Arturia KeyLab 61 mk3 Black B-Stock

For clear and intuitive operation, the KeyLab's control panel is divided into three main sections. On the far left are the pitch and modulation wheels, used for real-time control of pitch bends and modulation effects, and above these are buttons for adjusting transpose and octave settings. The 12 performance pads can be used to trigger samples, play chords, or send MIDI data, and they support polyphonic aftertouch for added expressive control. Dedicated controls allow for quick access to MIDI effects like chord mode, note hold, scale selection, and arpeggiation. Directly below is the transport section, offering hands-on control for playback and recording in a DAW. The display sits at the centre of the panel, and is paired with context-sensitive buttons and a main rotary encoder for navigating menus and settings. The section to the right of the screen is dedicated to the encoders and faders that offer precise control over levels, parameters, panning, and other key adjustments.

Arturia's success story began with software emulations of well-known analogue synthesizers such as the Moog Minimoog, Sequential Prophet-5, and Oberheim SEM. The popular software instruments included in the V Collection are still flagship products of the French developer today. Over time, Arturia has gradually expanded its range and now also offers a host of hardware devices, ranging from synthesizers and keyboard controllers to sequencers. Since then, the former software developer has thus also become a household name in the world of analogue synthesizers and other equipment.