MicroFreak is also the gift that keeps giving, with each firmware update, that adds new synth engines, and features. I am new to the GrooveBox style of making music, and am enjoining it very much. My entry into that world, started with Volca Drum, Volca Sample 2, and continues with the Elektron Model:Cycles. Love the compact nature of this gear, means I can play in the sunshine. Thanks for the content you post, and best wishes for your continued success.
I just ordered the Microfreak... would you still recommend that? Should I pair that with Novation Circuit or Novation Circuit Rhythm? My goal is to make EDM tracks.
It is a phenomenal synth especially with any type of external effects. Pairing a 70CDR Zoom pedal with mono in, stereo out with a comp & eq on the pedal REALLY opens up the synth sound. Also the multiple digital oscillators are really unique for creating one shots. I have a free microfreak sample pack in the description of my video I just posted & will definitely be tweaking more drums out of this Micro synth.
Absolutely agree. Strymon big sky and nightsky outboard effects add another dimension of effects too in my opinion. H9 Max and Blackhole look very interesting too... sadly they all cost more than the MicroFreak..... C'est la vie :)
It's a shame it sounds so bad though - I owned one briefly and it stuck out in anything I did, and not in a good way. Definitely one of the worst sounding synths I've heard. Even this guy who clearly knows what he's doing can't make it sound anything but harsh and unpleasant.
I’m absolutely in love with my Freak. I’m gonna buy a korg nts-1 for the effects (and the awesome extendable synth, should I want to). That combo seems to be killer!
I didn't think I'd ever pick up a Microfreak when it was initially announced but I am oh so glad I did, a few weeks ago. What an amazing, amazing piece of gear.
The synth so nice, I bought it twice. Yea baby! Twin Freaks! As others have posted, it is great to pair with a ZOOM 70CDR. It sounds good, and is way fun to work with, for live performance, as well as recording in the studio. It is also very portable, and can be played on a park bench, or in the back yard, for sunshine jamming. The keyboard and ARP, are also good, for controlling my modular gear, like O-Coast and Neutrons. I play the piano, so I dig traditional style keyboards, but the MicroFreak keyboard is way cool, for synth use, and I can do expressive things with it, that are not possible with a "normal" keyboard. I added Korg Volca Drum, and Volca Sample 2, for a complete setup. Easy to combine with other gear, as it has analog sync in/out, CV, Gate, and Aftertouch outputs. MicroFreak is a superstar performer, at a budget price. Hope you all have a wonderful day, full of sonic adventures :-)
@@GabeMillerMusic you’re like me, I’m in love with the entire synth world right now. All the way down to my cheapest the Monotron. Good video by the way bro.
If you're looking for some really crazy sounds, then you can use external devices with the Microfreak's vocoder function. For example, the Rode SC4 adapter can be plugged into the headphone jack, which turns the jack into an audio input, as is otherwise done with Arturia's gooseneck microphone.
Wow, i have an sh01a, and the output is 3.5mm, the same as the jack on the microfreak, could i connect that? And if so, any tips? I just got back into hardware synths a few months ago and i love both (i also have a strymon bluesky for reverb and el capistan for tape delay, which even being new to the microfreak, I think effects really do open it up. Plugins would work great too, my favourite is the u-he satin, it beefs up every sound and makes it nice and warm, analog sounding). Do you happen to know if the MF can be recognised in a DAW like Logic without the use of an interface? The Roland Boutiques bypass them just using usb, i still have to buy a new one,but id love the freak even more if it could send sound and midi via usb also) Thanks man :)
I've talked to a lot of people who have a Microfreak... and virtually everyone loves it. It's little, cheap, expressive, versatile, and sounds great. I've been very tempted to get one, even just as a controller because I love the flat keybed... and the synth features would be a nice bonus. Or perhaps instead of a Microfreak, maybe someday I'll get a Polyfreak. Er, I mean, a Hydrasynth. It was the Microfreak creator's next project, and in some ways is a lot like an upgraded Microfreak.
