Description
Synth trailblazers Arturia are no strangers to the weird and wonderful. The MicroFreak, as the name suggests, is about as weird as it gets. Combining digital oscillators with wavetable synthesis, analog filters and a flat aftertouch keybed, it offers a sound and playing experience like no other. Prepare to lose control…
Noise Engineering Oscillator Modes
Push the MicroFreak further than ever before with 3 powerful new oscillator modes – "Bass, Harm and SawX", found in the Noise Engineering Virt Iter Eurorack module – plus unique unison modes and expanded on-board preset slots. This update is free for all users!
These oscillator modes hail from Noise Engineering, a celebrated Eurorack module developer who specialise in the cutting edge of digital synthesis. These three new modes offer a further expanded pallette of additive synthesis, growly and wild textures, as well as softer sawtooth.
Here’s what Arturia say:
A digital synth like no other, MicroFreak is a peculiar, exceptional instrument that rewards the curious musician. It blends wavetable and digital oscillators with analog filters. It features a unique poly-aftertouch flat keyboard. It adds controlled randomness to sequences. This isn’t a revolution, it’s a mutiny.
Un Grain De Folie / A touch of madness
This out-there little music machine features a versatile digital oscillator so you can create rare and interesting sounds with ease. Modes like Texturer, KarplusStrong, Harmonic OSC, and Su-perwave give adventurous musicians the chance to explore totally new, unheard possibilities. Like having dozens of synths in just one instrument, both wild-eyed newcomers and seasoned professionals will fall in love with MicroFreak’s flexible, powerful synth engine.
We’re in this together
While it can be fun to play with yourself, things can get more exciting when there’s two. We love to collaborate, so we’re excited to bring you the first collaboration between Arturia and acclaimed modular synth pioneers Mutable Instruments. Among the multiple modes of MicroFreak’s synth engine, you’ll be able to select the much-loved Plaits oscillator and with added paraphony.
Now you can enjoy the same otherworldly sounds, the same modes, and with the same parameter controls as the iconic Eurorack module, but from a self-contained, performable hardware synth.
The best of both worlds
Inspired by the trailblazing 12-dB Oberheim SEM filter, you can make MicroFreak’s filter scream or whisper to taste. The filter is state-variable, and can even auto-oscillate! You can use this is any way you like, from taking the edge of the razor-sharp wavetable sounds or automating the cutoff by modulating it with keyboard pressure or the in-built sequencer.
Wait. Did we mention that MicroFreak has a sequencer? And a mod matrix? Things are about to get seriously interesting…
Taste the spice, throw the dice
Record up to four automations, edit notes per step or use the innovative Spice and Dice sequencer functions to find happy accidents. Add randomization to create evolving, original pat-terns, and virtually rewire and reconfigure its signal chain and controls with the 5×7 modulation matrix.
That’s a funny looking keyboard…
That’s right, it is. It isn’t really even a keyboard. It’s a PCB. Super-flat, with no moving parts. Will it track lightning-fast synth solos? You bet. Better than a traditional keyboard, actually.
Will it let you be expressive? Of course, it’s not only pressure-sensitive but also offers poly-aftertouch. This means each key can control parameters in a different way depending on how much you touch.
You can also use its USB, MIDI, and CV outputs to control instruments in your DAW and modular synths. This also means that you can also use MicroFreak as a controller to experience polyphonic aftertouch with cutting edge software instruments.
Key features
- Wavetable and digital oscillators
- Analog filters
- Huge variety of sound possibilities
- Poly-aftertouch flat keyboard
- Arpeggiator and sequencer
- 128 factory presets and space for 64 user sounds;
- Crystal-clear OLED screen
- 5×7 modulation matrix
- Paraphonic mode
- Collaboration with Mutable Instruments
- USB, MIDI, and CV outputs
- Use MicroFreak as a controller to experience polyphonic aftertouch
In the Box
- MicroFreak unit
- Power supply
