USER MANUAL _MINILAB MKII
Special Thanks DIRECTION Frédéric Brun Kevin Molcard Nicolas Dubois Sebastien Colin Jimmy Michon PROGRAMMING Dew Zhang Sebastien Colin INDUSTRIALIZATION Nicolas Dubois MANUAL Randy Lee Morgan Perrier Minoru Koike Sébastien Rochard Camille Dalemans Gala Khalife Germain Marzin Charlotte Métais Holger Steinbrink Sébastien Rochard Axel Hartmann DESIGN Glen Darcey Pierre Pfister © ARTURIA SA – 2021 – All rights reserved. 26 avenue Jean Kuntzmann 38330 Montbonnot-Saint-Martin FRANCE www.
Thank you for purchasing the Arturia MiniLab MkII! This manual covers the features and operation of Arturia’s MiniLab MkII, a full-featured MIDI controller designed to work with any DAW software or plug-in you own. Note: While MiniLab MkII is part of a package which includes our Analog Lab Lite software, this manual will focus only on the MiniLab MkII controller hardware. Please refer to the Analog Lab user manual in order to learn about the features of the software.
Special Message Section Specifications Subject to Change: The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at the time of release. However, Arturia reserves the right to change or modify any of the specifications without notice or obligation to update the hardware that has been purchased. IMPORTANT: The product and its software, when used in combination with an amplifier, headphones or speakers, may be able to produce sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss.
Table Of Contents 1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Overview........................................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1. First step - Making the connections.....................................................................................
4.8.3. Assignable pedal ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 4.8.4. Mode Encoders .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 5. Software License Agreement.............................
1. INTRODUCTION MiniLab MkII is Arturia’s most compact and feature-filled USB MIDI keyboard controller yet. It has a 25-key, velocity-sensitive, slim-key keyboard along with a control surface designed for perfect integration with our software synthesizers. The attention to detail poured into MiniLab MkII also makes it perfect for working with any other software plug-in or DAW you have available.
2. OVERVIEW 2.1. First step - Making the connections Setting up the MiniLab MkII keyboard for use with Analog Lab Lite is fast and simple: 1. First install the Analog Lab Lite program on your computer and be sure to register and authorize it (see Chapters 2 and 3 of the Analog Lab user manual). 2. Connect the MiniLab MkII keyboard to the computer. MiniLab MkII is powered by its USB connection, so all you have to do is connect a USB cable from your computer to the MiniLab MkII keyboard. 3.
NOTE: For other software programs use the MIDI Control Center software to alter their assignments. 2.1.2. Keyboard MiniLab MkII has a 25-key, velocity-sensitive, slim-key keyboard with a control surface designed for perfect integration with the Analog Lab Lite software interface. 2.1.3. Pitch + Modulation touch strips If you touch the Pitch bend strip at its center and move your finger forward or backward it will alter the pitch of the played sound.
2.1.5. Octave buttons Pushing one of the Oct - / + buttons will transpose the keyboard by as much as four octaves up or down. The farther from center the keyboard has been transposed, the faster the buttons will flash. To reset the keyboard octave range back to center, press both buttons at the same time. The button flashing can be desactivated by disablinging the "Octave Button Blink" in the "Device settings" using the Midi Control Center. See chapter 4.7. Working with Device Settings [p.29] 2.1.6.
2.1.7. Pads The eight pressure-sensitive pads on the front of the MiniLab MkII serve a dual purpose. Their function depends on whether you’re using the Shift button or the Pad 1-8 / 9-16 button. For example: The pads can be assigned to trigger up to sixteen particular MIDI notes (drums, stabs, bass notes, whatever). When the Pad 1-8 / 9-16 button is not lit, the first bank of pads are active (1-8). When the Pad 1-8 / 9-16 button is lit, the second bank of pads are active (9-16).
2.2. Rear panel Rear View The rear panel of the MiniLab MkII contains several important connectors: the footswitch jack, a USB Type B jack, and a Kensington lock port. 2.2.1. Footswitch jack The footswitch jack accepts a momentary footswitch (optional) and allows it to function as either a momentary switch (such as sustain pedal) or a latching switch (first press/release sends one event, second press/release sends the next event).
2.3. Factory Reset This procedure will erase all presets and device settings and restore them to their defaults. Use the MIDI Control Center software to back up your changes first. To reset the MiniLab MkII to its original factory settings: • Unplug the USB cable from the back of the keyboard • Hold down the Oct - and Oct + buttons • Plug the USB cable back in, and continue to hold the buttons until the pads turn white.
3. MINILAB MKII AND ANALOG LAB LITE This chapter will focus mostly on the MiniLab MkII keyboard and how it interacts with the Analog Lab Lite software. So you will find only basic coverage of the various Analog Lab Lite parameters that MiniLab MkII controls. For more details about Analog Lab Lite, please refer to the Analog Lab user manual. 3.1.
