Arturia Minilab MkII Inverted USB Bus Powered Black 25-Key Keyboard Controller

MiniLab MkII Inverted is a limited-run version of the 25-key MiniLab MkII controller with a flipped color scheme that nods to the reverse-key organs of early popular music. The hardware matches the standard model: a velocity-sensitive slim keybed, sixteen rotary encoders with two clickable, and two banks of eight velocity and pressure-sensitive pads with RGB backlighting.

That control set covers a full session. Encoders reach filter cutoffs, plugin parameters, and mixer levels; pads handle drum programming and sample triggering; two capacitive touch strips take care of pitch bend and modulation. Eight user presets store separate mappings, so a live setup and a studio template stay ready at the same time. Octave buttons reach the full range and a sustain pedal jack adds piano-style control.

Connection is USB only. It is bus powered and class compliant on Mac and PC, which means no adapter, nothing to install, and a working setup within seconds of plugging in. A Kensington security slot suits shared spaces, and the rugged construction handles regular packing and travel at 3.3 lb.

The included software makes it playable right away. Analog Lab Lite covers hundreds of synth, piano, organ, and string machine sounds, Ableton Live Lite handles recording and arrangement, and UVI Grand gives a detailed sampled grand piano. It suits producers who want a small controller with plenty of knobs, and anyone who wants their desk to look different from the standard black box.