Arturia Minifreak: My favorite synthesizer (Microfreak) gets an upgrade 

David saying "if I HAD to choose one synth to bring on vacation" implies that he normally brings more than one synth on vacation 🤣

Amazing video, I am impressed.

Can you write the differences with the other freak? (Keys are obvious) and if you prefer to buy one, which one ?

Can't wait for the next in the lineup: the Macrofreak, which is the size of the original giant Moog synths.

dang, so great to see this channel grow, it was not that long ago when this channel was way smaller and now you've got 160,000 subscribers and you are getting products from brands and stuff, congrats fr, mate, you're doing awesome stuff with this c:

Funny how the obsession with BOC’s ‘Music Has The Right to Children’ has created an entire industry within the synth and plug-in industry.

If you want to emulate tape, I have a patch suggestion. Set the lfo as fast as possible, set it to the random setting, and use it to control pitch Ever so slightly.

arturia is working on an improved wavetable oscillator for the minifreak - they said as much in their last minifreak livestream on youtube.

You're the only synthesizer youtuber that I actually like 👍 Keep it up❤

I'd just like to say I've joined 3 patreons from youtubers over the last year or so and Dave's is the only one I joined that seems to update regularly with the promised new content each month. Consequently, it's also the only one I'm still happy to subscribe to! The content on patreon and on the channel is always interesting. Thanks for the channel content, for DS and for the patreon stuff.

rather off topic but i’ve been messing around with some of your free sample packs on decent and they’re really fun, they’re a nice way to get something to feel less robotic while retaining an electronic feel

Hi. New follower. I also own the microfreak and it IS my favorite synth. Then the minifreak was released and now I am saving every single penny, every single returnable pop can, every single piece of coinage that falls into my hands goes into a money jar and one day I will be a proud owner of the minifreak too.

I have a Microfreak and love it. I've watched a slew of videos about it before I made a purchase. One thing that was often mentioned was an amazing low price for what you get. Now I realize the price of everything has and is still going up, but it looks like Arturia listened when they priced this at $599.00.

modular synths always amaze me, i love tuning into your channel and checking out what new gear you have to play with!

Love this synth, the VST is incredible.

Just wanted to say I'm not a musician I've never owned any hardware and I barely play guitar. But your videos have inspired me to want to learn this stuff. Thanks for the amazing content

Well done. What I appreciate is how you embraced simplicity with the sound creation. Sometimes we want to use every feature on a synth when making sounds, but often simple sounds are best. Thanks for the great content.

I don't like mini keys, so the vst plugin and a midi controller with full sized keys seems to be the right option for me.

Sounds lovely but I also assume you could make similar voices using the software instruments in Ableton and/or some VSTs. What are your thoughts on relevance of hardware gear when we can pretty much do the same things in software? Heck, including the Minifreak VST itself...) Cheers!

I really like the software / hardware combo synth companies are doing. Modals'sCobalt 8 does the same thing and its honestly such a nice feature.

How come I never see a video of someone playing a killer lead on a synth? They are all too much fiddling with the knobs and not enough jamming on the keys. Are synths used for leads or are leads more a midi thing now? Do I just not understand synths? I want a synth I can jam on with an awesome pitch range but it's difficult to find a video of anyone really jamming out on a synth.

Have you ever heard the noise that a frozen pond or lake makes when the ice is melting? It sounds amazing. If I knew how to do what you do I would def. Use it in some music!

You and this video convinced me. Like you I also own the MicroFreak and am now looking forward to getting it's bigger brother the MiniFreak.

I've seen a billion and a half videos about the MiniFreak, and yours stands out. Your approach is intellectually intriguing and.... articulate. Easy to follow given the complexity. Keep taking the extra effort because it is working brah. And yes, I totally smashed like and subscribe lol.

I love you channel. I understand 10 minute highly edited videos are good content and your style is about that, but it would be awesome to see some longer form content! You're great either way and I'm excited to continue watching your amazing stuff.

My, you cover a lot of ground in a very short time. I hadn't seen the plug in version and the graphics representations really beef up the instrument UI. Arturia certainly have another winner here.

Reminds me of Boards of Canada.

You've gained so many subscribers so quickly! Keep the great videos coming

Hi David. Great channel. How does the routing work.. having created that midi chord progression, are you firing that back through the freak then back in again/recording it as audio in ableton ? (when you're not using the plugin).

It always gets me when a video says "you're only going to be able to hear this on headphones" as if I'm listening to synthesizer demos on a phone or laptop speaker! ..okay I do late at night in bed, but I would hope that my PSI monitors would fare better than headphones when I'm at my desk in the daytime 😅

You made me buy the Microfreak a couple of months ago and now you made me want the the Minifreak as well! Damn you! 😂

yeah i guess it's an OK synth in the $500 range. Try something in the $2000 and you will see what i mean!

