Keylab MK3 49 expérience - A bad unit or simply a bad keyboard?

Lab KeyLab
#1

Hi everyone, happy to be part of the forum. :grinning:

I’m sharing my brief experience with the KeyLab MK3 and I have a crucial question to ask the community.

After purchasing the new KeyLab MK3 49, I was thrilled, excited! I opened the packaging and held in my hands a solid keyboard, very well-built. I got ready to follow the startup procedure, and everything seemed fine. Then, my (bad) experience began…

The most serious issue I encountered with the keyboard is that it shuts off and turns back on by itself, whether I’m in the DAW or outside of it. And I’m not talking about standby mode. This happened multiple times over two days. I tried switching the USB port… and let me say that from the start, I plugged it directly into the computer’s USB port and not through a hub, as stated on the Arturia packaging (which is already concerning and possibly a red flag, as obviously, you’ll need to use hubs when you have multiple devices). In any case, the issue occurs regardless of the port used. I haven’t tested it with an external power adapter, which isn’t included, but I don’t think that’s the problem and if it is, it’s a huge red flag. But it could simply be a defective product.

Another issue is the recognition of Arturia plugins within the DAW (Reaper) that seems to concern a lot of user on the internet. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The MIDI works fine, but the plugin doesn’t always show up on the screen. It seems that depending on the mode selected (DAW, USER, ARTURIA), there’s more or less of a chance that it will display, or not. For instance, even if I start my DAW in ARTURIA mode and launch a plugin, sometimes it simply won’t display on the screen. In standalone mode, everything works fine—at least for the few times I tried. But the worst part of all this is that I had saved a file in my DAW (Reaper) with a track and an Arturia plugin (Augmented Strings) that I could see clearly on the screen while recording the MIDI, and I was in ARTURIA mode on the keyboard (I do remember clearly this because I was tryng to follow the (odd) logic of modes. During that test, I created something nice that I wanted to save. The next day, I decided to explore the keyboard’s features to create my USER template. Then, I reopened the saved Reaper file and… poof! The software crashed. I tried multiple times with no success, only to realize I was in USER mode on the keyboard. I switched to ARTURIA mode, and magically, the file opened. However… the plugin no longer appeared on the screen, even though the MIDI was working.

Other issues are related to the strange user experience on this keyboard. Despite having a large screen and multiple buttons, the operation isn’t intuitive. Also, having three modes (ARTURIA, USER, and DAW) is a bit silly, as it ends up causing more confusion. For exemple, in DAW mode, and using a DAW input on a track, I could control Reaper transport buttons (and not much more), but not control a plugin from the keyboard screen. Same at reverse situation. I means, what’s the point of having these 3 modes? Why I can’t control everything from the same unit? Arturia has good ideas but fail when it goes to user experience. But maybe that’s more a matter of personal preference, and maybe I’d get used to it over time. Anyway, I can’t it’s hard to believe that this products has been tested by users before the market launch.

By the way, regarding strictly the functional issues, I’m not sure if it’s just this particular unit, but I find the keyboard to be completely unreliable. I’m curious if others have encountered the same problems on their own units.

For now, I’ve requested a refund to the seller because I don’t want to end up with the same product again before make sure of it. So I’m genuinely interested in hearing others’ opinions, as I think it’s a fantastic keyboard in terms of build quality and keybad. For me, being able to control the V Collection was essential. I’d like to feel reassured before potentially purchasing another model.

Cheers

#2

Hello, I’m very sorry to hear you’re having those issues.

On my end, I received my unit about ten days ago, and – from a functionality standpoint – it has performed very well so far. I haven’t experienced any “technical” failures of any kind. I even read a post somewhere about someone mentioning irregularities in the keybed of their Mk3; in my case, the keyboard is in perfect condition, as are the pads, knobs, and faders. The quality of the keys is actually one of the features I appreciate the most about this Mk3.

