Arturia's KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 puts a full piano keyboard at your fingertips, offering all the celebrated features of the KeyLab line for DAW production and live performance. With 88 velocity-sensitive semi-weighted keys and a huge software suite, the KeyLab Essential 88 lets you get to work right away.

The KeyLab Essential 88 features all of the intuitive controls in the KeyLab Essential line, including eight velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads with RGB backlighting, nine faders and encoder knobs, transport controls, pitch and modulation wheels, and a bright 2.0-inch LCD display. 5".

You also get built-in controls for Scale and Chord modes, plus an arpeggiator for quick and easy production work. KeyLab Essential keyboards integrate seamlessly with DAWs for instant control without the need to navigate menus. More than 2000 presets are included with the free Analog Lab Pro software, and the keyboard also includes UVI Grand Piano and NI The Gentleman Piano virtual instruments, plus Ableton Live Lite, plus subscriptions to Loopcloud and Melodics. This keyboard includes a USB-C cable.

New with the mk3

Synthesizer-Piano Hybrid Keyboard

Like all KeyLab Essential keyboards, the KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 offers a comfortable waterfall keyboard with full-size keys and velocity sensitivity. Semi-weighted keys offer a realistic feel for comfortable playing and 88 keys for a premium stage piano feel and the full expressive range of a piano.

New Creative Features

Scale Mode, Chord Mode, and a built-in arpeggiator make composing, songwriting, and creating beats more intuitive than ever. Backlit RGB pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity, contextual buttons, and a bright new 2.5" LCD screen for real-time feedback make production even more streamlined.

Custom Integration with DAW

Adjust your sound settings, create custom mappings, launch clips and scenes, and navigate any project in real time, all without ever leaving KeyLab Essential's controls.

You're in full control thanks to custom DAW scripts for Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, and Bitwig Studio, with support for more major DAWs planned for the future. Even better, the MCU/HUI protocol means it can support any other workstation in a familiar way, for that satisfying workflow you've always wanted.

Intuitive and Flexible Controls

Keyboard

As comfortable for performing as it is for creating beats in the studio, KeyLab Essential's durable synth-piano hybrid keyboard is smooth and responsive, complemented by familiar Pitch & Mod wheels and Pedal input for sustain, footswitch, or expression.

Screen

Get the essential real-time information you need, from parameter values ​​to the current preset, with a bright 2.5" display, complete with contextual buttons that make navigation effortless.

Pads

Swap between MIDI notes, clip triggering, finger-drumming or whatever you need them to do. KeyLab Essential's velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads are even RGB color-coded, so you can keep track at all times.

Encoders

Get that real hands-on feel and interact with crucial controls right where you need them, from track panoramas to instrument-specific parameters, with full-rotation encoders.

Faders

Adjust your track levels, envelope settings, selected parameters on your Arturia instruments, and more with ultra-smooth faders at your fingertips.

DAW controls

Instantly switch from sculpting your synth sounds to piloting your DAW project with KeyLab Essential's dedicated DAW controls, so you're in control at all times. Its custom integration scripts ensure that even the most crucial controls work flawlessly, whatever DAW you're using.

Complete List of Controls

1 x clickable encoder

9 x rotary encoders

9 x 30mm faders

8 x transport keys

4 x command switches 1 x modulation wheel

1 x pitch-bend wheel

8 x pressure and velocity sensitive pads

Creative Functions

Chord Play

Play rich, full, powerful chords with a single key by selecting from built-in chord presets or entering your own custom chord shapes - great when you need quick inspiration for the next hit.

Scale Mode

Unleash your playing and never go out of key with KeyLab Essential's Scale mode, which quickly locks the keyboard into one of several built-in scales. Never play a wrong note again.

Arpeggiator

Transform chords or note selections into vibrant melodies and rhythmic ideas with a built-in arpeggiator, complete with hold function, so you can play hands-free. You can even use all of these features together; Play and hold a chord with a single key, arpeggiate it, and lock it to a scale of your choice.

Analog Lab Pro Included Software

KeyLab Essential now includes Analog Lab Pro, a library of the best basses, fattest synths, smoothest orchestral sounds, and more, from vintage to modern, powered by V Collection, Augmented Series, and Pigments. KeyLab Essential integrates seamlessly with Analog Lab Pro, offering auto-mapped controls and over 2000 presets.

KeyLab Essential easily adapts to your creative needs; remember your favorite Analog Lab presets, browse your custom playlists, activate custom user programs for your own control assignments, and more.

Turn Analog Lab into a hardware synthesizer and have full control over your sound.

Adjust sound parameters, change effects, and browse presets without ever touching your computer.

Ableton Live Lite

Record, perform, and produce anything with an introduction to one of the hottest DAWs on the market, including instrument presets, drums, effects, MIDI clips, and more. The same sounds, samples and music creation software used by professional producers and your favorite artists are included in KeyLab Essential mk3 as standard. Whatever your style, skill or experience, you'll have everything you need to make your music a reality.

Two Quality Virtual Piano Instruments

The KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 comes with two virtual piano instruments. The UVI Model D is an epic and timeless stage-sized Steinway grand piano, possibly the most iconic piano of all time, sampled in detail to bring your production to life.

Native Instruments The Gentleman is a joyful vintage upright piano recorded from a century-old instrument, to inject charm and intimate character into your mix.

Loopcloud and Melodics Subscription

Included in KeyLab Essential is a 2-month subscription to Loopcloud, featuring millions of high-definition royalty-free samples, from lo-fi drums to vocal one-shots, with 2GB of samples including a welcome pack and a selection specially designed by Arturia. Together with Loopcloud, you can improve your pad and keyboard skills with a Melodics subscription, offering 40 music lessons, tips and tricks that are fun, easy and tailored to your style.

Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 Mk3 specifications:Item Type

USB/MIDI Controller Keyboard
Keyboard: 88 Full-Size Keys with Semi-Weighted Action
Aftertouch: No Aftertouch Support
Number of Pads: 8x Speed ​​and Pressure Sensitive RGB Backlit Pads
Expression Controls
1x Pitch Bend
1x Modulation
Transport Controls: Yes
Screen: 2.5" / 63.5 mm Monochrome LCD
Sequencer: No
Connectivity
Audio I/O: No
Pedal Support
1x Sustain 1/4" TS
MIDI I/O
1x 5-Pin DIN Output
USB I/O
1x USB-B (Class Compliant, Bus Power, Host Connection, MIDI)
Wireless: No
Compatibility
OS compatibility
macOS 10.13 or later (64-Bit Only)
Windows 10 (64-Bit Only)
Included Software
Ableton Live Lite
Mobile App Compatible: No
Power Requirements: USB Bus Power
Physicist
Color: Black or White
Accessories Included: None
Packaging Information
Package Weight
22.04lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
54.25 x 13.25 x 5.25"