The latest addition to Arturia’s hardware line-up makes it possible for users to take their favourite studio sounds to the stage in a powerful self-contained instrument. AstroLab is a new stage keyboard that packs in 10 types of synthesis, 35 sound engines and over 1300 built-in presets selected from the company’s V Collection and Pigments software instrument ranges.
Seamless integration with Analog Lab via new AstroLab Connect software makes it possible to organise and customise the onboard presets, and as all of the processing takes place on the instrument itself, players can head off to their performance with a single keyboard and no computer.
Controls & Sounds
A central navigation section with a built-in display offers quick access to all of AstroLabs' sounds.The instrument comes equipped with a 61-note semi-weighted keybed with channel aftertouch, and a set of eight rotary encoders offer hands-on control of instrument parameters. All of the loaded content can be navigated quickly and easily using central navigation wheel with a built-in colour display and a set of dedicated browsing buttons, while ten preset buttons offer instant access to a set of favourite patches.
Two instruments can be loaded at once, in either layered or split keyboard modes, and onboard arpeggiator, sequencer and looper functions are joined by chord and scale playing modes. Thanks to the integration with Analog Lab, the built-in collection of patches can be greatly expanded with other sounds from Arturia's extensive collection.
Effects
Along with the vast array of sounds, AstroLab also boasts a pair of insert slots that can be loaded with a wealth of effects such as chorus, flanger, distortion, filters, rotary cabinet emulation and more, along with send-based delay and reverb processors that each feature a range of different model types. There’s also a vocoder that can be used in conjunction with the instrument’s built-in microphone input.
AstroLab's top and rear panels.
Connectivity
Rear-panel quarter-inch TRS sockets provide main stereo line-level and headphone outputs, while sustain, expression and a pair of assignable pedal inputs are available courtesy of four quarter-inch TS sockets. An XLR/TRS combo socket will accept either microphone or line-level signals, with the preamp automatically engaged when an XLR connector is present, and bypassed when a TRS cable is connected.
MIDI I/O is provided on five-pin DIN sockets as well as via USB-C, and a USB-A socket will accept external storage devices or allow the connection of external MIDI controllers. Wireless audio streaming from a mobile device is supported via Bluetooth, and data can be transferred to and from a computer or mobile device using Wi-Fi.
SOS Review
We’ve been putting AstroLab through its paces here at SOS, with a full review set to appear in the next issue.
Pricing & Availability
AstroLab is available to order now, priced at €1599.
