Technically it's possible. The hardware is capable, they just removed the functionalities from the firmware. I couldn't speculate why.
The more virtual instruments I try, the more I realize how badly the velocity is on the MKII. I'm hitting with moderate pressure and simply the keys are registering at barely 1-3 velocity values. It's borderline unusable unless you hack it in a third party application like Cantabile and set minimum velocity triggers with workarounds. This controller is not able to stand on its own for real world use. It needs other software to augment it's shortcomings. I just can't believe this. Very disappointing. Everything else about this controller is amazing. Can't understand this decision. I know for everyone with my opinion all over the web, there will be many others who come running to blame the end user and defend this gear but, it is what it is. Oh well. Been doing this for over 30 years. Never seen a hyper-responsive over reactive yet untweakable controller like this ever before. Terribly inconsistent across pads and keys.
The MIDI monitor in Kontakt even shows that incoming velocity at a normal pressure that ANYone would assume is sufficient, shows up as velocity of 1 (if it triggers at all). Sometimes I may get lucky and get a velocity of 10. MIDI OX shows the same after extensive testing. Unreal. Borderline unplayable for real time MIDI input, real frustrating. Requires extensive MIDI editing after input. Imagine playing with reasonable pressure like you have been doing for 30 years on 100s of keyboards, only to find a velocity of 10, usually lower. The 3 "curves" settings do nothing to change this other than slightly. Maybe 3-5 values difference. I'd be happy to show proof of this, it's not user error. It's a hardware or firmware failure. The data doesn't lie.
My goal with this thread now, seeing as how there's nothing we can do about it, is to at least inform other professional working musicians who seek a midi controller for their studio: be careful with this if you want real time input for orchestrating. You WILL have to do extensive MIDI editing in your piano roll, tweak velocities, and worst of all, you will not be always able to hear or get tactile responses to key presses if you play "too realistically" like you can on a piano or higher end controller.
With the Keylab MKII, you have to tailor your entire playing style and preferences to the controller. It does not adapt to you. This is the problem.
If you can live with that, this is a great piece of kit.
I wish Arturia would look at this and update it.
(cue all the happy people who love the MKII)
Have a nice day
