Arturia V Collection 10. Predictions.

[MWGallaher]

I'd love to see them get back to the truly vintage non-synth electronic keyboards and give us an ondes Martenot-V. I can't find any software emulations available, just a sample instrument based on a modern recreation, so it would be a unique offering. It could cover the theremin territory plus extra sonic ground. I am sure there's some clever way to emulate the ondes' ring-and-wire control...maybe some out-of-range key switches as used so often for articulation changes in sampled instruments?
Other than that, I want a Polivoks-V for some behind-the-iron-curtain bluster.

[frag]

So, what's the catch with Arturia synths? Are they mainly used by techno producers, or what?

Almost every Arturia synth was a disappointment for me, most presets are unplayable, and all emulations sounds similar. It's like these plugins were made for producers who use mouse instead of keyboard, and mainly employ rhythmic elements in their tracks. SQ80 is interesting, DX7 & Matrix-12 perhaps as well, everything else is quite strange...

It's particularly strange that you can't hear presets on Arturia website, only some experimental demo tracks. But when you actually try the presets, yes - you're kinda disappointed. Perhaps that's why they're not showing them on the website?

Compare, for example, CS80 V and GX-80. Both emulations are not enough realistic, I mean, it is difficult to emulate Yamaha CS80. But GX-80 is so much more playable, presets appear to be made by musicians for musicians who actually play these instruments and do not draw fx over banging beats. Even the old, tiny SQ8L has more character than SQ80 V. You actually want to play it!

I know it's a matter of taste, but it's still quite puzzling.

[pepelogu]

The presets needs to get better because the synths themselves are great and deserve it.

[aMUSEd]

Personally I think they have the best sound design team since CamelAudio - their addon banks are often superb and very creative

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I'm definitely not a fan of the default presets on the V-Collection synths. They tend to be too modern with a focus on "wow" type sounds versus bread and butter and/or classic sounds. In my opinion, they over-use the FX (most of which I think are pretty bad sounding). And there are a LOT of them. I get that presets are very subjective though. They're just not my bag.

[dlandis]

While I'm not sure anything in particular "needs" to be added (I'd kind of like to see Arturia continue their quest of updating as they are doing quite nicely,) if pressed, the one synth I'd really like to see is an Ensoniq Fizmo (jumping right over the VFX) as I had plans to buy one of those before Ensoniq went out of business. I'd really like to get a taste of what I missed. I did own a VFX and loved it and still occasionally miss what it offered in terms of programming. It was pretty close to being a "happy accident" machine and almost invited the user to figure out its capabilities. I'd found this true of Ensoniq generally: not always the most pristine sound, but, without fail, very rewarding to program. The company's approach to modulation was also ahead of its time (compared to most.)

[frag]

The presets needs to get better because the synths themselves are great and deserve it.

Exactly. I mean, don't get me wrong, you can make great music with anything, if you know how to arrange stuff, edit parameters etc.
I just feel these Arturia presets are oriented towards experimental/techno producers & mouse clickers. Take for example OP-X Pro II, Solos in particular - they are CLEARLY programmed for keyboard players. Get that tiny plugin and throw away your hardware
How can Arturia allow themselves not to show you the presets on their webpage? I had to go to Youtube. That's just weird for such a big company...

[Fleer]

I do find this comparison to the real thing pretty pretty good: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DXu0GvLmHjs

[J77686]

Some things I'd like to see:

Spark 3
Polivoks
Polivoks Filter

I would love to see Spark 3 or any type of drum machine emulation. I use UVI for all my electronic drum needs right now.

[soulata]

Personally I think they have the best sound design team since CamelAudio - their addon banks are often superb and very creative

+1

And quite affordable they are, too. When on sale, that is.

[dlandis]

It will definitely be the ARP 2600 refresh next. I thought it might be in V9, however I guess CS-80 and the Prophets were even more in need.

I think so too (ARP 2600). The Matrix-12 also needs a rebuild.

I'm wondering what they plan to do with Mini V, as there are several really good Minimoog emulations now. Do they update it anyway, just to bring up the overall quality of the collection? I guess they have to, but it's gotta be hard to get excited about doing that when the best you can do (probably) is just match The Legend or Model 72. I think they'd rather put time into the ones that nobody else has done (well).

Really good thoughts.

The Matrix 12 is interesting; it still sounds good in and of itself, but "almost" seems to be lacking something particularly "Obie" in its tone. I never owned a real M12, but I did own a Matrix 6R (granted it had DCOs,) and there was something pleasantly growly about it even so. Still, isn't the Arturia the only Matrix 12/Xpander emu around?

As far as Minimoog emus are concerned, thumbs up on The Legend and Model 72. There is also the UA model as well which, I hear, is very well-received (and going for $59 until the end of the month on the UA site.)

[egbert101]

Since a minimoog is so basic to various musical genres, an updated version is really a must. But they might opt for updating the ARP 2600 and throw in an ARP Odyssey instead, which I wouldn't mind at all. Also, a JX-8P or Matrix 1000 would also be amazing.

[markheath]

Given that Synth 1 appears to be abandoned I'd love to see someone like Arturia model the Clavia Nord Lead 2 Red Synth and make it compatible with Synth 1 presets.

[Arashi]

The Matrix 12 is interesting; it still sounds good in and of itself, but "almost" seems to be lacking something particularly "Obie" in its tone. I never owned a real M12, but I did own a Matrix 6R (granted it had DCOs,) and there was something pleasantly growly about it even so. Still, isn't the Arturia the only Matrix 12/Xpander emu around?

Yes, exactly. I don't have an actual Matrix either, but many of Arturia's recent emulations are much better at capturing the character of the real instruments, so I think the Matrix-12 could benefit from a rebuild. And yeah, as far as I know, Matrix-12 V is the only Matrix emulation out there. It's such a cool synth.

As far as Minimoog emus are concerned, thumbs up on The Legend and Model 72. There is also the UA model as well which, I hear, is very well-received (and going for $59 until the end of the month on the UA site.)

Moog's own Model D app/plugin is also quite good. My guess is the UA Minimoog (which they say was "developed in partnership with Moog Music") is probably based on the same emulation. And then there's (NI) Monark and (GForce) Minimonsta, which are also really good.

So Arturia faces an uphill battle trying to sell an updated Mini V, but I think they want the whole V Collection to be good, and that means either rebuilding or retiring the old emulations that haven't stood the test of time. I'm sure they are capable of building something competitive. Just a matter of how they want to spend their time.

[felis]

V9 and Pigments are currently on sale at 50% off until July 18th, so I'm thinking it won't be too long before V10 is here:

https://www.steinberg.net/promotion/