General
Controller keyboards have become truly indispensable tools for digital music making. Their numbers are many and they come in all sorts of colours and sizes and with many different functions. Don't be fooled by the Arturia Keylab 49 Black Edition MIDI/USB keyboard though - it may look like may other USB/MIDI keyboards, but none of those are as complete as this Arturia. Ok, first things first; this keyboard has 49 full-size velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch. This means that the keyboard is still fairly portable, yet allows you to play radically expressive solos.
Options of the Arturia Keylab 49 Black Edition
However, you need more than just an excellent set of keys for a good MIDI/USB keyboard, and this Keylab definitely doesn't disappoint! It's got knobs, sliders, pads, pitch and modulation wheels - all of them fully assignable! Further still, it has the familiar transport buttons for your DAW, and other buttons for programming using the display. But perhaps its most remarkable feature (something that definitely isn't on your average USB/MIDI keyboard) is the connection for a breath controller. What's more, you can also hook up a sustain, expression or other auxiliary pedal, as well as classic MIDI devices via the familiar DIN connection. Of course, many other USB/MIDI keyboards have some of these functions, but to find all of them on a single device is truly remarkable.
Software
Naturally, this keyboard is compatible with all DAW software, as it simply sends out MIDI data. Moreover, the Keylab comes with an impressive collection of virtual instruments. Analog Lab offers the sound engines of titles like Mini V, CS-80 V, Jupiter-8V, ARP 2600 V, Modular V, Oberheim SEM V, Matrix-12 V, VOX Continental-V and Wurlitzer V. There are over 6000 presets, so get ready to say goodbye to your evenings as a remote control couch commander, as they all deserve to be played. Even more tones come to you via the Solina-V (a vintage strings machine), the Prophet-V and the UVI Grand Piano Model D.
Tips or comments about this product
Please note: there's only a limited number of these keyboards available.