As soon as I heard Mutable Instruments was involved with this synth I purchased it. And I haven't been disappointed. MI is the reason you are getting the modular bits that you're enjoying out of this instrument. And it seems that they are still introducing new oscillator types with updates which is awesome. I'd recommend the MF for anyone needing a portable song writing machine or small synth for noodling.
Just to let you know, MI actually isn't involved with the synth at all; Arturia is just using some of their open-source code. There was a whole hubbub about it when it came out: sonicstate.com/news/2019/01/26/namm-2019-mutable-instruments-responds-to-arturia-microfreak/ Still a fantastic instrument for sure!
@@rainbow_mess Yeah, I know they didn't physically get involved with production. But considering their Plaits unit pretty much makes up a huge portion of the oscillator options, I'd say MI's work is heavily involved with the sound of this synth.
@@richnewman And they didn't object and are clearly happy to be associated with the project as Arturia mention them in their own videos (this is what made me really interested also), so I would say there is collaboration on some level, and maybe (hopefully) more in the future :) Do you happen to know if the MF can be recognised in a DAW like Logic without the use of an interface? The Roland Boutiques bypass them just using usb, i still have to buy a new one,but id love the freak even more if it could send sound and midi via usb also) Thanks man :)
I don't have many hardware synths or keyboards because I mainly use software but I bought a MicroFreak because it's unique (inexpensive too). I do enjoy it and I too would appreciate polyphony and internal FX. When I play it in a DAW, I add FX, some internal FX, even only a simple reverb, would be helpful when it's played by itself. But it's incredible what it already does and it's a great value.
Mine came in the post this morning. Surprised how small physically it is, but that’s a good thing. It’s mind boggling and it’s going to be fun. . Working it out. Mine was £259 used including delivery. Well worth buying.
As a heavy Serum user (and someone that tried this bad boy out in Sam Ash today) I agree. I was like, whoahhhh. I may need this for my trance super-saws.
Just played mine for the first time today (with a strymon bluesky pedal - i think a good reverb is necessary) and i was immersed playing around for like 4 hours, blew me away. I updated the firmware first and wiped the presets to install the lofi, ambient etc ones that Arturia have available for free, i have an sh01a and dragging in preset banks and updating firmware was so easy compared to the boutique, and like 370 plus slots?? i didn't even get past the first 30 in 4 hrs. I was very on the fence but so happy to have this, amazing value and infinite possibilities almost, i don't know when i last was so impressed by a synth.
I've been seriously considering this synth for a while now. I own a pair of grooveboxes and an 88 key digital piano, which are fun and fully capable for my needs. But I don't own any dedicated synths, and I really want a small piece of hardware with the physical knobs like the microfreak.
Go for microfreak you won't be disappointed especially with the new firmware 3.0... I own it and with more than 300 preset possibilities are endless , a real piece of art at an affordable price, at the moment nothing compare at this price range....
Hey how is the learning curve and general workflow/inspiration using the Roland MC-101? I'm considering buying this or the Novation Circuit tracks but I hear the latter is more fun and inituitive to play?
@@lukegregg5944 The MC-101 has great "utility" because it's like having 4 tracks of synths/drums/audio-clips depending on what you may need. It's also handy if you want to run a DAWless setup because the MC-101 can also control external synths through its MIDI Out. The MC-101 doesn't really "inspire" me any more than say a hammer would inspire a Carpenter. It's good solid gear. The menu diving is more of a setup issue and once your song is saved the way you like the menus don't really get in the way too much. I haven't tried the new Circuit yet, but I think the MC-101 has more flexibility for sound design and better audio output than the original Circuit. Plus, the MC-101 can bounce tracks around internally so you can record more than 4 instruments if you wanted. I think the sequencing is also easier on the MC-101. Roland has released new features for the firmware at least three times now, so I'm also happy with that kind of dev support.
I'm not really a synth player. But I just got a Werkstatt, and a keystep. Now I'm thinking I'd like a stand alone synth that I can use with the Moog, and a delay, for recording, without having to use a software synth, unless I want to use one. I don't speak synth language at all, but I keep seeing people say that this is a good starter synth. This looks like it would eliminate the need for more Modules, at least for me. Thanks!
