Arturia Pigments 3 is out!

[telecode]

...what's really great about Pigment, is the fact, that almost every parameter seems to enabled for host automation, which means, I could create comprehensive mapping templates for the plug-in in Maschine, so that I could jam with the synth and capture interesting settings with Maschine's lock states - something I can't do with the a different modern flagship synth, as, apparently, 16 automatable macro controls are supposed to be enough.

Sonically, MX is much more interesting, has better sounding modules and its sound quality is superior, but Pigment's graphic workflow is a lot better (wow, I can save and recall multistage envelope shapes - take that NI), it provides a better hardware access (host & midi automation) and with the wavetable import and granular sampler it has the better features to use your own sounds. So I'd probably end up using MX for the basic sound design to create samples and then continue with Pigments as the work horse...

i would be interested to see your post how you do that? i use Maschine and Jam a lot in my setup.

[telecode]

just want to put this out there. what sort of SR and buffer settings are you all using with VST and Arturia on your setups? I tried Pigments with 64 buffers and it goes nuts.

I have to take this back. I did more testing and it turns out what was causing the CPU going crazy is IKM TapeMaschine plugin that I have on the master insert. Once I disable that, Pigments works just fine. (Sorry, I am dumb).

[Sampleconstruct]

Wow, great update, just installed and played with the new additive engine, some really interesting sounds are to be found in there...

[Teksonik]

My question would be if we can't manually adjust the partials is it really additive ? I guess that's why they call it the Harmonic engine instead.

Not a big deal here as I've never been a fan of additive.

[GusGranite]

just want to put this out there. what sort of SR and buffer settings are you all using with VST and Arturia on your setups? I tried Pigments with 64 buffers and it goes nuts.

I have to take this back. I did more testing and it turns out what was causing the CPU going crazy is IKM TapeMaschine plugin that I have on the master insert. Once I disable that, Pigments works just fine. (Sorry, I am dumb).

Good spot. IK Tapes sound amazing but yes, beastly CPU munchers.

[c_voltage]

Ehm yes, cpu usage of Harmonic turned out at practice some bummer a bit. Sounds great though.
Will need else to check usage at init condition between v2-v3, at big poly.

So, did.
Init preset (Templates\Default): This is 1x osc Wavetable in default state, 1 Filter (MultiMode), 8 poly. And let's Env VCA: release at max. Then run 8 voices, thru say, C3 to C2 by mouse. See at daw cpu meter.

V2.2.1 : 8% (at core) ; The same but with single Analog osc : 7% ; With sample osc : 7%
V3.0.0 : 11% ; 10% ; 10% (wav the same) ; All Respectively

So, unfortunately cpu usage had been increased even with not touch new module.

And i did check at more practical condition, take for example whole pad preset "Ambientware" (Pigments 2.0 factory banks tag), and set Env VCA release at max > run 8 voices
We have here two engine WT+Analog, +two different filters.

V3 : 33-23% (idle after voices stops 6-7%)
V2 : 29-20%, (idle the same) well, not so bad though.

(Win10 20H2 64bit, i7-8700, vst2, Studio One 4)

[zzz00m]

just want to put this out there. what sort of SR and buffer settings are you all using with VST and Arturia on your setups? I tried Pigments with 64 buffers and it goes nuts.

I have to take this back. I did more testing and it turns out what was causing the CPU going crazy is IKM TapeMaschine plugin that I have on the master insert. Once I disable that, Pigments works just fine. (Sorry, I am dumb).

I was testing Pigments with some outboard FX, and I found a similar CPU hog when using the IKM Lurssen Mastering Console on the master bus. Makes it sound good, but uses up a lot of CPU.

Probably have to reserve those mastering plugs for their intended use!

[loachm]

i would be interested to see your post how you do that? i use Maschine and Jam a lot in my setup.

It's just a matter of how you set up the parameter pages in Maschine. I don't know exactly, how many parameters Maschine supports per plug-in, but I suppose, you can set up pages for at least 1024 parameter IDs. So it'll be possible to create comprehensive mappings for either for the whole synth or different applications, e.g. a wavetable and a granular template. Check Maschine's manual on how to setup parameter pages. Navigating the pages is quite fast in Maschine via the page navigation, which provides 16 pages with each eight parameters per page bank. So it's only a matter of organising everything, practicing to play with the parameters via the controller and using the lock states to save the good bits, while you're jamming with these controls.

[telecode]

i would be interested to see your post how you do that? i use Maschine and Jam a lot in my setup.

