We offer two ways to set up your KeyLab Essential mk3, based on whether you're new to Arturia products or not.
Please check out our dedicated pages on how to start with your controller:
KeyLab Essential 49/61 mk3 Start
To make sure your KeyLab Essential mk3 works properly, we advise you to plug your device directly on one of your computer's USB ports, and not through a USB hub.
If having any troubles please have a look to this article:
There are 4 built-in MIDI ports in KeyLab Essential mk3.
1. KL Essential mk3 MIDI: the standard MIDI port needed for all apps including DAWs and standalone software such as Analog Lab V. It enables MIDI communication via the USB-C port on KeyLab Essential mk3.
2. KL Essential mk3 DINTHRU: Passes outgoing MIDI information from the host software through KeyLab Essential mk3’s 5-pin MIDI out connector. This can be useful when you want to sequence and control hardware synths with your DAW using KeyLab Essential mk3 as a MIDI interface.
3. KL Essential mk3 MCU/HUI: Enables KeyLab Essential mk3 as a Mackie Control Universal surface via a dedicated port, to not interfere with other MIDI messages as notes or control changes. This port will only be necessary if you want to control a DAW that supports MCU or HUI protocols and does not have a dedicated script for simplified integration as described here for supported DAWs.
4. KL Essential mk3 ALV: Transmits screen messages from Analog Lab V to KeyLab Essential mk3.
Notes
-On Windows make sure to install the MIDI Control Center's latest version for these ports to be displayed properly.
-Do not activate the MCU/HUI port if not necessary, since it will trigger notes when pressing the transport pads.
Get started with KeyLab Essential mk3 in Analog Lab and Arturia Individual Instruments
1. Install Analog Lab on your computer and make sure if not already done to activate it via Arturia Software Center as explained here: Activate and Install from the Arturia Software Center
2. Connect the KeyLab Essential mk3 to your computer.
3. If you are using a DAW, make sure to insert Analog Lab on a track as explained here, enable "KL Essential mk3 MIDI" port via the DAW -> MIDI Preferences menu (or set it up with the DAW dedicated script as explained here if working on a supported DAW) and to adjust your audio settings accordingly in the DAW -> Audio settings menu as well.
4. If using Standalone version, make sure to select "KL Essential mk3 MIDI" & "KL Essential mk3 ALV" ports, to select your audio interface and the desired Output channels and to set the Buffer size to a value around 128 samples (for a decent compromise between latency and CPU consumption) via Analog Lab's "Audio MIDI Settings" menu:
Clicking on the "Play" button allows to test and confirm that sound is outputted on the desired Audio channel.
- The same process applies to any of our Virtual Software Instruments as well.
In case you would not be able to control the desired parameters from your controllers' faders and knobs, make sure to check that the correct MIDI Configuration is being selected via the right-panel preferences -> MIDI menu as showed below:
Here is another exemple with another individual instrument:
Important notes
-If no sound is produced, make sure to test another Audio driver & to preferably use the dedicated ASIO driver provided along with your Audio interface ((if on Windows) and to test another Audio device as well as a different Sample rate to confirm if this helps.
-Only Sample rates between 44.1 and 96 Khz are officially tested and recommended.
To activate the HUI/MCU protocol, you have to go in the Device Settings of the MIDI Control Center, and choose between Mackie, HUI, or 'Both'.
Warning
If you choose 'Both' when using Reaper, and that you set your DAW to listen to MCU only, you'll encounter some issues.
To solve this issue with Reaper, simply pick between Mackie and HUI, instead of choosing 'Both'.
→ Press the Prog button on the right side of the screen to cycle through programs:
- Arturia (to control Arturia plugins standalone or in the DAW)
- DAWs (to control the DAW with transport buttons, encoders and faders)
- User (to make your own MIDI settings)
Pad 1 for Arturia (to control Arturia plugins standalone or in the DAW)
Pad 2 for DAW (to control the DAW with transport buttons, encoders and faders)
Pad 3 and after for User (to make your own MIDI settings)
-Before pressing the Quant button, the notes are off the Grid:
-After pressing the Quant button, the notes are on the Grid:
- Depending on the situation, this button may or may not be lit on:
