About 10 years have passed since ARTURIA launched its first version of MINILAB on the market, a mini-controller perfectly integrated with its then-immature ANALOG LAB software, a collection of pre-packaged sounds powered by the V Collection synthesis engines.
The slogan with which it was presented was precisely "Hybrid Synths” to underline that for total integration with the software it could be used just like a synth, delegating exclusively the computational effort to the computer being able to stay away from the mouse and keyboard. After the first restyling of the MK II, the third model is presented at the end of 2022, full of novelties and useful features that probably make it one of the best 25 keys available on the market, perhaps finally realizing even the dream of total integration.
Introduction
Still today the strong point of the MINILAB 3 it is precisely the integration with the software, but this time ARTURIA has gone much further ANALOG LAB designing a perfect controller for even the most famous DAWs.
The keyboard design has been improved, the encoders from 16 have become 8 plus 4 sliders and mini-display in _KeyStep Pro style which turns out to be a real breakthrough with the use of the new clickable browser knob. With the new arrangement of the operating panel, as well as its functionality, its aesthetics also gain, suffering less from the naval battle-style symmetry effect and offering a more slender line to the eye, especially in the black version, a perfect futuristic masterpiece that stands at real object of desire able to stimulate compulsive buying. ARTURIA does not neglect the green policies, declaring that the MINILAB 3 are built using the 50% recycled plastic and guaranteed for 5 years.
Immediate use
Let's try to figure out what to do when opening the package, impatient and eager to try it right away. Serial number registration is required to download Analog Lab Intro e Ableton Live Lite if you don't already have them, while the MIDI CONTROL CENTER can be downloaded even without registration. However, I anticipate that with the default settings the keyboard is already perfectly usable, so let's postpone the installation of the control software and see what happens. I have already installed ANALOG LAB V on my computer so I simply connect the Minilab to the PC using the cable supplied with a USB C connector on one side (strictly L-shaped to limit the space occupied on the back of the keyboard) and open the synthesis software in stand-by mode: the controller is immediately recognized and the ANALOG LAB video layout is redesigned to mirror the MINILAB 3 operating panel, automatically assigning the main parameters to the 8 rotary encoders and 4 sliders. The big surprise comes from the mini-LCD display, which immediately displays the name of the preset on which the ANALOG LAB V browser is positioned.
Using the main encoder located under the display (with very convenient step scrolling), it is possible to navigate within the list of sounds, displaying the name of the selected preset on the display each time which, by pressing the encoder, can be loaded. Furthermore, the use of this main encoder with the help of the shift key also makes it possible to navigate between categories and sub-categories to which the sounds belong, again by displaying the name on the mini-display. The first 4 Encoders (those in the upper row) control 4 Macros which are specific for each preset and which, at least on the Full version of Analog Lab V, are completely customizable via the LEARN function. The most commonly controlled parameters concern the brilliance and color of the timbre, envelopes, filters and any LFOs.
Occasionally (on a handful of presets) I encountered inaccuracies in the display of the name of the macro displayed on the Analog Lab V panel: in some cases it is simply indicated MACRO1, MACRO2 etc. instead of the name of the Macro and in very rare cases the name is completely absent (small bug to be fixed). The second row of 4 encoders is dedicated to effects control and is fixedly assigned to: chorus, phaser, reverb, delay. If one of the effects processors is not present, the encoder remains unused. The values of all the controlled parameters are automatically visualized graphically and numerically on the small display of the Minilab 3 during the movement of the encoders or faders. All this simplicity of use is made possible by two default settings, i.e. the ARTURIA mode selected when switching on the MiniLab 3 and the activation of the port MIDI ALV in the software that allows the exchange of information to be displayed on the controller display (in fact, this MIDI port is superfluous when used with other software and can remain deactivated)
Operational insight
Immediately after the initial outburst lost in the timbre richness of the ANALOG LAB sounds driven with the beautiful touch of the 25 keys sensitive to the dynamics, it's time to understand what else we can do with this valuable controller outside of the home software. First detail that immediately catches the eye, as well as the input for a pedal (switch or continuous control) there is a port MIDI-OUT traditional, which guarantees us the possibility of piloting any external device even without the use of a computer. Another thing that is immediately noticeable are the functions indicated by screen printing on the 8 PADs, which can be activated by simultaneously pressing the PAD and the shift key. The functions available on the first three pads are quite cryptic, while the next five unequivocally represent the transport capabilities of a typical DAW (loop, stop, play, rec e tap time) At this point, to understand all the possibilities offered by the MINILAB 3, it is necessary to take a look at the manual and at the same time download and install the Midi Control Center.