It's a very nice synth. I had one but I had to sell it ultimately because it did not registered my heavy callous fingers from bass playing, it would skip a note every so often I had to let it go.
I run my Microfreak through my Yamaha THR10x mini amp, and its just amazing. It can add delay, reverb, tremolo, and a bunch of distorted amp modes. I'm having a blast making new sounds, but eventually I'll figure out how to emulate the synth sounds from Mr. Crowley by Ozzy and other 80's metal. Or, I'll combine it with my collection of Pocket Operators . What a great time to get into synths. This would have cost thousands back in the day.
One thing that would be amazing: oscillator SDK into the open source :) like the logue-sdk of korg (would love to get the Mutable instruments modules ported ;) ). It would launch this synth into the stratosphere! It’s already amazing for the money, but seems this would be relatively easy to arrange and just make it transcend itself ;)
@@orangesoda2OOO For me, the selling point of the Microfreak is the sonic flexibility of it’s digital oscillator. And Arturia knows how to do excellent minikeys with aftertouch. The Microkorg has none of these.
@@bergglobus2428 Some of the OSC's of the Microfreak are based in mutable instruments plaits, and are available as a VCV Rack module (in mono only). Those also were ported to the 'logue sdk for being used in a Korg 'logue compatible synth (NTS-1, Minilogue XD or Prologue) or you can always built your own plaits module. The new ones and the Arturia specific ones are not open source.
The ringlight reflection in your eyes distract the viewer from your content. Put the ringlight(s) at 30 degrees in front of you, this will give you a much better result. BTW good content sir.
Great to hear your opinion of the Freak. It's still on my should I/should I not get it list :-) The updates from Arturia are excellent but, given, the amount of interest in it, I can't help but wonder when, as you say, the PolyFreak will arrive... :-)
The Polyfreak already exists... sort of. The creator of the Microfreak left Arturia and then created the Hydrasynth. It has a lot of similar features, like an expressive poly-aftertouch keybed and a wide touch strip, but it gives the user true polyphony, built-in effects, a lot more raw synthesis resources, and a huge mod matrix with an innovative workflow. However, it leaves behind the spice-n-dice feature and the cute styling, and it has "mutator" engines instead of synthesis engines. The overall result is sort of like a cross between the legendary CS-80 and a modular rig with patch memory.
@@IanWaugh There isn't much menu diving. Almost every function is: 1. Press a button on the signal diagram to select a component... like oscillator 1 or filter 2 or LFO 3 2. Turn a knob Or if you want to modulate something, the process is: 1. Hold a button for the mod source 2. Press a button for the mod destination 3. Turn a knob to select the modulation amount So it's not quite knob-per-function... because if it was, it would need like 200 knobs. But it's close. Almost everything is one level deep, just a button and then a knob.
@@ToyKeeper Thank you. I understand that it's not too involved but I have a visual problem which means I can't read displays (or the small writing next to the controls) so I try to avoid them if I can :-) The Hydra is one synth I keep revisiting but I think I'd struggle to do it justice.
@@IanWaugh That makes a lot of sense! It definitely requires decent vision to make patches on. And no synth UI is ever quite as good as a true analog synth with physical patch cables. A lot of people really like the Matriarch, for example.
Hey Gabe-My favorite video by you yet-because I'm an Arturia Microfreak Fan Boy-I bought one because something like one of your older videos you were like try this and I was like whatevs-but then I researched that it has a voice Oscillator-and I HAD TO Have It-because I'm a big fan of Wendy Carlos/Clockwork Orange soundtrack. I get it-it's insane out of the box with that old stuff/old patches-but then in August they actually unlocked/unleashed full vocoder functionality. Short answer-any kind of real traditional vocoder functionality with traditional synths you are looking at at least $800 used buy-in. So $330 bucks for a vocoder? Boosh! So, I think you oughta join The PLAP Academy-Produce Like A Pro Community founded by Warren Huart. Why? We don't have an EDM guy making tutorials. People pay $200 a pop for a good one. You could actually do one of those yourself. Anyway-cool stuff!
I can’t figure out if I want a micro freak or a minilogue xd. I have a Yamaha moxf8, Yamaha reface dx, Behringer model d, volca drum, volca sample 2 and volca keys.
