MIDI keyboards

Notes: Arturia's new KeyLab Essential 3 offers a new level of accessible, enjoyable, and creative music making, redefining the essence of a modern universal keyboard controller.

From its refreshing new design, to its vastly upgraded creative workflow, to an expanded software package, it promises to shake up the affordable controller market by empowering modern musicians and sound explorers looking to expand their setup without breaking the bank.

Main selling points

Fit for any style and any setup

For DAW producers, musicians with hybrid setups, or performers using hardware; enhance any creative setup or musical style with MIDI out & USB power, deep DAW compatibility, and premium software.

The new standard for affordable keyboard controllers

A keyboard controller that doesn't need tons of controls, menu diving, or complex configuration to operate. KeyLab Essential 3 looks modern, feels great, and removes creative barriers for next-level music making.

Directly-linked with Arturia's industry-leading software ranges

Many musicians and producers will be familiar with Arturia's award-winning software; KeyLab Essential 3 is part of the same range, seamlessly integrating with Analog Lab V, Pigments, and V Collection.

Features

Premium Keybed quality
49 note velocity-sensitive keyboard with hybrid synth-piano feel

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 V: select sounds, browse presets, smart-assigned controls
Custom DAW scripts for FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, Bitwig Studio
Also compatible with MCU/HUI control
Up to 6 user presets for a totally customizable experience

Included Software titles & services
Analog Lab V software with 2000+ sounds
Ableton Live Lite
Native Instruments' The Gentleman
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 10.13+
4 GB RAM
4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost) or Apple Silicon 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.

What's in the box

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

Dimensions for 49 keys
Size : 31.1 x 9.45 x 2.76 inches (790 x 240 x 70mm)
Weight : 6.1 lbs. (2.76 Kg)

Notes: Arturia's new KeyLab Essential 3 offers a new level of accessible, enjoyable, and creative music making, redefining the essence of a modern universal keyboard controller.

From its refreshing new design, to its vastly upgraded creative workflow, to an expanded software package, it promises to shake up the affordable controller market by empowering modern musicians and sound explorers looking to expand their setup without breaking the bank.

Main selling points

Fit for any style and any setup

For DAW producers, musicians with hybrid setups, or performers using hardware; enhance any creative setup or musical style with MIDI out & USB power, deep DAW compatibility, and premium software.

The new standard for affordable keyboard controllers

A keyboard controller that doesn't need tons of controls, menu diving, or complex configuration to operate. KeyLab Essential 3 looks modern, feels great, and removes creative barriers for next-level music making.

Directly-linked with Arturia's industry-leading software ranges

Many musicians and producers will be familiar with Arturia's award-winning software; KeyLab Essential 3 is part of the same range, seamlessly integrating with Analog Lab V, Pigments, and V Collection.

New Features:
New creative features: Scale Mode, Chord Mode, and Arpeggiator, making composition, songwriting, and beat-making more intuitive than ever.
Custom DAW integration: KeyLab Essential 3 features custom scripts for deeper control over DAWs, including Ableton Live Logic Pro X, FL Studio, and more.
More versatile presets: The 2000 presets included with Analog Lab V are no longer limited to vintage sounds; users can enjoy unique hybrids, modern synths, orchestral sounds, and more.
Easier controls & interface: RGB-backlit pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity, contextual button, and a bright new 2.5" LCD screen for real-time feedback.
Expanded software package for beginners & pros: Now includes Analog Lab V, 2 pianos (UVI Model D, NI's The Gentleman), plus subscriptions to Loopcloud and Melodics.

Notes: A powerful MIDI 2.0 controller keyboard, Keystage offers unparalleled control, Polyphonic Aftertouch, MPE compatibility, and exceptional touch response. Enjoy instant OLED visual feedback, a powerful arpeggiator, chord modes, integrated audio outputs, and seamless Ableton Live & Korg Gadget integration. Lightweight & portable, Keystage integrates effortlessly with most modern DAWs and includes a powerful software bundle to amplify your musical journey.

