Molten Music Technology’s Astrolab 37: Software Synths Go Streetwise

Arturia’s Astrolab 37 is the synth equivalent of dragging your entire V Collection out of the computer and slamming it into a portable, hands-on box. Robin Vincent wastes no time pointing out that this isn’t just another generalist keyboard—it’s a curated buffet of thousands of sounds, all drawn from Arturia’s legendary software suite. The Astrolab 37 aims to be the ultimate bridge between software and hardware, letting you play modelled classics like the ARP 2500, DX7, CS80, and Jupiter 8 without ever booting up your DAW.

But don’t expect a workstation dinosaur or a synth for endless menu-diving. Robin is clear: this is a player’s device, not a sound designer’s playground. You get a solid, compact build, a keybed that feels familiar (think Keystep with a posh felt touch), and a workflow that’s all about instant access to great sounds. The Astrolab 37 is less about deep tweaking and more about getting lost in a sea of presets—perfect for those who want to play, not program. If you’re after a synth that’s ready to gig straight out of the box, this little slab might just be your new best mate.

With over 40 modelled synths from the Arturia V Collection under its hood, the Astrolab 37 is a sonic street weapon. Robin dives into the sheer range: pianos, electric pianos, organs, basses, leads, pads, strings, brass, sequenced sounds, and more—all instantly accessible via dedicated buttons. It’s not just quantity, either; the quality is top-notch, thanks to Arturia’s meticulous emulations. Pigments, CS-80, Juno 106, and even some lo-fi oddities are all here, ready to be mashed up or layered.

The bitimbral (or as Arturia awkwardly calls it, “multi”) setup means you can stack or split two sounds for even more versatility. Robin’s not shy about praising the seamless preset switching and the clever background loading—no awkward gaps, just smooth transitions. If you’re a cover band, live player, or just someone who wants every classic sound at your fingertips, this thing delivers in spades. But let’s be real: the only way to truly appreciate the depth and vibe of these sounds is to hear them in action, so don’t skip Robin’s video jams.

Here’s where the Astrolab 37 gets cheeky. For all its versatility, you’re locked down to just four main controls: brightness, timbre, time, and movement. Robin calls out the slightly vague naming—these are macro knobs, often mapped to filter, resonance, envelope, or LFO, but it’s not always obvious what’s actually being tweaked. Preset makers could’ve been clearer, but hey, at least you get some hands-on action.

This limitation is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it forces you to focus on performance and makes the Astrolab 37 a preset-driven machine—ideal for gigs, not for endless sound design sessions. On the other, if you’re the type who wants to modulate every parameter under the sun, you’ll hit a wall fast. Robin’s honest: the four-knob setup is probably enough for most live situations, but hardcore tweakers will be left hungry. Still, the effects section is surprisingly flexible, with assignable slots and stompbox-style options that add a bit more spice to your patches.

For live performers, cover bands, and anyone who needs instant access to classic sounds, the Astrolab 37 is a no-brainer. Robin highlights the playlists, artist presets, and seamless patch changes as killer features for gigging. You can load up your setlist, step through sounds in order, and never worry about menu-diving mid-song. It’s a dream for those who want to focus on playing, not programming.

But let’s not sugar-coat it: if you’re a hardcore sound designer, the Astrolab 37’s limitations will drive you mad. You get two layers, four knobs, and no deep editing on the hardware itself. For studio use, Robin suggests you’ll probably end up using Analog Lab as a plug-in anyway, since it offers the same sounds with more flexibility. Bottom line: the Astrolab 37 is a brilliantly playable, great-sounding synth for performers, but if you want to get your hands dirty with patch cables and parameter maps, look elsewhere. For everyone else, it’s a portable rave bunker in a box.