Arturia Astrolab - Ok King

Subjective opinions within, those who do not understand subjective opinion may be excused lol
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL AND GET YOUR GEAR WITH Zzounds EASY PAYMENT PLANS:
bit.ly/3zv9UhY
*100% music in this video composed/produced by me.
Remember, pick what's best for you, the Arturia Astrolab is an amazing piece of hardware, BUT, I've owned and played quite possibly every live keyboardists keyboard and so some of the things I say will seem knit picky, but the Astrolab I feel is positioned as the perfect hybrid... it's less aimed at the touring player, but more at the performer player/producer player... someone who is keen on hearing the magic of the studio on the stage.
That said, yes, this is from a live players perspective, I'm not a journalist or enjoy being a highly technical reviewer, those videos will be available, as a musician this is from my POV as to what works and what doesn't
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
►[e-mail]
FIND ME ON!
►Instagram: / noiretblancvie​
►Twitter: / ​
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#ArturiaAstrolab #Astrolab #synthesizer
Disclaimer: The above links are affiliated and help support the productions on this channel.

[@BoBeats]

Whats uppppp a Noir video! But it isnt halloween?!

[@rgeraldc80s]

I am also shocked. I think it's because he is an amazing player, he needed to be involved in this one. I felt like this product was a deflated balloon for me, but thats just because I was hyped for a new Polybrute instead.

[@bassnsax]

It's French Halloween, Bo!

[@zanderlee2339]

The best thing about your videos on gear is that it feels much more natural, a musician on a journey like all of us. A lot of other videos feel disconnected.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Also he can actually play beautiful music.

[@Motel-Music]

I like how you explain the product, while plating the product. Even when you are just talking about the power supply, the chords just keep going. That is smooth.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

One of the best parts of this launch was getting a new Noir et Blanc Vie Video❤️ nobody talks synths quite like you bro, always here for it🤟🏻🔥

[@MilesAwayOfficial]

I agree, Noir’s videos are one of the reasons I got into making synthtube vids. Absolutely amazing talent!

[@intriguedviewer501]

True, but don't sell yourself short either :)

[@bassnsax]

I love the perspective you approached the new product from! I think this will be awesome for the exact circumstances you outlined, studio-to-stage performance. I could also see this as a gateway/stepping stone to arrangers like the Motif, etc. Awesome video!!!

[@Alleroc]

ngl the thermostat wheel screen thing is always a look I'll enjoy.

[@Taetro]

"I'm just a player" - we knew that already bro 😎

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

If I was a real player I’d leave LA and be enjoying life like someone I know 😉

[@VIRALBEATS360]

Nicely done, my friend. It looks like a solid build and sounds amazing! I think it will hold up.

[@stereothrilla8374]

So stoked I found your channel! You’re very comforting to watch. Apologies if that sounds weird but that’s the only way I know how to describe it.

[@issiewizzie]

finally from a player .....thanks

[@Musik_Arbeiter]

Another great video, thank you for showing the keyboard from a genuine perspective as a performing musician and less of a technical overview. Pointing out the power supply is a good critique of something that may possibly deter people from being as interested in the keyboard. I like the design of the Astrolab and the screen on it too. Awesome job as always! 😄🎹🎶

[@mrdavies7894]

As usual, the video I was waiting for! Thanks man. ❤

[@michaeltrenier]

They brought me in with the Keylab and analog V….now they put that into one unit…SOLD

[@Ywz816]

Beautiful playing

[@egorkinvlog]

always enjoyed your vids, now its new level! awesome sounds!

[@indigosnow_]

Ayy, hype! Looks so clean! Sounds great

[@TrueColorsSoundSystem]

As someone who has started to becaome more of a live keys player over the past year, this was the perfect review. Thanks!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

well done on a most enjoyable demo with lovely paying Noir. congrats on the new keyboard and finally thank you for being ethical and checking paid promotion

[@snuppssynthchannel]

Beautiful playing man!

[@ShallieDragon]

This feels like a pretty solid keyboard. If you want an all-in-one performance solution, this seems like it'd work well. Not perfect, obviously, but still solid.

[@qh_fan]

I like the taking with music along , the vibe! I would believe anything you say......

[@Alleroc]

I like the simplicity it seems to provide, and of course it's going to sound great being from Arturia, but for my own uses, I couldn't replace my MPC Key61 with it.

[@slowbro1337]

Somehow, I never knew about that keyboard. This is the first review you have done where I have had no knowledge of the item at all. Very nice

[@kidicaras2719]

Nobody knew that one 24h ago :D This is like brand new BRAND NEW.

