Arturia iSpark User Manual
iSpark User Guide
Table&of&Contents&
Introduction*..............................................................................................................................................*5!
Welcome*to*iSpark®!*.........................................................................................................................................*5!
Using*iSpark*..............................................................................................................................................*6!
The*Tool*Bar*.........................................................................................................................................................*6!
The**Drop?down*menu*......................................................................................................................................*6!
Browse!Projects:!the!Open!button!...............................................................................................................................!6!
Browse!Kits!............................................................................................................................................................................!8!
Create!a!new!Project!..........................................................................................................................................................!8!
Save!a!Project!........................................................................................................................................................................!8!
Import!/!Export!Projects!..................................................................................................................................................!9!
Importing!Presets!.............................................................................................................................................................!10!
Expansion!Store!................................................................................................................................................................!10!
Quantize*Record*...............................................................................................................................................*11!
Metronome*.........................................................................................................................................................*11!
Info*/*Register*....................................................................................................................................................*11!
CONNECT*..................................................................................................................................................*12!
BACKGROUND*AUDIO*.....................................................................................................................................*12!
WIST*......................................................................................................................................................................*12!
Link*.......................................................................................................................................................................*13!
MIDI*.......................................................................................................................................................................*13!
MIDI!Channel!selection!..................................................................................................................................................!13!
MAIN*PAGE*...............................................................................................................................................*14!
Transport*controls*...........................................................................................................................................*15!
Record/Record!Pending!................................................................................................................................................!15!
Stop!.........................................................................................................................................................................................!15!
Play!/!Pause!........................................................................................................................................................................!15!
Volume*/*Tempo*/*Shuffle*.............................................................................................................................*15!
Mute*/*Solo*..........................................................................................................................................................*15!
XY*pad*/*FX*selection*.......................................................................................................................................*16!
XY!pad!....................................................................................................................................................................................!16!
FX!selection!.........................................................................................................................................................................!16!
Instrument*param ete rs*..................................................................................................................................*16!
Pad*view*modes*................................................................................................................................................*17!
Pads!........................................................................................................................................................................................!17!
Patrns!.....................................................................................................................................................................................!17!
Seq!...........................................................................................................................................................................................!18!
Tune!........................................................................................................................................................................................!18!
Erase*/*Copy*.......................................................................................................................................................*19!
Erasing!when!not!recording!........................................................................................................................................!19!
Erasing!while!recording!................................................................................................................................................!19!
Copy!a!pattern!to!a!new!location!...............................................................................................................................!19!
Copy!a!Bank!to!another!Bank!......................................................................................................................................!19!
Roller*/*Looper*..................................................................................................................................................*19!
The!Looper!strip!...............................................................................................................................................................!19!
The!Roller!.............................................................................................................................................................................!20!
Pattern*position*/*length*bar*.......................................................................................................................*21!
Patterns!over!16!steps!long!..........................................................................................................................................!21!
Editing!pattern!length!....................................................................................................................................................!21!
Step!Follow!..........................................................................................................................................................................!21!
Select!Step!group!(<<!!>>)!.............................................................................................................................................!21!
MIXER*PAGE*.............................................................................................................................................*22!
Channels*..............................................................................................................................................................*22!
Fader!......................................................................................................................................................................................!22!
VU!meters!.............................................................................................................................................................................!22!
Instrument!name!..............................................................................................................................................................!22!
FX!insert!button!.................................................................................................................................................................!23!
Aux!1!/!Aux!2!......................................................................................................................................................................!23!
Text!about!Pan!...................................................................................................................................................................!23!
Solo!/!Mute!..........................................................................................................................................................................!23!
Tracks*1?8*/*9?16*selection*...........................................................................................................................*23!
FX*Returns*..........................................................................................................................................................*23!
FX!button!..............................................................................................................................................................................!23!
Master*channel*..................................................................................................................................................*24!
FX!insert!button!.................................................................................................................................................................!24!
STUDIO*PAGE*..........................................................................................................................................*25!
Load*an*Instrument*.........................................................................................................................................*25!
Sample*/*FX*buttons*........................................................................................................................................*27!
Sample*mode*......................................................................................................................................................*27!
Sample!name!......................................................................................................................................................................!27!
Type!........................................................................................................................................................................................!27!
Layer!mode!..........................................................................................................................................................................!27!
