Sonic TALK 797 - Arturia Astrolab, Aodyo Loom, Clublife 98

Guests: @GazWilliams Steve Hillier and @pittsburghmodular Richard Nicol
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00:00:00 start
00:00:14 SHOW START
00:01:26 AD: SonicState Patreon / sonicstate
00:10:09 Arturia Astrolab sonicstate.com/news/2024/04/0...
00:25:58 AD: N.I. Guitar Rig Pro 7 native-instruments.com
00:30:41 Club Life 98 Documentary sonicstate.com/news/2024/03/3...
00:45:27 AD: iZotope Trash Re-Issue izotope.com/sonictalk
00:47:00 Aodyo Instruments LOOM www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
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#sonicstate #sonictalk #797
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[@sonicstate]

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[@rogerhuxley4409]

Amazing that not too many years ago Gaz was trying very hard not to get into modular, and now he’s got a modular music label. Imagine what he’d have said if you suggested that at the time. All the best with it Gaz and Steve. I look forward to some modular inspirations.

[@Psychlist1972]

The comments about club prices were right on. In the US, it's hard for anyone under 21 to go to the clubs that are left in areas (when there even are any), and when they do, it can be super expensive. Having a get-together in a lot or in the woods is much more difficult now, and police bring military-grade hardware when they kick you out. With this generation struggling to make ends meet as it is, you can see the lack of appeal for many. And my son's favorite band is in Korea, not in the US. When you then add that they can often hear their favorite bands and talk with their friends online, the equation is very different from the 80's and 90's.

[@ChrisPBacon3000]

Nowadays there are a multitude of reasons (aside from laws/cops) to not gather/party after dark in random unsecure locations. Lets just say it not the 90's demographics anymore. And btw, one of the many reasons for the high cost of organized club shows is the cost of security measures. Lets just say that .....people....have changed since the 90's and certain things just can't happen anymore.

[@Psychlist1972]

@@ChrisPBacon3000 Overall, Crime is way down, at least in the US, since the early 90s. So people have changed, but not for the worse. We do *see* a lot more of it now, though, because social media. Stuff that used to be buried before is now front and center, constantly.

[@ChrisPBacon3000]

@@Psychlist1972 Ignorance is bliss.

[@stevehillieruk]

@@Psychlist1972 I agree. I started working in nightclubs as a promoter and DJ in the UK in the 1980s. My experience is that the level of violence and overall bad behaviour has consistently reduced over time. When I worked in Newcastle in the early 90s I would regularly witness drunken violence and latterly gang-land behaviour. Having lived and worked in Brighton/Spain since 1997 I’ve seen nothing. At least nothing in the clubs. I have seen an increasing amount of addicts and their dealers on the streets though. This has nothing to do with the club scenes, it’s the inevitable consequence of the increasing poverty in the UK.

[@BF-up5xw]

More Richard, please! I love his perspective; and his ability to backdown completely as soon as he realises he said something wrong! That's strength of character!

[@Jason75913]

Strength of character? Or fear of humiliating himself? Or fear of unnecessarily upsetting others? Or simply lack of an ego?

[@oscillationcommunications709]

Great show fellas! As a older raver vet dragging around the hardware still to every live show,I def feel the need for more togetherness with our culture as a whole as well,it’s still great when it happens,-but we always strive for more love,right? 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@thomasyon4332]

Dear team, Im here with you since the 560 (or near), this one I enjoy like few others. Great guests, speaches and subjects. Richard seems so happy to be here (like Paulee) we feel how important it is. Gaz rocks (more and more), and Steve mean a lot to me, inner peace guy. Good job Nick (and shadow ones)

[@StellarWorks2023]

Nice one for the heads up on that Club life doc 👍🏾

[@Psychlist1972]

Hey. Worrying about parking spaces and where the loo is are both perfectly acceptable :D

[@plasmaforce11]

Loved the level of comedy in this episode 😄 Made my day

[@electronicsynth]

Interesting point about how expensive gigs are. EMOMs like ours are generally free but there are many costs and a lot of time involved so we're trying out voluntary contributions and subscriptions to help using Ko-Fi which is like Patreon. There's so much goodwill and energy in this scene but it does need to develop and be sustainable

[@RadekPilich]

Or actually, AstroLab might be seen as Arturia's next step for market expansion and wider brand recognition. They might be aiming to be the company virtualizing the past few decades of keyboard instruments and bringing those to the hands of non-technical non-nerdy masses.

