The unit comes with a protective neoprene slipcase too, so it won't get all scuffed up when you drop it in your laptop bag. Every single button is brightly backlit and clearly labeled. The pads are a silicone material very similar to Push's, and they have really tremendous feel and response drum controllers live or die by the pad quality, and SparkLE does not disappoint here! The rotary encoders are smooth and also have a high-quality feel. Although engineered to work with the accompanying software, the controller can also be switched to a mode which allows for standard universal MIDI control of any plug-in or DAW.Īlthough it has a tiny footprint about the dimensions of, say, a Motorola Xoom tablet, the SparkLE is a sturdy worksurface and feels solidly planted even when you're beating the crap out of its eight pads or sixteen sequencer buttons. In this manner, it is among a select few of the latest pad-based controllers, like Ableton Push, in that it feels more like a unique and very playable instrument, rather than a bog-standard controller. But once I had my instrument of choice loaded, the SparkLE controller allowed me to do most everything without touching the connected computer, including transport control and sequencing.
Arturia spark vs sparkle software#
One exception to this was in the selection of presets or kits whenever switching between instruments, I definitely needed the software UI as a reference point.
Unlike big brother Spark, there is no LCD screen for instrument and edit navigation, and although this would seem to be a limitation, I found that I could use the hardware to move around the Spark plug-in or standalone application without having to mouse around (much).
The hardware is designed to aid the user in navigating the companion software without having to always look at the computer screen. The controller itself is a knobs-n-pads affair, with several buttons, encoders, a large jog wheel, and a small, assignable XY touchpad for real-time manipulation of various effects and mixer parameters. Software installation is straightforward, and the bus- powered controller attaches to the computer via its one and only port (a standard mini USB-to-USB A cable is provided). The SparkLE is a surprisingly intuitive system and as it turns out, it's a crazy fun way to build or record beats, as well as play beat-based music in a live context. With the compact and affordable little brother to the Spark, their "creative drum machine," Arturia seem to be continuing the practice they began with their Keylab synthesizers - bundling hardware and software in one seamless and well- designed "hybrid" package.
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