KVR Audio

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Jun 22, 2018 7:32 pm

New Keylab mk2 controllers from Arturia: https://www.arturia.com/keylab-mkii/overview

rob_lee · Post by **rob_lee** » Fri Jun 22, 2018 7:52 pm

chk071 wrote:New Keylab mk2 controllers from Arturia: https://www.arturia.com/keylab-mkii/overview

I'm just shopping online for a 25 key midi controller tonight for mobile purposes (Any recommendations welcome) then I came across this.. looks fab, I like the black 49 key MK2 so I might get one of these too if I don't buy the N.I Kontrol 49

Rob

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Jun 22, 2018 7:57 pm

They look very nice indeed. Probably price will drop a bit after the initial release.

hyperscientist · Post by **hyperscientist** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:26 pm

Who did play MatrixBrute or MiniBrute 2 and could comment on keyboard quality? It is supposed to be premium, so I wonder how it compares to Fatars (Nord, NI Komplete Kontrol S49/61 etc.) or other quality synth keyboards.

SJ_Digriz · Post by **SJ_Digriz** » Thu Jul 05, 2018 1:06 am

The keybed on the MkII is significantly improved over the original. At least on the 61 I have. There are some really cool features like CV and a decent integration with most hosts. The paging and banking, chord/transpose functions are really good. And it’s a real treat with analog lab 3.

CV is still geared to euro. I’m MU and the +- voltage range is still anemic just like their synths and BSP. But, works well with euro stuff. But, for the most part this is a real upgrade, and probably the best combo controller keyboard out there.

The one thing I wish kept on them about was KK integration. They don’t feel the current display capability would be adequate. I kind of disagree as I just want the knobs to work. There is an AL mode, DAW mode and User Mode. I’d like a KK mode (maybe user 10 or something) just so the knobs work with KK VST. But, can’t have everything. Maybe MKIII.

I still highly recommend this one.

Bandaide · Post by **Bandaide** » Thu Jul 05, 2018 3:34 am

Thanks, SJ.

Synth action? Semi-weighted?

SJ_Digriz · Post by **SJ_Digriz** » Thu Jul 05, 2018 4:12 am

Bandaide wrote:Thanks, SJ.

Synth action? Semi-weighted?

synth style. But not the super light plasticy clickyness of the previous version. A little more solid with a good balanced weight. I have a Voyager that is kind of my perfect synth action reference. It is not in that league, but is much closer. You don't feel the spring pull like before.

puremusic · Post by **puremusic** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 11:11 am

I've nearly bought the Keylab so many times I like them even though I never pulled the trigger. I use Arturia's virtual instruments a lot too.

hyperscientist · Post by **hyperscientist** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 12:46 pm

SJ_Digriz wrote:synth style. But not the super light plasticy clickyness of the previous version. A little more solid with a good balanced weight. I have a Voyager that is kind of my perfect synth action reference. It is not in that league, but is much closer. You don't feel the spring pull like before.

Thank you for this, SJ_Digriz! I do own NI Kontrol S61 and do like the action (I don't find it perfect, but it is fine), but I find that I use Analog Lab a lot and almost none of NI instruments or KK integrated plugins.

So I am thinking of a swap, just don't want to degrade keys playability much as I am a real sucker for the quality in this department (it's why I also own Kawai VPC1 for piano instruments). From what you are saying it is at least worth a shot!

If by chance you have any experience with NI Kontrol keyboards, then I would appreciate a word of comparison

SJ_Digriz · Post by **SJ_Digriz** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 3:18 pm

hyperscientist wrote: If by chance you have any experience with NI Kontrol keyboards, then I would appreciate a word of comparison

Unfortunately no. I've not played an NI Keyboard. I'm assuming it is similar.

I think the main thing is that it is playable. It has reasonable velocity sensitivity. Like most budget boards, the black keys can be a bit problematic if you are a really good player. But, for %99 of us they are in the ok range. I think it's advantage is that it is an actual MIDI keyboard with a great editor instead of the proprietary and questionably useful KK system.

So, it may or may not be as good as the keybed in the KK, but it will be close. And, it has vastly more functionality as a controller.

BMoore · Post by **BMoore** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 4:03 pm

Holy price batman!

SJ_Digriz · Post by **SJ_Digriz** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 4:25 pm

BMoore wrote:Holy price batman!

hard to tell if you think they are too expensive or a good value? I think $500 is a pretty good price point for the 61. It is a very good keyboard with a LOT of capabilities. It's $200 less than the NI version and to me is more functional.

BMoore · Post by **BMoore** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 4:39 pm

It's a hollow case with midi buttons.
And as a former owner of a small Arturia keyboard, the quality isn't great.

SJ_Digriz · Post by **SJ_Digriz** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 5:14 pm

BMoore wrote:It's a hollow case with midi buttons.
And as a former owner of a small Arturia keyboard, the quality isn't great.

It's $200 less than the hollow case with MIDI buttons and flashing lights on the NI. What's your point?

Jim Y · Post by **Jim Y** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 5:22 pm

I don't see how it's designed for soft synth control.
It will be, when the synth GUI layout matches the controller layout so you don't go crosseyed trying to work out how the knob/fader connects to the synth function.
I just don't understand why the software synth GUI cannot be made to look like the controller! Even the controller assignment gui is different - only showing half but spread over the full width of the keys. Great (not). 3 different things to visually coralate. They are bundling a soft synth and it looks nothing like the controller!

I've said it before - you cannot make a physical controller that matches every existing GUI, but you can have synth/mixer whatever GUI that morphs to look like whatever controller you have. Can anybody else see that?

New Arturia keylab