We're shifting gears to a powerful software tool, Arturia Pigments, to create a foundational, dark texture. This patch, "Sub-Tek-Drone," is designed to provide a very low, rumbling, dark drone that's essential for heavy Techno, IDM, or Minimal tracks. It leverages Pigments' unique structure by using two very different sound sources for a complex low-end.

Patch: Sub-Tek-Drone

This very low, rumbling, dark drone is constructed by using the pure sine wave from the Utility Engine for a solid sub-tone, while the Granular Engine adds evolving, gritty texture.

• Blueprint: This is a very low, rumbling, dark drone. The core will be a simple sine wave from the Utility Engine for the fundamental "sub" tone. Engine 1 will be a Granular engine scanning a dark sample very slowly to add texture and movement. A steep low-pass filter will cut all high frequencies, and a slow LFO will modulate the filter cutoff just slightly to create a subtle pulsing feel.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. 1. Init Patch: Go to the preset browser and select "New Preset" > "Init Preset".

   2. Utility Engine:

      • Enable the Utility Engine by clicking its power button.

      • Set the Oscillator to "Sine".

      • Set Tune to -24.00 st (2 octaves down).

      • Set Level to 0.50.

      • Route to Filter 1 (this should be the default).

   3. Engine 1 (Granular):

      • Set Engine 1 type to "Sample".

      • In the Sample browser, go to Factory > Drones and Ambiance and select "Deep Metallic Drone".

      • Click the "Granular" button to enable Granular mode.

      • Set Density to 20.0 Hz.

      • Set Pitch to -12.00 st.

      • Set Start (Sample Start Position) to 0.00.

      • Set Size (Grain Size) to 200 ms.

      • Set Env Shape (Grain Envelope) to 0.50 (a smooth bell curve).

      • Set Whs. Lvl (Whirlwind Level) to 0.20 for some stereo movement.

      • Set Engine 1 Level in the mixer to 0.70.

   4. Filter 1:

      • Set Filter 1 type to "LowPass 24" (from the "MultiMode" filter).

      • Set Cutoff to 150 Hz.

      • Set Resonance to 0.30.

      • Set KeyTrack to 0.00.

   5. Modulation (LFO1):

      • Go to the "Mod" tab and select LFO 1.

      • Set Waveform to "Sine".

      • Set Rate to 0.10 Hz (very slow).

      • Assign LFO 1 to Filter 1 Cutoff. Click the LFO 1 source, then click and drag up on the Cutoffknob. Set the modulation depth (the blue arc) to 0.10.

   6. VCA Envelope (Env 1):

      • Set Attack to 3.00 s.

      • Set Decay to 2.00 s.

      • Set Sustain to 1.00 (full sustain).

      • Set Release to 5.00 s.

   7. Effects (FX Send):

      • Enable the Send bus.

      • In the Reverb slot, select "Rev Plate".

      • Set Pre Delay to 50 ms.

      • Set Decay to 8.00 s.

      • Set Damp (damping) to 0.80 (darker reverb).

      • Set Wet/Dry to 0.40.

      • In the main mixer, turn up the Send knob for Engine 1 to 0.50 and the Utility Engine to 0.30.

The "Sub-Tek-Drone" is designed for the low end.

We strongly encourage you to experiment! Try assigning a Macro to control the Granular Position or swap out the Granular Sample for something totally different. See what unique rhythms and textures you can pull from this foundation.

When you've perfected your sound, share a video or clip on social media. Remember to tag @sonalsystem and use the hashtag #SubTekDrone so we can check out and repost your work!