I’m an arturia fan .... I have the drumbrute creation and the drumbrute impact which I pair with a minibrute 2s sometimes an ocoast with a bunch of boss halfracks effects and few guitar pedals ....now I’m really considering the microfreak too ...only because I’m An arturia fan
So this is for Gabe, but also anyone else that might find it useful... I got the Deepmind 6 and the Microfreak in the past year, and imho... i just can't imagine any other synths out there that compliment each other quite as well as these two! The MF is an insanely powerful and modern little guy and seems like it can handle just about any digital idea you can throw at it, and the Deepmind...man oh man... it is just an absolute MONSTER for analog sounds! Whether soft or aggressive, the DM has you covered. It also has an effects section built into it that is frankly ridiculous. It's got some of the most gorgeous reverb I've ever heard, for example. If the DM only had a better sequencer and an input for the MF to share its effects, you almost wouldn't need anything else for a show... besides drums of course. Dont get me wrong... neither is perfect of course. They both have plenty of stuff that could be better in a perfect world... but I can't recommend either of them enough... take a look into the Deepmind and I think you'll find almost literally everything the Microfreak lacks.
Nice! I managed to snag a Korg Minilogue secondhand so that's going to be my analog go to for the moment. The Freak, Minilogue, and Circuit Tracks together will be quite a powerhouse.
@@GabeMillerMusic Yes! So I've played guitar for idk almost 20 years, but only got into this stuff kinda recently... my first one was the Monologue, and I absolutely loved it! Super simple to get into. I was really turned off by the idea of digital synths until I got the Volca FM and realized there was another whole world of sounds I didn't know about... so that's how I got the idea to get the Microfreak. Now I'm looking into wavetable stuff lol. But that's really only because I'm still waiting on the Tracks. I ordered it a week ago, but there's still no word on when it'll be coming my way. I'm absolutely psyched!
if you were to make a pack of Dubsteppy wavetable/formant Microfreak presets, I'd buy that in a heartbeat. I got my Microfreak last year but haven't done much with it beyond firmware updating. I've been somewhat preoccupied with my Volca Modular, Sonicware's Liven 8Bit Warps and Old Faithful (Circuit). I need to set aside time to explore the Microfreak because that modulation matrix is epic.
Yup, a gift is a form of payment, or a bribe depending on the circumstances. Microfreak is a great product but this is definitely a sponsored video in so far as the product being reviewed was gifted to the creator.
I'd say so. You'd just need something to capture the audio from both devices. In the clip you're referring to, that's a looper, and I used it to do a live improvised jam with increasing layers. If you just wanted to have the two devices, an audio interface with at least two (three if you want stereo Circuit) would work just fine.
The only thing I miss on it is atleast 12 voices polyphony. It is an amazing piece of gear for the money because it is versatile has kindof a workflow of it is own while being easy to learn with a possibility to get massive sounds that works for many kinds of music.
Can you you use a balanced cable to hook it to your mixer or does it have to be unbalanced? I was wondering the same thing about the minilogue too. If you could let me know I would really appreciate it.
Why? I value my integrity, as well as my connection to my audience. I always go out of my way to make it clear whether content is sponsored or influenced in any way by a company. Disclosing that gear was sent to me by the manufacturer and the nature of that relationship is one way to do that.
Nice Video :) Awesome Synth. I have a Question. Can i use with the normal Microfreak Voccoder? Or can i do this only with the Voccoder Edition? Sry for my bad English
Glad you dig the video! Yep, the original MicroFreak can also have the vocoder functionality when you update the firmware. You will need to connect some sort of microphone of your own though.
Thanks! That sidechaining was done in post. I showed the making of that beat here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-novUP_H7AlM.html The Roland MC-101 allows multitrack recording, so I was able to process each track individually.
Yeah you could plug it onto anything that has a 1/4" jack. And it can be powered with a USB power bank, although like one or two features won't work (the vocoder, if I recall correctly).
Thanks! I mentioned it in the video, but I think the keys feel fine. It's definitely different from playing a piano, but it's pretty immediate and expressive.
