Arturia Pigments 7: Dubstep Explorations Expansion – A Workflow Breakdown

The video opens with Alex introducing a track by Nasco, built entirely from the Dubstep Explorations expansion for Pigments 7. This expansion is purpose-built for those craving high-impact bass design, explosive wobbles, and laser-style leads—core ingredients for contemporary dubstep production. Arturia’s approach here is to showcase not just the sounds themselves, but how they fit together musically and structurally within a track.

Rather than focusing on a single sonic idea, the expansion encourages producers to layer multiple elements—bass movement, laser accents, melodic lines, and pre-drop hits—to create excitement and tension. The workflow is about building up energy through complementary textures, setting the stage for the signature drop that defines the genre. This sets up the rest of the breakdown, where each element is dissected in context.

Diving into the intro section, Alex spotlights several key presets. The Progeny Lead is a mono lead with a distorted, guitar-like edge, thanks to layered distortion effects that push it into overdriven territory. Its role is to inject melodic contour while maintaining the aggressive energy that defines the expansion. In contrast, the Trapped preset offers a big-room, festival trap lead—bright and bold, built from the analog engine and shaped by the Rage and reverb filters. The timbre and diffuse controls allow for formant-style tweaks, giving it a polished, wide presence.

The Unison Rhythm preset is the backbone of the intro’s bass movement, delivering a classic dubstep wobble with two wavetable engines, dual comb filters, and a multi-stage distortion chain. This patch is all about forward energy, anchoring the track’s attitude while leaving space for other elements. Pew Pew, the laser-style lead, excels at quick, high-frequency bursts, with the dirt parameter adding distortion and the reverb filter lending an airy, animated character. It’s a playful, unpredictable layer that slices through the mix.

Other notable sounds include Scream Sequence—a heavy, resonant bass sequence shaped by MS-20 filter characteristics, used as a structural marker before the drop—and Ear Piercer, which triggers different formants on each note for varied, attention-grabbing hits. The lo-fi filter here ensures a gritty digital bite, perfect for those final sparks of energy before the drop lands.

The arrangement strategy in this track is all about layering distinct sonic roles to build anticipation. Rather than relying on a single dominant idea, the intro section weaves together basses, leads, and accent sounds, each with a specific function. The melodic duo of Progeny Lead and Trapped creates motion and anticipation, while Unison Rhythm and Pew Pew add rhythmic and timbral complexity.

Pre-drop hits like Scream Sequence and Ear Piercer act as structural markers, breaking up the melodic flow and signaling the imminent drop. This careful layering ensures that the build-up remains dynamic and engaging, with each sound contributing to the overall tension. The workflow demonstrated here is a masterclass in using preset diversity to construct a compelling, high-energy arrangement.

The breakdown wraps up by emphasizing the dynamic and aggressive nature of the Dubstep Explorations expansion. With high-impact basses, animated leads, resonant FX, and formant splashes, Pigments 7 offers a toolkit for producers seeking fast, energetic, and personality-packed tracks. Arturia’s video invites users to experiment with these presets, tweak modulation parameters, and integrate the expansion’s sounds into their own productions—showcasing Pigments 7 as a powerful engine for modern electronic music.