ARTURIA - KeyLab Essential 88 - MIDI / USB Controller - 88 keys - mk3 - white

Full-size universal Midi controller

Take command of your sounds, and perform like you've always dreamed of. KeyLab Essential 88 is an intuitive, powerful, carefully crafted controller with a full size keyboard that invites you to unleash your creative flow with note-spanning flair.


Multi-octave expression :

Whether you’re a beginner piano player or producer, an experienced music maker, or anyone in between, unlock your creative potential with the full-reach of an 88 key MIDI controller that fits seamlessly into any workflow.


One-size fits all :

Whether you are seeking your first keyboard to kick-start a piano playing and production journey, or you simply want the freedom of having every key at hand in your studio or stage setup - KeyLab Essential 88 meets the needs of professional performers and beginner keyboardists alike.


All the sounds you need :

Enjoy next-level control over your DAW projects & plugins as well as seamless communication with Analog Lab and a bundle of pro creative software to supercharge your creativity - all in one.


Quickly inspire new ideas :

KeyLab Essential 88 doesn’t just help you play & navigate your projects - it’s also built to inspire. Summon catchy melodies, curious rhythms, and moving chord sequences with its array of creative features, and see where it can take your sound.


That quality feeling :

You want the feeling of a premium instrument, the flexibility of a top-class controller, and all-round ease-of-use. KeyLab Essential’s semi-weighted keybed and smart layout puts it all at your fingertips.


Your keys to creativity :

A new standard for studio professionals, performers and beginner pianists, the KeyLab Essential 88 carries the legacy of 7 octaves forward, offering an accessible and elegant full-length design; an ideal centerpiece for your professional setup, or for getting your playing skills off the ground.


Control any DAW :

Enjoy plug-and-play connectivity and ready-mapped controls with your DAW of choice. KeyLab Essential doesn’t just feature familiar MCU & HUI compatibility; it also has custom scripts for major DAWs meaning next-level integration.


Customize your workflow :

KeyLab Essential easily adapts to your creative needs; recall your favorite ’liked’ presets from Analog Lab, navigate your custom-made playlists, activate custom User programs for your own control assignments, and more.


At one with Analog Lab :

Turn Analog Lab into a hardware synth and get hands-on with your sound thanks to KeyLab Essential’s seamlessly mapped controls. Adjust sound parameters, tweak FX, and browse presets without ever needing to touch your computer.


Essential, intuitive, flexible controls :

Sometimes you just want to get the job done.
KeyLab Essential's focused controls give you quick access to the most useful & intuitive elements of your project & sound without complicating things.

Keybed :
As comfortable for performance as it is for studio beat-making, KeyLab Essential’s semi-weighted keybed is smooth & responsive, complemented by the familiar Pitch & Mod wheels and Pedal input for sustain, footswitch, or expression.

Display :
Get the essential real-time info you need, from parameter values to your current preset, with a bright 2.5” display, complete with contextual buttons that make navigation effortless.

Pads :
Switch between MIDI notes, clip triggering, finger-drumming, or whatever you need them to do. KeyLab Essential’s velocity & pressure-sensitive pads are even RGB color-coded so you can keep track at all times.

Encoders :
Get that real hands-on feeling and interact with crucial controls right where you need them, from track panning to specific instrument parameters, with full rotation encoders.

Faders :
Tweak your track levels, envelope settings, selected parameters on your Arturia instruments, and more with ultra-smooth faders at your fingertips.

DAW controls :
Instantly switch from sculpting your synth sounds to piloting your DAW project with KeyLab Essential’s dedicated DAW controls, so you’re in control at all times. Its custom integration scripts even ensure that the most crucial controls work perfectly, whatever DAW you’re using.


Practice meets perfect :

KeyLab Essential 88 comes into its own when improvising a dextrous solo or keying a dynamic lead progression. If you are simply seeking fresh inspiration and pitch-perfect play, it has you covered too. The chord, scale and arpeggiator modes mean you can easily embellish your performance, stay in key and trigger vibrant sequences.

Chord play :
Play rich, full, powerful chords with a single key by selecting from built-in chord presets, or inputting your own custom chord shapes - great for when you need to lay some new ideas down.

