KeyLab MkII Tutorials : Ep. 1 - Discovering your KeyLab MkII

In the first episode of the series, Andrea introduces you to the features found on the top panel, the huge connectivity available, and demonstrates the chord modes found in KeyLab MkII.
Link to the ressources : www.arturia.com/products/keyl...

[@blogwiser]

I bought this for myself as a birthday gift earlier this month. As one who began this exploration into MIDI in the late '80s with my brother, and has learned to thrive in this ever-growing virtual world, I can say without hesitation that this product got the feels big time. Combined with my Arturia Keystep for sequencing, this machine is light years beyond the Behringer Motor 61 (though I still love the rest of my Beh gear) I've been using for years now and only compares in my mind to my Brother's Ensoniq on which I began my journey. I cannot more highly recommend this solid piece of MIDI gear to anyone that wants to experience this limitless realm.

[@ArturiaOfficial]

Thank you for your message Dana, have fun :)

[@federicofabregat6635]

Great tutorial. Your voice is great. Very calm and precise. That's refreshing. Congratulations!

[@Marcus_Sylvester]

Very happy to have access to your tutorials. A lot of useful information here. This is much appreciated. After watching and reading many reviews, I am looking forward to get my KeyLab MkII 88. But I am a complete newbie to MIDI keyboards. After watching your 1st tutorial, I see that I will have a lot of things to learn... I will have to watch the tutorial quite a few time with the KeyLab MkII manual handy... 😊

[@richholoch8230]

Thank you for a great series.

[@MrRichard1280]

That was great; especially, the clear explanation of the different chord modes. Much easier to watch it demonstrated than to read the manual.

[@cap706]

Awesome controller! I had this & the KK S61 MK2 and decided to keep this one. Needs 3 things IMO - arpeggiator is a must have, drum pads are in opposite order of nearly every drum machine on market (16 pad drum pads start with 1 at the bottom left, not top left - forces finger drummers to relearn their playing or reprogram their drums), breath control slider. Oh, & I guess everyone is excited about light guides & color screens now, so may add that also.

[@stevenkilili9682]

Thanks for the tutorial, very well presented!

[@ocnb]

Got a 61key MKII and Beatstep Pro this week - absolutely amazing with V Collection and pretty much everything else too! Got a nice weekend of experimenting ahead 🤗🤗

[@davidrotter3862]

Coincidentally, I also bought this for myself last month as a Birthday present. I am just getting started and I love every single part of this Keyboard. I have the full version of Analog Lab V collection 8 and I couldn’t see myself using any other midi controller, including the 88 key version of this Keyboard. Most of the VIs in Analog Lab are synthesizers or other Keyboards which did not have weighted keys when they were released. Also, these other Keyboards had limited octaves and this is true for all Organs, Mellotron, and Synthesizers. For Piano sounds, including Electric Piano sounds, one needs weighted keys. For these sounds, I recommend getting a high quality Digital Piano that has USB and Midi/In/Out jacks. This way, one can take full advantage of the Piano V2 software that comes with this Keyboard controller as a download. Sure, you could simply get the 88 Key version of this Keyboard but it will never feel right for anything other than Piano type sounds. This is a fact of modern Keyboard music, not supposition. Lastly I have read some rather disturbing things about the action on the 88 key version of this. I was dead set on buying the 88 key version of this Keyboard, but I had already obtained the full version of Analog Lab V collection 8 and with that being the only VIs that I have, I felt the 61 Key version of this controller is the best fit. I already own a great Digital Piano, so when it comes time to really investigate the Piano and Electric Piano sounds in Analog Lab V, I will use that as my midi controller. The keys on this controller are “full size synthesizer keys” not full size Piano keys so that is or can be a deciding factor for some. If you’re in the market for a versatile, intuitive, quality midi controller, look no further than the Arturia Keylab 61!

[@neon_one]

Ok I'm glad this is an arturia video. I was thinking corporate sucking up in reviews has gotten really out of hand. Though it has

[@SpeccyMan]

It's almost as bad as people using the word gotten instead of the word become.

[@neon_one]

​@@SpeccyMan what's wrong with gotten out of hand? it's at least an expression.

