Arturia KeyLab Essential 49 MK3 49-key USB/MIDI controller keyboard

49-key USB/MIDI controller keyboard with extensive software package and integrated DAW control. White

When the best gets even better

NEW as of June 1, 2025: NI NKS support

During the summer of 2025, all Arturia MiniLab mk3, KeyLab mk3 and KeyLab Essential mk3 products will support Native Instruments' NKS protocol via a free firmware update. This means direct hardware control of NI products from your Arturia keyboard.

The Keylab Essential has long been one of the favorite USB/MIDI keyboards at the budget-friendly end of the scale, simply because you get more for your money on all parameters than you do with most competitors. Now ARTURIA is ready with the next generation with a bunch of new features. The Keylab Essential MK3 is available with 49 and 61 keys in black and white.

The essential tools, right at your fingertips

Like its predecessor, the Keylab MK3 features high-quality velocity-sensitive keys, 8 velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive pads with RGB colors, pitch bend and modulation wheels, transport control buttons, 9 faders, 9 rotary potentiometers, DIN MIDI out, and pedal input. But the MK3 adds a number of very welcome and useful upgrades.

Full DAW integration

Like its big brother Keylab MKII, the Keylab Essential MK3 now has full DAW integration with 5 of the market's leading DAWs (Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro X, Steinberg Cubase, Image-Line FL Studio, Bitwig Studio) as well as MCU/HUI control for other DAWs. This means you can use the mouse much less and control a wide range of mixer and menu functions directly in your favorite software.

An inspiring musical partner

When you want to experiment, or need a little extra inspiration, the Keylab Essential MK3 has some interesting tricks up its sleeve. Create fun melodies that are constantly changing with the Arpeggiator, find exciting chord progressions with Chord Play, and always hit the right notes with Scale Mode. Now you also have two Pad Banks (a total of 16), so you can quickly switch between Clip Launch and Note Triggers in Ableton, for example. There is also a User Pad Mode, which can be edited from the included MIDI Control Center software.

Even closer integration with ARTURIA software

One of the things that makes hardware so interesting is that you have direct physical control over your sound. Keylab Essential MK3 bridges the gap between hardware and software with even better integration with the included Analog Lab V software, which offers over 2000 presets, all borrowed from the market's most comprehensive synth package, V-Collection. Should you feel like upgrading to V-Collection, you can still use Analog Lab V - you just get many more presets available, as well as the ability to edit all parameters on all synthesizers.

Is there more?

Much more! In addition to now including an even larger software package, the pedal input now also has the option to act as either Sustain, Footswitch or Expression, the USB port has been upgraded to USB-C, the large display has 4 associated context buttons that make navigation easier and the greatly expanded Arpeggiator has presets so you can save your favorite sequences. And the new, large backlit display provides better and more visual feedback.

Specifications

• USB/MIDI controller keyboard
• 49 velocity-sensitive keys
• 8 velocity and aftertouch sensitive pads
• 2 programmable Pad Banks (total of 16 pads)
• 9 faders and 9 potentiometers
• Large backlit display
• 4 context navigation buttons
• Large navigation wheel with click
• Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheel
• USB-C port for computer (or PSU)
• Your MIDI Out port
• Control pedal input (Sustain, Expression or Footswitch)
• Programmable Arpeggiator with Hold
• Scale Mode
• Chord Mode
• Arp Team Mode
• White

Included software

• Analog Lab V with over 2000 synth and keyboard sounds
• Ableton Live Lite
• UVI Model D Grand Piano
• Native Instruments Komplete 15 Select bundle of your choice (Select Beats, Select Band or Select Electronic)
• Loopcloud trial subscription
• Melodics trial subscription