Arturia AstroLab 1.4 is out now, adding Pigments 6 and MiniFreak v3 support, giving it the physical modeling and granular capabilities.
Good news for all Arturia AstroLab users. Firmware 1.4 is now available for free download from the official website.
It further enhanced the stage Synthesizer keyboard with new synthesis engines and sounds. Plus, there are various enhancements and bug fixes.
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Arturia AstroLab 1.4
The new Astrolab 1.4 firmware is ready for download and is free of charge for existing users. The latest firmware highlights the compatibility of Arturia Pigments 6 and MiniFreak V3 sounds.
This is a significant addition, as it brings the mighty physical modeling engine and all the dedicated sounds of Pigments 6 into the stage keyboard. Even if it only offers minimal parameter access, the AstroLab is now a physical modeling Synthesizer.
Just as exciting is the support for MiniFreak v3. You can use the sampler and granular engines and their sounds on AstroLab. Also, again, only with minimal hardware control. Other new features and improvements are:
- mirrored settings with Analog Lab: AstroLab and Analog Lab now share effects and keyboard settings in real time.
- responsive macros: Enjoy faster, more accurate macro mirroring when linked with Analog Lab.
- improved Part Selection: Selecting parts on AstroLab now instantly reflects the changes in Analog Lab.
- sustain and hold no longer conflicts when used together
Plus, there are various bug fixes:
- stuck notes resolved: Fixed an issue causing stuck notes when connected via MIDI to external workstations.
- missing samples fixed: Resolved missing sample issues when using Pigments or MiniFreak V3.
- Wurli presets no longer crashes when using Modwheel
- incoming MIDI CC are now properly filtered
It’s excellent that development and maintenance continue. I hope we get a dedicated MIDI controller for the panel’s left side to access more parameters in the future.
Arturia AstroLab 1.4 firmware is available now as a free download.
Update from September 24, 2024
Last April, Arturia unveiled the AstroLab, their first venture into stage keyboards. The key feature about this keyboard/Synthesizer is the multi-synthesis engine. This based on the Analog Lab software and the engines of the V Collection instruments and Pigments.
This includes VA, analog modeling, physical modeling, granular, FM, sample playback, and more. Today, it’s time for the first major update for the AstroLab with firmware 1.3.
Arturia AstroLab 1.3
AstroLab wasn’t perfect in firmware 1.0. One of my criticisms was that, at that time, it only supported the V Collection 9 instruments. So no MiniFreak V and updated Minimoog. This new update changes it.
The new AstroLab 1.3 firmware adds support for the V Collection X instruments. This adds four all-new instruments with Acid V (Roland TB-303 emulation), MiniFreak V, Augmented Brass, and Augmented Woodinds.
It also comes with two major updates for two existing synths. Both Mini V (Moog Minimoog emulation) and Wurli V have completely remodeled engines, initially introduced with V Collection X.
Adding four new and two updated instruments has also expanded AstroLab’s sound spectrum once more. Of course, you have access to all patches for all instruments. The hardware ships with 200 of the best presets from these newly added instruments.
In addition, it comes with 90 new tribute presets, from Tame Impala to Queen, Massive Attack, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Weather Report, and more. They also say it includes many bug fixes, performance improvements, and better Analog Lab integration.
Arturia has also responded to criticism that AstroLab users have to buy 600€+ of software to access the full instruments’ range parameters. For existing AstroLab customers, there is now a permanent upgrade offer for 199€ to V Collection and 99€ to Pigments, which is fairer, in my opinion.
This is a very welcome update. I have been waiting for this major update.
The new AstroLab 1.3 firmware is a free update for existing customers.
First Look Review From April 9, 2024
Hardware and software are often seen as two worlds. Although many prefer hardware instruments, software is often part of the former. Whether it is firmware and extra functions in the analog world or code in digital synths, software is almost always in hardware.
Recently, we have seen a growing amount of software becoming hardware in music tech: Korg with its Logue SDK, Akai MPC/Force with the plugins, NI Maschine+ with Massive/FM8, Ableton Live Push Standalone…
The next big player is now following this trend. Arturia takes its instruments from the V Collection and Pigments into a hardware product. Welcome to Arturia AstroLab!
Disclaimer: Arturia kindly gave me the opportunity to take a closer look at the AstroLab. This is not a review but a first-look article. I will follow up with a review with my final thoughts at a later date.
Arturia AstroLab
AstroLab is a new keyboard that melts hardware and software. It’s standalone, not another MIDI controller. Arturia describes it as an avant-garde stage keyboard. It’s more than just a stage keyboard; it’s a powerful Synthesizer.
For the synth nerds, the first look is unusual. Few parameters, lots of space between the knobs… yes it’s not a knobby monster synth like the Matrixbrute or Polybrute. AstroLab was developed for players in the studio and on stage. Less for the sound tweakers, but it is also very interesting for them. I like to call it a anti-nerd synth.
In terms of hardware, it’s a stage keyboard/synth with 61 semi-weighted piano full-sized keys with velocity and channel (monophonic) aftertouch. PolyAT would have been a nice feature, but it’s missing here. Pitch wheel and mod wheel with a light indicator, nine knobs, an array of illuminated buttons, and an intriguing display.
It looks like a common MIDI controller setup. However, the arrangement and features make more sense if we examine the core closely. That’s the most exciting part of this stage keyboard.
