Pigments 4 €199
Arturia
The next generation of this creative synthesiser from Arturia adds a new splash of tonal colour to an already burgeoning palette
> Arturia need no introduction when it comes to recreations of vintage synthesisers for your desktop delight. They were one of the first companies to ride the classic synth wave in software form, but if you crave a softsynth with contemporary tendencies, the company’s Pigments may well be the answer.
Core recapitulation
Pigments is a highly programmable software synthesiser, which employs a stylish interface to allow quick and easy editing and creation of new patches. It’s very, very powerful. At its core are two assignable sound engines, which allow flexible sound generation from four different synthesis quarters; Analog, Wavetable, Sample and Harmonic.
While the Analog oscillator is at the simpler end of complexity, there’s plenty to use. Apart from five classic wave types, there are actually three oscillators on offer, as part of each single engine. Wavetable provides a superb source, with plenty of scope for modulation across several aspects of wavetable operation, from wave travel to morphing, and all with helpful graphics to guide your editing. The Sample engine allows basic sample playback, alongside a plethora of granular controls, while Harmonics operates as a highly adaptable additive oscillator, also with plenty of control. You’ll also find a Utility engine, to add further colour, such as White noise.