Nick, you're the best synth reviewer for many reasons, including your sound design talents, but especially because you approach instruments with an excited sense of creative potential, and always communicate that familiar feeling of fun which all of us who like to program synths experience. Thanks for your work.
will probably never happen if no one buys the mini lol but hopefully in 3-4 years? If it does come out people will just complain that its too expensive 😂
I was thinking they would maybe make a BruteFreak! A PolyBrute inspired Poly synth with two VCO’s and the same digital oscillators the MiniFreak comes with
Minor correction since it threw me off too: At 26:30 you say FX1 is different since it doesn't have delay or reverb. But that's only because those effects are already assigned (even if they're deactivated) to FX2 and FX3 by default. Once you reassign FX2/3 to a different effect, delay and/or reverb becomes available in FX1 too.
great review, of all the videos seen on the new Arturia MINIFreak by all the TH-cam review regulars, your's is the one that most makes me want to get one, good job sonicstate!
This looks incredible. The Microfreak was already hugely popular and for good reason - it sounds great and is so easy to use. With this having an additional oscillator (and modes!) more modulation, larger mod-matrix, and effects while keeping the simple interface and great sound, I think this will be a classic. No doubt Arturia will update it in the future too. The plugin is extremely useful too.
Excellent review Nick! Great custom sounds as well. With regards to setting up the macros. No need to browse to a free slot, just grab a knob and it will fill the next free slot automagically 🙂
An awesome package, people complain about the keys, easy solution, use another synth to control it and look past something that works anyways. I will be getting one as the sequencer is seriously powerful, it's up there with my Pro 2/3 but has additional features without having to be a massive sized addition. Price, size, sound and features make this an absolute must.
Got mine a few days ago and it really is something unique. I hope Arturia has a lot in store for this thing, there isn't even an official manual up yet nor VST for normies. It will take a while for me to really understand all it can do, where it really shines is making your own patches quickly. I feel like this will become a very personal instrument tailored to your personality. There definitely needs a fav present bank, there are too many to cycle through. As time goes on I think people will stop dismissing the mini, it is already misunderstood. All people complain about pre launch was the key size and no poly after touch (but there is aftertouch) and that was enough to label it as trash before they even tried it lol. We want to compare this to a hydrasynth as did I but they are totally different machines that are both worth having. One isn't necessarily better than the other. The Mini feels experimental, encourages risk taking & exploration while Hydra is the goto for big, classic, traditional analogish tones. As Nick said its missing those pure analog vibes. So don't expect this as your all in one. I will say that weighted keys would have really sent this thing to the moon because it's a hefty piece of kit with a solid metal bottom frame. I don't mind the mini keys at all, but the keystep like keys are a little too stiff/hollow for me but very playable. I don't think the Microfreak touch plates would have been a good choice on this either. The customizable Macros and Mod strips are fun and offer lots of gorgeous expression that PAT in the keys would have provided. So its there just not in the way we wanted lol
People complain about the Mini without having even touched one. I can see and hear the potential in this and it has a much better sequencer than the KSP, which ironically the KSP should be better given that it's only a dedicated sequencer. 4 lanes of motion sequencing is not new on a synth but when you can custom make your own LFOs, that's pretty unique especially you combine this for modulation. Add Spice and Dice then the 2 macros, you're going to have some seriously complex sequencing going on with live manipulation. Then the 2 synth engines with different capabilities makes this a serious machine with minimal foot print and serviceable keys. Let's talk about the keys, I think they're perfect for this unit given the depth of the synth, given this synth is not a focus for ripping on, 1 finger chords or transposing is fine with the keys, as is inputing notes for the sequencer or arp. Compared to the Explorer's PAT keybed, well one could argue that PAT means nothing if the synth engine isn't what you're looking for, the ASM engine isn't the best, it's unique and can sound brittle/harsh if not tamed properly. The beauty of the Micro being a smaller version of the Mini, is it uses a SEM based filter, this helps with any possible digital harshness, so if the Mini uses the same filter, that is another win imo. Personally I think the Mini has a ton more to offer than the Explorer, it all comes down to what you want out of a synth. I tried to like the HS desktop as i had one for around 11 months and just never found it working with my other analogs. The Mini would fit right in the mix with my existing gear.
