Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3 adds a flagship version with 88 Fatar keys to its recently updated hardware/software KeyLab MIDI keyboard series.
Last summer (August 2024), Arturia unveiled the long-awaited new generation of their top-line MIDI keyboards, KeyLab Mk3. A full review can be found here. At that time, a 49-key and a 61-key version premiered.
Half a year later, the flagship model is now available. Today, Arturia released the KeyLab 88 mk3, an 88-key version of its new MIDI keyboard controller series.
Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3
KeyLab 88 Mk3 has the same modern design as the other Mk3 keyboards but has one big difference. It uses a full-size Fatar TP/110 hammer-action keyboard with velocity and aftertouch support – no polyphonic aftertouch.
According to Arturia, the KeyLab 88 mk3 keybed captures every nuance, from soft, delicate passages to powerful, dynamic chords. The user interface is identical to the other KeyLab mk3 keyboards.
However, since there are more keys, this one has been moved to the left, which means there is space on the right to place a laptop or tablet. To have even more space, Arturia provides an extra attachable surface in the keyboard’s color, so you can place larger laptops or even desktop synths on it.
Otherwise, there are no differences to the features of the other KeyLab mk3 keyboards: 12 velocity/aftertouch sensitive pads, DAW transport control, and nine touch-sensitive knobs and sliders.
Hardware & Software Integration
Also, in the 88 version, the heart of the keyboard is the display with the surrounding buttons. With these, you can adapt the keyboard, encoders, sliders, etc., entirely to your wishes, including creating MIDI templates.
Part of this is also the clever, deep integration with Arturia’s virtual instruments (Analog Lab / V Collection) that requires no extra software. When you open a plugin, the controller is automatically mapped to the respective parameters. Plus, there is a visual representation of the instrument and a built-in preset browser.
It also comes with the same level of integration with Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, and Bitwig Studio, with dedicated MIDI mappings plus MCU and HUI.
The new Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3 MIDI also works as a standalone MIDI keyboard controller with hardware synths. This also applies to the built-in, extensive chord function with scales and the inspiring, feature-rich arpeggiator.
Connectivity
The connections on the back are also the same as on his little brothers: a power on/off button, a USB-C port for powering and data, a power supply input, 5-pin MIDI in/out sockets, and four pedal inputs (sustain, expression, and two AUX ins).
Like the others, the CV/gate functionality from the Mk2 version has been removed on the Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3.
Finally, Arturia also ships the keyboard with a big software bundle, including various in-house plugins (Analog Lab Pro, Mini V, Piano V, Augmented Strings, Rev Plate-140) and Native Instruments The Gentleman for Kontakt Player.
Plus, you get a license for Ableton Live Lite and subscriptions for the Melodics with extra sessions and Loopcloud with additional sounds.
First Impression
That’s no surprise. An 88 version with hammer keys was expected to be added shortly after the release of the synth-action keyboard versions.
Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3 costs 999€ and will be available in white in April and black in May 2025.
More information here: Arturia
its 2025, you have to have Poly aftertouch on these keyboards!
dealbreker
This product feels poorly designed. They should have removed the drum pads, added a larger, more functional display, and included polyphonic aftertouch.
….
If you were to use real emails, I could write you an email. But either you use random names or random emails that don’t exist and that doesn’t help at all in our communication.
One small correction, there’s an extra Aux pedal input compared with the smaller Keylabs. I wish my Keylab 61 MK3 had that! Still a good keyboard though, especially with all the bundled software
one can get a decent 88 key controller keyboard for a third of the price. is the extra cost really worth it for the added gizmos? that’s the real question
Waited for what seems like forever for this release, holding out on buying the NI S88 Mk3. Now, these specs come as a disappointment. Maybe expectations were too high? Arturia is pricing this ‘flagship’ model at 999, so well below the 1299 intro of the NI S88 – so something had to give…
The hopes were, of course, for meeting the NI S88 specs everywhere where it matters (great interface, great keybed with poly-AT, great controls) plus making up for the NI’s compromises: no faders, no drum pads (which are maybe not adding much value paired with a synth keybed, but vs weighted keys, drum pads make a real difference to me).
Well, those gaps are filled in alright, as expected, but it doesn’t meet the NI specs at all. The interface is better than its archaic predecessor (yay!), but really not something to remain on par for the coming ~5 years. The keybed is the same as NI’s but misses the polyphonic AT (really?!).
Again, maybe expecting better than the NI was not realistic, especially finding that they are targeting a significantly lower price point. And for many people, this may be a very important win. But for those looking for their ultimate tool, for years to come, maybe more-for-more would have been the way to go, given this is their flagship.
Who knows, could there be a pro/premium/plus/… version in the making, meeting the NI price point and its specs?? Who knows, but having waited long enough, I’m on my way to the NI store.