Arturia has just announced the KeyLab Essential 88 mk3, a big brother of the previous one As the name suggests, this is a full-featured 88-key controller that allows you to play the entire range of notes on a piano simultaneously. There is no need to change octaves here.
Much like the other entries in the KeyLab Essential range, the 88 mk3 aims to be a cost-effective alternative to the flagship KeyLab controllers. The build is solid, with semi-weighted keys, although slightly less premium than the standard KeyLab 88. There are also a reduced number of practical controls compared to the flagship, although there is still plenty to tinker with.
At this point, the KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 includes the same screen as the smaller keyboards, for navigating presets. There are also nine knobs and nine faders to control parameters
Plus, you get built-in control scripts that work with a number of popular DAWs, like Ableton Live. This lets you do things like mix tracks using the built-in faders or stop and start recordings from the controller itself.
There's also a pop-up button below the screen that provides even more control over your plugins and virtual instruments. You may notice that there are only eight drum pads, but the KeyLab Essential Series lets you switch to a second bank for the full 16. The keyboard features a sustain function, new scale and chord modes and an arpeggiator.
Finally, this keyboard comes with plenty of software to get you started. The included bundle includes the iconic Native Instruments The Gentleman piano, the UVI Model D recreation, a two-month subscription to Loopcloud, and a subscription to Melodics tutoring software. As always, you also get Ableton Live Lite and Arturia's Analog Lab V.
We don't know how much this will cost yet, but we've contacted Arturia for pricing information. For comparison, the 61-key KeyLab Essential mk3 costs $249 and the 49-key version costs $199. Additionally, the latest generation KeyLab Essential 88 costs $379, so expect it to fall somewhere in that range. The KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 will be available in black and white.