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

[exponent1]

A few days ago, I downloaded the Pigments demo. My initial impression was very good, but I noticed a feature I didn't like. Each press of a note, no matter the one or the other, all mod sources are reset. It is not cool, because no matter how deep the modulation, the sound cannot be deployed, especially at fast tempo. This is the only reason why I would not go with this synth.

Any thoughts?
Other synthesizers I'm interested in are Massive X, Dune, Hive. How do they behave?

Note: in Pigments only 3rd LFO does not retrig.

The reason the '3rd LFO does not retrig' is because the 'Reset Source' is set as 'Free Running'. You can do that for LFO 1 and 2 as well all the modulation sources. Please go to the LFO tab> Click above Reset Source and select 'Free Running'.

[Hink]

7 off topic posts that I clearly asked not to happen removed...next time this thread is done...if some goes off topic report it, dont take it up here in this thread please.

[FarleyCZ]

I'm not at my computer right now, but I think you can select the trigger source for LFOs in Pigments.

...though I wonder why many developers just refuse to implement the anchored LFO mode as it is in Serum. It solves so many problems.

[Yakko Warner]

A few days ago, I downloaded the Pigments demo. My initial impression was very good, but I noticed a feature I didn't like. Each press of a note, no matter the one or the other, all mod sources are reset. It is not cool, because no matter how deep the modulation, the sound cannot be deployed, especially at fast tempo. This is the only reason why I would not go with this synth.

Any thoughts?
Other synthesizers I'm interested in are Massive X, Dune, Hive. How do they behave?

Note: in Pigments only 3rd LFO does not retrig.

The reason the '3rd LFO does not retrig' is because the 'Reset Source' is set as 'Free Running'. You can do that for LFO 1 and 2 as well all the modulation sources. Please go to the LFO tab> Click above Reset Source and select 'Free Running'.
[/quote]

Yes, I see now. LFOs and randomness have "free running" mode, functions "run".
I don't know how I didn't pay attention, I read the manual but...
Now I love Pigments again.

I'm not at my computer right now, but I think you can select the trigger source for LFOs in Pigments.

...though I wonder why many developers just refuse to implement the anchored LFO mode as it is in Serum. It solves so many problems.

I don't understand what is änchored LFO mode"?

[Yakko Warner]

Sorry for the confusion of quotes.

[FarleyCZ]

Anchored LFO means, that even if it's free running, it's phase is calculated from the song position. Meaning the lfo will behave the same on every render. Non-anchored LFO will start from a phase it was left in at the end of the song, so re-renders can be inconsistent.

[Mushy Mushy]

Anchored LFO means, that even if it's free running, it's phase is calculated from the song position. Meaning the lfo will behave the same on every render. Non-anchored LFO will start from a phase it was left in at the end of the song, so re-renders can be inconsistent.

Sound design in Serum is sooooo easy as a result.

[Yakko Warner]

I think look at the serum too. I am determined to use only one synthesizer, at least at this stage. But the more I learn, the harder it is for me to choose.

[highkoo]

Anchored LFO means, that even if it's free running, it's phase is calculated from the song position. Meaning the lfo will behave the same on every render. Non-anchored LFO will start from a phase it was left in at the end of the song, so re-renders can be inconsistent.

Sound design in Serum is sooooo easy as a result.

I am ten thousand percent addicted to this concept for everything. Honestly, its like half the reason I still play with sound at all. The whole experience is alive when its allowed to have its own chaos that you have to control.
Just like an hour ago I had to re-render an old track, and it took a few renders to get the randomness not just 'right', but just not too different from the render that has already existed..

[mholloway]

...though I wonder why many developers just refuse to implement the anchored LFO mode as it is in Serum. It solves so many problems.

The modulators in U-he synths have 'sync' mode (which does not mean simple bpm mode for timing, as you might expect) which is the same as what Serum does, keeping the modulation 'consistent' based on the host clock. Not sure if it's identical to Serum's anchor but it's certainly the same idea at least?

I agree though, it's weird that it's not more common among other devs, too.

[Sampleconstruct]

Falcon, HALion and Padshop 2 also have LFO modes which sync to bar/beat of the host.

[FarleyCZ]

...though I wonder why many developers just refuse to implement the anchored LFO mode as it is in Serum. It solves so many problems.

The modulators in U-he synths have 'sync' mode (which does not mean simple bpm mode for timing, as you might expect) which is the same as what Serum does, keeping the modulation 'consistent' based on the host clock. Not sure if it's identical to Serum's anchor but it's certainly the same idea at least?

I agree though, it's weird that it's not more common among other devs, too.

Yup. One of the reasons I love my Zebra. Same idea, though in U-he synths, it syncs the LFO at the beginning of the track and then in your chosen interval. Steve Duda took it even further. In Serum with anchoring on, the phase gets calculated retroactively. If you play from random location of the track, Serum takes the rate Hz value, the bpm and the song position and calculates LFO's supposed phase at that moment, from which it will start the LFO. In U-he synths, LFO plays out of sync until the synchronisation interval passes by, then it fixes itself.

...but in most other synths, when free-running, the phase of the LFO is just random. :'( Please, more anchoring!

[FarleyCZ]

Falcon, HALion and Padshop 2 also have LFO modes which sync to bar/beat of the host.

O yes, you're right! It is in Falcon too! Love that synth. Don't own the other two, but awesome they have it!

[BONES]

I can't say I care, either way, but syncing to note on would ensure repeatable renders.

I think look at the serum too. I am determined to use only one synthesizer, at least at this stage.

Why? What sort of music do you want to make? If you really, really, really must have just one, then look for something with multiple forms of synthesis, like DUNE or Pigments. I have both and it would be hard to choose between them. Nothing sounds better than DUNE, it is the benchmark when it comes to sound quality. It is not necessarily easy to work with, though - the library is very primitive by today's standards and the way the synth is designed gets in the way of good workflow. OTOH, Pigments is really easy to get the most from and, overall, I think it is probably the more versatile of the two. In the end I think price would be the determining factor and at $99 Pigments would win. At full price DUNE would probably just be in front.

[Rktect]

Does anyone know what types of file formats and length limits can be imported for the Sample engine? I am trying to find info out on it but can't find anything in the manual or the website. Every time I try to import a file it is greyed out on a wav or mp3 which makes no sense. Have also rebooted everything to no avail. Thanks.