Today Arturia announced a new controller keyboard, MicroLab. The 25-key velocity-sensitive MIDI keyboard is portable, with smart design features that you can take anywhere.
Arturia MicroLab Key Features:
- 25 “Slim Key” velocity sensitive keyboard
- Octave, hold, and MIDI channel select buttons
- Capacitive mod and pitch bend strips
- Protective rubberized shell
- 3 color options
- Integrated USB cable storage
- Includes 3 software titles: AnalogLab Lite, UVI Grand Piano Model D, Bitwig Studio 8-Track
What makes MicroLab so unique?
The keys – MicroLab features the same slim-keys as their industry standard KeyStep controller. The keybeds found on the 25 expressive, velocity-sensitive keys on MicroLab “are simply a joy to play,” according to the company. The hold button gives the user instant sustain, and by holding the shift key, the user can access Chord mode, to program in a chord and replay with just one finger.
The features – the rubberized shell protects MicroLab from and bumps and scrapes, and also features a recess that fits the USB cable, to store or pack it more easily. MicroLab also includes capacitive mod and pitch controls that work in the same way that touchscreens do, so the user can swipe through and select presets with a tap. It is also simple to quickly switch MIDI channels via the dedicated knob and numbered keys.
The shape – Because the cable is recessed, you can push it right up against other gear in the studio without cables getting in the way. It’s also the width of the average plane and train tray-table, and the shell stops it from sliding around. The keys are also recessed slightly into the body, nothing sticks out, so there’s nothing to catch when it slips into a backpack.
The software – MicroLab includes 3 software titles for free:
- Analog Lab Lite. Explore 600 presets taken from Arturia’s award-winning V Collection series. Analog and digital synths, classic organs and pianos.
- UVI Grand Piano Model D. A “beautifully sampled” Steinway for you to play using MicroLab’s expressive, velocity sensitive keys.
- Bitwig Studio 8-Track. A powerful and innovative software studio to record, sequence, and mix your tracks. Make music right out of the box.
Pricing and Availability. The MicroLab is now available, with a retail price is 79€/$.
Find more information, product specifications, and other MicroLab features, on the Arturia website.
Cool features and size, but I feel like the price is a little high. Couple of bucks more and I get a keystep, with many more features and a little more room.
Cute, but as others have mentioned it seems a little pricey for what it s. (I expect the price to drop some come Xmas.) You can get the MiniLab MkII for just $20 more, and the Novation LaunchKey Mini is currently just $10 more (and was briefly $70 a month or so ago at B&H).
I think the key (pun not intended) features of the keystep, the ones that made it an ‘industry standard’ are missing in this smaller iteration. For one the aftertouch, the keystep is the smallest and most affordable keyboard on the market featuring aftertouch, which made it a no-brainer for people with smaller setups. Also the integrated sequencer made for instant fun and practical usability.
This is maybe a nice small midi controller, but there are lots of those already on the market, I don’t see any special place for this one.
I do – the thing about this that makes me want it are the pitch and mod strips. Most of the minikey laptop controllers don’t have pitch and mod
Arturia is really a thing about moneymaking. I don’t like them cause their Plugins are uninspired and the “good” synths like Mini, Micro and Matrixbrute are one equal to another, just with a few more knobs and most extreme in the Matrix. That Microfreak thing was a 100% moral failure, most of you know why. Next they do even smaller keys for my key ring with hip pencil attached to a even hipper necklace. That would be sold millions of times, i’m sure about that! Separately of course. Money, money, money…..
I actually thought their plugins were regarded as pretty good, especially the V collection.
Some may think that but what has essentially changed in the past years other than giving new revision numbers? Pigments was a nice try on Wavetables, but compared to other companies Arturia is heavily relying on recycling their TAE-Engine with different GUI’s, marketing and grabbing others ideas like they did with the Microfreak. There are many alternatives to their collection and almost all their synths have free alternatives. Where is the new inspiring synth? In pure numbers their collection is impressive, but personally it leads me nowhere in 2019. Newer VST-Synths can cover almost 80-90% of their collection.
All the Arturia-VST’s have more a categorizing function than giving new sounds and inspiration. U-he did it right with Diva, sound and function-wise. The other “bad” contender is NI who are selling Reaktor-Patches as new ground-breaking synths.The good news are: Many are bored with that and new synths will overcome that inflational “Collection XYZ” thing. I really like it more to spent 4000$ for a Waldorf Quantum, some truly versatile Eurorack-Modules, FX or VST’s, than in a single whatsoever collection. I have a Keystep here. A really good keyboard, but somehow i feel they just want to repeat that success in a too limiting way now. Two octaves are toyish, not musical. Just my way of thinking. 😉
Well this is a really interesting opinion, because I was actually planning to get the v collection on black friday this year. But I do see what you mean. Food for thought.
No! Wrong! Bad arturia! This is not a keystep pro, is is a step in the wrong direction. Go stand in a corner until you get it right.
This product will sell lots of Keysteps.
This MiniKeylab seems aimed at a person who only exists in marketing peoples minds – a person who takes a Keylab to the park or cafe to plug into their Reface, Volka , etc and have a little 60 second jam on Instagram.
Please, music tech companies. Stop catering to this person.
The only useful feature this MiniLab has is a Type B USB connector. Arturia need to be punished in hell for an eternity for putting Micro USB power on the Beatsteps. Micro USB The enemy of the stage.
I always take my Korg NanoKey to my 60-seconds-cafe-jams. Its smaller, has the same features and looks more hipster…
By the way, in all fairness, a usb-only midi keyboard (like the korg nanokey or this mini key lab) can not be used for portable jams, since no mini synth actually has a usb host connector onboard. You will always need a usb to midi converter for that. I think this product is more aimed at people who use their macbooks to produce tunes while on the airplane.
Not sure if my other reply was lost in http or maybe pending approval, so you might read this twice. But I thought it important to note that these mini boards only feature an usb connection (and no midi din). Which makes them unsuitable for mini-jams in the park or the cafe, unless you bring your laptop.
“The keybeds found on the 25 expressive, velocity-sensitive keys on MicroLab ‘are simply a joy to play.'”
According to who? This is a fake quote, right? The Arturia marketing department is trying to pass off trendy marketing-speak as something someone actually said, yes?
it wasn’t even plugged in, my fingers danced over the graceful keys, i experienced pure bliss, and came several times
the worst part of it it’s the guy pretending to play on a 2octaves keyboard with a prophet 6 beside 🙂
Ha ha! I did not mention that. This little Arturia keyboard plays in the same class! 🙂
A step in the wrong direction.
Bloated price – because of the included software bundle – to drag you into the Arturiaverse.
We need a Keystep-2 / Pro.