The Arturia KeyLab Essential mk3 is full-featured, eco-friendly and reasonably priced

Arturia’s KeyLab Crucial collection is more or less the candy spot in its lineup. It has many of the similar core options as the corporate’s flagship KeyLab collection, however with a much less top class construct and a couple of much less hands-on controls. However it is they are additionally about part the associated fee. The brand new KeyLab Crucial mk3 delivers even higher price with extra controls, a larger display and a extra eco-conscious construct. 

The mk3 will to start with be to be had in 49- and 61-key sorts, in each black and white finishes. Whilst there was once no announcement of an upgraded 88-key style, I would not be stunned if Arturia added one down the road. At the floor the KeyLab Crucial mk3 does not glance extraordinarily other from its predecessor. There is nonetheless 9 knobs and 9 faders at the proper that offer rapid get right of entry to to vary of parameters in Arturia’s softsynths. However there also are keep an eye on scripts for plenty of well-liked DAWs, together with Ableton Are living that mean you can do suppose like combine tracks the usage of the faders or forestall and get started recordings. 

The only in an instant noticeable distinction is the a lot greater display in the midst of the keyboard. It will have to make navigating presets in Analog lab and different Arturia tools a lot more uncomplicated. There is additionally 4 contextual button under it taking into consideration extra keep an eye on over your plugins. 

Arturia additionally expanded the controls at your disposal, together with including a 2d financial institution for the 8 pads so, a minimum of with somewhat of labor, you’ll make the most of a complete 16 pad drum rack in Are living. There is additionally new scale and chord modes with presets, in addition to a hang serve as and an arpeggiator. The corporate additionally upgraded the pedal enter to permit to be used with an expression pedal as a substitute of simply maintain. The instrument package integrated (which was once already beautiful nice) has been expanded to incorporate Local Tools The Gentleman, Loopcloud and Melodics, along with Ableton Are living Lite, Analog Lab V and UVI Style D. 

Finally Arturia has dedicated to lessening its environmental have an effect on through making the KeyLab Crucial mk3 out of a minimum of 40 p.c recycled plastic and transferring to 100% recyclable packaging. And regardless of all this, the keyboards are in truth considerably less expensive than the mk2 fashions. The 61-key KeyLab Crucial mk3 is $269 (down from $320 for the mk2), whilst the 49-key model of the mk3 is simplest $219 (down from $269).