Hi, still struggling in search of a new master keyboard to replace my now 30 years old Akai MX 1000 - an otherwise perfect (to my needs at least) master. Sadly they aren't making 76 keys models anymore, now the standard is 88, and that's still ok even if I didn't need those extra keys.
The problem is that nowadays the trend seems towards dropping release velocity, aftertouch or both. Or they have other issues (all is relative of course) like having those hateful joysticks instead of the PB/MW wheels, or keys have horrible feeling or are loud or they get very bad reviews. After a lot of searching I came to the Arturia keylab 88 mk2 which, if we exclude the sw bundle which is likely levitating the price (I don't need their stuff thx I already am happy with mine), seemed almost perfect and with an overall good reputation.
But does it support release velocity ?
I *need it*, no discussion. Lol.
I could not find this information online and Arturia is still not replying to my mails.
Thanks in advance
Arturia Keylab 88 mk2 and release velocity
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- KVRist
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
I noticed that nobody replied. It's ok. Sadly Arturia replied and told me that not even the Keylab is supporting Release Velocity. A very poor choice imho. Market trends are always towards worse, dropping features, everything is getting worse. And supporting RV costs NOTHING, since it is just about measuring the delay of two switches turning off!!! At this point I fear the only solution could really be restoring my Akai
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Constructed Identity Constructed Identity https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=288890 - KVRian
- 1347 posts since 29 Sep, 2012 from Minnesota
Yes, if you are specifically looking for a controller that is:
1. Well made
2. Has after touch/release velocity
3. Doesn't come with superfluous extras you will never use
you are totally out of luck, no such thing made in 2022
1. Well made
2. Has after touch/release velocity
3. Doesn't come with superfluous extras you will never use
you are totally out of luck, no such thing made in 2022
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
You got me perfectly 
After a lot of search and contacting the manufacturers, it turned out that the only choice is the Studiologic (fatar) sl series. Sadly they have joysticks but oh well I will get used to that. At least it seems to have a quite good reputation in all respects, a good weighted keybed and supports both AT and RV. And it looks it doesn't come with unneded bloatware lol
After a lot of search and contacting the manufacturers, it turned out that the only choice is the Studiologic (fatar) sl series. Sadly they have joysticks but oh well I will get used to that. At least it seems to have a quite good reputation in all respects, a good weighted keybed and supports both AT and RV. And it looks it doesn't come with unneded bloatware lol
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
I am puzzled however... Arturia told me that the 88 mk2 does NOT support RV, while today one guy of a music shop who I had asked connected a midi monitor and sent me a video showing different note off velocity values at release! Is really Arturia a so poor quality company who doesn't even know the features of their products ??? 
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- KVRAF
- 4083 posts since 28 Jan, 2011 from MEXICO
The biggest problem is going to find one with good after touch. Digital Pianos have good key action, from Casio, Roland, Kawai and yamaha a bit behind, but not one of them has after touch. You can get some excellent actions in models like the RD2000 or the top end kawai, made of wood and similar mechanism that a grand.
dedication to flying
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ReleaseCandidate ReleaseCandidate https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=476930
- KVRian
- 620 posts since 19 Oct, 2020
The question is if that values are useable. Every keyboard sends 'some' release velocity via MIDI (the MIDI protocol for 'note off' is like that), most(?) just set it to zero, Arturia sends a fixed value of 64 for the Keystep. So just sending some values, even if they are not always the same (could even be a bug and just some random value out of the controllers memory) does _not_ mean that RV actually works.elena2 wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 2:39 pm I am puzzled however... Arturia told me that the 88 mk2 does NOT support RV, while today one guy of a music shop who I had asked connected a midi monitor and sent me a video showing different note off velocity values at release!
Hydrasynth Explorer and Deluxe (AFAIK not the original one, if they haven't changed it via firmware) with a poly aftertouch keyboard supports release velocity. 'Real' MPE Controllers do too.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
Thanks KVRian, what you said makes sense. It could be that those RV values in the video they sent me were quite random. Unfortunately I can't do the test personally to verify that they actually are proportional to the velocity with which one releases the keys.
At this point I really think I will get a studiologic sl88 studio. At least the company reassured me it supports both AT and RV and, despite the joysticks and the lack of other assignable controls I should be quite happy with its touch from what I have read here and there
At this point I really think I will get a studiologic sl88 studio. At least the company reassured me it supports both AT and RV and, despite the joysticks and the lack of other assignable controls I should be quite happy with its touch from what I have read here and there
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- KVRAF
- 1712 posts since 25 Jul, 2009
Came across this old thread with a search. I have the first version of Keylab 49.
