Arturia AstroLab 88 – The Ultimate Stage Keyboard?
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger?
3,8 / 5,0 | 
Arturia AstroLab 88 · Source: Arturia
Arturia AstroLab 88 · Source: Arturia
Arturia AstroLab 88 · Source: Arturia
Arturia AstroLab 88 · Source: Arturia
It’s been a year since Arturia launched the original AstroLab. Now the AstroLab 88 aims to take things up a level.
2024 saw the 25th anniversary of Arturia, the French music technology company that started small and is now, in this correspondent’s opinion, one of the major players in the arena. To celebrate this event, they launched two quite different and incredibly bold concepts.
One was the remarkable PolyBrute 12, the other was AstroLab, Arturia’s stage keyboard concept that married together their software and hardware efforts into a powerful, versatile instrument for the gigging musician.
AstroLab 88
Now we have AstroLab 88, a bigger, faster version that delivers the kind of quality you’d expect from a keyboard built for touring, but with the immense flexibility of powerful software instrumentation. It would be easy to dismiss this as Analog Lab Pro in a box. However, it goes beyond that.
On the surface, AstroLab 88 is a full-sized version of the original with an identical user interface and that infamous/ingenious circular screen controller placed slap bang in the middle. However, there are two key differences, pun not intended.
The New Keybed
Firstly, there is the keybed. The AstroLab 61, as I guess we will have to call it now, had a very nice synth-action keybed. The 88 comes with something much more appropriate. It is fitted with a Fatar TP-40L, the ‘L’ denoting a lighter touch.
Having played this in Arturia’s private room at Superbooth 25, it feels incredibly nice, and the lighter touch will suit those instruments in the V Collection that demand faster playing styles. Compared to the wonderful TP/110 they fit to the new KeyLab 88 Mk.3, the AstroLab 88 feels a little lighter and airier, but with more quality and authenticity to the action.
New CPU and Firmware
The other significant difference in the AstroLab 88 is the inclusion of an upgraded CPU compared to the one used in the 61. This has two major benefits, one being a boost to polyphony and the other being improved load times of the more sample-heavy instruments. I found this to be quite noticeably faster when I played it.
This boost in performance will become even more noticeable with version 1.5 of the AstroLab firmware that brings not only improved performance, but also support for V Collection 11, better playlist transfer between Analog Lab and AstroLab, as well as direct FX and MIDI editing and program change commands so that you can control external devices from the AstroLab directly.
This firmware will also be available for the AstroLab 61 and, I am told, will improve performance on that instrument too. I worry when I see claims of “future proof” in marketing blurb, and had these concerns when first checking out the 61. Only time will tell if the original 61 will get left behind in terms of V Collection support in years to come.
In Conclusion
AstroLab 88 was the inevitable next step for this instrument, and its abilities to be used as your central stage keyboard just improved a whole bunch. Add to this all of the existing AstroLab features, such as the ability to vocode, bring audio in via physical inputs or via Bluetooth, dedicated WiFi connectivity to a mobile device for quick and easy management and the mere fact that it can contain 40+ instruments and 1600+ patches, and AstroLab 88 might just be the most versatile stage keyboard ever made.
AstroLab 88 is available to order now for €2,499. AstroLab firmware 1.5 will be released before July 17th 2025. AstroLab 61 is also available for just €1,449.
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5 responses to “Arturia AstroLab 88 – The Ultimate Stage Keyboard?”
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I really hope they are going to add NKS support like they are to the rest of the Lab series
I have never tried the Arturia keyboard before
I have the MODX7+(12lbs) and RD88 (29lbs) vs. this 50lbs. I cannot lug 50lbs around at 61 yrs old. Also, eyes are degrative and most of us seasoned players like a large screen like the MODX or Roland Phantom. My RD88 is used only for piano/strings. The diminutive rotator knob and small little circle is a deal breaker for me. I know sets can be designed “off native” in the software. But what happens when you do some dynamic patch change or need to change a list live? I’m not doing the knob scroll in a panic thank you. And $2,400 is on the steep end as well, I think. It sure looks and sound elegant, but less practical as a gigging instrument.
Not even a full demo of any kind!!
What’s the point??
in live performance it is essential to be able to change presets quickly, the display does not convince me at all, the Korg Kronos is much more suited to live performance.