Arturia MiniLab 37: More Keys, More Space to Make Music
- Noise Harmony
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
Arturia has introduced the MiniLab 37, a compact MIDI keyboard controller made for anyone who wants a small, practical and easy-to-use keyboard for making music. It keeps the portable format of the MiniLab series, but adds more keys, giving users extra space to play melodies, chords and musical ideas more comfortably.
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What is the MiniLab 37?
The MiniLab 37 is a portable MIDI controller. It does not create sound by itself. Instead, it connects to a computer, music software or external music gear and lets you play virtual instruments, control sounds, record ideas and build tracks.
The keyboard is based on Arturia’s well-known MiniLab concept. It keeps the compact size and simple workflow of the series, but adds a larger 37-key slim keyboard. This gives more room for playing, while still keeping the controller small enough for a desk, home studio or mobile setup.
Why is it useful?
Many compact MIDI keyboards are easy to carry and very convenient, but they can feel limited when you want to play more than simple basslines or short melodies. The MiniLab 37 adds 12 more keys compared to a 25-key controller, which makes it easier to play fuller ideas without moving to a much larger keyboard.
As a user of the 25-key MiniLab version, I have been really impressed by how simple, solid and inspiring the controller feels. It is small, but it gives quick access to pads, knobs and useful performance controls. The only thing I sometimes miss is a little more room on the keyboard itself. That is exactly why the new 37-key version feels so interesting.
Easy editing on the computer
One of the strongest parts of the MiniLab experience is how easy it is to edit the controller from a computer. With Arturia’s MIDI Control Center, you can quickly change MIDI channels, assign CC messages and adjust many other parameters. This makes it simple to set up the controller for different instruments, plugins or hardware devices.
This kind of easy editing is one of the reasons why the MiniLab workflow feels so practical. You are not locked into one setup. You can adapt the controller to your own way of working, whether you are using software instruments, external synths or a mix of both. For me, this flexibility makes the 37-key version even more tempting.
DAW integration
MiniLab 37 also comes with seamless DAW integration, including automatic mappings for major DAWs such as Ableton Live, Bitwig, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio and more. This means you can control key parts of your music software more quickly, without spending a lot of time setting everything up manually.
For everyday music-making, this is a big advantage. The controller can become part of your workflow right away, helping with recording, playing, launching ideas and controlling important parameters inside your DAW.
What features does it offer?
MiniLab 37 comes with 37 velocity-sensitive slim keys, RGB pads for drums and samples, rotary encoders, faders, pitch and modulation touch strips, a small display and a clickable browser knob. It also includes creative tools such as Chord mode, Hold mode and an arpeggiator, which can help users quickly create musical ideas and patterns.
The controller connects by USB-C and can also send MIDI to external instruments through a 5-pin MIDI output. It also has a control input for a sustain pedal, expression pedal or footswitch. This makes it useful not only for computer-based music production, but also for setups with hardware synths and other gear.
Software and creative tools
Arturia also includes a software bundle with the MiniLab 37. According to the official product page, the package includes Analog Lab Intro, Ableton Live Lite, Native Instruments Komplete 15 Select, Loopcloud, Melodics and MIDI Control Center. This means users can start making music soon after connecting the controller, without needing to buy extra software immediately.
Final thoughts
The Arturia MiniLab 37 looks like a very natural next step for people who like the MiniLab idea, but want more space to play. It keeps the compact format, hands-on controls, easy computer editing and strong DAW integration, while adding a more comfortable 37-key range.
For someone who already enjoys the 25-key MiniLab, this new version is especially interesting. It offers the same practical workflow, but with more freedom on the keyboard. That makes the MiniLab 37 a strong option for anyone looking for a small controller that still feels musical and flexible.
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