3.1.2. MIDI setup Connecting a USB MIDI keyboard controller to Analog Lab Lite is very simple. As shown above, navigate to the Audio MIDI Settings window by pressing [Command] + [,] or by selecting it from the Analog Lab Lite drop-down menu as shown in the Audio Setup section [p.10]. The Audio MIDI Settings window has a section labeled “MIDI Devices”. Click the box labeled “Arturia MiniLab MkII” to select it as a controller for Analog Lab Lite.
3.2. Preset Selection 3.2.1. Preset #1 + Analog Lab Lite When MiniLab MkII is first powered up it loads preset #1 from the internal memory. This preset has been specifically configured to work with Analog Lab Lite. The control assignments in preset #1 correspond to the parameters within Arturia’s softsynths, so with this combination there will be very little setup for you to do. It’s a very quick way to get the exact sound you want and start making music with it.
3.2.2.2. Pads 9-16 • The pads 9 10 11 are respectively used for: part 1, Part 2 and Live • The pads 12 13 have no effects • The pads 14 15 16 do the following: clear filter, Previous preset and Next preset 3.2.3. Presets 2-8 The remaining seven MiniLab MkII presets can be configured to work with other software applications such as a DAW or a plug-in. To select one of those preset locations, hold the Shift button and press the appropriate pad.
3.3. Using the Encoders Once you have started Analog Lab Lite and configured the Audio and MIDI settings correctly, all you need to do is select a Sound or Multi from the preset list and start playing. Each of the encoders on the MiniLab MkII will assume their assigned parameters immediately and you can begin experimenting by making your first edits inside that preset. You’ll notice that the virtual MiniLab MkII has only 14 encoders (two rows of 7) instead of 16 like the physical keyboard.
NOTE: In the image above the fourth virtual encoder has been selected for re-assignment. This encoder actually corresponds to encoder #5 on the physical controller, since encoder #1 is reserved for other functions. Each time you select a new Analog Lab Lite preset it is possible the control assignments will change. This is because there may be different parameters available for the synthesizer on which that preset is based. For more details on editing a preset, see the Analog Lab user manual. 3.4.
After this you can use pads 9-11 to select different tabs that appear above the virtual keyboard: • Use pad 9 to select the Part 1 tab • Use pad 10 to select the Part 2 tab • Use pad 11 to select the Live tab When you select a tab you will see the assignment labels under each encoder change. The Part 1 and Part 2 encoders will control the parameters for their respective Parts. The Live encoders will control Macros, which can contain parameters that are common to both Parts.
Part 1 / Part 2 tabs These tabs are basically identical, even though the encoders may have different labels. So we’ll only use one screen shot to represent them both: A Multi with the Part 2 tab selected The Part 1 and Part 2 tabs are different from the Live tab in one major way: they control one parameter per encoder. The Live tab can do that and more.
From here you can name the Macro, select parameters to control, and set the amount of control (positive or negative). To enable or disable the individual parameter, click Assign. To clear the parameter selection, click the X. Select a parameter Click on the second field from the top and a sub-window will open. It allows you to specify whether you want to control a parameter for Part 1, Part 2, or the Live tab.
3.4.2.3. Pad 14: Clear all filters It’s possible to specify several characteristics with encoder 9 when you’re looking for a particular type of sound. In the example below, we are looking for an ambient, complex, evolving sound from three different Arturia instruments: If you see the preset you’re looking for in the Results window, select it with encoder #1 and click on it. To clear the filters and start over, tap pad 14. 3.4.2.4.
4. MIDI CONTROL CENTER 4.1. The Basics The MIDI Control Center is an application that allows you to configure the MIDI settings of your MiniLab MkII. It works with most of Arturia’s devices, so if you have an earlier version of the software you’ll want to download the MiniLab MkII version. It will work with the other Arturia products as well. 4.1.1. System requirements PC: 2 GB RAM; CPU 2 GHz (Windows 7 or higher) Mac: 22 GB RAM; CPU 2 GHz (OS X 10.7 or higher) 4.1.2.
4.1.4. Where to find the manual There is a built-in help file for the MIDI Control Center in its Help menu, as shown below: It’s a good introduction to the MIDI Control Center, describing each section of the software window and defining important terms you will need to know while using the MIDI Control Center, such as ‘Working Project’ and ‘Template’.
4.2. Device Memories The Device Memories window There are eight memory locations in the Device Memories window, which corresponds to the number of preset memories inside the MiniLab mk II. Memory #1 is reserved for working with Analog Lab Lite and cannot be modified. The other seven memories can be configured any way you like.
4.3. Template Browser The Template Browser shows a list of all the Templates available to you inside the MCC. These are divided into two main groups of Templates: Factory and User. The User Templates are the ones you have recalled from your MiniLab MkII with the MCC. See Store to/Recall From section [p.24] to learn how to do this. A Template contains the all of the settings for the controllers and pads. You can build a limitless library of setups in the User Templates area.
