Kudos to Woody. Woody does the best production of keyboard demos and reviews. As a home studio guy, I can understand his pain behind the scenes and the thoughtful planning and execution process.
I'm sure there are some people for whom the Astrolab is fine. For me, though, I'm happier with my own MIDI controller that I prefer and mapping its four knobs to the V Collection. I'm considering getting a low-end Surface tablet to run softsynths for a more portable option. If Arturia would just release the V Collection for iPad, I'd pay full price for it immediately.
I have the Arturia V Collection, and I’ve always thought the pianos were the weakest point. I still feel like I hear that here; they just seem to lack a certain tonal depth or something. Does anyone else agree, or am I an outlier here?
i thought as you until I got to spend a lot of time playing the AL, and the acoustic pianos are the highlight for me, really expressive and rewarding to play! not such a fan of the e-pianos tho!
Thank you woody for your amazing video. This product or every workstation or synthesizer should have kontact player as a standard protocol that users can install their plugin from native instruments or hollywood eastwest or vienna library or others on their keyboard but this arturia player users are limited to arturia plugin and cannot install other third party plugins and in other hand it should can stack up to 16 sounds together like 16 upper sound but u can stack up to 2 upper so this machine has this limitation. The arturia company goes 20 percent of a standard protocol of a best workstation or synthesizer but it should still collaborate with kontact and embed this features that convert this product to a international standard workstation for world that everyone waiting for. I hope we can see these features soon with big 8 inch lcd touch from native instruments or other brands. I Just wanted to say that you have very deep insight to all keyboard brands ecosystem in all RUclips channels that I have ever seen. Best luck for you. 🎉🎉🎉😊
@@WoodyPianoShack you are genuios. I never see any youtube channel that have deep insights of you in keyboard ecosystem and I hope all keyboard brands get idea for their future designs products from you cuz you are only one deserve to be product manager of many these keyboard brands😊👏👏👏✌️✌️✌️
Nice demo Woody. I recently purchased one of these and it’s a decent addition to my synths. It’s never going to replace my Kronos 2 for live use, but offers some great presets to by used in the studio. Really needs to be connected to AnalogPro on your computer to make using it easier.
Let's put together something like the Arturia Polybrute 16 with lots of controls, a big screen, and a dedicated sequencer. It would smash so much competition in the workstation and even synth market that it might cause whiplash across the big three whom are clearly in a rut these days. But this? Ya, I need my controls. I suppose if I was just a player it might fit, but again. Such a targeted audience. At least the big three workstations are trying to cater to larger pool of musicians these days.
@@WoodyPianoShack that's what i told everyone from the start, the screen is small-ish for the guys like me who wear glasses all their life. This screen is perfect... for 37 or 24 keys instrument that you keep closer to your eyes when playing. Still waiting on it! Cmon Arturia! Why not?
thanks! yeah i get your point. it is quite refreshing not to have to boot up and connect the PC tho... but if that is worth $1200 to you is another question! ;)
34 Engines.....and just 2 parts??? 🤣🤣 Come on guys..... LACK of midi controllers (comparred to most workstations and master keyboards available on the market today), and lack of multitimbral possibilities are HUGE downsides and for me real dealbreakers for this keyboard. Such a shame...Imagine what you could do with that much power under the hood and up to 4 or 8 parts engine.... Layering is KEY today.
yeah, i agree, seems like most digital synths are either monotimbral or 2-part, nord have 4 which is a good sweet spot, then the workstations get into 8 or 16 parts. yep, 4 should be bare minimium for digital synths in 2024.
I can imagine the tiny round central screen will be a huge put off. Rubbish design, especially the placement of the knobs. Not the most thoughtfully designed keyboard.