[@jonbirchartist]

I'm 100% with Steve Hillier on the Astrolab. I think it's fantastic for players and if you own V Collection it's perfect. V Collection really is excellent, possibly best in class, so the idea that you save your favourite programs to such a neat instrument that feels good to play sounds like a dream to me.

[@thehandoflenin]

These people most likely have a laptop, controller keyboard- no reason to buy Astrolab.

[@Jason75913]

@@thehandoflenin The demand to ditch the laptop and controller for a standalone keyboard is real. If the Astrolab is very usable and easy to work with, they have a winner on their hands as well as a competitor to Roland/Korg/Yamaha/Casio/Kurzweil stage keyboards. I doubt Arturia is pumping out this product without knowing if there is enough demand to make a profit, you know? Mistakes happen, of course, but Arturia isn't some small, inexperienced startup that may have forgotten the whole market research side of business, you know? While I have zero interest in this, i may get to try one out at the local Sam Ash store later for the fun of it.

[@sound.workshop]

I honestly sympathize with Richard about always being able to chat synthesizers. And Nick's joke "synthesizer laxative" was great

[@Jason75913]

Arturia's own ROMpler/VA stage keyboard? Very nice! edit: Folks will complain about not getting full editability on the keyboard itself because: 1. Roland, Korg, Casio, and Yamaha spoil folks with that set of features most of the time, and it comes in handy most when the company stops producing updates for the product and it eventually becomes incompatible with whatever modern software 2. Sound design happens away from the stage, I don't know why'd you think otherwise, and not needing a PC for it is a huge bonus and convenience

[@pizzagogo6151]

I’ve already commented in the astrolabe review. But Arturia were 100% accurate in describing it as a “ stage keyboard “ that’s what it ! - it’s not “ all encompassing mega complex synth”. Even though it’s not for me I think it’s exactly fit for purpose & Arturia should be given credit for that.

[@RadekPilich]

I think one thing people are missing about AstroLab is the fact that it is a company anniversary product. While it seems odd from the commercial perspective, it's probably more akin to a concept car, aiming to showcase new technology, new design, hopefully attracting new audiences and future customers and only the next iterations will get back down to earth and bring what the market truly wants.

[@sonicstate]

Yes that's a reasonable point. And the platform will certainly develop

[@dillipphunbar7924]

GAS Williams, looking for that New Sound Feel.

[@StratsRUs]

Don't forget This Is Spinal Tap and The Larry Sanders Show. Steve always has great takes. There was a lot of E, though !

[@tekrahmuzik2119]

Yeah the Origin is awesome...

[@Riktenstein]

Not interest in the Arturia keyboard, but I love a lot of their software and wish them all the best with this.

[@RaquelFoster]

If the Astrolab is a stage keyboard it needs usable controls! It's certainly not going to get anybody to switch from a Nord or a Montage. You don't want it to act like a controller that remaps all the knobs for every patch. Sure, if you hit your EP patch it's cool if you have a section that remaps to EP-ish FX, but you still want two ADSRs and a cutoff/resonance with dedicated knobs. The Astrolab doesn't even have as many knobs as my KeyLab Essential. I don't understand why it's so big with so much empty space. I like the UX of the Nest wheel for going through menus and the knobs that show position and even indicators on the wheels, though. And I appreciate anything with a USB host so you can plug it straight into a synth with USB MIDI with one cable.

[@Jason75913]

Korg is another one that skimps out on front panels with their rompler stage keyboards, and people still buy their stuff anyway. It is so irritating.

[@VacancyOfDisco]

What ever happened to the Aoydo Anyma Omega? No mention of that on their website anymore 😕

[@KlemenKotar]

You were probably thinking of jazz producer Teo Macero.

