With 25 keys, 16 knobs, and 8 pads, Arturia really seems to have hit the sweet spot between functionality and portability.

Just because the keyboard is simple, however, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a lot to offer. Simplicity is the key behind the Arturia MiniLab MKII - it’s sleek, stylish, and even the software that it uses - Analog Lab 2, is a lot sleeker than its predecessor. Yes, you’ll still get the wooden accents, but they’re far more subtle - and, dare we say, classier. While that looked great, it’s well and truly time for Arturia’s controllers to evolve, and the MiniLab MKII is the embodiment of that. Arturia has gone a slightly different route than previous MIDI controllers, which far more heavily featured wood - in fact, the entire side of the keyboards was made of wood. The installation of all of those pieces of software is very straightforward, and they’re all downloaded from your account after you register. That’s not a bad little bundle, especially considering the fact that it all comes with a controller that costs less than $150. With the MiniLab MKII, you’ll get Arturia’s Analog Lab Lite, as well as Ableton Live Lite, the UVI Grand Piano, and Arturia’s MINI Control Center. If you don’t already have an Arturia account, you’ll need to create one, after which you can simply enter in the registration code and and “unlock code” to register the device to your account. Overall I have been very pleased so far! Although I will be looking into a small pad midi to accompany my set because the arturia pads just are not as responsive as I would like.Setting up the MiniLab MKII was actually quite a breeze. (I bought a midi controller before this by a different brand and had to send it back because it didn’t work and the keys felt like a child’s toy, this does not!) It’s a bit on the heavier side, which I suspect is from having quality keys. It’s plug and play and it feels good and sturdy.

The pitch and modulation are super fun and easy. The free software is a cool bonus as well. The knobs are smooth and everything is responsive.

The keys feel awesome! The pads are a bit stiff so I wouldn’t buy this if you are looking for great pads. It looks great with my portable setup which is factor for me as far as creating a vibe. Out of all the midi keyboard controllers I read reviews for in this price range, this one seemed to have the most positive and in my opinion is the most stylish. I did a TON of research before purchasing this item.

Arturia minilab ableton setup