There are few more frustrating things than when you want to sit down and make music but find yourself sinking all your time and effort into finding inspiring sounds or, worse yet, getting your system to work at all. Arturia's KeyLab Essential 61 is a virtual instrument workstation that's perfect for preventing exactly that sort of problem from derailing you. Between the controller's top-notch keybed, comprehensive hands-on controls, and total integration with the thousands of sounds in Arturia's Analog Lab 4 software, KeyLab Essential just plain works. It's an amazing experience that lets you take your ideas and turn them into fresh tracks in no time.
Cut out the technical tedium with KeyLab Essential by combining a beautifully playable controller keyboard with Arturia's acclaimed Analog Lab 4. When we got our hands on this amazing setup, even the most seasoned soft-synth gurus at Music Experience couldn't believe how easy it was to use this streamlined system. For starters, there's the onboard Analog Remote section, which lets you call up sounds right from the controller — no need to touch the mouse. You have pre-mapped knobs and sliders for parameter control, performance pads, and even tools like chord mode to make songwriting as simple as it gets.
Powerful as it is, Analog Lab 4 is just part of what KeyLab Essential has to offer. This wonderfully laid out controller keyboard includes all the control you need to take charge of your DAW, including full transport controls. In fact, KeyLab Essential is a fully loaded universal MIDI controller, so it's completely compatible with any third-party instruments or other music-creation software. Most of the controls also do double duty, providing you with layers of control over Analog Lab 4, your DAW, and any other instruments you want to play with.
Speaking of DAW applications and other virtual instruments, check out the awesome software package bundled with KeyLab Essential controller keyboards. Let's start by taking a closer look at Analog Lab 4. This greatest-hits sound collection features many of the top classics from Arturia's award-winning V Collection. It covers 17 timeless synths and over 5,000 sounds featuring Arturia's amazing True Analog Emulation technology. Next, there's Ableton Live Lite. It's an ideal introduction to one of the world's most popular creative DAWs, which is renowned for its powerful songwriting structure. Lastly, there's UVI's Grand Piano Model D, a meticulously captured Steinway Model D that adds an essential instrument to your keyboard collection.
With everything you need to express your musical ideas, take command of your studio, and perform like you’ve always dreamed, KeyLab Essential is an intuitive, powerful, carefully crafted controller keyboard that’s easy to master.
Creating music in the digital world is sometimes a little challenging. So many distractions, so many new things to learn. KeyLab Essential lets you focus on what’s important… Music is at the heart of this controller. Every aspect of KeyLab Essential has been carefully chosen to give you the best possible experience when creating and performing. From the responsive keyboard to the intelligently assigned knobs and faders, you’ll feel like everything you touch turns to gold. KeyLab Essential makes navigating your track a breeze thanks to the dedicated DAW Command Center, and makes browsing your presets an exciting, inspiring experience. KeyLab Essential helps you keep your eye on the target. Spend less time with a keyboard and mouse, and more time creating, performing, and playing.
Never been fan of menu excavations and setting headaches? We think the same.
That’s why we’ve created KeyLab Essential: to make the technical stuff as simple as possible. It’s easy to let your concentration drift and your inspiration slip when you spend hours on tedious tasks. KeyLab Essential is the result of careful research, with the aim of streamlining your creative process, giving you more time to express yourself through music. With the KeyLab Essential on your desk and its comprehensive set of music software loaded in your computer, the only required step to start experimenting, composing and recording is sitting in front of them. Once you’ve experienced the creative workflow of KeyLab Essential, you’ll wonder how you ever made music without it.
Geared for maximum compatibility, KeyLab Essential gives you unadulterated control of your digital world, seamlessly integrating with virtual instruments and DAW software. KeyLab Essential is packed with clever controls that help you make swift work of everyday tasks within your recording software. Play your track, jog forwards and back, save, toggle your metronome and loop, record, and punch in on the fly. This functionality keeps your hands on the controller and your mind in the music. As well as offering ultimate integration with Analog Lab, KeyLab Essential is a universal MIDI controller, compatible with any third-party instruments or software. KeyLab Essential also comes with Ableton Live Lite so you can start recording, editing, and releasing your music with one of the most popular music platforms on the planet. Whether you’re a total newcomer to the world of recording, or a seasoned pro who’s set in their ways, KeyLab Essential has the potential to revolutionize your creative process.
A complete keyboard production studio, KeyLab Essential comes with some incredible software titles. Whether you want a searing-hot synth lead or an ethereal string pad, a vintage upright piano or a complex, animated soundscape, KeyLab Essential gives you everything you need to perform and record. All the ingredients of the cocktail are there and ready to be mixed according to your own style.
Your very own vintage keyboard collection. Analog Lab gives you access to thousands of the best sounds from our award-winning V Collection, and gives an amazing introduction to our whole software instrument catalog. Featuring 17 iconic instruments, including analog synths, revolutionary digital workstations, organs, string machines and pianos, all pristinely recreated using Arturia’s exclusive True Analog Emulation® technology.
An introduction to one of the most the most intuitive, popular production platforms around. New users and seasoned pros alike love working with Ableton Live Lite. Featuring an innovative twin workflow, time stretching and pitch shifting functions, as well as numerous studio quality effects, you’ll be releasing professional quality tracks in no time.
An essential instrument for any songwriter’s sound palette. Steinway pianos are found in only the very best concert halls and recording studios. Thanks to MiniLab, you can have one in your living room. The UVI Grand Piano Model D puts the sound of the famous Steinway Model D grand piano at your fingertips, sampled in exquisite detail, and ready to play.
| Number of Keys | 61 |
|---|---|
| Type of Keys | Synth action |
| Velocity Sensitive | Yes |
| Pads | 8 x back-lit performance pads |
| Other Controllers | Pitchbend, Mod Wheel |
| Encoders/Pots | 9 x encoders |
| Faders | 9 x 30mm faders |
| Dedicated Transport Control | Yes |
| Pedal Inputs | 1 x 1/4" (sustain) |
| MIDI I/O | USB |
| USB | 1 x Type B |
| Software | Analog Lab, Ableton Live Lite, UVI Grand Piano Model D |
| Format | AAX, AU, VST3, VST, Standalone |
| Hardware Requirements - PC | Multi-core 2GHz processor or higher, 4GB RAM minimum |
| Hardware Requirements - Mac | Multi-core 2GHz processor or higher, 4GB RAM minimum |
| OS Requirements - Mac | OS X 10.8 or later, iOS |
| OS Requirements - PC | Windows 7 SP1 or later, Android |
| Power Supply | 9V DC power supply (sold separately) / USB bus powered |
| Height | 2.9" |
| Width | 34.7" |
| Depth | 9.7" |
| Weight | 7.2 lbs. |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 230531 |
