Hi Mark, Thank you for the upload! Have owned the MF for 1 year now, and have been too busy to learn it. Your video series is helping inspire me to learn more about this unique piece of gear. Thanks again
Unless it's 20 minutes, he wears a cape and there are rototoms and gongs involved, and trippy, psychedelic images with the screen melting, I won't consider it a proper prog rock solo ;)
So I just recently commented in a previous video how I like the unique character of this synth and its huge array of sounds. I said something along the lines of "even with the VA oscillators I don't expect it to accurately recreate an analog synth sound. If you want a particular analog sound, buy an analog synth." So, okay, I have to admit that some of the sounds I've already heard thus far sounded rather analog, but this thing CAN do analog sounds. But I still like the variety.
To be clear, my point is that if you're trying to get analog-like sounds out of it, I think this does a REALLY good job of it. At the same time, if you just want to really nail a specific analog tone, you should probably just use an analog synth. Or not. Whatever is easiest for you. This certainly can often sound quite analog to my ears, and I think it's a good demonstration of the blurring of lines that is finally occurring in modern synths. That said, I still like this thing most for its more unique sounds, and I still like synths like the Grandmother for their rich creamy goodness and analog options.
This synth is very complete and intuitive. Love it so much. Please do a tuto on matrix and how create really interesting patches. Also on sequencer and spice & dice effects that are amazing for live performance. Very nice tutorials btw and love how you get out of the path of the subject like on this vid cause yeah even dry of effects this micro thing is huge of possibilities ! Keep the good work. Thx
I've been wrestling with my Microfreak lately and at the two-minute mark, you touch on something that's been on my mind. I've watched this before but I hadn't caught your advice as to the filter before and I will pay attention to this. But both my music buddy and I find the sound that comes straight out of the Microfreak unsatisfactory. By which I mean irritating. But as I said to my music buddy, "What would you say about the clean sound of your guitar in a finished mix? Here's some reverb." "Oh." "Here's some overdrive with the gain turned down to saturate things without fuzzing them out." "Oh." "And here's some chorus to fatten things up." "Oh. Okay, I'll never complain about the sound of the Microfreak again." But just last session, I was playing it and hated the sound the whole time. When my buddy left, after a period of brooding, I decided to run it through some effects and remembered what I'd already said in dispute. I love this instrument as long as I remember it's part of a system, not a thing in itself.
(re the "thin/icy " criticism): to be fair, they're probably used to 2-3 oscillator analog synths. It's easy to get a "fat" sound by detuning multiple oscillators.
Hey Mr AGS. Can you recommend a good stand-alone hardware brain to control/sequence the Microfreak, a second polyphonic synth and a drum machine? I've got a Beatstep Pro but its melodic sequencers are only monophonic and you can't sequence MIDI CC/automation. Any ideas?
Hi Mark, Thank you for the upload! Have owned the MF for 1 year now, and have been too busy to learn it. Your video series is helping inspire me to learn more about this unique piece of gear. Thanks again
Glad to help!
I love this keyboard. I wish I would have bought mine sooner. I didn't realize how good it was until a few months ago.
I saw a guy saying the microfreak is full of "unusable noises"
It's like saying a piece of paper is trash because you dont like the drawing.
"And now, a 15-minute prog rock solo." Promises, promises!
Unless it's 20 minutes, he wears a cape and there are rototoms and gongs involved, and trippy, psychedelic images with the screen melting, I won't consider it a proper prog rock solo ;)
So I just recently commented in a previous video how I like the unique character of this synth and its huge array of sounds. I said something along the lines of "even with the VA oscillators I don't expect it to accurately recreate an analog synth sound. If you want a particular analog sound, buy an analog synth." So, okay, I have to admit that some of the sounds I've already heard thus far sounded rather analog, but this thing CAN do analog sounds. But I still like the variety.
To be clear, my point is that if you're trying to get analog-like sounds out of it, I think this does a REALLY good job of it. At the same time, if you just want to really nail a specific analog tone, you should probably just use an analog synth. Or not. Whatever is easiest for you. This certainly can often sound quite analog to my ears, and I think it's a good demonstration of the blurring of lines that is finally occurring in modern synths. That said, I still like this thing most for its more unique sounds, and I still like synths like the Grandmother for their rich creamy goodness and analog options.
If you disable Amp Mod (just click it) the env - filter action is even more manifest as amplitude is fixed.
This synth is very complete and intuitive. Love it so much. Please do a tuto on matrix and how create really interesting patches. Also on sequencer and spice & dice effects that are amazing for live performance. Very nice tutorials btw and love how you get out of the path of the subject like on this vid cause yeah even dry of effects this micro thing is huge of possibilities ! Keep the good work. Thx
Second this! A vid on how to get the most out of the matrix would be amazing
@@TheAlexs99 you should subscribe to his channel, he's already done two videos on the matrix
My Microfreak arrives on Tuesday. I am sooooo excited.
Mine arrives next week. I’m a bit behind.
I've been wrestling with my Microfreak lately and at the two-minute mark, you touch on something that's been on my mind. I've watched this before but I hadn't caught your advice as to the filter before and I will pay attention to this. But both my music buddy and I find the sound that comes straight out of the Microfreak unsatisfactory.
By which I mean irritating. But as I said to my music buddy, "What would you say about the clean sound of your guitar in a finished mix? Here's some reverb."
"Oh."
"Here's some overdrive with the gain turned down to saturate things without fuzzing them out."
"Oh." "And here's some chorus to fatten things up."
"Oh. Okay, I'll never complain about the sound of the Microfreak again." But just last session, I was playing it and hated the sound the whole time. When my buddy left, after a period of brooding, I decided to run it through some effects and remembered what I'd already said in dispute.
I love this instrument as long as I remember it's part of a system, not a thing in itself.
I love the thing to death, but there are times in my music where it is not the right choice.
You the man! Appreciation!
The SEM filter is the greatest thing on this synth, outside of the oscillators, of course!
Thank You Marc Doty!
Thumbs up! :-)
I love the insights about typical UA-cam comments
Great videos, thanks.
@3:26 And because You can't fake the funk!!! #djrtnyc
(re the "thin/icy " criticism): to be fair, they're probably used to 2-3 oscillator analog synths. It's easy to get a "fat" sound by detuning multiple oscillators.
You can also get the detuned sound using the Superwave oscillator setting, I’m pretty sure he did a video on it!
Sorry Marc, i have another question... i can't finish to comprehend the use of "Filter Amt", if you can explain me please. thanks you
Hey Mr AGS. Can you recommend a good stand-alone hardware brain to control/sequence the Microfreak, a second polyphonic synth and a drum machine? I've got a Beatstep Pro but its melodic sequencers are only monophonic and you can't sequence MIDI CC/automation. Any ideas?
👍🏾
Subtitles be like…. Wow wow wow
Nice, but I'll wait for the PolyFreak with a real keyboard!
Ok, this sounds fat enough. No more thin punny "snowwy" sounds for digital synths. I give up
Please stop your glowing reviews, I’m thinking of a 2nd cheap freak.
Ye ye I got one used, there's a lot of entertainment even if you think sound is not your thing