Connect. Create. Perform.

Keystage is a groundbreaking MIDI 2.0 keyboard designed for both producers and stage performers. Pioneering the adoption of MIDI 2.0 Property Exchange, it combines aftertouch with powerful integration and control capabilities.

When inspiration strikes

Eliminate the hassles of lengthy MIDI mapping and missed moments of inspiration. With Keystage, when inspiration hits, your musical visions are captured swiftly and accurately.

As a pioneer in keyboard advancement, Keystage is the first to fully harness the capabilities of MIDI 2.0. Just connect it to compatible software, and watch as Keystage automatically maps parameters, displaying them on its sharp OLED displays. Every display is paired with its unique knob, ensuring you're always informed of the mapped parameters and their precise values.

Expressive creativity

A newly developed semi-weighted keybed provides an immersive playing experience. With polyphonic and channel aftertouch, alongside MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression), you can add depth and feel to your performances without your fingers leaving the keys.

An extraordinarily powerful arpeggiator offers features that go well beyond what any other MIDI Keyboard offers. A vast selection of patterns is complemented with unparalleled customisation options, including aftertouch-triggered ratchets, randomization, gating, and more.

In addition, chord mode benefits from a suite of 32 chord sets that can be used out-of-the-box, or customized and saved into any of the extra 32 user set slots. Each set can have one chord assigned to each note of an octave, and chords can even be replayed in different ways, including a strumming mode for realistic guitar-like playing.

Deep integration

Keystage offers immediate, seamless plug-and-play compatibility with most popular DAWs, giving hands-on control on your most important playback/transport controls.

From launch, Keystage supports: Ableton Live (Official Integration), Korg Gadget (Official Integration), Cakewalk, Cubase, Digital Performer, FL Studio, GarageBand, Logic, Pro Tools and Studio One.

On the road and in the studio

Keystage is not just an incredibly powerful MIDI controller. Equipped with direct stereo output, simply connect Keystage to your computer and directly link to the sound system without the need for additional gear that takes up valuable space.

Keystage also offers flexible customization options. You can modify settings directly through the menu or conveniently adjust them using the Korg Kontrol software on your computer.

Keystage includes an expansion plate that can be attached at two different angles, making it ideal for tablets and other devices.

Keystage x Ableton Live

Ableton Live is the industry-standard tool for live performance, thanks to its innovative dual Session/Arrangement view, smooth clip triggering, looping, and powerful production tools.

Keystage offers official integration with Live, putting both transport and device control at your fingertips.

Keystage detects the device currently active in Ableton Live, and automatically maps to the first 8 parameters. When switching devices, Keystage dynamically reconfigures itself for an uninterrupted experience, keeping you in the zone.

Both Ableton Live and Keystage are MPE-compatible, enabling enhanced flexibility and creative possibilities in your music. Live's powerful Drift synthesizer (available with version 11.3) leverages MPE to offer even more expressive capabilities.

Keystage comes bundled with Ableton Live 11 Lite as part of its software suite. Ableton Live 11 Lite is a beginner-friendly version of Live, providing many of the core features to help you kickstart your journey in music creation and performance.

MIDI 2.0

The future of music

MIDI 2.0 is one of the most exciting developments in electronic music production in decades and allows two-way MIDI conversations. Previously, MIDI 1.0 messages went in one direction: from a transmitter to a receiver. MIDI 2.0 is bi-directional and changes MIDI from a monologue to a dialogue.

Thanks to new MIDI-CI (Capability Inquiry) messages, MIDI 2.0 devices can talk to each other, and auto-configure themselves to work together.

Keystage retrieves information such as which Control Change (CC) parameters should be linked and the appropriate names to display for each parameter. This means that Keystage can talk with a wide range of MIDI 2.0 compatible devices and exchange information in both directions. This exciting feature extends not only to software plugins, but also to hardware devices.