[@AgriAutoIndia]

Awesome product 👌

[@Bigglesx1]

Get one today , feels realy nice sturdy not a plastic toy, key's are very responsive. Have set it up with reaper and works flawless no problems at all. I'm verry glad that I chose this one.

[@tcr333]

Can you setup independent key zones to play different vst simultaneously?

[@KrishnanR26]

@@tcr333 hey even I'm looking for a solution to this same query. Any updates? Cheers

[@tcr333]

@@KrishnanR26 what sequencer do you use. You can do it with in built midi plugins in cubase

[@parasphere]

Just purchased the 49 key version, love it! I prefer this one to the 61 version since the 49 one has the pitchbend and modwheel located to the left of the keybed instead of above the keybed to the left. Such a high-quality instrument, the aluminium construction is epic, and I’m not sure if the modwheel and pitchbend are of the same material, but they are some sort of metal and feel very cold/luxurious :) My Acess Virus TI2 Polar feels envious with its plastic modwheel/pitchbend. They fit nicely together with the white color scheme. Oh and the Las Vegas mode is awesome :D blinking/pulsing delight!

[@METALOZON]

I actually hate when the two wheels are placed next to the keyboard, ruining the center of the keys/the playing position. Also that encourages screwing around with the wheels instead of playing the keyboard like an instrument. If the keyboard has 2, or 3 octave length, then the wheels can be placed next to keys, since you gonna be playing with one hand anyway.

[@rios_5314]

How is the keybed action?

[@arima44]

best tutorial!

[@AlOne-xg6dv]

I just bought the KeyLab 61 MKii and i can't wait to receive it ... It will replace my KeyStep 37 which i really like, but i need more keys, a good keybed and others functions for the daw and plugins.

[@ricks2907]

You’re awesome thanks Ricky 💃🕺🏼🎶🎶🐈‍⬛🎸💥🍷

[@carlbedford7298]

I'm really thinking of a purchase but split between this and the NovationSL Mk111, As there is no built-in Sequencer with this keylab is it possible to connect my Keystep pro and use as a built-in sequencer? Thanks

[@rocapriori7000]

I love ou!!!

[@richieringga]

Hi .. thanks for the great video.. quite informative. I interest to have this arturia MIDI controller. Question, in multilayers, can we assign the faders to control each sound layer? Is this type of arturia good enough for live band stage performance?

[@OttomanBeats]

is the way you transposed by both hitting the transpose key and the keybed keys the only way of transposing by semitone up or down?

[@eduosan]

Hello , the operation of different virtual synthesizers vst is optimal? playing drums with the pads are soft to the touch? Because the pads of my fantom x8 are very hard and the whole keyboard shakes, finally, do the keys that you have on your arturia mk2 feel resistant?

[@emilyschmanks]

neat!

[@Imzadi007]

Andrea

[@nicolascordobacoy5887]

Gracias

[@benjaminkoskinen5835]

This is a thing of beauty 👌🏼 Gonna have this one day 👐🏼

[@jamesdean3548]

Did you get it yet?

[@benjaminkoskinen5835]

@@jamesdean3548 not yet. Did pivit into guitar playing instead. This is still tho a very solid keyboard for any studio ambition 👐🏼

[@mikeferguson4816]

you're killing me with the M...K...Two. Mark 2...c'mon! 😁

[@chuckh6682]

Came here to say the same thing. Thank you!!!

[@WycliffStudios]

Can we make Splits and Layers on The Arturia Keylab Essential / MK2 @Arturia ?

[@mope7647]

Compliment for your tutorial. Synthetic but exhaustive, well divided the explanation. Allow me to ask you a few questions. Answer me as the 88 keylab mkii model arrives today. 1) can I use it simultaneously with analoglab by audio card on mac and with power supply to connect it to the network, using midi out to in expander viscount organ legend? 2) I have a lot of equipment to control, would it be better to buy a device with 2 midi in and 4/5 out midi? 3) I have this configuration: imac retina, 192/6 m-audio card, a korg 4x 76 keys, an m-audio oxigen 49, an expander ketron sd2, (enough audio outputs with mixer), expander viscount legend, the 88 mkii coming today . I know the midi falls out, in, thru. But I have doubts as to be able to drive everything with the arturia as master, the korg 4x could be a second master, the m-audio oxygen 49 controller. I am sure of an urgent technical and professional suggestion and the possible configurations. Regard. Modesto

[@vitmedia]

I adore my MkII 49 and use it daily. The one single feature I wish it had was a scale mode like on the new Essential MkIII. I wonder if that could be a firmware upgrade for the MkII?

