Sunday, October 16, 2011

My dream of Spark drum machine

Arturia Spark hybrid drum machine

I've been messing with Arturia Spark drum machine for some months now. It's has became my daily practice partner as a keyboard player and necessary tool for producing new material and testing some new ideas. I must say I really enjoy using this product and I am very happy to have it in my cellar.

But if we go back to basics and think what is the main concept of Spark, I'd say that it is much about its hybrid approach: you should be able to use Spark (with your computer of course) like an independent drum machine. More you can do with just its dedicated controller the better. On live stage situation drummer (for example) would like control it by just using its controller: loading songs and patterns, making and controlling beats and sounds etc. It could be a very powerful beast in music performance in different styles (from experimental to dance music and everything between).

Since the very beginning with my Spark, I've been thinking about its potential as a kind of MIDI sequencer and controller of other hardware or software devices. Developing its own Standalone program would make it a kind of a general midi-performance controller on live stage. Here's my main idea how Arturia should develop Spark to make it a professional performance and composition tool on its own, without any DAW:
  • Spark has a step sequencer in which you can put together your drum patterns. It has also some synth sounds - basses and leads for example - which you can integrate into these beats. To be honest, these synth sounds are just a little extra; most of us probably have better sounds in our rig. Personally I have my Arturia Origin, my Nords and all the other soft synths too. Spark has physical MIDI outs, so in principle it has capability to send midi messages out. To use this potential, Spark step sequencer should have possibility to command some external MIDI-devices. In other words it should be able to send midi messages (note on/off, velocities and time sync) and play for example basses or leads from any hardware synth. It would be also nice if you could integrate some other Arturia V-series soft synth to this step sequencer. Other question is that how you implement these "external midi patterns or tracks". Of course it would be great to be able to record them from your midi-keyboard like you do in normal MIDI-sequencer. This means that Spark sequencer could record different note values, different velocities and also note lengths (note on/off messages) and perhaps even chords. All this means of course lot of thinking and programming for Arturia team. Anyway at the moment it would be just great to have at least simple "external midi patterns" integrated to Spark step sequencer.


Spark Step sequencer













  • To be a great tool for live usage or to be hybrid drum machine on its own, other thing to develop is Spark's virtual Mixer. This mixer should really have a chance to use all outputs of your sound card. Because it is a virtual mixer you could have as many auxes that you need and then route them how you like. For example, on live stage drummer might wanna hear some special click pattern (track) and/or special mix for a bass drum for example. From your soundcard you could then send this special aux x mix from output x. At the moment Spark mixer have just 2 auxes for effects.

Spark Mixer

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

"Long Release" to Nord Piano!

Good news for all Nord Piano owners:

Clavia finally gave us "Long Release" -function which was, so to speak, a little bit embarrassing to not have. Nord Piano 88 is supposed to be a flagship piano model of Clavia line but this feature was missing. Nord Stage 2 introduced it and then they put it into the newest Nord Electro 3 HP but still their flagship piano, Nord Piano, did not have it.

Fortunately now this is corrected with OS 1.40 update. Long Release gives a new kind realism to this already great(est) digital piano. To be able to use this function you must download also latest v5.3 piano sounds from Nord Sound Library.

Besides giving nice new realism to piano sound, this update has also kind of symbolical value: now all the essential parameters are there and Clavia shows us to pay attention to its customers' needs and wishes. In fact we raised this issue on Nord User Forum (http://www.norduserforum.com/nord-piano-forum-f10/piano-release-t988.html) and Clavia responded with a new update.

Nord Piano is a great product but if I could choose, I'd like it to have at least two improvements:

First, there's no chance to adjust preset volumes. Different pianos with different effects can have very different output volume and still you cannot set up a volume for a certain preset. What does this mean? You have to manually "mix" the preset volumes with main volume knob... This is not a very useful.

Second, Nord Piano is very powerful piano but same time very simple. This means that you'll only get piano from it. Many players would like to use for example a laptop to provide some synth pads or strings under piano sound. Basically it's easy with Nord Piano; it has normal MIDI in/out and also usb MIDI. To me its a pity that Clavia did not put any kind of external section to Nord Piano panel. I am sure that many players would really like to have external midi on/off -button and perhaps some knob to control some midi CC (control change) parameters.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

My second Motu UltraLite

Motu Ultralite mk3













I already have two MOTU soundcards: UltraLite mk3 and Micro Book.
After a quite long consideration I decided to buy one more UltraLite mk3 (hybrid).

So what's the deal here, have I lost my mind or what? (And reason is not that I have too much money, quite contrary.)

