Even without extra effects, you can definitely get a lot not-toy-like sounds out of it. I mean, just acivate unison mode and its a whole other story. Modulating some features also helps.
Thank you loads for more great help with my decision making. I've just ordered a Microfreak for Christmas, and already much appreciate my Nts1. I will be going through your Microfreak videos for great assistance as always! 👍👍👍
External reverb/delay effects can make any synth sound bigger, assuming the synth doesn't have these effects already built in. Occasionally I will even use an octave guitar pedal to fatten up a lead sound, or an overdrive pedal for more aggressive bite.
@@FreeBeat if you really wanna get wild with an analog octave pedal and a synth, try patching it between the headphone out and the external in of any synth with those options.
This thing can go from crazy snappy arp sequences to the most desolate low-end alien sounding atmospheres quite easily. Id also say it’s the most inspirational synth I’ve used - switching osc type or timbre after dialling in some changes and just seeing what it comes out with is a great way to get inspired. It’s hugely versatile and really underrated/maligned, IMO. MF absolutely needs some distortion and delay / reverb on it to shine (like most). 10.22 *chefs kiss*
Microfreak can sound HUGE from its own. It has so much low end and can do sine-subbasses, fat sem-filter basses with ultra fast and snappy envelopes AND the lfo goes musically with high rates! also it got almost every synthesis u will ever need - plus features like unison. there is nothing more or less huge out there and you can use a $20 keyboard for kids with a good effect-unit to get sounds from it where other will believe you used a $3000 synth ;-)
Keep enjoying your vids. FWIW, *any* good reverb makes a big difference with Microfreak. Honestly, the Freak tone leaves me a bit cold without some effects.
A multi effects pedal (actually two of them) was my first purchase after the microfreak. If you don't mind a lot of fiddling while designing the Zoom MS70CDR allows you to chain a bunch of effects together and has stereo out. Having multiple kinds of delay/reverb/chorus/etc open up a lot of interesting sound ideas. Maybe its my noob-ness but everything sounds better with some shimmer...
In my opinion, not noobness, correctness. shimmer is awesome. if all you have is NTS1, it is better than nothing, but i have argued in the past that the NTS1 is NOT "worth it for the effects alone". the MS70 kills the NTS1 for $129. It is a little frustrating, but I just always keep in mind that these creators have limited experience beyond the gear they already have and maybe dont really get it.
@@FreeBeat It's the main reason why I can't be bothered to look at at an NTS-1. For the same money I got way way more effects, and it will work with any synth, instrument, or mic I own. As a synth I'd rather look at a Craftsynth or even one of the elektron samples or cycles for more interesting sounds. The nts-1 is a good intro unit but honestly not worth the cost if you plan on acquiring more gear - and more gear happens whether you plan it or not. Thanks for the videos amigo
If the BasicWaves osc sounds like a toy coming out of the MicroFreak, that’s probably just psychological. A square wave sounds like a square wave and a saw wave sounds like a saw wave. Basically sounds indistinguishable from any v.a. synth.
i have added the straymon night sky to my synths and i love the sound...i have a micro freak but i tend to use my kaossilator more for a lead and the MF for an add on.
@@oliverbutterfield9844 nah the freak definitely sounds pretty weak all by itself. I like to run mine into my sub 37, the freak adds an incredible digital oscillator to one of the best analog monosynths ever made, and the sub adds overdrive and those beautiful Moog colors to the freak's formerly weak sound. Makes for absolutely stunning patches. Especially when throwing the freak in paraphonic mode and the sub in duo, beauty two note harmony's coming out of that combo
@@FreeBeat Thanks bro. I currently use an NTS1 with a small modular skiff and so can already appreciate the value of the combined effects and possibilities. Just wanted a synth capable of doing polyphony and pads as I don't currently own any other traditional synth gear just the NTS and the standard eurorack modules. Was considering the Minilogue XD module but I think the keybed on the MF may offer something different and more exciting. Appreciate your demos and feedback. Thanks again!
