Arturia MiniFreak

• Digital-analogue sound generation
• 37-key slim keyboard with aftertouch & velocity
• 6-voice polyphony
• 22 different oscillator models
• 2 oscillators
• Analogue Oberheim SEM filter
• Modulation matrix
• ADSR envelope
• Loopable contour generator
• 2 LFOs
• 4 voice modes
• 3 effects processors
• Step sequencer (up to 64 steps)
• Chord mode
• Arpeggiator
• Spice & Dice randomiser
• 2 ribbon controllers
• 256 user sounds
• 256 factory sounds
• Clock & Reset Out
• Clock In
• Includes free MiniFreak V plug-in

A fireworks display of sounds

At the heart of the MiniFreak lies its hybrid sound generation, comprising two digital oscillators and analogue filters and VCAs. The two oscillators draw on 22 different oscillator models, some of which originate from the Mutable Instruments Plaits Eurorack oscillator. But that’s not all: these models cover classic synthesiser sounds, virtual analogue, Karplus-Strong, wavetable, FM, ring modulation, additive synthesis and much more; Oscillator 2 can also process Oscillator 1 in various ways. The tone generators are followed by an analogue 12dB multimode filter, which corresponds to the Oberheim SEM VCF. The SEM filter is known for its smooth sound, which does not become overly aggressive or intrusive even at full resonance. Combined with the overtone-rich sound generation, this filter is the perfect tool for rounding off digital edges. The final element in the signal path are the three effects processors, which generate ten different effects. Delay, a swirling stereo chorus, a rather surgical 3-band EQ or even rock-hard distortion; this is where you add the necessary finishing touch to the sounds you’ve created.

Movement!

In addition to the two BPM-synchronisable LFOs, two envelopes provide variation in the sound; one follows a classic ADSR structure, whilst the other functions either as an A/D envelope, can be looped, or operates in the style of a slope generator. The range of movement options is rounded off by a modulation matrix that connects 7 sources and 13 destinations and displays them visually. The pitch bend and modulation wheel are designed as ribbon controllers, complete with LED strips for visual feedback. A glance at the buttons above the keyboard reveals that, compared to the MicroFreak, the arpeggiator and sequencer have been significantly expanded on the MiniFreak. Most functions are accessible via direct controls, making operation much easier. A pattern can be up to 64 steps long. The popular Chord Mode, along with a handy Dice function for randomly generating new sounds, sensibly rounds off the sound-shaping possibilities. To ensure you can get started straight away and have plenty of space for your own creations, there are 256 factory sounds and 256 user sounds pre-loaded.

OS 2.0 for the MiniFreak!

With the latest firmware version 2.0, Arturia brings a host of new features to the MiniFreak, making the synthesiser even more versatile. The update also includes a Macro Edit mode for improved real-time control of pitch, a Free Run mode for the Noise Engineering oscillators, and customisable Clock Send and Transport Send options. The key new features are:

• New wavetable engine: 32 wavetables and 64 new patches to demonstrate the potential of this engine.
  
• Improved LFO modulation: This feature allows for even finer adjustment of the LFO rate, whether for individual steps or the entire Shaper curve, enabling more complex and expressive modulations.
• Super Unison effect: By adding up to six copies of a sound, users can transform their patches into powerful sonic structures with this chorus-like effect. The results are reminiscent of Cloud Generator and SuperSaw.
• Favourites Panel (hardware MiniFreak only): Allows you to save and quickly access up to 64 favourite presets.