Great video. I'm not even looking at buying this keyboard and I watched the whole thing. I just recently bought the M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro and have been very happy.
Thanks! Good job! I was wondering about everything you mentioned. Seems like no one else wanted to go back and review the differences. They say watch the old review its the same with extra keys. I didn't think so.
Glad you find it helpful. Personally I would say the oxygen pro keybed feels better. But to me it would be more of a choice between black color and white color 😁
Calmmusic, I have independently also narrowed my next purchase to the same two keyboards (M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 vs Arturia Keylab Essential 49) as you after scouring the web for weeks. I am reluctant to get a semi-weighted keyboard since I am a piano player, but I am traveling for the next six months and really need a keyboard that can fit the dimension of the airlines luggage without paying extra money. Did you decide and purchase one or the other, and what do you think of it?
Studio J, thank you for doing this comparison. It is helpful to me. I am a piano player, but I have to travel and fit my keyboard in my luggage. I have heard some amazing classical piano played on the Arturia Essential 61, so I know it is possible. I have narrowed my options down to M Audio Oxygen Pro 49 vs Arturia Keylab Essential 49 because I want the midi functionality in the travel size. My question for you: if you were stuck with a 49-key, would you find the Arturia bearable, or is it so horrible that you would skip the keyboard and go with something else? I need to make a purchase next week. Thanks.
I would suggest you to drop by a nearby shop and get hands on both. Because if you play on real pianos all the time then you might feel that it's a little difficult to get used to midi keyboards. back to your question, if i were to pick up a 49key travel keyboard, my focus would be its midi functions, eg does the provided functionality fits my workflow, the knobs buttons etc. keybed would be a secondary thing.
Can you tell me if the keys are full sized? Smaller keybeds are the reason why I don't like entry level Roland keyboards like the xps 30 and stuff, and why I like Yamaha and Korg, I had a KeyLab MkII which I sold in the pandemic and now I want to buy an essential, but I'm trying to find out if the keys are full sized or at least the same size as the MkII, great video man!
The keys are standard in width but not in length. They are shorter than a weighted keyboard. Not sure your Mk2 is 88 key or 61 key. For Mk2 88 it has a weighted fatar keybed so definitely much better than that on the essential.
The 88 has a much much different action. It's stiff even compared to other 88 key pianos. I'm ready to dump my Arturia 61 keylab. Also, you must have an Essential Keylab. My 61 key Keylab MK2 is all METAL.
Which feels better, The Arturia 88 Keys or the GHS? I own a P-125 Yamaha with GHS and i’m considering selling it to get the Keylab MK2 88 Keys mainly because of the sliders buttons etc for music production, but i don’t know which keys are better as no shop nearby has one
Nice video. I wondered about the keybed and this video is very helpfu. I have a question about keystep! What do you think about the keystep keybed? Does it feel like a toy or feel similer like the bigger keyboard such as 49 and 61?
I've got a 32key keystep ( the original version) and to me it does not feel like a smaller version of the essential. Also i'd say it does not feel so toyish either since I've played a few other mini sized keyboards which feels more closer to a toy.
The 88 key is "relatively" good "in comparison" with the 61 key. That's the only point made in this video. No body paid me a penny to make this video. I bought both keyboards with my own money so that my viewers wont have to (in wasting their money choosing between the two).
Very detailed and underrated review...thank you!
Great video. I'm not even looking at buying this keyboard and I watched the whole thing. I just recently bought the M-Audio Hammer 88 Pro and have been very happy.
glad you found the keyboard right for you.
Thanks! Good job! I was wondering about everything you mentioned. Seems like no one else wanted to go back and review the differences. They say watch the old review its the same with extra keys. I didn't think so.
I was wondering the same thing before I bought them. That's why I made this video.
This video has helped greatly to help me decide between the 2! Thank you
Man, this is the video I wanted 2 years ago ha :) Thanks.
I do have the 61 Mk II (non Essential) and I love it.
Sorry it came late😆have fun with your's
Thanks! You saved my time a lot 😮
gr8 review.. i dont play real piano and i dont like hammer keys ... im keyboardist :)..shall i go for 61 or 88..
