words: LUKE PEPPER Arturia Spark Drum Machine TECH
VERDICT BUILD QUALITY
EASE OF USE FEATURES
9.0 9.0 9.0
VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 SOUND QUALITY
9.0
HYPE Hybrid hardware/software
drum machine that manages to find the exact right balance between old skool and new skool design and functionality — as well as sounding amazing.
GRIPE The hardware controller lacks
an LCD screen like its onscreen counterpart.
Spark LE is a streamlined version of Arturia’s rather wonderful Spark drum machine, with the same sound engine as the original, but a more compact hardware and onscreen user interface.
9/10
PRICE $299
A BRIGHT SPARK
A
rturia is a name well-known in the studio-land as a company that makes some of the most authentic and widely-used
software versions of classic synthesizers, and hardware that has a habit of combining classic old school sounds with fresh sonics. When Arturia released their hybrid plug-in and hardware Spark drum machine, it piqued more than a little interest amongst those in the know. And for good reason. This drum machine not only sounded awesome, but also managed to do things in its own unique way, inspiring creativity by merging the tried-and-trusted old skool way of doing things with the benefits of modern technology to create a killer unit. The latest incarnation of Spark is the Spark LE (or Sparkle, as it is surely destined to become known as), and is a compact version of the Spark which could very well tempt potential Maschine Mikro owners to take this box of tricks home instead.
COMPACT Spark LE uses the same sound engine and sound set as the original version,
but has a streamlined user interface and a hardware controller with a much smaller footprint. The design and build quality of the hardware controller are stunning, and have combined to create a work of art which manages to balance aesthetic beauty and functionality perfectly. The size of the Spark LE is very compact, but the control surface manages to be extremely functional without being cramped, and the layout is so intuitive that the fun and creativity start the second it is turned on, with hardly a moment lost to head scratching. Being so well-known for their old-skool synth emulations, it is no surprise that Arturia have included more than a few classic touches to the Spark LE.
The layout and programming style is unashamedly Roland TR style — and those old classic Roland drum sounds can also be found very quickly when browsing through the sound banks — but there are also a lot more modern sounds that can be found amongst the more than 1500 instruments and 100 kits that come ready to go, once the Spark LE software has been installed.
The sound quality is of the same top- notch level that we have come to expect from Arturia, and the range of sounds available makes Spark LE a very versatile drum machine that will work well across a wide variety of genres.
HYBRID As the Spark LE is a hybrid software/ hardware device, the hardware controller is used to drive either a standalone version of the Spark software, or a plug-in used in conjunction with a DAW such as Cubase, Live or Logic, with 16 individual outputs available. The software is a direct representation of the hardware controller onscreen, with every button, knob and control shown in the user interface screen, along with the current setting — the only difference is that the onscreen version of Spark LE has an LCD display that is sadly absent from the hardware controller. Arturia have managed to create an extremely useful user interface that manages to make programming and experimentation very easy and fun, and really does inspire creativity. Features like the touchpad controller, that can be assigned to control filters, as well as
CONTACT
arturia.com
Time to get the sparklers out, as Arturia release the compact version of their Spark drum machine...
slicer and roller effects, give the Spark LE a unique appeal and encourage interesting excursions from the normal step-by-step drum programming that can easily become the norm.
With the release of the Spark LE, Arturia have managed to create yet another winning product to add to their enviable line-up of mouthwatering studio enhancers by applying their trademark mix of the best of old and new. The Spark LE is a device that captures the creative feel of a Roland 909, with all the added advantages that come with software synthesizers, such as deep integration into DAWs and instant saving and recall of parameters. This drum machine also manages to do things in its own unique way, which gives more choice to musicians and producers.
Everyone who is making music right now should check out what the Spark LE could offer their tracks, even if they don’t think they need another drum machine right now. It really is that good.
djmag.com 087
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