It has release velocity, aftertouch (which feels great), and the pads send polyAT.
At the time I got it, Arturia said the 49 and 61 had RV, but the 88 key didn't.
I'm currently looking at getting a used Keylab MKII because of the CV control, but if it doesn't have the features of the first version, I'm going to pass on it. The manual doesn't specify.
Release velocity is also a must have for me, so if anyone could verify that the MKII 49/61 has it for positive sure, I would appreciate it.
It has release velocity, aftertouch (which feels great), and the pads send polyAT.
At the time I got it, Arturia said the 49 and 61 had RV, but the 88 key didn't.
I'm currently looking at getting a used Keylab MKII because of the CV control, but if it doesn't have the features of the first version, I'm going to pass on it. The manual doesn't specify.
Release velocity is also a must have for me, so if anyone could verify that the MKII 49/61 has it for positive sure, I would appreciate it.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
Hi Felis, thanks for your later addition. As of today, I still failed to get my hands on the 'perfect' controller, so I am still stuck with my old akai mx1000. Despite the noisy keyboard and all buttons and faders which would need some internal cleanup (many are not working) it still plays great.. well, better than the ones I tried...
The last one I bought to try (there is no music store here where I can try before buying) was the Studiologic sl88. My god which a pain ! Never played such a horrible keyboard !!! It mounts a Fatar tp100 iirc. A terrible rubbery touch and short excursion. No way. I asked for a refund. I really could not play it !!!
I think the arturia keylab 88 uses a similar keybed, therefore I don't think I would ever get one, not even if they would eventually support RV...
As for Arturia, can you believe it ? Just see how inept and crappy are its developers... I sent my first mail 3 years ago iirc, asking if the keylab 88 mk2 had RV. They answered NOPE. I insisted that it was just about adding few lines of code in the firmware, it was enough to compute the OFF delay between the two keyswitches. They were like 'we'll see'. Two years later still no way, they didn't do it yet. Last Spring I asked again, and they showed really no will to add such feature - which, I reiterate, is a STANDARD MIDI FEATURE, THEREFORE ANY PRO CONTROLLER MUST SUPPORT IT !!
Just RIDICULOUS !!!
Clearly, all their efforts are focused on vst plugins, blundles and bloatware to rise the price of their hardware. You judge.
The last one I bought to try (there is no music store here where I can try before buying) was the Studiologic sl88. My god which a pain ! Never played such a horrible keyboard !!! It mounts a Fatar tp100 iirc. A terrible rubbery touch and short excursion. No way. I asked for a refund. I really could not play it !!!
I think the arturia keylab 88 uses a similar keybed, therefore I don't think I would ever get one, not even if they would eventually support RV...
As for Arturia, can you believe it ? Just see how inept and crappy are its developers... I sent my first mail 3 years ago iirc, asking if the keylab 88 mk2 had RV. They answered NOPE. I insisted that it was just about adding few lines of code in the firmware, it was enough to compute the OFF delay between the two keyswitches. They were like 'we'll see'. Two years later still no way, they didn't do it yet. Last Spring I asked again, and they showed really no will to add such feature - which, I reiterate, is a STANDARD MIDI FEATURE, THEREFORE ANY PRO CONTROLLER MUST SUPPORT IT !!
Just RIDICULOUS !!!
Clearly, all their efforts are focused on vst plugins, blundles and bloatware to rise the price of their hardware. You judge.
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- KVRer
- 9 posts since 31 Dec, 2006 from USA
The user manuals for the KeyLab 49, 61 and 88 MK 3 say that they have release velocity.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
Mk3 ? Can you please supply a link to the pdf, so I can check ?
Should I think they lied, saying it had not and they had no intention to support it ?
Very puzzled...
Should I think they lied, saying it had not and they had no intention to support it ?
Very puzzled...
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- KVRer
- 9 posts since 31 Dec, 2006 from USA
https://dl.arturia.net/products/keylab- ... 0_0_EN.pdf2.2 Keyboard
KeyLab 88 mk3 features a piano-action keyboard that is both velocity, release velocity, and
pressure-sensitive (also called aftertouch or channel-aftertouch).
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
Thanks for pointing that out, again.
I shall definitely ping Arturia again demanding some explanations ! I will keep this thread updated as soon as I have news
I shall definitely ping Arturia again demanding some explanations ! I will keep this thread updated as soon as I have news
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 115 posts since 7 Jun, 2018
..