Today, Arturia introduced AstroLab, a new stage keyboard that brings the company’s massive line of virtual instruments to standalone hardware.
The Arturia AstroLab features 10 sound engines, 34 instruments and over 1300 presets, letting you cover a huge range of sounds using a single instrument.
If you want to know more about the AstroLab, here’s a couple of in-depth reviews.
The first video, embedded above, is a Sonic Lab review from host Nick Batt. Batt likes the AstroLab, calling it ‘a lovely piece of hardware’ and praising the keyboard, but also noting that he’d like to see deeper patch editing be possible directly on the instrument.
Host Ziv Eliraz – in his latest loopop video – offers an overview and in-depth review of the Arturia AstroLab.
Eliraz says that the AstroLab offers the largest timbral range possible in a standalone keyboard instrument, adding that “nothing comes close” to its range. Like Batt, Eliraz highlights the lack of deep editing control on the keyboard itself as the instrument’s biggest downside.
Topics covered:
0:00 Intro
1:15 Overview
7:05 Keybed
8:00 Build
8:45 Encoder
10:00 Browsing
10:45 I/O
11:45 Phone app
13:05 Macros
14:40 Effects
15:40 Insert FX
16:40 Send FX
18:20 Master EQ
18:50 Arp
19:35 Chords
20:00 Scales
20:20 Looper
21:25 Split, layer
22:30 Analog lab
24:55 Get sneaky
25:55 User macro
26:40 V Collection X?
27:35 SFZ?
27:55 Pros, cons
30:55 Outro
What do you think of the new Arturia AstroLab keyboard? Watch the videos, and then share your thoughts in the comments!
Playtime Engineering has launched a Kickstarter project to fund production of the Blipblox myTRACKS, a music production workstation that’s designed to be kid-friendly.
In addition to being a drum machine and basic sampler, the Blipblox myTRACKS is a complete music production studio. The instrument features a built-in microphone for sampling, two FX processors, five tracks, and 25 play pads that trigger over 50 acoustic, electronic, and percussive instrument sounds.
The myTRACKS user can explore the wide variety of built-in instruments and drum kits across 5 tracks, adding effects and modulating them using the two purple levers. Sample any sound with the built-in microphone, then build a song around samples.
The instrument is instantly also upgradable with sound packs and sets online and available for download.
“Creating music with synthesizers and modern music tech has always felt like play to me,” says Troy Sheets, Co-founder of Playtime Engineering. “By merging the portability, durability, and safety of toys with high-quality and advanced functionality of a legitimate instrument, we’ve created a fun and accessible music-making machine that anyone can play.”
Production of the Blipblox myTRACKS groovebox is being funded via a Kickstarter campaign. Backers can get one starting at $249, with delivery expected for November 2024.
*Note: Crowdfunded projects can involve risk. Find out details on the project website.
Behringer has introduced Vintage, its first software synth plugin.
As its name suggests, this is modelled on the classic analogue synths of the ‘70s and ‘80; unlike many of Behringer’s hardware synths, though, it isn’t a direct emulation of any specific product. The ‘wooden’ end cheeks are there to emphasise the plugin’s all-round ‘vintageness’, and the interface is scalable.
In addition, you get a couple of oscillators with hard sync, two LFOs, a pair of filters and the same number of envelopes.
They say that “Vintage is packed with all the features you need to effortlessly get those lush, classic synth tones that made the 70s and 80s roar, or you can also create your own wild patches!”
Features:
Sine, square, saw, and noise waveforms
Lowpass, bandpass, highpass, and notch modes
Dual LFO with controls for rate, attack delay and retrig
Synthesizer engine based on meticulous modelling of the analog circuitry of legendary vintage synthesizers
Carefully crafted UI for intuitive sound sculpting and vast sonic possibilities
Two high-quality oscillators with hard sync function and selectable waveform: sine, square, saw, noise and sub-oscillator
Pulse width modulation of square wave oscillator
Two versatile filters featuring 12/24 dB switchable lowpass, bandpass, highpass, notch and formant modes, plus selectable drive curves for lush harmonic saturation
Filter ADSR controls are easily accessible on the main UI and a flexible routing scheme allows for serial or parallel filtering
Noise generator with Color knob controlling low pass cut-off
Following the filters two amplitude modules allows for panning and levelling with controllable ADSR envelope
Powerful dual LFO to modulate Oscillator, Filters and Amplifiers. The two LFOs have separate controls for rate, attack, delay, retrig and waveform, which encompass triangle, sine, random and square wave with pulse width control
Behringer Vintage is a free download, with the company encouraging users to support the Playing for Change Foundation. It runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU formats. The Behringer Vintage link is currently down.
