Sonic LAB - Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer Review
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- We take a look at the new Arturia MicroFreak, a hybrid synth which features a single digital oscillator with 11 different algorithms, 7 of which are provided by Mutable Instruments Plaits open source code. this then goes into a SEM style 2-pole filter, 2 envelopes, 1 LFO and a 35 point patch matrix.
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Am I the only one that's just blown away at this micro machine and it's crazy key pad !? WTF !?
Thank you for all the videos you do. I'm a synth newbie and I really appreciate your coverage of low-cost synths like this, the IK Uno, Modal Skulpt etc.
I think what makes Nick stand out most is that in addition to his great presenter skills, he is a great musician. He knows how to make gear musical.
So many folks are just making bleeps, bloops, and noise but not in a musical way. They make sound, even great and interesting sound. He shows how gear can make music.
Christian Wheeler Could not agree more. His Erebus V3 review had some of the best patches I’ve ever heard.
Alex from source distribution is a good musician too ua-cam.com/video/cagbBg0TmgM/v-deo.html&ab_channel=SourceDistributionTV
"Let's start with a patch called 'PWM', whyever not?" Don't ever change. :)
Thank you for reviewing this little guy. I was waiting for your review, I knew you would display this synth’s true potential. All I have heard on prior reviews was basically chaos. Nothing wrong with that honestly but it’s nice to know this can make some purely musical beauty too. As usual your review makes me want to go out and grab one of these ASAP. Then I can bring it home and be frustrated that I can’t make it sound as good as Nick does. Lol. Honestly though just watching your reviews and performances has improved my sound design abilities from learning to emulate what you do. Bravo Nick!!
finally a review that adds effects to the little freak. Sounds sooo much better! Good job!
First time somebody talks about the bottom end of this little synth. And first time I actually liked the sound of it. Thanks Nick!
That melody at 15:05 is phenomenal
That sequence at the end was brilliant! You always play great stuff.
Have to disagree about the effects, prefer to use better quality effects and keep price down on the machine. Excellent review by the way.
Other side, a digital delay doesn't cost a significant amount these days. Get a synth- worthy delay pedal these days for 20-30 euro, so, the chip itself must be under half that.. It's nice to design and store a synth patch with a delay as part of the sound design. Would take the edge off the digital sterility on some sounds. But, your point is well made, and I agree.
Yea. I'm an amateur at best, but have wondered a couple of times why "cheap" stuff needs reverb and delay when pretty much everybody who is into this kind of thing has a daw or seperate effects anyway. Use that cost to add something else or bring the cost down. Not a dig at Nick though.
I agree overall. The only exceptions are maybe the Prologue/XD, Peak, Prophet 6. And if this had the effects in the mod matrix. Modulating a delay via a mod matrix will never not be fun.
i mean he agreed with you, he said he understood that to keep the price down, effects were too much to ask.
Haut Strange I agree with you on prologue and XD as effects are open source so the community can modify these effects which is very exciting.
I was standing in line at the local musicstore in Amsterdam to buy something, it was taking a while and I started to fiddle with this synth on the demo table. I was sold within minutes and bought it. Such a versatile weird little synth! Instant inspiration.
Nick, I enjoyed your review of the microfreak synth! Thanks for the coverage of this hardware.
I could listen to you tblk all day
J Oe I could rded your comments all day. 🙂
@@DFunct905 I could read your replies all day :)
I want to thank you for this brilliant review of this device which also sells the machine. Many videos on youtube just review the machine without actually selling it. But you've managed to win me over. I was condisering the Yamaha MX49, and even the Behrenger Deepming 12d. But for the money, and for what it does, plus my space issues (can't really cram in any more synths) this fits the bill perfectly.
The 3 pin power lead is in order to ground the pcb keyboard to prevent loss of capacitance or something along those lines
J Horrobin
Can't wait to have my Freak! Combining it with my 0-Coast and my old Casiotones and external FX will be perfect for my ambient project.
I have a casiotone mt86, is there anyway to hook them up together?
It's like a Sinclair ZX81 for synthesis. Brilliant piece of kit.
Nick, fantastic review! Would it be worth your time to do a demo video just doing beautiful sounds? I would like to hear any pads it can do. I love what you do in those demo videos of just doing extended music...
