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Arturia updates Pigments with a revamped sequencer, new presets, wavetables and samples – and you can now use its effects to process sounds from your DAW.

2024 NAMM Show: Today, Arturia has released Pigments 5, the latest version of their ‘Polychrome’ software synthesizer.

Compared to previous iterations, Pigments 5 the most exciting new feature here is a revamped sequencer. This adds a variety of new creative tools, including a one-click generative mode that will create a random sequence, as well as new playback options. In addition, Pigments can now save and recall sequence presets separately, allowing users to easily mix and match preset sounds and sequences.

Another interesting addition is the ability to process external sounds using Pigments’ Utility Engine. The broad and powerful range of processors included in the synth’s highly customisable effect engine has long been one of the instrument’s highlights, so having the ability to process sounds from your DAW is likely to add considerably to its appeal.

The other significant upgrade is one hidden under the hood: Pigments now utilises multi-core processing, which Arturia says will result in greater CPU efficiency.

Beyond this, Arturia has also tweaked the design of the simplified Play Mode view, which was first added with version 4. This offers an approachable, surface-level interface for the instrument – ideal for preset browsing. It’s now updated with a smarter look and better waveform visualisation.

Arturia has also added a significant amount of new sound content, adding 100 new presets as well as new stock wavetables and samples. There are also three new add-on sound packs available.

New in Arturia Pigments 5:

• Reduced CPU consumption – Pigments now utilizes multi-core processing for greater CPU efficiency, allowing more users to explore this powerful softsynth with ease.
• Process any audio with Pigments – You can now process external audio in Pigments from the Utility engine, by routing the sound to the instrument through the track sidechain input. Additional FX routing options have also been integrated.
• Updated interface – Pigment’s refreshed interface includes an improved play view, with new visualisers and other UX enhancements.
• Generative sequencer – featuring one-click sequence generation and new play modes, as well as saveable presets and sequence browsing.
• New curated content and sounds – a selection of 100 new factory presets, alongside new wavetables and samples in Pigments 5, comprising more than 1500 sounds.

The Pigments 5 is free to existing users. Find out more on Arturia website.

Roland’s Bridge Cast X adds video support to the dual-bus USB-C gaming/streaming mixer.

2024 NAMM Show: Roland clearly thinks that it’s on to something with its Bridge Cast mixer concept, because it’s just launched a new model in the shape of the Bridge Cast X. The enhanced version trumps the original Bridge Cast by featuring HDMI ports and assignable control pads.

Launched just over a year ago, the original Bridge Cast is a dual-bus USB-C audio streaming interface and mixer that’s suitable for online gamers. It enables you to create two mixes – one for you and another for your online audience – and contains vocal transformer effects derived from Roland’s VT series. There’s also an aux input for music playback, sound effects and an XLR input for high-quality mics.

Bridge Cast X offers all of this but adds video into the mix as well. There are two HDMI inputs, plus an HDMI Thru connector to feed an external gaming monitor. So, you can combine computers, consoles and cameras in a way that suits your workflow.

This new model also sports six assignable control pads that can be used to trigger sound effects, background music, OBS commands and more.

In addition, you can find plenty of music and sound effects on Roland’s BGM Cast platform. Anyone with a Roland Account can access 36 background music tracks and 16 sound effects, and signing up to at least a Roland Cloud Core membership ($3 a month) unlocks an ever-growing library of content.

There’s also the Bridge Cast app, where you can tweak the audio processing and voice transformer settings, select game EQ presets, re-assign the hardware controls and save/recall different setups for specific games and audiences.

Bridge Cast X is available now priced at $499.99 via Amazon. Find out more on the Roland website.

A new Kawai keybed makes the Nord Grand 2 feel like a piano, but with advanced layering options, it can also sound like a synth – ‘A genuinely unique experience’

Ahead of the 2024 NAMM Show, being held January 25-28, 2024 in Anaheim, California, Clavia has announced the Nord Grand 2, with the latest generation premium Hammer Action keybed from Kawai.

Here’s what they say about it:

“We are happy to introduce a new generation of our acclaimed Grand series, the Nord Grand 2!

The Nord Grand 2 features the latest generation premium Hammer Action keyboard from Kawai. Combining the responsive feel of an acoustic grand piano with our world renowned Sound Libraries and a tactile user interface, the sleek and elegant Nord Grand 2 offers a genuinely unique experience”.

Clavia has so many great Nord keyboards, each of which is designed for a slightly different kind of player, that it would be hard to classify one as the definitive ‘flagship’. The Nord Grand is certainly in the mix, though, and it’s now been updated to version 2.

This is no mere software revision, either: the Nord Grand 2 has a new and improved Kawai responsive hammer keybed with triple sensors for accurate tracking of hammer movement. As such, you can expect the instrument to feel even more like an acoustic piano.

Advanced layering options have also been added: you can now stack two pianos and two sample synths (as opposed to one of each on the original Nord Grand), and you get dedicated LED faders for each layer. There are further easy-access knobs and buttons for configuring layers and splits, adding effects or transposing.

Each layer has its own dedicated effects section (there are new reverb, delay, amp sim and modulation processors), and you can set up to seven split points across the keyboard. These are indicated with LED lights, and Split Point Crossfades enable you to transition smoothly between them.

This being a Nord instrument, it almost goes without saying that the sounds will be top-notch. The grands, uprights and electric pianos come from the Nord Piano Library, also benefiting from new features such as Dynamic Compression and Unison.

The Sample Synth section has almost twice the memory of the one in the original Nord Grand, and includes a raft of new and updated sounds. You can control the attack, decay/release and dynamic velocity response, while the Soft and Bright settings give you another fast tone-shaping option.

You can expect greater realism from the wind, brass and string instruments, too, with a Tru-Vibrato feature promising to accurately model each one’s vibrato characteristics. Unison, meanwhile, can create ensemble-type sounds by blending multiple sample voices.

Given the continued absence of pitch and mod wheels, it’s clear that Clavia is still targeting the Nord Grand 2 at pianists rather than deep synthesists.

The Nord Grand 2 price around $3,699/£3,599. Find out more on the Nord Keyboards website.