Exploring the Sounds of Analog Lab V, Part 1 [ARP 2600, B-3, Buchla Easel, Clavinet, CMI]

The ARTURIA MIDI keyboard I purchased last year, which I also wrote a column about

⇒ “MIDI Keyboard Purchase Report”

The model I purchased is sold out, and the current version seems to be the one listed below (as of October 2024).

ARTURIA / KeyLab Essential 88 MK3 White

Analog Lab V, an incredible tool bundled with this keyboard, offers an astounding number of sounds—my version alone has 5,841! There are simply too many to keep track of.

While I've mainly used well-known emulated sounds like the DX7's electric piano, I wanted to explore all the possibilities and really master this library! So, over a few days, I checked out every single sound in my spare time. I found some fascinating and iconic sounds that I’m excited to share.

With Analog Lab V, you can browse by instrument type, like bass or piano, using *TYPES*, or search by specific synthesizers through *INSTRUMENTS*.

One reason for the sheer number of sounds is the diverse group of sound designers contributing to Analog Lab V. In addition to Arturia’s own presets, many other designers, some with distinctly Japanese names, have created sounds as well. Thanks to their work, the library includes not only default synth sounds but also unique, interesting presets and sounds reminiscent of famous songs.
When you set the *DESIGNER* filter to "Arturia," you’ll get the synth's default-like sounds, making it easy to find the authentic tones of each classic instrument.

In *Edit Preset*, you can layer two sounds, add effects, and create your own custom presets. By combining layers, you can craft virtually unlimited sound variations!

You can also add more sounds, with both free and paid options available.

Let’s go through the presets by *INSTRUMENTS*.

ARP 2600 (519 presets)

This synthesizer is famous for creating the iconic sounds of R2-D2 from *Star Wars*, and, sure enough, someone has crafted a preset called “R2D3”!

That nostalgic beeping sound is so fun to play with! There are also presets like "Analo Wurli" and "Arp Classic," which work great for pad sounds. Plus, there's even a preset called "Ymo Bass" reminiscent of classic YMO tones.

The "Ymo Bass" preset really sounds like the bass tones from the legendary trio that sparked the techno boom! It’s exciting to see a Japanese name among the designers, too. And when I set the *Brightness* to about 0.683 and play D4 in eighth notes, it even resembles the intro to Stardust Revue's *Yume Densetsu*!

B-3 (29 presets)

The B-3 organ is essential for rock music. In this collection, there are no presets labeled “Arturia”—only custom sounds by different designers. For backing, there are versatile options like "Jazz Organ" and "Old 70's Soul," as well as settings inspired by jazz organ legend Jimmy Smith, like "Clean Jazz" and "Mr. Jimmy Smith."
Among these, I found a preset called "Church of Zeppelin," which has a sound reminiscent of the intro to Led Zeppelin's "Your Time Is Gonna Come" and the backing in "Thank You." Perfect for recreating that vintage rock vibe!

Buchla Easel (255 presets)

Released in 1973, this portable modular synthesizer was new to me, but its sounds are incredibly stimulating. There are presets like "Vent Helice," which would make a great lead for technopop, and "Strange Stuff," which works as a captivating arpeggiator with just a single note.

Clavinet (75 presets)

The iconic D6 model has been used by countless artists, with Stevie Wonder being one of the most famous. I found a preset called "Super Fonk," which includes a note saying, "Wonder Style with Phasing fx"—essentially a "Wonder-style sound with phaser." There's also "The Duke," which has a phaser as well, though with a slightly different vibe.
For sounds closer to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," try the "Default" or "TrebleBoost" presets. There are other effect-rich presets too, like "Touch Wah I," which includes a wah effect, adding even more variety.

CMI (362 presets)

8The CMI, a legendary synth known for shaping '80s music and even used in *Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind*, has some real gems in its preset collection.
The preset "82 Disco" sounds reminiscent of the intro to Lipps Inc.'s "Funky Town." Other presets, like "Cartoon UFO," "Phazy Pad," and "Spectra Keys," bring back memories of effects often heard on educational TV shows about 40 years ago. "Classic Saw Pad" has that same educational TV vibe but also feels like a staple techno sound.
"Come On And Dance" brings in an '80s rhythm section with a single key press, and "Just Beat It" is a near-exact replica of the King of Pop's iconic intro sound. Try playing the notes *G-G-B-B, G-G, D*—it’s astonishingly close, almost worryingly so from a copyright perspective!

「The preset “YES” might not correspond to any specific song, but it’s a familiar sound effect from ‘80s music and TV, the kind you might still hear on shows like *Adomachi*. There are plenty more intriguing effects and rhythm patterns as well.
This time, we explored sounds from five synths in Analog Lab V, but there’s so much more to discover. I’ll dive into the rest next time...

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