Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88 Review: Fatar Keys, Nine Faders

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88 is a full-size controller built on a Fatar TP/100LR hammer-action keybed with velocity sensitivity and aftertouch, paired with a production panel of 16 RGB-backlit pads, 9 faders and 9 rotary knobs. Analog Lab V is included, giving the keyboard a large preset library from the first boot. On paper it is one of the more completely specified 88-key controllers at the upper mid-range tier.

Arturia designed the KeyLab MkII series to serve two audiences at once: pianists who want weighted keys and producers who want pads and a fader bank. That dual focus explains why the control panel is as prominent as the keybed in the listing. Few 88-key controllers offer both hammer action and a full 16-pad grid.

The published data has gaps that matter for a purchase at this tier. DAW integration, power, weight, five-pin MIDI and pedal inputs are not described, and the listing states plainly that a stand is not included. This review credits what is confirmed and flags what still needs checking.

Keys, Pads and Feel

The keybed is the Fatar TP/100LR, a hammer-action mechanism that Fatar supplies to several controller and stage piano makers. The listing describes it as velocity sensitive with aftertouch and a piano feel, which is a strong combination because aftertouch is often dropped from hammer-action keybeds to save cost. For players who use aftertouch for vibrato or filter swells, that is a meaningful inclusion.

Hammer action on a controller is about inertia and return. The TP/100LR family is generally regarded as a mid-weight action rather than a heavy concert feel, which suits players who move between piano and synth sounds in one set. Whether the action is graded from bass to treble is not stated in the listing.

The 16 performance pads are RGB-backlit, so each pad can show a color that matches a drum rack, a clip state or a chord type depending on the software. Pad velocity sensitivity and pressure are not spelled out in the published bullets, although velocity response is standard on pads in this class. Sixteen pads is the count most drum software expects, so mapping should be straightforward.

Knobs, Faders and DAW Integration

Nine faders and nine rotary knobs make up the control bank, a layout that maps neatly onto eight mixer channels plus a master, or eight parameters plus a macro. That configuration is the standard for mixer-style control and lines up with the way most DAWs expose their track banks. Buyers who mix in the box will use these controls daily.

DAW integration is not described in the listing, which is a surprising omission given the size of the control bank. Arturia controllers of this generation are known to ship with DAW mapping modes and transport buttons, but the published data for this unit does not confirm which DAWs are covered or how the mapping is selected. Verify this with the manufacturer's documentation before relying on it.

What the knobs and faders can certainly do is drive Analog Lab V, since the software is built to map onto Arturia hardware. Macro controls, filter and envelope parameters and preset browsing are the typical targets. For producers who mainly use third-party plugins, generic MIDI assignment of the nine faders and knobs remains available.

Software, Sounds and Features

Analog Lab V is the bundled software and it is the main reason to choose an Arturia controller over a generic one. It collects presets from Arturia's emulations of classic synths, electric pianos, organs and string machines into a single browser, with a reduced set of controls designed to match the hardware. The listing does not say whether any additional DAW or plugin licenses are included.

For a keyboard player, Analog Lab V covers the core stage sounds in one application: pianos, electric pianos, organs, pads, brass and leads. The controller's knobs and faders are intended to map to the software's macro parameters, so a preset can be shaped without reaching for the mouse. The exact number of presets is not stated in the listing.

Other features typical of this class, such as chord mode, scale mode, an arpeggiator or a display, are not mentioned in the published bullets. That does not mean they are absent, but they cannot be counted toward the score here. The feature set that is confirmed is the keybed, pads, control bank and software.

• Fatar TP/100LR hammer-action keybed with aftertouch
• 16 RGB-backlit performance pads
• 9 faders and 9 rotary knobs
• Analog Lab V included
• USB MIDI connection to a computer
• Stand not included

Build, Design and Portability

Weight and dimensions are not published, which is a notable gap for a full-size hammer-action instrument. Any 88-key hammer-action controller is long and heavy, so plan for a permanent studio position or a stage move with a case and a second pair of hands.

Chassis materials are not specified in the listing. Buyers who care about panel flex, knob feel and the solidity of the fader caps should seek independent photos and owner reports, since the published data describes only the controls and the keybed. RGB-backlit pads suggest a modern panel design with clear visual feedback.