Thanks for a great review! As a kind of an appendix, focusing entirely on the preset sounds that you get with the MiniFreak, I have made structured demos of all the preset patches in categories such as Bass, Lead, Poly, Pad, Arp, etc. that are gathered here: ru-vid.com/group/PLkGHDTvF4ccfcswUdyZBou2dE_OgbxDiw

Spoiled by a Novation I may have to wait until the SuperFreak II is released (The Rick James Edition) Just kidding. I can't afford flagship synths right now. Just kidding I can't even afford the MiniFreak. I could get the VST I guess.

I've just discovered this channel, and as a veteran guitar player I have to admit that synths confuse the hell out of me. But you do good work here, and have great production values, thank you for your excellent channel

Hi David H, David G here. I like what you did with that subtle pitch mod for a vintage kind of essence. I'm literally about 2 weeks into discovering synthesis/ers but wondering in theory could you string a couple more LFOs together in such a way to make the pitch modulation just ever so slightly variable and randomised in terms of frequency and amplitude? In like some kind of three body problem type situation? I'm pretty sure that's a basic ass question but it gets me pretty excited. Love your vids yo

I kinda like the hard pads on the microfreak. it feels very responsive to just be able to quickly hit the key pads. I'm not trained on pianos/keyboards though so I don't have any muscle memory really with keys that press down.

I share your enthusiasm for both Freaks, but although they're very affordable synths, I only own the plugin. Lack of space and no interest for more keys (a desktop version would be interesting!), so this was the perfect option for me! Thanks for this great video!

I want one of these but I have no experience with synthesizers or any electronic instruments. I just really like making synth music on garageband. What other equipment would I need if i bought one of these rn?

Thanks for the video! : ) Is the sequence locked to only one preset as in the Microfreak?

okay i get that we're all synth nerds with disposable income but describing this as an "upgrade" to the microfreak in your clickbait title is just completely out of touch. Embarrassing!

I am new to this. I play mostly guitar. What is a great budget synth for around $500- even lightly used is fine if it can get me to the next level. I want to be one and done. Would be great if I could plug by guitar into it as well.

so full sized version would be named just freak? and 88 keys superfreak?

Definitely considering the software! Sounds so great

i just started saving up for a microfreak but now i guess i have to save up for a minifreak lol

i have a question, can you split a keyboard meaning half can play one sound and the other another?

I just don't like that almost everything is menu diving.

Does this synth have a speaker? Can it run on batery? (Or are you tied tovthe grid and to your mixer and amplifier?

Really impressed with your video production quality! Well done.

i noticed someone who is great at writing melodies, almost always has no ability to lay drums out .

I'm looking for my first synth live looping. I want to be able to hold long pads and manually sweep through filters. I've thought about the freak family, but I've also considered something from the brute line. One seems to offer simplicity and the other flexibility. I don't want to be limited to a one trick pony, but I'm a novice and I'm intimidated by the menus. I'd love to get some thoughts from anyone willing to offer them?

If only these great synths had proper full sized keys .

u make me wanna buy these synths so bad

Hopefully they make a Macrofreak 49 key at one point

Cool video David! Your channel exploded like the frog 🐸itself 😉- Kudos! Some things to add for your viewers and perhaps yourself: The ability to change the routing for the delay and reverb are a very nice option with send/insert for those two. Be sure - if you find some time - to have a look at the keyboard source parameter as this is one of the most powerful features of this synth and can save up some LFO's for other purposes f.e. (Keyb+Src) - Easy accessible via sound+edit + a strike of a key. You now can have random/voice/s-curve as signals to change for example the tuning. A very nice options to create more analog sounds for example.

Do you still need an audio interface if you use the VST?

I wonder if MicroFreak or MiniFreak would work best with my digitakt and digitone key and syntakt witch would be best mini or micro freak for my elektron setup ..Also is Minifreak standalone and microfreak

helo, myabe a stupid question. I am using FL21, but it should be simular with ableton. How did achieved that you recorded the notes and not a sound clip, since is it not a midi keabord but a regular hardware and preset sound. thanx for the answer

3:06 he plays the reminder by the weeknd for a second.

This synth sounds great, i like it, but correct me if i'm wrong, it looks like an expensive vst plugin in a plastic case. I mean, what's the point of getting the synth if they already have a plugin recreating this synth?

I just bought moog DFAM AND MOTHER32 but I don't see they can make music like micro or mini freak

When they make a third and more complex synth in this line, I really hope it's called the Freakflag.

I wish they made it somehow easy to marry the two mini and micro freak, even the plugin having a micro option if you want to go micro on the computer. I am going to get the plugin version, but I play it along with the microfreak I already own, layering them both. I almost feel like they are so similar but so different technically, its like the minifreak doesnt want anything to do with the microfreak. I feel like they have brushed the microfreak aside and it makes me a bit sad, but I guess their focus is to sell minifreaks now. On a side note, I also own a Polybrute, and having a plugin version to control your hardware is the best thing ever. It is tempting to get the minifreak just for this reason (but also I wish they did for the microfreak).

