New Gear Review: Novation FLKey

Selecting an ideal MIDI keyboard can be such a daunting task these days. Novation has made some of the best models on the market, and in 2022 released the first MIDI keyboards designed specifically with FL Studio users in mind – the Novation FLkey.

The FLkey is an amazing option, and now Novation has just released FLkey 49 and 61 versions. Today, we’re going to take a look at the FLkey 49 and see how its FL integration could make it the best MIDI controller for FL Studio users. 

Features and Use

The Novation FLkey comes with a number of ways to control FL Studio parameters like knobs, pads, and faders.

FLkey 61 is a full-sized keyboard that adds dedicated control for the mixer and channel rack in FL Studio. The access to control of volume and pan with eight pots, nine faders, and nine fader buttons for easy muting and soloing is a welcome addition to the FLkey line. There’s also control of FL Studio’s Sequencer, Faders, and creative Scale and Chord modes. 

The new Pattern Pad mode allows the user to select and edit patterns directly from the pads, and users of the existing FLkey 37 can also gain access to this exciting feature by updating to the latest firmware.

Like the previous model, the new versions of FLkey also include transport controls, undo, redo, quantize, and metronome toggle buttons. FLkey 49 and 61 come with a 6-month trial of FL Studio Producer Edition and XLN Audio’s Addictive Keys’ Studio Grand, the AAS Session bundle, Spitfire Audio LABS Expressive Strings, Klevgrand R0verb, and Klevgrand DAW Cassette. 

While using the keyboard, I found it took a couple of hours for me to get used to the quantization and transport controls, as opposed to using the keyboard shortcuts I’m used to. After a while though, I found that having all these controls on the keyboard was helpful for faster music making and I could see how this workflow could save a lot of time moving forward. 

The sequencer mode is great for quickly creating beats by placing notes on the grid seeing the lit-up pads provide immediate visual indication of where notes are in the sequence. It also has some controller functions, and you can use it to manipulate Image Line’s plug-ins and record automation with FLkey’s knobs and faders.

The Score Log button is handy when you forgot to press record and want to retrospectively record that “lost” performance.

At $229 for the Novation FLkey 49 and $279 for the FLkey 61, I think it’s an incredible value, especially given all of the included software. Klevgrand’s DAW Cassette ($39.99), R0Verb ($39.99), Addictive Keys’ Studio Grand ($89.95), and AAS Session Bundle ($99) all individually purchased is more than the full cost of a FLkey49! This adds even more value. 

To Be Critical

While it works with all DAWs, the FLkey is best suited for FL Studio.

While I love the keyboard, I feel like it really shines with FL Studio but I’m not sure if I’d recommend it to someone using a different DAW.

The pads are responsive, but I wish they were a little bit bigger or spaced further apart from each other. I found myself accidentally hitting the wrong pad while using them. I also love the note repeat functions on the keyboard, but wish that there was an arpeggiator too. 

The Novation FLkey will work with any DAW as a regular MIDI keyboard, but it provides DAW integration only for FL Studio. 

Summing it Up

The FLkey is a great all-around MIDI controller that’s perfectly suited for FL Studio users.

I feel confident saying that if you exclusively use FL Studio as your main DAW, the Novation FLkey is the best keyboard for you.

The ease of access to quantize and transport controls, dedicated Score Log button, and the ability to sequence directly from this keyboard makes it so easy and fun to create music in FL Studio.

The keys and pads are very expressive, and I think the only feature that I think it’s missing is an arpeggiator. But it’s something I think they could add via a future firmware update.

Overall, this is THE MIDI keyboard and controller if you are a FL Studio user.

Matthew Wang is an LA-based guitarist, producer, songwriter, film composer, and SonicScoop contributor.

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