Playing Arturia AstroLab at Coachella - Keyboard Review

This past week I got to play the new Arturia Astrolab at Coachella Music Festival. I learned a lot about the upsides and downsides of the keyboard, and hopefully you'll find my findings useful!
INSTA: / samgutmankeys
#arturia #synth #synthesizer #keyboardist #musicgear

[@SamGutman]

A FEW THINGS I GOT WRONG / HAVE SINCE LEARNED 1- The Astrolab DOES come with Analog Lab Pro. I may have made it sound like you have to pay for ALL the software. 2- You CAN edit the most important parameters of a patch (like ADSR on an analog synth) in Analog Lab WITHOUT buying the VST. 3- You CAN add presets to playlists and organize your sound banks ON the Astrolab, without the computer. I simply missed this. 4- The individual instruments ARE $150 each BUT the whole V-Collection with 30+ instruments is $599. 5- You CAN achieve more onboard control by connecting an external MIDI controller, and then you have access to 9 additional parameters. I have become a much bigger fan of this keyboard since the time of making this video. The number 1 thing that changed my mind was falling in love with the software. My main contention in the video was that you needed the software to really unlock the keyboard. This is still true, however, the software is really really great and so I think it’s worth it. I love making a patch in Pigments, loading it right into the keyboard, and then playing a show without my computer. It WOULD be nice if there was more onboard control (without plugging in an external controller), BUT as long as I set up my Macros how I want them, it doesn't bother me.

[@loicmaestracci]

Bringing the Astrolabe straigt to Coachella is a big leap of faith. Kudos

[@pierrepfister6669]

Awesome to see our keyboard used on a big stage, and thanks for your insights!

[@SamGutman]

Thank you! Did you work on building this?

[@edouardarturia4680]

@@SamGutman he's the product mind behind it :)

[@manuG092]

Bonjour Pierre. Juste une question. Serait-il possible lors d'une prochaine mise à jour d'Analog Lab Pro (standalone version) d'avoir une fonctionnalité pour synchroniser le tempo avec une source externe via un "Tap tempo" ? En effet j'utilise des presets avec arpégiateur dans un groupe. Mais j'aurais besoin de me caler sur le tempo joué par notre batteur. Et aller dans les options pour taper numériquement le tempo, on est bien d'accord que ce n'est absolument pas envisageable en temps réel. Autre chose : pourquoi se limiter à seulement 2 layers/splits ? Il en faudrait grand minimum 4, mais 8 voire 16 zones/splits serait l'idéal. La performance est un faux problème puisque je peux cumuler sans soucis plusieurs instances d'Analog Lab pro sur le DAW. Merci d'avance.

[@The_Sonic_Oasis]

This is probably the best Astrolab review out there!!!!

[@michaelhauschild5646]

I think it would be a fair thing if Arturia made as VERY special offer for AstroLab owners to 'cross grade' to a full version of V Collection!

[@jumpstar9000]

At the very least, but even then. Who wants to be bouncing between two different worlds all the time. Seems like a complete buzz kill for flow state.

[@SamGutman]

I agree. This should at LEAST come with some of the softsynths. As for “bouncing between the two worlds”. There are things that are cool about it…it just needs a little more control on the board itself.

[@alamy313]

My local Music Store bundles the software with it.

[@SamGutman]

@@alamy313 it comes with analog lab and I think one or two other VSTs

[@valdir7426]

I'm pretty sure there is one; as there is for every hardware they sell. maybe it should be 50% off so you get it for 300. or you wait for a discount and you get it for less.

[@enochroot9438]

Interesting insights, thanks for the video

[@SamGutman]

Thanks for watching!

[@MauriceJayMusic]

Since committing to the full Vintage collection, Analog Lab and a KeyLab II a few years ago, costing around $1000, I've been dying for a keyboard like this for live use. Now that it's here, it's far too expensive for someone who has already purchased all of the above!! Arturia really should have a tiered pricing system for existing customers; given that AstroLab is pretty limited without the individual VST licenses!

[@SamGutman]

Yeah I think given its functionality and how it plugs into the rest of the Arturia products…it’s unfortunate that it’s as expensive as it is.

[@albeckwall]

Very well done, honest review of capabilities and limitations from a gigging perspective.

[@SamGutman]

thanks! glad you found it valuable.

[@hendrickvalera]

great review!

[@bodhibeats8257]

Really think they should just be including a full V Collection license with the keyboard. Great review! Thanks!

[@djkanyon]

With full V collection it would be reasonable to pay 2 grands... I mean why not? Me personally i would love to have every Arturia sound in one box.

[@SamGutman]

Yeah I totally agree

[@UncleMilty]

They don't? Amazing. To me Arturia products don't seem to hold value very well.