Layer!select!.........................................................................................................................................................................!28!
Sample!...................................................................................................................................................................................!28!
Recording!a!sample!.........................................................................................................................................................!29!
Gain!.........................................................................................................................................................................................!30!
Reverse!..................................................................................................................................................................................!30!
Sample*window*.................................................................................................................................................*30!
Sample!start!/!end!markers!.........................................................................................................................................!30!
Audition!sample!window!..............................................................................................................................................!31!
Instrument!selection!buttons!......................................................................................................................................!31!
Controls:!top!row!..............................................................................................................................................................!31!
Controls:!bottom!row!......................................................................................................................................................!31!
Filter!Type!...........................................................................................................................................................................!32!
Choke!group!........................................................................................................................................................................!32!
FX*mode*...............................................................................................................................................................*32!
FX!overview!........................................................................................................................................................................!33!
On/Off!....................................................................................................................................................................................!33!
Select!FX!................................................................................................................................................................................!33!
Select!Preset!........................................................................................................................................................................!34!
Load!FX!Preset!...................................................................................................................................................................!34!
Save!FX!Preset!....................................................................................................................................................................!34!
Delete!FX!Preset!................................................................................................................................................................!35!
Wet/Dry!balance!...............................................................................................................................................................!35!
Effect!parameters!.............................................................................................................................................................!35!
FX*descriptions*.................................................................................................................................................*35!
Bit!Crusher!...........................................................................................................................................................................!35!
Chorus!...................................................................................................................................................................................!35!
Compressor!.........................................................................................................................................................................!36!
Delay!.......................................................................................................................................................................................!36!
Distortion!.............................................................................................................................................................................!36!
Parametric!EQ!....................................................................................................................................................................!37!
Phaser!....................................................................................................................................................................................!37!
Destroyer!.............................................................................................................................................................................!37!
Flanger!..................................................................................................................................................................................!38!
Space!Pan!.............................................................................................................................................................................!38!
Sub!Generator!....................................................................................................................................................................!38!
Limiter!...................................................................................................................................................................................!39!
Analog!Chorus!....................................................................................................................................................................!39!
Analog!Delay!.......................................................................................................................................................................!39!
Detune!!(PS.Chorus)!........................................................................................................................................................!40!
Leslie!......................................................................................................................................................................................!40!
Vocal!filter!............................................................................................................................................................................!40!
Graphic!Equalizer!.............................................................................................................................................................!41!
Plate!Reverb!(Aux!1+2!/!Master!only)!.....................................................................................................................!41!
Reverb!(Aux!1+2!/!Master!only)!................................................................................................................................!41!
SEQUENCER*PAGE*(SEQ)*......................................................................................................................*42!
Overview*.............................................................................................................................................................*42!
Instrument/Track!selection!.........................................................................................................................................!42!
Data!entry!............................................................................................................................................................................!42!
Solo/Mute!............................................................................................................................................................................!42!
Automation*.........................................................................................................................................................*43!
Data!entry/editing!methods!........................................................................................................................................!44!
Pencil!......................................................................................................................................................................................!44!
Offset!......................................................................................................................................................................................!44!
Line!tool!................................................................................................................................................................................!44!
Eraser!.....................................................................................................................................................................................!44!
Fine!edit!................................................................................................................................................................................!44!
Add!automation!.................................................................................................................................................................!46!
Clear!automation!..............................................................................................................................................................!46!
Disable/Enable!automation!.........................................................................................................................................!46!
Pitch!automation!...............................................................................................................................................................!46!
Export!audio!.......................................................................................................................................................................!48!
Delete!.....................................................................................................................................................................................!49!
Bank/Pattern!......................................................................................................................................................................!50!
Bar!Steps!...............................................................................................................................................................................!50!
Time!Sig!................................................................................................................................................................................!51!
Resolution!............................................................................................................................................................................!51!
Window!range!selectors!................................................................................................................................................!52!
SONG*PAGE*...............................................................................................................................................*53!
Edit/Perform*mode*buttons*.........................................................................................................................*53!
Edit*mode*overview*.........................................................................................................................................*53!
Bank/Pattern!bar!..............................................................................................................................................................!54!
Editing!a!chain!...................................................................................................................................................................!54!
Audition!the!Song!.............................................................................................................................................................!55!
