Every artist knows the importance of starting with a white, toned, or black canvas. The tools remain the same, yet your technique and imagination will work in different ways. The same is true for this gorgeous limited edition black KeyLab Essential. It still gives you hands-on DAW control, an inspiring synth-action keybed, rotary knobs, performance pads, and faders as its white counterpart, but how will this sleek new look compliment your fiendish creativity?
"Quand Piles" by Jean-Baptiste Arthus
KeyLab Essential Black lets you play and create music instinctively. It won’t force you to break your habits or abandon your tried and tested methods. This controller keyboard simply gives you a helping hand, letting you realize your full potential in the studio. The DAW-controlling MCU/HUI protocols let it work in practically any recording environment, letting you focus on what you’re good at.
Its faders, knobs and DAW Command Center will automatically associate with the most important functions of your DAW, while its ultra-convenient memory slots will extend its capability to your favorite software instrument, whether they are Arturia’s own, or another great manufacturer. KeyLab Essential is here to tear down walls, not build them up.
The perfect shadowy companion for the studio, KeyLab Essential also opens up exciting new avenues for performance on stage. Its RGB backlit pads and info screen are easily seen under stage lights, and its wealth of performance features like transpose, chord mode, and customizable user maps make inspiring, creative performance a breeze. Its wealth of knobs and faders also make easy work of live-tweaking your parameters and synth sounds.
An amazing addition to any creative setup, from the professional to the aspiring amateur, KeyLab Essential Black Edition comes with an amazing suite of software that will enrich your music and give you a lifetime of inspiration. Arturia’s own Analog Lab 3 gives you instant access to over 6,500 legendary synth and keyboard sounds from its acclaimed, award-winning V Collection, while UVI Grand Piano Model D puts a sumptuous sampled Steinway at your beck and call.
KeyLab Essential Black Edition also comes fully loaded with Ableton Live Lite, so even if you don’t have a DAW, you can start recording, mixing, editing, and releasing your tracks straight out of the box.
Your very own vintage keyboard collection.
Analog Lab gives you access to thousands of the best sounds from our award-winning V Collection, and gives an amazing introduction to our whole software instrument catalog. Featuring 17 iconic instruments, including analog synths, revolutionary digital workstations, organs, string machines and pianos, all pristinely recreated using Arturia’s exclusive True Analog Emulation® technology.
An introduction to one of the most intuitive, popular production platforms around.
New users and seasoned pros alike love working with Ableton Live Lite. Featuring an innovative twin workflow, time stretching and pitch shifting functions, as well as numerous studio quality effects, you’ll be releasing professional quality tracks in no time.
An essential instrument for any songwriter’s sound palette.
Steinway pianos are found in only the very best concert halls and recording studios. Thanks to KeyLab Essential, you can have one in your living room. The UVI Grand Piano Model D puts the sound of the famous Steinway Model D grand piano at your fingertips, sampled in exquisite detail, and ready to play.
Take a listen to some of these fantastic audio examples, which were created using only KeyLab Essential Black Edition and the music software suite that it includes. Whether your need an organic, jazzy solo synth for live jamming, throbbing trap basslines, evolving pads, funky tube-driven electric piano, or anything in between, this is your one-stop shop for keyboard creativity.
"Là Moins" by Jean-Baptiste Arthus
"Quand Piles" by Jean-Baptiste Arthus
Designed with you in mind
KeyLab Essential is forward-thinking, modern hardware with incredible flexibility. As a creator, focus on creating. Constraints? Compatibility? We already took care of this.
Blending power with simplicity, and functionality with connectivity, our designers have created a controller that can truly become the backbone of your studio. KeyLab Essential’s DAW Command Center uses both MCU and HUI protocols: two popular data languages that let hardware instruments and DAWs communicate with each other. This means that you’ll be able to go beyond the potential of standard MIDI and use its transport controls no matter what recording software you use.
Used alongside the Arturia MIDI Control Center, you are able to create your own unique MIDI mappings, and save up to 6 of them to KeyLab’s internal memory. Using this functionality is a great way of tailoring the controls to match the settings of your favorite plug-ins and the rest of your audio environment.
KeyLab Essential is a class-compliant MIDI controller, meaning you can control DAW apps and virtual instruments on your iPad by using a Lightning to USB “Camera Adapter”, and on your Android devices using USB.
Despite its striking midnight aesthetic, KeyLab Essential Black Edition ensures your creative vision will see the light of day.