And then there’s the performance aspect of using a laptop on stage.
It’s like going to a concert and watching somebody do their taxes.
TheAstrolab aims to change that, by putting all those computer instruments inside a stage-ready keyboard.
Arturia AstroLab keyboard.Arturia
cover bands, worship bands, etc)," said musicianYour_Lampin anElektronauts forum threadparticipated in by Lifewire.
From the outside, it looks like a fairly pedestrian synth or stage piano.
But inside, Arturia has put a computer that can run its very well-regarded plugins.
Synth knobs on Arturia AstroLab keyboard.Arturia
These are the exact same plugins that you could buy and use inside desktopmusic software like Logic ProandAbleton Live.
They are almost all excellent, and those that aren’t are still pretty good.
I use all of them, and I like them a lot.
Arturia AstroLab keyboard with legs and a music stand.Arturia
Why not just use a computer with a MIDI keyboard controller?
Mostly it’s down to convenience.
The idea of the Astrolab seems to be that it is a customizable stage piano for performing musicians.
“Cover bands will freakin love it!
I mean, you’re able to just look up the presets by artist name.
This is for people who just look up a tune in the fake book and go.”
Plus, some folks really don’t like using a computer when making music.
Therehave been piano keyboardsbefore, of course.
But putting a whole suite of fully-fledged desktop software into a purpose-built box takes it to another level.
Your heating thermostat, your washing machine, your AirPodsthey’re all computers.
It’s just that the Astrolab really embodies the concept.
One of my favorite moments while researching this article was ina musician’s forum thread on Astrolab.
I replied, isn’t that just a computer?
For those of you who fancy a piano in the living room, then this could be the answer.
