The Microfreak is a PERFECT First Hardware Synth

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The Microfreak is a PERFECT First Hardware Synth
Today I'm explaining why I feel that the Arturia Microfreak is a perfect first hardware synth! Since the Microfreak is a "jack of all trades, master of none," it's a fantastic way to learn what types of synthesis speak to you! With it's 14 different oscillator types, you're bound to find one that you really enjoy using. From there, you can branch out into another piece of gear that allows you to deep dive into that type of synthesis. Enjoy the video!
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
Arturia Microfreak: amzn.to/3vX1K0l
Audient EVO 4 (audio interface): amzn.to/3eyDdsA
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9 май 2021

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Комментарии : 87

@night_speed 3 года назад

I have a pretty decent collection of synths at this point including lots of eurorack and the Microfreak is still one of the first things i go to.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

It's an amazing little synth for sure!

@Oooo-bi7bi Год назад

That’s good to hear. I’ve just got into hardware and after buying the Volca then tracks. I have a freak and realised I should have got this first. I’m glad to hear that people who know their stuff rate it.

@traitortotheliving 3 года назад

Also perfect eighth synth lol Love the Freak

@randommcranderson5155 3 года назад

It was my first synth. afterwards someone gave me a Behringer TD-3 and after playing with the td-3 for a little bit I was like 'wait, this is all it does?' spoiled by the microfreak

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Yeah I think it was 4 or 5 for me hahaha

@matred3538 Год назад

Hello. I have to say thank you yet again for more great help choosing new gear. Got my Microfreak yesterday and absolutely love it! I thought my Volca Keys, nts1, and 303 copy was enough (oh and a few PO's), but this thing is a lovely beast. Many many thanks for singing it's praises. 👍👍👍

@DiegoMoskz 3 года назад

I got mine last month, it's my first synth and I love it. I still have a lot to learn.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Glad you're enjoying it!

@jsonchicas Год назад

dude you sold me incredibly well on this synth, I'll get one soon!

@FreeBeat Год назад

I hope you love it, thanks for watching!

@TheMortyvicar 3 года назад

Good video and you didn’t mention that it gets AWESOME updates expanding it’s already fantastic features 👊🏻

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

You're right, I totally forgot to mention that haha. Another great selling point!

@ryangunwitch-black 3 года назад

I’m getting one from my fiancé for my birthday! I cannot wait.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Awesome! Which one are you getting?

@trevord9811 3 года назад

Still around £260 here in the UK. It is on my wishlist still (as is the Korg Minilogue XD) but tempted to buy the Behringer Deepmind 12 at the moment as it has so much to offer for the money. Thanks for another cool video FB.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

The Deepmind 12 does look like it has a TON of functionality for the price haha. Go for it!

@fuckinzell 2 года назад

I bought my Microfreak because I lost an auction on a 1010Blackbox and I needed to spend the money on something… this was in December and since then I’ve made like 50 tracks just with Blackbox(I won an auction for one a week or two after buying the MF) & Microfreak(paired with some fx pedals) The possibilities of this thing are insane and I haven’t even touched the vocoder yet!! Definitely recommend as a first hardware synth.

@dustyaudio 3 года назад

Yes, my first synth and a great one. I love the weird keys so much. Just getting into key-tracking (key/arp matrix) I really hope you can help explain it one day!

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

I need to learn more about that as well, and then I'll definitely do a video. Thanks for watching!

@SaEvSampleEverything 3 года назад

Nice review

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Thanks!

@peterjessop1878 3 года назад

As a guitarist my first synth was a Behringer Neutron as I was interested in Eurorack. In hindsight I think a Microfeak would have been better. I have progressed since then though. If you can afford it I think Korg Minilogue XD is the best first synth due to the mixture of analogue,digital and added fx. Microfreak is great, but you need to add effects to it such as on Korg NTS1, which of course means you then have 2 synths :-)

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Wow you dove in head first with the Neutron haha. Glad you stuck with it though!

@Oooo-bi7bi Год назад

I’m a newbie and have a tracks and a freak. Been looking at the minilogue and wondering if it’s similar to the freak or if I would benefit and learn more. Also have a different sound source. But I’ve slipped up and bought the Volca and tracks already. Wish I had gone straight for the freak. I think your saying a minlogue would help me learn more and is a different machine to the freak. Used they are affordable.

@unclemick-synths 3 года назад

This synth is amazing value.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

It really is!

@DanielRoberts-vn6ox Год назад

Got this connected to an SL88 Studio - so much fun 😋😋

@FreeBeat Год назад

Thanks for watching!

@TheXxjmpxxx 3 года назад

Hey man I really like your content! I'm a new subscriber and I had a quick question - I'm a guitar player, and I make music of course and wanted to add a hardware synth to my aresenal. I mainly write heavier kind of music and basically wanted to add rhythmic/percussive patterns/leads to my songs. I got the Novation Bass Station II and so far so good - but I'm still trying to figure it all out...after watching this, do you think the Arturia Microfreak is a better option? 🤔 I'd love to hear your opinion or thoughts!