I grew up with traditional keyboards. They're home base for me. However, I love the MicroFreak's keyboard because it's incredibly expressive in a different way than a traditional keyboard. I've never played a Buchla Easel but from what I've read, the non-traditional keyboard on that machine is a lot like the one on the Freak. You can do things on the Freak's keyboard that are not possible on a traditional one, just as there are riffs you can't do on the Freak's keyboard that are easy on a traditional one. You really have to try the Freak to see what I'm trying to convey, but I do highly recommend the Freak. Hope this helps!
Great review. Really thinking about getting this. I have a Minilogue XD, and the XD has 16 digital engines in it. Do you know how this compares to the Minilogue's Multi-Engine? (I currently have an FM synth, a Physical Modeling synth, Vector synth, and a Formant Synth inside the XD, among others.). It almost seems as versatile as the XD (digital multi engines), and just wondering if getting this would be just redundant since I have the XD.
Have you tried using it as a midi keyboard to control sounds in one of your grooveboxes? Obviously I wouldn’t buy it solely for that purpose but more thinking of “killing two birds with one stone” so to speak.
I have one too, i just use it for controlling other analog modules since i find its sound not interesting in its inherent quality , the new bass algorythm is ok though but that filter sounds BLAND
Well the MF has a dozen of different algos to get to the same sound just in the shape you want, that means that you can have the MF violin, the MF snare, the MF bass... Yet it all sound pretty trance / wavetable, especially it you don't have external effects, it's like having multiple frontends to design a sound in Operator, problem is that you have just 3 params (the orange knobs) to tweak each algo :( wich is nowhere close to what you can actually do with any of those synth design, you just get some macro / morphing of what's precooked.
i love this synth , but , I don't see the point of the speech engine if you cant add your own words , pointless. the FM is not totally useless , but 2 OP , cant really do much with that.
Some people seem to find the MicroFreak more intimidating than the Minilogue, but I'd say they're about even. It probably depends more on which you prefer the sound of.
It is mono only. In the intro, I recorded it twice with different unison settings and planned them hard left and right. Other times, I've processed it in my DAW with stereo widening effects and reverb.
Its on my list, along with the mono station. One question, I am going through a 505 for looping and i want to fast patch changing. The monostation is very fast as you can go directly to a new sound, even flip like on the circuit. How does the microfreak handle that and is it fast enough to go from one patch to another?
I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm new to a lot of this. I love the synth sound of the Microfreak, but can it also produce analog instrument sounds, such as a normal piano? Having that versatility would be cool.
Synths like this produce emulated analog sounds that sound really close to the real thing but not quite (to the trained ear). You’re going to get realistic piano sound from a midrange to high-end keyboard. However, the new Korg Wavestate is a smaller sized synth for $700 that actually has a decent piano sound. Might check that out.
No. Absolutely not. Dont know what dan is talking about but the micro freak does NOT emulate acoustic instruments….. It does NOT produce good piano, violin, guitar etc sounds
неее ну тут непоспоришь артурия сделала прорыв в синтах и особенно в своих произведённых ими же что называется современные технологии в музыкальных инстраментах дна только клава чего стоит новый пооб игры зависящий от силы и площади нажатия свои эл звук отличающийся от линейки артурии стиль океана вообщем как по мне один из достойных синтов кстати слышал тут говорят на синтах вся музыка делается вот как пример ну ка покажите мне одного популярного делающего музыку на микро придурке подождите не ищите нету так же как нет линеек корга нет линеек роланда на тех синтах которые они делают музыку это как мамонты ну прикольные ну они уже вымерли вся актуальная современная эл музыка в руках любителей фанов и просто чуваков которые в кайф играют по большей части себе
It's totally fine that you didn't like the video, but I do want to defend myself... There are plenty of audio examples in this video of the MicroFreak shown in the context of a full mix, which is what's most important to me. It's not meant to be a full demo, I've done separate videos showing the sound design process.
Stay away from that synth. It crash , it don´t load presets , it forget presets , it start playing notes itself for no reason , midi control center drives you crazy, new Firmware updates makes it worse than better. Grat sound but garbage on the software side. Repacement unit with same issues.
