Arturia Pigments 6 test - All the colors of synthesis

Is it still necessary to introduce Arturia? For over 25 years, the French company has established itself as a key player in the industry. Its first virtual studio, Storm, swept away everything in its path. Subsequently, Arturia developed virtual reproductions of legendary synthesizers such as the Moog Modular, Minimoog and Prophet 5, further burnishing its success story.

The company made its first foray into hardware synthesizers in 2009 with the innovative Origin. But it was the Brute and Freak ranges that established Arturia’s reputation in this field. In addition, the company produces a complete range of controllers, drum machines and audio interfaces.

In addition to regular releases of new plug-ins reproducing past glories, Arturia released its first version of Pigments in 2019. This multi-synthesizer software, with its original design, boasts a profusion of modulations and exemplary ergonomics. Since its launch, Pigments has never ceased to improve with updates, all of which are free of charge, a point worth emphasizing.

The previous version, Pigments 5, was distinguished mainly by improved optimization, reduced CPU consumption, a slightly refreshed interface, and a novel generative mode in the sequencer. In addition, an audio input also made its debut, a feature that finds new uses in this latest version. In this test, we’re going to focus on Pigments 6, in particular, its new features.

Modal synthesis: the new sound engine of Pigments 6

The new version introduces the all-new Modal engine, adding to the other generators already available. Based on physical synthesis, this engine works by sending a signal, in this case, String or Beam, to excite a resonator. The resonator timbre can be selected from six available models (Pure, Pinch, Hollow, Nylon, Full and Bass).

As always, Arturia hasn’t done things by halves: Pigments offers numerous options for parameterizing this new engine. Without going into detail, let’s mention the ability to set the number of partials (the harmonics generated by the resonator) and randomize their phases.

The Collision module, meanwhile, acts on transients to add impact to the sound. Several modes are provided for this, but where it gets particularly interesting is Audio Input mode. It allows you to use an external signal via the sidechain audio input, for example, your voice, percussion, your cat’s meow ;), basically anything you can think of. This feature opens the door to a wealth of experimentation.

Let’s also mention the Friction module, which lets you act on the resonator by simulating, for example, rubbing or strings being strummed. To do this, it exploits different types of noise as well as a granular mode, and here too, it’s also possible to use the sidechain audio input.

While this synthesis excels in the design of acoustic, metallic or resonant sounds, such as plucked strings, bells or various percussion, the many options available, combined with Pigment’s modulations, allow you to go far beyond. It then becomes possible to program evolving timbres, such as atmospheric sounds, drones or even effects of all kinds.

Here are a few examples to get an idea:

01 – Modal 1

00:0001:45

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• 01 – Modal 101:45
• 02 – Modal 200:35
• 03 – Modal 301:11
• 04 – Modal 401:57
• 05 – Modal 501:13

New filters on Pigments 6: more sonic possibilities

The Filter section is enriched, starting with a new version of the multimode filter. This adds Allpass modes, a choice between a Digital and Analog mode, and a Drive parameter that is particularly useful for giving a little character to this filter, which until now has been considered a little cold by some. That said, this criticism was already put into perspective by the arrival of the MS-20's filters, which are not lacking in personality.

The new Cluster filter allows, for example, the cumulation of up to five parallel filters, with the possibility of adjusting their spacing. A perfect tool for creating timbres with rich, complex vocal tones. It is an interesting alternative to the Formant filter and does not duplicate it, as it offers different results and, above all, brews much wider.

Finally, the Lofi filter undersamples the incoming signal, introducing digital distortion while adding noise. Depending on the settings, it can produce subtle lo-fi textures or, by pushing the settings, offer much more extreme and experimental results. Welcome to industrial and noisy textures.

The Vocoder: the long-awaited addition to Pigments 6

Hyped by users for some time, Pigments 6 finally adds a vocoder to its long list of capabilities. Accessible from the effects menu, it’s now possible to add several vocoders in succession or in parallel for a guaranteed wild ride. Three vocoder modes are available: Vintage, Modern and Dirty. The modulator can be either one of the two Engines, one of the two filters, one of the three Utility generators (i.e., two “noises” and an oscillator), the FX input, or, here again, the Audio Input in the sidechain. Flexibility is the order of the day. 

You could imagine using one vocoder with Engine 1 as the modulator and another with it as the Audio Input. The doors to the imagination are wide open. 

The number of bands is configurable from four to 40 for more or less finesse, and intelligibility can be refined thanks to the Formant and Sibilance settings. A Tilt filter is also included to adjust frequency content.

Of course, the vocoder can be used to create robotic vocals or vintage effects, but it can also be put to good use on loops, drones and enriching pads if used sparingly (it has a dry/wet setting).

06 – Vocoder seq 1

00:0001:17

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• 06 – Vocoder seq 101:17
• 07 – Vocoder Seq 201:12
• 08– Red Led Tweak Game02:37
• 09 – Bassline01:00
• 10 – Chamber Pad01:21
• 11 – It’s winter01:28
• 12 – Tear Us02:58
• 13 – Ambiant Snow – by Wolfen01:27
• 14 – Welcome Granular – by Wolfen02:26
• 15 – Pigments Trance – by Wolfen02:14

Other new features from Pigments 6: modulations, ergonomics and performance

As if to prove that Pigments 6 is an essential update, the list of new features doesn’t stop there. The already rich modulation possibilities are further enriched by the arrival of three new elements. First, the Random category welcomes the Random module, whose unpredictability can be fine-tuned using the Smooth, Distance and Jitter parameters for a more or less pronounced effect. Still, in the Random category, we’re delighted to discover the Voice Modulator, which assigns a fixed value to each note when playing polyphony. It can be used to recreate the slight drift of vintage synthesizer voices, but also for dynamic effects. Finally, an envelope follower has been added to the Combinate category, with the same sources still available, including audio input.

Also worth mentioning are improved granular capabilities, a slightly revised GUI including a more efficient Play view, and a more readable light theme.

During the test, CPU consumption proved to be fairly measured, despite a few spikes occurring when using the granular engine when certain parameters are modulated. However, it’s all perfectly usable and depending on the configuration, it’s possible to have several instances playing polyphonically without any problem. As an example, here’s a screenshot taken on Studio One 7 during playback with a Mac Mini M1 equipped with 16 GB RAM and configured with a latency of 128 samples.

Technical features

• Virtual multisynthesizer with modal engine.
• New filters: Multimode (Allpass, Digital, Analog, Drive), Cluster and Lofi.
• Integrated vocoder with three modes (Vintage, Modern, Dirty), configurable up to 40 bands.
• Modulation modules: Random, Voice Modulator, and envelope follower.
• MPE compatibility for expressive playing.
• Optimized interface with “Play” view and clear theme.
• Improved granular sampling.
• Low CPU consumption for stable performance.
• Free updates and tutorials integrated into the interface.

FAQ

1. What are the main new features of Pigments 6?
Pigments 6 introduces a modal synthesis engine, a vocoder with three modes, new filters and extended modulation modules.

2. Is Pigments 6 suitable for beginners?
Yes, despite its power and complexity, the ergonomic interface and integrated tutorials make Pigments 6 accessible to novices.

3. Is the software resource-hungry?
Pigments 6 is well optimized, but some advanced configurations may result in slightly higher CPU consumption.

4. Can I import my own wavetables?
Yes, but Pigments 6 does not yet allow custom wavetables to be created within it.

5. What is Arturia’s update policy for Pigments?
Arturia offers free updates for Pigments, ensuring that the software is always up-to-date with new features.