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Hmmm, I'm not that familiar with the bass station, but I know they are both standalone synths. Are you looking to build your own backing tracks basically?

@TheXxjmpxxx 3 года назад

@@FreeBeat yeah, sort of. Sometimes lol. But also to make lead lines to accompany melodies. If that makes sense 🤷‍♂️ I'm going to include a link of a song that gives a pretty good example of what I mean. There's a synth and drums in the first 15 seconds or so that you can hear pretty well. It fades in. They both also have some kind of high pass filter sweep as it kicks in. The synth is still there as the song kicks in, but it's effects and sounds like this that I'm after. music.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dt63ivpUfwM.html&feature=share

@charlescohen1536 7 месяцев назад

This video should be updated, with the "Version 5" enhancements. My only comment _against_ the Microfreak as a first synth, is that's it has _so many alternatives_ to choose from. For "function per dollar", I think it's unmatched.

@howardanderson3061 3 года назад

This one is still on my "Eventually Get" gear list, it's an amazing beast with Killer sounds! Have you demoed the Vocorder? if so I missed it.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

I haven't yet, need to get a compatible mic first lol.

@howardanderson3061 3 года назад

@@FreeBeat I get that, the small mics that are on vintage synths are really cool. Small footprint. If you've never experienced the first time "Vocoding" it's pretty cool.

@FA-Q 3 года назад

I use the cv gate for my Moog werkstatt. You would love the werkstatt.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

It's on the list haha.

@memorytheater Год назад

Thinking of grabbing this since I dont know what kind of synthesis I want to get into. That being said, I do know for a fact that I’m going to have a distorted/noisy sound, and I’m curious if the Microfreak is able to produce these noises.

@FreeBeat Год назад

It can get partially there, but if you grab a Microfreak and a distortion pedal, or even just a multieffects pedal (that has distortion) and you'll be VERY happy haha.

@FA-Q 3 года назад

On Topic , microfreak is my favorite piece of gear . Besides my live II.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

It's awesome!

@Ewan-Argo 3 года назад

I'm a complete noob and am very tempted by this. Would I need a separate drum machine for beats and if so what would you recommend? Thanks

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Yes you would need a separate machine for drums. The microfreak is just a synthesizer. I would recommend starting with a pocket operator for drums. Something like the p.o-12 or po-32!

@vatolegato 3 года назад

Thanks for the video. Just to let you know, the microfreak now costs $349. It used to be $299, but they raised the price recently.

@autisticeinstein9702 3 года назад

i wonder what happened to that special white model with the mic. i see they sell the mic at $29, and ya, the old black freak is $349 at sweetwater too.

@randommcranderson5155 3 года назад

The white model was a limited edition run for the launch of firmware v3.0. They're still around but harder to find.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

That's a real bummer!

@josephwright5921 3 года назад

Yes, the dollar’s value is crashing due to all the deficit spending. One out of five dollars in circulation was created in the last year and a half. Expect synths to keep going up.

@rookmaster7502 3 года назад

An extremely versatile and flexible synth for sure, the tonal possibilities are virtually endless. However, not exactly the easiest synth to learn for someone new to synthesizers. Although I guess there are plenty of software synths for anyone to learn the basics beforehand.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

It can be very complicated to program, but it's very simple to scroll through the presets and use the type knob to learn how different types of synthesis sound. That's more what I was trying to get at with this video. Thanks for watching!

@Hanni93472 Год назад

It actually is my first and only synth I own and it's perfect! Lots of videos to learn from and easy to handle. So if you're ready to actually learn about synthesizers, then the microfreak is a really good choice.

@CmdrMic 3 года назад

Great vid. I have this, but I would humbly suggest the best way in for Newbies is via Pocket Operators and perhaps the ubiquitous Beringer TD-3. Aurturia is awesome... but also damn ADVANCED!

@autisticeinstein9702 3 года назад

PO's are more like groove boxes. this video is about a first synth

@CmdrMic 3 года назад

@@autisticeinstein9702 It depends on the model...

@randommcranderson5155 3 года назад

Counterpoint - the td-3 has the advantage of being verhy inexpensive but it's learning potential for sound design is much less (fewer knobs etc) and its mainly known for its analog sound. Its sequencer is absolute garbage and in 2021 it's clunky aging interface is a bad introduction to synths Pos are neat sequencers but don't really give you the same amount of knobs envelopes and lfos like the microfreak and the microfreak can make more and more interesting sounds than $350 worth of pos. The microfreak has the ability to do simple from messing with its hundreds of presets or complicated with serious sound design. It's a much better choice even if it's more complicated because it has so much more room to grow.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

The td-3 can only cover one type of sound. The reason I chose the microfreak for this video is because it can cover so many, so it's perfect for helping you find the genre of synthesis that you want to dive into. Thanks for watching!

