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The best keyboard controller 61 notes

Thank you very much for your feedback.

I just checked the Arturia site again and watched some videos and it is true that the Keylab Mk2 seems to be a very good choice.

I'm just asking myself a question, this keyboard is already a few years old.

Isn't it going to release a Mk3 version soon?

Not really want to buy a keyboard for more than 500 euros to have it replaced in six months.
 
Hello,

For the moment I have an Arturia essential 61 notes and I am not very happy with it.

Spacing of the keys not regular and which begins to rub when playing on the keyboard.

Could you give me your opinion on a 61 notes master keyboard with excellent keyboard quality feel and design quality.

Being perfectly integrated for Live 11.

I thank you in advance.
Having spent enough time in a music store to try all of the available brands there for a 49 keys (I also tried some 25 keys and 61), as a piano player I went with the M-Audio Oxygen49. All the other keyboards felt like they were fighting back against my fingers. The action was really not allowing me to feel the music I was playing.

If you do a lot of drumming on the keys, it may be useful, not sure. But to play pads and piano libraries, winds, etc, the O49 allows me some great nuances in my playing. And the keys are just the perfect size.

As far as Ableton Live, the Oxygen49 came bundled with a copy of Live Lite. So it most certainly is compatible.


Hope this helps,

Andre
 
"
Isn't it going to release a Mk3 version soon?
Not really want to buy a keyboard for more than 500 euros to have it replaced in six months."

Ok, lets look at that...

Arturia tend to release new models very slowly.
Covid has massively impacted sales, everybody is offering good deals on software, to trty to get some revenue.
Therefore I can't believe that any manufcurer is going to release what will be a minotr tweak of a well-regarded device, anytime soon. A keylab mini is more likely.
I reckon 3 years before any manuffacturer will even think about new models. Sales would have to recover after Covid, and that won't be rapid.

So all in all, don't worry. You'll be buying a longlasting quality chassis, and a superb keybed, all the rest is icing on the cake anyway...
 
Thank you very much for your feedback and your analysis on a new Mk3.

I'm going to take a look at the Oxygen, thanks, I already had a master keyboard from home and they had a 61 note Axiom pro and was quite happy with it.

But the Keylab Mk2 keeps my attention more and more
 
The Keylab 61mk2 has an excellent synth action and infinitely superior to the Keylab essential (they are in two different universes) and even the S61. I work at a music store in keyboards and have tried both extensively with orchestral VIs
This thread came at a perfect time. I was just about to pull the trigger on the Keylab MKII 49...so it's really that much better? Than say the NI S49? because the price for the NI is ridiculous...wasn't even a consideration TBH...but I do like the Arturia. Any other 49 key controller you can recommend before I buy the Arturia? THanks.
 
I always liked the keybed of the S61 the most. I worked at a music store for many years and had lots of pianos bellow my fingers, the s61 was always my favorite (none-hammer weighted). The S61 comes with lots of functions I don’t need and use which is a little sad. But I even was in contact with Fatar, to find out if there is any other keyboard having the same keybed out there. For the moment (1 year ago)? Nope.

But hey, that’s just taste - I also sold many other keybeds that where just fine for the people. In the end it’s an instrument and a very unique and subjective desicion to make. We all have different backgrounds. Some are newbies to keybeds, some are experienced with heavy GP keybed stuff, others played the usual upright at home. So you should really get them under your fingers, if you’re considering being it your main instrument.
 
I have the Keylab Essentials 88 by Arturia, and the response is decent. Definitely a keyboard that will keep me satisfied for a while since a better response with less or more on board faders seems to cost nearly twice as much (from $350 to $700-1000). I don't seem to have any layout problems as everything seems very even and nice looking. I do lose some MIDI data every now and then so I'm thinking of getting the power adapter and sending the MIDI through my pre-amp to see if that works more fluidly. Even if it doesn't, I'd rather have it all going through the same box instead of taking up another USB slot.
 
I have the Keylab Essentials 88 by Arturia, and the response is decent. Definitely a keyboard that will keep me satisfied for a while since a better response with less or more on board faders seems to cost nearly twice as much (from $350 to $700-1000). I don't seem to have any layout problems as everything seems very even and nice looking. I do lose some MIDI data every now and then so I'm thinking of getting the power adapter and sending the MIDI through my pre-amp to see if that works more fluidly. Even if it doesn't, I'd rather have it all going through the same box instead of taking up another USB slot.
So the 88 Essential has semi-weighted keys rather than the synth style keys of the other Essential models? Interesting...had the Essential 49 had semi-weighted keys, I may have gone for that ...but I got the MKII 49...can't wait, comes Thursday :)
 
So the 88 Essential has semi-weighted keys rather than the synth style keys of the other Essential models? Interesting...had the Essential 49 had semi-weighted keys, I may have gone for that ...but I got the MKII 49...can't wait, comes Thursday :)
I'm not too familiar with what a synth response should feel like, but the 88 definitely feels like a keyboard. I would love a fully weighted or hammer action keyboard (because real pianos just feel awesome). I hope the MKII feels awesome :D the extra pads and all that are fun to mess with. I guess another note is aftertouch, the Essentials don't have aftertouch and your MKII will :)
 