My starting point was to find a "final solution" to my live stage setup which has at least two synths at the moment: Nord Stage (or in some cases Nord Piano) and Arturia Origin. Then I have a pair of TC Helicons VSM-300XT as my personal monitors. Basically I needed a mixer which can mix together my synths and send this signal to main mixer. Let's call it mix 1. Sounds simple (and it's so far). Then I needed mix 2 which has my synths but goes to my TC-monitors. Finaly I needed mix 3 to go to my head phones. Mixes 2 and 3 may or may not have a monitor line from main band mixer (some vocals, bass or drums etc.). Also mix 2 and especially 3 may need to have some equalization and compression. From sound card I also needed a possibility mix in also sounds from computer (in my case macbook).

When I went to search a new sound card or mixer I was basically trying to find a new thing, not again MOTU. Still after my quite thorough investigation I could not find any better solution than Ultralite. There seems to quite few small portable sound cards which can do what I needed. For example: Cakewalk Sonar VS-100 seems to be quite interesting product but it cannot route internally those 3 different mixes. In other words, Cakewalk cannot work as my personal standalone mixer without computer. In its quite reasonable price Motu does all that I described and in fact much more.  It also feels well constructed, I have dropped it certain times and still it's working. In one word, it's a small but powerful creature. 

Ok, but now wait a minute... I already have Motu Ultralite; why do I need second one? Reason is this: I have a permanent place for the first unit at my home and it seems wise not to take it all the time out from this setup and put it back. Also, new Motu has one (and quite big) advantage over the unit which I already have: new one is called hybrid, which means that it has both Firewire and USB. On gig setup I will probably use USB for controlling it. Motu is great sound card and great mixer (if you give it a little time to learn how to use it) but it needs a computer to make real time modifications. This is made with CueMix software (see picture below). My setup is simple in a way that I don't even need to use CueMix on stage that much. So MOTU works well also standalone and I can even use it completely without computer. And finaly one very good reason to follow MOTU line: I have never had any problem with it in my mac setup. Why to change to something unfamiliar and untested thing...?


Motu Ultralite and CueMix software

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Demos with Bright Grand

We just mixed a little bit further my two songs and I used new Bright Grand with both. Check My Music to hear them. In my own opinion Bright Grand performs well in this type music.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

New Bright Grand on a gig

Yesterday I tested this new grand in real life, which unfortunately quite often means bad acoustics and bad sound system. Last nights gig was both. To be honest, I was little disappointed about performance of new grand. Ok, I don't know how did it sound to audience - I only had one monitor; normally I have two to make it stereo - but to myself sound was little metallic, thin and lacking body. The last complaint has been common with earlier Nord piano sounds: sounds can sound realistic in good studio acoustics but on stage they lack body. Perhaps this is the reason why Rolands and Yamahas sound like they do. They aren't the most realistic in natural sense but they give a quite good compromise over playability, power and natural sound. In general I have feeling that the most realistic sound can maybe be the most difficult on stage.

Anyway I have been very satisfied with resent development of Clavia's piano palette: Lady D (Steinway) was the first easy-to-work-with-on-stage -piano. It certainly have this body which was lacking with its predecessors. Also, Grand Imperial (Bosendorfer) has been same class giving more brightness and power than Lady. Let's make further tests with new Bright Grand, if it finds its place on my stage setup. I know very well from past experiences that new pianos need time to play with to make a final judgement. That was case with Grand Imperial too; now it's my first choise piano on stage...

Monday, June 20, 2011

"Bright Grand" added to Nord Piano Library!

Clavia gave us again a nice surprise. They have released a freely downloadable brand new piano sound for Nord Piano, Nord Stage and Electro 3 owners: "Bright Grand" which is obviously sampled Yamaha S4 grand piano. New Grand comes in four sizes from small (44MB) to XL (196MB). I already ran a test with XL-version with my Nord Piano and I must say I am quite impressed. This piano sound is a very nice addition to Clavias new (5.3) high quality piano library which already had Steinway ("Lady D") and Bosendorfer ("Grand Imperial").


To sum it, "Bright Grand" is what it is supposed to be: a modern piano with very bright sound. Now Nord owners have three different options. Softest and perhaps most classical is the Lady D (Steinway). The most punchy and brightest one is obviously this new Bright Grand (Yamaha). Somewhere between those two is the Grand Imperial (Bosendorfer) which is also very bright.

If I had to say something critical about new Bright Grand, maybe it's about the sound you get with lowest velocities. I don't know about the original instrument, but in my opinion sound might be softer with low velocities. This tone color is the most problematic if you try to play soft chords. In other words piano is lacking some expressive power which you have with Lady D or with Grand Imperial. This is probably not that noticeable to rock piano players whose playing is mostly from mf to fff.

