MicroLab is Arturia's most affordable MIDI keyboard, a compact and portable 25-key controller aimed at musicians that want to perform or record on-the-go.
Today, Arturia releases MicroLab mk3, a comprehensively upgraded version of the already-affordable MIDI keyboard at an even more affordable price.
MicroLab's hardware has received a full redesign: the controller has been equipped with a new and improved two-octave keybed, featuring the same velocity-sensitive keys found in MiniLab 3, and a new sustain pedal input, making it a more capable instrument for expressive performances.
Gone is the colourful rubberized casing of the mk2 model that helpfully stored a USB cable, and mk2's recessed USB-B port has been replaced with a USB-C port. Mk3 is now available in white and black versions with new faux-wooden cheeks - a nice visual touch.
If you don't have a sustain pedal to hook up to MicroLab, you can activate the controller's Hold Mode using a button in the corner. The same button also activates Chord Mode, which can be used to play chords with a single key - a helpful feature for beginners.
MicroLab ships with an newly-updated bundle of software that includes Analog Lab Intro, a virtual instrument featuring hundreds of presets from Arturia's V Collection software, and Ableton Live Lite, a stripped-down version of the popular DAW.
Arturia has knocked a decent chunk off the price, too, bringing MicroLab down to to $59 and making MicroLab mk3 a serious contender for one of the best cheap MIDI keyboards on the market.
Find out more on Arturia's website.