Combining!chains!.............................................................................................................................................................!55!
Perform*mode*overview*................................................................................................................................*56!
XY!pad!(filters)!...................................................................................................................................................................!56!
FX!pad!....................................................................................................................................................................................!56!
Hold!........................................................................................................................................................................................!57!
!
Introduction
Welcome to iSpark®!
Combining the worlds of analog synthesis, physical modeling and samples with the
intuitive workflow of a drum machine, iSpark is a highly creative beat production center.
iSpark will get you to the right drum kit quickly and amaze you with its ease-of-use and
sonic power. Best of all, you can take it with you wherever you go!
iSpark provides vintage analog drum machines, sample based beatboxes and the ability
to record your own samples from the iPad microphone. iSpark’s engine further allows you
to break through their sonic boundaries through its extremely flexible sound design tools
and performance features.
With in-depth control over your sounds, an advanced loop mode and an XY touchpad with
8 real-time effects, iSpark will allow you to create unique beat experiments and constantly
feed your creativity with innovative ideas.
iSpark’s sonic power is nothing but huge, embedding three distinctive drum engines:
analog synthesis, sampling and physical modeling. Thanks to the automations available
on all parameters, every kit is very tunable and customizable, bringing a fun and
complementary approach to sample browsing while remaining interactive and userfriendly.
With its extensive sequencing and sound design capabilities, iSpark is your weapon of
choice to bring the best groove into your tracks whether you are working in the studio or
performing on stage.
Using iSpark
The Tool Bar
At the top of each page in iSpark is a narrow strip called the Tool Bar. It contains basic
functions such as loading Projects and the Page Selection buttons.
1.
Project name / Drop-down menu
2.
Previous/Next Project
3.
Page selection: Main, Mixer, Studio, Sequence, Song
4.
Quantize Record on / off
5.
Click / Metronome
6.
Information
7.
Connect
We’ll go through each of these functions in the pages ahead.
The Drop-down menu
This section of the screen tells you the name of the current Project. Tapping this area will
open the Drop-down menu.
Browse Projects: the Open button
iSpark comes with 40 Projects, which provides 40 Drum Kits, 640 Instruments and over
1,200 Patterns created by some of the top sound designers in the world. You can use
these as-is or create and save your own grooves, sounds and kits with iSpark.
!
To start browsing Projects, press the Open button in the Drop-down menu. Projects will
be listed in the Results List on the right side. To open one that looks interesting, select it
by pressing its name and then press OPEN:
To narrow the number of choices, use the Bank and Style filters on the left side. The
Results List will show which Projects match your filter selections.
Browse Kits
An iSpark project contains 16 instruments and a number of patterns. If you want to keep
the current patterns but want to replace the 16 instruments with those from another
project, press the Load Kit button.
Create a new Project
To create a new Project, press the New button in the Toolbar Drop-down menu. This will
load 16 default instruments but all patterns will remain empty.
Save a Project
Save allows you to save your Project. You can save the current settings as a new Project
or overwrite the current settings.
When saving the Project you are able to select a Bank and specify the Project’s Style.
You can also create a new Bank and/or Style.
Give the Project a name and enter your name in the Author box. You can select an image
for the Project from the pictures on your iPad; just click on the icon box on the right.
After this your Project will be available in the Results list.
Import / Export Projects
These functions enable iSpark to share projects with other iOS
programs.
Open the Drop-down menu from the top left corner of the Toolbar.
From here you can access the Import and Export functions.
The name of the current Project is visible at the top of the menu. It
is the one that iSpark will export.
Export Project
When you tap the Export label the Export process happens immediately.
When it is complete another window will open with information about the export file: its
location (the iTunes Share folder) and its name plus extension (.ispk).
After this you can exchange the .ispk file via the iTunes Share folder, email the file, or
open it in any other iOS program.
Import Project
Select the Import label in the drop-down menu and another window will open. It shows the
list of compatible Projects in the iTunes Share folder. From here you can choose to import
the Project or delete it from the list.
If you decide not to do either of those things, press Cancel and no changes will be made.
Importing Presets
You can also import your own presets via iTunes file sharing.
To use this feature, connect your iPad to your computer and open iTunes. Select the iPad
icon at the top of the main window.
• Click on the “Apps” icon in the left navigation column.
• Scroll down to the “File Sharing” section.
