Arturia KeyLab Essential 88-88-Key Semi Weighted USB MIDI Keyboard Controller (Black)

I love this keyboard. I use it as a controller keyboard as I learm nore of what it can do natively. I use it to control sounds in Ableton. I love that is full-sized 88 keys. It does a pretty good job with dymamics. It's has a great heavy feel for a keyboard and light feel for a piano. Dymamics are a little unnatural as with any keyboard, but the after touch is useful and pianos can't do that. It has way more features than it should at this price. I would definately buy it again.

I'm just starting to learn piano and play with software synths before I buy any dedicated synth hardware. So I am no expert judge of midi controllers, but the feel is great. Not a hammer action feel, you won't be fooled you're playing a real piano, which is a good thing if you want to play synths, but it's touch sensitivity allows for quite expressive piano playing with a good piano emulation VST or even some Android piano apps.

I have used dozens of 88 key controllers over the decades.. I was reluctant because this one was so inexpensive. But, I was looking for a controller for a single keyboard rig that felt good playing piano parts as well as synth lines. The only thing that has a little kludgey is the editing software. It works well enough after you figure it out.

Affordable and versatile controller. The accompanying Arturia sample package is awesome. 6000 classic and useful sounds. Unless you can’t live without a weighted keyboard, this is the one to have.

It’s a very good Midi controller and it comes with a good bundle of well made VSTs which was the reason I bought it and also one of the reasons I returned it. I was looking for a very good piano VST but the one that comes with the controller is average. It’s decent but doesn’t come close to the sampled VSTs from other companies. The synth sounds however are great so if you’re looking for that I highly recommend it. The playability is good, but the keys sensitivity is a bit weird. The standard setting is too sensitive and I found myself (a heavy handed player) often hitting the strongest notes despite not even diggin in that hard on the keys. You can adjust the settings but I just didn’t find one that worked for me the way I wanted. Also the key-bed doesn’t feel like a piano. It feels like it hits the wood instead of a felt or something softer. I had the Nektar Impact 88 and I bought this one thinking it would be an upgrande, and although for some things it is indeed better than the Nektar, for the things that mattered to me it did worse, so I ended up returning it and keeping my Nektar. If you don’t have an 88 key midi controller and you don’t wanna spend the money on a Native Instruments Kontrol, this is a solid option, especially if you’re more into synths and in-the-box sounds. But I’d recommend you check the Nektar out too and maybe test both before making a decision. If you’re looking for a piano feel and realistic piano sounds though, you’ll have to spend the extra money and go for the 900-1000 dollar range because you just won’t get that at any entry level controller.

I just started to play piano/keyboard and wanted something that was a full 88 keys to learn on but still had extra capabilities that I could grow into as I learn and progress. Additionally, I enjoy listening and playing (also a guitar player) a very wide range of music so I wanted something that wouldn't limit my enjoyment of playing multiple genres. I settled on the KeyLab Essential 88 after a month of research and waiting for it to come in stock on Amazon and it was 100% the right choice. I have been using it every day for a month now and still am finding out new functions and sounds that are a joy to play around with and express my creativity. Keep in mind I was able to purchase it for $350 when it just came out which I would consider an absolute steal based on comparable keyboards in that price range. The only thing I would change is making the keys fully weighted but still, for what you get it's more than worth it in value.

Thought I would give this a shout out. I still use this today as well as the package of ableton live that it came with. Would recommend to anyone looking to get started in composing or sound design.

The keys aren’t fully weighted, but they work amazingly if you’re looking to use them for synths/virtual strings, which is one of the main reasons I got this. The faders are nice and smooth, which I use a bunch for dynamics and articulations. I’ve been using this with Audio Modeling SWAM strings and it’s been perfect. If you’re a piano player, I wouldn’t recommend this as the keys won’t feel completely natural, but otherwise this thing is a steal.

Ce clavier maitre répond à mes attentes, le toucher, la compatibilité avec Live 11. Seul regret c est le support Arturia, une entreprise Française qui banni ça merveilleuse langue de son site Web, allez comprendre..

Hallo Leute Preis Leistung ist Top. NERVIG ist nur die Freischaltung der Software die zum Download bereit liegt..... Es reicht nicht aus die Seriennummer des Gerätes zu schicken nein man muss noch die Unterseite des Keyboards fotografieren um die Software frei zu schalten.... Ansonsten gibt es keine Probleme. TREIBER laden einstecken und los spielen.... TOP Um alle Sounds einmal an zu spielen vergeht schon mal ein ganzer Tag 😉

Non sono un professionista ma la tastiera mi sembra di ottimo livello la prima che avevo acquistato di un altra marca era semplice, ma qui siamo ad un livello superiore .

Todo excelente, solo que no tiene peso en las teclas. Pero esta muy completo y funciona con cualquier DAW su biblioteca de sonido es muy amplia y el piano se siente resistente y los pads y faders se discuten de buena calidad

Good