It would be nice to know more about the process how Clavia has made these instruments: how did they record different velocities and how much post processing is involved in final sound? Compared to Roland and Yamaha in my opinion Clavia has maybe the most natural (less processed) sound which makes it quite nice for recording purposes for example. Also, you might describe Clavia's sound as punchy, sharp, crisp and bright, which makes it easy to mix on stage and cut through mix. This is true about their E-pianos and organs as well.

Finaly I tried new grand with a MIDI track: check a new version of Tango Untitled (My Music). In fact new piano sound was so bright and "perfect" that I had to put some Logic effects (EQ, piano reflection reverb etc.) to to it to make it less perfect. In general it's very difficult to render MIDI piano tracks made with one piano with another piano and make it sound natural. Tango's piano track was originally made with Roland RD-700GX and I had difficulties to make it sound natural with my Nord Piano. Now it seems to me that Bright Grand can maybe catch the original feeling better than Lady D or Grand Imperial.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Arturia Spark in use


Arturia Spark hybrid drum machine
First few weeks have passed with this new hybrid drum machine. In this case "hybrid" means that basically you're using (or listening to) a software but you also have a dedicated usb-midi controller. To be honest, I haven't yet had that much time to mess with it - I hope this will change now...







In general I am very satisfied with Spark: sound is what I expected to be and even more. Its GUI (Graphical User Interface) is very well thought and intuitive. I also like how it looks on the table and on the screen - Arturia products have always looked nice to my eyes. (They are also close to Apple design.)

But like many earlier Arturia products, Spark was not finished product yet and still they decided to start selling it. In other words, at the present moment it's still quite buggy: some problems are small but others are bigger. I can imagine that some customers aren't very happy about it.  Others, like myself, did have past experiences with Arturia and they did know what to expect. (Think about Origin as another example: Origin has been there since 2008 and still we don't have all those features which was supposed to be there. We are still waiting for some templates and modules. Some customers are obviously very disappointed. Personally I love my Origin that much that I can tolerate the delay of its development.) So I'd advice to wait a little bit for those people who expect to have a finished product with Spark. On the other hand, if you accept small bugs here and there, you'll probably like Spark very much. It works well enough for my purposes - no noticeable latency, no crashes or anything crucial. Well, I must stress out that I am using it with its standalone app (not in DAW), in Mac (not in PC) and with Motu soundcard (which is very liable in Mac environment)! At the moment I don't go to any details about bugs which I or any other user have found (if you wanna know more about problems, just check Arturia Spark forum: http://www.arturia.com/evolution/smf/index.php?board=82.0)



Spark found a nice place in my cellar
(laptop stand under it is made by IKEA)

After my first period with Spark here's my main idea of improving it: Spark can play synth lines with its step sequencer but you should have more tools with synth programming. First entering and editing note values for synth bass line is painfully slow - you should be able to enter them by typing or via MIDI. Also you should have a possibility to transpose some line to another key or with some interval. Spark has physical MIDI out port; it should be possible to send step sequencer MIDI data to external MIDI devices. I have a dream to control Origin with Sparks sequencer or perhaps even synchronize Origin's and Spark's sequencers to each other. So basically I have an idea to use Spark as my performance controller on stage. I have reported these ideas to Arturia and they responded that those are in principal possible to implement. Let 's see what future brings to us...

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Unboxing Spark and some first impressions




Spark comes with a nice package which you probably want to save for future transportation.


Inside the box there's the hardware controller itself, manual (english, french and japanese) and USB-cable. 

Installing Spark software went very quickly and without any problems. I didn't use the CD which came with the unit, because at Arturia's website there was a newer updated version of Spark (version 1.1.1.) available. After installing the software this same software made me update also the hardware firmware (now running version 1.1.0.1). I must say that all this procedure - downloading and installing updates, registering products - is very painless and fast.

At the moment I have been just messing up with presets, using mainly the standalone program with my Motu Microbook USB-soundcard. 

Some fist impressions are worth mention here:

(+) Spark standalone operates well without noticeable latency / crackles in sound (if the buffer is too small). It works well also with my Mac Book pros own internal sound card.
(+) It's very intuitive and easy to use!

(-) Synth sounds. I was hoping a little more from bass and lead sounds. They just seem to be a little extra. There are some presets (very basic ones) and not much to do to tweak them.
(-) Programming melodic lines with synths can be little difficult / time consuming with step sequencer. 

