Arturia Pigments 2 (Free Update): Now it's Granular

[metaside]

Why would the developer keep the presets as a"generic, standard preset library", and not to take out the best of the synth?
In who's interest is that?

I guess it might seem like a good idea that you don't have to pay for good sound/preset designers? I don't really understand it from a marketing perspective tbh. Of course users make their own presets, but they can do that with any one of the many other synths most of them already have ^^

[mholloway]

Ah good to see this has devolved into a classic-style KVR bullshit zoo, let's see, we've got:

1. multiple posters debating the (apparently scientific) 'Hugeness' of Pigments vs. other synths. Wonderful. Lot of meaning in there.

2. plenty of assertions of Crispness and other cool adjectives we all agree on and always have, and how these adjectives compare to the same adjectives in other unrelated soft-synths. Useful!

3. comparisons of the sound of this modern wavetable synth to the sound of Repro-1 and Repro-5. Naturally!

4. Equal representations from both ideologies: camp 1: The presets don't reveal the actual power of the synth, the programmers never bother to actually make patches that, you know, show what the synth is capable of doing, don't talk madness here! and camp 2: The presets are the best ever in any synth, and not just because they are new to my ears and I like new shiny things but because really they are the best!

Lovely place, really.

[machinesworking]

Ah good to see this has devolved into a classic-style KVR bullshit zoo, let's see, we've got:

1. multiple posters debating the (apparently scientific) 'Hugeness' of Pigments vs. other synths. Wonderful. Lot of meaning in there.

2. plenty of assertions of Crispness and other cool adjectives we all agree on and always have, and how these adjectives compare to the same adjectives in other unrelated soft-synths. Useful!

3. comparisons of the sound of this modern wavetable synth to the sound of Repro-1 and Repro-5. Naturally!

4. Equal representations from both ideologies: camp 1: The presets don't reveal the actual power of the synth, the programmers never bother to actually make patches that, you know, show what the synth is capable of doing, don't talk madness here! and camp 2: The presets are the best ever in any synth, and not just because they are new to my ears and I like new shiny things but because really they are the best!

Lovely place, really.

I kind of love posts like this, the inherent hypocrisy is palatable.
You're adding less than nothing to the conversation while complaining about the lack of substance of the thread, a negative impact. If you don't like the contributions of people here, don't post here, it's that simple.

[mholloway]

If you don't like the contributions of people here, don't post here, it's that simple.

But it's not that simple, and never has been. This is a forum, do you need help looking up what that actually means? I'm just as free to post my musings on the value of people debating 'hugeness' as you are to post that you don't like my post. It's how forums work. Nor is it hypocritical: some posts want to debate Hugeness, other posts want to call that out as hilariously useless. Both quite literally contribute something to the thread. Whether those 'somethings' are of any value, well, everyone's mileage will obviously vary!
Some folks, apparently you, think every single post should be Positive and Non-Critical and Shining Happy People all around, no matter how stupid or ill-informed a bulk of the content actually is. I don't agree. It's a forum, after all. So, uh, try not to lose any sleep over it I guess?

[mladi]

I kind of love posts like this, the inherent hypocrisy is palatable.
You're adding less than nothing to the conversation while complaining about the lack of substance of the thread, a negative impact. If you don't like the contributions of people here, don't post here, it's that simple.

So true.

[highkoo]

http://www.novakill.com/stuff/FAT_Test.mp3

After one playback through my tv, and careful consideration, I will bet my left pinky that the second one is Pigments.

[highkoo]

Ah good to see this has devolved into a classic-style KVR bullshit zoo

Dont forget,

5. Post that just wants to kick the door, get aggressive with everyone arbitrarily, and has no point.

Now thats KvR.

[machinesworking]

If you don't like the contributions of people here, don't post here, it's that simple.

But it's not that simple, and never has been. This is a forum, do you need help looking up what that actually means? I'm just as free to post my musings on the value of people debating 'hugeness' as you are to post that you don't like my post. It's how forums work. Nor is it hypocritical: some posts want to debate Hugeness, other posts want to call that out as hilariously useless. Both quite literally contribute something to the thread. Whether those 'somethings' are of any value, well, everyone's mileage will obviously vary!
Some folks, apparently you, think every single post should be Positive and Non-Critical and Shining Happy People all around, no matter how stupid or ill-informed a bulk of the content actually is. I don't agree. It's a forum, after all. So, uh, try not to lose any sleep over it I guess?

