Arturia KeyLab Essential 61

$238.03 to $249.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (18)

3 Reviews

Find out who is using Arturia KeyLab Essential 61

3 community setups

7 wishlisted

82 saved

Page last updated Jun 20, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated June 20, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

$249.00

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4.0 (13)

$238.03 4 available New

$149.00 8 available Used

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Average Price: $212

Standard/Professional

$200

$501+

Price Tier

In the MIDI Keyboard Controllers category, Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Unlock your musical potential with the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61, a versatile MIDI keyboard controller that merges 61 velocity-sensitive keys with cutting-edge technology to elevate your music production experience. Whether you're a budding musician or a seasoned producer, this controller provides seamless integration with your favorite DAW, thanks to its comprehensive software suite and intuitive controls.

The KeyLab Essential 61 is engineered for creativity and efficiency, featuring a dynamic pad section, fader bank, and rotary knobs, making it an ideal companion for any studio setup. It includes Arturia's Analog Lab software, giving you access to an extensive library of high-quality sounds, from classic synths to modern tones. The controller’s user-friendly interface ensures you can easily navigate through presets and tweak parameters to your liking.

Designed with the gigging musician in mind, the KeyLab Essential 61 is both durable and lightweight, making it the perfect travel companion for live performances. The MIDI out port allows you to control external hardware, providing flexibility in your setup. Plus, the dedicated transport controls enable you to manage your sessions effortlessly, letting you focus on your music instead of the technicalities.

Key Features:

61 velocity-sensitive keys for expressive playability
Complete integration with major DAWs including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and more
Includes Arturia Analog Lab software with over 6,500 sounds
8 RGB backlit performance pads for dynamic beat-making
9 faders and 9 rotary encoders for precise control
MIDI out port for connecting external gear
Dedicated transport controls for hands-on DAW operation
USB bus-powered for easy setup and use on the go

Product specs

Brand	Arturia
Model	KeyLab Essential 61 Black Edition MIDI Controller, KeyLab Essential 61 MIDI Controller
Finish	Black, White
Year	2017 - 2025
Categories	Keyboard MIDI Controllers, Pad MIDI Controllers
Key Size	Full Size
Keyboard Action	Synth Action
MIDI I/O	MIDI Output, USB MIDI
Number of Keys	61 Keys
Number of Pads	8 Pads

FAQs

Does the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 have weighted keys?: The Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 features a synth-action keybed, which is not weighted but provides a smooth and responsive feel suitable for both performance and studio use.
How does the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 integrate with DAWs?: The KeyLab Essential 61 offers seamless integration with popular DAWs like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and FL Studio, providing pre-mapped controls for efficient workflow and ease of use.
What connectivity options are available on the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61?: The Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 includes USB MIDI for direct computer connection and a standard MIDI output for connecting to other MIDI-compatible devices.
Are the pads on the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 velocity-sensitive?: Yes, the 8 pads on the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 are velocity-sensitive, allowing for expressive performance and dynamic beat-making.
What software comes bundled with the Arturia KeyLab Essential 61?: The Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 typically comes bundled with Analog Lab software, providing access to a vast library of synthesizer sounds and presets.

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Reviews

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PROS

Includes Analog Lab V with an impressive set of instruments
Exceptional DAW control compatible with various DAWs
Comes with valuable software bundle: Analog Lab, Ableton Live Lite, Steinway Piano Model D Plugin
Realistic and high-quality piano sounds, especially from Steinway Piano Model D
Keys register velocity well, enhancing expression
Affordable for most levels of musicians
Powered by a simple USB cable, enhancing portability

CONS

Key feel may not satisfy all musicians, especially those used to traditional pianos

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Arturia KeyLab Essential 61.

Build quality

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The keybed of the KeyLab Essential 61 is described as feeling plasticky and cheap, with significant key travel and springiness that may lead to discomfort during extended play.
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Users note the knobs can feel inconsistent, with some being too sturdy and others spinning at different rates, leading to a less cohesive tactile experience.
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Features and functionality

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The KeyLab Essential 61 requires the use of the Midi Control Center App for settings adjustments, despite having a screen that could potentially handle such configurations.
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The middle dial on the KeyLab Essential 61 is exclusively for Arturia software and does not transmit MIDI CC, limiting its utility with other software.
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Transport controls lack certain features like a tap tempo button and easy navigation between time markers, which can be a downside for some users.
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User experience

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Despite adjusting velocity curves extensively, users report the keyboard can drop notes during light play, particularly problematic for pianists seeking expressive playing.
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Users report that the pads can be hard and less sensitive, potentially impacting playability for dynamic drum programming or performance.
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Comparisons

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Compared to other entry-level controllers, the KeyLab Essential's key action is criticized for being less satisfying, even against cheaper models like the iRig Keys Pro.
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The Novation Launchkey 37 mk3 is frequently preferred over the KeyLab Essential 61 for its robust build and feature set, especially for Ableton users.
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Software and compatibility

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The keyboard integrates well with various DAWs such as FL Studio and Bitwig, thanks to its out-of-the-box compatibility.
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While the keyboard integrates well with Arturia plugins, some users find its DAW integration, particularly with FL Studio, requires additional setup effort.
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Setup and maintenance

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Some owners experience persistent issues with sustain pedal polarity, requiring frequent manual reversals as the setting cannot be permanently saved.
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 18 Ratings

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solusash

1787

about 6 years ago

Pretty Decent Controller

I have zero experience with MIDI controllers heretofore, but it does what it says on the tin--it controls MIDI, it has faders that fade, knobs that knob, pads that pad, and keys that key. It's affordable to most any level of musician, it has weighted keys that actually register velocity in your DAW (and it works with Cakewalk by Bandlab, so it should work with anything), so it's got some nice features.

The keys feel nice. They play well. The faders feel almost like a real console. The knobs are the best knobs I've ever hobknobbed with. Not really faffed about with the pads yet.

It also comes with a few extra software programs, all of which are really nice. LOADS of synth sounds, Abelton Live Lite, and uh... I forget what the other one was. But for less than $300, you could do a lot worse.

And it's all powered by a printer USB Cable!

Come on, buy it. You know you want to.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Drummer

Genres:

Electronic Folk rock Progressive rock

taka_kazuki

129

over 4 years ago

Powerful controller with One of the best software bundle

I gotten this as a gift from someone and it has became my main workstation.

After using it for quite awhile, I have to say this controller is a beast. For home producers who doesn't care much of the key feeling, its gonna be more than enough to take you down the road for a long time as well as the software bundle.

One of 2 features that this controller stand out is DAW Control. The Arturia Keylab Essential Series has one of the best DAW control which is able to cater toward different kind of DAW compare to other MIDI Controller in the same prices range.

Another one would be the software bundle Analog Lab, Ableton Live Lite and Steinways Piano Model D Plugin. I been using Analog Lab Lite for quite sometime and I really love most of the preset that they have and are great competitor against other industries synth plugin like Spire, Massive, Nexus and Serum if you are using the full version. Ableton Live Lite is provided standard like most other MIDI Controller within the same price range.

Steinways Piano Model D Plugin actually caught me by surprise because most piano plugin doesn't seem to emulate a very nice and almost realistic piano sound. As a person who is also very picky on piano sound this one has actually became part of 3 piano that I use on my main production.

Roles:

Keyboardist Music Producer DJ