@@spoppp I literally got mine today (pre-ordered from Perfect Circuit, I think Thomann might have it too?). I love how they kept the UI as simple as the Microfreak, it’s very easy to tweak stuff very quickly. If Arturia show the same level of commitment that they did for the Microfreak as far as firmware updates go, I expect this to be another winner. In about 2 years I’ve gone from never owning any Arturia gear to now owning 2 Microfreaks, a PolyBrute, MiniBrute 2S, Pigments, V Collection 9 and now the Minifreak (and I used to be a Roland fanboy 😉 Still waiting for the manual and the VST though… 😞
Great review. This thing is so deep. Could spend months learning all it has to offer. I’m still deciding between this and the microfreak but I’m leaning towards the mini.
I would like to see them do a DRUM FREAK that is multi timbral, with controllable regions that utilize the touch responsive metallic key surfaces for each sound or maybe and an X Y grid, like a Kaoscillator, but made with the metal surface like the Mini Freak. A drum machine with all the different sound engines would be amazing.
The stepped LFOs and looping envelopes are really nice to have, I really enjoy building patches with them on my Hydrasynth (which has 5 of each). This thing is really cool, some really unique sonic possibilities, lots to explore and experiment with.
Nick, if you have to choose one between this and the microfreak, which one would you get? Do you think the lack of Poly aftertouch is a minus point for the Minifreak?
For those complaining about the mini keys, the benefit is that it’s basically module-sized, and with some very basic diy skills you can mount it on a swiveling desktop monitor stand so it sits right above a full size keyboard synth or controller.
People complain without finding their own solutions. This is perfect as its most important facet is the sequencer and how everything is in your peripheral vision. Had this had full sized keys, the whole form factor would have been much larger and would not have been as easy to use due to size. The Mini is a perfect combination of size, sound and UI, then add in the $ and you have a seriously great synth to add to anyone's collection.
@@GizzyDillespee People always talk about full size keyboards, but they don’t sell that well. The only ones that do OK are things like the OBX8 and the Prophet 5 reissue. I have room for one big keyboard. I don’t have and don’t want a stack of big synths in a synth cave, and that’s true for most people. Look at Reverb and Thomann sales rankings. What sells the most are modules, grooveboxes and smaller keyboard synths. You are a niche market.
@@GizzyDillespee I would have thought that, but there are only a few full size keyboards on Reverb's top 20 list for 2022. Lots of tiny keyboards, tho. If you were to expand the list to include arranger keyboards, that would likely change the list.
@@GizzyDillespee a Theramin style Midi/CV controller would be kinda hilarious to play with. And I agree, the flagship version definitely needs to be called "Superfreak", it would be such a lost opportunity not to. Would be happy to have the filter stages from the Minifreak as a separate unit for my Microfreak too
i reaaally hope they add the user wave algorithm back in. That one was the algorithm i love on my MicroFreak. It just makes the synth really your own instrument. Also the ragular wavetable algo would be nice now the MiniFreak has got two oscillators.
I feel the same way about the userwaves… I have a preset on my Micro that is the backbone of a piece and I wanted to expand on it with the mini but it’s built on a user wavetable. The thing about the mini is that it doesn’t connect with the midi control center (yet) and that’s where you download and store/manage user wavetables. I’m not sure if Arturia intends to integrate mini into the MCC or not but my guess would be that they can’t offer wavetables without that.
@@bobbycroker19 I guess, they'll rather expand MiniFreak V to handle Wavetables at some point. Still kinda sad, that Arturia left wavetables out in the first place. But, i think they'll add it with an update, like they added stuff to the MicroFreak as well.