• Select iSpark from the list of Apps.
• Under “iSpark Documents” click the “Add” button; this opens a dialog box to select
the location of the presets on your computer.
Expansion Store
You can purchase additional iSpark content from the Expansion Store. Open the Dropdown menu from the Toolbar and select Expansion Store. You will be taken to a special
page where you can view, audition and buy “Packs” our sound design team has put
together.
Each Pack contains a number of high-quality Projects, patterns and instruments.
Make a selection and click the button that shows the price. After this the standard iOS inapp purchase window will open:
Once purchased, the pack will automatically be downloaded.
After the download is complete the pack will be visible in the list of Projects, Kits and
Instruments. Each pack will be located in its own Bank.
The [Pack Details] sidebar also contains a “Restore Purchases” button. It puts the list of
Packs you have purchased at the top of the browsing list of the Expansion Store. In the
event of data loss, this enables you to download each pack again individually.
Quantize Record
This button toggles quantize record mode on and off. Quantization will snap notes you
play while recording to a rhythmic grid according to the resolution of the pattern.
Metronome
Enable this button when you want to hear a click. The metronome works both during
recording and playback.
Info / Register
This button opens a window with software version, the user guide directory, and a link
that allows you to register your purchase of iSpark with Arturia.
CONNECT
The Connect page is your gateway to accessing the MIDI, WIST, and Background Audio
functions. Press the Connect arrow on the right side of the iSpark Tool Bar to open up the
control panel.
BACKGROUND AUDIO
BACKGROUND AUDIO will allow iSpark to play sound while running in the background
when using other apps. It will continue to sustain sounds, play patterns, and receive MIDI
from other apps and external sources while you switch to a different app.
If you leave the app running in the background, it will consume CPU and battery power. If
you are trying to conserve battery power and are not using iSpark with other apps,
remember to turn off Background Audio.
!
WIST
Korg’s WIST technology allows any iPad running iSpark to sync to another device running
a WIST-compatible app. When two devices are working together via WIST, whichever is
the master is the only one capable of controlling settings; settings for the slaved device
are inherited. Changing settings on either device disrupts synchronization and requires
reestablishing a WIST connection.
Tap the WIST LED button to enable WIST. WIST requires the use of Bluetooth, and if it’s
not currently enabled on your iPad, you will be prompted to do so. You can also manually
enable Bluetooth in your iPad’s SETTINGS app under General > Bluetooth. Any
secondary device needs to confirm the WIST connection before the devices will be
properly synchronized.
Once connected, the Master device’s transport triggers playback on all connected
devices, and slaved devices should begin playing in the same tempo.
Link
Ableton Link is a new technology that synchronizes beat, phase and tempo of Ableton
Live and Link-enabled iOS apps over a wireless network. It lets you play devices together
with the freedom of a live band. Anyone can start and stop their part while others keep
playing, and anyone can adjust the tempo and the rest will follow. You can use Link to
play with several instances of iSpark, Ableton Live, and other iOS apps.
MIDI
MIDI allows you to control iSpark via other software apps or external MIDI devices.
Pressing the MIDI Jack reveals a
menu with the listing of currently
connected devices.
By utilizing a camera connection kit
or other iOS MIDI interface you can
play iSpark using an external MIDI
device.
There are On/Off buttons on the left
that allow you to enable or disable
each MIDI controller individually.
MIDI Channel selection
iSpark allows you to set the MIDI channel it will receive. Options are OMNI, which means
it will respond to any incoming MIDI data, and channels 1 – 16. OMNI is the best option
when checking connections for the first time. If you are setting up a more complicated
system with multiple apps receiving from a DAW, you need to select a specific channel for
iSpark. Use the up/down buttons on either side of the MIDI Channel setting to do this.
MAIN PAGE
The Main page is the quickest way to enter and edit pattern data. The screen is based on
Arturia’s drum controllers and offers real-time recording and step entry, plus several
performance options.
1.!
Transport!controls!
2.!
Volume!/!Tempo!/!Shuffle!
3.!
Mute!/!Solo!
4!
XY!pad!/!FX!Selection!buttons!
5.!
Instrument!parameters!
6.!
Pad!view!modes!
7.!
Erase/!Copy!!
8.!
Roller!/!Looper!
9.!
Pattern!position!/!length!bar!
