Arturia MicroFreak

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MicroFreak
The MicroFreak at the NAMM Show
ManufacturerArturia
Technical specifications
Polyphony4 (paraphonic)
TimbralityMonotimbral
OscillatorSingle Multi-Mode Digital Oscillator
LFOMulti-shape LFO
Synthesis typeSee Sound Engines
FilterMulti-mode VCF
AttenuatorCycling envelope, ASR envelope and LFO
Aftertouch expressionPolyphonic Aftertouch
Input/output
Keyboard2 Octave PCB
External controlSends and receives MIDI, outputs CV
MicroFreak Filter Sweeps
A demonstration of the MicroFreak's filter sweeping with varying resonance, including self-oscillation.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "Arturia MicroFreak review". MusicRadar. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
  12. ^ a b c "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. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
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