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Review: Arturia - SPARK Vintage Drum Machine [Software]

"VDM allows you to sculpt your own sounds using these iconic models and by combing virtual analogue and digital sampling the possibilities are en

by SerenaB, June 6th, 2012 and has been Read 1308 times.
Last Edited by: Jack Stovin June 29th, 2012.

I’m sure the Roland TR-808, Yamaha’s flagship RX5 and the Korg KPR-77 are names that many of you will be familiar with and these are just some of the legendary 80’s drum machines that Arturia’s SPARK Vintage Drum Machine Software features. Even if you’re not familiar with the names, you certainly would have heard them before, think Madonna’s ‘La Isla Bonita’, Marvin Gaye's 'Sexual Healing' and Paul Young's 'Wherever I Lay My Hat'. SPARK Vintage Drum Machines (VDM) is a software package that models analogue circuits and recreates legendary analogue synthesisers such as the 808 and RX5. What is also great about this product is that it can be used as a stand-alone programme or alongside your DAW.

After downloading the software my initial impression was how neat the layout is, it looks like an actual hardware controller. For those who are new to VST plug-ins this may seem a little daunting, it is so easy to look at something like this with lots of different buttons and knobs and think it looks confusing, but once you get used to it you will see how easy and straightforward this interface actually is. There are three windows, the step sequencer, main controller with eight drum pads and instrument controls (with pan, solo’s, filters and cut offs etc). Having said this I may be at a little bit of an advantage as I am using a 27 inch computer screen which displays all three windows at once, if you are using this on a smaller screen it may be a little more hard work scrolling up and down.

WATCH // 'Arturia Spark Vintage Drum Machines Trailer'

Even though it is important to look at the whole package including the layout and ease of use, the main point of focus for me is the true quality of the drum sounds. The sound possibilities feel endless with such a substantial library of classic electronic drum sounds, sample based beatboxes and acoustic drum sets. The intricate control that you have over your drum sounds allows you to experiment freely and widely and gain a completely customised sound and with such a user friendly interface this couldn’t be easier to use. This is also easy to integrate with your DAW, I loaded it up in Logic using it as a plug-in and was able to create some fantastic drum sounds in an instant. You can really hear the cool sounds that are so typical of the 80’s, and you can emulate a really natural sounding kit with some strong punchy kicks and warm cymbals.



Out of the eighties and into the 21st century Arturia have developed a fantastic VST, there are some brilliant features to this package, such as the filter which can be controlled with the XY touchpad. The slicer has different modes such as the tape effect, reverse effects, strobe and bit crushing. There are a whole array of effects for you to fiddle with to create your very own custom drum kit. With the 16 step sequencer you can either program the pattern yourself or use the pattern wheel. You also can have the best of both worlds as you can play in live mode which just adds that extra creativity and excitement.

What is an extra bonus with Arturia’s VDM is that you don’t actually have to use their MIDI controller, so if you have one already you don’t need to buy their hardware controller just to use it. I tried this out on my own Korg midi controller and this made composing so much fun.

Arturia have been working on the digital emulation of analogue circuit audio characteristics since 2001 to create their own unique synthesizer sounds, so as you can imagine, you would expect something really good and I can confirm that this is the case. VDM allows you to sculpt your own sounds using these iconic models and by combing virtual analogue and digital sampling the possibilities are endless.

I highly rate SPARK Vintage Drum Machines so take a look at Arutria’s website for more info: Arturia - Musical Instruments | Intro



MAIN FEATURES

• 30 legendary drum machines including: Roland TR-808, TR-707, TR-909, CR-78, Korg KPR-77, Mini Pops 7, LinnDrum, Yamaha RX5, Maestro Rhythm King MKII, Simmons SDS V,...
• Easy workflow: one interface to learn, thirty drum machines to play
• Made for live performance: XY Pad, Beat Looper, Slicer, Real-time automation on all parameters
• 14 high quality effects : Multiband Compressor, Reverb, Bit crusher, Multiband EQ, Chorus, Delay, Distortion, Phaser, Plate reverb, Destroyer, Flanger, Space pan, Limiter, Sub generator
• Spark’s Step Sequencer makes track creation a breeze
• Unparalleled sound quality based on virtual analog synthesis (TAE®) and high resolution sampling
• More than 1300 pre-programmed patterns

DRUM ENGINES

TAE ® engine: Roland CR-78, Roland TR-808, Roland TR-606, Korg Mini Pops 7, Korg KPR-77, Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-2L, Yamaha MR-10, Maestro Rhythm King MKII, Boss DR-55, Casio VL Tone and SK-1, Simmons SDS V, Phatwerk, Micromatix.
Sample based and hybrid engines: EMU SP 12, Roland TR-909, Roland TR-707, Roland TR-727, Roland TR-626, Roland R8, EMU Drumulator, Oberheim DMX, Sequencial Circuits Drumtrax, Kawai R-100, LinnDrum, Linn 9000, Casio RZ1, Yamaha RX5, Pulsator, Dirty-909.

RATING:


85%