@@nigelcassidy9880 Quite possibly? But has sounds Pigments, all the V-Collection emulations, the various modelled pianos and I think all their Augmented range too? And while the Hydrasynth may have been compared to Pigments, the only relevance that this has here is that this can play Pigments presets. It's not like you have access to the actual sound engine (aside from a few predetermined macros). Frankly if I had to choose one over the other, I'd probably go for the Hydrasynth. But it just felt like a very odd comparison, as this is effectively a preset player (with some macro controls). Great for if you're in a band and you need a wide range of sounds at your disposal. By comparison, the Hydrasynth is probably best known for having pretty deep and complex sound design capabilities. Like I said, to me it seemed like an odd comparison. 2 very different tools for 2 different jobs IMO. Whether one is better than the other is an entirely subjective and probably heavily skewed by your use case.
Kudos to Woody. Woody does the best production of keyboard demos and reviews. As a home studio guy, I can understand his pain behind the scenes and the thoughtful planning and execution process.
Top-notch production and performance, Woody. The camera angles/shot composition are perfect. Great lighting too. 🎉
much appreciated, thanks
Yeah, always.
Best video of this truly unique synth out there, amazing
you're the best! thank you so so much for this very needed video
I'm sure there are some people for whom the Astrolab is fine. For me, though, I'm happier with my own MIDI controller that I prefer and mapping its four knobs to the V Collection. I'm considering getting a low-end Surface tablet to run softsynths for a more portable option. If Arturia would just release the V Collection for iPad, I'd pay full price for it immediately.
Wow the neptune sea string ensemble sounds alot like Jean Michel Jarre Equinoxe! Nice review overall!
11:08 That real choir is fantastic.
Were you vibrating the keys with your hand like on the Yamaha CS80? Or were you using a foot switch to do it?
Awesome instrument, great demo.
Thanks a lot, Woody.
Kind regards from Munich,
Thomas
Nice sounding synth great demo sir
Great demo! I’m still on the fence about because I already have the software but I do see how this could be usuals as a great auxiliary board for me.
I have the Arturia V Collection, and I’ve always thought the pianos were the weakest point. I still feel like I hear that here; they just seem to lack a certain tonal depth or something. Does anyone else agree, or am I an outlier here?
i thought as you until I got to spend a lot of time playing the AL, and the acoustic pianos are the highlight for me, really expressive and rewarding to play! not such a fan of the e-pianos tho!
yes, you are correct.. Piano's are very weak. My benchmark is the Yamaha CP1.
I think you are right, I use V collection for synths. Pianoteq for acoustic and Keyscape for electric pianos
Agreed!
It sounds really good.😊
You are the best Woody!!! 🖖🤓👍
ahh shucks, thanks
Getting this partially due to this video. Thank you!
nice! enjoy and congrats!
I loved that lead riff. Reminded me of Cliffs of Dover.
Thank you woody for your amazing video. This product or every workstation or synthesizer should have kontact player as a standard protocol that users can install their plugin from native instruments or hollywood eastwest or vienna library or others on their keyboard but this arturia player users are limited to arturia plugin and cannot install other third party plugins and in other hand it should can stack up to 16 sounds together like 16 upper sound but u can stack up to 2 upper so this machine has this limitation. The arturia company goes 20 percent of a standard protocol of a best workstation or synthesizer but it should still collaborate with kontact and embed this features that convert this product to a international standard workstation for world that everyone waiting for. I hope we can see these features soon with big 8 inch lcd touch from native instruments or other brands. I Just wanted to say that you have very deep insight to all keyboard brands ecosystem in all RUclips channels that I have ever seen. Best luck for you. 🎉🎉🎉😊
i like your idea and agree that would be awesome and thanks for the kind words! very motivating,
@@WoodyPianoShack you are genuios. I never see any youtube channel that have deep insights of you in keyboard ecosystem and I hope all keyboard brands get idea for their future designs products from you cuz you are only one deserve to be product manager of many these keyboard brands😊👏👏👏✌️✌️✌️
Nice demo Woody. I recently purchased one of these and it’s a decent addition to my synths. It’s never going to replace my Kronos 2 for live use, but offers some great presets to by used in the studio. Really needs to be connected to AnalogPro on your computer to make using it easier.
Let's put together something like the Arturia Polybrute 16 with lots of controls, a big screen, and a dedicated sequencer. It would smash so much competition in the workstation and even synth market that it might cause whiplash across the big three whom are clearly in a rut these days. But this? Ya, I need my controls. I suppose if I was just a player it might fit, but again. Such a targeted audience. At least the big three workstations are trying to cater to larger pool of musicians these days.