[@edouardarturia4680]

You have almost all sounds as Analog Lab Pro is included with the AstroLab license.

[@bodhibeats8257]

@@edouardarturia4680 I know. As I said, I think they should be including the V Collection, not just Analog Lab. A synth is for creating sounds, not just playing them. If you need V Collection to make this synth a synth, then they should include it, IMO.

[@user82938]

I think you are the exact use case for this particular keyboard, so it's super useful to hear your take. I agree that they should have included the full V Collection license with the keyboard purchase.

[@warrenbeatty9582]

Good to see a video of someone using it in real life rather than just bashing it without using it. I’ve had one for a couple weeks and my liking it a lot so far. Got some nice patches ready on my Mac, loaded unit AstroLab and headed to studio. Going to attempt live use very soon.

[@SamGutman]

I've started to like it more as I've got more of the VSTs and dug into them. It really is ALL about what you can do with the software.

[@tlkshowhst]

This is freaking sick.

[@terrygray7465]

Great review. I'm intrigued by the AstroLab, but bought an NI Kontrol s61 months ago and feel that I have more control with that via NKS - even though I'm tethered to my laptop. All that said, I own the V Collection and the idea of not needing my laptop has me looking at it closely.

[@scott21113]

Great video. Not including Analog Lab V with the purchase is a huge oversight. If you buy an Akai Keys 61 you get more soundware than anything in their current lineup even the more expensive MPC-X SE. Premium price and premium placement in the lineup should not include crippled soundware.

[@SamGutman]

It does include Analog Lab V. But not for instance, pigments or most of the other soft synths.

[@spitfirem1]

I’m researching getting my first and likely only for quite some time keyboard. I don’t really plan on playing out but would like the option in the future. I’m torn between AstroLab and MODX6+. Any advice given your experience with both? MODX6+ seems more flexible with more control surfaces and both sample and fm synth engines onboard, but that also makes it potentially more difficult to use. On the other hand, since AstroLab is more software-based, will that equate to a longer life before it becomes outdated?

[@JeffPalmer83]

I think Arturia may change course eventually and throw in V Collection for AstroLab owners. It seems to be in stock everywhere online-compare that to many recent synth launches that have sold out quickly. That said, you can usually get the V Collection on a steep discount around Black Friday, although that’s a long away.

[@user82938]

Sometimes they have random sales, like "Summer Sale" or whatever.

[@edouardarturia4680]

Analog Lab is included with it and features almost all sounds of V Collection.

[@user82938]

@@edouardarturia4680 Yeah, but you can't edit them.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Can you do more than just two splits or two layers with the Astrolab? I've heard you can't. I've posted this question several times since the keyboard was released, and no one has answered back yet.

[@jcsmithmusic]

I agree whole hearted. Also, watch out for hanging notes that require you to change patches to stop the sound. (Like using a panic button on a VST.) Happened to me, so can't trust it live, in my opinion. Beautifully made keyboard though.

[@SamGutman]

Interesting. Sounds like a defective unit. I didn’t notice that issue in mine.

[@michaelroot2604]

Really cool to see you playing reggae!

[@scott21113]

Right I get that, but the edit functionality unless you pay for a fully licensed $600 package is not included. As you shared your are tweaking presets not creating anything new or substantially editing them. You can’t swap a saw oscillator for a square in the presets or add an effect that not present on the preset without the full package. Glad you did the video. My guess is you’ll never get one of these from a back line vendor if it’s on your rider.

[@SamGutman]

right. yes you need to buy more software than Analog Lab to fully tweak the presets. And yes, I wouldn't be able to get this from a backline vendor in 95% of cases.

[@georgecoles7268]

the V collection bundle is a few hundred dollars and well well worth it you can do all your production in it

[@SamGutman]

yeah I just downloaded it the other day and am digging in now. Liking it so far.

[@xiaoxia5]

thanks for doing a review that cuts the crap and gets down to the nitty gritty.

[@djkanyon]

Wait... am i understanding it correctly? To edit the sound to the fullest outside of the synth you have to buy the plugins for PC? There's no way to edit the sounds right on the AstroLab via let's say USB cable and some Arturia Software? Sounds too bad to be true but maybe i'm missing something?

[@bodhibeats8257]

You’re basically understanding correctly. There is some limited tweakability on the keyboard, but it’s very limited. You basically get four macro knobs that have been pre-configured at the patch level to do a certain thing. So, many will let you adjust the filter cutoff and/or the dry/wet of applied FX. But that’s about it.