I'm so impressed by this. Totally excited by the design, ingenuity and ...weirdness!
Really good overview and review - thanks! Looks great fun.
A note: they probably use the 3-prong cloverleaf connector to provide a ground which helps the capacitive keyboard work better.
Sure but why not use an IEC instead? Much more available
sonicstate probably size and cost, you can use a thinner and more flexible power cord because the current limit is 2.5A on these IEC C5/C6 connectors. They’re fairly common on laptop power supplies (Lenovo, HP). The regular IEC C13/C14 connectors go up to 10A, so you end up with a fat and heavy power cord. For use with a laptop lighter and smaller is better. Perhaps Arturia has portability in mind as well. Just guessing.
Thanks for the review, by the way.
Thanks for the kind words Nick :) as always, wonderful video. I'm still very much enjoying making microfreak patches as well.
Ken, always good to see you in any venue!
Do you know if the sequencer and arpeggiator output over cv/gate and/or MIDI?
I seem to recall the MiniBrute outputting its arpeggiator over cv/gate only.
Any insight would be appreciated!
Peace.
@@tedstahl3794 I'm not infront of it right now but I believe in the mcc editor you can dictate how it outputs it's arp/seq. My tentative answer is yes
Splendid, my friend! Excellent (tentative) news! If you get a chance to confirm that, I would appreciate it quite a bit! I am seriously considering acquiring this one if I can use it as a controller for the modular in addition to it's splendid sonic architecture. I especially like the Buchla-esque aspect of that keyboard!
The more I see and KNOW about it's spec's - the MORE I like it! Great review, as always. 😎
It seems these days it is an accomplishment in itself to get a review by Nick. Good Job Arturia! Now, on the review: not that I needed too much convincing about the Microfreak, but the short arpeggiator demonstration was heavenly.
Listening to what he has said. In most cases they would need to sent it to him. It should not have a very steep learning curve. The OS has to be relase state, or pretty much release state.
And it has to be pre-release or just released, he isn't interested in reviewing units that has been out for a while, especially not if it comes from a big maker, no matter the terms of availability up to that point. In that regard I think he is a bit strict, because some synths has a pretty long life-cycle, and may not be irrelevant just because 8 months or even 1 year has passed. And many would prefer Nick Bat reviews over many others.
Great demo. Looking forward to Nick’s next demo: the Maxi-Freak with true 8-voice polyphony and built-in FX !!
Thanks Nick! Just got mine yesterday.
I was against buying this because of the keyboard and the quirky synth types. But now I've heard it, I want it BECAUSE of the keyboard and quirky synth types!
Seems like a long time since Nick had a hardware synth review, very refreshing and wonderful review and why I like Nick's reviews the best. Congratulations to Arturia for again producing another very usable (read musical) synth. That little modulation matrix is genius, all manufacturers should take note of it because we synth folks are going to begin expecting it on all synths. Don't miss the missing effects, rather use my own.
I agree except in the case of the Prologue/XD. Those effects are glorious. If the Minilogue XD also had even a small 5x7 mod matrix, I would already own it.
@@HotStrange Oh yea! I did not think about the XD, yes the XD with a matrix would be Heaven....or at least bliss. And yes, the more expensive synths can afford to put high quality effects in the synth, I just don't like the low priced synths like the Freak attempting effects unless they are very good, I don't like useless features.
I love this synth. Wish they would make the damn thing available already!
Too gimmicky for my taste.
@@ReneeNme What is gimmicky? The 2 buttons Spice and Dice? Because EVERYTHING ELSE is standard Synth stuff ... envelopes, looping envelopes, mod matrix, filter ... Did you even look at the thing?
Ho Hum.
VictorSteiner good point. I think it’s an amazing little synth. Not gimmicky in the slightest. I really love that there are so many great synths out there for just a few hundred bucks nowadays. With my current income I can easily pick up another synth every two months or so if I wanted to. Got to love it.
ReneeNme I got one and the first day I was planning on returning it for sure.
But I had the whole weekend to play with it and I gotta say this thing is pretty insane!
The workflow is simple as hell and modulation + the synth engines can take you places that would be super difficult and complex to program on anything else.