Hello, I want to start playing the piano. I like this keyboard very much. Do you think I should buy it?
Bro you deserve more subs
thx bro
Thanks for the nice review! What do you think is better M Audio oxygen pro 49 vs Arturia keylab essential 49? Thanks for sharing! Have a great day!
Glad you find it helpful. Personally I would say the oxygen pro keybed feels better. But to me it would be more of a choice between black color and white color 😁
Calmmusic, I have independently also narrowed my next purchase to the same two keyboards (M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 vs Arturia Keylab Essential 49) as you after scouring the web for weeks. I am reluctant to get a semi-weighted keyboard since I am a piano player, but I am traveling for the next six months and really need a keyboard that can fit the dimension of the airlines luggage without paying extra money.
Did you decide and purchase one or the other, and what do you think of it?
@@JJJBdoesn’t the m audio oxygen pro also have the black and white key velocity inconsistency ?
Studio J, thank you for doing this comparison. It is helpful to me. I am a piano player, but I have to travel and fit my keyboard in my luggage. I have heard some amazing classical piano played on the Arturia Essential 61, so I know it is possible. I have narrowed my options down to M Audio Oxygen Pro 49 vs Arturia Keylab Essential 49 because I want the midi functionality in the travel size.
My question for you: if you were stuck with a 49-key, would you find the Arturia bearable, or is it so horrible that you would skip the keyboard and go with something else?
I need to make a purchase next week. Thanks.
I would suggest you to drop by a nearby shop and get hands on both. Because if you play on real pianos all the time then you might feel that it's a little difficult to get used to midi keyboards. back to your question, if i were to pick up a 49key travel keyboard, my focus would be its midi functions, eg does the provided functionality fits my workflow, the knobs buttons etc. keybed would be a secondary thing.
Can you tell me if the keys are full sized? Smaller keybeds are the reason why I don't like entry level Roland keyboards like the xps 30 and stuff, and why I like Yamaha and Korg, I had a KeyLab MkII which I sold in the pandemic and now I want to buy an essential, but I'm trying to find out if the keys are full sized or at least the same size as the MkII, great video man!
The keys are standard in width but not in length. They are shorter than a weighted keyboard. Not sure your Mk2 is 88 key or 61 key. For Mk2 88 it has a weighted fatar keybed so definitely much better than that on the essential.
The 88 has a much much different action. It's stiff even compared to other 88 key pianos. I'm ready to dump my Arturia 61 keylab. Also, you must have an Essential Keylab. My 61 key Keylab MK2 is all METAL.
Which feels better, The Arturia 88 Keys or the GHS? I own a P-125 Yamaha with GHS and i’m considering selling it to get the Keylab MK2 88 Keys mainly because of the sliders buttons etc for music production, but i don’t know which keys are better as no shop nearby has one
My personal opinion is KeyLab MK2 which has a Fatar TP100lr keybed feels better. Though both are consider entry level keybed in each of their lineup.
Nice video. I wondered about the keybed and this video is very helpfu. I have a question about keystep! What do you think about the keystep keybed? Does it feel like a toy or feel similer like the bigger keyboard such as 49 and 61?
and also I think it might be helpful if you compare with the essential 61!
I've got a 32key keystep ( the original version) and to me it does not feel like a smaller version of the essential. Also i'd say it does not feel so toyish either since I've played a few other mini sized keyboards which feels more closer to a toy.
Thanks for replying!!!
Hey Studio J, I got the 88 key version on my radar. Does it have arpeggiator function? Thx
Yes!😃
How long have you had the 88 key? How is it holding up? How plastic does it feel? I swear everyone paid to say good things about this keyboard..
The 88 key is "relatively" good "in comparison" with the 61 key. That's the only point made in this video. No body paid me a penny to make this video. I bought both keyboards with my own money so that my viewers wont have to (in wasting their money choosing between the two).
"Few" keys? Bro, 27 more (or less) keys is NOT a small thing...thats a whole other mini controller's worth of keys.
Haha the title is a hype... this video meant to say they have other significant differences than the number of keys
trying to decide which one to get because I use analog lab from Arturia and their virtual instruments collection
The two are same functionality wise, so just see how much space you have for it.