Arturia MicroFreak - Hybrid Analog/Digital Synthesizer with Advanced Digital Oscillators

The Arturia MicroFreak represents a state-of-the-art experimental hybrid synthesizer that combines both analog and digital technologies. It is equipped with digital oscillators, an analog filter, and a touch-plate keyboard, making it an excellent choice for musicians, sound designers, producers, and DJs, regardless of their level of expertise.

This synthesizer boasts 11 digital oscillators with adjustable modes and incorporates the open-source Plaits engine developed by Mutable Instruments. With an impressive array of options and paraphonic performance features, the MicroFreak delivers extraordinary sounds, diverse modes, and extensive parameter controls.

The integrated 25-note touchplate keyboard is sensitive to pressure and provides polyphonic aftertouch, enhancing performance creativity. The state-variable analog filter draws inspiration from the 12 dB Oberheim SEM filter, enabling the creation of powerful lead sounds and delicate pad textures. Furthermore, the built-in 5 x 7 matrix allows for the routing of filter cutoff control via the touch-plate keyboard pressure or the sequencing of events using the onboard sequencer. This sequencer can record up to four automation sequences, edit notes on a per-step basis, or utilize the unique Spice and Dice functions to produce unexpected musical variations. Randomization features enable the crafting of distinctive patterns that evolve, further enhanced by the modulation matrix.

On the rear panel of the MicroFreak, there is a single 1/4" main output and a TRRS 3.5mm headphone output, which also serves as a vocoder microphone input. Additionally, control voltage outputs are available through 3.5mm jacks, offering options for CV, Gate, and Pressure, along with 3.5mm clock in and out jacks. MIDI I/O is accessible via 3.5mm jacks, and a pair of 3.5mm to 5-pin DIN adapters is included. Moreover, the Arturia MicroFreak supports MIDI over USB Type-B, providing a digital interface for connecting to your computer for DAW sequencing.

Key Features

• Synthesizer with 192 preset slots and 128 factory presets
  
  
• Eleven digital oscillators with variable modes and integrated open source Plaits engine created by Mutable Instruments
  
  
• Analog State Variable Filter, 12 dB/octave, resonant, Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass
  
  
• ADSR envelope
  
  
• Cycling Envelope offering two modes
  
  
  • Envelope
    
    
  • LFO
    
    
• LFO with Sync: Sine, Tri, Saw, Square, Random, Slew Random
  
  
• Modulation matrix with five sources and seven destinations (three custom destinations)
  
  
• Monophonic or Paraphonic modes, up to four voices
  
  
• 25-key capacitive keybed with polyphonic aftertouch
  
  
• Capacitive touch strip
  
  
• Crisp OLED display for editing and parameter values
  
  
• Powerful arpeggiator
  
  
  • Up, Order, Random, Pattern modes
    
    
  • Spice & Dice Gate randomizers
    
    
• 64-step sequencer
  
  
  • Two patterns per preset
    
    
  • Four automation tracks per preset
    
    
• CV / Gate / Mod outputs
  
  
• USB, Clock and MIDI in and out
  
  
• 1/4" master
  
  
• 3.5mm TRRS headphone output doubles as vocoder microphone input
  
  
• Optional vocoder microphone available for Vocoder mode
  
  

Digital Oscillators

• Superwave:
  
  
  • Precisely detuned saw, square, sine, or triangle wave
    
    
  • Create the fat synth sounds
    
    
  • Great for Trance and lush dreamy pads
    
    
• Harmo:
  
  
  • Modulate the volume of 32 sine waves to create sounds
    
    
  • Creates harmonically rich, vibrant sounds
    
    
  • Shape with the filter
    
    
• Karplus Str:
  
  
  • Creates the sound of string instruments using physical modeling
    
    
  • Soft pizzicato to screeching, zingy chords
    
    
• Wavetable:
  
  
  • Scan through waveform snapshots
    
    
  • Find new, unusual, and evolving sounds
    
    
  • Contains 16 wavetables
    
    
  • Additional waveforms in future updates
    
    

Mutable Instruments Plaits

• Pl.VA:
  
  
  • Virtual analog
    
    
  • Recreates traditional synth methods digitally
    
    
  • Create classic and cutting-edge tones
    
    
• Pl.Waveshpr:
  
  
  • Triangular wave
    
    
  • Processed by waveshaping and wavefolding
    
    
  • Creates squelchy, aggressive, and often metallic tones
    
    
• Pl.FM:
  
  
  • Powerful twin-operator FM oscillator
    
    
  • Two sine waves modulated each other’s phase
    
    
  • Creates sharp, acidic tones
    
    
• Pl.Grain:
  
  
  • Percussive granular synthesis engine
    
    
  • Adds huge texture and body to sequenced rhythms
    
    
• Pl.Chords:
  
  
  • Paraphonic synth engine
    
    
  • Triggers duplicates at set intervals
    
    
  • Creates defined, static chords with one key
• Pl.Speech:
  
  
  • Creates vowel, formant, and simple word sounds
    
    
  • Automate with the mod matrix for inspiration
    
    
• Pl.Modal:
  
  
  • Creates the unusual inharmonic vibrations and resonance of a hollow structure
    
    
  • Great for adding texture or bizarre overtones
    
    

Vocoder Mode

The MicroFreak can be updated with a Vocoder mode, which is compatible with the optional vocoder microphone:

• 16-band vocoder transforms your voice in fun ways 
  
  
• Vocoder engine features 3 waveforms: Sawtooth, Pulse Width, and Noise
  
  
• 16 vocoder presets provide instant access to android translations, crystalline harmonies, and vibrant formant sequences
  
  
• Connect an external sound source like a drum machine or synth via the headphone socket for glitchy sound processing
  
  
• Gooseneck microphone affords quick position adjustment, with easy connection straight into the headphone socket
  
  
• Utility menu sets your preferred mic gain and noise-gate settings
  
  
• Vocoder mode:
  • With the vocoder oscillator selected and the paraphonic mode on, you will be able to hear up to 4 synthesized vocal notes when playing a chord and singing into the microphone
    
    
  • Can also be used as an effects processor to resynthesize your audio input
    
    
• Knob Functions:
  
  
  • When using the vocoder function, turn the Wave knob to produce sawtooth, pulse, or noise waveforms
    
    
  • Timbre knob changes the frequency range of the analysis and the resynthesis
    
    
  • Shape knob sets the bandwidth of each filter