We find that the first PAV used at the same time as the shift key, it provides chord and arpeggiator functions, entirely programmable directly from the device via the display and main encoder; the according to PAD (always together with pressing the shift key) instead it is delegated to the BANK PAD change, a function that allows us to double the possibilities of control using the PAD having 2 sets of eight available; the third PAV it allows us to switch from ARTURIA functionality to DAW functionality, but in reality it also hides the possibility of switching to one of the five user programs which, however, must be activated from the Midi Control Center. The ARTURIA mode is the one tested with ANALOG LAB, while the DAW mode is the real novelty of the MINILAB series as it allows the totally automatic and pre-set management of ABLETON LIVE, LOGIC PRO, BITWIG, FL STUDIO, REASON are missing (unjustifiably) from the appeal home-studio CUBASE, CAKEWALK and STUDIO ONE.
For these and for any other DAW you have to be content with using the standard MACKIE CONTROL, with considerable limitation of integration and greater difficulty of configuration.
DAW Integration
On the ARTURIA website, in relation to the MINILAB 3 product, there is a section called "Daw-Integration-Script" from which it is possible to download the configuration files necessary for the DAWs and the instructions for positioning them correctly. The DAW that I mainly use is ABLETON LIVE 10 and unfortunately the outcome of the configuration is not the best: in the "MiniLab 3 Live Integration Script" .zip file I expected to find a .pyc script to copy in the Ableton Live user library, while instead there is only a pdf that explains how to use the integrated functionality directly from Ableton in Live but starting from version 11.2.5. So while waiting to decide whether to purchase the upgrade (already planned) or download the Lite version, I try to understand how to use the MINILAB using the MACKIE CONTROL UNIVERSAL support.
I discover that first of all it is necessary to use a midi port different from the one foreseen for the other functions of the controller (notes, pads, encoders etc.). In fact, a Mackie Control device must be activated in Live on the midi port called MINILAB 3 MCU. At this point, as with most Mackie compatible controllers, we have the keys available play, stop, rec e loop and nothing else (in fact tap tempo doesn't work either) so DAW integration stops there. For the use of encoders and faders that do not fall under the Mackie protocol it is necessary to use the standard midi port and map everything manually with the learn functions of Ableton Live, which is quite annoying.
However, everything changes with version 11 of Live (yes, I decided to upgrade): the recognition of the device is automatic and immediate. The MINILAB 3 is present among the compatible devices but it is not even necessary to configure it as Live does it in perfect autonomy. Just switch the master keyboard in DAW mode and everything becomes extremely simple and functional. With the main encoder you move from one scene to another in the "Arrange" window while using the shift key the main encoder allows you to move between the tracks of Ableton Live. On the selected track, the 4 faders operate on the main mixer parameters (volume, send 1, send 2 and balance) while the 8 encoders control the main parameters of the device loaded on the channel. Using the first BANK PAD we will find the 8 backlit PADS with the colors assigned to the clips and responsible for launching them, while switching on the second BANK the 8 PADS are delegated to control the plugin loaded on the track, therefore in the case of a Drum Rack the automatic note assignments ensure that they can be "hit ” the first 8 cells of the electronic battery. By pressing the shift key, regardless of the BANK loaded, the PADS perform the same DAW control functions already seen in MACKIE mode, this time including TAP TEMPO, a very useful function.
Note that if ANALOG LAB is used as a plugin within Live, it is always possible to switch from DAW mode to ARTURIA mode on the MINILAB 3 and comfortably manage the plugin directly from the controller as seen previously. Working with Ableton Live in this way becomes very profitable, you work quickly and get rid of a series of operations that usually need to be prepared in order to work with a controller on the DAW parameters, to the full benefit of creativity. In short, you can easily work on a project without putting your hands on the mouse or computer keyboard. The tactile experience It is useless to dwell on the tactile characteristics of the 25 keys of the MINILAB 3 as a lot of literature on the subject is already available as the keybed is shared with many other Arturia products such as: MiniLab MKII, MicroLabs.