Scale mode :
Set your playing free and never go out of key with KeyLab Essential’s Scale mode, which quickly locks the keybed to one of several built-in scales.

Arpeggiator :
Turn chords or selections of notes into vibrant melodies and rhythmic ideas with a built-in Arpeggiator, complete with Hold function to keep the notes flowing.

Split point :
Program a split point to load two different sounds across the keyboard. Combine to your heart’s content and create that perfect performance-ready setup.


A deeper connection :

We worry about integration, so you don’t have to
From Analog Lab to full DAW control, enjoy deep integration with custom scripts for Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio, Bitwig, and more.

Now fully NKS-compatible, you can also connect effortlessly with Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol ecosystem. Additionally, MCU/HUI support ensures compatibility with virtually any DAW, for a fast, familiar setup every time.


Pro software included :

From faithfully recreated acoustic instruments and pianos to a myriad of classic and modern synths sounds, KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 has you covered.
KeyLab Essential's focused controls give you quick access to the most useful & intuitive elements of your project & sound without complicating things.

Analog Lab Pro :
Thousands of synth & keys presets
A library of the finest basses, fattest synths, smoothest orchestral sounds, and more, from vintage to modern, powered by V Collection, Augmented Series, and Pigments.

Ableton Live Lite :
Music recording software
Record, perform, and produce anything with an introduction to one of the hottest DAWs in the business, including instrument presets, drums, FX, MIDI clips, and more.

UVI Model D :
A timeless grand piano
The epic stage-sized character of a Steinway grand piano, arguably the most iconic piano of all time, sampled in detail to bring your production to life.

Native Instrument Komplete Select :
Comprehensive music production suites
Choose between 3 different bundles. Craft with iconic synths, sampled sounds, and effects from Komplete 15 Select - a hand-picked production toolkit.

LoopCloud :
Millions of samples & loops
A 2-month subscription to Loopcloud with millions of hi-def royalty-free samples, from lo-fi drums to vocal one-shots, with 2GB of samples including a welcome pack and a specially-crafted Arturia selection.

Melodics :
Learn with KeyLab Essential mk3
Improve your pad & keyboard skills with a subscription to Melodics, offering 40 lessons, tips, and musical hacks that are fun, easy, and tailored to your style.




Specs :


Premium Keybed quality :
88-note velocity-sensitive semi-weighted keyboard

Pads & controls :
1 clickable encoder
9 rotary encoders
9 x 30mm faders
8 transport switches
4 command switches
1 modulation wheel & bend wheel
8 touch & pressure-sensitive pads

Display control :
2.5” LCD display with contextual buttons
Real-time feedback on tweaks and controls

Smart features :
Multi-mode arpeggiator
Chord mode
Scale mode
Hold function
Semitone transpose

Software integration :
Seamless integration with Analog Lab Pro and V Collection: select sounds, browse presets, smart-assigned controls
Custom DAW scripts for FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, Bitwig Studio
NKS-compatible for seamless integration with Native Instruments ecosystem
Also compatible with MCU/HUI control
Up to 6 user presets for a totally customizable experience

Included Software titles & services :
Analog Lab Pro software with 2000+ sounds
Ableton Live Lite
Native Instruments’ Komplete Select
UVI Model D
2-month Loopcloud subscription
Melodics subscription for 40 lessons

Connectivity :
USB-C connects to computers and MIDI Control Center
MIDI 5-pin DIN output for connection to external instruments, gear
Control input for pedal: sustain, expression, or footswitch
USB-C powered

Platform specifications :

Windows :
Win 10+ (64bit)
4 GB RAM
4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost)
3GB free hard disk space
OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
ARM processors not supported on Windows
Required configuration
Works in Standalone, VST, AAX, Audio Unit, NKS (64-bit DAWs only).

Apple :
Mac OS 11+
4 GB RAM
4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost) or M1 CPU
3GB free hard disk space
OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
Work with ASC
An elegant and simple solution to help you install, activate, and update your Arturia software instruments.

Box content :
KeyLab Essential Unit
USB-A to USB-C cable
Registration card

Dimensions :
Size : 49.53 x 10.04 x 2.63 inches (1258 x 255 x 66.8mm)
Weight : 18.08 lbs. (8.2 Kg)