Arturia MiniFreak 37 Key Polyphonic Hybrid Keyboard

Product Information

Price point: 600 USD isn't really very appealing for this, unless you only buy synths based on specs sheet comparison. On paper it seems decent (specs only, no manual for deeper comparison), but the character of the instrument seems sufficiently paper-thin, derivative of predecessor, and in no way innovative or really "next level". If an item can not be repaired, a similar alternative product or cash discount (as defined in this policy) will be offered Get in-depth with your sound design using the advanced modulation matrix that takes inspiration from previous ‘FREAK’ synthesizers. Building upon previous designs, the MINIFREAK provides unprecedented control over your sound, allowing you to add texture and colour to your synthesised sounds. Shape, sculpt and transform different tones to achieve any sound you can imagine. Equipped with polyphonic ADSR envelopes and customisable, multi-segment LFO shapes you can truly transform simple tones into anything you can think of.

All of the most important parameters have dedicated controls, with many secondary parameters also accessible by pressing a controller or holding down the shift button. Some of the knobs are of the continuous rotary variety, and therefore immune to parameter jumps, as are the standard min/max dials, which won’t adjust their associated parameter until they’ve been turned past that parameter’s current value. It’s an elegant solution to an age-old problem. Many synthesizers have come onto the market in recent years. Analog as well as digital. The trend in recent years has been toward hybrid designs, where the features of both worlds are merged into new types of instruments. The Arturia MicroFreak, a multi-engine paraphonic hybrid Synthesizer, has done this very successfully.

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Despite its penchant for wild & exploratory sound design, MiniFreak is also built as a responsive instrument of expression. Its velocity-sensitive 37-note keybed with aftertouch and spontaneous Seq / Arp functionality makes it a dream to perform with, while its randomization features and modulation lanes put playfulness and sonic momentum immediately at users' fingertips.MiniFreak VMiniFreak comes with a dedicated VST counterpart, letting users totally integrate its unique hybrid sound into their DAW productions and vice versa. Using identical sound engines and architecture, it offers a like-for-like virtual experience of the synth itself, at no extra cost.

The other major power multiplier for the MiniFreak is that it can sync with the MiniFreak V, a new virtual instrument being added to Arturia’s burgeoning V range of soft-synths. Not only does this allow the MiniFreak hardware to be used as a perfect hands-on controller for the MiniFreak V, it also allows the MiniFreak V to act as a high-res graphical programming companion for the hardware MiniFreak. Despite its penchant for wild & exploratory sound design, MiniFreak is also built as a responsive instrument of expression. Its velocity-sensitive 37-note keybed with aftertouch and spontaneous Seq/Arp functionality makes it a dream to perform with, while its randomization features and modulation lanes put playfulness and sonic momentum immediately at users’ fingertips. MiniFreak V

Tech Specs

Some purists might also point out that I’m being seduced by the smoke/mirrors of the three-engine effects engine rather than than the character of the sound sources. That could be said of any digital synth, but I’d suggest the filter has plenty of character and the other modifiers are very powerful sound sculptors. The effects are good and generous, and can provide some welcome fairy dust (or extreme annihilation) at times. I’d suggest the hybrid digital/analogue approach is super-solid but Minifreak is not attempting to compete against a six-voice fully-analogue performance synth. This keyboard is a necessity given the MiniFreak’s expanded voicing capabilities. The synth retains the monophonic and paraphonic modes of the MicroFreak, albeit with 12 rather than four paraphonic voices, but also adds a fully fledged six-voice polyphonic mode.

In addition, performance is made simple with the 37-note velocity-sensitive keybed that comes with aftertouch for further expression. Not only that but creatives can make the most of the FM and ring modulation to take sounds to unseen heights. With over 20 modes to choose from including Virtual Analog, FM, and Additive, the interplay between MiniFreak's two oscillators can result in truly unique compound sonic behavior. With 6 voice polyphony, analog filters, and the ability to process engine 1 through engine 2, MiniFreak puts premium polyphonic synthesis exploration into a compact & tactile instrument that’s as addictive as it is powerful. Customizable & experimental sound design The MicroFreak has four voices and is paraphonic. The MiniFreak, on the other hand, has 6 voices that work in true polyphony. Starting with the oscillators. The MiniFreak has 2 super rich multi-engine oscillators powered by 20+ algorithms. In addition to the 6 analog filters, the MiniFreak also has an analog VCA per voice. And connected directly to this is a new 3-slot multi-effects section. One of the missing features of the MicroFreak. According to Arturia, the effects algorithms come from their flagship analog polysynth PolyBrute. Including chorus, phaser, flanger, reverb, delay, distortion, bit-crusher, 3-band EQ, peak EQ, and multi-comp. With over 20 modes to choose from including Virtual Analog, FM, and Additive, the interplay betweenCredit subject to status and affordability. Terms & Conditions Apply. Guitar Guitar Limited is a credit broker and is Authorised Available are different digital filters (multimode, Surgeon, Comb, Phaser) and a destroy processor that extremely mangles your signals using folding, decimate, and bit crushing. Then, both signals run into an Oberheim SEM-style state variable analog filter with cutoff and resonance controls. It is powered by six internal analog filters, which give you a true polyphonic playing experience. Inzwischen steht der Minifreak vier Wochen bei mir und die Freude und Begeisterung halten an. Die Software Minifreak V, das Handbuch und einige Tutorials auf der Arturia Webseite sind verfügbar. Die Software läuft Standalone oder als Plugin. Die Integration Minifreak und Software ist vorbildlich gelöst. Alles im direkten Zugriff und Software visualisiert die Funktionen des Mini bestens.