Hello. Thank you for the great walk-through. Can you tell me if the pre-sets you played around the 15 min mark, like Preset 2 Aevus, are part of the default pad set? I'm a synth novice, but love those kind of ethereal sounds and want to explore more of that kind of thing.
if I understand correctly paraphonic gives you one filter per 2 voices as there are 6 filters, the limitation would be there (with the single oscillator). each voice has its own digital VCA. I mean on the microfreak there is only one (and the paraphonic mode still has discrete digital VCAs) so that's a big step up.
That's correct. It's not technically paraphony, it's kind of in-between poly and paraphony since all 6 filters are still being used. And just like MicroFreak, the VCA is handled digitally BEFORE the filter to give independent envelopes for both voices going into each filter. The Analog VCA is used to tame self-oscillating filters, and to avoid background noise when no sound is played through a filter, but it's a safeguard more than a musical functionality.
This might not be a jupiter, but the simplicity of the design reminds of that a little bit of, but tonally this can go to jupiter and beyond and back again ;) really fine design and musically charged sound toolkit here Arturia!
If one would like to do more generative ambient stuff but you only know basics of synthesis (but want to learn more too), is this a good synth to get? Compared to, say, the Hydrasynth? Peak?
but if you already have a microfreak getting a mini will be like having three of the same sound engine. and with the cheap keystep keybed and no poly aftertouch. for the same money you could get a hydra explorer with a high quality keybed, poly afterouch if you want a huge sounding polysynth. the virtual analog on this doesn't come close to what a hydra can do. I have the microfreak and explorer which are incredible but very different synths. but the minifreak is trying to be something it's not and misses the mark for me.
Hey Nick, I've watched sop many of your fantastic reviews. Thanks so much for these!! if I'm buying my first piece of hardware, and already have Ableton and some soft synths, would you recommend the Minifreak or the Korg Minilogue XD? I just can't bloody decide!! Your reviews rate them both so highly. Seems like there is more menu diving on the Minifreak? What would you recommend?
Ooh that's a tough one. Very similar in many ways but the xd is more analogue I guess. I really liked both. The mini freak will likely get more updates and ultimately do more...I think the mini just edges it for me
Thinking of selling my Microfreak, Minilab 3 and replacing the hole they leave with a Minifreak. Wondering if it will work okay as my DAW master keyboard.
Finally, the first review that actually showed the VSTi... now it looks to me from what I gathered that the VST version is not ready yet for the public, is that correct? I ordered my MiniFreak yesterday and it should be here within a week... very excited, but I also was really looking forward to testing out the V along with the hardware - I hope Arturia will not make us wait too long! ;)
Awesome! In a Matrix Freak or Mega Freak etc, I'd love to see a few multi-stage envelopes that you could assign to whatever parameters you'd like, maybe a third oscillator section and some sort of percussive pads. Arturia would have to really study up on how to make this intuitive but I really love the way these synths work
Me too... I badgered Arturia about making a VST version ever since I got the MicroFreak and I just ordered the Mini. I think Arturia has an excellent track record emulating hardware, so I hope the difference in sound is negligible (at least in a mix). It will make tracking a full song with many MiniFreak sounds so much easier and enjoyable than recording each little bit one by one (as I had to do with the MicroFreak)! Unfortunately it looks like the VSTi is not yet ready for download... hope it does not take much longer.
I need the manual too and the vst, kind of odd they released this without them. They must already planning another update and are in secret beta mode right now.
We'll try and publish it roughly around the 20th of November. We had unexpected issues with this manual. I'm reviewing a third draft that is pretty good so we should have everything done quite soon. Thanks for your patience :)
Regarding shortcuts to presets, for live sessions, can't you just use the Midi Control Center and rearrange the order of the presets so you have the most important ones grouped together in the beginning of the list?
Hmm. I’ll try the MCC re-ordering approach you’ve mentioned. As I really miss even 5 buttons (or 10?) or controls for instantly recalling and saving a small number of favorite presets/patches.. badly needed for live performances when you don’t have time to “list-dive” to preset 167 or whatever.