10.!
Instrument!pads!!
Transport controls
Record/Record Pending
Press the left button and it turns red. If a
pattern is running iSpark will start recording.
If iSpark is not running it will wait until you
press the Play / Pause button and then begin recording.
Stop
The middle button stops the playback or recording of a pattern. The next time the pattern
plays it starts from the beginning.
Play / Pause
The button on the right starts the pattern and can pause playback. When pressed again
the pattern resumes playback from the current pattern positon.
Volume / Tempo / Shuffle
This section controls the iSpark master volume,
tempo and shuffle amount.
Volume: Press and hold this knob, then slide your
finger up or down to change the master volume.
Tempo: Press and hold the center of the Tempo window and then drag it up or down to
change the master tempo. You can also set the Tempo by tapping inside the window
several times.
Shuffle: Press and hold this knob, then slide your finger up or down to change the
Shuffle amount. The effect is most obvious when two notes happen within an 1/8th note of
each other or less.
Mute / Solo
Use these buttons to specify which instruments you
want to hear while the pattern is playing. When active
the buttons turn blue.
Mute: Press this and select one or more instruments to silence. Their pads will turn blue
and their parts will not be heard during playback.
Solo: Selecting a pad after pressing the Solo button will silence all other instruments. It
is possible to use the Solo function on several instruments at the same time.
!
XY pad / FX selection
The grey area of this window allows you to
alter the sound and playback of the pattern in
real-time. The effect is selected using the light
grey buttons at the top of this area.
XY pad
This area can be solid grey or sub-divided
depending on the selected effect. Press and
move your finger in this area during playback
to sweep a filter or loop the pattern temporarily
in smaller segments. These actions are not
recorded into the pattern.
FX selection
Press and hold one of the FX buttons for one
second and a drop-down menu will appear.
The current effect is indicated by a
checkmark on the right side of the list.
After selecting an effect from the list the XY
pad will be configured automatically for the
performance options of that effect.
Instrument parameters
The six knobs on the right side of the main window are
pre-assigned to control certain parameters of the selected
instrument. The assignments vary depending on the type
of instrument that has been assigned to each pad.
For example, touch the Inst Macros button and then a
drum pad. With a pattern playing, touch and hold the Pitch
knob and then move your finger up and down. This will
rotate the Pitch knob and change the pitch of the selected
drum.
The four buttons at the top select different sets of parameters. The Inst Macros and Inst
Params buttons control the parameters of the instrument itself; the Effect buttons control
the effects that have been assigned to the instrument. If an instrument has no Effects the
knobs will not have a parameter label.
!
Pad view modes
These four buttons select different modes for the
Main page. When one is pressed it provides
different features on the lower half of the page.
The Erase, Copy, and Roller / Looper functions are available in all four modes.
Pads
This is where the “live” pattern recording takes place.
Press Record + Play and recording will begin. Then play the pads as you would any other
drum machine. The black outline around the SD pad means the Snare Drum was the last
one touched.
Different velocities will result as you play a pad from the bottom (low
velocities) to the top (higher velocities).
Patrns
In this mode the bank / pattern selection buttons are shown.
iSpark has four Banks of 16 patterns in each Project. Bank A, pattern 1 (A1) is the current
pattern.
If the “Instant Change” button is lit, pattern A1 will change immediately to the next pattern
you select during playback. If not, iSpark will wait until the end of A1 before it changes.
Seq
This mode places a row of step entry pads above the drum pads.
In the picture above Kick 1 pad is selected. The 1-16 buttons represent the 16 steps in
the pattern for that pad. Step 1 in that row is blue, which means Kick1 plays on that step.
To view another instrument, touch its pad.
Use the Accent button to boost the velocity of a step. Each instrument has its own Accent
track.
We will describe the function of the << >> buttons and the Step Follow buttons in the
section about the Pattern Length bar.
Tune
Each instrument can be tuned up or down by as much as 2 octaves using this page.
Kick 1 is selected. To tune it downward 5 chromatic steps, press the -5 button. To tune it
upward by 3 steps, press the 3 button.
The current visible range is from -5 to +6. To shift the range by single increments use the
Step – and Step + buttons. To shift the range +/- 12 steps, use Octave – and Octave +.
Use the Instrument Select buttons at the bottom to edit a different instrument.
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