4.4. Store To/Recall From 4.4.1. The ‘Store To’ button The left-hand section of the MIDI Control Center has a button called “Store To”. It is used to transmit a Template from the Template Browser window to the MiniLab MkII. If there is a particular Template you would like to transmit to your MiniLab MkII, select it in the Template Browser window. The following process will overwrite the internal memory of the MiniLab MkII.
4.4.2. Recall a preset from MiniLab MkII If you changed any settings inside the MiniLab MkII using a different computer you should pull that data into the MIDI Control Center to back it up. To do that: • Select the desired Memory in the Device Memories window • Click the Recall From button. Recalling Memory #7 into the MCC A new file containing the settings from the selected Memory location will appear in the Template Browser with the current time/date stamp for a name. You can rename it if you like.
4.5. Import/Export Device Settings When the Device Settings tab is selected in the MCC window you will see two buttons on the upper right labeled Import and Export. The function of these buttons is to manage files containing only the Device Settings. They are different from the buttons described in Save, Delete, Import/Export section [p.25], which are used to generate a file containing both the Device Settings and the controller settings. The Device Settings files carry the extension .minilabmk2_ds.
4.6. Editing basics 4.6.1. Data entry There are two main ways to enter new parameter values in the MIDI Control Center: click something and move it, or type a number into a field. To edit a controller range value, for example, click and drag the knob graphic or double-click in the value field and enter a new value To edit a parameter such as a pad color, click its pull-down menu and make a selection 4.6.2.
4.6.3. Device Settings tab All of the Global parameters are found on the Device Settings tab. To view them, click the tab in the upper right corner of the window. The device settings menu To resume editing the controller settings, click the Controller Map tab.
4.7. Working with Device Settings All of the Global parameters have pull-down menus with additional options. To select a new value, click the arrow next to the parameter you would like to change. The options of each field are different for each parameter, so we’ll cover each one separately. You may want to try each setting to see which one fits your needs the best. 4.7.1. Keyboard Channel This is where the master MIDI channel for the MiniLab MkII is chosen in the MCC. Available values are 1-16.
4.7.3. Key Velocity Curve To personalize the responsiveness of the keyboard, choose one of these four settings. The Keyboard Velocity Curve menu The one with the blue check mark is the current value. The “Full” setting causes every key you press to play at maximum MIDI velocity (127). 4.7.4. Pad Velocity Curve To personalize the responsiveness of the pads, choose one of these four settings. The pads Velocity Curve menu The “Full” setting causes every pad you tap to play at maximum MIDI velocity (127).
4.7.6. Pad off Backlight • OFF: the pad is unlit until it has been activated. Then it will lit in the color defined in the Controller map. • ON: When not activated, the pad is lit with the color defined in the user preset. When activated it is lit in white. When this mode is ON, when the color defined for a pad is white, activating a pads will lead to no difference on the pad color. 4.8.
4.8.2. Control strips: Pitch Bend Hold A physical pitch bend wheel is normally spring-loaded so it will always snap back to center. But the left-most control strip can be configured either way using this parameter: The pitch bend configuration menu This setting is saved with each preset, so you can have some presets configured one way and other presets configured the other way if you like.
4.8.3. Assignable pedal The MiniLab pedal input is designed for a switch-type pedal, either latching or momentary, and can be configured a number of ways using the MCC. To edit its settings, click on the graphic of the Sustain pedal connector at the top of the Editor window: The assignable pedal input A window containing four pull-down menus and two knobs will appear when the controller input has been selected.
4.8.4. Mode Encoders 4.8.4.1. Mode Control • Absolute: The default setting for Analog Lab: the knob will send absolute values from 0-127. • Relative 1: The knob will send values 61-63 when turned in a negative direction and values 65-67 when turned in a positive direction. The turn speed determines the parameter response. • Relative 2: The knob will send values 125-127 when turned in a negative direction and values 1-3 when turned in a positive direction.
5. SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT In consideration of payment of the Licensee fee, which is a portion of the price you paid, Arturia, as Licensor, grants to you (hereinafter termed “Licensee”) a nonexclusive right to use this copy of the Analog Lab Lite Software (hereinafter the “SOFTWARE”). All intellectual property rights in the software belong to Arturia SA (hereinafter: “Arturia”).
5. No Unbundling The software usually contains a variety of different files which in its configuration ensure the complete functionality of the software. The software may be used as one product only. It is not required that you use or install all components of the software. You must not arrange components of the software in a new way and develop a modified version of the software or a new product as a result.
11. No Liability for Consequential Damages Neither Arturia nor anyone else involved in the creation, production, or delivery of this product shall be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use this product (including without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information and the like) even if Arturia was previously advised of the possibility of such damages.
6. DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY USA Important notice: DO NOT MODIFY THE UNIT! This product, when installed as indicate in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirement. Modifications not expressly approved by Arturia may avoid your authority, granted by the FCC, to use the product. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/or another product, use only high quality shielded cables. Cable (s) supplied with this product MUST be used. Follow all installation instructions.
