The folks at Arturia have ditched their yellow vests for the time being to launch their first digital hardware synthesizer, the MicroFreak. Combining the digital and analog worlds, MicroFreak includes a multi-mode digital oscillator with an Oberheim SEM inspired analog filter. Seven of the oscillator modes are the result of a collaboration between Arturia and Mutable Instruments, and let users control the sound of the Plaits eurorack module in a hardware keyboard. The modes include Superwave, Harmonic Oscillator, Karplus-Strong, Wavetable, Virtual Analog, Waveshaper, FM, Grain, Chords, Speech, and Modal
On top of its exceptional oscillators, filter, and interface, MicroFreak offers some advanced features, including a multi-point modulation matrix; an unique sequencer-arpeggiator with controlled randomness Spice and Dice parameters; a cycling envelope; 128 factory presets, and space for 64 user sounds; and a crystal-clear OLED screen. MicroFreak will contain 11 oscillator types at launch, but Arturia have made the unit capable of using new oscillators through official firmware updates in the future.
Arturia MicroFreak Features:
» Synthesizer with 192 preset slots and 128 factory presets
» 11 Digital oscillators with variable modes, with integrated open source Plaits engine created by Mutable Instruments
» Analog State Variable Filter, 12dB/octave, resonant, Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass
» ADSR envelope
» Cycling Envelope offering two modes
» Envelope
» LFO with Sync: Sine, Tri, Saw, Square, Random, Slew Random
» Modulation matrix with 5 sources and 7 destinations (3 custom destinations)
» Monophonic or Paraphonic modes – Up to 4 voices
» 25-key capacitive keybed with polyphonic aftertouch
» Capacitive touch strip
» OLED display for editing and parameter values
» Arpeggiator with Up, Order, Random, Pattern modes
» Spice & Dice Gate randomizers
» 64-step sequencer: 2 patterns per preset; 4 automation tracks per preset
» CV / Gate / Mod outputs
» USB, Clock and MIDI in and out
» 6.35mm master and 3.5mm headphone output
One of the most striking features of MicroFreak is its PCB keyboard. Despite having no moving parts, it’s pressure sensitive and lightning-fast, and also offers poly-aftertouch. This functionality will also let you experiment with polyphonic express-enabled software instruments when MicroFreak is used as a USB-MIDI controller.
Arturia’s MicroFreak will cost $349 / €299 when it launches this Spring.
Arturia
