The Utility Engine is a supplementary engine that comprises two identical “Noise” sources plus a virtual analog oscillator.
Because you can use it even if the two main engines are already in use, adding further to the quantity of sounds and synthesis methods Pigments can perform at once.
The Utility Engine is always there for you!
Because the Utility Engine does a lot more than analog synth-style noise.
They’re really baby sample players, with a selection of samples covering atmospheres, industrial sounds, nature sounds, vinyl and tape noise, and much more.
Noises can play in one-shot or looped mode, can track the keyboard or not, and are tunable.
Much like in the Sample Engine, there are built-in browsers from which you can select a Noise sample.
The biggest difference here is that only factory samples are provided; you can’t import your own.
Each of the two Noise sources has its own filter, so you don’t have to tie up one of Pigments’ main filters to tweak the sound.
It’s continuously variable between lowpass and highpass. With the knob at 12 o’clock, it performs bandpass filtering.
That controls whether the sample start time re-triggers every time a key is played (Key) or is slightly randomized (Random).
The Random option avoids the flanging effect that can occur when a sample is played polyphonically with key tracking disabled.
This is a simple virtual analog oscillator with sine, triangle sawtooth, ramp, and square waveform options.
The triangle and square waves feature adjustable pulse width, which like most parameters in Pigments can be a modulation target.
The Utility Oscillator is ideal for use as a sub-oscillator, but has a full range of +/- 36 semitones (three octaves), so you can use it for anything.
Indeed it does.
Clicking the Q icon activates it, and the pencil icon brings up the mini keyboard where you set the scale.
Now, if anything is modulating the coarse pitch, it will be according to the selected notes.