Arturia KeyLab 61

I was looking for a midi keyboard for the live to fly synth, organ, samples ... (connected to a laptop)

UTILIZATION

The lab manual for Analog (preset bank) is sufficient. The section on keylab control center and the south is insufficient in my opinion.

Some buttons were badly clipped, it's not very serious, you must press it a good shot!

Regarding the number of fader, knob, pads ... that's really what I wanted. Everything is adjustable and recordable.

Touch of semi weighted keyboard is not very good, less good than conventional synthetic (type Roland, Korg ...), suddenly to be used as such, it is not ideal. The feeling is strange, it looks like a little toy. Disappointed upon receipt.

The lab is analog, it is fixed presets, some pre-determined parameters are adjustable but can not necessarily do what you want. For me, this app would sense with V Collection.

Then a button is almost "broken" after two days, certainly linked to a game a little support (organ type slipped ...).

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 days, I will either change or get it repaired but I am disappointed. It's a shame because the rest of the construction is good! very solid case, the type wood edges, everything is very heavy and everything is adjustable and recordable priori ideal for live ... but the keyboard is not up to par.

I think this is not a "pro" keyboard more for the home studio to play "nicely" (this is not for "type" too hard on!

For the price, it's still good, it is true that it is not very expensive and it is provided with the analog lab.

The keyLab 61 is a "hybrid" synth, ie that the system is composed of a master keyboard and a synth (or group of synths) software which necessarily requires the presence of a nearby computer.

Next synth software, KeyLab 61 comes with Analog Lab, a sort of studio full of vintage synths dream presets including 5000 Minimoog V, MoogModular V, CS-80V, ARP 2600 V, Jupiter-8V, Prophet 5, Prophet VS, Oberheim SEM V and Wurlitzer V.

Keyboard side, he is a master keyboard to 61 keys "semi-weighted" (in fact, there is a small metal plate glued under each key, but it's still light), with velocity and aftertouch, with 16 pads velocity and backlight, 9 faders, 10 rotary encoders divided into 2 banks (20 functions), 6 transport buttons, rotary encoders 2 and 3 buttons to navigate AnalogLab, volume buttons, pitch, modulation, choosing octave.
Back, USB, MIDI in and out, jacks for expression and sustain pedal, power supply input for a "No USB" (PSU not included) use.

In terms of use, with AnalogLab, everything is pre-chewed level assignments. Faders play on envelopes, Encoders vary filters, and dedicated encoders allow easy navigation through preset banks.

Software for use as a VSTi, no worries with DAWs, everything is fully functional.

UTILIZATION

Semi weighted keys are light, otherwise RAS. The LCD screen allows easy configuration. Provided software also allows you to choose many parameters (channel function and pads, keyboard channel, ...).
The printed manual is very thick and may seem an indigestible hair, but there is everything about everything, a real small gasworks.

OVERALL OPINION

6 months of use, and very satisfied with this product. The only annoying thing is the amount of presets, it takes hours to review everything

I liked the hybrid side, with the possibility of separating the hardware of software.

For the price, it does not fear, I find the product height. Pack synths Arturia, is alone worth € 400.

This is a synth dedicated to rather use a studio. For the live, you must drag a computer and more, with all the risks it assumes (bugs, crashes, sound systems, ...).