They come preprogrammed for Analog Lab Lite (or Analog Lab 2) but they can easily be programmed for other purposes and stored as a preset in the hardware through the MIDI Controller Center software that you can download from the Arturia site. Sixteen rotary knobs, the first two even click-able. Eight touch sensitive back-lit pads that can be switched between two banks for controlling up to sixteen beats at once. The whole box is a bit smaller than the average laptop. Two octaves of mini keys with rock solid action. The first two knobs are for browsing and selecting presets, all the others are for tweaking sounds in a way far beyond what you can do with most other mini keyboards. For the price of an average VST instrument (€100 EUR for Minilab Mk II+ €29 for the upgrade to Analog Lab 2) you get a great sounding VST instrument with 5,000 presets along with hardware that works perfectly with it. Maybe it is not totally the same as tweaking an old analog synth, as Analog Lab allow you only to tweak some essential parameters inside the presets, not allowing you to make something for scratch or to drastically change any preset, but still, the whole experience, Analog Lab Lite, or in my case Analog Lab in combination with Minilab Mk II, gives a totally new level to the package. I haven’t had such a good time since I got the Access Virus for the first time many years ago. Needless to say I went totally bonkers with all those rotary knobs, beating the hell out of the presets. I updated Analog Lab Lite the same day I got keyboards, and for just €29 EUR I got 5,000 sounds instead the 500 that come with the Lite version, which comes bundled with the keyboard. The companion software is perfectly integrated with the keyboard itself, adding a whole new dimension to the package. Keys are rock solid jumping back straightaway, allowing us to play fast parts without any trouble. It is a very solid and compact mini keyboard with almost the same keyboard action than I have on my main, big fancy MIDI keyboard from a well-known developer. I was quite impressed with this piece of gear. A rock solid keyboard with perfectly integrated software.

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