Keylab Essential mk3 Unboxing and First Impressions

Keylab Essential mk3 Unboxing and First Impressions
Welcome to my Keylab Essential mk3 unboxing and first impressions video! Arturia sent me this MIDI controller with no commitments to even make a video, and I said sure because I'm such a fan of the mk2! In this initial video, we'll try out the new arp and scale features, as well as play on the new drum pads. Next time we'll take a look at how it integrates with Ableton, and I'll let you know if I think it's worth the upgrade! Enjoy the video :)
My favorite gear in one list, courtesy of zZounds.com:
www.zzounds.co...
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
Arturia Keylab Essential 49 mk3: t.ly/nU69
Arturia Microfreak: amzn.to/43krJ2D
Sonicware SmplTrek: sonicware.jp/p...
Zoom Livetrak L-12 (audio recorder): amzn.to/3q3iBRx
Questions? Ask them below!
Support the Channel: / freebeat
Bandcamp: free-beat.band...
Follow me on Instagram: / freethebeat. .
If you enjoy this video, considering subscribing to the channel! It's free, and I upload new content every single day!
All links in this description are Amazon affiliate links, the gear is the same price to you, but I get a small kickback when you use these links! It's an easy way to support the channel at no extra cost.

[@zloboslav_]

Like always I forgot you're a drummer and you blew my mind on the pads! You're so good on those!

[@FreeBeat]

Haha thank you!

[@Hammerman48]

Had my Keylab Essentials 49 for just over a month. Loving it so far.

[@thalaster]

I just bought a keystep 37 a month ago to start learning on and now I want this for better controls using bitwig and it seems like a more complex chord/arp mode. I’ve been teaching myself music theory and piano but my joint issues kind of puts a damper on it. This seems great.

[@FreeBeat]

Nice! Don't abandon the Keystep 37 though, it's an awesome controller! The strum and chord modes are great :)

[@SonicVibe]

Killed the drums love it shows velocity on screen 📺

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah I love that

[@TeleporterM11]

Nice job Arturia. I am buying one just for the new Chord feature and the overall design. I wish it had aftertouch.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@islandtony5009]

Great video thanks! Super curious about something (and I'm a MIDI newbie so sorry if the answer is an obvious one :) - if I use this as a MIDI controller for my stage piano (with weighted keys) to control my piano's organ sounds, will I be able to configure the Keylab's faders to control my piano's drawbar settings, and buttons to control the leslie speaker etc? Thanks so much!

[@lordspam2721]

Been trying to find out if the chord and arp function would work on a synth. Thanks for showing it does!

[@FreeBeat]

Absolutely!

[@dragonmytie]

Novation sl mk3 when I got it was mind-blowing 😊 I can also very recommend that one~ Have fun with the new midi controller😊 Maybe even upgrade to that one if you are looking for even more features

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks!

[@leewightman8619]

Pretty cool first time seeing the keylab Arturia have some really nice looking keyboards are synths

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

I’ve gone all 49 except for when there’s no choice. It really saves on room! As far as any midi controller goes the arterial pro is my favorite. My cobalt 5s and hydra synth explorer are both mini key and you get used to it! The mark 3 looks like hardware wise a clone of the oxygen pro, it’s not set up the same way, but all the same features. Maybe less cost too! The pads going to the harder material is probably ceramic, great for bending and modulation (like the Orba). You’ll get used to it. peace Ty for sharing!

[@FreeBeat]

I really miss that extra octave usually, but now that we have the 88 key Digital Piano out in the living room I don't mind only have 49 in the studio as much haha.

[@razorgarf]

The difference is only 10cm in the length as they've moved pitchbend/modwheel to the top on the 61 keys.

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

I didn’t know that.

[@wiggesobk]

Oh yeah this looks really nice. Especielly for that price point! Great Review.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks! Not a review though, that won't come til later :)

[@Yosser70]

Looks nice but with todays release of Logic for the iPad, I hope we are going to see some dedicated midi controllers. I think Logic is going to be very popular and pick up a lot of users, so the first to market is going to do very well.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah I'm curious to see what folks do with that!