Analog Lab Goes Standalone
The AstroLab core is a well-known friend for many. This is based on Analog Lab (Pro), a software that converts the advanced, fully customizable sounds from Arturia’s instrument plugin portfolio into player-friendly patches.
In simple words, AstroLab is the hardware version of the Analog Lab (Pro) plugin. Since Analog Lab generates sounds from the V Collection and Pigments, this is the standalone version of V C and Pigments, with fewer available parameters to tweak.
Like its software counterpart, AstroLab is a bi-timbral instrument with splitting and layering options. Each part can host an instrument supported by customizable effects, global delay, and reverb. The instruments from V Collection 9 are available in the current firmware, and V Collection 10 support is coming soon in an upcoming update.
To avoid audio dropouts, the polyphony is limited per part to 8 voices for the synths and 48 voices for pianos/organs. AstroLab ships with 1300+ hardware-optimized presets and projects on its internal drive (22.55GB). That’s a lot of sound content, but that’s not all.
Analog Lab Pro gives you over 2000+ sounds, and you can import 700+ more sounds straight into the hardware. Owners of Analog Lab, V Collection, and Pigments have access to an endless sonic world.
In addition to the 10,000+ sounds, they have the big advantage of opening the plugins in Analog Lab (Pro) and modifying the sounds to the last detail. This way, you can import your instrument plugin patches into the hardware. If you start your AstroLab adventure naked (without V C or Pigments), you are limited to pre-mapped macros.
And it’s not a stripped-down engine. The hardware supports all 10 plugin synthesis forms. For example, Pigments patches with granular and additive synthesis work smoothly in the hardware.
Modern User Interface
The user interface was designed to be quick and efficient. It reflects the functions of the software in the hardware. A highlight is the innovative multi-tool display that visualizes information but also lets you turn and press it.
With the rotation function, for example, you can browse through categories, presets, playlists, and more. If you stop, the sound is loaded instantly in 1-2 seconds. If you switch from one sound to the other, the transitions are super smooth, allowing you to switch patches in performances.
It’s a fresh concept to dive through a menu. Very simple and self-explanatory. The AstroLab interface also offers plenty of buttons and knobs for the key functions, including direct access to the individual parts of a split/layer, the sound categories, and playlists.
Then, it comes with eight color-coded knobs with which you can tweak the sounds. The first parameters are the pre-mapped macro controls, while the other four are the effects. Two are customizable; the other two are global delay and reverb, just like in the Analog Lab Pro software. Plus, there is a volume control.
It also hosts a versatile arpeggiator, scale/chord support, and a MIDI looper as extra goodies. The latter captures the played notes and plays them back on the loaded instrument or multi-patch. You can also save the recordings. However, an overdub function is missing in the current firmware. I hope this will be added later.
Synced Operation
Hardware and software integration is a key AstroLab keyboard/synth feature. To make this as versatile as possible, there are three ways to communicate with the software—either classically via a USB-C cable or wirelessly via the built-in WiFi module.
It doesn’t stop there. In addition to the standalone and plugin versions for macOS and Windows, Arturia also offers the Analog Lab Pro software as an Android/iOS Analog Lab Connect editor app with which you can connect via WiFi.
In my testing so far, only the classic cable method worked. According to Arturia, the next firmware will fix the problem with the WiFi. But it’s nice that the option exists. Once connected to the software, both run in sync.
In practice, if you change a patch on the hardware, it also changes the software. So far, everything has worked perfectly in the plugin/standalone version. The iOS app test is still pending. It also allows you to import and export patches, generate playlists, and more.
Connectivity
On the backside, you have an ON/OFF button, a screwable power supply input, a USB-C port for computer connection, a USB-B port for storage and MIDI data. The fact that the power supply is screwed is good, but the plug is proprietary, which could be a problem. Especially when you’re on the go, it can happen that you forgot the cable, and then nothing works.
A built-in power supply with an IC connector would have been much better. As a studio user, I find it fine as it doesn’t leave the room. Further, you have a headphone input and a stereo 6.3mm (L/R) output.
Next to this is a stereo input with a dedicated gain control, allowing you to route audio in the AstroLab, for example, to use it with the Vocoder engine. In addition, you have two assignable AUX controls, expression and sustain pedal inputs and a full-size DIN MIDI interface.
First Impression
My first impression is positive. The AstroLab is an exciting stage keyboard/Synthesizer. It’s something fresh that has a different vibe. Technically speaking, even without tons of knobs, it is one of the most powerful and versatile digital synthesizers on the market.
As the V Collection and Pigments continue to grow, AstroLab’s sound possibilities will also continue to grow. That’s a very powerful aspect of this keyboard. Plus, we don’t know what kind of plugin we will see in the future.
One thing is certain: it’s not a synth for tweakers who want to craft sounds from scratch—the anti-nerd synth. It’s a keyboard/synth for players who want ready-to-use sounds. The target group here is live musicians who want sounds at their fingertips. I can imagine them on stage worship bands and others.
I was particularly impressed by the smart interplay between the hardware and software. Also the display/knob is special and fun to use. There are bugs here and there that still need to be fixed. A new firmware is around the corner. But I’m super interested in seeing how the instrument evolves. It has tons of potential.
Arturia AstroLab is available now worldwide for $1599/1599€.
More information here: Arturia
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