Certainly on my must have list! Perhaps Arturia will make a MacroFreak with full size keys..? Even better a workstation keyboard using all the best features of the BSP, KSP, Spark, MiniFreak (full 32 voice polyphony please!), even the Fuse! Add a sequencer like the Ensoniq SQ-80 and KeyLab styled controllers and I'd be in sonic heaven.
I agree, bring back the onboard sequencer with multiple parts (split polyphony between tracks dynamically, could totally be done). There’s something amazingly creative about workstation synths/samplers like the old Ensoniq ones. ESQ1 and EPS/ASR too.
How does it compare to the Korg XD? I've saved up to buy one and now this arrived and i'm not sure now which to buy. This seems to have a lot more options especially with the VST to accompany it plus 6 voices not just 4 with the XD. Any advice?
I have the XD, it is somewhat limiting and gets lost in mixes with other gear. I have a piece I made called Tron, it was sequencing 3 other synths and I used lane sequencing and adding steps to make a super complex piece that only ever used 16 steps. If I had 64 steps, this would have taken me to greater heights, and this is a massive strength over the XD. Then add the 2 macros and the Spice and Dice, you're flexibility is going to far exceed what the XD can do. If you like what you hear on the Mini, plus the ability to do many forms of synthesis and do not mind it is not analog, you should go and play one in person if you can. It is far more complex than a XD, has a better sequencer than the KeyStePro (which what the form factor is based on) and can be used to control the VST counterpart which is pretty cool. My XD is put away currently and it might be sold in the future.
@@dankeplace Thanks for your insight . I've been comparing all day lol . I think I will take the plunge with the Freak (if I can get hold of one) .Going to give myself another week and re watch Nicks Vids and Loopops but I've got a gut feeling my minds made up
@@mrfeenix1 Both are great synths but the sequencing capabilities on the Mini are much deeper than the XD's. I think you get more bang per buck with the Mini too and I will in the future get one, just that my P12 module is 1st on the list.
@@mrfeenix1 like Nick himself said, the Minifreak is not so strong at basic synth sounds, which is what the XD is great at (and that is nearly all it can do), so the two synths can go well together: the freak does unusual/complex/FM sounds while the XD covers basic basses, leads, etc.
@sonicstate interesting, so 6 filters. I wonder how exactly it splits the filters up in 12 voice mode. It must just trigger a new filter for every other note held down, essentially like having 6 2-note paraphonic voices stacked. Either way, 6 true voices is plenty for me. Awesome, thanks!
This minifreak kind of looks like a casio that took LSD which I love… it’s just a shame it’s all digital, and you get that exponential choice hidden under a limited physical interface… you’d have to choose your 3 favourite things and set and forget…or you’d be endlessly delving and maybe not so productively from a music making or performance point of view.
I'm hoping they do a PolyFreak. I'm saving up for a PolyBrute. And just sold my MicroFreak to get the MiniFreak. But, that's why I'm not sure they would do a PolyFreak, at least not for years. It would cannibalise sales of the PolyBrute and Freaks. Which I think they are selling quite a lot of the former, given how expensive they are. And they sold tons of MicroFreaks and I'm sure will shift similar numbers of MiniFreaks.
@@compucorder64 I believe many people think that Matrixbrute and Polybrute cannibalise each other. On the other hand some TH-camrs have gone out of their way to disagree and own both.
@@chromosundrift yes it's true. PolyFreak could happen. Long gap between the MatrixBrute and Polybrute though (was it 5 years or more?). I reckon the Polybrute and Minifreak will be given time to sell. Especially with parts shortages. Another thing I'd love to see Arturia could do is a synth stereo mixer. With per channel saturation/distortion, two analogue filters, and a multieffects engine (including Fragments granular).
