Arturia MiniLab3 Midi Controller

General

We only have to step back to 2016 to remember when the MiniLab 2 was first released, but in this fast-moving world, that's actually a pretty long time ago. When it first popped up, this solid little second-generation MIDI keyboard sold like hot-cakes, and for good reason. But will the third instalment of this MIDI-based odyssey match up? For a start, the Arturia MiniLab MK3 comes with a set of eight encoders, a bank of four faders and eight performance pads. It supports intuitive pitch-bending and modulation tweaking in real-time via two touch-strips, and as a fat and juicy cherry on top, it has an OLED graphic display coupled with a turn-and-push encoder to ease mode switching, navigation and selection. It also comes wrapped up in a solid, road-ready housing that's been made using recycled materials, and as a twist on your average mini controller keyboards, this model comes fitted with a genuine DIN MIDI out to it can even be used to control your older rack synths.

The Arturia MiniLab MK3: Eased Computer Integration

Of course, the MiniLab MK3 works perfectly when combined with any Arturia virtual instruments, but it also smoothly integrates with pretty much any DAW software. As a treat for any in-the-box producers, it comes with a hefty software package including a copy of Ableton Live Lite (an entry-level DAW; Arturia's own Analog Lab Intro (a sweet stack of vintage sounds); two virtual pianos (the UVI Model D, and the NI The Gentleman); and plenty more to sink your teeth into.