Arturia AstroLab 1.5: A Digital Stage Keyboard Evolves

Arturia introduces AstroLab 1.5 as a free firmware update, positioning it as a major step forward for performers who demand both flexibility and reliability from their stage keyboards. The video’s opening frames set the tone: this update is about empowering users with more creative control, tighter integration with external gear, and a smoother workflow between the AstroLab hardware and Arturia’s Analog Lab software. The emphasis is clearly on real-world performance needs, not just studio experimentation.

From the outset, Arturia’s presentation style is direct and user-focused, highlighting the practical benefits of the update rather than just listing features. The video promises a walkthrough of new instrument engines, MIDI program change support, seamless playlist transfers, and performance-oriented locks for arpeggiator and chord/scale settings. This signals a shift towards making AstroLab a more central, adaptable hub in both DAWless and hybrid setups, with a workflow that aims to keep up with the demands of modern keyboardists.

One of the headline features in AstroLab 1.5 is the ability to lock arpeggiator settings across preset changes—a deceptively simple tweak that has real implications for live consistency. The video demonstrates how users can long-press the Arp button to access a new Arp Lock option in the settings menu, allowing parameters like direction, octave range, and time division to persist as you browse different sounds. This means rhythmic patterns and grooves remain intact, even while auditioning new timbres mid-performance.

Chord and Scale Lock works in a similar fashion: long-pressing the Chord button reveals the option to keep custom chords, root notes, and scale types locked as you switch presets. The combination of these locks ensures that complex performance setups—like layered arps and harmonies—don’t fall apart when changing sounds. For keyboardists who rely on intricate setups, this is a clear workflow win, though the video focuses on the surface-level operation rather than diving into menu depth or edge-case scenarios.

AstroLab 1.5 adds support for sending MIDI program change messages whenever a preset is loaded, including within playlists. The video shows how holding Shift and Split opens the MIDI and Split settings menu, where users can assign bank, sub-bank, and program numbers for each part. These values are transmitted via the part’s MIDI output channel, giving performers the ability to synchronize preset changes across external synths, modules, or even lighting rigs.

Importantly, each parameter can be set to ‘off,’ offering granular control over what gets sent. This level of flexibility is ideal for complex stage setups where not every device needs to respond to every change. While the video demonstrates the setup process clearly, it doesn’t delve into latency, compatibility quirks, or how AstroLab handles simultaneous changes in multi-part arrangements—areas that would benefit from further real-world testing.

Setlist management gets a significant upgrade with seamless playlist transfers between Analog Lab and AstroLab. The video walks through three methods: right-clicking a playlist to send it to AstroLab, using the three-dot menu, or simply dragging and dropping playlists between software and hardware sections. This makes it much easier to build, back up, and edit setlists, whether you’re prepping for a gig or collaborating remotely.

Transferring playlists from AstroLab back to Analog Lab is equally straightforward, supporting offline editing or sharing with other AstroLab users. The interface provides clear visual feedback to confirm where playlists will be dropped, reducing the chance of workflow errors. While the video highlights the ease of use, it doesn’t address how the system handles large or complex playlists, nor does it mention any limitations regarding custom mappings or metadata—points that may matter for power users.