Arturia - MiniLab 3 - Universal MIDI Controller for Music Production, with All-in-One Software Package - 25 Keys, 8 Multi-Color Pads. - White

Really impressed by this. It has such a quality feel and is so easy to use. It has that Apple kind of quality feel to it. I'm so pleased with it after using akai which felt like a toy

Goodness me, where do I start? I've had a gap from composing computer music for a long time. I'm going back to Fasttracker 2 days, and before that, the Amiga. You guys really don't know how lucky you are having this level of tool for your work. That being said...I have a PC that runs FL Studio, it also has a Audigy RX sound card in it (improves processing time). I also have a Yamaha keyboard workstation. I've been getting into using a DAW, and it's taken me six months of frustration and joy and stealing time in equal measures.I play and record all sorts of genres, it depends what I have in my head and what needs to come out. Arturia have been appearing in my FB and Insta ads, and then I heard a really great track, where the Minilab 3 was listed, and some software called Analogue Lab V was used.I have a full sized keyboard workstation, and there is a lot of twisting and turning trying different instruments and riffs out, between my computer screen and the keyboard. I really needed something directly in front of me, and even better if it could provide a degree of control of Fruity Loops studio. So the choice was either Novation or Arturia.As the Arturia Minilab comes with Analogue Lab V packaged for free, which includes a massive amount of great instruments as both a stand alone application, and within FL Studio, it seemed a no brainer at £90!I unpackaged it and plugged it in and literally lost HOURS on it immediately, occassionally a cup of coffee and some food would appear so I didn't pass out. It takes a bit of setting up, but wow, it used to take 8 hours on an AOL connection to get a 500Kb video. Obviously, now, there's video tutorials everywhere online instantly, you can't really go wrong.So, you get it out, plug it into a USB port on your PC, and it fires up and powers up. There's midi control software to set up the software as stand alone, so you can just use all the instruments and play live, which is very addictive. Or alternatively, use the VST app from within Fruity Loops, and if you're me, transport yourself back to that GOLDEN era, and bang out an absolute old skool belter!It's worth mentioning, that apart from setting my Yamaha Workstation up in Fruity Loops as a midi controller, I have never done anything like this before. I had it absolutely singing by the time I finally had to go to bed. I got up from my desk, and I didn't even know where I was for a few minutes whilst I decompressed.I've got a good quality recording studio here at home now for next to nothing cost-wise, and it's a joy to use.Think about it this way, if you just wanted to use it stand alone, buy a bigger keyboard from Arturia, plug it into your PC, get some really lovely speakers, and use it as a home instrument. It's £90, and I still can't quite believe what I'm getting. I'm really pleased with Arturia, and they'll probably have me as a lifelong customer.UPDATE: 27/9/23 - Arturia offered me a full upgrade of the package included with the keyboard, there's millions of studio quality sounds and it was less than £40. She's definitely going to leave me.I end up using my Yamaha workstation to do all the midi recording when I perform, and the Arturia for working out hooks and cycling through the instruments that I want to use. If you don't have a Yamaha like me, cost up a bigger version of a midi keyboard from them (with a bit more touch sensitivity), a PC or laptop, FL Studio, a creative audio card (or similar), and some decent speakers, and you'll have a fully fledged recording studio in your bedroom. My keyboard has a vocal input and guitar input, so I just output from that to the audio card, with almost zero lag/latency on live performance utilising the Creative ASIO drivers.I tell thee, if me and my mate had all this 30 years ago, we'd be famous now.

Perfect quality and good price

Cracking little midi controller decided to plummet for this brand after reviewing a compare video on youtube, twas originally going to purchase the Akai one but this was swayed to the Arturia on the basis of the additional amount of free software that comes with it. Very easy to set up and an extensive library of ever growing greta sounds to which will for fill every taste and genre you want ! The only quibble if any is the lack of additional cut-off and rez buttons on the keyboard which would be a welcomed addition. Have since deceide to upgrade to the 49 keys version, although they've decide to remove the option contols for altering the tone controls.

Fantastic bit of equipment to use with logic on my MacBook. Insane what I’ve been able to create with it! Fantastic value for money and a must to get creative at home!

Amazing quality, easy to setup and it comes with most software you need to get started too. The integration with Ableton Live is great. Having physical buttons and faders to control software is a godsend. Once you learn all of the shortcuts on the keyboard you will understand how massive this tiny c thing is. Can't say enough good things about it. For anyone who is buying as a first keyboard, just remember that this a controller that needs software to make sound. When you register it on Arturia's system all of your Arturia purchases go towards discounts to every you buy from them. I have saved hundreds of pounds and have accumulated a wealth of tools and software that will be used for many years to come.

This is an excellent bit of kit. I already had the Arturia Keylab 49, but having the Minilab is really handy for sitting on the sofa with a laptop and just playing about with sounds.It's light, compact and well featured. Amazing for the price.