Arturia Pigments 4 add new effects and simplified interface

Shimmering reverb, drag-and-drop UI elements and "light mode" are the latest free upgrades to the super synth.

At this point, it's easier to list the features that Arturia's pigments don't have than what they do. The company has been rolling out regular updates for a few years now, and each new release adds something to be excited about. New synth engines, new effects, all-new utility sections - it's both a place for Arturia to experiment with new ideas and show off some of the strengths of its vintage emulation range.

At first glance, Pigments 4 seems like a relatively minor update. There are a few new effects, a handful of improvements to the various oscillators, but there's not much to reach for and demand your attention from just a title. This seemingly subtle upgrade, however, hides many quality of life improvements.

For one thing, you can now simply drag and drop modulation sources to their target. Admittedly, clicking LFO one and then clicking filter cut wasn't particularly difficult. But now you can just drag the little tab on an LFO to whatever you want to modulate. This should make Pigments a little less intimidating for those just learning to navigate the synth. There are also now left and right arrows on multimode modules, like the filter, that allow you to quickly change between types, where previously you had to click and open a drop-down menu to select a new option.

Arturia

The most dramatic changes to the user interface are fortunately optional. The first is the new Playback tab, which removes most sound design options and focuses on a basic set of editable settings. You cannot edit effects here, nor set modulation preferences. It's designed to get you loud without too many distractions. It's fine for live performance or if you prefer to stick to presets, but hides a lot of the depth that makes the pigments so compelling.

The other major interface change is a bit of a headache. See, while most companies rush to implement dark mode to save your eyes, Arturia decided Pigments was too dark and added a light mode. I'm sure there are some who will appreciate its bright gray panels, but I'm personally not a fan. Not only do I think the original theme is easier to watch for long periods of time, it's also more consistent. Many interface elements remain dark even in light mode and it looks a bit tinkered.

This is a pretty minor detail, considering that once you get past the UX there are a handful of new toys to play with in Pigments 4. 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 modulation oscillator, improved bit-crusher and (wait for it) shimmering reverb!

Arturia

The MS-20 filter might seem unnecessary given that Pigments already had 10 different filter options, many with multiple modes, but it brings something special to the table. Rather than being used like any other lowpass filter, the MS-20 begs to be used to extremes. Turn up the Resonance and turn on Key Tracking, and you can turn simple white noise into a delicate, brave keystroke with a subtle crackle. Or just turn the volume up on it and hit it with the hottest possible signal (but be sure to turn the master volume down or you risk blowing your ears out) to get some crisp saturation.

Ring Mod offers nice icy timbres. However, that's not something that Pigments exactly lacked before. It's a welcome addition, but certainly not something you'd miss too much if it quietly passed away...