- New Modal physical modeling engine
- New Cluster and LoFi filter types
- Streamlined filter selection via hierarchal menu
- New Vocoder effect
- Voice Modulator Random value generator
- Granular mode in Sample engine can now Scan backward and forward through graintables
- Streamlined Filter menu and section
- Easier browsing for Spectrums in Harmonic engine
- Envelope follower Combinator type
- 100 new factory Presets
- Real-time Preset recommendation as you search
- 53 new wavetables and 97 new samples
- Cleaner looking browsers for sequencer patterns, Function types, and other menu-driven choices across Pigments
- Numerous user interface and workflow improvements
Of course, the features that made previous versions of Pigments so powerful are all on hand. These include the simplified Play view for accessing the most important parameters for performance; the generative sequencer with one-click pattern generation; dark and light themes for the interface; granular synthesis in the Sample engine; dedicated Unison and Modulator sections for each engine; drag-and-drop assignment of modulation sources to destinations; quick presets in areas such as LFOs, functions, and effects; quantizable modulation of pitch-based parameters; tempo sync in the Sequencer/Arpeggiator and all time-based modulations; cross-modulation between the main sound engines; massive FX power with three buses able to host three effect types each; flexible FX routing; microtuning; support for MPE (MIDI polyphonic expression); and much, much more.
We've listed a lot of features here but have still only scratched the surface of the capabilities of this formidable instrument. Throughout all the versions, we enjoyed developing Pigments so much that we had to keep reminding ourselves that this was work! Pigments is at once a playground, a factory, and a sonic universe all its own.
And now ... Arturia Pigments 6.
The new Modal engine uses physical modeling to generate sounds based on the properties of imaginary resonating objects. The “Resonator” is further enhanced by two “Exciters”: One for the initial transients or “collisions” of another object; the other for ongoing friction and excitement of harmonics.
Two new filter types increase the already broad options in Pigments’ dual-filter section.
The Cluster filter accomplishes fine sonic sculpting by applying mulitple peaks (up to 5) with adjustable Spread between them. The LoFi filter adds a pleasant retro or grungy quality via downsampling, but without the usual buildup of distortion that can happen when multiple notes are played.
Filter selection has been reorganized with all filter types selectable in a new hierarchal menu. Filters that have variations (e.g. low-pass, high-pass, or band-pass; as well as different slopes) are neatly stacked in submenus to make finding the perfect filter quicker than ever.
Pigments’ vocoder lets you imprint the characteristics of a wide variety of sources onto the instrument’s final output. You can inject everything from robotic vocal textures to avantgarde bass timbres into your patches, or modulate your sound with audio such as a percussion loop for a rhythm that truly “speaks.”
The Voice Modulator is a new type of Random modulation source. It generates a new userdefined value each time Pigments’ engine asks for a synth voice (e.g. because an incoming MIDI note is received). You can click the “dice” icon to randomize these values, or drag the vertical bars to determine them precisely. The Voice Modulator is especially good at adding new life to each note played, in the spirit of classic analog synths. Filter cutoff is an obvious destination for it, but that’s just the beginning!
A second new Random source type is simply called “Random”:
This offers the most-requested parameters for controlled chaos: distance between random value steps, timing variance between them (jitter), smoothing, optional tempo sync, and more.
The Granular mode of the Sample engine has long offered the ability to chop samples into fine audio “grains” then rearrange and reshape them. Now, the Scan knob lets you change the position of a moving “play head” across the grain stream. This is especially useful for time-stretching effects.
Residing in the Combinate section of the Modulation sources, this lets you “tap” the signal from a variety of places in the Pigments signal chain (such as engine or filter outputs), then track its amplitude and turn that into modulation data you can assign to any destination.
One hundred new Presets by some of the best and brightest sound designers in the world have been created for Pigments 6, and have their own Bank in the Preset Browser alongside banks for historical versions. There are 53 newwavetables in the Wavetable engine; 97 new samples have been recorded for the Sample engine.
How often have you been playing a synth and thought “I’d like something a lot like this patch, but a little different, with more this and less that”? Thanks to machine learning algorithms, Pigments 6 can suggest exactly such a list based on the current Preset. It will also suggest tagged Presets, expansion banks, and more based on your text string searches.