You’d need a really big screen to display all 3,500 sounds in the Analog Factory Experience.
So let’s say you love the sound of rich, thick analog synthesizers, but dread the notion of having to master the patch panels of a Mini Moog or Arp 2600, much less something as arcane and unique as the massive Yamaha CS80. Arturia is highly respected in pro audio circles for its faithful emulations of a number of classic synths, and Analog Factory Experience blends thousands of sounds from Arturia’s extensive line with a nice little USB controller keyboard, to offer what is perhaps one of the greatest musical bargains of all time.
Analog Factory Experience is a standalone app or Audio Units plug-in—with a “best hits” collection of over 3,500 sounds from the Arturia analog synthesizer library—plus a USB hardware controller specifically designed to be used with the Analog Factory software. The build quality of the keyboard is exceptional—much more solid than we expected at this price point, and it can even be used as a generic MIDI keyboard. The controller feels like pro gear: We wouldn’t hesitate to use it at a live gig.
The knobs and sliders on the controller correspond directly to virtual versions in the software, and give you access to the most important controls you’d use on any synthesizer: filter cutoff and resonance, low-frequency oscillator (LFO) frequency and amount, ADSR (attack, decay sustain, and release) controls, delay and chorus effects, and four knobs that change their behavior based on the currently selected sound. There are modulation and pitch-bend wheels and eight dedicated buttons for instantly saving and recalling your favorite sound files, even if you’ve tweaked them with the various controls. You can also select sounds directly from keyboard hardware—sans mouse—a nice touch for live performance. The back panel offers jacks for hold and sustain pedals and an expression pedal—as well as a MIDI out for directly controlling other hardware.
Anything that works with Audio Units will play nice with AFE, including GarageBand, Logic, and Ableton Live. Standalone versions of the instruments are included, if you’re just interested in playing a particular synth as a live instrument. There’s an amazing range of excellent musical sounds available, from shimmering pads and blistering leads to ethereal wind instruments and bubbling dance/trance/electronic sounds for whipping up tracks. The software interface allows you to filter available instruments, making choosing from so many options a breeze. This approach is very close to that used by the Native Instruments synth line and makes it quick and easy to home in on the sounds you need at the moment that you’re playing. Analog Factory Experience is no mere toy—the sonic abilities of this diminutive combo are truly awesome, and just about the only thing we’d like to see added is the ability to load custom sounds cooked up in the full versions of the synthesizer plug-ins. If you own the full version of the Arp 2600 synth, for example, you should be able to load those sounds into the AFE software. Outside of that minor quibble, there just isn’t much not to like about the hardware or software. If you’re new to synthesizers, AFE might be the only accessory you’ll need for GarageBand for the next few years or so.
Arturia has come up with a truly versatile, totally excellent sound machine. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for scrumptious sonic spice, make sure to experience this cool combo.
Excellent hardware controller. Wide array of useable sounds. Amazing value. Universal binary.
No advanced editing of sounds. Can’t load custom patches from full versions of standalone softsynths.
