Arturia MicroLab Mk3 Review

Arturia’s MicroLab series has always been about compact functionality. The latest iteration, the MicroLab Mk3, continues this tradition, offering a streamlined 25-key MIDI controller designed for portability without compromising on essentials. For music makers needing a reliable device for sketching ideas, controlling soft synths, or just getting started, this little keyboard packs a punch. It’s light, it’s tough, and it’s surprisingly capable for its size.

Keybed Quality

Honestly, the keybed is where the MicroLab Mk3 really shines. Often with ultra-portable controllers in this price bracket, the keys can feel flimsy or unresponsive. That's not the case here at all. Arturia has brought over the same slim, velocity-sensitive keybed found in their larger MiniLab 3 offering a responsive and very playable experience. At this price point, there isn't any aftertouch, but the keys feel like they belong on a more premium device like Arturia's Minifreak for example. They're solid under your fingers, and they operate quietly, which is a big plus if you're working in a quiet environment or late at night. For such a compact device, this level of key quality is genuinely impressive and helps in capturing expressive performances.

Streamlined Control and Analog Lab Integration

The MicroLab Mk3 keeps things simple when it comes to controls and additional features. You get two touch strips for pitch bend and modulation. While we would normally prefer physical mod and pitch wheels, on a device like this they're fine and work as expected. Both also have alternate 'shift' functionality that only makes sense on a touch pad anyhow. Beyond that, there are four control buttons for octave shifting, activating Chord Mode, Hold functionality, and navigating presets. That's it.

The controller integrates seamlessly with Arturia's Analog Lab Intro, which comes bundled with the unit. The octave switches double as preset selection when the shift button is depressed. Likewise, the touch strips allow for category selection and confirmation within Analog Lab making this a useful tool to wade through Arturia's extensive preset selection. The chord function is programmable. Holding down 'shift' and 'hold' allows you to input notes into the chord memory, however it only stores the one chord and it doesn't conform to scales directly from the controller itself. More useful was the default functionality of the hold key, which acts a sustain latch, while the pedal input defaults to a switch behaviour. Due to the close proximity and size of the keyboard, the latch is surprisingly easy to use, toggling it on and off with your pinky finger while playing.

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Built to Last, Designed for Portability

This controller feels solid despite it's predominantly plastic body. It seems to built to handle being tossed into a backpack and taken on the road. The design is clean, moving away from the old rubberized bumper of the Mk2 to a sleeker look with faux wood ends, bringing it in line with Arturia’s current range. While it’s minimal in its feature set, the build quality where it matters—the chassis and the keybed—is robust. It features USB-C connectivity for power and MIDI, and even includes a sustain pedal input, a feature not always found on controllers this size. Our initial thought was that a 3.5mm MIDI I/O would have been a good addition to control external gear without connecting to a computer, however that would also require powering the device anyway, negating some of the convenience of the minimal design. Arturia's Keystep range is better suited to this sort of task anyhow with it's more extensive feature set.

Easy Setup and Excellent Value

Getting the MicroLab Mk3 up and running is straightforward. Arturia provides clear instructions for registering the unit and downloading the included software, which includes Analog Lab Intro and Ableton Live Lite. Installing via Arturia's Software centre will also get you set up with their MIDI Control Centre software which provides additional customization of the keyboard including velocity curves, scroll direction for the touch panels and CC values for the pedal input.

The price, at €59, makes the MicroLab Mk3 an incredibly accessible option considering the quality of the keybed and the solid construction. It's ideal for beginners, mobile producers, or anyone really with a small home studio where desk space is a premium. If you prioritize key feel and durability over a multitude of knobs and faders, this controller is worth looking at.

Conclusion

The Arturia MicroLab Mk3 is a testament to the idea that sometimes, less is more. It strips away unnecessary features to deliver a truly excellent core experience at a very low cost: a high-quality, playable keybed in a durable, ultra-compact form factor. Its integration with Analog Lab and its attractive price point solidify its position as a top choice for anyone seeking a no-nonsense, highly portable MIDI keyboard controller.

Pros

Solid, playable keybed.

Sturdy build.

Ultra portable.

Fantastic value for money.

Cons

Not a whole lot.

Tech Specs

25-note velocity-sensitive slim keyboard, responsive and expressive

2 touch strips for pitch bend and modulation.

4 control buttons for octave shift and navigation.

Chord Mode – Play full chords with a single key

Hold function

Octave up and down buttons

Semitone transpose

Seamless compatibility with all major DAWs and soft synths.

Analog Lab & V Collection browsing – Explore 500 curated sounds instantly.

Includes Analog Lab Intro – 500 sounds from iconic synths and keyboards.

Includes Ableton Live Lite – Essential tools for recording and producing music.

USB-C powered for instant plug-and-play operation.

MIDI class-compliant – Multiclient MIDI driver for Windows.

Compatible with iPads & Android devices (via adapter).

Sustain pedal input – Connect a sustain or expression pedal for enhanced performance.

Size (mm): 406 x 39 x 125 mm

Size (in): 15.98 x 1.54 x 4.92 in

Weight (kg): 0.62 kg

Weight (lb): 1.37 lb

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