Arturia Spark (a new hardware controlled drum software)

"Combining the power of analog synthesis, physical modelling and samples"

http://www.amazona.de/index.php?page=29&do=detail&news_id=1493

http://www.amazona.de/media/news/news_images/news_1493/2_Screenshots01.png


i think it has no chance against maschine but analog synthesis is nice

 

I dont think so, I wanna buy one. Maschine is too expansive and only a sample player.

 

official video:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vla5N6PUpRI"]YouTube - ARTURIA SPARK Creative Drum Machine[/ame]

 

oh man.

first the factory frontend (kore) now this. arturia is really looking at everything ni is doing these days.

only thing original about this video is the indian crossgender person.
spark sounds like a dog name and the video is plain ridiculous.

that said its nice the maschine has new competition. akai is no sport.
seriously - maybe the whole mpc vs maschine debate will mellow out.

arturia has some great sounds - its turnin a bit into the microsoft of the music gear.



best

 

Spark looks cool, BUT...it is clearly no match for MASCHINE. Now that maschine will be able to host plugins, it would be interesting to see how this would intergrate with maschine as the host (for those that are gear enthusiasts). But other than that, it doesn't look like game changing Maschinery. With that said, I'd like to add that, that was THE longest 2 minutes and 48 seconds that I've have ever witnessed. lol That microwave would evaporate a bowl of water in 1 minute. Spark, Beat Thang, it's all the same. Flashes in a pan. MASCHINE stands out. That's why there's even a debate about MPC (The father of all "groove production studios") and Maschine (The Future). But damn good try by Arturia, they get an honorable mention in my book. lol

Peace!

 

The idea of Maschine has been floating around for years. NI was smart to jump on it. But like every good idea, there will be other products to compete. And these products will keep evolving. Agree or disagree...MPC begat MV...MPC/MV begat Maschine...

I will say it one more time....the future is a controller like the MPC 5000 (or MPC 4000/MV-8800) integrated with software like Maschine. But the software has to be on par with the best sequencers and the best samplers/synths. Done deal. Looking forward to the first company that is up to this task....

 

Did you guys here how it sounds ? I mean, I was surprised that they've come up with such a lame introduction video. It sounds like a 5 year old product, even the old Roland MC-505, Yamaha RS-7000 or Korg EM-1 (I don't even want to mention the Electribe X-Series) can produce MUCH better demo's than this one. Okay, maybe I'm a bit too hard, sure the Physical and analog modelling is nice, but I really feel they could have done a much better job on the introduction vid. After all, first impression is everything right? I also think they should have included some of their synth engines (Juno, Moog, ...) too.

I've seen a MSRP of $599 / 499€. If you compare this to Maschine you would be pretty stupid not to buy Maschine.


Also, I didn't read anything about dragging and dropping audio and midi patterns, the sequencer buttons are on a very unconventional place (on top of the unit) and it only has 8 velocity pads (I hope they've included more banks in a kit? - patterns with 8 sounds in them is a bit too old school for me ...). Furthermore it can't load VST's like Maschine will be able too so I hope the synth sounds are really good and those 9 FX are top of the bill. The extensive sampling department is also missing and I'm not even sure if Spark can load user samples ... I'm really hoping I'm wrong on that one.

Conclusion:
Spark seems really limited and old-fashioned and I wonder how the integration with any DAW will be. Sure, the physical modelling and TAE is nice but I'm afraid they wanted to catch the hybrid/software-with-dedicated-hardware train too soon without thinking about what they can really ADD and IMPROVE to the game. There's one plus: the controller is made of an aluminum enclosure, so I hope it's really sturdy and that it has high quality knobs and buttons.
It could work out and sell, but then Spark would need an much lower price, because I have the feeling this is only an entry-level product.

Keep in mind that I'm basing this review on early specs and prices, so maybe there's more to Spark then I know at the moment.

 

Can't wait to see all the Maschine versus Spark debates..but at least wait until it is actually released...or better yet..receives an OS update. lol
---
Off topic but holly ish.....

http://www.gearjunkies.com/news_info.php?news_id=5978

Hope its priced around $2500.

 

its 499 the arturia

 

+ 1 Holly ish is right!

 

MAIN FEATURES


Hardware Specifications :

16 key - 64 step sequencer
8 velocity sensitive pads
Touch sensitive FX Pad
Assignable encoders
Aluminum enclosure
Works as a universal MIDI controller towards any third-party software

Software Specifications :

Pristine quality sound engines including : TAE* Analog synthesis, Multilayered sampling delivered by reference third-party companies, Physical modelling
FX Pad with Repeat, Tape, Reverse, Strobe, Pan, Mix, 3 mode Filter and Roller.
Advanced Loop mode with divide and move functions
Real-time automation on all parameters
16 track mixer with 9 high quality effects : compressor, reverb, bit crusher,multiband EQ, chorus, delay, distortion, phaser, plate reverb
Song Mode with up to 64 patterns by song
Shuffle and Shift modes to humanize grooves
<
Easy import of audio samples, MIDI files and Rex loops
Drag & drop export of Midi and Audio patterns into your DAW

Perfect integration :

Seamless integration as a plugin and standalone (VST, AU, RTAS)
Easy import of audio samples, MIDI files and Rex loops
Drag & drop export of MIDI and Audio patterns into your DAW

 

Beats Maschine in this department

 

its early for "this beats that" since no one tried it yet.

considering its the first direct competition to machine, pricewise too, i find the concept weak.

a stepsequencer? this alone makes it obsolete and inferior in seq department.

as for sounds - since you will be able to load anything into maschine any discussion is academic.

nice to have a contender tho. still silly of arturia to pretend maschine doesn´t exist. will cost them moneyz.

 

I am mos def staying away from any Maschine vs Spark threads in the forum. lol

Korg released their new workstation, Akai releases an iPad keyboard controller....I may have some new toys to play with....

 

on a sidenote: watching akai go out like this is kinda sad.

 

An iPad integrated with a keyboard controller is "going out"? I didn't see this coming..I was just thinking iPod integrated with a controller.

Now I am thinking (here it comes lol)...MPC with an iPad dock or even Maschine....

 

Ugh the software design is so ugly, I think the grapics team that work for Arturia should be shot. nasty

 

the whole think reeks of stupidity.

what can we name it? i know: spark!
as in spark you creativity. get it?

briliant.

nnow lets make the interfase futuristic. as opposed to transparent.

yeah...

 

looks dope only thing that they coulda done is allow sampling from the hardware and the **** looks like it woulda beat maschine.

the hardware looks like real hardware not just a midi controller, the filters sound awesome, i like the ide of 18 velocity pads and the 16 step sequencer seperate.

this is good glad to see other companies moving in this direction also the software looks more polished.

so kudos to them dudes but still love maschine but there are some really great tools out there now.

akia will get in this markert at some point but they are a stubborn company that can rest easy on the mpc success.

the sp606 pioneered the hardware software combo

 

this looks interesting. but i have to agree on the video presentation. the sounds "she" plays are really kinda weak and boring. im sure this could have done much better, since its the first impression that counts.
but yeah, now that maschine will be able to host vsts, it will be obsolete i guess. 1 year earlier, i sure would have bought it because of its synthesis capabilities. physical modelling, hmmm, me likey...