I immediately clarify that it is more than one ibrido that a Bastard in truth: usb and midi controllers, dedicated hardware, control surface with a compact and elegant design, in wood and aluminum. Keylab 25 fits perfectly in the supplied software package: Analog Lab, 5000 presets created by sound designers and composed using the sound of historical software synths: Mini V, Modular V, CS-80V, ARP2600 V, Jupiter-8V, Prophet 5, Prophet VS, Oberheim SEM V and the classic Wurlitzer V electric piano (software version of Wurlitzer 200A) faithful simulations of as many pieces of electronic music history. We are talking about the power of Arturia TAE® synthesis (True analog emulation), real analog emulation, amazing and punctual reproduction of oscillators, filters and waveforms.
Return to this specific article on Analog Lab for more software insights.
Given the complexity of the hardware reproduced in Analog Lab - one for all the Moog Modular with its hundreds of connections - imagining a controller that has a good compromise between small size and effective functions is quite difficult. But that's where Arturia went to work with the Keylab series.
Keylab 25 is the small of the series:
- 25 semi-weighted keys
- 12 encoders to modify Cutoff, Resonance, LFO Rate, LFO amount, Chorus, Delay and other programmable parameters
- 9 programmable sliders to manage as many parameters
- possibility to double the controls using the bank 1/2 selection
- 15 parameter selection keys with backlight
- 2 main encoders with rotation and click for the choice of the preset and the selection of the parametric category
- 32-character 2-line backlit screen
- octave keys with luminous signals + -
- pitch control
- modulation control
- MIDI IN - MIDI OUT
- Transport Rewind / Forward / Stop / Play / Record and Loop bar (for sequencer control)
- possibility of external power supply (power supply not included)
- usb (both for power supply and for integration with the operating system) * no drivers are required
- Sustain pedal
- Expression pedal
- Additional AUX pedal
- Breath control
- weight 3,9 kg
Installation
We tested Keylab 25 on OSX 10.8No drivers were needed and after the USB connection the controller was already present in the system to be used by our sequencers. The package Analog Lab it is included in the price and must necessarily be downloaded via the appropriate link after inserting the serial e unlock code onhe Arturia site. Once activated and installed it can be used in the VST and stand alone versions.
It is not a particularly bulky package, just under 400mb on OSX and less than 300mb on Windows, because as already mentioned it is not a software based on audio samples but on a real synthesis of the synths played.
Usage impressions
Keylab integrates perfectly into the Analog lab system both in the stand-alone and VST version. Presets automatically set parameters that can be changed.
The control of the software screenshots is appreciated, presets that can be recalled directly from 10 hardware function keys, significantly speeding up the sound change.
The keyboard is pleasant, the key dynamics and the pitch and modulation controls allow for good expressiveness. Octave control is easily accessible and allows you to extend the limited range of keys with relative speed. The sliders and the know allow you to fully control the sound.
Keylab with other software
Being a universal controller it can be used with any sequencer, vst or plug-in. In some cases, while it is fully recognized as keyboard, it is not listed among the control surfaces. It can be assimilated withArturia Analog Experience (AE25-61) as in Reason 7 for example. In other cases, at least until the software is updated, it is better to assign the controls to the midi parameters that serve as in Ableton Live, Logic Audio and Studio One.
Platform:
PC Window xp / 7/8
Mac OS X
Keylab 49 and 61 are also available with 49 and 69 keys respectively
Price
199,00 euros (including the Analog Lab package)
Fabio Pesce