MIDI 2.0 Property Exchange is compatible with traditional MIDI DIN cables, allowing Keystage to seamlessly integrate with existing devices. Furthermore, backwards compatibility is not an issue with Keystage: it can still communicate using MIDI 1.0 with devices that do not support MIDI 2.0.

Powerful software suite

Keystage comes bundled with an incredible software set that provides all the tools needed to take your music production to the next level:

Specifications

Keyboard

Polytouch* keyboard
Features velocity sensitivity, aftertouch, and polyphonic aftertouch
Velocity curves: 21 (-10 to +10)
Octave range: 7 (-3 to +3)

Controllers

Pitch bend wheel, modulation wheel, parameter control knobs × 8
VOLUME knob, SETTINGS button, WRITE button, EXIT button, SHIFT button, ARP button, CHORD button, VALUE ^/ buttons, VALUE dial, PAGE i/+ buttons, transport buttons, TEMPO button, OCTAVE i/+ buttons

Display
Main display: Organic EL (electro-luminescence) display
Sub display: Organic EL displays x 8

Scenes: 16

Arpeggiator: Arpeggio rhythm patterns: 20

Chord mode
Preset chord sets: 32
User chord sets: 32

I/O: USB port, MIDI (IN, OUT connectors), EXPRESSION jack, DAMPER jack

Audio output
AUDIO OUT (L/MONO, R): 6.3 mm TS phone jack (unbalanced)
Headphones: 6.3 mm stereo phone jack

Control inputs
Damper (half-damper supported)
Expression

USB: Type B, MIDI/audio interface
MIDI: 1 in/1 out
Audio: 2 ch out
Audio format: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit

Power
USB bus power or AC adapter (9 V DC, : Korg KA350, sold separately)
Power consumption: 5 V/500 mA or less (when powered via USB), 4w (when using an AC adapter)

Dimensions
Keystage-49: 814 × 234 × 82 mm

Included items: USB cable (Type A-Type B), expansion plate, Quick Start Guide

Notes: NI's more affordable Komplete Kontrol A range offers a keenly priced take on the flagship S models. Here in 49-key format, the semi-weighted keybed offers great feel.

Supplier's notes:
Get hands-on with your music:

Music-making is at its best when it's fast, fun, and physical. Find the right sound, make it your own, perform, and capture the results - all from a responsive, semi-weighted keyboard. Complete with four premium instruments plus MASCHINE Essentials, A-Series keyboards come with everything you need to bring your ideas to life.

Find your sounds faster:

With hundreds of presets to choose from, finding the right sound can be a chore. With KOMPLETE KONTROL, however, all of your KOMPLETE and NKS presets are intuitively tagged and organised, so finding the right one is fast and easy. What's more, you can hear a preview of each sound as you browse, without loading individual instruments.

Need some serious low end? Use the encoders and OLED display to select SYNTH > BASS > SUB BASS, then listen through the presets and load up the right one for your track.

Pre-mapped and ready to play:

All of your KOMPLETE and NKS instruments and effects are pre-mapped to the KOMPLETE KONTROL hardware by the people who know them best - the instrument designers themselves. Essential parameters like envelope controls and filter cutoffs are instantly displayed on the OLED display as you touch the corresponding knob. That means you can see exactly what you're adjusting in real time - whether it's in kHz, dB, or BPM.

Perform creatively:

With Smart Play, you never need to worry about hitting a wrong note - just pick a scale and play. Activate chord mode to create a rich progression by playing single keys, then switch on the arpeggiator and turn it into an expressive musical performance. And for keyboard novices, Easy Mode maps the white keys to whichever scale you like.

Capture your ideas:

No matter your setup, A-Series is designed to fit right into your existing workflow, with immediate access to transport, mixing, and editing controls in your favourite DAW. Logic Pro X and GarageBand are currently supported, with advanced integration for Ableton Live, Cubase, and Nuendo coming soon after launch. And if you're just getting started, the included MASCHINE Essentials allows you to capture and arrange your ideas direct from your hardware - no additional software needed.