[@GeneralDrunkenStumblefuk]

3 minutes mark in question; can keys be assignable as well or only pads controls and knobs?

[@simonlegrec]

Top Gear

[@Gonzalez1578]

Fantastic so keen to use this oh wait the prodct cannot be registered with my new hardware... fantastic.

[@rajkamaljangir3618]

Hello sir, i recently purchased arturia keylab 61 mk2, which cable do i need to connect it with MacBook Pro's thunderbolt 4 port ? A usb type b to type a cable included with arturia.

[@SpeccyMan]

This is a USB MIDI controller keyboard so you connect it to a standard USB port, hence the cable supplied.

[@MauandRocky]

How do you get the arturia keylab 61 mk11 to do the light up feature when you turn it on, but when you don't use the arturia for a bit? 3:36

[@hodshonf]

bought the 49 until the 61 comes in. VERY impressed.

[@DepressedCapitalist]

Dear Arturia, would you please explain how to connect the ground loop filter included with the keylab Mk2? Thanks

[@SpeccyMan]

Can the preset browser also be used with Arturia's other soft synths like the excellent Pigments?

[@Fuaaaark]

Does the Keylab mk2 have scale mode ? Like you pick the key of the song and it gives you the notes in the scale?

[@ArturiaOfficial]

No it doesn't have this feature, bu it's a great idea, I'll share your thoughts with our product team. Cheers!

[@blogwiser]

I use Scaler2 plugin for that purpose. Par excellence.

[@TadasMelody]

Hi. Can you convert cv to midi, and use it as a second midi output?

[@dukinspetit-homme1192]

How do you get the pads on the keyboard to light up randomly while you aren’t doing anything? Please answer. Thanks...?????

[@bobcatt2294]

At 3:06 you say the large knob is dedicated to ... there is no mention that this scroll know is all assignable for CC. This means you can use the scroll knob as a scrub controller for your tracks within the DAW.

[@freddierodriguez3036]

😍

[@bilcifer666]

what is a user midi channel, like when you hold the midi key and hit a the number key to go to said channel. does that just switch between instruments in the daw ?

[@SomebodyPickaName]

That's one of the things it does, yes. Like if you had an instrument track with Kontakt in your project, with a few instruments inside Kontakt with each one on their own midi channel, you could toggle between them from the keyboard. Or if you had different midi devices assigned to different midi channels, you could determine which one you were playing/controlling based on the midi channel that the keyboard is set to. A real world example is the Roland MV-1 that has 8 tracks, where you want to play the sounds on each track from an external midi keyboard. In order to switch over from playing sounds on track 1 to the sounds on track 4, for example, you would have to switch the midi channel on this keyboard from channel 1 to channel 4.

[@markeric1337]

is the hammer-action better than the Fatar action in the older model? The fatar was magnificent, other keyboards made a little thump sound that my neighbors complained about at night, when I write.

[@donmyers2967]

Are those Acoustats in the back behind the Grtetsch kit?

[@Tigerex966]

Oh no, they took away breath control and it still has no sequencer. But it is still one of the best out there.

[@brianleechee]

Hello! Thank you for the valuable information! I am new to midi, but I play some piano and I'd love to purchase this quality device and not have to worry about upgrading for.... the rest of my life haha! One question. Once you've opened your DAW, and opened your VST, how do you route the Arturia to be audible? Can it be heard through a pair of monitors or headphones or does the sound come from the computer itself? I know sound doesnt come from the controller itself. Thank you!

[@carlhil2]

Hook to computer>open software>choose your sound card(I use several Dacs with monitors/headphones)>enjoy...

[@annaschlager1390]

and if isnt connected to an computer?@@carlhil2

[@kuljeetbhatia9460]

How to map buttons below faders to channel rack, so that once I press it change from vst to vst

[@ConfidenZeTheHumanTorch]

@aturia Can we get a fl20 integration on the next firmware update PLEASE! 🙏🏼 I don't use Ableton you guys could also make some money selling the fl20 button label pad for the new update

[@irenkadeleon]

Hiiiii noob question but what are the Aux Out ports for ? With a power supply, is the sound supposed to work or do I need to get another device

[@ArturiaOfficial]

Hi, these outputs are made for modulation pedals and devices, the sound won't come from these ports but from your computer/audio interface. I hope it helps!