Great sounds and great playing!
if you already have a midi controller, can you just buy these sound for you computer?
yes, just buy analog lab and you have these sounds and even more.
@@WoodyPianoShack Thank you for the reply. I am going to buy it. It is only $99. It is half off right now.
Great Video! Greetings! :)
Genesis kit please😊
8:18 Tipitina!
2000 $$-I have all the Arturia sounds in my computer -a lot to mess with
Any reason you are wearing the headphones backwards? 🤔🤔
yeah good reason! i simply wear them so the cord is on the side where it wont hang in front of me getting in the way and dangling in the shot!
@@WoodyPianoShack ah I see!
Controls are on the wrong side if you ask me.
Just a weird design all round.
Don't like esthetically, but It sounds awesome 💥
Polytouch ?
regular aftertouch
Is the screen not too small?
fine if you have good eyesight!
@@WoodyPianoShack that's what i told everyone from the start, the screen is small-ish for the guys like me who wear glasses all their life. This screen is perfect... for 37 or 24 keys instrument that you keep closer to your eyes when playing. Still waiting on it! Cmon Arturia! Why not?
It is but they went hard on making the app super good and useful.
@@everybodyhasoul5438 same with Donner, i didn't expect small company making cheap synths to have flawless and easy to use app
If the screen is bigger, then I would consider to buy it.
Great presentation, but cant see the difference with the Arturia KeyLab Essential mk3 61-key, with Analog Labs 5 included, well I can about $1200 😏
thanks! yeah i get your point. it is quite refreshing not to have to boot up and connect the PC tho... but if that is worth $1200 to you is another question! ;)
I am a weird guy who actually likes the design of this keyboard, but dislikes sound of Arturia plugins 😅
Terrible UX design. Who in their right mind gets inspired by a Nest thermostat?
Nobody. Who even knows what a Nest thermostat looks like?
That's funny actually. I just don't see the point when I have the v collection.
Who in their right mind repeats the same comment over and over?
Lmao😂. Can be a pain on stage
@@simonbrown7501 word
34 Engines.....and just 2 parts??? 🤣🤣 Come on guys.....
LACK of midi controllers (comparred to most workstations and master keyboards available on the market today), and lack of multitimbral possibilities are HUGE downsides and for me real dealbreakers for this keyboard.
Such a shame...Imagine what you could do with that much power under the hood and up to 4 or 8 parts engine....
Layering is KEY today.
yeah, i agree, seems like most digital synths are either monotimbral or 2-part, nord have 4 which is a good sweet spot, then the workstations get into 8 or 16 parts. yep, 4 should be bare minimium for digital synths in 2024.
I can imagine the tiny round central screen will be a huge put off. Rubbish design, especially the placement of the knobs. Not the most thoughtfully designed keyboard.
Meh. Preferring Hydrasynth miles ahead
This has way more variety. You clearly only have that synth :)
I don't really see how they're comparable to be honest. 2 very different products that I'd say target 2 very different demographics.
@@_mickmccarthy Hasn't Pigments sometimes been compared to Hydrasynth?
@@nigelcassidy9880 Quite possibly? But has sounds Pigments, all the V-Collection emulations, the various modelled pianos and I think all their Augmented range too? And while the Hydrasynth may have been compared to Pigments, the only relevance that this has here is that this can play Pigments presets. It's not like you have access to the actual sound engine (aside from a few predetermined macros).
Frankly if I had to choose one over the other, I'd probably go for the Hydrasynth.
But it just felt like a very odd comparison, as this is effectively a preset player (with some macro controls). Great for if you're in a band and you need a wide range of sounds at your disposal. By comparison, the Hydrasynth is probably best known for having pretty deep and complex sound design capabilities.
Like I said, to me it seemed like an odd comparison. 2 very different tools for 2 different jobs IMO. Whether one is better than the other is an entirely subjective and probably heavily skewed by your use case.