Welcome to the captivating world of music-making! This article will provide you with a comprehensive Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 review, designed to guide your next musical investment. We’ll explore this innovative MIDI controller in-depth, highlighting what sets it apart in the crowded market. Stick around for an exciting journey into its design, sound control, features, connectivity options, and much more.
The Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 is a stellar performer that offers musicians both flexibility and command over their music production. With its compact and robust design coupled with superior sound control capabilities, it becomes an ideal choice for both amateurs and professional musicians alike. Its versatile connectivity options add another feather to its cap making it stand out from typical MIDI controllers.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Keys | 88 |
| Key Type | Velocity-sensitive, semi-weighted |
| Faders | 9 |
| Knobs | 9 |
| Pads | 8 backlit, velocity-sensitive pads |
| Display | 2.5” LCD |
| Pitch Bend | Yes |
| Modulation Wheel | Yes |
| Transport Controls | Yes (Play, Stop, Record, Loop, Rewind, Forward) |
| DAW Control | Yes (integration for most major DAWs) |
| Connections | – USB Type-B – Sustain Pedal Input – MIDI Out |
| Software Included | – Analog Lab – Ableton Live Lite – UVI Grand Piano |
| Power Supply | USB bus-powered or optional DC power adapter |
| Dimensions | Approx. 126 x 28.3 x 8.5 cm (49.6 x 11.1 x 3.3 inches) |
| Weight | Approx. 8.5 kg (18.7 lbs) |
| Velocity Curves | Multiple velocity curves and fixed velocity options |
| Aftertouch | No |
| Arpeggiator | No |
| Compatibility | Mac OS X 10.10+ / Windows 7+ |
| Other Features | – Chord Play Mode – Multiple performance controls – Pre-mapped for Arturia software |
Arturia KeyLab Essential 88: A Quick Overview
The Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 is a versatile MIDI controller designed for music production and live performance. Featuring 88 velocity-sensitive, semi-weighted keys, it provides a realistic piano feel while also offering multiple performance controls such as pitch bend, modulation wheel, and transport controls.
With a user-friendly 2.5” LCD screen and extensive DAW integration, this keyboard is perfect for both beginners and seasoned musicians. This controller comes equipped with various connectivity options including USB Type-B and MIDI Out, allowing seamless integration with different setups.
It also includes essential software like Analog Lab, Ableton Live Lite, and UVI Grand Piano to kickstart your creative journey right out of the box. Lightweight at approximately 8.5 kg and bus-powered via USB or optional DC adapter, the KeyLab Essential 88 combines portability with functionality for an all-in-one music creation experience.
Unpacking
As you unpack the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88, your first impressions will likely be of awe. The box itself boasts of a sleek design, which hints at the high-quality equipment inside.
The moment you open it, the first thing that strikes you is how well everything is packed. Everything, from the keyboard itself to each included cable, is thoroughly and securely packed. This careful packaging not only protects your new MIDI controller during shipping but also shows Arturia’s commitment to delivering a top-notch product even before you’ve laid hands on it.
Inside this amazing box lies your long-awaiting treasure – the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88. With its glossy black facade peeking from under perfectly fit packaging foam, this beauty instantly grabs attention.
Also included in the box are some pretty essential items such as a USB cable, which connects your new MIDI controller to your PC or Mac and powers it. Additionally, there’s also a comprehensive user manual that acts as an easy guide to operating and setting up this powerhouse hardware.
The sizeable yet sleek MIDI controller comfortably housed in its box depicts quality craftsmanship from every angle – right from its robust frame down to individual keys. You can’t help but anticipate putting it through its paces once fully set up.
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Compact and Robust Design
The design is a key aspect when choosing a MIDI controller. For any musician, having an easy-to-use device that simultaneously offers robust features is highly preferable. Here, we delve into the compact and robust design of the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88.
- Lightweight and Portable: One of the crucial advantages of the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 is its lightweight nature. This makes it super portable, allowing users to carry it around without much hassle. Although it includes 88 keys, it still maintains a weight that’s manageable for most users to handle with ease.
- Sturdy Construction: Despite being lightweight, this MIDI controller doesn’t compromise on durability. It exhibits a sturdy construction that ensures longevity. So yes, even if you accidentally drop it or frequently transport it from location to location for gigs or studio sessions, rest assured knowing this piece will withstand all those rough usages.
- Perfect Dimensions: The dimensions contribute significantly to its compactness as well. Its exact dimension are 38 x 6 x 89 cm which keeps it snug in your workspace without occupying too much space and giving user full control over their setup.
- Comfortable Playability: The KeyLab Essential 88 possesses synth-style keys which provide ultimate comfort during playability session for hours long without any hand fatigue. That results in increased efficiency resulting in better music production.
- Organized Interface: The interface on Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 is arranged logically keeping user convenience at priority by placing oft-used controls comfortably within reach while making sure everything looks neat and uncluttered.
