Arturia Pigments 7: IDM Explorations Expansion Dissected

The video opens with a clear statement of intent: this is a deep dive into a track built entirely from the IDM Explorations expansion for Pigments 7. Alex, the presenter, sets the stage by outlining the blend of evolving keys, modal textures, punchy basses, and digital effects that define the expansion’s character. The focus is on how these elements combine to create a detailed, IDM-inspired soundscape.

Rather than just cycling through presets, the breakdown promises to examine each sound in context—how it was constructed and how it supports the track’s structure. This approach is typical of Arturia’s official content, aiming to both inspire and inform users about the creative potential of their latest sound library.

The walkthrough highlights Pigments 7’s ability to deliver evolving key textures and punchy basses, with digital effects playing a central role in shaping the sonic landscape. The first featured preset, Hilltop Keys, introduces an unstable, grainy character that can morph from defined tones to lush atmospheres using macro controls for density and reverb. The mod wheel is leveraged to thin out the sound, making it adaptable within different sections of the arrangement.

Pigments’ granular engine and effects processing are front and center, giving patches distinctive movement and width. The video emphasizes how these core features aren’t just for show—they’re integral to establishing the mood and tonal palette of the track, and their flexibility is demonstrated through real-time parameter tweaks.

Several presets are dissected to showcase Pigments 7’s advanced sound design engines. Big Clockwork is built from two modal engines using string and beam resonators, with a comb filter adding a metallic, percussive edge. The mod wheel brings an LFO-modulated filter to the foreground, reinforcing the rhythmic, mechanical motion that guides transitions in the track.

Black Parasite demonstrates how granular engines and noise layers can be combined for rising, rhythmic effects. Two effect samples are processed through granular engines, while noise layers and a sub from the utility engine reinforce the low end. Modulated low pass gates, reverb, and distortion are used to shape dynamics and tone, resulting in a compelling build-up.

Time to Move and VeryFit808 further illustrate Pigments’ layering and macro capabilities. Time to Move uses modal engines routed through ripple and rage filters, with macro controls mapped to drive parameters for tension-building automation. VeryFit808 delivers the main low end using dual wavetable engines and transition filters, with timbre controls affecting filter influence and saturation. Imagine Deeply Keys and Welcome round out the palette, with granular engines, phaser automation, and clean sub layers supporting the harmonic structure.

Ultimately, the IDM Explorations expansion for Pigments 7 equips composers with a versatile set of tools for crafting detailed, texture-rich tracks. The combination of granular keys, modal resonances, glitch-derived effects, and saturated basses is presented as both inspiring and practical, encouraging users to experiment with modulation and layering to discover their own sonic signatures.