There’s a new filter borrowed from the company’s MS-20 emulation, ring mod in the wavetable oscillator, super unison in the analog oscillator, a dedicated mod oscillator, an improved bit crusher and (wait for it) shimmer reverb! That’s a pretty minor nitpick though, considering that once you get past the UX, there’s a handful of new toys to play with in Pigments 4. There are many elements of the interface that remain dark even in light mode and it looks a bit cobbled together. Not only do I think the original theme is easier to stare at for prolonged periods of time, but it’s also just more consistent. I’m sure there are those out there who will enjoy its bright gray panels, but I’m personally not a fan. See, while most companies are rushing to implement dark mode to save your eyes, Arturia has decided that Pigments is too dark and added a light mode. The other major interface change is a bit of a head scratcher. There’s also now left and right arrows on multimode modules, like the filter, that lets you quickly change types, where previously you had to click and open a drop down menu to select a new option.īy subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. It should make Pigments a little less intimidating to those just learning how to navigate the synth.

But now you can just drag the little tab over an LFO to whatever you want to modulate.

Granted, clicking LFO one and then clicking on the filter cut off wasn’t particularly difficult. This seemingly subtle upgrade hides a lot of quality of life enhancements, though.įor one, now you can simply drag and drop modulation sources to their target. There’s some new effects, a handful of enhancements to the various oscillators, but there’s not much to reach out and demand your attention from a simple headline. New synth engines, new effects, whole new utility sections – it’s both a place for Arturia to experiment with new ideas, and show off some of highlights from its lineup of vintage emulation.Īt first blush Pigments 4 seems like a comparatively minor update. The company has been rolling out regular updates for a few years now, and each new version adds something worth getting excited about. At this point it’s easier to list the features that Arturia’s Pigments doesn’t have than ones it does.

Arturia pigments review