Changes often come unexpected, unsolicited, breaking into our habits in a decisive way. And so, for reasons that I will not be here to explain, I suddenly found myself having to leave the room used as a Home Studio I had and having to equip a corner of the bedroom in the apartment where I live with my family with the bare minimum. .
Banned the monitors with woofers with a diameter greater than 5'', the control surfaces, the master keyboards... (I even had to get a wireless PC mouse and a keyboard to avoid cables on the desk!!!).
Let's get to the point : in this precarious situation, in order to be able to simply add some notes into my work, every time I am forced to assemble and disassemble the Roland FA06 that I use mainly live, with considerable annoyance and decrease of desire even in front of the sexiest of projects that present themselves to me. While I was setting my workspace Arthur has released this new product Microlab conceived as part of a controllers’ set dedicated to black and white keys on which the French manufacturer has already proven to be able to do with practicality and class. The extremely compact size of this master keyboard has allowed me to keep it permanently placed on the small plane of my mini-writer, allowing me to always have at hand a tool to interact quickly with my DAW.
Product Description
The Microlab Arturia is a mini USB keyboard with XNUMX dynamic sensitive keys (without aftertouch), compact and sturdy, characterized by a wrap-around case made of impact-resistant plastic material. It integrates a convenient compartment along all edges to fit a twisted USB cable provided when the instrument is not in use. Available, as well as in black, in two nice colours reminiscent of the classic Italian design of Alessi kitchen tools that made us look so good when we gave them to our aunts at Christmas.
The product is disarmingly simple, no storage keys, no display, four keys, one "shift" and three function keys, for a total set of six functions: hold, octave+, octave-, chord, program+, program-.
Modulation e pitch bend they are in the format touch strips, already tested on the first version of Minilab (reviewed here: Arturia MiniLab) and subsequently perfected with the Keysteps, from which our Microlab also completely inherits the extraordinary keybed.
The shift key, in combination with the first 16 keys of the controller, provides for midi output channel's selection. If used together with the pitch bend and modulation strips one can quickly move in the choice of category and sound of the supplied Analog Lab Lite software (we'll talk about it later).
In the package, therefore, nothing but the Microlab (the one under test is black) with the supplied USB cable already connected and wrapped in its compartment, a card with the serial number (essential for registration) and a small brochure with basic operating instructions and other ones for downloading the software bundled with the product.
Installation and configuration
Arturia Software Center
As with all Arturia products, the first software we are invited to install is Arturia Software Center which takes care of both the installation of the packages provided and the activation of the licenses. Test environment 7 64 bit Windows on a fairly outdated generation PC. Naturally Microlab does not need to install any driver to work as it is a "Class Compliant" device, which allows immediate recognition even on devices Android e IOS.
The registration procedure, however, is necessary for the installation and use of the supplied software products: everything proceeds quickly, you register the serial number of the product on the site and you will find the software provided in the bundle to activate on Software Center; in a few other steps you will find Analog Lab 4 Lite installed and fully functional on your computer (the plugin is available in vst2 e vst3, Aax e AU exclusively a 64 bit).
MIDI Control Center
The second software to install is MIDI Control Center developed for the remote management of all Arturia hardware on the market. The Microlab connected to the PC is immediately recognized and faithfully represented on the computer monitor. From the Control Center you can download and perform the firmware updates of the instrument (performed smoothly an update on my Microlab) and manage in a simple and immediate way the few configuration parameters of the MIDI setup:
- the midi transmission channel of the note messages and the dynamic response curve (Linear, Logarithmic, Exponential, Full)
- the assignment of the control change of the modulation touch strip (it is possible to use any number of midi control changes), relative transmission channel (1..16 or the same channel assigned to the note keys) and max and min values of the 0..127 scale
- the type of operation of the pitch bend touch strip (standard / hold) and related midi transmission channel
- the operating mode of the hold button (toggle or gate)
From the software menu it is possible to activate the display of a MIDI Console which facilitates the verification of the settings without having to resort to an external mini monitor (as visible at the bottom of the print screen)
Nota: for those who do not know, there is a midi monitor online at this address www.gsidsp.com/MidiMonitor
Analog Lab Lite 4
Analog Lab Lite, updated to version 4 (first version of the software reviewed here Arturia-minilab-part-2) has been significantly improved in the graphical interface and greatly enhanced from the point of view of the sound arsenal available. Along with the development of the V Collection suite, the entry level version of the sound engine made by Arturia, implements the same synthesis algorithms and despite the very limited editing possibilities it provides a selection of ready-to-use sounds of really high quality. In short, an only-one instrument able carry on an an entire electronic production, conceived in certain canons of more or less consolidated genres.
For the more advanced experiments it is necessary to unlock the complete versions of the various synthesis engines available, in order to have in hand the complete editing of the virtual instrument. In short, Analog Lab, as far as Lite is concerned, also offers the possibility to taste the sound texture of all the great Arturia emulations and decide which synth to buy in case you are not interested in the complete suite. At a very affordable price it is also available the full version of Analog Lab which provides a truly impressive amount of ready-to-use timbres 8474 against i 500 of the lite version, as shown in the sound search screen).
When running Analog Lab, the two touch strips of pitch bend and modulation, used at the same time as pressing the shift button, allow you to move quickly between categories and stored presets.
