Studiologic SL88 Studio

Product Information

It may sport a fully weighted 88-note keyboard, but the Studiologic SL88 Studio is delightfully portable. Thanks to its lightweight Fatar TP/100LR action, it weighs in under 31 pounds - which is very much appreciated by gigging Sweetwater keyboardists. The SL88 Studio is also thoroughly professional caliber and built like a tank with a rugged all-metal casing and impact-resistant synthetic endcaps that protect the keybed and provide a sure grip when transporting. The center console has an elegant 320x240px TFT color display, and the control knob is actually a multi-position selector and Enter key when depressed. The SL88 has memory for 250 Programs, and each program has four programmable zones for splits and layers of your instruments. As you can see from the image below of one zone, you can easily set bank select messages (along with program changes and MIDI channel) for each zone. Such a simple little detail that is overlooked in so many controller keyboards today, yet it is essential for sending program change messages to MIDI gear containing multiple banks of sounds. It features Korg’s RH3 (Real Hammer Action) keyboard, which is always one of the best in its class. The fact that the D1 is a stage piano first and controller second probably gives it an edge over most competition regarding the authentic piano feel.

In terms of getting good dynamics and therefore emotion out of your sample libraries, I easily had great success with this keyboard. It was one of those moments when you wanted to keep playing, as you were getting so much more life out of the sounds than previously. Okay, I am not a serious piano player, but I have had an opportunity to play Steinways and high-end Yamahas. I wanted to replace my small midi controller with something that I could use to trigger various VST's that would help me avoid inadvertant triggers caused by my heavy-handed clumsiness. This keyboard is my solution. The action is much firmer than the typical plastic, spring-action keyboards and certainly cannot be mistaken for a cheap toy. I use it only in my home studio, as I no longer do anything on stage (that was only from the 60's through the 80's). We used to lug a Hammond B3 organ with a Leslie speaker to gigs, and while this is much less awkward, it is still heavy enough that I wouldn't want to drag it around. It may sport a fully weighted 88-note keyboard, but the Studiologic SL88 Studio is delightfully portable. Thanks to its lightweight Fatar TP/100LR action, it weighs in under 31 pounds - which is very much appreciated by gigging Sweetwater keyboardists. The SL88 Studio is also thoroughly professional caliber and built like a tank with a rugged all-metal casing and impact-resistant synthetic endcaps that protect the keybed and provide a sure grip when transporting. TFT color display for total accessTaking inspiration from some of the non-weighted M-Audio controllers, this model comes with 16 velocity-sensitive pads. The Hammer 88 Pro is also one of the few weighted controllers with fantastic aftertouch. It also features a built-in arpeggiator and new modes like Smart Scale/Chord. It may sport a fully weighted 88-note keyboard, but the Studiologic SL88 Studio is delightfully portable. Thanks to its lightweight Fatar TP/100LR action, it weighs in under 31 pounds – which is very much appreciated by Millionhead keyboardists. The SL88 Studio is also thoroughly professional caliber and built like a tank with a rugged all-metal casing and impact-resistant synthetic endcaps that protect the keybed and provide a sure grip when transporting. Feel of the keyboard suits us guys who are not entirely piano players but want a piano like action (I am a synth, and organ player primarily and piano alternately) The Komplete Kontrol S88 Mk2 is the flagship model from Native Instruments’ premium smart controller range.

For the purposes I wanted the keyboard it is perfect - in fact way better than I expected for the price.

Tech Specs

The overall height of the keyboard is very shallow/narrow?! It feels comfortable to get your knees under and have your hands at the correct playing position. This would also be great for DAW setups where you want your QWERTY keyboard on top. Unfortunately, the huge data knob gets in the way a bit. I tend to use the software instead, even though it's a bit fiddly. As good as the Fatar keyboard is, the real strength of this controller comes from its assignable controls. It includes a massive nine faders and nine rotary knobs, which is more than most competitors. The only thing that might leave some players wanting? Although those knobs and individual displays are undeniably cool, you don’t get faders or drum pads as you do on the KeyLab. Still, the S88 is a stellar deal and a no-brainer for musicians already using Native Instruments software. It's a quality construction and the action is more than adequate for any use. I'm using it now exclusively and haven't felt the need to switch to my stage piano to improve piano part performances. The SL88 Grand weighs just under 46 pounds (21Kg), comparable to other premium keyboards of a 76- or 88-note variety.

Again there are factory settings, but you can create a library of user settings, where you can adjust each and every key to fit your playing/distinct instruments. First a big round of applause for anyone who can ship this amount of functional gear at this price point.

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The action really does feel great, and I felt it was non-fatiguing even after function gigs involving three or four hour-long sets. Another value proposition is the slim size and light weight, making this a good choice if you’ve wanted a “full 88” in your rig but were holding off for space reasons. The S88 features multiple smart modes that allow you to play arpeggios, complex chords, and progressions from a single key. You can also highlight specific scales and modes using the built-in light guide. The rear of the SL88 provides straightforward connectivity. Two pedal inputs can accommodate typical sustain-type pedals, a third pedal input supports continuous controllers, and a fourth pedal input supports either continuous controller pedals or multi-functional pedals such as the optional SLP3-D Triple Pedal. The SLP3-D provides Half-Damper functionality on the right pedal, Sostenuto in the middle, and Soft on the left pedal. Clearly, the SL88’s available foot control can easily eclipse your ability to step on everything. Overall, if you're someone that can play the piano and is looking for a professional grade master midi controller that feels like a real piano, this is a very, very good choice. And even if you can't play the piano but enjoy how a real piano's keybed feels, this controller will satisfy that itch. A huge bonus is Thomann's absolutely amazing customer service and prompt delivery. I'll definitely be buying more stuff from here. The SL88 Studio looks more like a stage piano than a typical MIDI controller, and that’s no coincidence. It has a sleek yet incredibly robust body, making it an ideal keyboard controller for gigging. Korg D1 4.5

StudioLogic thoughtfully includes their VFP1/10 Sustain Pedal, which is a very solid, basic sustain pedal. It worked perfectly throughout testing, and was of sufficiently rugged quality to trust to our pro keyboard setup. It doesn’t provide Half-Damper functionality, but the optional SLP3-D pedal does. I own a piano, and the SL doesn't play like a piano at all, but other keyboards that I tried felt the same or worse. I didn't try the most expensive ones though, such as a Doepfer or Kawai.Arturia’s flagship KeyLab 88 Mk2 is an 88-key MIDI controller with a premium Fatar keybed. We should stress to anyone who tried the original KeyLab 88 that the keyboard feel is significantly improved. Performance controls are few but useful. Dedicated octave-shift buttons double as transpose buttons, there is a split/layer button with selectors for the lower and upper zones, two buttons and two knobs are freely assignable, and two signature Roland controllers are present: The pitch-mod “paddle,” and the D-Beam, an optical sensor you move your hand over in Theremin-like fashion. It can control pitch, volume, or an assignable parameter. There are other great keyboards out there when it comes to the feel but what really impressed me was the accuracy of the touch to midi velocity, it really feels like I'm playing a good piano(after I adjusted the touch curve to my liking). Last but not least the included soundware. NI bundles in Komplete Select, which comprises nine virtual instruments and soft synths—Massive, Reaktor Prism, Monark, The Gentleman piano, DrumLab, Retro Machines, Vintage Organs, West Africa, and Scarbee electric piano. An SSL-style bus compressor rounds out these goodies.