Production
Step Sequencer
Spark 2 contains a dedicated, built-in step sequencer that allows you to get creative quickly and start writing your own patterns.
The sequencer page displays 32 steps at all times, making it easy to visualize your patterns, and all 16 of the instruments in your project are displayed on screen simultaneously.
Automation
Automation is what takes a simple pattern or sound and transforms it into music. Spark 2 contains multiple ways to create and edit automation; for example, you can use the XY pad or the Pencil and Line tools on the Pattern/Automation page.
All instrument and insert effect parameters can be automated within Spark 2. The step sequencer allows the automation of 15 different parameters per instrument, plus full automation of all the insert effects parameters for each instrument.
Mixer & Effects
Spark 2's mixer gives you a familiar interface for controlling the level, pan, insert effects and sends of your instruments. Each of these parameters can be automated in the Pattern page.
Each drum instrument can be processed through 14 unique, professional-grade effects: compressor, reverb, bit crusher, multiband EQ, chorus, delay, distortion, phaser, plate reverb, destroyer, flanger, space pan, limiter and sub generator.
A modular synth
in a drum machine?
Modular Engine
The modular synth found in Spark 2 is the direct descendant of our TAE® technology, which we have been refining since we began development of modular V in 2003. The Spark Engine actually allows you to mix and match some of the modules from the virtual analog synths in our V Collection. The possibilities are endless!
Macros
Spark 2's modular synth contains 6 assignable macro knobs which allow you to control multiple aspects of your sound in real time. For each macro you can assign four parameters from any of the modules within a patch, as well as determine the minimum and maximum ranges for each parameter. Imagine what this level of creative freedom could do for your music!
A drum designer’s dream
The modular synth in Spark 2 can be used to create a vast array of sounds including kick drums, snares, hats and cymbals, as well as more traditional synth sounds. Build the drum of your dreams by connecting as many as:
- 9 variable-shape virtual analog oscillators
- 4 multimode filters
- 6 envelopes
- 2 LFOs
- 4 mixers
- 2 ring modulators
- 2 CV modulators
- 2 Karplus-Strong filters
- 1 stereo filter
- 1 Spring Mass physical modeling engine
Integration
with SparkLE controller
Spark 2 is as much at home in the studio as it is on stage or in a club. When used in tandem with our SparkLE controller it becomes a powerful live tool that will immediately fit into any performing musician or DJ's setup. Since Spark 2 was specifically designed to work with SparkLE there is no “down time” needed for configuring; you simply plug and play.
Integration
Plug-in & Standalone
Spark 2 software can be used as a stand-alone application or as a plug-in within Digital Audio Workstations such as Steinberg Cubase, Digidesign Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro X, MOTU Digital Performer, Cakewalk Sonar and Bitwig Studio, to name a few.
When used as a plug-in, Spark 2 supports 16 audio outputs that can be routed directly into the audio tracks of your DAW.
Import/Export
Spark 2 is able to import AIFF, Wave, MIDI and REX2 files.
Spark 2 allows for simple drag & drop export of patterns into your DAW in either the .wav format or as a MIDI sequence.
MIDI Controller
Spark 2 will fit seamlessly into any established MIDI setup. All of the parameters available on its main panel are MIDI-assignable and can be controlled by any external MIDI device, and it works perfectly with the SparkLE controller.
Sample-House partner
companies
*The use of trademarks is only meant as a reference to clarify the instruments whose sound was modelled after and doesn’t imply any endorsement.Sound
engines
TAE® Analog Synthesis
Spark 2's sound engine embeds our TAE® technology, which stands for True Analog Emulation. TAE® is an unprecedented way of modeling and creating the specific sounds from classic analog synthesizers such as the Yamaha CS-80, Roland Jupiter 8 or Oberheim® SEM.
Incorporating this award-winning technology into SparkLE has allowed us to recreate all the punch, warmth and thickness of the sounds from the most sought-after analog drum machines in the world.