[@broncoxy]

having just recently watched Charles Cornells latest video (highly recommend), I just _know_ this thing would make for some banger underwater sounds

[@Dolle_Man]

Ohhh men I hope you will do this format with many other synths, Behringer, Korg, ect!

[@Bashanvibe]

New sub here!!! I’m glad you mentioned the lack of faders!!! For me it would be just studio!!! So I’ll stick with my first choice Key Lab Enssential mk3

[@DEADLINETV]

Love that bit you played at the end! I think it's a good video and an honest review from someone who knows what's what. They should've talked to you sooner...

[@KattKirsch]

Looks so buttery, maybe tomorrow we have a shootoff with the Korg?

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

I need my Nord Electro back haha

[@stillphil]

We need an Noir 80’s vibe track called LEAP ! Cause those changes were cool.

[@JohnLRice]

Excellent review, Noir! It's a cool looking and great sounding keyboard. I agree 100% on wanting standard IEC AC power connections on everything, especially anything intended for live use! (I've even embedded power bricks inside some of my portable modular synth systems for the very reasons you stated) I suppose that blank space on top could be used for a large phone or small tablet but some physical drawbars would have been sweet, or even a large touch screen for virtual drawbars and other virtual controllers that are instrument type specific? I noticed those slots at the back center which are for a clip on music stand they sell, and if this keyboard gains popularity I could see Arturia or a third party coming out with a smaller more compact version to hold a large iPad/tablet? I suppose that music stand would be handy for home and studio setups and even for semi permanent house band and worship team setups but for gigging musicians some embedded flip up sheet music/tablet holder arms would be more convenient?

[@EarmonkeyMusic]

Nice playing bro. It was good to hang out at NAMM a bit (Jim Heywood ). This thing is interesting. Probably not for me at this point, but a cool idea.

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

Ooooh baby u copped one !!! Nice man

[@aquaticborealis4877]

Pretty good quick demo. Like your playing. Having a playlist is good. I was wondering about that. I don’t get why they didn’t make the screen bigger. I would not want to squint at that in a live environment. Also, the scrolling type menu system seems like something that would be slow in that kind of situation. They wasted some space which they could’ve used for more controls or better yet, a bigger screen. Having some sort of built-in beats or other accompaniment would also be handy. The sound range is huge though.

[@PNovak87]

i will 110% forget the power supply at home when at a gig lol

[@el_dani]

Yeah, they should have put the draw bars (and multi-use them for enveloppes for Synth sounds)

[@maxwellwolf9225]

they put a nest thermostat on a keyboard?!

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

My Google NEST feels attacked and also jealous 😂

[@mrdavies7894]

😂

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

Got a lot of People asking about hearing the more synth presets with some tweaking of the knobs to see what its like for the synthheads. Nobody done a video like that yet.

[@thechiefcook.]

💪🏾💯

[@keyhoarder]

I think the good philosophy of making synths is to use every space and put as many knobs as you can for real time control. It could be a drawbars or buttons for the faster access to so many presets. I think it may be stressing to use this circle screen on stage (but it looks great - no doubt). You are right about the power supply. If you are buying used synth from gigging musician you propably won't get the original power supply, only some 3rd party one (or no power supply at all). Not a problem if it's typical volts, amps and type of jack, but sometimes they are not standard ones. From what i see in Arturia power supply is 3,0A which is kinda big for the instruments without speakers. I understand - it needs power to process the presets. But if you forget to take it from home to gig, propably other musicians won't be able to borrow you enough strong replacement.

[@valdir7426]

feels like on stage you'd use the playlist and switch directly from sound to sound with the buttons

[@keyhoarder]

@@valdir7426 its possible, maybe i should look for more reviews

[@hornbenjamin]

I'm so interested in this piece. So are you able to take any sound you've made with the V Collection and upload it as a performance patch? If so I'm sold. I'm tired of using Mainstage with a controller as Mainstage just isn't stable enough for my road use.

[@valdir7426]

yep that's exactly it. for now it only works with V collections 9 and somehow Mellotron didn't make the cut. They also have a dedicated sample instruments (with some of the Mellotron sounds)

[@raistaparta]

Anyone else remembers the EMU Longboard/Shortboard?

[@jamescollins3009]

I couldn't find the "sunshine life ep" in my analog lab.. did the astrolab come with new preset packs?

[@aschen]

i get the idea of this but i feel like from a performer aspect it would be more cost effective and intuitive to just have V collection and a keylab with midi switching on a laptop.

[@valdir7426]

"sometimes you forget your power supply that's life" lol my OCD ass doing lists of everything I need for a vastly more complex setup than just a keyboard and triple checking everything unable to grasp something like this

[@adamprotz]

Does anyone know if it can do beats, like a workstation keyboard for example? I'm assuming not as the site doesn't mention and there aren't any beat pads

[@malcolmcarrington875]

Why do I think 16 velocity-sensitive pads should have been where that big blank space is?

