Pigments 5 comes with new and improved features:
- Processing of external audio through via Utility engine
- Multi-core CPU support
- New generative sequencer with one-click pattern generation
- New Sequencer pattern browser
- New Sequencer play modes
- Sequencer lock keeps pattern and settings intact while browsing Pigments Presets
- Numerous other workflow improvements in Sequencer/Arpeggiator
- New pre/post-FX routing option for Aux FX bus
- New “rainbow” spectrum visualizer in Play View
- Improved visualizers for sound engines and filters
- Numerous other improvements in user interface and experience
- Dragging a modulation source now outlines all eligible destinations in grey
- 63 new wavetables
- New samples including vocals and world instruments
- New factory preset library
- New “Explorations” series of optional Preset expansion banks
For more information on the main new features and improvements, please refer to the following sections.
Important
Please note that Pigments owners can upgrade to Pigments 5 for free through the Arturia Software Center.
Noise source 2 can be switched to an input for processing external audio, such as from another track in your project, through Pigments’ filters and FX.
Audio input functions when Pigments is used as a plug-in.
First, select Audio Input instead of noise from the drop-down menu on the left:
Now, use your DAW’s sidechain routing function to route audio from the desired track into Pigments. The method varies from one DAW to another, so consult your DAW’s documentation.
The central visualizer displays the spectrum of the incoming audio.
Note
To hear the incoming audio, you'll have to trigger the VCA by at least playing one note directly from Pigments.
If you play multiple notes, several voices will be asssigned to the audio input, and you'll be surprised with a very creative result.
Other controls, such as the LP/HP filter, Filter Mix, and Volume, work as they do for Noise sources.
This is especially powerful given modern processors such as the Intel Core family and Apple M series.
Multi-core processing is disabled by default.
If you want to turn it ON, simply go to the Side panel, and activate it from the Settings tab:
This should help reduce CPU consumption for polyphonic patches, with up to 4 threads being used for audio processing.
Try it out for yourself, and see if this option fits with your use of Pigments, and with your computer system.
➔ The new generative Sequencer features improved scales to help you build engaging patterns quickly.
The Generative scales are designed to work excellently in combination with the Generation section’s randomizing power.
➔ New playmodes are also available for the Sequencer and the Arpeggiator:
Click on the Mode menu to change the order in which the steps are played. The options are forward, backward, continuous forward and backward (the pattern “bounces” when it reaches the beginning or end), and random order.
➔ Furthermore, the new Generation settings effectively allow one-click pattern creation in both the Sequencer and Arpeggiator modes.
Click the large dice icon in the Generation section to spawn a new set of random values for tracks.
Please note that this only affects parameters with a Random amount greater than 0%.
Simply click-and-drag on one of the smaller dices if you want to change the Random amount value of the said parameters.
To go a bit further, a single click on one of them will spawn random values for tracks for the specific parameter chosen only.
➔ Finally, a "save and recall" feature of sequencer patterns so they can be used with other Presets.
You can step through patterns serially using the left and right arrows, or click the disk icon to the left to save a pattern you have created — a dialogue box asking you for a name will pop up.
All pertinent Sequencer settings are saved, not just the pattern data. Click the pattern name to open the pattern browser.
Of course, you can still save a given pattern as part of the Preset, and it will be there in the Sequencer when you select that Preset.
Discover a selection of 100 new factory presets.
There is also an exclusive new collection of sounds consisting of three new banks: Liquid Explorations, Beats Explorations, and Expressive Explorations.
These are available in-app via the Arturia Sound Store, found in the Preset Browser.
The Wavetable engine features 63 new wavetables engineered for musicality and smooth harmonic transitions; these are easily found in a section devoted to Pigments 5.
New content in the Sample engine includes vocal samples both realistic and exotic, and adds several pitched and percussion instruments from around the world as well as drum machine samples from Ghost Syndicate.