Now, regarding the software, it occurs to me that for Arturia, this is likely a “work in progress.” There’s no software that works “perfectly” right out of the gate; as time goes on and users test it out, different “bugs” are discovered that don’t always come to light during the development phase. That’s where we, the users, come into play, highlighting the pros and cons each of us finds in the product. The good news – at least in my opinion – is that anything related to software is perfectly fixable. At worst, we might just need to be a little patient until it’s resolved.

I hope this humble opinion is of some help.
Best regards, and I hope everything turns out well!

#3

Happy if this works fine for you, I wished the same for me.

I see your point of view, and I agree that it’s impossible to get perfection.
Nonetheless, this device for now it’s too unreliable and instable to reach a decent rate of user experience. In my experience, the device was behaving differently at any usage, even during the same session.
I took some time to read a lot of threads on this forum, and I’m even more confident now in saying that because of this confusing and (for me) useless system of 3 modes, I’m not so optimistic about the future for this device. I don’t think that any firmware update will resolve the big issues that this odd system itself is causing.
Take for exemple USER mode. It’s presented like a mode to control anything. So, at least I would expect to get control of the DAW and plugins. And even though my DAW was selected in the unit, once in Reaper I couldn’t control neither the DAW or the plugins…
Also, release a product on the market and let people struggling for years and hope for the best, that’s not exactly what I call good enterprising. At the end, users will avoid your products next time… because I’m an UX designer, my judgement is maybe too harsh, but again, it feels that this device hasn’t be tested at all! Just standards scripts and some good ideas badly executeds.

Waiting for other thoughts, but considering what I read on this forum, I don’t expect good news.

Thanks again for your feedback :blush:

#4

Not a red flag. Hubs often are not able to provide the amount of current needed. Powered ones very likely will, but it’s far safer for Aururia to tell you to plug it directly into the computer instead of going into a lengthy explanation about which hubs can and cannot be used. Pretty much all manufacturers of USB-powered devices tell you the same thing.

Does sound to me that you have a faulty unit.

#5

@vocov
Hi and welcome to The Sound Explorers Forum!

It DOES sound like you have a faulty unit there from your description, also as @Jon_Vincent suggests, USB hubs can and DO cause issues.

I would contact the retailer you purchased the unit from and ask for a replacement or a refund from them, this may vary from country to country though.

HTH!

#6

Arturia should say instead that a power supply connection is strictly recommended cause the USB alone can’t guarantee a stable power. But of course they can’t say that because no power supply is included in the package.
My novation SL is connected only via USB on my hub (like other devices) and I never encountered any issue on power instability. I don’t remember another device manual that I bought stating that a direct connection to the computer is recommended, but certainly there are some and certainly it’s better.
Also, what about Macbook pro users? Arturia only gives you a USB C to A for this unit, but on mac there are any USB A port…
Let’s say that this is not so professional.

#7

It’s highly possible, and that’s what I wrote in my thread. If only was this problem alone, I would just return the unit and ask for a replacement. Unfortunately for me, this was just the top of the mountain, if you know what I mean :pensive:

#8

@vocov
Yes i take your points, but, it does appear the unit is faulty, so other opinions aside; you should be entitled to a refund as the unit appears to be faulty.
If you’re not happy with the intended functionality then you have a ‘way out’ and can try to look for something geared more towards your own expectations and needs.

#9

They won’t say that because it’s not true. The USB socket on your computer provides enough current. What probably doesn’t provide enough current is a passive hub shared with three or more other devices. Which is why they tell you not to use a hub. Although you aren’t using a hub and so this is not the cause of the problem in your case, your mis-understanding literally proves why they tell people not to use a hub.

Either way, I recommend returning it.

1 Like
#10

I understand what you say, in fact I have been using it just a few days, and I don’t know what might happen in the future as I continue to put it to test. I’m optimistic for now, but… that’s all.
My best wishes and regards!

#11

@vocov as many already said here, if your unit works perfectly fine when directly connected to a computer USB port, then those issues are happening because you’re power-starving the unit, be sharing the power with other devices on a passive USB HUB.