The fact that you can't see the hypocrisy in posting a diatribe about how useless everyone else's posts are is what I was commenting on. You're not contributing anything useful to a thread about a synth by lording over and pointing out that you think everyones content is BS, you're just grandstanding, which is hilarious, because you're complaining about grandstanding.
At least the person using pretty much useless terms like thick or thin or detailed is trying to explain their viewpoint, you're literally peanut gallery commenting about comments, which adds less than nothing to the conversation, and if you can't see how that is arguably worse, well....

I don't lose any sleep over forum posts, I don't even keep track of them. I'm always surprised when someone has an agenda about a conversation from months ago. Unless I meet you in person. It's just words on a screen, and if you're not enjoying the conversation, why participate? You don't like a thread, don't participate in it. You hear someone say something that's arguably wrong, point it out, but to just pretend you're somehow above it all, all of it, is just awkward posturing, and against pretty much any forums codes of conduct.

Or to put it clearly for you. when people post like you did there, I think what did he plan on getting from that? It doesn't hurt my feelings like you hope I guess? I just don't get what you hope to achieve beyond a false sense of superiority?

I mean I get it, I'm biting on the bait, because I really can't see any rational reason to post what you did beyond some arbitrary momentary waste of time arguing semantics with someone on the internet, because it's beyond crazy to think you somehow helped anyone come to their senses with your post? simpering at your feet realizing how dumb they are compared to you?

[machinesworking]

Perhaps you do. Here's a simple test - 3 fat synths playing 3 fat patches. It's not much but I only allowed myself 20 minutes to make it from scratch, so they sound a bit similar but are really quite different. They have only internal effects and the only post-processing was a normalise. Which one is Pigments? Bonus points if you can identify all three.

http://www.novakill.com/stuff/FAT_Test.mp3

As for detail, tell me what you hear in each of them. I tried to make them all as clear as I could.

It's pretty cool how different they all sound.
Did you painstakingly attempt to set all settings filters etc. to the same places?

I'm on laptop speakers right now, but the first sounds what people like to call thick, the middle is mid range, and the last is all high and low.

[Igro]

Wavetable synth's sound vs analog synth's sound. This subject pops up now and then. We need a separate topic for this. Please, don't start this rant here.

[Mushy Mushy]

@Bones: Pigments first, Thorn second, Dune third.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

How would I assign something like Fitler Envelope Depth to a knob in Pigments 2 via MIDI learn? Is that type of simple MIDI assignment just not possible due to the Mod Matrix?

[c_voltage]

I guess comparison for "analog" (or detect of thinner sound) can looks like this:

midi sequence contain short notes, with the a much possible "punchy" attack that can be obtained from the amplitude envelope of the instrument, and all this via using clean sawtooth from single active oscilator (in Pigments case - single saw osc from Analog section, and other two osc's disabled resp).

And then second - the same midi clip and setting - but with use builtin filter envelope. The choice of filter type (and filter envelope settings) - by choice that also should represent the maximal available "punch" as you see it.

Something like that imo.

[EnGee]

I loaded one instance each of only wavetable synths: Dune 3, Massive X, Factory, Largo and Pigments of course.
After about one hour, going back and forth, I could choose which is the most favourite to less favourite (according to sound only):
1. MX
2. Dune 3
3. Factory
4. Largo
5. Pigments

While Workflow and pleasant environment:
1. Pigments
2. Factory
3. MX
4. Largo
5. Dune 3

I don't believe in playing few sounds in each one can indicate which one sounds thick or clear. My way is to put the synth I need to have opinion about against several others and keep browsing the presets and editing/changing filters, modulations, oscillators and effects. In short trying to explore most everything and listen carefully because sometimes the presets are misleading in both ways, so only when I tweak them I can know what the strengths and weaknesses of the synth.

One thing, I always compare the specific synth with an extreme digital like Razor/Form/Bazille/Aparillo and analogue emulation like Super 8/RePro/The Legend. This way reveals more about the sound nature for me. I did this previously for most of the synths I have. For example, Dune 3 can sound more analogue than MX, while Factory is more aggressive than D3 and MX.

Anyway, I have said my opinion more than once and tried to explained it. So, I'm out now

[mxbf]

DO NOT underestimate Pigments. This thing isn't a "beast" in the sense a Moog is. But it's still a beast.

I have to agree with above people who said it seems like it was made for producers because the sounds sit in the mix in an unusually delectable and attractive way in actual practice. It stands out.

I'm using it in a mix right now and I really feel that it brought out a section I was struggling with and really made the song, in a way. Pigments has a very sharp, powerful, punching sound that cuts/slices through a mix delightfully with its distinct detailed sound.