News

Learn how basic harmonic exercises transform into powerful modulating sequences by treating chord progressions as "words" you can combine. KEY LESSON POINT: Mastering small harmonic movements as reusable "words" allows you to create sophisticated modulating sequences by combining them in new ways, just as composers like Barber and Wagner did. By thinking of chord progressions as reusable words that can be combined into musical sentences, you transform technical practice into creative possibility. Find more of the examples used in this video in our Functional Harmony Course and exercises.   

Is It "Stealing" to Use Other Composers' Progressions? This lesson explores the common practice of reusing harmonic progressions through examples from Tchaikovsky, Alfred Newman, James Newton Howard, and others. Through practical demonstrations, we examine how the same basic progressions appear across different genres and time periods. KEY LESSON POINT: Using existing harmonic progressions and techniques from other composers isn't stealing - it's a fundamental part of musical composition. The artistry comes from how you reimagine and repurpose these common elements in your own unique way. Rather than trying to invent completely new progressions (which in purely diatonic music is most...

Creating Cinematic Moods in Pigments: Step-by-Step Video Tutorial Want to create powerful cinematic atmospheres with just one finger? This in-depth tutorial shows you how to craft evolving "Instant Moods" using Pigments. You'll discover how to transform a single note into a cinematic mood. Watch the Tutorial Follow along with this complete guide to creating instant cinematic moods in Pigments What You'll Learn in This Tutorial Create complex cinematic textures from a single sample Utilize scales/chords in your presets.  Our example uses b6 mood technique for a mysterious atmospheres Transform static sounds into evolving landscapes using granular synthesis Build layered atmospheres...

Behind the Scenes: The Making of Soft Cinema Keys for Arturia Pigments Today, we're happy to share some details on our latest release, Soft Cinema Keys.  As sound designers and composers ourselves, we're always looking to fill gaps in our own creative toolkit, and this collection represents a unique space in the world of cinematic sound design. A Natural Evolution Our journey with Arturia Pigments sound design has led us through various sonic territories. From the darker textures of "Dark Film Scores" to the evolving atmospheres in "Dynamic Film Score Moods," each collection serves a specific purpose in the composer's...

Creating the perfect atmosphere for horror and suspense scores just got easier. Today, we're thrilled to announce Phantom Frequencies, our latest free expansion for the Dark Film Scores sound bank for Arturia Pigments.  We wanted to release something fun for Pigments right before Halloween.   A New Dimension in Film Score Sound Design When we first released Dark Film Scores, our goal was to provide composers with a versatile collection of cinematic sounds for Arturia Pigments. The incredible response from our community inspired us to dive deeper into the darker corners of sound design. Phantom Frequencies is the result of...