@Oooo-bi7bi 2 года назад

I have finally bought what I should have originally. I’m finding it a challenge at the moment. But I play a few instruments and have had to spend some years picking up the basics and learning to get what I want from them. So why would a synth be any different. Trying to find a good source to learn synthesis from the very basics first. But it seems to be a good instrument and I’m looking forward to learning synthesis with it. I’ve been waiting and after just over a year I have got one for £100 less than new , used.

@FreeBeat 2 года назад

Thanks for watching!

@Oooo-bi7bi Год назад

@@FreeBeat I regularly watch this video as still trying to get my head around the freak. You have a good presenting style that’s easy to listen to. If it wasn’t for guy’s like you, I would never have bought one or have any clue how to use it.

@alvinmason758 2 года назад

dx7 perfect starter synth lol

@treezybeats602 3 года назад

Can you do a video on how to make this thing not sound so cartoony

@randommcranderson5155 3 года назад

learn sound design, play with knobs, add some reverb/chorus/etc (since the microfreak has no effects). Or buy/download patches and transfer them over to the microfreak.

@johnruschulte2593 3 года назад

Also it really general sounds better in mono mode than paraphonic mode so you have to be aware of that and maybe push the resonance or run it through some dirt fuzz distortion or boost. Reverb and chorus I agree are always good.

@autisticeinstein9702 3 года назад

there are tons of vids. i recommend checking out Xaos Resonance. he uses the freak with digitone/digitakt to make great ambient and chill. me, i use my freak to make cartoony sounds haha

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Effects are the way to go. A little quality reverb and this thing just sings!

@marcin_bruczkowski 2 года назад

I bought the Microfreak based on all the recommendation of it being a perfect first synth and it was a big mistake due to... lack of tutorials. YT is full of "demo"-type videos showing off its capabilities, but no real tutorials (or I can't find any). I mean videos guiding step-by-step how to build a simple patch, at a pace one could follow on their own instrument.

@FreeBeat 2 года назад

Check out Oscillator Sink's channel, some amazing Microfreak patch tutorials there!

@___xyz___ 2 года назад

I am compelled to agree. As a synthesist of 12 years, even I found it hard to imagine how I would begin to write songs on this thing if I owned it. Like it appears you'd already have to be quite well versed in synth concepts to be get consistently good sounds out of it. My actual plan, however, was far more devious. As I had been playing with the idea of gifting one of these to my 7 year old boy, who needs something to do besides iPad. But I'm slowly realising this is a potentially terrible and stupidly ambitious plan which is doomed to fail. So when I eventually do subject him to infinitely tweakable synthesis, I'll keep you updated on how spectacularly unsuccessful we are.

@cedriccarballo658 3 года назад

Arturia synths sounds too clean, so they are the perfect instruments to run through a tube preamp or transformer di box. Sounds amazing and fit very well in mixes. To me going through audio interface line ins is better for colored synths, like Moogs or Junos.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

Great tip, thanks!

@Andronicus2007 10 месяцев назад

Another good thing about the Microfreak is a lot of people bought one... so you can buy them very cheap secondhand, even in perfect condition!

@couchcamperTM 3 года назад

I thought I would like it but I'm gonna sell mine again. not my cup of tea^^. In hindsight I shouldn't have sold the Monologue to get the MFer...

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

What don't you like about it?

@couchcamperTM 3 года назад

@@FreeBeat #1 the encoders and #2 menu diving, #3 the presets, most of them show what is possible but make me wanna quit before I really start lol

@tzodearf2596 3 года назад

You probably do a. better sales job than Arturia. Does it work as a sampler too?

@autisticeinstein9702 3 года назад

no digital recorder in there, pretty much just a straight synth with digital osc/waves and an analog filter with digital control.

@randommcranderson5155 3 года назад

No samples no effects but an amazing synth especially for the low cost.

@FreeBeat 3 года назад

As others have stated, it unfortunately does not. I'd love to see a low cost Arturia sampling keyboard though!

@ericMT Год назад

It also happens to be the perfect 48th hardware synthesizer. Don’t ask me how I know that.

@FreeBeat Год назад

@cravensean Год назад

My music buddy said awful, nasty things about the sound of the Microfreak. So I said, "How would you feel about your guitar sound going straight into the mixing board and out of the monitors?" Then I added some reverb to the Microfreak. "Oh." And some overdrive, just enough to fatten things up. "Oh." And now some chorus. "Okay, okay, I'm not going to (vulgar, sexist term for complaint) about the Microfreak ever again."

@cravensean Год назад

(It wasn't my first synth. But it was the first synth I bought for myself. Because it looked like a good education and it has paid out on that level, absolutely. And while my music buddy likes the feel of a piano, the electro-keyboard is so much more intuitive for me, it isn't funny. I want to learn how to custom-make a big-old MIDI controller based on that model and designed for crabby semi-musicians.)

@FA-Q 3 года назад

Bro I'm first again .... Let's make a track together. Seriously