Comparison between Spark CDM & VDM

[pacific202]

I've been looking at Spark CDM (the full package) for a while now, but I've got so many controllers already and I don't want yet another to clutter up my desk or sit in the closet.  Then I see all the power of the sound engine and included kits and the gearlust starts kicking in...

The Spark VDM package seems to be exactly what I was looking for (Spark CDM minus the hardware controller), but at a price that is 1/5 of Spark CDM it makes me wonder what the differences are beyond just the absence of controller.

Could someone provide a comparison table between the CDM and VDM versions of Spark?

[Sean W]

Spark VDM shares the same core engine as the full Spark software.
The main differences are:

- Spark VDM comes with 30 Vintage Drum Machines projects (kits and patterns), combining Analog Modeling and Sampling.
Spark CDM 1.4 comes with over 80 Kits, including all the drum machines above, plus acoustic drum kits (multi layered samples and physical modeling), experimental/industrial/techno kits (analog, sampling and physical modeling), and many R&B/HipHop projects (using phrase sampling)

- Spark CDM allows you to import you own samples to build your own kits.
Spark VDM can only be expanded by Arturia.

Of course, the main difference in price is due to the dedicated hardware controller, with velocity/pressure sensitive pads, 36 knobs, and the XY touch pad for real time flitering, slicing, ...

[pacific202]

Thanks!  I just bought Spark VDM, and would be very interested in an upgrade to a software-only CDM product.  These are amazing instruments!

Take more of my money!

[creekside]

Spark VDM shares the same core engine as the full Spark software.
The main differences are:

- Spark VDM comes with 30 Vintage Drum Machines projects (kits and patterns), combining Analog Modeling and Sampling.
Spark CDM 1.4 comes with over 80 Kits, including all the drum machines above, plus acoustic drum kits (multi layered samples and physical modeling), experimental/industrial/techno kits (analog, sampling and physical modeling), and many R&B/HipHop projects (using phrase sampling)

- Spark CDM allows you to import you own samples to build your own kits.
Spark VDM can only be expanded by Arturia.

Of course, the main difference in price is due to the dedicated hardware controller, with velocity/pressure sensitive pads, 36 knobs, and the XY touch pad for real time flitering, slicing, ...

I downloaded the VDM Demo (sounds great) - I already own the CDM - is the VDM a software-only product, or is there a way to integrate hybrid functionality alongside the controller?  The VDM Demo doesn't seem to connect to the Spark controller. 

[creekside]

Never mind... simple solution = just had to click on the "Controller Connection" button

 


 

[Kevin]

Yep, we removed auto connect from VDM because it would be disturbing for the people who have not the controller.

[HardwayBros]

Will the CR78 Minipops Kits etc be made available to Spark CDM owners?

[Kevin]

Yep,
we will release Spark 1.4.1 next week (hopefully) with all VDM kits.

Kevin

[creekside]

we will release Spark 1.4.1 next week (hopefully) with all VDM kits.

Great news!  I came on here to ask the very same question, only to find it already answered.  Looking forward to the next update!

[Bacon]

- Spark CDM allows you to import you own samples to build your own kits.
Spark VDM can only be expanded by Arturia.

It's a shame you don't mention this explicitly on the product pages. This is a dealbreaker for me. If you add the ability for the user to import samples to Spark VDM, I will most likely buy it, but without this feature, no way.

I'm looking for an all-in-one solution for virtual analog drum synthesis, sample playback, and drum sequencing, but I don't need the hardware controller or all the extra sounds that come with Spark CDM (let alone pay a lot of money for features I don't need). Spark VDM is at the right price point and would be the perfect choice for me if it just had this extra little feature.

[Firechild]

Is there a way to upgrade Spark VDM to let me import my own samples ? That will make my life so much easier !

[Kevin]

Is there a way to upgrade Spark VDM to let me import my own samples ? That will make my life so much easier !

Not for the moment sorry.
However, we are considering creating a software only version of the full Spark software.
But this is still not decided.

Kevin

[George Ware]

I really hope so!

George Ware