The Microfreak punches above its waight...I think its the best in it's price point and don't rule out the Microkorg it's still got a lot of miles left after all these years...
Hi, on both machines I get an ugly noisefloor, if I power them over some kind of USB from an MPC or an Laptop. only if I power them straight from the wall it is OK. On the NTS1 even thn the noisefloor is not that great. I love both machines. Did you experienced similar things?
Wait... are you using a stereo 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter? I thought the MicroFreak output is balanced which AFAIK means that you have the correct polarity in one and reversed polarity in the other channel.
Honestly, everything doesn’t need to sound full and deep and fat. It would make for some really crappy mixes without something else sounding crisp and clear... and actually, thin. Like my Strat. I can make it sound fat but a nice clean tone brings life to a mix.
Ha :) Its a great idea to use a heater :) Like NTS 1 :) Free Beat thank you for advice, now I also have NTS 1. Watching your video, now I want to mix it with my Freak :) This reverb on start sound like a shimmer
Microfreak is a bag of simple oscillators with a week and casio tone with enough flexabilaty to sound like a good and sick 303 acidbox and other stronge string and lead sounds also a fun keybed and nts-1 just smooths the bad fm stringe and casio quality and adds strong ambient soundscape that is easy to enjoy for hours randomly tweaking and hitting random notes its a match made in heaven the fact thats its physical hardware made for preforming on the spot just makes it a breeze after setting up and having the right wires
@@FreeBeat I did at one point buy the po 35 and 33 but they both just don't vibe with me ended up returning both but the 35 was better main thing that I could not stand was the lack of a carior wave or the abilaty to use it as an external vocoder for other synths {last straw is the question of putting it in my pocket} I feel like nanoloop on a gameboy {literally time tested pocket able legend} would be more my vibe I still have yet to upload something on any of my accounts
@@FreeBeat I love public domail licenses like cc0 and for a guy named free beat would be lit if you had a freesound org account and posted something truly free
I don’t know what you’re talking about with Casio tone? It has totally got a rich sound, no cheapness here. Don’t let the looks and the price fool you.
@@LukezyM in short its good and 30% of the sounds you can make are great the other 70% are week and need help and it has built in stuff for that {in long} its light plastic cheap feeling can pick it up and flex it, it creaks yikes gameboy color feels more sturdy otherwise thick plastic and has not cracked on me 8/10 as far as I care nice thick rubber pads sits well on a desk and the keybed is solid and has good plastic support, jacks when plugging in feel too tight and get scratched I don't want to update it due to a fear of failing its patch bay led grid thing is flexibility and realy good and 4 voices 1 voice mode sounds a bit cleaner simple oscillators virtual analogue one is my fav sounds strong would buy it over the Korg Monologue if I had to choose again the fm and other oscillators sound jank and week the analogue lfo helps allot over all fun and good 4/5 stars
I always roll my eyes when people put down the sound of a hardware synth with no built-in reverb / delay. It’s total rookie nonsense; any serious musician will 1. Know it will sound different/better through a good reverb, and; 2. Probably have a reverb plugin or pedal they prefer to whatever FX are onboard. Except for a few notable exceptions (Deepmind Wavestate etc) most synths with FX don’t have good quality effects that are integrated into the synth’s modulation system, so you might as well go in clean and use that Valhalla or Eventide reverb you love so much.
EVERY Synth sounds toyish then. And yes reverb and delay makes everything better. It is the bacon of sound. The Freak is awesome and no different or "weaker" than other synths. This video is clickbait or using a simple production mechanic and selling it as real advice.
I keep listening to this ua-cam.com/video/uXNUjPyBM-Q/v-deo.html because i just love the sounds of the Microfreak there. And also the combo with the Novation Circuit is killer!
Definitely not what I'm trying to do. This video is also over a year old. If you check out my other videos about the microfreak, I state multiple times how much I love it.
Oh yeah it definitely needs some effects to make it sing. I tried playing around with the onboard delay but wasn't happy with any of the results, but I'm sure it could be beefed up quite easily!
