Thoughts on Pigments 2
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 180 posts since 16 Jul, 2018
Over the last week or so I have spent quite a bit of time with Arturia's Pigments 2. I have also spent some time, as I usually do, with what have been heretofore my favorite MPE capable softwares: Falcon and Bitwig (which of course is a DAW as well, but in this context I am mainly talking about the Grid, but also it's other excellent native synths).
For the record I have a number (but certainly nowhere near all) of other MPE software synths, including Equator, Synthmaster, Aalto, Kaivo, Uhe's Diva and Ace (which I know aren't technically MPE, but are pretty close), as well as the very excellent freeware Surge. I have also extensively trialed Cypher2 and Quanta.
I can now say without reservation that Pigments 2 is my favorite MPE synth, in a way that none of the others ever really were. To be fair, Bitwig and Falcon are really more than just software synths and if I were a world class sound designer I may not be so enthralled with Pigments 2 over them. And I will certainly continue to use both of them. I love Falcon v.2 and for the first time have really dug into it and understand how to use it pretty thoroughly. I love its pluck engines and how flexible it is. Bitwig's grid is really an amazing accomplishment and fun to use for a modular-naive newbie like me.
But man, as far as being an inviting, great sounding and just damn fun piece of software to use, Pigments 2 has really blown me away. It starts with the GUI, but certainly doesn't end there. The new sampling engine is great, and the granular implementation is, in my opinion, better and easier to get into than Falcon's various options. The sequencer is so good that I wish they made a stand-alone version of it.
At this point, they don't have a huge number of really well designed "MPE" presets that are ready to go. So if you really want to get the most out of it, you'll need to spend some time tweaking what's there or designing your own. But the good news is that it is so much fun to design sounds, and tweak existing ones, that in some ways it's a good thing they don't have hundreds of MPE presets ready to go. If there was ever a synth for newcomers to get their feet wet in sound design, Pigments 2 is it.
Anyway, I just wanted to put this out there. I know it won't be everyone's favorite software (for those of us who us computers with the Linnstrument), but if you haven't already, I strongly suggest you check out the full featured demo while the sale is still going on.
For the record I have a number (but certainly nowhere near all) of other MPE software synths, including Equator, Synthmaster, Aalto, Kaivo, Uhe's Diva and Ace (which I know aren't technically MPE, but are pretty close), as well as the very excellent freeware Surge. I have also extensively trialed Cypher2 and Quanta.
I can now say without reservation that Pigments 2 is my favorite MPE synth, in a way that none of the others ever really were. To be fair, Bitwig and Falcon are really more than just software synths and if I were a world class sound designer I may not be so enthralled with Pigments 2 over them. And I will certainly continue to use both of them. I love Falcon v.2 and for the first time have really dug into it and understand how to use it pretty thoroughly. I love its pluck engines and how flexible it is. Bitwig's grid is really an amazing accomplishment and fun to use for a modular-naive newbie like me.
But man, as far as being an inviting, great sounding and just damn fun piece of software to use, Pigments 2 has really blown me away. It starts with the GUI, but certainly doesn't end there. The new sampling engine is great, and the granular implementation is, in my opinion, better and easier to get into than Falcon's various options. The sequencer is so good that I wish they made a stand-alone version of it.
At this point, they don't have a huge number of really well designed "MPE" presets that are ready to go. So if you really want to get the most out of it, you'll need to spend some time tweaking what's there or designing your own. But the good news is that it is so much fun to design sounds, and tweak existing ones, that in some ways it's a good thing they don't have hundreds of MPE presets ready to go. If there was ever a synth for newcomers to get their feet wet in sound design, Pigments 2 is it.
Anyway, I just wanted to put this out there. I know it won't be everyone's favorite software (for those of us who us computers with the Linnstrument), but if you haven't already, I strongly suggest you check out the full featured demo while the sale is still going on.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 180 posts since 16 Jul, 2018
Hope this isn't overkill, but I thought I might post a video I just did of Pigments 2, showing off 15 lead presets that I did nothing with (most have y axis modulations, and a few also have aftertouch), just to give folks an idea of how it sounds coupled right out of the box with the LinnStrument. It can certainly do more, much more, than just lead sounds, but IMHO it does leads pretty well. See for yourself. I posted it on the videos thread as well, but I know some folks don't regularly check that, so I thought it would be apropos to put here as well:
https://youtu.be/L6uRWob01Yk
https://youtu.be/L6uRWob01Yk
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- KVRAF
- 11151 posts since 2 Dec, 2004 from North Wales
I agree, V2 has moved up a league and is a ones the very best VSTis available now. It is great for MPE, I have been using it with seaward block and sensel morph, also great with touché (I’m working on a bank of presets for the touché)
X32 Desk, i9 PC, S49MK2, Studio One, BWS, Live 12. PUSH 3 SA, Osmose, Summit, Pro 3, Prophet8, Syntakt, Digitone, Drumlogue, OP1-F, Eurorack, TD27 Drums, Nord Drum3P, Guitars, Basses, Amps and of course lots of pedals!
- KVRAF
- 2482 posts since 8 Jun, 2010
- Roger Linn Design
Another good one, Steve (reckon). I’ve added it to the LinnStrument Owners playlist.
- KVRAF
- 8823 posts since 6 Jan, 2017 from Outer Space
As soon as I started to demo it, I knew I will not resist the intro price, which is 69 Euros, as I own V5. There are rumors, that you get this price even if you just got the plate reverb christmas gift...
I did not even look at it when it was released, but now supporting MPE I am highly impressed...
That gives hope, that Arturia will support MPE in the future. There are french century old expressive instruments which have not been modeled yet like the Ondes Martenot and the Trautonium. Both would make only sense to play with a MPE controller...