But maybe these latter points must just be accepted; it's a drum machine, not a synthesizer. In general I am very excited and impressed of the product. It seems to fits perfectly to my home studio which already has Origin as my main synth.

One nice surprise come out today: Arturia gave Spark users a free download of two drum machines: DR-606 and DR-707. First one is modeled and second one is sampled.

Bigger review of Spark coming soon, when I go deeper into it and really start to use it...

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Few comments on DSI Mopho Keyboard

DSI Mopho Keyboard

I also a had chance to finally test this little beast:
Mopho Keyboard  from David Smith Instruments (DSI).


Well, to make it sure, now we are speaking about real analog synthesizer. I had no chance to go very deep into its sound but for sure it sounded like real analog: basic sound was pleasing and filters were really great. I did own DSI tetra some time ago so basically I knew what kind of sound to expect. 


What made me little disappointed was the keyboard itself. First, for me personally 32-keys keyboard is too small. I had to play it to really realize this. I'd say that 44-keys (3,5 octaves) might be quite optimal like it is in Minimoog for example. This Mopho size can be also problematic on stage: where to put it when normal double stands cannot hold this small keyboard?

In general Mopho Keyboard seems to be well constructed: it is heavy (in its small size), it has sturdy metal enclosure and nice wooden ends. Then it was a little surprise to me that keyboard action was little lighter than I expected and it was not that good quality. It felt little loose and "cheaper" compared to best Roland keyboard actions and to Minimoog voyager for example (which were there at the same music store).


Saturday, May 28, 2011

First impressions of Nord Electro 3 HP

Nord Electro 3 HP
Today I went to some local music shops to check some new toys. Here's the first one: the brand new Nord Electro 3HP.

If you think what it is compared to "normal" Electro 3, I might put it this way: If you're a organ player wanting to also play some piano stuff, normal Electro 3 is for you. But if you are more piano player who wants to play also organ stuff, HP-model is targeted for you. So simply it's all about keyboard touch.


Best part of HP is Clavia's superb sound quality but also its portability: it weights only 11kg which is maybe kind of a record for a piano-type keyboard. Of course it's not a full piano: it has 73 keys. So I'd say that this is basically a keyboard for a band musician not for a solo piano player. HP-keyboard feels nice and I might say that it's same (or very close to) Nord Stage 2's. (I have this latter and I cannot tell you that there was any difference. On the other hand I had no change play them both at that store.)

Obvious problem with HP (and with all Electro 3 models) is that it is "monotimbral". This means that you cannot get more than one sound at a time. You cannot make dual sounds or splits with pianos, organs or sample sounds. You cannot play Electro-organ with other midi keyboard and same time piano with Electro. For me this makes it quite useless: I would like to play piano with other hand and organ with other. So it should have at least two sound engines inside (= 2-parts multitimbrality). For example Stage 2 has 6-parts multitimbrality, which justifies its higher price.

Other thing is that HP's "screen" has on only two digits which is ridiculous when nowadays almost everywhere you can have color touch screens. So you have to memorize quite a lot when using it. But on the other hand Clavia is giving us nearly-knob-per-function approach where practically everything is there on the panel; you don't need to go through complex menus to edit effects or anything.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Arturia Origin review

My Origin desktop unit














I've had this great synth module since January 2011. It has became an essential tool on my live gigs and in my home studio. This is my personal view about pros and cons of Origin, but many of them are shared with other users as well. I will update this list every time when something worth noting comes up.


Origin pros:

(+) Marvellous virtual analog sound. This is of course the best part of it. I like the TAE (True Analog Emulation) which is a trademark of Arturia. With this algorithm they have managed to bring out some analog warmth which is quite often lacking in many VAs. In Origin you can adjust the exact amount of TAE which feature they don't have in their software emulations (V-series), if I am right.

(+) The revolutionary idea of having change to put together different modules from different classical synths like Minimoog, JP8, CS-80, ARP 2600, Prophet 5 and VS.

(+) Huge amount of features; those who prefer real analog would have to carry tons of stuff to get the same. Everything is customizable.

(+) Enough power to run complex things. You can play up to four different synths at the same time (of course it depends on those sounds. You can run out the polyphony (32 voices) with one or two sounds if they are complex.

(+) Very well thought GUI (Graphical User Interface). It was surprisingly easy to learn to use Origin.

(+) Enough knobs to tweak. This is very important for analog type synths: you have to have those knobs. Ok, there're are users who would like to have more, but this would of course make it bigger. For me this is a great compromise. Joystic is a great addition too. You can control almost anything with it.

(+) Templates. They are really fascinating creatures. At the moment we have Minimoog and Jupiter-8, but next one is probably going to be CS-80.