If you can’t get seriously fat synth sounds out of this beast the problem is not the Microfreak. Enough said.
Well put!
Even without extra effects, you can definitely get a lot not-toy-like sounds out of it. I mean, just acivate unison mode and its a whole other story. Modulating some features also helps.
You are quite right!
Shift + the paraphonic button. There are unison Settings in the utility menu.
He is not rtying to sell the Microfreak, he is low key selling us the reverb/delay :P
Thank you loads for more great help with my decision making. I've just ordered a Microfreak for Christmas, and already much appreciate my Nts1. I will be going through your Microfreak videos for great assistance as always! 👍👍👍
Glad to help, thanks for watching!
External reverb/delay effects can make any synth sound bigger, assuming the synth doesn't have these effects already built in. Occasionally I will even use an octave guitar pedal to fatten up a lead sound, or an overdrive pedal for more aggressive bite.
I didn't think of using an octave pedal with a synth, that's a great idea!
@@FreeBeat if you really wanna get wild with an analog octave pedal and a synth, try patching it between the headphone out and the external in of any synth with those options.
This thing can go from crazy snappy arp sequences to the most desolate low-end alien sounding atmospheres quite easily. Id also say it’s the most inspirational synth I’ve used - switching osc type or timbre after dialling in some changes and just seeing what it comes out with is a great way to get inspired. It’s hugely versatile and really underrated/maligned, IMO. MF absolutely needs some distortion and delay / reverb on it to shine (like most).
10.22 *chefs kiss*
I agree, it punches so far above it price tag that it's not even funny. Great synth!
what kind of other device can I use to add effects to it ? (besides the korg nts1)
@@igornikitovitchnosorog874 pedals……i think
I feel like anyone that says it sounds like a toy is not using it right...
I totally agree!
Microfreak can sound HUGE from its own. It has so much low end and can do sine-subbasses, fat sem-filter basses with ultra fast and snappy envelopes AND the lfo goes musically with high rates! also it got almost every synthesis u will ever need - plus features like unison. there is nothing more or less huge out there and you can use a $20 keyboard for kids with a good effect-unit to get sounds from it where other will believe you used a $3000 synth ;-)
Yeah, it's an absolutely killer deal. You get so much!
I still struggle to get a ‘thick’ rich sound from it though. It’s very fun, but still quite thin
I've been able to with effects, but when the new 5.0 firmware comes out on May 30th you'll be able to do that with samples!
Keep enjoying your vids. FWIW, *any* good reverb makes a big difference with Microfreak. Honestly, the Freak tone leaves me a bit cold without some effects.
In one of your videos I saw you using Headphones out but here is usual MONO out? I hear that the signal is different from this outs
A multi effects pedal (actually two of them) was my first purchase after the microfreak. If you don't mind a lot of fiddling while designing the Zoom MS70CDR allows you to chain a bunch of effects together and has stereo out. Having multiple kinds of delay/reverb/chorus/etc open up a lot of interesting sound ideas. Maybe its my noob-ness but everything sounds better with some shimmer...
In my opinion, not noobness, correctness. shimmer is awesome. if all you have is NTS1, it is better than nothing, but i have argued in the past that the NTS1 is NOT "worth it for the effects alone". the MS70 kills the NTS1 for $129. It is a little frustrating, but I just always keep in mind that these creators have limited experience beyond the gear they already have and maybe dont really get it.
I'm definitely going to have to get my hands on one of those. Thanks for watching!
@@FreeBeat It's the main reason why I can't be bothered to look at at an NTS-1. For the same money I got way way more effects, and it will work with any synth, instrument, or mic I own.
As a synth I'd rather look at a Craftsynth or even one of the elektron samples or cycles for more interesting sounds. The nts-1 is a good intro unit but honestly not worth the cost if you plan on acquiring more gear - and more gear happens whether you plan it or not.
Thanks for the videos amigo
That lead patch with the delay and reverb is about as proggy as you can get! Awesome!
It's one of my favorites!