[@Yosser70]

@@FreeBeat Been playing with it all day mate and it’s amazing! Pretty intuitive and absolutely tons of loops, drums, samples, synths and anything else you can think of. Well worth a look even for the free month.

[@Greemfy]

Thanks for the video! I was seconds away from buying the M-Audio Oxygen Pro. How does the keys feel compared to a semi-weighted like the Oxygen Pro? The spec from Arturia says "61-note velocity-sensitive keyboard with hybrid synth-piano feel". Whats up with that?

[@FreeBeat]

I'm honestly not sure, they feel like pretty normal non weighted keyboard keys to me.

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

I have the 49 version of oxygen pro. The key Bed is pretty good, it’s got 16 pads on the opposite side and has chord,scale,arp. The info window is very small, but I’m working on a soloution for that. It doesn’t have near the I/O the Arthurian does, but that doesn’t matter to me thru my iPad. Also no CV or gate which the Arturia has. I only use it for full-size keys like for piano, other wise the Arturia pro is what I use most. If I want to use the Oxygen pro, Obviously, there no way to use the Arturia pro features with the Oxygen Pro (by design I’m sure). It depends what your preferences are! The Arturia MK 3 and the oxygen pro are pretty close all the way around. If you need CV and gate, it’s a hard no. Hope that helped. Peace

[@kissless_518]

How does the keybed feel? Does it still have that mushy feel that the old essentials had or did they give it a bit higher quality feel?

[@FreeBeat]

I can't really feel that much of a difference between them to be honest.

[@ilovecatsandsynths9702]

Looks like a nice controller, especially with an arpeggiator that can be used along with the chord and scale modes. Super cool. But no aftertouch? If the Keysteps can have aftertouch, why not the Keylabs?

[@FreeBeat]

The Keylab Essentials seem to be more about fitting general DAW control into an affordable package, rather than expressive features like aftertouch. The addition of the arp is huge though!

[@Hammerman48]

Ooooh….I wonder if it would be cool to use sticks on the pads?

[@ShanMichaelEscasio]

How i wish arturiw would send me one. Lol. Im poor and a frustrated pianist anf i have always :anted an 88 key keyboard for my classical and other pieces.

[@rahfielbey1481]

I don't see a pitch or mod wheel on this model? I see ads with both wheels though?

[@FreeBeat]

They are both there, just to the left of the low c key.

[@rutwij_beatbox5060]

I bought it and it has delay of sounds. Does every midi keyboard have delay?did ur's have it? If yes then how to fix it?by audio interface?

[@FreeBeat]

What drivers are you using for your audio?

[@rutwij_beatbox5060]

@@FreeBeat there's nothing. That's why I asked if audio interface works or not?I have used the USB-C to USB-A cable given and then laptop connected to speakers.

[@crouge]

I just got my MK2 last week and got pissesd that I missed the new model :( You said the keys feel the same as MK2? In that case it won't worth to change it I guess.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah the seem pretty similar to me

[@armatheos]

what dimension are white and black keys?

[@lancecox8084]

Where is your engagement/Wedding ring?

[@FreeBeat]

We're not married yet! She has an engagement ring, but the wedding isn't until next month.

[@spencewine]

Do you get to keep the mk3?

[@FreeBeat]

If I like it! (which I am so far, DAW integration video coming soon)

[@spencewine]

@@FreeBeat I think you should stop misleading your audience, receiving goods and promoting them on your channel is a payment.

[@FreeBeat]

I literally disclosed that they sent it to me both in the spoken audio and written description of the video. Do you honestly think I'm trying to mislead my audience?

[@spencewine]

@@FreeBeat you said in the first 30 seconds of the video they didn't pay you anything. They did, they gave you a midi controller. Whether you like it or not, that is payment.

[@ak171287]

​@@spencewine Are you jealous that you didn't get one? 😂