Yes, it has more pads, but the desk real estate it takes up is not worth the tradeoff for me. It’s no secret that the aesthetic of a space can help influence your creativity, and the Keylab 49 has a retro-futuristic look that really fits my space.Ĭompare this with the AKAI MPK49, which has a gigantic control section (bigger than the keys). The faux-wood paneling on the sides, the icy white color scheme, and the color changing drum pads look fantastic on my desk. When compared with other 49-key MIDI controllers, the Keylab 49 has great aesthetics. The Arturia Keylab 49 is an aesthetically pleasing piece of equipment The top controls of the Keylab 49 fit nicely into a smaller section of knobs, pads, and buttons, keeping everything close by and compact. It fits on just about any recording desk without needing a pull-out drawer, and it’s portable enough to pick up and move around. When it comes to desktop MIDI controllers, 49 keys is my preferred size. What makes the Arturia Keylab 49 my top choice? Typically, sound quality would be my number one criteria, but since a MIDI controller doesn’t make any sounds, things like aesthetics, build quality, and UI come into play.Īfter testing out several MIDI controllers, the Arturia Keylab 49 Essential was the clear winner. That means that sound quality is not a factor when it comes to choosing a MIDI keyboard. It doesn’t make its own sounds instead, it lets you control the notes played by virtual instruments you have in your DAW. If you’re not familiar with the role of a MIDI controller, it’s essentially a keyboard that connects to your computer.

The Arturia 49 key Keylab delivers on all three of these fronts. When I was on the hunt for a great MIDI keyboard, I wanted three things: great build quality, usable drum pads, and great user interface. Music production is all about getting ideas out of your head and into your recording software, and often times, your MIDI controller is the toll you’ll use. In my opinion, a good MIDI keyboard is one of the most important purchases a producer or songwriter can make.

Arturia analog experience 49