[@unable]

Is this a song from the Silent Hill Soundtrack in the background? Amazing

[@hellodumplings8564]

unable hahaha, are you stupid?

[@GeomarMendez-qh9ev]

Hello, excellent Arturia keylab 61 mkii controller keyboard although I think it already needs an update in 2024. I would add an additional octave (76 keys) waterfall design with a better feel or equal to the drl Essential 88 mkiii, I would also add a larger comfortable screen. Be careful, without sacrificing the aftertouch... Regards

[@shivamurthicnaik9252]

super

[@tintiny3910]

Is there a way to make faders to soft take over in logic? Tried changing mode to relative under controller assignments in logic with no luck. Track volumes just keep jumping without me even touching the faders which make it unusable...

[@ArturiaOfficial]

Hi, I suggest you to get in touch with our support team with this link: www.arturia.com/support/askforhelp I’m sure they will be able to help you :) Best regards.

[@a.w4846]

Such a beautiful master keyboard this is, given its price though I find it unbelievable that there is no arpeggiator or at least a sequencer. They put it in the cheap keystep but in none of their more expensive lines. Extra frustrating since keystep only has 32 keys (release a 49 key version please). I bought the Keylab Essential 49 but I miss an arpeggiator so much, that I begin to consider another keyboard from another "A" brand, but I hope Arturia will repair this mistake and at least let us have a 49 key version of Keystep. Arpeggiator and sequencer should be standard on a $450+ midi controller.

[@hiqwertyhi]

you can do that in software though eh? there are a ton of arpeggiators for logic's scripting engine and I'm sure ableton et al have options too?

[@axel-uc3ps]

@@hiqwertyhi Evidence

[@RoiMichaelPotter]

Can anyone tell me if the modwheels’ midi CC parameters can be changed? Say if I wanted to assign the pitch wheel to be expression.. I apologize if this question was already answered

[@oliver.cerezo]

Arturia has a software tool called MIDI Control Center where you can customize basically every button on the Keylab including the wheels

[@JamesRoneyMusic]

👉 The New Arturia Keylab 88 MKIII is now out. Trying to find a review on it.

[@thekeysman1]

even having problems with email or saying it already exists, or password problems, does this controller need Drivers for it to register on my IMAC?? it shows nothing when connected.

[@23style]

Try turning the knobs really slowly while controlling analog lab

[@senpaidnb6145]

Does it have scale mode similar with NI keyboard??

[@alpine10]

I just got the keylab 49 mk ii, but the knobs are really jumpy. A quick look online and lots of people having the exact same promblem and arturia have offered no solution. Recording smotth automation is impossible. any ideas?

[@jadonx]

I had one knob that was jumpy. I removed the knob and lightly sprayed with a specialist contact cleaner from Halfords which fixed it :)

[@judethree4405]

Does the aftertouch compare in expressivity to the hydrasynth? This means each key has its own assigned aftertouch not affecting other simultaneous key presses and that it is sensitive to allow for multiple gradual pressure to maximal pressure ranges?

[@dishankification]

All in all yes. I'm a keyboardist the aftertouch is perfect + you can always customize it to your style of playing

[@DrawAndErase]

@@dishankification Do you know how to make the aftertouch effect the modwheel? I'm not sure what it does out of the box but I'm not sure how to change what the aftertouch is assigned to...

[@evenaicantfigurethisout]

Is the hammer action graduated?

[@shashanktandon3701]

Please tell me how to reset to default in midi control center for keylab mk2 61

[@nature_guy]

Can't seem to get the midi working right.. I am using live it seems a few of the keys have no sound. On the controller I have it set to Live, in preferences I have it set to Keylab MkII with surface. But I find all the keys work only when I set the surface to just keylab. The other thing I notice the auto mapping of all the controls does not exactly happen with Live as the DAW. None of the knobs and sliders work with live. I thought abelton live and the Keylab MkII were compatible automatically. Hmmm.