I did not even look at it when it was released, but now supporting MPE I am highly impressed...
That gives hope, that Arturia will support MPE in the future. There are french century old expressive instruments which have not been modeled yet like the Ondes Martenot and the Trautonium. Both would make only sense to play with a MPE controller...
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- KVRist
- 145 posts since 9 Sep, 2018
I can confirm this: 69 if you get the reverb gift.I knew I will not resist the intro price, which is 69 Euros, as I own V5. There are rumors, that you get this price even if you just got the plate reverb christmas gift...
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- KVRer
- 6 posts since 22 Jun, 2016
I bought it too last week, a great synth ... I tried to use the MPE function tonight with my Linnstrument but then realised that I'm playing Pigments through Pro Tools, so no love for MPE there. Oh well, it was still fun playing my Linnstrument!
- KVRAF
- 8823 posts since 6 Jan, 2017 from Outer Space
Play the standalone and record the audio...
- KVRAF
- 9576 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Is there no way to lock MPE cc control parameters so they dont change with each preset?
Meaning demoing MPE capability you need to set it up for each preset.
Am I wrong, is there a quick workaround?
Meaning demoing MPE capability you need to set it up for each preset.
Am I wrong, is there a quick workaround?
Amazon: why not use an alternative
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 180 posts since 16 Jul, 2018
I don't know of any workaround. My main DAW is bitwig, which can do this for you, but I'm not sure of any way to do this in Pigments itself. It would certainly be a good feature, something I wish all MPE synths would adopt.
- KVRAF
- 9576 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Thanks, I was looking at it the wrong way, Ill do it via Bitwigs container
Amazon: why not use an alternative
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Echoes in the Attic Echoes in the Attic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=180417
- KVRAF
- 11053 posts since 12 May, 2008
Keep in mind this only really works for mono synths like the leads in the video above. Using Bitwigs modulations can not be per voice on a plugin. Still an awesome feature though and it's still great to play with MPE mode on for mono sounds and take advantage of the expression modulations and and per note editing in Bitwig. And to add to that, Pigments is actually one of the few mpe instruments that play correctly in monophonic mode with MPE enabled, meaning there are no pitch or expression glitches when you cut off a modulated/pitched note abruptly with a new note. So that's really awesome, especially for us Bitwig users where it is much better for the device to be in MPE mode to get the expressive benefits of the linnstrument with expressive mono sounds.VariKusBrainZ wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 3:43 amThanks, I was looking at it the wrong way, Ill do it via Bitwigs container
And yeah in general I have to say Pigments is pretty great with the Linnstrument and Seaboard. It's analog and wavetable engines are not my favorite however the granular is really excellent and so much fun with mpe control. I thought I would not need another granular synth because of Bitwig's sampler, but actually there are lots of things Pigments can do which Bitwig's sampler can not, just in the granular engines, so I am very close to purchasing this. Actually I just went and purchased in the middle of this post. One other great thing about Pigments is that it works on multi-touch screens and I use a nice big multi-touch monitor as my main monitor. Good stuff. Same with the other Arturia synths actually though I can't say I'm much of a fan of the other stuff.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 180 posts since 16 Jul, 2018
Yes! Thanks for pointing that out. At least you can quickly audition a bunch of presets using a certain configuration and get a sense of how that sounds using bitwig and then set it up as you like it in the actual vst when you're ready. That's how I use bitwig in this regard anyway.Echoes in the Attic wrote: ↑Thu Jan 02, 2020 12:45 amKeep in mind this only really works for mono synths like the leads in the video above. Using Bitwigs modulations can not be per voice on a plugin. Still an awesome feature though and it's still great to play with MPE mode on for mono sounds and take advantage of the expression modulations and and per note editing in Bitwig. And to add to that, Pigments is actually one of the few mpe instruments that play correctly in monophonic mode with MPE enabled, meaning there are no pitch or expression glitches when you cut off a modulated/pitched note abruptly with a new note. So that's really awesome, especially for us Bitwig users where it is much better for the device to be in MPE mode to get the expressive benefits of the linnstrument with expressive mono sounds.VariKusBrainZ wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 3:43 amThanks, I was looking at it the wrong way, Ill do it via Bitwigs container
And yeah in general I have to say Pigments is pretty great with the Linnstrument and Seaboard. It's analog and wavetable engines are not my favorite however the granular is really excellent and so much fun with mpe control. I thought I would not need another granular synth because of Bitwig's sampler, but actually there are lots of things Pigments can do which Bitwig's sampler can not, just in the granular engines, so I am very close to purchasing this. Actually I just went and purchased in the middle of this post. One other great thing about Pigments is that it works on multi-touch screens and I use a nice big multi-touch monitor as my main monitor. Good stuff. Same with the other Arturia synths actually though I can't say I'm much of a fan of the other stuff.
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Echoes in the Attic Echoes in the Attic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=180417
- KVRAF
- 11053 posts since 12 May, 2008
Well you can't lock modulations, but by default the Y axis of linnstrument is mapped to control Macro 1, which for most presets is labeled as "Timbre" so it's easy see that mapping. So at least that's pretty much always assigned. And aftertouch is sometimes assigned. So actually it has pretty decent mpe out of the box in many presets. Reckon's idea of assigning a parameter in bitwig to aftertouch for auditionnig could be good. And then assign aftertouch properly in Pigments for getting the polyphonic modulation.VariKusBrainZ wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2019 1:47 pm Is there no way to lock MPE cc control parameters so they dont change with each preset?
Meaning demoing MPE capability you need to set it up for each preset.
Am I wrong, is there a quick workaround?