
Let's start with the 49‑note velocity‑ and aftertouch‑sensitive keyboard.

Like its siblings, the Laboratory combines three elements: a keyboard controller, a large library of editable sounds based on the company's existing V-series soft synths, and a separate software package that allows users to configure the keyboard for use with other software. My review of the curent two products in the series - the Player and the Factory (see Sound On Sound January 2011) - suggested that they provide an interesting set of facilities in a novel fashion at an attractive price, but what of the Laboratory? Could there be room above the Factory for a bigger and better 'Experience', or were Arturia attempting to slice the virtual analogue soft synth market just a little too thinly? (As we were going to press, Arturia announced a 61‑note version of the Laboratory, but this review will concentrate on the 49‑note model.) Physically Speaking When I first read about the flagship of Arturia's Analogue Experience ('AE') series, I wondered whether there would be any demand for another product based on the company's existing analogue modelling technology.

The latest addition to Arturia's Analog Experience series takes their hybrid software/hardware synth concept even further.
