A small display might be the only thing I'd add, but I guess this would have defied the point of a much cheaper product. In all honesty, I just haven't missed the larger controller. The X/Y touch pad is an excellent addition and the workflow of LE is outstanding. If you are like me and you can live without these extra hardware controls and value your precocious workspace, then Spark LE is probably the one to go for here. If you would prefer to access more of Spark's internal parameters straight from the controller, or if features such as an onboard display are simply essential then you should go for the larger version and just accept it'll take up more space on your desk! Either one would be a sound investment for those looking for a rhythm production solution. There are also no changes to the internal mixer and processing.īoth versions of Spark are excellent drum machines (or controllers). It's really just aesthetic, the internal sound bank and overall operation really remain the same here. At first glance, it may appear otherwise but essentially the plug-in's main interface has only changed to accommodate the altered hardware. It's refreshing to see that the actual software hasn't changed much. I've found it slips neatly into my laptop bag and sits nicely in front of a Macbook Pro. On top of this, it comes with a cool little zip up carry case. The unit is mostly constructed using plastic, bar a metal base, but it feels as if it could quite happily survive the rigors of the road. The whole unit feels really solid and well put together. The Spark LE doesn't suffer from any of these problems. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad! There were just a few details that I felt could be improved, namely the thin plastic supports (or feet). I had a few niggles with the build quality of the original Spark. This allows you to 'pitch' drum sounds and samples and even play individual sounds like a synth patch. One of these is a handy tune control button. There are also a few extra additions in the form of buttons. All of these are only available in the LE version and I for one really like the new features. I've found myself performing filter tweaks, applying rolls and even stutter effects via the touch pad. The Spark LE front panel is compact with a built-in touch pad. I knew I had to get my hands on it and I'm happy to say that I've had a Spark LE neatly slotted into my desktop set up for a couple of weeks now. Without losing something from my existing set up, I just couldn't house another large device.Ī short time after Spark had shipped back to Arturia, I started to see shots of a new compact version. After I'd lived for it for a while, it became apparent that the unit was just a bit large for my desktop. I really enjoyed having the original Spark in the studio, I used it on a few projects and even considered hanging on to it. If this sounds good, keep reading as I go through the finer details and you can decide whether or not to part with your hard-earned cash. For those of you who liked the look of the Spark but fancy something a little more portable, you are in luck.Īrturia have just released the Spark LE, (USD 299 / EURO 249) a more compact and slightly trimmed version of its larger predecessor. Back in March 2013, I took an in-depth look at the excellent Spark hybrid drum machine from Arturia.
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