Jupiter-8 Template
Minimoog Template
(+) It's evolving, not very fast but still evolving. Arturia team is giving updates and new sound banks. So you'll get a feeling that it is developing.













Origin cons:

(-) It's emulating analog type sounds well, but it's not very good for producing modern sounds. For example, it has been a challenge to get a decent powerful supersaw synth which is very common in modern world. (It's has been mentioned in the forum many times that users want to have supersaw oscillator. Let's see if we finaly get it)

(-) Its effects are not very good quality. This is probably because better ones would take more CPU power. Origin's effects are good enough for my live gigs but in studio they won't be useful for many. This is related to former issue: modern sounds like supersaw synth need high quality effects.

(-) Color LCD is nice but still too small to handle complex synths like Jupiter8. In my opinion it would be crucial to get a computer editor software to work in big screen and with mouse. I have asked this many times from Arturia; let's see if we'll get it some day. (Some other users have complained that this screen isn't touch screen. I think Origin was developed little too early when touch screens were not there yet)

(-) Computer integration has still problems. (Personally I haven't used it that much in my Logic but I've read about problems from other users)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Spark coming soon...


















After thinking quite a while I decided to order a new Arturia product:
Arturia Spark drum machine. It's a hybrid product which means that you'll get a dedicated hardware usb/midi controller, but you have to have a computer running the software and producing sounds.

In general there are pros and cons with this hybrid approach:

(+) hybrids are cheap (if you allready have a decent PC or mac and sound card too!)
(+) there are practically no memory limits like many hardware synths have. 
(+) computer integration is already there 
(+) you don't necessarily need this controller if you wanna just take those sounds or loops etc. with you

(-) but you'll need to carry this computer everywhere...
(-) computers have their own instability problems
(-) there're maybe a latency issues. Sound is maybe little delayed because of midi and sound card etc.
(-) sometimes software based products (Arturias also) tend to be "semifinished" when those companies start to sell them. 

Let's see how Spark will meet these challenges...

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Customized Origin

My Arturia Origin Desktop synth module


Here's my Origin unit. In fact I had to cut those wooden ends to make it fit into my case. Also, this is how I like it...

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Origin Specs

Origin specs:

Main features

  • Create your own synthesis patch by connecting independent modules. These modules are either innovative modules we introduced (such as Galaxy) or taken from the best synthesizers ever made (such as the Moog Modular, the Yamaha CS-80, the Roland Jupiter-8, the Minimoog, the ARP 2600, the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and Prophet VS).
  • Alternatively, use an existing synthesizer recreation: the Minimoog, the Jupiter-8, the ARP 2600*, or the CS-80*
  • Superb audio quality with TAE® engine in a hardware chassis. 24 bits/44.1 kHz supported.
  • High-Quality Real time Effects: Phaser, Chorus, Delay, Reverb, Distortion, Parametric EQ*, Bit Crusher*.
  • 500 presets created by a selection of international sound designers
  • 16/32 step advanced sequencer allowing you to program three sub-sequences at a time and to perform live.
  • Multi mode allowing you to play 4 instruments at a time, for example a Minimoog, a Jupiter-8*, a modular patch and an ARP 2600*.
  • Creative Macros, advanced LFO’s, innovative modulation sources, different Joystick modes.
  • Advanced Preset browser.
  • Analog Audio Connectivity: 2 audio ins, 10 audio outs.
  • Digital Audio: SPDIF out, USB 2.0
  • Built-in expression pedal and footswitch control inputs
  • MIDI : In, Out, Thru or USB 2
  • Up to 32 voices of polyphony
  • Also a MIDI controller offering 33 encoders, 21 potentiometers and 1 joystick
  • Ergonomic hardware design and quality manufacturing in France and Germany.
  • Origin lets you open dedicated software on your Mac and PC in the form of Origin Connection an ergonomic application allowing to archive preset, exchange data, upgrade firmware.
  • 160 pages manual in English.

* To be delivered later on as a free upgrade


(from Arturia's website: http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products/origin/specs21.html)

Arturia Origin




This is Arturia Origin desktop synthesizer. It has kept me busy few months now. Resently I updated its firmware to 1.3.50 version which seems to work fine. 

Origin is many ways a perfect tool for someone looking for a vintage synth with lot of power: it has 30 voices polyphony, 4-part multitimbrality, enormous amount of features, great GUI, lot of knobs to tweak it live.

...and above all, very nice analog character in its sound!

Welcome to Synth Reviews!

Here at this brand new site, I will share my own experiences with synthesizers and electronic keyboard instruments.