[@robertsyrett1992]

Aside from having to pay to edit presets, this thing looks and sounds great (when Noir Et Blanc Vie plays it).

[@slipknotboy555]

You have to pay to edit presets!? Wow. And can you create patches from scratch, or is it just editing presets? Edit: Just checked out the Sonic State review real quick, and I think I have my answer (from the description). So you need to own the software to create your own patches. They really should offer a discount for the software (or include it free) with the hardware, or vice versa. That's - not great to say the least, especially given the price. According to Sonic State, only 8 note polyphony for the synths, too (48 for the physical modeled stuff or whatever). I normally wouldn't mind that as much with many synths, but with this one - it seems silly. This doesn't really seem like a *synth* synth (haha). I know that's kinda how it's presented, but still - it could've been one. Doesn't seem like a great buy, imo.

[@valdir7426]

I've seen many people talking about drawbars; I'm curious how it's absolute need in a live situation, would you not rather have different presets than manually tweak drawbars? (or key switches like in the video?) thing is if you have drawbars then why not having at least four more knobs for an ADSR env in a synth? for better or worse the drawbars are very much against the design philosophy of this thing (which is extreme minimalism; only presets and minimum tweakability)

[@retromacman620]

Not terribly impressed for the price, but it does sound nice! I think it will appeal to some. The polyphony bothers me, the limit of 4 on board knobs, the small screen...I know this won't bother everyone and perhaps in practice these features work great...

[@benoftroy]

…but everyone knows you're a h8r ;) great playing, great vid, very cool new bit of kit from Arturia

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Thanks Ben! I think it’s so specific… I have many other thoughts, but on the surface I really could use something like this so I can leave my SV1 at home 😅

[@danielscott7985]

Is this a just midi controller?

[@dbefore7165]

Nope, it’s stand alone

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Yes and no… it could be, but I think it’s an ecosystem type thing, id compare it to a electro 6D… while at the same time not compare it at all… if you’re a live player you have to really really dig in to see if it’s the right tool

[@sammadden5540]

I don't understand how Arturia sold this to the companies they modelled the sounds from 🤯

[@briannhinton]

The new Arturia Nest.

[@dare2win215]

8 not polyphonic & on bi-timbral. that is hard to overlook.

[@veerchasm1]

Nice Thermostat Arturia, will it display temperatures?

[@ImmersionaudioLTD]

When you ask Disney to design a synth 🙄

[@NullStaticVoid]

I could see this being a big deal for covers bands on cruises and stuff like that. I don't like the weird thin Arturia is doing where it comes with Analog Lab, but you have to purchase V collection and Pigments to fully realize the instrument. It's at a good price point already but that caveat ruins it for me. Very bait and switch. I totally hear you on IEC instead of line lump or wall wart. But thats just the way things have been going for the last decade. It's easier to get the unit to pass certification with an external PS that gets certified on its own. They could at least have gone with a standard barrel connector, so another 12V PS can be subbed. Also, I see ZERO utility for the external inputs for 99% of users. Would be a lot more useful if it had outputs on combo XLR/TRS and had level switching line/instr/mic. So that you can be more flexible hooking it up in rehearsal spaces, clubs and studios.

[@Guitarist888]

About damn time Arturia and Akai gave us a standalone digital synth! Native Instruments better step their game up and quit up grading controllers!

[@blackjackpinoko]

MPC keys has a steep learning curve for non-MPC user.

[@westerncivilization]

So it comes with a Nest?

[@blackjackpinoko]

Having a built-in AC power supply requires local governmental regulatory approvals. Too much hassle for Arturia.

[@Haetni]

Don't use Presets all the time! Make you own Sounds!

[@Andrew-K]

Jump 😂

[@AdrianoBortoleto]

AstroLag 😅

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

lol

[@dr_selby]

that's not a keyboard, it's an air conditioner

[@synthanatomy]

great demo :)

[@isweartofuckinggod]

I trust Arturia's ability to make high quality gear, but this has me a bit confused. The obvious comparison would be a laptop running Analog Lab and a nice midi keyboard. This doesn't really seem to aim for anything unique that that setup wouldn't already be able to do better and cheaper. I don't know, it's a step in the direction to a merging of all the best parts of hardware and software, but still frustratingly not quite all the way there. I know that since Analog Lab came out there's been a vocal minority begging for "Analog Lab but in a keyboard" so I guess this is for them.

[@Only1Dharti]

🙌🏽 You are a beautiful piano player!!!!👏🏽🫶🏽✨

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Awww thank you 🙏🏾 ❤