Just sold my beloved Microfrak some days ago to upgrade to this one. The courier lost the parcel and the buyer asked for a reimbursement. No news from the courier regarding the investigation... Yeah, first world problems... but dude 😰

I’m not a huge fan of this recent trend of companies selling their plugin versions of an instrument as the software editor, even if they give a discount to hardware owners. Having plugin versions of hardware engines available is not a bad thing, but having no standalone editor for the hardware is what bugs me. My microKORG had a free software editor, though admittedly it’s a bit dated now it’s functional. But if I want the same functionality with the KORG opsix I need to pay an extra $50 or something? Why? I don’t want to play it as a plugin, the form factor is important, so buying the synth engine twice is redundant. Just kinda seems like nickel and diming in a sneakier way. Edit: and it’s a shame became the microFREAK was my favourite hardware thing from Arturia. And I really respect their stand-alone plugins! But this fashionable sales strategy becomes the main thing I think about. Also I must admit, I prefer the texture of that patch before you removed the noise! But then I’ve been deliberately adding a noise oscillator at low levels to a bunch of my patches lately, that airy whooshing sound makes the patches feel so much bigger. Especially since I use spatial effects on native stereo outputs.

I sold my microfreak because it just wasn't working for me. I think the minifreak VST is awesome though. My workflow has started to be about analog minimalism and this VST is a great little addition to my digital mess.

Does it come with a free dwarf to play the mini keys? Why are all manufacturers assuming we have tiny hands? And what makes them think 3 octaves is enough? Is it because 99% of the current customer base consists of non-musicians? Or because they assume you will connect the gear to your pc and master keyboard anyway? If they assume you will always use it with a master keyboard, then why can't they make a rack version? The keybed is useless anyway, unless you are the dwarf I referred to.

Every one of your videos I've watched in the last month or so (the algorithms introduced us about then) has been interesting and paced out just right for easy understanding. I subscribed today and am looking forward to future content.

You release this video as I'm literally eyeing one of these off. The plugin makes me wish for a physical version of Pigments too as too much CPU usage 😅 I've got the micro, and was going to get a volca fm2... maybe I just wait to see if any FM2's pop up on the used market. I Need more💰.

Can you explain how to record sequences on the fly?? I'm about to sell my Korg :/ thank you in advance for your video.

Not much was said about the VST version 'MiniFreak V' that cost 99 dollars if you buy it alone but comes with the MiniFreak at no extra charge. It is a fantastic add on to the MiniFreak that you can both use together. It is extremely useful.

Thank you for the review .. How does this match up to the MiniNova .. I need a midi keyboard but I want a synth! Synetics for the win!

Amazing video! Your video's Inspire me and Teach me! Thank you.

The preset sounds like an early 1970s TV logo, PBS P-head for example.

Thank goodness for this I was wondering whether to buy this synth or not but this video has given fuel to my buying the Minifreak fire

Your style reminds me a lot of Disasterpiece

sounds so good but dang $600 for the minifreak... dang... and $350 for the micro

Im wearing Dekoni Blues, and i can hear the difference after adding the surgeon filter which is awsome. Keep up the great vids.

soooo, what's the point of owning a physical synthesizer if the digital VST is just as good if not better?

Does mini freak makes the sound u made from micro freak I meant the music u made on micro freak, u can also made on mini freak, as I am planning to buy one, Inwas wondering which ine should I go for, or some other then above you can suggest,

This is one of those times where I’m like yeah you’re right, I should probably subscribe 😂👍

I’ve uploaded a few songs where my buddy plays minifreak on them

Hello at 03:19 you say ableton is "listening to all the MIDI notes that the synth is producing" but MIDI? How is the synth sending midi? Is the synth able to send MIDI and audio to a DAW? I see hte MIDI notes at 03:30 thanks!!

What chord progressions /Scales do you use to create that 70s synthwave movie sound though?

i was looking for a microkorg s today and the guy showed me this synth cause they didn’t have it. Looks cool but i really want that microkorg lol

Hii very nice content!! Does this synth have full controll over everthing in de V lab software? Does it scroll to all te pre sets and controll all the knob if a synth is selected??? Regards A

Honestly: the MiniFreak synthesizer is still (firmware 2.x) way to buggy to be anyone's favorite or whatever synth. See the posts in the Arturia forum for the exact explanations of the bugs.

As a long term Microfreak owner, I remember watching your video on it, it’s how I found your channel years ago. I bought the Minifreak the day it was released, I just saw it as a great upgrade. How are you liking it so far ? Can we expect more videos on it ?

Very nice pack Dave, thanks!

3:07 "record man play my song on the radio, you too busy trynna find that blue eye soul"

Hello here's another one, at 05:00 when you link the Minifreak with its virtual version, I didn't know both of the synths are being heard 05:18

My son says some of your music sounds similar to Minecraft music. Have you made music for Minecraft by chance?

It would be cool if the mod matrix was like buttons you could push instead of having to use that knob lol

Really love this channel

Just watching in envy, as an Arturia addict im so sad i dont have anything from the freaks line yet.

Do you think it’s worth getting the hardware if you have the vst? I mean I do prefer hardware in general

Do a Hydrasynth review. If you had to choose between this and the hydrasynth which one would it be

This songs has water level vibes

Would be cool if this can be a iOS auv3 plugin for iOS daws

The Minifreak is becoming my fave hardware synth - great vid!