Novation FLkey 2 controllers arrive for FL Studio
FLkey 2 adds OLED displays and endless encoders across all four models.
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Every model in the range now carries an OLED screen, 16 RGB pads and eight endless encoders
Novation has released FLkey 2, the second generation of the only MIDI keyboard range built specifically for FL Studio. It was developed alongside Image-Line and comes in four sizes: Mini 25, 37, 49 and 61. Image-Line announced the launch on 19 May 2026, and the keyboards have been shipping from retail since then.
Official Novation walkthrough of FLkey 2.
What changed from the first FLkey
The headline additions are an OLED display on every model, eight endless encoders in place of the first generation's fixed-range knobs, and semi-weighted keybeds on the 49 and 61. An endless encoder has no start or end point, so when you switch to a different plugin parameter the knob picks up from that parameter's current value instead of jumping to wherever the knob happens to be sitting. That removes the value jumps that made the original FLkey awkward for mixing.
The pad section has also moved and grown. All four models now carry 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads that mirror FL Studio plugin colours, and Novation has extended its DAW scripting so more of the Channel Rack, Mixer and plugin layers are reachable without the mouse.
Writing tools: scales, chords and Score Log
Scale Mode restricts the keybed to one of 30 built-in scales, so every key you press lands in key. Three Chord Modes sit alongside it. Chord Map assigns full chords to single keys, Fixed Chord transposes one chord shape you have defined across the keyboard, and User Chord stores your own voicings. The arpeggiator has a step editor, which means you can mute or accent individual steps in the pattern rather than only choosing a direction and a rate.
Score Log is the quietly useful one. FL Studio keeps a rolling buffer of everything you play whether or not the transport is recording, and FLkey 2 gives that buffer a dedicated control. If you improvise something good with recording off, you can pull it back.
Mixing and plugin control
The 49 and 61 add nine faders and nine fader buttons for Mixer level and mute or solo work, plus split and layer functions across two zones. All models support NKS (Native Kontrol Standard), the Native Instruments protocol that gives two-way communication between a keyboard and compatible plugins, so parameter names and preset lists appear on the OLED. For other DAWs, FLkey 2 falls back to Mackie HUI control.
The four models compared
FLkey 2 Mini 25: 25 synth-action mini keys, pitch and modulation touch strips, 3.5mm MIDI out, 338.5 x 176.8 x 49 mm, 0.78 kg.
FLkey 2 37: 37 synth-action keys, pitch and modulation wheels, 5-pin MIDI out, transport and workflow buttons.
FLkey 2 49: 49 semi-weighted keys, nine faders and nine fader buttons, 730 x 263.5 x 93 mm, 4.08 kg.
FLkey 2 61: 61 semi-weighted keys, nine faders and nine fader buttons, 895 x 263.5 x 93 mm, 4.78 kg.
All four are USB-C and bus powered, with a 6.3mm sustain pedal input. No power supply is included.
Bundled software
Every FLkey 2 includes six months of FL Studio Producer Edition, activated when you register the controller with Novation. Also included: Native Instruments Komplete Select, Novation Play, Orchestral Tools Parallel Orchestra, Klevgrand Slammer and LUXE, four GForce synths (Bass Station, Oberheim SEM, Oberheim OB-EZ and AXXESS), and Melodics lessons. Image-Line's FAQ specifies Komplete 15 Select as the Native Instruments component. If you want to keep FL Studio past the six months, our guide to the cheapest ways to buy FL Studio covers the routes.
One licensing catch is worth knowing. Image-Line states the six-month Producer Edition licence can only be activated on a machine that has never had a full or time-limited FL Studio licence installed, so existing FL Studio owners get nothing from that part of the bundle.
Availability
Checked on 28 July 2026, Thomann* listed all four models in stock for immediate shipping, while Novation's own store listed them as available to pre-order with shipping from early August. Novation direct is also $10 more per model than the figures printed on Image-Line's FLkey 2 page.
FAQ
How much does FLkey 2 cost?
Thomann lists the Mini 25 at $119, the 37 at $209, the 49 at $248 and the 61 at $299. Novation direct is $139.99, $239.99, $289.99 and $339.99 for the same four models. Prices checked 28 July 2026.
Does FLkey 2 come with FL Studio?
It includes a six-month licence for FL Studio Producer Edition, not a permanent one. After six months FL Studio reverts to trial mode. The licence only activates on a computer that has never had an FL Studio licence installed.
What version of FL Studio do I need?
