Arturia MicroFreak

MicroFreak
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 type	See Sound Engines
Filter	Multi-mode VCF
Attenuator	Cycling envelope, ASR envelope and LFO
Aftertouch expression	Polyphonic Aftertouch
Input/output
Keyboard	2 Octave PCB
External control	Sends 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.

Sound engines

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

• Basic Waves – a standard synth voice using traditional waveforms
• Super Wave – a group of detuned waves (like a supersaw),
• Harmonic – a form of additive synthesis where you set volumes of frequencies individually,
• Karplus-Strong – a physical modelling system to replicate string sounds,
• Wavetable – a method of synthesis where the waveform transitions through a table of different waveforms,
• Noise – various types of noise and static.
• Virtual Analogue – a standard subtractive synth voice,
• Waveshaper – a triangle wave that is repeatedly wavefolded,
• Frequency Modulation (two operators) – a method of synthesis where a wave modulates the frequency of another wave,
• Formant – a form of granular synthesis,
• Chords – an engine that plays groups of notes paraphonically,
• Speech – a vocal synthesizer,
• Modal – a physical modelling engine that replicates the sound of hollow objects,
• Bass – another waveshaping algorithm specifically for basslines,
• Harm – a mixture of waveshaping and additive synthesis,
• SawX – a supersaw being phase modulated,
• Vocoder – a voice transformer similar to a talkbox, ^[5]
• User Wavetable – an engine to use your own wavetables,
• Sample – an engine that plays back loaded samples,
• Scan Grain – a granular synthesizer that scans through a whole sample,
• Cloud Grain – a granular synthesizer that creates overlapping grains from a sample, and
• Hit Grain – a granular synthesizer that creates percussive sounds from a sample.

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]}

• 1.0 – MicroFreak released with this firmware
• 2.0 – Added noise engine, chord mode and scale quantisation
• 2.1.3 – Added vocoder engine. Vocoder edition released with this firmware.
• 3.0 – Added noise engineering oscillators, unison mode and more preset slots
• 4.0 – Added user wavetable engine and 64 more preset slots ^[10]
• 5.0 – Added sample and grain engines, 128 more preset slots, and a sample and hold mode for keybed modulation. The Stellar edition released with this firmware. ^[3]

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)

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

• Arturia MiniBrute – another synthesizer by the same company

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. 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. 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. "Arturia MicroFreak review". MusicRadar. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
12. "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. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-25.