Arturia MicroFreak

Last updated
MicroFreak
MicroFreak.jpg
The MicroFreak at the NAMM Show
Manufacturer Arturia
Technical specifications
Polyphony 4 (paraphonic)
Timbrality Monotimbral
Oscillator Single Multi-Mode Digital Oscillator
LFO Multi-shape LFO
Synthesis typeSee Sound Engines
Filter Multi-mode VCF
Attenuator Cycling envelope, ASR envelope and LFO
Aftertouch expression Polyphonic Aftertouch
Input/output
Keyboard 2 Octave PCB
External controlSends and receives MIDI, outputs CV

The MicroFreak is a synthesizer manufactured by French music technology company Arturia and released in 2019. [1] Described as a "Hybrid Experimental Synthesizer", it uses 18 digital sound engines (algorithms) to synthesize raw tones. [2] This digital oscillator is then fed into a multi-mode analog filter, giving the MicroFreak its hybrid sounds.

Contents

Sound engines

The MicroFreak has 22 distinct sound engines (as of the 5.0 update), [3] which are: [4]

Of those, 12 are made by Arturia (Basic Waves, Super Wave, Harmonic, Karplus-Strong and Wavetable, Noise, Vocoder, User Wavetable, Sample, Scan Grain, Cloud Grain, and Hit Grain), 7 are made by Mutable Instruments (Virtual Analogue, Waveshaper, Two operator FM, Formant, Chords, Speech and Modal) from their "Plaits" eurorack module, [6] and the remaining 3 are made by Noise Engineering. [7]

Firmware updates

Arturia made available user installable firmware updates for the MicroFreak with additional features and improvements in the years after the original release. [8] [9]

Variations

It received a limited edition white Vocoder design in 2020. [5]

MicroFreak Vocoder (top left in white) is located above a MatrixBrute (bottom left) Synthesizers top down.jpg
MicroFreak Vocoder (top left in white) is located above a MatrixBrute (bottom left)

Reception

It is considered by some to be one of the best value for money synthesizers of modern times. [11] [12] According to the music production website MusicTech it has "an enormous amount to offer and will really reward exploratory use". [12] The MicroFreak was popular due to its many sound engines and modulation options. [13] [14] The MicroFreak received 9/10 from MusicTech (MusicTech Choice Award); [12] and 9/10 from MusicRadar . [11]

See also

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References

  1. Perrier, Morgan. "Arturia - MicroFreak - MicroFreak". www.arturia.com. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  2. Perrier, Morgan. "Arturia - MicroFreak - MicroFreak". www.arturia.com. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  3. 1 2 O'Brien, Terrence (2023-05-10). "Arturia's MicroFreak gets sample playback, granular synthesis and gorgeous Stellar edition". engadget.com. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  4. "Microfreak Oscillators". Arturia.
  5. 1 2 Rogerson, Ben (2020-08-25). "Arturia releases MicroFreak Vocoder Edition, and there's a pleasant surprise for owners of the original synth, too". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  6. "About the Microfreak". Mutable Instruments' community. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  7. Arblaster, Simon (2021-01-14). "Arturia collaborates with Noise Engineering to bring exciting new features to latest MicroFreak firmware update". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  8. "Arturia MicroFreak review". MusicRadar. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  9. Perrier, Morgan. "Arturia - MicroFreak - MicroFreak". www.arturia.com. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  10. Mullen, Matt (2021-10-26). "Arturia's V4.0 MicroFreak firmware update adds WaveUser synth engine and 64 new presets". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  11. 1 2 "Arturia MicroFreak review". MusicRadar. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  12. 1 2 3 "Review: Arturia MicroFreak". MusicTech. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  13. "Best Synthesizers for Beginners - Perfect Circuit". www.perfectcircuit.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  14. "A beginners guide to buying a synth". Engadget. Retrieved 2022-10-25.