DISC Arturia SparkLE Drum Machine

Full Description

SparkLE Drum Machine

The SparkLE combines hardware and software for the best of both worlds. The hardware offers the classic 'TR'-style workflow by inputting patterns from the step sequencer buttons, or you can choose to lay down your beats in real time with the eight velocity- and pressure-sensitive backlit pads. The advanced Looper and the XY pad's beat slicer functions are great for live performances and the XY pad also has three assignable controllers and three Instrument modes to control your sounds in real time.

The touch-sensitive FX pad features eight filter modes (including Arturia's Oberheim SEM filter) and seven different slicer modes. TUNE mode lets you choose an instrument and play chromatic pitches across the 16 buttons or the eight pads. You can quickly load projects, kits and instruments with the jog dial encoder, and all of the knobs, buttons and the XY pad can be reassigned to the MIDI note or CC data of your choice for added flexibility.

On the software side, the Spark Engine starts with sample playback and layering, but then adds a Virtual Analogue engine based on Arturia's TAE analogue modelling technology and a Physical Modelling engine for amazing realism in your sounds. The vast sound library is constantly expanding and gives top notch, pro sounds in a variety of genres and styles. Further enhancement is provided by the Studio and Mixer pages, giving total control over the sound and final mix.

The array of possibilities is widened by the range of effects, letting you create everything from super basses and tight snares to wildly processed samples and synths.

The Pattern view page gives you a detailed view of your current beat and automation channels, letting you create or edit automation for each instrument, parameter and effect with surgical precision. Song mode allows you to chain your patterns into full arrangements. The 1:1 interface with the hardware lets you see what's going on and acts as as a user interface when you aren't using the hardware to control the software.

Reviews

"For this kind of money, SparkLE is a steal when you consider its deep programming and real-time capabilities, fast workflow, small learning curve and superb results." - Awarded 9.2/10 by Future Music Magazine

Features/Specifications:

Hardware Specifications:

• 2 banks of 8 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads
• 3 user-assignable encoders
• Touch-sensitive XY pad
• User-mappable MIDI controller mode
• Kensington Lock
• Neoprene slipcase
• USB Bus-powered

Software Specifications:

• Pristine quality sound engines:
  • TAE® Analogue synthesis
  • Sample playback with multiple layering modes and post-processors
  • Physical modelling
• FX Pad with 8-mode Filter, Tape, Reverse, Strobe, Bit Crusher, Pan, Mix, Roller and Latch mode
• Advanced Loop mode with divide and move functions
• 16-track mixer with 14 professional effects:
  • Multiband Compressor
  • Destroyer
  • Bit Crusher
  • Sub Generator
  • Plate Reverb
  • Multiband EQ
  • Space Pan
  • Chorus
  • Delay
  • Distortion
  • Phaser
  • Flanger
  • Limiter
  • Digital Reverb
• Library of +1500 instruments / +100 kits expandable with free Arturia add-ons
• Drag & drop export of MIDI and Audio patterns into your DAW
• Seamless integration into your system both as a plug-in (VST, AU, RTAS) and in standalone mode
• Easy import/export of audio samples, Patterns, MIDI files and Rex loops

Required Configuration:

• 2GB RAM, 2GHz CPU (multiple core required)
• 2GB free hard disk space
• Windows: XP / Vista / Seven / Eight
• Mac: OS X 10.5 or higher