Instruments included:

With more than 4,500 sounds and 9.7 GB of content included, A-Series keyboards come with everything you need to start making music. Register your hardware and get two powerful synths, two meticulously sampled pianos, and more. Plus with MASCHINE Essentials, you'll have all the tools you need to go from inspiration to finished track.

Notes: The Nektar SE49 USB MIDI controller keyboard has all the features you need to start making music with your computer. It is compatible with any MIDI music software, sports a full-size keyboard with velocity, includes all the performance controls you'd expect and even has Nektar DAW control features. Simply plug the supplied USB-cable in and go: Capture your ideas while they are fresh!

PLAY - THE ACTION:
The keys are a keyboard controller's most important feature. So we made sure that the SE49 has keys that are fun and expressive to play: Its synth-action keybed has 49 velocity-sensitive full-size keys with a defined and firm feel. And as everyone has their own playing style and preferences, we have included a choice of 4 different velocity curves (plus 3 fixed ones) so you can adjust the keyboard response to your needs.

PERFORM - THE PERFORMANCE CONTROLS:
No matter if you want to play a complex solo in the style of Herbie Hancock or are just trying to make an EDM wobble bass more lively by adding modulation: the SE49's large Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheels will get you there. They have a tight grip and offer just the right resistance. For piano-style sustain effects, you can connect a switch or pedal to the foot switch socket on the back of the SE49.

BUTTON UP - THE CONTROLS:
Four buttons and one MIDI-assignable fader to the left of the keys make the SE49 even more flexible: Shift the keyboard up or down -3/+4 octaves with multi-coloured LED indicators showing the exact status. Or transpose the keys +/- 12 semitones with the transpose buttons right below.

CUSTOM MIDI ASSIGNMENTS:
Take control a notch further: Most soft- and hardware products with MIDI have their parameters assigned to so-called MIDI CC messages. This lets you do cool things such as changing filter cutoff, panning, effects bypass or any other parameter that has a MIDI CC assigned to it from a hardware control on your SE49.

Simply set the MIDI Fader, Modulation Wheel or foot switch pedal to control the MIDI CC message you want. Your assignments are stored over power cycling, so next time you can continue where you left off right away.

CONTROL YOUR DAW:
How about getting a better workflow without any of this nerdy stuff? How about transport control, level mixing and track selection directly from the SE49? Take control of your DAW's most important functions with our Nektar DAW Integration software! Of course, the SE49 works with any MIDI software, but with custom Nektar DAW Integration you can do even more: Use the Transpose buttons for track or patch change, always have the currently selected track's volume assigned to the fader and turn the Octave and Transpose buttons into Play, Stop, Record and Rewind buttons. How's that for giving the mouse a break?

Nektar DAW Integration for SE25 currently supports Bitwig, Cubase, Garageband, Logic, Nuendo, Digital Performer, Mixcraft, Reason, Reaper, Sonar and Studio One. (In order to take advantage of Nektar DAW Integration, you need to register your SE25 and download the integration files from your user account.)

GET CONNECTED - SETUP & iOS:
SE49 keyboards are USB class compliant and don't require a driver to operate. Installation and connection is easy; just plug the keyboard in to a USB port on your computer. You can also connect an Impact SE49 keyboard to an iOS device using the optional Apple USB camera connection kit. A 1/4? input jack allows you to add a foot switch pedal for sustain or sending MIDI messages.

CAPTURE YOUR IDEAS - BITWIG 8-TRACK INCLUDED:
You can start producing, performing, and designing sounds like a pro from day one with the included Bitwig 8-Track DAW. It includes over 50 software instruments and effects for use on up to 8 audio or MIDI project tracks, and you can use any 3rd party VST plug-ins you might own, too. The 'Bitwig Essentials Package' comes as part of this package as well, featuring a highly versatile handpicked selection of loops, clips and samples, to make it even easier to get you started.