It’s almost like a modular. The insane mod mixtures while holding the keys or using the arp plus playing the envelopes live.
It’s hard to describe but I’m kinda in love with it.
Definitely keeping it.
The keyboard makes it even better.
It’s so fast and the “pressure” mod source is awesome.
I’ll be using it with my digitakt and digitone set up.
Excellent review! As always!! I preordered one of these and it’s arriving tomorrow!! More psyched than ever!! Nick, you’re an inspiration!
Tomorrow!!?? Preordered from who/where?
From “Music Store Live” through Reverb. They’re in California
This is a little gem of a synth. Im really impressed by this.
Very interested in this - thanks for the excellent review Nick! Looking at this and the 2 new Volcas - should make a very capable mini-setup!
The minute I saw it at NAMM, I was intrigued. The amazing thing is the keyboard and the price, only a bit more than a Make Noise Pressure Points module. Great job, Nick. Kudos Arturia.
i'd love to see more great sounding digital synths on the market. hopefully this encourages the industry to bring more interesting innovative stuff to the world of digital synths
Cheers Nick, great review, cheeky little synth. :)
Great review. Nice sounds. Love formant sounds. makes me happy.
Perry Pelican Hello Perry😎
Fabulous review! Thank you for sharing this
Great review, Mister SonicState
Let's start with the PWM patch ^^
Hahaha! Great comment!
and then check out the sing-song harmonics of the filter ;)
Right? Shocking Nick
I have the Arturia Keylab w/all those legacy software V7synths. I have all those options, but this little wacky box sounds like so much fun. Best sounding of Arturia’s small synths. Some really original stuff in that tiny thing.
Ay I've been so excited for this video ever since I saw the MikroFreak in NAMM videos xd
Here's hoping for an "Fx Freak," which takes a similarly creative approach to effects.
enter the Zoia...or MOD DUO (X) ...check em out!
Kaoss pad
I'd like to see a MacroFreak big brother of this with 8 full voices with 2 LFOs each and lots of FX built in :)
Nick is great, I saw this at Synthplex but the booth guys didn’t know anything about it and it sounded terrible, glad to see it properly shown
Lush beauty, sonically and design wise.... limitations are vital , keeps us thinking musically.
Petition to rename podcast to: Sonic Tblk
Tomasz Giba Tblk?
@@zakramsey3508 05:08
Let the Man tblk!
Sonic PWM more like lol
Stop tblking bollocks
Thanks for doing a decent demo review👊🏻
great review as always! I have one question: can you make use of all the sequencer, automation and arp options if you sequence it externally? ie. with a Digitakt. thanks!
this engine in the digitone keys would be my dream synth :)
Awesome review Nick, just a small correction, the sequencer is 64 step not 16. and there are 2 of them you can set in each patch. so total of 128 steps.
Crazy times... It’s like buying a midi controller and getting an amazing synth for free!
not quite as cheap as a midi controller...not quite as crazy...
Bob TheBuilder Lmao what?
@@theflubba not quite as crazy???
That's how I looked at it! I bought the launchpad x (still not too sure why I did) and insurance, and after using it with iPad for a bit, I couldn't justify the price with the small amount of things I could do. so I returned it and got this little rock star for a little bit more change and wow is it fun.
As a midi controller it rocks, but also the synth is crazy good paired with so many quality iOS FX. Also using my akai mpk222 and launchkey 25 mk3, and 49 to control is sometimes when I want conventional keys. Blown away with it actually for my needs
@@cuezaireekaa You bought the launchpad because you were seeking for external happiness. in depth lengthy version or in other words. something clicked in you when you watched a review on it and you didn't hesitate but bought it right away without putting deep consideration to it. Then you tested it out and found out that it wasn't that good you first thought. That's just human nature and my brain functions the same way and I really have to force myself to think twice. In making any kind of material investment it's always worth to think what you get in return and plan it out well so the impact it has is worth a thousand times of the money you put into it."Fun" and "nice" are very shallow measures of impact a thing can have. Figuring out what value it gives in a long term, can it fill a slot of a need not once or twice but perhaps a hundred times or a thousand times and can it have value to others as well are powerful questions when making buying decisions.