[@woodyforrest313]

Arturia should have included 16-part multitimbrality (it’s all digital anyway!) and a 16-track sequencer. That would have been the Fantom and Montage killer. The way the new keyboard is now, specs-wise, it doesn't make any sense and is way too expensive. The MPC Key61 has more to offer IMO.

[@leslie1526]

So much empty space on the panel but, Arturia have decided to choose form over functionality with this round thing

[@danasdas6683]

I like the idea of the AstroLab. I think it’s great for taking Analog Lab away from a computer and just playing it. Having V collection and a Keylab 61 mkii, I feel it’s not for me at present. Love Gaz’ Smokey &the Bandit reference. Oddly just watched that movie last night! We’re too in synch maybe. Brady Brandwood of Leon the lobster game, showed a film site from the movie in his last YT video too!

[@danasdas6683]

I meant “Leon the Lobster fame” not “game”

[@ben1210]

I was surprised that the "Chechnya bans techno" story didn't get a mention. I think there's an interesting debate about the uniformity of modern music killing long-standing traditional cultures. I probably would have been a bit dismissive until I saw the Charles Cornell reaction to Kaval Sviri. It's an absolutely stunning piece

[@sonicstate]

Didn't see that one.

[@antikytheramechanism7909]

That Astrolab doesn't have enough controls and sliders and the Nest thermostat looks dumb, a fatal flaw almost.

[@thefishdog]

its like the artruria analog experiance software and keyboard bundle they used to do. basic tweaking of bread n butter synth presets. it does sound good and looks nice and minimal with a decent keybed for playing. There is a market for digital pianos and musical furniture.

[@AaronFoltz]

Arturia Origin v2(ish)

[@thehandoflenin]

Nope - nothing like the Origin. The Origin was modular, nothing modular about the Astrolab.

[@GizzyDillespee]

16:11 That's annoying. Edits in the correct software should be able to modify onboard presets almost instantly.

[@GizzyDillespee]

...when everything is connected and recognized, obviously.

[@ThatJerseyBloke]

I'd rather have an Astrolab Rack.

[@thehandoflenin]

I'm not sure what Arturia were thinking with the Astrolab? I hear people say its a players keyboard for those who like the Arturia sound. These people however already own a full copy of pigments and/or v collection. Not sure why they would buy an Astrolab? I just think it misses every target. A keyboard with limited editing that will not appeal to synthesizerists and players who will still buy Yamaha, Roland or Korg. I just dont see any market for it! If it had been a keyboard, with a large touch screen, full editing of pigmants and v collection and big 👍 up.

[@Jason75913]

Cool story, but people like you said the same for the Akai MPC Keys 61 and it is selling nevertheless. Also the same for Maschine+, and that has been enough of a hit that I bet we'll see Maschine+ MK2. That aside, they seem to have skimped on the front panel controls harder than Korg does on some of their own workstation keyboards? lol That could be what bites them in the buttocks, time will tell.

[@ChrisPBacon3000]

​@@Jason75913 what are the sales and break even numbers for mpckeys and machine+?

[@leslie1526]

Keybeds on Arturia are historically bad. Broken keys, sponge action, etc; Wish Arturia would source their keybeds from Fatar instead of trying to invent their own… No poly aftertouch and no midi 2 in 2024, really?! It supposed to be performance keyboard….

[@ChrisPBacon3000]

Bedroom performance for invisible friends.

[@Jason75913]

unless they pull a Korg/Roland/Yamaha by relegating aftertouch and other extra features to their flagship only (to be released later if they do that).

[@leslie1526]

Just have a look at popularity of a noxious Taylor crap

[@sonicstate]

I'm not following your thread?

[@pauly2929]

Surely once a live jam is recorded and released it then becomes a contrived tweakable piece like any other…

[@jumpingman8160]

Astrolab is a fail

[@ben1210]

Is it? It's not for me, but then neither is eurorack stuff. If they brought out a version covered in knobs and faders to steal the Virus (R.I.P.) market I'd be all over it but they obviously think there's a a customer base for it