Reader Mark Barkan shared this in depth look at Arturia Pigments 3, a major update that adds a variety of new synthesis options: additive synthesis, a utility engine with sub oscillator and dual noise sample players, the filter from Jup-8 V, four new effects and more.
Topics covered:
00:00:00 Intro & Overview
00:00:56 Arturia & Pigments & Price
00:03:40 New Features
00:06:48 Good & Bad
00:10:02 Overview
00:12:47 Presets
00:19:03 Modulation
00:26:59 OSC Engines
00:29:49 Wavetable
00:38:40 Sample
00:48:35 Utility
00:53:24 Additive
01:09:32 Conclusion
nice overview – I like that he’s quite opinionated. Good point about the “too much stereo” problem..
Wavetable synths can generate good analog bass, but it takes added work to get there. Everything else pops up more easily, but you’ll still get a clean tone that needs dirtied up a little for grittier jobs. If I match Pigments with a focused VA, it comes to life more readily. The digital and analog aspects blend well.
I wouldn’t recommend it as a first synth, but its a very good second one. Sometimes it feels like a whopper of an effects unit as much as a synth. I’m glad that Arturia is backing it up with useful upgrades. Its half workhorse and part mad scientist kit.