Nota: thanks to the MIDI Console of the MIDI Control Center I could see that the use of the touch strips in conjunction with the shift key generates control changes 112 e 114. These values are not modifiable, but with a little skill it is possible to exploit this information to activate some features even on software other than Analog Lab.
Other bundled software
In addition to the Analog Lab 4 software, to those who purchase the Microlab Arturia makes two serial codes available for the activation of two other very interesting products. One is Bitwig 8-tracks, a new DAW developed on the hybrid live/studio concept introduced by Ableton and the other one is UVI Grand Piano Model D, accurate reproduction of the Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano.
This software equipment described is truly complete and exhaustive for an economic range product like this. However, the availability of any software for IOS has been completely omitted, which leaves a little surprise as the controller seems the perfect complement to a portable workstation that could see right in a iPad the heart of the system. In short, we invite Arturia to develop a Lite version as soon as possible also of its flagship products for IOS, such as iMini, iSem and iProphet.
Field test
Studio use
The Microlab has immediately proved to be a very precise and comfortable master keyboard and therefore not a simple rebound dictated by the need for little space available. On the contrary, it is a keyboard so pleasant to play without the need to move on a 61 keys to write most of the musical parts except for the limitation of only two octaves available. As we have already seen, the mechanics and the key action are the same of the very powerful Keystep, (unfortunately the aftertouch is missing); the dynamic response is very natural and the different "curves" made available in the MIDI Control Centre make the response further customizable of the keys to the way you interact with the controller. The use of touch strips is very convenient, especially for the possibility of modulation to control any CC midi with min and max settable values (so very useful in the design of crescendo and diminuendo) and for the possibility of the pitch bend to be set without return to zero at the time of release, allowing a more creative use with micro intonations.
It proves really precious when writing a song, when you need to quickly take notes on the key or explain the melodic lines to the singer (expecially when it comes to countercantos in third!!!), or draw on the fly the bass joints with the bass drum to test the groove of a beat. Quite useless (but obviously useful to someone) the chord modemode which allows you to play three notes with the press of a single key. (at previously set intervals)
In short, placed above or below the computer keyboard, it makes fast and practical the first part of defining an arrangement : the writing of the draft. When you go continuously from C1...G8 to qwerty, you give names and colors to the tracks, you prepare the groups, you insert the chords for the arpeggiators and at the same time you fix the markers to start defining the structure of the song.
On the road
The Microlab is obviously also an excellent working tool for those who are forced to continuous mobility; considering the size and the solidity with which it is built, you can easily put it in your backpack or suitcase without fear of finding it with broken edges or with some not working buttons. Combined with an iPad of the latest generation, it can be a very powerful portable workstation for processing and finalizing a project. The addition of this small master keyboard to my travel setup that includes an iPad Pro 9.7 and Korg gadget 2has greatly improved the experience of using the mini daw as I can almost always carry it with me, avoiding the annoying use of the touch screen for inserting notes.
Live use
The iPad and Microlab could also be a valid pair of instruments for live use. Obviously a lot depends on the musical genre that you intend to propose, as the limit of two octaves becomes insurmountable for a classic keyboardist. Moreover, the total absence of assignable rotary controllers and sliders certainly does not favour the idea of using Microlab on stage exclusively for playing parts. I took the Arturia to a rehearsal session with my band, to enrich my performance with some sounds borrowed from the Moog Model D for iPad. The objective difficulty in suddenly switching from a typical 88 or 76 keys keyboard to the small key on the Microlab, however precise, causes a feeling of disorientation probably due to the slow adaptability of the brain (or at least mine) to work with such different interval distances. Guilty maybe also the bad positioning of the small keyboard which had to be placed more accurately on a dedicated and well fixed shelf.
Instead the Microlab seems an excellent instrument to be used on stage as only-one master keyboard, perhaps accompanied by other types of controllers (launchpad, akai, mpd etc..) in a set more oriented to sample based music . I refer to those kind of situations where samples or played arpeggiators, but needless to say, in this context the master is another Arturia product, namely the older sister Keystep, accompanied by a series of really important features that make you appreciate the difference in live use. And I must say that the comparison with the Keystep is the only reason that leaves you puzzled about the decision to buy or not a Microlab, because for a handful of euro more you have a series of features really incredible (32 keys , aftertouch, cv gate, step sequencer and more).
On the other hand, the Keystep has been designed with the precise intent to drive external sound generators. That's why it does not have the greedy software bundle made available with this brand new Microlab.
Conclusions
Compactness, robustness and a generous availability of software packages are the main strengths of Microlab, together with a very pleasant touch of the keys in any kind of execution and a disarming ease of use. The great doubt remains about the comparison with its sister Keystep, certainly less compact and more delicate and obviously without the full-bodied software bundle, but with a series of extra features for a truly derisory price difference. In short, for those like me who don't need everything a Keystep provides, a 37-key Microlab version, with even a single rotary controller, would have been perfect, just to make it completely dedicated to the pre-production and initial editing of an arrangement and/or writing work.
Waiting to buy a slightly bigger desk, I'm holding on to this beautiful Microlab that at the moment I wouldn't be able to replace with any other product on the market, hoping that in the meantime Arturia's house will start thinking about a 37-key version.
Useful Information
Product: Arturia Microlab
Sito: Arthur
Italian distributor: Midiware
Advised price: 79 €