I'm not too familiar with what a synth response should feel like, but the 88 definitely feels like a keyboard. I would love a fully weighted or hammer action keyboard (because real pianos just feel awesome). I hope the MKII feels awesome :D the extra pads and all that are fun to mess with. I guess another note is aftertouch, the Essentials don't have aftertouch and your MKII will :)
I have the M Audio Hammer 88 for my weighted action, so i don't really miss anything. I got the MKII because I really like a premium keybed feel...I've been around synths and keyboards for well over 30 years now...played them all, so was time for something decent. I have been using a Korg Microkey 37...due to space limitations, it fit the bill AND it has a surprisingly good feel...nice resistance to the keys, plus a mod and pitch wheel + sustain pedal. But now space isn't such a concern, and wanted to upgrade.

Difference between semi-weighted and synth style, is that semi-weighted has a bit of a "weight" similar to what a hammer action would feel like...usually also has actual weights inside. Synth keys are meant for fast unobtrusive playing...usually with springs and some resistance inside. Think Moog synths. The quality between keybeds will differ greatly. Compare a cheap Casio $150 keyboard to an NI S61 and you can instantly get an idea of the vast differences that the same type of keybeds have. I haven't tried the keylab MKII, but apparently it's their flagship keybed...and got rave reviews...so I went for it. The NI S series was a consideration but are ridiculously priced, and since I don't use the Komplete Kontrol features, it's not worth it. However...I would have gone for the 88 key version even at $1000, because it does feel pretty nice.

I am looking forward to the after touch...never had a keyboard with it, so curious to how it will integrate with the usual Vi's we all have for orchestral programming. If I can assign vibrato control to it, that would be fantastic!
 
I suspect the business model behind some of those keyboards is to sell the software.

You could look at Roland MIDI controllers.

https://www.roland.com/ca/products/a-800pro/
But I think they will do the same thing as a controller from a company that integrates it with their software. The only difference is you won't get the close integration anymore.
i like the looks of the A-800 Pro - wish i would have done more research before i bought the T6.
 
Thanks for your feedback.

The NI S61 mk2 is, according to no users, a really excellent keyboard and a seemingly exceptional keyboard feel.

Regarding the NI, I hesitate for two reasons.

The first, will there not be a version 3 very soon?

In addition, a slight off topic, if like the Maschine Mikro mk3, not compatible with Live 11 and still no update to make Maschine compatible.

So a little suspicious of NI.

the second reason

I use Massive and I plan to take the X version. I have Pigments 3 and soon Dune 3 (Nks) Serum and Sylenth 1 (not Nks).

Apart from that but other Vst not Nks, so is it relevant to take an S61 Mk2 in this case?
Key points about the NI/Izotope merger/taleover/whatever.

I can't see the new strip-mining private equity parasites wasting money on developing new hardware. Can't even see them making the KK and K GUIs 'retina' scalable.

What both NI and iZ will do and are doing since BF, is an endless stream of buyitnow clickbait gamified special price timelimited money grabbing, back catalogue-milking offers like the current Cremona. Don't get me wrong, I use K everyday, and I have K13U, I just hate the Gordon Geckos.

Also the keybed in the Arturia 'inessential' [aka Pro] is a Fatar and is very good, some say.
 
Im surprised that no one has mentioned the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 61. Anyone have thoughts on that?
I've had two M-A kb, and they suffer from manufacturing defects nd un updated software. Hence the Search for THe Bindle of Doom, to make the much touted 'DirectLink' to work, which it does, just, on my M-Audio Axiom61 mk2. My next MacOS update will kill it. My Oxygen mk2 [or 3?] stopped working - it goes to sleep at random. $2 capacitor I 'm told, easy soldering job. So - Russian Roulette. M-A is own by another 'Engulf and Devour': the infamous InMusic group. They own Sonivox and AIR. And have only done maintenance updates on them since the mid 50s.

And yes, it's about selling software. Like Gillette razors - same business model.

For now, Arturia and V collection are not in the hands of Wall St, but they will be.

Checkout https://www.gloomcast.com (www.gloomcast.com) my cheery mindfulness blog.
 
that's what was happing with my Hammer 88 Pro.
It's likely to be a blown capacitor or similar. InMusic inc., scrimping on the components bill to make a bit more profit. Do you have handy friends who can do soldering n stuff?

When I googled it a few years ago I found a webpage by an electronics guy, or was it a youtube, showing how easy it is to replace the capacitor with a slightly better one for a couple of quid. You can spot a bulging capacitor easily. Note the spec printed on it and get a beefier one.

A job for a handy person with some basic understanding of electronics. Maybe you can do that?

Good luck.
 
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