[@axel-uc3ps]

You need to go to preferences with ableton and notice you are using arturia

[@satyabratasatapathy6615]

I already have keylab mk2 , but i have a doubt does it support midi 2.0

[@victoroquendo2525]

Any suggestions on where to find power supply for the Essential 49?

[@Hebininja]

You can use the included USB noise suppressor and give power through a regular USB Charger

[@user-ey2dd5bv1r]

KeyLab MkII daw 연결 해야만 스피커 소리가 나오는 건가요?

[@fjk1138]

She's the cutest. Oh yeah, the info and video was great also!

[@detxince7253]

Ilove Indra

[@twkbtw]

if you compare its keys and velocity with MiniLab MkII or Essential 61 how they are different from each others? Or are they same?

[@josuepaz9767]

Keybed, the mk2 88 is the real deal The others feel like a toy

[@twkbtw]

@@josuepaz9767 Thank you for your answer.

[@zemarceloalencar6716]

Hello everyone! Can someone help out? I just got a MKII 61 keys and is just amazing but the sales here in Brazil didn't sent me the overlays and said that is not included anymore. Is that true? How could figure it out the control for each DAW?

[@ArturiaOfficial]

Hi! I suggest you to get in touch with our support team with this link: www.arturia.com/support/askforhelp I’m sure they will be able to help you :) Best regards.

[@crazymusiclady]

Could you please explain what MCU/HUI stands for? Thank you!

[@donmyers2967]

And do you do a review of the 88Key MKII? Wondering about the request for an arpeggiator function and the pitch bend/mod wheel to be to the side vs above the keybed on the 88.

[@nomad1517]

I'm surprised they never added a quantize function. Especially for live.

[@Mustafa-ri7gz]

Height 5cm buttons included?

[@mixc8]

How does this work with Native Instruments plugins? I know it will work will will Arturia software.

[@TeleporterM11]

Does anyone know if it has chord mode like the M-Audio Oxygen Pro.

[@TokeStorm420]

Yes, indeed it does.👍

[@donniedickman6761]

I wish they could come up with a fix for the stuck on notes that happen consistently when you do a palm slides …..only on black keys. It’s a nice controller except for this problem.

[@HonorV2ultimate1tb]

is there an Auto OFf feature in Arturia keylab 88 mk 2?......becos it keeps shutting down the audio after about an hour of play.......am set up wth Minifuse 4.......my computer runs fine wth other audio setups...... had to reboot to vet Arturia back to normal.... these are the drawbacks to Not buying Arturia

[@ToniusPlays]

Almost buying...

[@Zeisslermusic]

I Got my today 🇩🇰😉

[@JonRayRunawayVealMusic]

And how’s the integration with a popular daw like LOGIC ? You can or can’t control plugins ???? Thank you

[@chuckh6682]

Logic integration is actually quite good, and there are many YT videos on precisely this topic.

[@emmadeshabo9819]

My MIDI controller always stop communicating when it's idle, please advise on solution. I realized many users have the same issue on the internet

[@BurgessBoyExperiencePublishing]

anyone know who sells laptop plate attachment for this. can't find anywhere

[@juanlash]

can you use the DC power input to power up the device and not eat the computer battery?

[@ArturiaOfficial]

Yes you can!

[@scotteepunk]

Does this keyboard have ARP?

[@dagalost1949]

I'M ABOUT TO RETURN IT. THE PADS HAVE SOME ISSUES. WHEN YOU PRESS ONE, 3 OF THEM PLAY AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE BEEN USING ALL KIND OF MIDI CONTROLLER FOR 4 YEARS.