Demo DR808
Demo DR909
Demo Sci Mons
Physical Modeling
Physical modeling is a technique of synthesizing the properties of natural objects when they are struck or plucked. At its most basic level it allows you to create very dynamic and accurate acoustic sounds. But physical modeling can be pushed to create wild, new sounds the world has never heard. This gives Spark 2 a whole new method of sound creation that no other drum machine can offer.
Demo Acoustic SD Placement
Here is an example of changing the drumstick placement on a snare drum in a physical model
Demo Acoustic Tom Physical Mod
Changing the timbre allows you to get the desired tonal texture for your drums
Demo Perc Physical Mod
Spark 2's engine can also lead you to produce experimental sounds you might have never heard before
Sampling
Samples can be used as sources as part of iSpark. Used this way, the various modules provide vast possibilities for reworking and modifying the original sampled sound. This way you get the best of both worlds, the simplicity of working with samples combined with the rich sonic possibilities of analog.
Vintage Drum Machines
Spark 2 provides emulations of the following vintage drum machines:
Roland TR-808, TR-909, TR-707, TR-606; EMU Drumulator; LinnDrum; Oberheim® DMX; Korg KPR 77, DDM-110, DDM-220; Sequential Circuits Drumtraks; Simmons SDS-V; Roland CR78 / Acetone Rythm Ace*; Yamaha RX5; Casio RZ1; Linn 9000*
606 Patterns
707 Patterns
Demo DR808
Demo DR909
Modern Electronic Kits
Spark 2 includes a broad library of electronic kits covering all modern music styles:
EDM, hip hop, dubstep, electro house, deep house, minimal techno, R&B, trance, techno, abstract hip hop, dancehall, industrial
DUBLYYNK
SOURCE CODE
Chaotic Coast
Greg Savage
Swaying hip hop break with heavy stabs .
Astral Alliance
The Hive
Electro PW Edit
Acoustic Drum Sets
Acoustic drum kits are included to cover the main drumming styles:
Modern rock, funk, R&B, pop, vintage rock, Latin percussion. >Samples are recorded and produced by the best third-party companies for the highest audio realism, and multi-layered for accurate velocity response.
Heavy Rock
Required configuration
Platform specifications
- Win 7+ (64bit) PC: 4 GB RAM; 2 GHz CPU
- 10.8+: 4 GB RAM; 2 GHz CPU
- 2GB free hard disk space
Required configuration
- Works in Standalone, VST 2.4 (32-bit and 64-bit), AAX (32 bits with PT 10.3.8, 64 bits with PT 11), Audio Unit (32-bit and 64-bit).
Protection
- The software is protected by the Arturia Software Center.
Main Features
Pristine quality sound engines including: TAE® analog synthesis, physical modeling, and multi-layered samples provided by our top-tier development partners
1900+ instruments / 180+ kits:
- Vintage drum machines: analog emulations of the TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, Simmons SDS-V, and Eprom-based Linn Drum, Drumtraks, DMX, Drumulator and more
- 10 emulations from Spark Vintage Drum Machines: CR-78, Mini Pops 7, Ace Tone FR-2L, Yamaha MR 10, Maestro Rhythm King MRK2, Boss DR-55, E-mu SP-12, Roland TR-727, Roland R-8, Casio VL-Tone and SK-1
- Electronic kits covering the most popular modern music styles: EDM, Dubstep, Hip Hop, RnB and Pop, etc., as well as experimental kits developed with our physical modeling engine
- Acoustic drum kits mixing physical modeling and samples for highly realistic sound
64-step sequencer
Shuffle and shift modes to humanize grooves
Advanced loop mode with Divide and Move functions
Choke groups to mute instruments naturally
16-tuning mode available from pads and Step buttons
Modular Drum synth editor:
- Create your own patches
- Edit existing patches
Create custom instrument macro control modules including:
- Oscillators
- Multimode filter
