Arturia Keylab 88 ESSENTIAL vs MK2

It has always been like this: They lure you into buying the cheap one but you will soon notice it is utter trash and then buy the expensive one anyways. So buy the expensive one right away!

Does the keylab has full sized keyboard like grand piano has

I am looking forward to try to play piano, as for someone who is at the beggining will the ESSENTIAL be enought ? I never intend to play on an big acousitc piano, so the key feeling isn't important.
I mention that I don't want a piano with speakers, I want a midi that I can connect to PC and use it there. Also I like the Arturia desing. Even more I don't care much about the midi features.
In my country ESSENTIAL is 60% cheaper than MK2

I am hoping that you will reply to my question. Do you think that the 88 Essential will work for a controller for my Nord Stage 3 73 Compact?

What speakers are suitable for arturia keylab 88 essential

Hi! Would you recommend the essential 88, or the Studiologic Numa Compact 2X? I'm looking for a new keyboard with these kind of features and I'm stuck between these two. thanks!

I love my Essential 88. As a synth player/programmer the key action is perfect for me. I also have the Essential 49 key version & the keys feel cheap on those. I've had mine for 3 years now with zero issues.

Can you make your own custom presets on the essential?

350$ ????

Does the 61 MKII also come with all the same amenities but smaller?

Great video. I watched the M Audio Oxygen Pro video as well. How would you (or anyone who tried both) compare the feel and quality of the keys between the Oxygen Pro and Arturia Essential. Or if anyone has some other recommendation in the price range.

Essential or the sl88?

I have a MKII, but I'm thinking of getting the Essential 88 to bring to rehearsals. In regards to the buttons/faders which are present on both models, will the mapping in MainStage respond the same way in both keyboards? In other words, if I map the MKII buttons and faders at home, will the Essential 88 buttons and faders respond to the same mappings? Thanks

Thank you for this detailed comparison. It was exactly what I needed!

Thank you, that was very helpful.

love you dude

So by getting any of these MIDI Keyboard controllers, I can connect via MIDI to my Yamaha Digital Piano and use its sounds?

Thanks for the vid

Great side by side review. Thanks! I'm about to retire my Korg microKEYAir 61 for the Keylab Essential 88. People say that the hammer action on the Essential is frustrating for pianists. Is this true? I don't need the extra bells and whistles of the MK2 as I use the DAW a lot for playing/editing. Am I better off looking for another 88 controller? Is the Novation Launchkey 88 a better option?

is the the expression pedal really needed if i want to compose electronic music ? (hiphop, pop etc)

Yes, the Essential Keylab 88 is not worth for a keyboard player. I have it since 2019, and I don't like the heavy sound that the plastic makes. It's not comfortable for a keyboardist. But the sound knobs are really great to change the sound as well.
I regret it now, I'd like to have the MKII, but the price is really high

I own this one and is absolutely a beast of a controller. Love the keys. I also own the roland Fp30x. The keys on the roland are better in my opinion. I wish it had that action. I am thinking to get rid of the roland and get me the studiologic numa x piano gt. I heard has the best hammer key action on the market.

Hi trying to buy a piano for my daughter, which is better ? Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 or Alesis Prestige Artist 88 for beginners?

You're godsent bro.

does anybody know if the mark 2 will fit in the output platform desk keyboard tray im thinking it looks too big

Is essential have hammer reflection key??

Hi Sanjay.... can mk2 replace midi controllers like "Icon platform M" with its sliders and knobs? If it can then I'll not have to spend some extra cash on that. Please let me kow. Great demo.

I have an Arturia Keylab 49 Essential for synth stuff and a Nektar Impact GX61 for that "pianistic feel" when I'm studying. I was thinking in selling one of them, but I can't. Once you got in this "MIDI controller world" it's hard to get out, haha!
Amazing video, dear Sanjay. Peace!

Is it possible (and desirable) to use midi controllers such as Arturias above for life performances in conjuction with sound module such as Digitech Piano box? I am now to all the DAW and midi controlers thing, but I have the pianobox that bought years ago to ease a latency issue on Sibelius 7. So If I get any of the above would it be convenient enough to use the combo ocassionaly for live performances?

Thanks for the review. Was on the fence. But you convinced me to get the essential

Ofcourse mkll will better u noob

hello sanjay. this is the first time I leave a message in your channel. but I've learnt a lot to setup my studio. thank you.
recently I am thinking of upgrading my midi device. should I buy the essential, or the keylab 88 ( not the mk II )?
it the midi control much better in essential ?

MK2 won't fit under my Output desk and it's so close

Is aftertouch ever mentioned? Because let's just say I'm glad I did my damn research and figured out that the "Essential" doesn't have this bog-standard feature even though a ton of much cheaper and much older controllers do have it.

Really wish that the essential had the fully weighted keys…

Hello bro! Can u suggest me a gud 49 key midi keyboard for rhythm programming considering the quality of keys and optable with Logic pro X.

Hey Sanjay, are the keys of the mk2 graded? how is the feel compare to the maudio pro?

SANJAY IS DA BEST!!!!!!

Hey Sanjay! I really like your quality videos, very much helpful in choosing the right product, but still I got a question to ask, should I buy Komplete Kontrol S88 or Arturia Keylab 88 MK2, for music production? please guide me to choose one!!

I really want to get my hands on both of these to tell the difference between the weight and “clicky-ness” of the keys… that’s really my deciding factor at this point

Hey sanjay sir aap mujhe midi keyboard de sakte ho kya apke paas jo use me nahi ho 61 or other midi please tell me

Nice comparison! How does the keybed on the essential compare to the one on the Nektar impact lx ?

Dope video 👏 loving your channel Bro 👊💪🔥🔥🔥. Love from the UK 🙏

this comparison makes no sense. It's like destroying the essential model. Would have maked sense it price is about the same.

Trying to decide between the essential 88 and the oxygen pro 61, any thoughts?

Hey Sanjay, great video. I'm thinking of buying the new M1 iMac but there is only usb-c and thunderbolt. Do you think that I can plug my keylab essential 88 to a usb-c with an adapter?

This video said 90% about MKII itself!

Thumbnail says,
This keyboard is just $350 only,
Video says,
You should buy MKII only.

How are you friend, I read that you have the Mk2, I have a Roland fantom x8 synthesizer, I do not use the sounds of it because nowadays the software and virtual instruments are very advanced in sound quality, my question is, the Mk2 are resistant to the keys? because they told me that they are plastic, and my fantom x8 the keys are made of another real piano material, the goal is to buy the Mk2, but I must be sure if it is really robust and resistant both the keys and the quality of the materials? I would appreciate your opinion please friend

Ive found arturia customer support is horrible

Great videos, Sanjay. I want the 88mk2, but i've heard the keys are noisy due to the metal underneath the keybed. Can you confirm or deny this? I have no way to test them out