[@michaos1]

This is the most beautiful MIDI keyboard on the market and well-built, I want one! Please tell more about the key quality and key actions, this is a selling point for a MIDI controller, at least to me. I care much less about random features, like a chord function than about the key quality. I heard it has a super-quality keybed (the same model as in a high-end Arturia Matrix Brute synth). Just being curious, does anybody need/use a chord trigger feature? It's strange to have it, but okay! It'd be better to have a sequencer instead, esp. when connecting to real synths. But either of that is available in any DAW anyway if you connect to a computer (and a sequencer is a part of most Arturia soft synths). Is it convenient to have Mod and pitch wheels above the keyboard? Every keyboard player is used to having them to the left (yes, with 61 keyboards too). I know, it's an engineering compromise to keep the sturdy layout between 48/61, but is it convenient to users? I think, probably not. After all, it's natural for pianists to reach left or right without even looking at the instrument. Reaching left-top involves another muscles and requires more attention (and there're another buttons in the way that can be accidentally pressed, e.g. MIDI channel or pads). I also think that knobs in a 61 version are too far away from the center of the keyboard (under the play or record key). When playing something in C3-B3 (first octave) with your right hand, tweaking parameters may be problematic with your left hand. Outside of Keylab's interface, I think knob placement over the faders isn't a great placement too. @Arturia, split point seems hard to set. It should be like: press a button, then press a key on your keyboard - bam, that's it, without fiddling with a super knob. It'd be nice to have multiple zones (it's tempting to separate 5 octaves into 3 instruments, plus drums on pads). Most concerns are about usability and controls layout. No concerns about the look, quality and feature set whatsoever. In conclusion to this long-ass comment I must point out that Arturia Keylab is outstanding! No other keyboard is equipped with that.

[@michaos1]

Sounds like it, right? Being an Arturia's fan, I'm still practicing for the moment when they want to pay me:) They make sleek products, whether software or hardware. VST are usually ugly (like Spectrasonics, even if it sounds great). Despite the design, I actually liked the layout of the previous gen more.

[@michaos1]

Points are: look, quality, key action, plugins. I do not own this particular keyboard. 88 keylab is what I ended up with (Fatar keybed). If I were to choose 61 keyboard, it would've been this keyb for sure.

[@bhaskarville]

Mine came in yesterday and I cannot get it to power on. Can somebody please help?

[@ArturiaOfficial]

Hi! I suggest you get in touch with our support team with this link: www.arturia.com/support/askforhelp I’m sure they will help you :)

[@SomebodyPickaName]

Fun fact: If you go to 6:03 and then wait for about a second, you'll see that her rings change.

[@bradleysmith4409]

I own the KeyLab MKll 49, and I want to ask 2 questions please: 1. Regarding using the pads with Ableton Live: Where in the manual can I find specific directions, and explanations in DAW mode, where I get my mapping? I'm having trouble getting the pads to map to an Ableton drum machine. 2. Is there a "factory reset", or a clear all previous "command option with the MKll?

[@evenaicantfigurethisout]

Which version of the fatar tp/100lr does this utilize? The 2-sensor or the 3-sensor model?

[@MichalSada]

Hello, does it have build-in arpeggiator, please?

[@ArturiaOfficial]

Hi Michal, no it doesn't!

[@TouchToneDSG]

I can't find my registration where would it be

[@Bigglesx1]

There are some small folders in the box its printed in there.

[@TouchToneDSG]

herman D I looked in the box for info and none was there I'll look again thanks for the response

[@perryraymond3431]

I have a chrome book its saying i cant download the software?

[@jewelthompson4210]

Why can't I hold down chords without the sound of the chords fading out? :-(

[@chuckh6682]

Sustain?

[@shashanktandon3321]

Does this keyboard recognize in Mac Os Catalina?

[@FernandoDCDuarte]

Shashank Tandon it does now

[@Perkeroy]

yes

[@user-fp3uy3cl9o]

Can you add russian subtitles to your tutorials about KeyLab MkII, please? It will be awesome!

[@Gesha45]

Включите перевод субтитров

[@stevehollywood]

been trying to get support to help me yet no response... i also read that you will no longer update firmware for this fairly new midi controller what gives arturia?

[@Steger13]

is it very complicate to learn it? you like it or you thinking an other one would be better?

[@stevehollywood]

@@Steger13 I love it i'm not gonna lie. Just upset to hear online anyways that they were not going to support them with firmware any longer. Still no confirmation from Arturia on this matter. Also my Sustain pedal doesn't work which is a bit of a let down. Trying to get it working with Arturia Tech support as we speak.

[@ArturiaOfficial]

@@stevehollywood Hi Steve, if you follow our support team's advice, I'm sure you'll find a way to use your instrument as you wish. And I didn't hear anyone at Arturia saying we won't update KeyLab MkII. I hope it helps. Best regards.