Arturia MicroFreak

EXPERIMENTAL HYBRID SYNTH

A synthesizer 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.

New Firmware update available

Update your MicroFreak with the firmware V1.1.2 that includes updates and improved Spice and Dice effects.

Whether you’re looking for your first, affordable hardware synth or are a collector looking for original sounds and unique interface, MicroFreak is the synth you need.

This out-there little music machine features a versatile digital oscillator so you can create rare and interesting sounds with ease. Modes like Wavetable, KarplusStrong, Harmonic OSC, and Superwave 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.

Small but fierce

MicroFreak packs so much in to such a compact instrument, you’ll wonder how we did it. We’d love to say it was magic, but it was pure skill and passion.

Physical modelling, wavetable synthesis, virtual analog, there is nothing as complete and exciting as the MicroFreak oscillator on the market. It’s hard to believe from such a small synth, but here it is, ready for you to explore. Excite your creativity and reward your curiosity with a large, diverse sound palette. MicroFreak features 12 awesome oscillators, 5 bespoke Arturia engines, and 7 modes from Mutable Instruments.

There’s a little freak inside you, and this instrument will bring it out.

The best of both worlds

Even though MicroFreak has a digital oscillator at its heart, “opposites attract” as the saying goes. That’s why we’ve included a lush-sounding analog filter.

Inspired by the trailblazing 12-dB 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

MicroFreak is packed with unique, exciting features that let you create music with a fresh perspective.

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 patterns, and virtually rewire and reconfigure its signal chain and controls with the 5×7 modulation matrix.

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 and 3.5mm headphone output

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 modelling
  • 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