Arturia MiniLab 37

Sources split on what matters more. Every hands-on reviewer likes the 37 slim keys — even, precise and, to several, the best mini keys on any controller — and says the third octave finally makes two-handed playing practical. The dissent isn't about feel but about a missing feature: there's no aftertouch on the keys, while Arturia's own KeyStep 37 mk2 and AstroLab 37 have it at a similar size, and some would-be buyers call that a dealbreaker.

Sources split, though most are positive. The biggest layout change from the MiniLab 3 — the eight velocity/pressure-sensitive RGB pads regrouped into a 2×4 block instead of a single row — is singled out by loopop, Juno and owners as a real playability upgrade for drums and DAW work. A smaller camp finds the pads the weak link: one owner who returned it called them mediocre, another reported pads making uneven mechanical noise, and a Gearspace commenter wants the dark pads gone.

Sources split. Reviewers praise how much hands-on control it packs — eight encoders, four faders, touch strips and a browse knob — and say the wider, shallower layout puts everything within easier reach than on the MiniLab 3; AMAZONA singles out the knobs' solid resistance. The other camp objects to what's unchanged: transport (play, stop, record, loop, tap) still lives on the pads behind Shift, the tiny screen makes menu-diving (for example, arpeggiator settings) a chore, and some players dislike touch strips in place of wheels.

Strong where Arturia controls both ends, more basic elsewhere. With Analog Lab and Arturia's V Collection it maps itself and shows parameter feedback, which reviewers call as good as ever. Supported DAWs get automatic transport and control mappings, but it's basic DAW control rather than a Push-style surface, unsupported DAWs need manual mapping, and several Ableton users point to Novation's Launchkey as the deeper Live controller.

“Software integration is as good as we always expect from Arturia”

Juno Daily

“it’s never going to match something like Ableton’s Push”

The Verge

“Novation is way better from an ableton live standpoint.”

u/r1chiem · r/Arturia_users

A useful bundle, lightly caveated. Analog Lab Intro and Ableton Live Lite let a beginner start making music straight away, alongside a Native Instruments Komplete 15 Select pack, a Loopcloud trial and Melodics lessons. Owners call the included software good; the gripes are platform-specific — no Linux versions, and one Linux user finds the MIDI Control Center editor unusable.

“comes bundled with Arturia’s Analog Lab Intro and Ableton Live Lite so you can get straight to making music out of the box”

The Verge

“The included software is good (sadly no linux version)”

pheeef · Thomann owner review

Uncontroversial. USB-C carries power and data (class-compliant, and it works with an iPad), and the 5-pin DIN MIDI out lets it drive hardware synths without a computer — something reviewers flag as a welcome extra at the price. There's a single control input for a sustain pedal, expression pedal or footswitch. It's MIDI out only: no MIDI in, no CV.

“You can also control hardware synths using the MIDI port on the back.”

The Verge

“bietet der Keyboard-Controller erfreulicherweise einen MIDI-DIN-Ausgang”

AMAZONA.de

Still portable, just in a different bag. At 503 × 183 mm and 1.17 kg it is about 15 cm wider but 36 mm shallower than the MiniLab 3, and still bus-powered. Reviewers call 37 keys the sweet spot between playability and portability; the trade-off is that it no longer slips into an ordinary backpack the way the 25-key model does, and Novation's slightly shorter Launchkey 37 does.

“37 keys is the sweet spot of playability and portability”

The Verge

“If you need a keyboard you can stash in a standard bag without any thoughts, the MiniLab 3 is still the way to go”

Juno Daily

Sources split, leaning critical. AMAZONA finds nothing to fault in the cleanly finished plastic body and owners on Thomann call it brilliant quality. The Verge, though, finds the rounded plastic build a bit cheap (while conceding it will survive a backpack), a Gearspace commenter sees a dated design re-using MiniLab 3 parts, and one early owner reported pads with uneven mechanical noise. It's built from at least 50% recycled plastic with recyclable packaging.

Mostly seen as good value, with a vocal minority unimpressed. At $149 reviewers and owners call it great value for the keys, controls and bundle, and AMAZONA rates its keyboard ahead of the Launchkey 37 MK4 and iRig Keys 2 Pro. The dissent comes from people who already own a MiniLab 3 or are weighing rivals: to them it's the same controller with an extra octave, and the KeyStep 37 mk2 (aftertouch, sequencer) or the cheaper M-Vave SMK-37 (battery, Bluetooth, wheels) offer more.