Stellar Sound Control
The Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 offers a sound control that is simply stellar. This MIDI controller contributes to a superior sound quality and performance in outstanding ways. Here’s how:
- Superb Software Bundle: One big reason for the amazing sound control is the remarkable software bundle that comes with this keyboard controller. It includes Analog Lab software, which provides you access to thousands of incredible sounds from traditional keyboards and synths.
- Assignments: The unit allows for flexible assignments, enhancing your capability for fine-tuning the sounds. With more than 6,000 presets from over 30 classic keyboard types, it brings a plethora of options to shape your music exactly like you want it.
- Key Action: The semi-weighted keys provide an acoustic piano-like feel to deliver sensitive reactions to your subtle touches or hard playing style—thus ensuring a fantastic output.
- Pads and Encoders: Adding to its excellent functions are the intuitive pads and encoders offering hands-on control over your virtual instruments and mixes—making sure every note gets heard just right.
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Connectivity
When we talk about the connectivity options that come with the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88, it’s clear that this device has been created with flexibility in mind. Being able to connect to a range of different devices makes this MIDI controller an excellent choice for musicians on all levels.
- USB Connectivity: With its USB connection, Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 can be linked directly to your computer. This gives users a simple way to utilize recording software, virtual instruments and more.
- MIDI in/out: Furthermore, it features traditional MIDI in and out connectors which distinguish it from several competitors. This allows you to control other hardware synths or be controlled by external sequencers without needing a computer.
- Sustain Pedal Input: For those musicians who like adding extra depth and character to their music, there’s a sustain pedal input. This means you can hook up your own sustain pedal and get even more creative with your audio.
- Auxiliary Pedal Input: Adding further versatility is the auxiliary pedal input. This lets you connect an expression pedal or foot-switch that could control parameters like volume or modulation within your software instruments.
The variety of these connectivity options not only enhances the overall user experience but also takes this MIDI controller miles ahead of its competitors. Regardless if you’re recording at home or performing live onstage – having multiple connection points like these at hand ensures easy set-up and ultimate flexibility when making music.
Therefore, it’s safe to say that the impressive range of connection options on the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 definitely serves as one of its greatest advantages over other models available in today’s market.
Features
The Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 offers an assortment of captivating features that will not only impress novice writers but also experienced musicians. These striking elements make this MIDI controller a must-have in your collection. Here is a rundown of some exciting features:
- Optimum Keyboard Quality: This MIDI controller comes with high-grade, semi-weighted keys providing an authentic feel for the player.
- Impressive Software Suite: The device includes Analog Lab software with over 6,000 sounds that can be altered and regulated easily from the device itself.
- Physical Controls: The Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 has numerous physical controls such as sliders, encoders, and transport controls which overall contribute to a better user experience.
- Remap Option: This feature provides ease to musicians by allowing them to remap all buttons and knobs on the key-board to fit their needs.
- Sustain Pedal Input: With its dedicated sustain pedal input, players can add more expressive control while playing.
- Advanced MIDI Functions: Advanced MIDI functions allow for easy navigation and control over different music software applications.
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Who is the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 Best Suited For?
When it comes to selecting musical instruments or equipment, once size doesn’t fit all. Different products often suit different people based on their individual needs and preferences. In our exploration of the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 review, let’s delve into who this impressive MIDI controller is most suitable for:
- Professional Musicians: The first and most obvious group who would be well suited to use this keyboard are professional musicians. Whether you’re in a band or a solo artist, the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 offers an extensive range of sound control and connectivity options that could be vital when performing live or recording in the studio.
- Music Producers: Besides performers, music producers also stand to gain quite a bit from this device. It allows intricate control over sounds and helps produce high-quality music tracks which can give producers an edge in their work.
- Home Music Enthusiasts: Even if you’re not a professional musician or producer, but have an interest in creating music at home for fun or as a hobby, the KeyLab Essential 88 could be just what you need. Its compact design makes it easy to fit into any room at home without taking up too much space.
- Beginners & Learners: Those who are new to music and eager to learn would find it beneficial as well. It’s intuitive interface makes it user-friendly even for beginners learning chords and melodies for the first time.
So there you have it! Following our detailed Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 review, we can confidently state that this MIDI controller appeals not just to professionals but also beginners and enthusiasts dabbling in the world of music production.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High Quality Control | Bit Bulky In Size |
| Superior Sound Quality | Heavier Than Some Competitors |
| Large Range of Connection Options | Price Point is Higher than some MIDI Controllers |
| Comes with Bundled Software | Requires Time to Learn All Functions |
Conclusion
In the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 review, we have seen that this MIDI controller clearly stands out as an essential music gear. From design to sound control, connectivity options and features, it ticks all boxes for a perfect MIDI controller.
It is best suited for professionals looking for superior performance and quality. Despite minor drawbacks, its pros vastly outrun them making it a highly recommended purchase for any musician or studio owner.
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