If the BasicWaves osc sounds like a toy coming out of the MicroFreak, that’s probably just psychological. A square wave sounds like a square wave and a saw wave sounds like a saw wave. Basically sounds indistinguishable from any v.a. synth.
Thanks for watching!
One thing that I love to do is to modulate the synthesis selector for some cool glitchness
Awesome!
i have added the straymon night sky to my synths and i love the sound...i have a micro freak but i tend to use my kaossilator more for a lead and the MF for an add on.
That sounds like an awesome setup, glad it's working for you!
Most every synth sounds like that without any effects. People are silly 🙄
I’m pretty sure people are letting the “toy” nature of the keyboard influence their opinion.
I agree 100 %!
@@oliverbutterfield9844 nah the freak definitely sounds pretty weak all by itself. I like to run mine into my sub 37, the freak adds an incredible digital oscillator to one of the best analog monosynths ever made, and the sub adds overdrive and those beautiful Moog colors to the freak's formerly weak sound. Makes for absolutely stunning patches. Especially when throwing the freak in paraphonic mode and the sub in duo, beauty two note harmony's coming out of that combo
great demo with nts1! im sold on the Micro. Thanks FB!!
How easy is it to save patches?
It's super easy actually, click the save button, name your patch, and you're basically done :)
@@FreeBeat Thanks bro. I currently use an NTS1 with a small modular skiff and so can already appreciate the value of the combined effects and possibilities. Just wanted a synth capable of doing polyphony and pads as I don't currently own any other traditional synth gear just the NTS and the standard eurorack modules. Was considering the Minilogue XD module but I think the keybed on the MF may offer something different and more exciting.
Appreciate your demos and feedback. Thanks again!
The Microfreak punches above its waight...I think its the best in it's price point and don't rule out the Microkorg it's still got a lot of miles left after all these years...
I agree! The Microkorg and the Alesis Micron are both heavy hitters as well!
Hi, on both machines I get an ugly noisefloor, if I power them over some kind of USB from an MPC or an Laptop. only if I power them straight from the wall it is OK. On the NTS1 even thn the noisefloor is not that great. I love both machines. Did you experienced similar things?
Yeah I get it too, so I plug all of my USB devices into their own individual bricks on a separate power strip to avoid the extra noise.
The Tom Sawyer recreation was AMAZING
Thanks so much!
I Love this video!
Thanks so much!
@@FreeBeat I ordered that Korg NTS-1 based off of your link as well 🙌🏾
Freeb,
Could you have the microfreak playing along with an nts-1 and a drum machine like a volca drum or pocket operator at the same time?
Yes I believe that would work!
Wait... are you using a stereo 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter? I thought the MicroFreak output is balanced which AFAIK means that you have the correct polarity in one and reversed polarity in the other channel.
Yeah I'm not sure what was going through my mind here lol. Especially because the microfreak has a 3.5mm headphone out right next to the 6.3mm hahaha.
Is there a way to fix the low output level?
Mixer gain
Honestly, everything doesn’t need to sound full and deep and fat. It would make for some really crappy mixes without something else sounding crisp and clear... and actually, thin. Like my Strat. I can make it sound fat but a nice clean tone brings life to a mix.
Comparing it to a strat is an excellent point!
I think of many cuckoo's tracks, toyish for sure, amazing as well.
Ha :) Its a great idea to use a heater :) Like NTS 1 :) Free Beat thank you for advice, now I also have NTS 1. Watching your video, now I want to mix it with my Freak :) This reverb on start sound like a shimmer
Do it! They make a great pair :)
Always run my freak through a little reverb and delay
Makes it sound so good!
It is so much quieter than al my other synths... Why is that?
You’re probably using a TRS (stereo) cable instead of TS (mono)?
@@stevenbeeckman3019 no i use a mono cable...
So to make a MicroFreak sound less toy-ish you use a toy-ish reverb on it, hmmm interesting ;-)
Nice video again.
I regret not starting with a microfreak before moving to more advanced gear. It's weird, in a good way.