I feel there's a fair amount of menu diving but having the vst linked to the keyboard for downloading and editting allows faster interaction. But as a sound machine it's up the top. Good demo. Gives us a full feel for it. This one will sell loads I guess. Small keys .. urmmmm.. especially poly use
There’s very little menu diving, for the amount of flexibility you get. Seriously you wouldn’t even notice it unless you simply detest looking at a screen ever. Have had the MicroFreak for years and it has the same UI, and i do not feel like it’s a menu-divey synth at all. When you touch a knob or button, you get feedback on the screen but there is almost no menu-diving as such.
What a shame Arturia went with mini-keys. I will buy it anyway, but I would pay more for a version with a decent velocity-sensitive Fatar KB with AT. Honestly, the synth engine is just begging for polyphonic AT. Well, there is always the KB on my Hydrasynth...
I think the mini-keys are a clear sign that there’s one more entry planned for the Freak range. Probably not for another year or two, but if this sells well, a full-size with poly AT seems very likely.
Superpower Sounds are absolutely horrific, terrible ..the sound of dying 8-bit soundblasters, the worst of the worst, they're........ MAGNIFICENT!!!.. 🤩
I hate this review. I'd just completed my first full month of "I don't need another synth". I'd NEARLY wobbled a couple of times but I'd done it. Even my wife believed me. Then this. I now need another synth. Thanks, Nick. My wife wants a word with you.
It's really versatile, full-featured, and attractive. But to me it just sounds like software - like, if you close your eyes, it's no more compelling than endless numbers of plugins/VSTs. The best hardware synths have this visceral oomph that elevates them above soft synths - e.g. the new Obie OB-X8, many of the Moogs, etc. This Freak sounds anywhere from pretty to interesting, but it just doesn't grab you in the guts.
This feels like a small gripe about the micro, but I can't be the only one... there was no on/off setting for midi stop/start, so if you were using something else as the master, the sequencer would just start right up, you couldn't wait and introduce the sequence later in the piece. So I'm hoping they've fixed that in this one. It was honestly quite annoying on the original.
There's a "Auto Play on/off" setting. Which does what you want if I understand it well. MiniFreak will respond to Stop, but you can choose to wait for a press on Play (or on keys) to trigger the sequence rather than immediately when MIDI Start shows up
When you talk about “talking filters” I think of formants. Formants always make me think of Add N to X, no one doubled down on formants the way they did. I lament the lack of knowledge and reference to their work. I know they weren’t famous, but how can you love synths and not be impressed with their work?
I sold all my euro rack. I just don’t understand why nobody uses these amazing MI open source effects. Only the synth engines are sometimes used in hardware. (M8 tracker and this Minifreak)… it would be so cool with more MI ported to hardware synths.
Except that every voice has its own fully analog SEM filter, one of the best filters of all time. This can’t be understated. The sound of this synth is so much better than softsynths generally, and beats fully digital hardware synths too, generally. Honestly in the timbre/sound quality department this synth makes my Hydrasynth sound bad. (The Hydra does not sound bad at all, that should tell you how good the filter is in this synth)
@@sub-jec-tiv yeah the filter on the microfreak and mini are top notch. The filter on the micromonsta 2 is also good, although it might be digital I forget. But it has wonderful character and resolution despite the mm2 being a digital synth
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Nick, you're the best synth reviewer for many reasons, including your sound design talents, but especially because you approach instruments with an excited sense of creative potential, and always communicate that familiar feeling of fun which all of us who like to program synths experience. Thanks for your work.
I'm holding out for a flagship model... MatrixFreak maybe? Or PolyFreak? Nah, it's definitely gotta be SuperFreak.