I have almost a hundred USB devices connected to my PC and I need to carefully plan which device can be connected to which unpowered or powered USB HUB and which are able to get enough power when sharing a hub.

This is a known USB 1.0 and USB 2.0 issue where there’s no flexible power management capabilities on the hubs.
Some USB 3.x HUBs are able to draw more power from a USB 3.x port, to then be able to deliver the max possible to each of their ports, according to the device power needs.

So, assuming you unit isn’t faulty (which could be), you have 3 solutions:

  1. Connect it directly to your computer’s USB port
  2. Use a powered USB HUB which will then be able to deliver to each of its ports the required/needed power per port/device (which passive USB HUB aren’t able to)
  3. Use an external PSU to power the KeyLab mk3, if you want to keep using a passive USB HUB

Hope this helps :slight_smile:

PS:

ah! then it’s a falty unit, falty cable (try another cable) or fault USB port (less likely but… try on other ports?)

ah, so… cable or (most likely) the unit is faulty :frowning:

I have the KeyLab 61 mk3 and have no issues (even using it on a passive HUB connected to a powered HUB, so 2 levels of “hub’ing” here)

Regarding Reaper’s DAW support, I don’t know anything about, since I’m not a Reasper user :confused:

I can only speak from an Ableton Live user perspective, so:
a) when in DAW mode, the faders’n’encoders will control DAW functions (mixer, pan, etc)
b) when in Arturia mode, those same faders’n’encoders will control the Arturia plugin, not the DAW
c) when in User mode, you’ll be able to set specific CC’s on the KeyLab to be able to control specific non-Arturia plugins that don’t have MIDI CC Learn capabilities.

Because most modern plugins do have MIDI Learn, then I end up using the Arturia mode for almost every plugin, be it Arturia on not, freeing most of the User programs to control some hardware synths (like the KORG NTS-1, etc).

1 Like
#12

Thanks for your recommendations.
Anyway, if Reaper wasn’t present as DAW on the unit, I could agree that mapping needed to be done from scratch. But since this option is there, I really don’t get why mapping wasn’t working. Also, based on what you say, I’m even more confident with my initial thoughts about these 3 modes that are just confusing and finally the user needs to find a workaround anyway.
Many users (forum threads) are having my same issues on this unit, especially about controlling Arturia plugins control.
And also, it seems impossible for now to switch beetween multiple Arturia VSTi in your project and choose one. That was a huge pain point for me and other users. If you find a solution to this you can post it here, so other users will not struggle anymore.

#13

I don’t know and for now I’m still not sure to buy another unit and not because of this fault behaving.
Yes, I confirm that I tried all USB ports, computer and hub (powered hub) on which other devices are plugged on without any problem. Certainty a fault unit I believe.
I don’t know why people are assuming that I have a passive hub anyway… :person_shrugging:

Thanks for your time

#14

Acquéreur récent d’un Keylab 61 mk3, et déjà possesseur d’un keylan 88 mk2, j’ai vite compris que la complexité de fonctionnement sans erreur d’un tel périphérique, qui se doit d’être compatible avec différents systèmes dans le monde du PC Windows et en même temps dans la planète Apple, serait tout simplement un exploit impossible à atteindre. Alors, pour faire simple, je constate qu’en passant d’une plateforme ou d’un mode à un autre, je redémarre le clavier en coupant puis en remettant l’alimentationdu clavier, et/ ou alors je redémarre l’application, ou je redémarre tout simplement l’ordinateur pour effectuer un reset complet et là ça fonctionne à chaque fois. Cela me satisfait tout en comprenant que lq perfection dans ce domaine n’est plus atteignable que sous certaines conditions qui sont celkes d’un reset des systèmes OS et applicatifs avec ma logique qui est celle de “la fin justifie les moyens”

#15

HI @a.kempf
Good to hear you’re enjoying your keyboards!
That actually sounds like a really sensible approach you’re using there too and MIGHT possibly account for some issues other people might encounter.