[BUG] Sustain pedal bug makes my Keylab mk3 unusable

[JeremyRobertsHQ]

I’ve tried a Roland DP-10 and a Roland DP-2 sustain pedal, the DP-2 in particular only ever works as on/off switch, so the MIDI value should be 0 or 127, with nothing in between.

However, it doesn’t behave that way. The Keylab creates intermediate values, which results in a lag between ON and OFF, so that the notes stop sustaining with a delay from the moment I’ve released the pedal.

On top of that, it sends MIDI data briefly on MIDI channel 2, even in USER mode with the sustain pedal set to send data only to channel 1.

I use the sustain pedal 90% of the time, and this bug makes the keyboard unusable for me.

Any chance Arturia could provide a fix for this ridiculous problem?

Thank you

Firmware 1.1.1

[Sean_W]

Ok, so I also noticed some bugs related to the Sustain pedal, but I found some workarounds.

@JeremyRobertsHQ

The Keylab creates intermediate values,

In USER mode, you can set the pedal Type to “Switched control” instead of “Control”, and in this case, it only sends On (127) / Off (0) values, as expected.
But, in Arturia mode or in DAW mode, the pedal Type settings is not available for the Sustain pedal, and it defaults to “Control” which does send those intermediate values.
However, in all modes (USER, DAW and Arturia modes), you can set the pedal Type for the AUX pedal (in Settings: GLOBAL/AUX PEDAL), so if you use the AUX pedal set to “Switched Control” on CC Number 64, then the AUX pedal works as a Sustain pedal without the intermediate values.

@JeremyRobertsHQ

it sends MIDI data briefly on MIDI channel 2

Actually, it sends a CC#64 at 0 when releasing the Sustain pedal (or Aux pedal set as sustain) not specifically on CH2, but on the Channel that is set for PART 2 (default Channel is indeed Ch2), even if SPLIT is not activated.
The workaround I found for this one is to turn Sustain Pedal Off for Part 2 (in Settings: KEYBOARD/MIDI PARTS/PART 2)

I hope this helps!

[JeremyRobertsHQ]

Thanks for the response! What sustain pedal are you using?

I’ve found the workaround with “Switched Control”, but it still lags, and there is random latency with the notes I play at the same time as I press the pedal down, as if the Keylab couldn’t process all of that information simultaneously.

So even with that workaround, the keyboard is totally unusable for anything that requires sustain.

I must have played more than 50 different keyboards over the last 35 years and I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m now considering returning the keyboard to the shop and buying something like a Korg Keystage.

[JeremyRobertsHQ]

It turns out the latency with the transmission of sustain MIDI CC also happens with the HOLD button on the keyboard itself.

In this example, I pressed the button at the exact same time as I played the keys, and pressed the button again at the same time as I released the keys. I’ve done it multiple times to make sure it wasn’t due to my timing.

The delay is clearly visible on the screenshot of the piano roll in Logic. This confirms that the problem is not caused by the type of pedal that is used.

[Sean_W]

I have various sustain pedals: Yamaha FC4, M-Gear SP2, Proline PSS20.

Regarding the lag/latency, it happened with the original firmware (1.0.1) but not anymore since the 1.1.1 update (but you say your KeyLab has 1.1.1 firmware, so I don’t know).

[JeremyRobertsHQ]

Does the Hold button light up when you press the sustain pedal?

I don’t have much time left to return the Keylab to the shop so I’ve just ordered a Yamaha FC4A with express delivery for tomorrow, on the off chance that it might solve the issue.

Fingers crossed!

[Sean_W]

@JeremyRobertsHQ

Does the Hold button light up when you press the sustain pedal?

Yes, in USER mode, whether it is the Sustain pedal or the AUX pedal set to CC#64.
But in Arturia or DAW mode, Hold only lights up with the AUX pedal set to CC#64, not with the Sustain pedal.

[JeremyRobertsHQ]

Thanks again for taking the time to reply!

Same results with the Yamaha FC4A that I’ve received today…

Weirdly enough, the polarity is the same as the Roland pedals. I was convinced Yamaha and Roland sustain pedals had different polarities.

The Hold button doesn’t light up at factory settings, but the pedal works “backwards”.

After I’ve calibrated the pedal to make it work the right way, the Hold button lights up along with the pedal being pressed down.

In both scenarios, MIDI notes are still being randomly choked up when using the pedal, making the keyboard totally unusable for any piano, electric piano etc.

Honestly I could easily see myself throw the keyboard out the window at this point…

Arturia has replied to my request with an AI-generated response, using perfect grammar, but answering a different question, and recommending certain models of… expression pedals

I’ve told them that it didn’t solve my problem but I haven’t heard from them since. I think my next message to them will be to unregister the keyboard so that I can return it to the shop. With this issue, the Keylab is a useless piece of junk that has wasted an awful lot of time I should have used setting up my keyboard for my next gigs.

Funnily enough, I’ve seen a video review yesterday of the Keylab 88 mk3 on YouTube, and when the guy played piano with a sustain pedal, some of the notes seemed to “choke up” as well. I couldn’t tell if it was due to his abilities or to the bug in the keyboard, but it sure sounded the same as the bug.

[Sean_W]

None of the people I know who are using KeyLabmk3 either in studio or live have this issue since the 1.1.1 update.
For you, does it happen only when using Logic?
Have you tried controlling standalone instruments, or plugins in another DAW?

[sschwandter]

I DO have the issue. I kind of realized it from the beginning but just now i found that it really is an issue when pressing the pedal (it doesn’t matter if I connect it to sustain or aux jack) at the same time when playing notes. It feels and sounds very unnatural. I too have firmware 1.1.1.

For a minute I thought that a factory reset fixed it but it didn’t. It’s a real shame, I love everything else about this keyboard. But for me it is unusable with this problem.

[JeremyRobertsHQ]

@Sean_W

None of the people I know who are using KeyLabmk3 either in studio or live have this issue since the 1.1.1 update.
For you, does it happen only when using Logic?
Have you tried controlling standalone instruments, or plugins in another DAW?

The problem occurs in Logic, MainStage, AnalogLab in standalone, and other standalone instruments, like Arturia Piano V and XLN Addictive Keys. It also occurs when using 5-pin MIDI DIN cable to my audio interface (Scarlett 18i20 4th gen), therefore removing all possibility of software/driver issue.

I’ll connect it to my Roland Fantom-07 via MIDI cable tomorrow to see if the problem persists when there is no computer involved.

[JeremyRobertsHQ]

@sschwandter

I DO have the issue. I kind of realized it from the beginning but just now i found that it really is an issue when pressing the pedal (it doesn’t matter if I connect it to sustain or aux jack) at the same time when playing notes. It feels and sounds very unnatural. I too have firmware 1.1.1.

For a minute I thought that a factory reset fixed it but it didn’t. It’s a real shame, I love everything else about this keyboard. But for me it is unusable with this problem.

I think people who play a lot of piano stuff would notice it easily, but there must be users who play the keyboard to trigger notes, rhythm parts, etc. as opposed to playing piano, and wouldn’t notice the problem. And maybe there are luckier people who have a Keylab that is flawless. It’s really a mystery. I wouldn’t even rule out a hardware issue that could never be resolve with firmware updates at this point.

[Sean_W]

@JeremyRobertsHQ

I think people who play a lot of piano stuff would notice it easily,

With the KeyLab88mk3, there’s a bigger percentage of people playing piano stuff.
So, if there is indeed an issue with sustain, I’m sure Arturia will hear more about those and will work on a fix.