The listing states that a stand is not included, and this deserves emphasis. A controller of this width and weight needs a double-braced X stand, a Z stand or a purpose-built desk, and that cost should be added to the budget. A sustain pedal is likewise not mentioned among the box contents.

Connectivity and Power

USB MIDI is the confirmed connection, which handles note, pad, fader and knob data to the computer in a single cable. Whether the USB port also powers the keyboard is not published, so a mains adapter may or may not be part of the arrangement. This is worth confirming for laptop rigs where spare power sockets are scarce.

Five-pin MIDI output, pedal inputs and CV connections are not mentioned in the listing. For an upper mid-range 88-key controller, at least a sustain input and a traditional MIDI out would be expected, and Arturia's hardware in this class has generally offered them, but the listing does not confirm it. Buyers planning to drive hardware synths or use an expression pedal should check the rear panel.

The practical implication is that the Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88 is best assumed to be a computer-centered controller until the ports are confirmed. Paired with a laptop running Analog Lab V and a DAW, it works as advertised over USB alone; any hardware-only use case depends on connections the listing leaves unstated.

Setup and Daily Use

Setup over USB MIDI should be plug and play for note input on any modern computer, and Analog Lab V is a download and license activation. Arturia typically routes firmware updates and DAW mode configuration through a control center application, although the listing does not describe that step.

Daily use splits naturally between the keybed and the panel. A pianist will spend most time on the weighted keys with aftertouch adding expression to pad and lead sounds, while a producer will lean on the 16 pads for drums and the nine faders for mixing. Having both in one chassis saves desk space compared with separate controllers.

Because the control bank is generous, taking time to build a consistent mapping pays off. Assign the nine faders to your DAW mixer, the nine knobs to a plugin macro layer and the pads to a drum rack, and the keyboard becomes the center of the session. Without DAW mode details in the listing, expect some manual assignment at first.

Who Should Buy It

Players who want one 88-key controller that handles both piano parts and production duties are the ideal buyers. The Fatar hammer action with aftertouch covers expressive playing, while the pad grid and fader bank cover beats and mixing.

Arturia software users, or anyone attracted to the Analog Lab V library, get the most from the bundle since the hardware is designed to map onto it. Keyboardists building a laptop-based live rig will appreciate the breadth of stage sounds included.

It is a weaker match for buyers who need confirmed DAW transport, published pedal and MIDI connections, or a light, compact controller. Those details are either absent from the listing or physically incompatible with a full-size hammer-action design.

Alternatives Worth Considering

The M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro offers a comparable formula of weighted keys with aftertouch, pads, faders and a bundled software package, generally at a lower tier, with NKS integration as a distinguishing feature. Buyers who prioritize documented connections may find its listings more complete.

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboards trade hammer action for semi-weighted Fatar keys and focus on screen-based browsing of the Komplete library. They suit composers more than pianists.

Arturia's newer KeyLab 88 mk3 refreshes the design with USB-C power and a smaller pad set, according to its own listing, but with fewer published control details. Buyers choosing between the two generations should weigh the MkII's documented nine-fader bank against the newer platform.

Verdict

The Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII 88 is a well-rounded full-size controller on the published specification, combining a Fatar TP/100LR hammer action with aftertouch, 16 RGB pads, nine faders, nine knobs and Analog Lab V. That is a more complete feature set than many rivals document.

The missing weight, power, DAW mode and port details, along with the absent stand, are the caveats. For a player or producer who wants weighted keys and a real control bank in one unit at the upper mid-range tier, it remains a strong choice once those details are confirmed.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Ableton Push 3

Committed Ableton Live users who want an expressive MPE pad surface and a built-in audio interface with ADAT, MIDI and CV in one desktop unit.

Read the Ableton Push 3 review →

iCON V1-M MIDI DAW

Mix engineers and producers who ride faders by hand, work across more than one DAW and want labeled touchscreen commands instead of memorized button layers.

Read the iCON V1-M MIDI DAW review →

Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3 88-key

Pianists moving into software instruments who want a fully weighted action, a modest pad section and the look of a premium white controller.

Read the Arturia KeyLab 88 mk3 88-key review →

Questions Buyers Ask