Arturia MiniLab 3 Midi Controller Keyboard Overview
MiniLAB 3 is a compact MIDI keyboard & pad controller that lets users make music, right out the box. With a creative plug-and-play workflow, versatile assignable controls, 500 curated sounds from Analog Lab"s massive library, and a bundle of world-class creative software, MiniLAB 3 is designed to finally help beginners and professionals to get truly immersed in their music creation flow, whatever their style.
Hands-on, easy to use From the great-feeling keyboard, to the smart DAW-integrated pads & faders, to the real-time mini display, every aspect of MiniLAB 3 is designed to be intuitive, expressive, and a joy to use - for beginners and pros alike.
Creative features Enjoy a workflow that aids the creative process, with features like a built-in arpeggiator, Chord mode, custom DAW presets, and easy transposition. Making music has never been so accessible.
Portable, compatible design MiniLAB 3 is built to fit seamlessly into any setup, from bedroom to stage, with its compact & lightweight design, deeper DAW integration, and MIDI out & USB-C connectivity.
Eco-Designed MiniLAB 3 is built with longevity and sustainability in mind. A rugged road-ready design, 5-year warranty, minimum 50% recycled plastic construction, and 100% recycled packaging means this controller goes the distance.
Creative software included On top of a world-class MIDI controller, users get a full package of premium music-making software, from an industry-standard DAW to well over 500 synth & keyboard presets.
Production- ready bundle
- Everything that users need to start creating their own music. Explore premium tools like Ableton Live Lite, Analog Lab Intro, UVI Model D grand piano, and Native Instruments "The Gentleman upright piano; enjoy access to millions of royalty-free lifetime loops & samples with a Loopcloud 2 months subscription + 1 Welcome pack + 1 pack of your choice; get to grips with playing keyboard, finger drumming, DAW production, and even music theory with a Melodics “unlimited” trial subscription & bonus lessons.
- 25 note velocity-sensitive slim keyboard
- 2 banks of 8 high quality velocity & pressure sensitive pads with RGB backlighting
- 8 rotary encoders & 4 sliders
- Mini Display & Clickable Encoder with real-time feedback on tweaks and controls
- Built-in Arpeggiator
- Hold and Chord modes
- Custom-written DAW scripts for intuitive integration with major DAWs
- 2 capacitive touch sensors for pitch bend and modulation wheel
- Inputs for sustain, expression, or footswitch
- 5-PIN MIDI connection to external MIDI instruments and gear
- Seamless integration with all Arturia software instruments
- World-class software package included, with over 500 sounds!
Features
- Useful, tactile controls:
- -2 banks of 8 high quality velocity & pressure sensitive pads with RGB backlighting
- -8 rotary encoders
- -4 sliders
- Mini display & clickable browsing knob, with real-time feedback on tweaks and controls.
- Built-in Arpeggiator.
- Hold and Chord modes.
- Effective DAW functionalities:
- Custom-written DAW scripts for intuitive integration with major DAWs
- Arturia & DAW programs automatically connecting to the software, and up to 5 additional user program.
- DAW Transport Control
- Octave up and down buttons for full range, Transpose for semitone transposition.
- 2 capacitive touch sensors for pitch bend and modulation wheel.
- Control input for pedal: sustain, expression, or foot-switch.
- USB-C MIDI connects to computers and MIDI Control Center.
- MIDI 5-pin DIN output for connection to external MIDI instruments and gears.
- Seamless integration with all Arturia software instruments, including Analog Lab: select sounds, browse presets, switch parts, smart-assigned controls
- Instrument size: 14 x 8.7 x 2 inches (355 x 220 x 50mm).
- Instrument weight: 3.3lbs (1.5Kg).
- Use the Midi Control Center to customize your MiniLAB. You can change the Velocity curves (keyboard and pads), the Knobs acceleration, the Pedal input type and polarity, the Message types with their Min and Max values, the MIDI Channels, and much more. Shape the MiniLAB exactly the way you need it to be.
- Switch MIDI Channel: Shift + a key with a number above it will change the MIDI Channel.
- Hold a note: When engaged, every note played will be held. Playing new notes will replace the previously held notes
- Chord mode: Shift + Hold will activate “Chord mode”. Then, just play one note and it will play the full chord with the pressed note as the root note. You can record a custom chord by keeping Shift + Hold pressed while entering up to 16 notes.
- Transposition: Transpose the whole keyboard by octaves or semitones by pressing Oct or Shift + Oct.
- Transport Control: While pressing Shift, you can use the corresponding pads to Play, Stop, Record, Loop, and tap the tempo.
- Arpeggiator mode: Shift + Pad#1 engages/disengages the Arp. Long press Shift + Pad#1 to enter the Arp settings. Then use the 8 knobs or the main encoder to set the Arp as you please.
- Hold + Chord + Arp: Can be activated at the same time, allowing you to keep the Arp running while tweaking the parameters of a preset.
- Pad banks: Shift + Pad#2 toggles between Bank A and B).
- Programs: Shift + Pad#3 cycle through the programs. Arturia and DAW programs will automatically connect to any Arturia Software or DAW if there is one open on the computer. You can create and add some User Programs to customise the MIDI CCs, notes, pad colours etc.
- Arturia Program = use the main encoder to browse through presets. Press the Main encoder to select a Preset. Long Press the main encoder to like/unlike the Preset. Shift + Main encoder will browse through Types. Select one, and then browse through the filtered presets
- DAW Program = use the main encoder (turn or click), and "Shift + the main encoder" (Shift + Turn and Shift + Click) to access different features depending on the connected DAW.
- === BACK PANEL connectivity ===
- USB-C = Connect to a computer or a power source
- Control Input = you can set the pedal input to be Sustain, Expression or Footswitch.
- MIDI Out = Send midi through MIDI Din port