[@djkanyon]

@@bodhibeats8257 thanks! now i see why this "players keyboard" have less controls than their own midi keyboards... wow that's a bad look

[@foljs5858]

Yes. It's not a synth, it's a player's keyboard with built in sounds. As that, it comes with thousands upon thousands of sounds and 30 sound engines, more than enough for a lifetime, and you can edit the basic sound attributes (resonance, and so on) too. If you don't have the VSTs to begin with, why even consider it? You either had them and wanted the sounds in portable form, or you didn't have and could just do with any synth or workstation keyboard.

[@foljs5858]

@@djkanyon it's not a flagship synth. It's a keyboard for playing on stage with built-in sounds. For that reason, the only thing it really should have and it's lacking would be ASDR tweakability.

[@djkanyon]

@@foljs5858look at the flagship of stage pianos, Nords stage keyboards and their controls...yup

[@jfn467]

So it's an entry point to buy Arturia's software suite... No surprise in this, however, that seriously increases the price of the keyboard..

[@hyperspacecubed]

I’ve played one recently and and have noticed latency. Have you noticed any key lag or latency?

[@SamGutman]

nope haven't noticed that. Are you playing it standalone or using as a MIDI controller?

[@TheAntibozo]

🐿!

[@dumdidumdumdum6485]

The marketing department walked a fine line between genius and stupidity. For the same price I would rather buy the 76/88 key version of Fantom 0 or Modx+. You could still use these real synthesizer workstations as midi controllers if you wanted to use the Arturia software.

[@MPHORROCKS]

You're playing at Coachella and can't afford the Arturia V-Collection? It's crazy to buy each synth individually. It should be included in the synth imho, otherwise it's a preset keyboard. I got the V-Collection for $199 in a sale but I spend about upgrading to the new additions to be honest. I do love Arturia though.

[@SamGutman]

haha I have V-collection now. Loving it.

[@TrummerMav]

Did he just casually performed with busta¿ haha

[@markom1976]

What is the boot time? Thanx

[@SamGutman]

not too long... like 20 seconds or so

[@ronenpeled6428]

Where's your Montage M?

[@SamGutman]

Often the Montage M isn’t available through backline companies so I have to settle for either an older Montage or a ModX. If gigs are closer to home I take mine but in this case I didn’t want to deal with flying with more than one keyboard.

[@Marian1st.]

Is it better than Montage?

[@SamGutman]

Nah

[@Marian1st.]

@@SamGutman Thanks. That’s what I though. Thanks for posting about new gear and the tour. Love it.

[@enochroot9438]

@@SamGutman that's what I thought, still saving hard for the 8

[@jcsmithmusic]

Simple answer... No. No it is not on the level as a Yamaha Montage. Not even close.

[@marekrosinski3025]

I have a montage m and tried my friend's astrolab... The Montage M is number 1 in my synth collection.

[@benedictjohnson2176]

He gives no comment on how the keyboard sounds, only fixating on patch design

[@vanbillsing]

So far, by itself, It sounds great. I’m yet to use mine live though since I just got it last week. That will be the real determining factor for me. Sometimes synths just don’t cut it sonically in a live situation for me. I’ve been using Arturia since they called it Laboratory so I’m already familiar with what the software can do. I just wish they had made this more tactile than it is. But, like Sam says… not sure I want to do THAT much tweaking to patches on stage.

[@SamGutman]

That’s true. That would have to be another video…and that video would have to be about the software not the hardware since that’s where the sound is coming from.

[@user82938]

It sounds like all the synths and keys it emulates...

[@user-mk3lk1zn5i]

I have a better Midi keyboard and Arturia Collection. No point,

[@ServingMyJesus]

the moral of this story is...do not purchase a piece of unknown kit just before you are due to go on stage.

[@SamGutman]

Haha yeah maybe! Although trial-by-fire is a fun way for me to learn about gear. However…it arriving mere hours before I had to leave was because the shipping got delayed by several days. I expected to have a lot more time to dig into it.

[@enochroot9438]

@@SamGutman Arturia should have sent you a demo version instead of some of the Synthfluencers

[@scott21113]

@@enochroot9438 Disagree. Sam still has credibility in my book. The minute his videos begin with "X" company sent me this - I'm out. There are enough BoBeats, Loopops, Rachel Colliers in the world. Don't need another shill channel. Hundreds of those. The number who buy the gear on their dime and produce timely content I can count on one hand.

[@ServingMyJesus]

@@SamGutman Why is it that when one is in a hurry, the postal service delays everything? Good video, though. I await your full review.

[@cthulholmhastur5317]

Nope. You want me to buy a "standalone" keyboard packed with arturia...and have shell out again for all the plugins to tweak the sounds? Nope.

[@siaseeds8950]

Sounds like an expensive flop tbh

[@vjrei]

That keyboard is a miserable scam.

[@23bit76]

Easy to say but can you explain your view on it?