Tactile experience
In short, the keys are pleasant, they guarantee a fair amount of precision despite their size, they have a sufficiently large stroke that guarantees excellent control over the dynamics. In short, the only thing missing for total timbre control is the aftertouch. The 8 PADS are perhaps still a little too woody for refined finger drumming but definitely improved compared to the previous versions. The excellent backlighting and the multiplicity of functions to which they are delegated make them a winning choice. The dynamic response and the "pressure sensitivity" (another way to indicate the classic aftertouch) extend the creative possibilities. Definitely great for launching clips and DAW control. Even the touch strips of Pitch Bend and Modulation, are by now very tested and need no further comments: precise, functional and aesthetically pleasing. Slightly hard are the 8 rotary Encoders that do not let themselves be tamed gently in the movement by opposing a slight resistance certainly to the advantage of precision and greater durability over time. the 4 faders, on the other hand, run smoothly and quickly without giving the impression of poor stability, on the contrary they are solid and reliable. In general, the sensation of manageability and robustness is complete, both in practical use in front of the computer and in movements and therefore in grip and transport. The use of recycled plastic in no way affects the pleasantness to the touch while the rounded shapes and lightness make it a truly ideal tool for mobile work.
Heavy use
ARTURIA's great ability to make life easier for the less expert user or user without specific needs does not mean precluding the more demanding user the possibility of pushing the use of a product to the limit. MINILAB 3 governed by the MIDI CONTROL CENTER software becomes a hotbed of experimentation in any field, with the complete customization of the midi messages sent by the physical controls of the keyboard and storable in 5 scenes that can be recalled with PAD 3 (program) together with pressing the shift key . For each scene it is possible to memorize the midi mapping of each physical control of the master keyboard, such as channel, type and value of the message, possible min max range.
For the PADs, in addition to the midi channel and note, it is possible to set the backlight color and the mode (gate/toggle) The main Encoder even has 4 different configurations: 2 for rotation (with or without shift) and as many 2 for pressure (always with shift or without). Among the master settings instead we find parameters such as the timer for activating a nice "screen saver" a sort of show with the lights on the pads, the possibility of deactivating the backlighting, the LOW POWER mode for energy saving (very useful with tablet devices), the main midi channel settings, encoder touch response, note and pad keys, type and polarity of any connected pedal and other various indispensable things. Obviously up MCC it is possible to memorize an infinite quantity of scenes which can be loaded from time to time into the 5 memory slots available on the MINILAB 3. The programming of specific scenes, useful with the use of non-ARTURIA synth software, becomes indispensable for controlling of external MIDI peripherals, such as EXPANDER, DRUM MACHINE, HARDWARE SEQUENCER etc. In fact, the presence of the MIDI OUT port encourages the use of MINILAB 3 also in dawless setup (increasingly fashionable) where devices of not very recent production and which require the sending of specific and/or unchangeable midi messages are often the masters. In this scenario, the CHORD and ARPEGGIATOR functions also make more sense which perhaps in a software context are quite superfluous.
What else would I like
A 37-key version is the first thing I would ask ARTURIA: the small size is comfortable but for me 25 keys continue to be an insurmountable limitation for choosing a controller to dedicate to production. Then I would like a MIDI CONTROL CENTER for IOS, because I often happen to pre-produce on an iPad but this also prevents the possibility of setting MINILAB 3 in LOW POWER mode or modifying the dynamic response curve of the keys. ANALOG LAB in the IOS version would not disfigure at all in the extraordinary panorama of synths available for iPad, but ARTURIA seems to have abandoned its commitment on this platform which is why I don't even hope for a future DAW INTEGRATION with Korg Gadget 2, which would certainly make me happiest producer?
Personal conclusions
A definitive product in the 25-key controller market. The definitely above average build quality in the same price range, the completeness of the controls equipment (keys, pads, encoders and faders), the simplicity of use, the connections, the software equipment are all trump cards in the hands of ARTURIA. The presence of ANALOG LAB V INTRO in the software package is already worth half the price (acoustic piano plugins bundled with a 25-key piano honestly don't seem like a good choice). In my opinion, the real strong point of the product is the perfect integration with the ARTURIA software, which also extends to the V-COLLECTION 9 where I was able to experiment, albeit quickly, the same criterion of automatic mapping of the controls on the main parameters of each synth included in the suite.
The DAW INTEGRATION where foreseen is truly excellent: with Ableton Live it proves to be a great step forward in terms of production speed on the road; with a laptop on the train, on vacation or even at a friend's house or in professional studios where we offer our collaboration is a practical and concrete tool. Even in Live contexts I see it as totally reliable as well as functional and aesthetically appealing. In short, another center from ARTURIA which has recently been flooding the market with highly valid products for every type of requirement and situation. Promotion with flying colors therefore for MINILAB 3 with the hope of future updates that make total integration available also to the missing DAWs and perhaps some further bundles of libraries dedicated to electronic/ambient sounds.