There's a lot to like about this machine and for that price. There isnt much on the market that sounds quite like it.
Another excellent review Nick, out of interest do synth manufacturers contact you on a regular basis asking for you to program patch presets for them ? They should.
Excellent review as always. Keep up the good work! Lack of FX is a bummer but sounds like i can put my good Eno reverb pedal to use! I have heard that Arturia's clocking can be a bit weird/non-optimized in non-Arturia workstations - any feedback on that?
I didn't know this freak could play such a sensitive arpeggio at 15:04. I may just buy this thing now..
agree'd - having param changes on top is... soooooo nice.... 😎 👍🏼 Fantastic for live stuff.
Good review with useful tips! Thanks.
I've held off till now because I've got more synths than time to play them but I finally gave in. It's unbeatable value for money even at Canadian prices especially with the recent update to the wavetable functionality. I really hope it turns out to be compatible with my Roland AE-30 wind synth. In theory it should because I can send breath as aftertouch CC (that works really well with the Behringer Neutron).
I was quite certain of getting one anyway, but seeing Nick start the demonstration with the Pulse Width modulation.. i gotta have one.
Nice I just got myself the uno synth ...after watching your review.....the filter is nice on this machine ...ain’t gonna lie ...but I’ll stick with my uno for now ...thanks for another great review sir👊🏼🎶
Okay I so need this. Gives kinda aphex twin like sounds!
Cant wait to get mine
Seems really really cool to me. And that keyboard opens up for some new playing styles and variation and inspiration i would assume.
Very excited for this review!
Best synth reviewer on youtube .no bullshit and tells the hard truth
Top notch review, and it sounds delicious.
But I'm feeling there's more going on in the dev kitchen and I want that instrument.
Hopefully, the larger version, with more bloopy ness (bitimbral or multitimbral with more voices and a more familiar keyboard with mod and pitch wheels, with the poly aftertouch.. ), will be out within a year.
For some reason the look of it reminds of my ZX81 :-)
You’re showing your age... as am I! 🤓
Uuuh. Right!! And I loved my ZX. Size is almost the same and the shape. Great.
Well spotted.
Originally, I was thinking it looked like a George Formant Grill, but, yours was better.
More like the stylophone..
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylophone
blackcountryme na. Smaller.
i love this channel so much
Nick, thank you for taking the time to dig into this instrument! I was hoping to use this as a controller for my Eurorack system (especially routing that pressure out as a modulation source).
One Big Question:
Do the arpeggiator and sequencer send note data out the cv and gate?
Also curious - do they output over MIDI?
I seem to recall that the MiniBrute's arp output cv and gate, but not MIDI.
Thanks!
Peace.
Ted Stahl it send arp/seq midi note data out through midi , not sure about cv/gate good question but I read in the manual and it seems that it will send the note data although there is unpredictable results if polyphony is used.
The CV inter connectivity is a good aspect .It can connect to more semi modular perhaps ?
Great review!
Go ahead and pick up one of these.
I was listening to a simple demo of the presets on youtube, when my girlfriend commented; "such beautiful sounds. Who is the artist?"
Then I decided to get one and it turned out to be one of the most entertaining and musical devices that I have ever owned.
It offers enough to keep you intrigued for hours and will fit into any mix.
hey Nick, did you upgrade cameras recently? The video quality seems to be better :) if its the case I'm glad to see the channel doing well enough to afford new gear :))
God I can’t wait until I get mine. Kudos to KORG and Arturia, for blazing the affordable hybrid trail. The same 2 companies that blazed the affordable analog trail 7-8 years ago. The sheer amount of features in this thing for the price is outrageous. 12 synthesis types with more coming apparently, each with their own unique waves and parameters, an analog state variable filter, 2 envelopes/2 LFOs (looping envelope falls into both categories), a very fully featured sequencer and arp, polyphonic aftertouch capability, patch storage, and a 5x7 mod matrix for $299. Absolutely incredible. And to top it all off it’s very close to having 4 notes of real polyphony. Each having its own Amp goes a long way.
It actually is a true polyphonic 4-voice synth. each engine has 4 copies of itself inside the synth and each voice has it's own VCA :0 it's when you begin utilizing the filter that it becomes "paraphonic"
Aaron Ellson True. That’s what I was getting at. If each voice had its own filter that would be incredible. Even still, for the price this thing is awesome.