Image-Line's FAQ states that FLkey 2 requires FL Studio 2025 or later. Updates from earlier versions are free for existing owners.
Which models have semi-weighted keys?
Only the 49 and 61. The Mini 25 uses synth-action mini keys and the 37 uses full-size synth-action keys.
Is there a student discount?
Yes. Novation gives 25% off to anyone with a .edu or .ac.uk email address, applied automatically at checkout, though not on sale, promotional or refurbished items. See our student discounts guide for how this compares with other brands.
Does FLkey 2 work with other DAWs?
Partially. The custom scripting is FL Studio only. Other DAWs are supported through Mackie HUI, which covers transport and basic mixer control but not the Channel Rack integration that is the point of buying an FLkey. If you are weighing up which DAW to commit to, our DAW comparison is a starting point.
How does it compare with a Launchkey?
Launchkey is Novation's DAW-agnostic line with deeper Ableton Live scripting, and FLkey is the FL Studio equivalent. The Launchkey 49 MK4 is $209 at Thomann against $248 for the FLkey 2 49.
Our View
This is an incremental update executed well, not a category shift. Endless encoders and an OLED on every model fix the two things that made the first FLkey frustrating once you moved past beat sketching, and semi-weighted keys on the 49 and 61 close the gap with general-purpose controllers. None of that changes what a MIDI keyboard is or does.
The comparison that matters is Novation's own Launchkey 49 MK4*, $209 at Thomann against $248 for the FLkey 2 49. The Launchkey has near-identical hardware and works across DAWs, and it bundles Ableton Live Lite rather than FL Studio; the FLkey trades that flexibility for Channel Rack, Step Sequencer and Mixer mappings. You are paying about $39 for FL-specific scripting. Cheaper again is the Arturia KeyLab Essential 49 MK3* at $158, which ships with Analog Lab and treats every DAW the same way.
FLkey is worth a closer look if FL Studio is your only DAW and you sequence from the Channel Rack rather than the piano roll, because that is where the mapping earns its premium. The device is probably not the best choice if you split work across DAWs, already own a Launchkey MK4, or want weighted keys for piano playing, since semi-weighted here means light and springy rather than hammer action. Wait if you were planning to buy direct: Novation's store was on pre-order with early August shipping when we checked, while Thomann was shipping immediately and about $42 cheaper on the 49.
We have not had an FLkey 2 on the desk. The specification tells you nothing about keybed feel, which is the whole argument for the 49 and 61 over the 37, and nothing about how the OLED handles long plugin parameter names in practice. Both need hands-on time before we would recommend a specific size.
Pricing
FLkey 2
Four models, sold direct by Novation and through retail. Prices verified 28 July 2026 at novationmusic.com and at Thomann.
FLkey 2 Mini 25: $119 at Thomann*, $139.99 direct from Novation
FLkey 2 37: $209 at Thomann*, $239.99 direct from Novation
FLkey 2 49: $248 at Thomann*, $289.99 direct from Novation
FLkey 2 61: $299 at Thomann*, $339.99 direct from Novation
Image-Line's own FLkey 2 page prints lower figures than Novation's store: $129.99, $229.99, $279.99 and $329.99. Thomann is cheaper than both on every model. Thomann also lists a B-stock FLkey 2 49 at $228.
Education Pricing
Novation gives students and educators 25% off when buying direct, applied automatically once a .edu or .ac.uk email address is attached to the account. It does not apply to sale, promotional or refurbished items, and a Novation summer sale was running when we checked, so the two do not stack. Novation education pricing page. See the musicmanta student discounts guide for context.
Free Trial
There is no trial for hardware. The equivalent is the bundled six-month FL Studio Producer Edition licence, which activates on registration with Novation and reverts to trial mode afterwards. It cannot be activated on a computer that has previously had any full or time-limited FL Studio licence installed. The FL Studio trial itself remains free, subject to Image-Line's standard trial limitations.
Updates and Upgrades
FLkey 2 is a separate purchase and Novation has not published a first-generation trade-up offer for it. Registering any Novation or Focusrite hardware between 18 June and 20 August 2026 adds the UVI Tape Suite plugins free, per Thomann*. Existing FL Studio owners keep Image-Line's lifetime free updates, so no new FL Studio purchase is needed to reach FL Studio 2025 or later. For upgrade routes see our cheapest ways to buy FL Studio guide.
Demos
Videos
The New FLkey is here: the go-to controller for FL Studio
