Arturia AstroLab 88 synthesiser

General

When the Arturia AstroLab (with 61 keys) appeared on the market, we asked ourselves what 't really is a device. A synth? A stage piano? A portable drawbar organ? And now, with the new Arturia AstroLab 88, the question is still there. Because it's basically the same concept, but with 88 piano keys - with aftertouch! But, what there is no doubt about is that this AstroLab 88 is another fantastic gadget for keyboardists!

Features of the Arturia AstroLab

It's interesting to see how software fans out into hardware. After all, usually it's exactly the other way round. Arturia, in particular, is quite famous for this, just think of their V series, which includes classics like CS80-V, DX7-V, Prophet-5 V and many many other vintage devices that have made music history. With the expansion into hardware like the AstroLab, you can now play these classics without having a computer or laptop with you. This also looks a bit nicer on stage, the audience will feel much more like the keyboard player himself is really doing something. In the AstroLab you will find Arturia's V-products, of which you can change the sound in a very basic way with macro-controllers. If you have the software licence for such a title, you do get access to deep sound design. For those who still dream about a real B3 or CS80 in band formation and during gigs: have fun lifting! Then this AstroLab is a lot more comfortable anyway.

But, what is it?

So it has the potential of a synthesiser, without really being a synthesiser. By the same logic, we can say that it has a B-3 in it without calling the AstroLab a drawbar organ. The Arturia Augmented Grand Piano is also in there, without us immediately seeing a stage piano in it. All things considered, we see most of it as a synthesiser, but it's not a 100% match anywhere. Is it a problem? We don't think so. All in all; the presets, the many models, the clean interface, it has a very high live quality. You take this to your band's gig, and so you have many decades of very expensive synth history with you. Without dust, without creaking encoders, without tuning hassle, ánd with effects. And more importantly: without the need for a laptop with the Arturia software. That you can fully edit the sounds with the right licences is a plus, but we wouldn't be surprised if live keyboardists will be more than happy with the huge list of presets and the handful of macros.

Practicality

To look at it, 't is markedly different from how most synths are constructed. A fresh look with a soothing control panel. There are sides that look like wood; so it's not real wood, but that doesn't make the AstroLab any less beautiful. Also, it must be said, that round display is very special. Another very nice detail is that you can connect a microphone, because of course it also has a Vocoder model. The live aspect is further underlined by the possibility of adding a sheet music holder and wooden legs. The overall conclusion has to be that the AstroLab 88 is perhaps the most interesting product for stage keyboardists right now. A hardware machine, equipped with a tight binding to the endless world of software, that's how we like to see it!