This may be my jump to analog
paradroidx it’s mostly digital. Only the filter is analog.
@@HotStrange Gotcha, well my jump to hardware Lol. Crazy they are becoming so affordable. Almost like a top notch vst
Okay, now I can finally make a decision if I want to buy one.
Nick, for sound design and general sound quality would you recommend this or a Reface CS, DX, Roland JU-06A or something else that I have overlooked?
Didn't think much of this when I saw it at the show, didn't try it. Now I really want one, so good job as always. Tblk later!
Great range of sound design for resampling. Would be a nice pairing for a Digitakt.
Damn. I mean I was buying it anyway but ... you‘re right!
Lovely bit of kit but I wonder if the knobs on this will go sticky as the rubber/plastic deteriorates like they can do on the microbrute and other arturia synths?
Great overview
What a Beast. Nick as well.
To say it clear.... there is a 64 step sequencer inside and you can save two versions of this ....so 64 step X 2.
Thank you, this was as clear as mud.
Nic edemo. Did you run the sound through a reverb/delay unit? Thanks.
The sequencer is reminiscent of the Korg Monologue, with its ability to store multiple parameter changes. In fact, this might make a nice friend for the Monologue...
I was thinking the same thing. I wish Arturia offered them in different colors like the Monologue.
The new firmware (1.1.2) makes the spice and dice functions more "active"/noticeable. This thing is amayyyzing for the $. I love it.
Love you channel, I have a Korg Minilogue XD. Would it still be worth getting one of these?
It has a great sound to it.
Is the filter really not able to self-oscillate? It was mentioned in promotional materials and in the manual: "Tip: If you need a sine wave you can use the filter to remove all harmonics from the wave
- and as an alternative, set resonance on the Filter to maximum. The Filter will then self-
oscillate and produce a pure sine wave."
I'm glad it does random garbled speech sounds rather than reverb, just what I've always wanted.
Me too, nice to see a synth with some adventurous features instead of the same old shit
There is nothing I want more atm than MicroFreak =)
'I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you ' =))
u happy with very little... just for a stupid useless synth? REALLY???
I am happy with very little, yes, that’s the goal, otherwise you will constantly be unhappy 🤓
like a butterfly...a wild butterfly
Looks interesting, not too expensive. I have a MatrixBrute and arturia mades a good product. However, Arturia has been way behind in making a software updates for MB to address many problems that exist. Just be warned that once you can buy one (took about a year for the MatrixBrute) do not expect any support from Arturia.
This looks banging!!!
Are the sequences saved across 4 banks A-D, 1-16 patterns, as the Minibrute 2s and Drumbrute?
UHHH I didn't expect this review! lets see
OK now I'm sold.
I have lots of good synth's, like Elektron's, JDXA, Mother 32, but i have to admit, this is something very, very good!!!
I agree about not having onboard effects. I prefer using my own effects pedals, anyway. They offer many more sound sculpting/modulating options rather than getting stuck with a few onboard standardized reverb, delay, chorus and phaser sounds that get old quickly.
Yes I agree too..I'm an Ambient Bassist so have a pedalboard with 14 pedals of all the types of reverb, delay and modulation..The Microfreak sounds glorious hooked up to it in stereo...
pretty cool synth
Fantastic review, as always 👍
through effects this could sound incredible, why would you not want one ;-)
Excellent review - thank you! There's something about this synth which is lovely. I think the price-point is great for the beautiful sound, I'd prefer this to yet another mid-priced midi controller. I'd far rather pay for the sound quality and use my own effects. Its an old worn-out cliche, but seriously, sometimes less is absolutely more!
Absolutely have to agree. No fx are much preffered for me as I have amazing fx in my daw anyways :)
a quick question i couldn't find an answer for... does the 4 note paraphony extend to the 8 plaits algorithms too? i'm considering switching plaits for this but won't if this is not the case
Mike Sands yes
It would be great update if this device can integrate with Pigments. I'm also wondering if it will support custom wavetable installation in the future.
Great question, I really hope arturia allow open source oscillators and wave import. Currently this is not possible.