If you're still interested in getting one I would go for it! The options it provides are almost limitless.
Microfreak is a bag of simple oscillators with a week and casio tone with enough flexabilaty to sound like a good and sick 303 acidbox and other stronge string and lead sounds also a fun keybed and nts-1 just smooths the bad fm stringe and casio quality and adds strong ambient soundscape that is easy to enjoy for hours randomly tweaking and hitting random notes its a match made in heaven the fact thats its physical hardware made for preforming on the spot just makes it a breeze after setting up and having the right wires
Thanks so much for watching!
@@FreeBeat I did at one point buy the po 35 and 33 but they both just don't vibe with me ended up returning both but the 35 was better main thing that I could not stand was the lack of a carior wave or the abilaty to use it as an external vocoder for other synths {last straw is the question of putting it in my pocket} I feel like nanoloop on a gameboy {literally time tested pocket able legend} would be more my vibe I still have yet to upload something on any of my accounts
@@FreeBeat I love public domail licenses like cc0 and for a guy named free beat would be lit if you had a freesound org account and posted something truly free
I don’t know what you’re talking about with Casio tone? It has totally got a rich sound, no cheapness here. Don’t let the looks and the price fool you.
@@LukezyM in short its good and 30% of the sounds you can make are great the other 70% are week and need help and it has built in stuff for that {in long} its light plastic cheap feeling can pick it up and flex it, it creaks yikes gameboy color feels more sturdy otherwise thick plastic and has not cracked on me 8/10 as far as I care nice thick rubber pads sits well on a desk and the keybed is solid and has good plastic support, jacks when plugging in feel too tight and get scratched I don't want to update it due to a fear of failing its patch bay led grid thing is flexibility and realy good and 4 voices 1 voice mode sounds a bit cleaner simple oscillators virtual analogue one is my fav sounds strong would buy it over the Korg Monologue if I had to choose again the fm and other oscillators sound jank and week the analogue lfo helps allot over all fun and good 4/5 stars
I always roll my eyes when people put down the sound of a hardware synth with no built-in reverb / delay. It’s total rookie nonsense; any serious musician will 1. Know it will sound different/better through a good reverb, and; 2. Probably have a reverb plugin or pedal they prefer to whatever FX are onboard. Except for a few notable exceptions (Deepmind Wavestate etc) most synths with FX don’t have good quality effects that are integrated into the synth’s modulation system, so you might as well go in clean and use that Valhalla or Eventide reverb you love so much.
The real star here is the nts 1
Always!
I clearly don't have "audiophile" ears... I just got a Microfreak and can easily overwhelm the room with depth...
I tend to agree with you haha.
EVERY Synth sounds toyish then. And yes reverb and delay makes everything better. It is the bacon of sound. The Freak is awesome and no different or "weaker" than other synths. This video is clickbait or using a simple production mechanic and selling it as real advice.
I keep listening to this ua-cam.com/video/uXNUjPyBM-Q/v-deo.html because i just love the sounds of the Microfreak there. And also the combo with the Novation Circuit is killer!
Yeah, the circuit with the freak seems to be an incredibly powerful combination!
Why do I get the feeling, this is guy is in a way, trying to undermine the freak? Dude, that thing does not need that korg for SHIT!
Definitely not what I'm trying to do. This video is also over a year old. If you check out my other videos about the microfreak, I state multiple times how much I love it.
Yeah....sounds anemic and flat without fx - but ok for the low price !
Thx for uploading the video 🎼
Oh yeah it definitely needs some effects to make it sing. I tried playing around with the onboard delay but wasn't happy with any of the results, but I'm sure it could be beefed up quite easily!
A toy?? Hahaha!!!
Sounds like a casio
Is that a good thing or bad thing in your eyes haha. Thanks for watching!
Sadly, Microfreak sounds terrible no matter what is done. Sorry. Why can't anyone admit it?
Sound is subjective and just because you don't like it doesn't mean everyone shares the same opinion :)
they are hypnotized by the bling features of the synthesizer.