As it is, they only protrude just over one centimetre from the top of the casing so as long as it is transported in a padded bag or carry case they should last for the lifetime of the unit.
As with any controller keyboard of this type, it is probably very easy to break the pots/knobs off if the unit is dropped or struck so care is always recommended. The controller knobs at the top of the unit have a very slight wiggle to them, but nothing out of the ordinary, and the caps themselves come off the pot so can be replaced. The pads are nicely manufactured with some pleasant backlighting and feel like they can handle some serious beat making, but they also double up as software controllers, more on that later. Don’t get me wrong, slim keys are not the easiest things to get familiar with if you are used to full size ones, but for creating bass lines and some triad chord sequences, these will suit just fine. Compared to the keys on the microKorg, these are positively playable. The keybed itself is responsive and nicely springy, for what is a plastic synth-style set of keys and doesn’t suffer too much from the mini-key problems of some other brands.
It weighs just 1.5 kgs and has a pretty similar footprint to my 15” MacBook Pro, making it portable without losing some important features. The Minilab Mk II is a two-octave mini keyboard that has borrowed its styling from its cousin the Keystep and it looks fresh and usable. Indeed, all you need to add to this package is a laptop and you can be making music on the move before you can say bleep. Seemingly packed with everything you need to make and control your sounds, the Minilab Mk II updates the original version with a slightly different layout and style along with well thought out integration with some of the included software. Arturia’s continuing advance into the hardware market knows no bounds and their new, portable controller definitely punches above its weight.
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