability seriously.

A deeper connection

We worry about integration, so you don’t have to

From Analog Lab to full DAW control, enjoy deep integration with custom scripts for Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio, Bitwig, and more.

Now fully NKS-compatible, you can also connect effortlessly with Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol ecosystem. Additionally, MCU/HUI support ensures compatibility with virtually any DAW, for a fast, familiar setup every time.