It's just a matter of how you set up the parameter pages in Maschine. I don't know exactly, how many parameters Maschine supports per plug-in, but I suppose, you can set up pages for at least 1024 parameter IDs. So it'll be possible to create comprehensive mappings for either for the whole synth or different applications, e.g. a wavetable and a granular template. Check Maschine's manual on how to setup parameter pages. Navigating the pages is quite fast in Maschine via the page navigation, which provides 16 pages with each eight parameters per page bank. So it's only a matter of organising everything, practicing to play with the parameters via the controller and using the lock states to save the good bits, while you're jamming with these controls.

there are macros .i dont think there are 1024.. but i might be wrong.

https://www.adsrsounds.com/maschine-tut ... chine-mk3/

[loachm]

there are macros .i dont think there are 1024.. but i might be wrong.

https://www.adsrsounds.com/maschine-tut ... chine-mk3/

...you most definitely are. This video has not really to do with what I'm talking about.

What I was indicating, is, that the parameters of the NKS presets of Pigments represent only a selection/fraction of the available parameters, that can be controlled by the Maschine hardware. For instance, if you take the Granular Pad preset (from Pigment's own Template category), which is also available as an NKS preset, you'll find only volume and filter routing for each engine as a NKS controller page. But you can control ANY knob of EACH granular layer with Maschine controls, you'll only have to set it up. That'll be a powerful instrument. Same with the other engines - if it is a knob in Pigment, you can control it via Maschine. Some other controls seem to be enabled for host automation as well, which is what the Maschine knobs are adressing. In comparison, on Massive X only the 16 macros are available for hardware control, that's it. Best would be to familiarise yourself about setting up your own parameter pages in Maschine to get the most out of your hardware and your plug-ins, so check your manual on how to do that.

[TribeOfHǫfuð]

I have all these free soundsets on my account now. I haven't downloaded them but want to know how it works. Does one just click an exe and then they load and add to what is already there? I am a little worried about having too many presets in one synth. I can be more intimidating to me than a help. I never spend much time scrolling but listen to a few and grab the nearest to tweak in the preferred direction. So have anyone downloaded them and can tell me how it works?

[TribeOfHǫfuð]

Man, I like my new Softie. Taking a lot of features from their other synths and packing them into this highly functional sweetheart with some extra goodies, makes the 99 bucks a small donation only. Wow, it is value for money to me. Completely incomparable with their other offers.

To me it is in a quality near Repro and Hive and really complements them. In their heels, I have aquired TAL Uno 62, J8 and Cherry's Modular and 8 voice. After 5 years away from software, I cannot think of any former VSTis, I have been so satisfied with. Used to be so picky. Not this time. Freaks me out a little, though I do understand that to those who have been into the gradual development, they may seem more trivial.

[felis]

My question would be if we can't manually adjust the partials is it really additive ? I guess that's why they call it the Harmonic engine instead.

Not a big deal here as I've never been a fan of additive.

I think of it as quasi-additive.
From what I've got from it so far, it seems like it's manipulating 'chunks' of partials rather than individual ones.
And using more of macro type functions to do it.
It gives you the 'flavor' of additive without the microscopic control (and the time it takes to program that level of control).

[ghettosynth]

My question would be if we can't manually adjust the partials is it really additive ? I guess that's why they call it the Harmonic engine instead.

Not a big deal here as I've never been a fan of additive.

I think of it as quasi-additive.
From what I've got from it so far, it seems like it's manipulating 'chunks' of partials rather than individual ones.
And using more of macro type functions to do it.
It gives you the 'flavor' of additive without the microscopic control (and the time it takes to program that level of control).

Yes. I think that it's a musically useful exchange of control for a reduction in complexity.

[Teksonik]

My question would be if we can't manually adjust the partials is it really additive ? I guess that's why they call it the Harmonic engine instead.
Not a big deal here as I've never been a fan of additive.

I think of it as quasi-additive.
From what I've got from it so far, it seems like it's manipulating 'chunks' of partials rather than individual ones.
And using more of macro type functions to do it.
It gives you the 'flavor' of additive without the microscopic control (and the time it takes to program that level of control).

Well by strict definition Additive is adding partials to make a more complex sound so they were right to call it the Harmonic Engine although the manual says: "The
Harmonic Engine in Pigments brings the power of additive synthesis to your computer"

So you're right to call it quasi-additive. It just lacks the control of full additive synthesis.

Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining. I like the Harmonic Engine and it certainly adds to the range of sounds Pigments can make and again I've never been a fan of traditional additive synthesis as I find it a bit fiddly.

It's just not fully featured additive in Pigments and I'm fine with that.