What do you want them to add in a bigger freak ?
will probably never happen if no one buys the mini lol but hopefully in 3-4 years? If it does come out people will just complain that its too expensive 😂
I was thinking they would maybe make a BruteFreak! A PolyBrute inspired Poly synth with two VCO’s and the same digital oscillators the MiniFreak comes with
@@jfg09 yeah I feel this would be the flagship. Unless they make a fully hybrid synth (like a polybrute with a digital oscillator added)
Kinda hoping they go major freak
Minor correction since it threw me off too: At 26:30 you say FX1 is different since it doesn't have delay or reverb. But that's only because those effects are already assigned (even if they're deactivated) to FX2 and FX3 by default. Once you reassign FX2/3 to a different effect, delay and/or reverb becomes available in FX1 too.
great review, of all the videos seen on the new Arturia MINIFreak by all the TH-cam review regulars, your's is the one that most makes me want to get one, good job sonicstate!
This looks incredible. The Microfreak was already hugely popular and for good reason - it sounds great and is so easy to use. With this having an additional oscillator (and modes!) more modulation, larger mod-matrix, and effects while keeping the simple interface and great sound, I think this will be a classic. No doubt Arturia will update it in the future too. The plugin is extremely useful too.
Thanks so much for this detailed review. I just got a Minifreak for my birthday last month and am really enjoying it so far.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent review Nick! Great custom sounds as well. With regards to setting up the macros. No need to browse to a free slot, just grab a knob and it will fill the next free slot automagically 🙂
great review, full of heart and totally different than anybody else. thank you
Thanx for this review Nick, you are absolutely my favourite gear reviewer. And I really enjoy your music as well, thank you for all your work!
An awesome package, people complain about the keys, easy solution, use another synth to control it and look past something that works anyways.
I will be getting one as the sequencer is seriously powerful, it's up there with my Pro 2/3 but has additional features without having to be a massive sized addition.
Price, size, sound and features make this an absolute must.
Same.. the sequencer is what this will bring to the party...
Got mine a few days ago and it really is something unique. I hope Arturia has a lot in store for this thing, there isn't even an official manual up yet nor VST for normies. It will take a while for me to really understand all it can do, where it really shines is making your own patches quickly. I feel like this will become a very personal instrument tailored to your personality. There definitely needs a fav present bank, there are too many to cycle through.
As time goes on I think people will stop dismissing the mini, it is already misunderstood. All people complain about pre launch was the key size and no poly after touch (but there is aftertouch) and that was enough to label it as trash before they even tried it lol.
We want to compare this to a hydrasynth as did I but they are totally different machines that are both worth having. One isn't necessarily better than the other. The Mini feels experimental, encourages risk taking & exploration while Hydra is the goto for big, classic, traditional analogish tones. As Nick said its missing those pure analog vibes. So don't expect this as your all in one.
I will say that weighted keys would have really sent this thing to the moon because it's a hefty piece of kit with a solid metal bottom frame. I don't mind the mini keys at all, but the keystep like keys are a little too stiff/hollow for me but very playable. I don't think the Microfreak touch plates would have been a good choice on this either.
The customizable Macros and Mod strips are fun and offer lots of gorgeous expression that PAT in the keys would have provided. So its there just not in the way we wanted lol
People complain about the Mini without having even touched one.
I can see and hear the potential in this and it has a much better sequencer than the KSP, which ironically the KSP should be better given that it's only a dedicated sequencer.
4 lanes of motion sequencing is not new on a synth but when you can custom make your own LFOs, that's pretty unique especially you combine this for modulation.
Add Spice and Dice then the 2 macros, you're going to have some seriously complex sequencing going on with live manipulation.
Then the 2 synth engines with different capabilities makes this a serious machine with minimal foot print and serviceable keys.
Let's talk about the keys, I think they're perfect for this unit given the depth of the synth, given this synth is not a focus for ripping on, 1 finger chords or transposing is fine with the keys, as is inputing notes for the sequencer or arp.
Compared to the Explorer's PAT keybed, well one could argue that PAT means nothing if the synth engine isn't what you're looking for, the ASM engine isn't the best, it's unique and can sound brittle/harsh if not tamed properly.
The beauty of the Micro being a smaller version of the Mini, is it uses a SEM based filter, this helps with any possible digital harshness, so if the Mini uses the same filter, that is another win imo.
Personally I think the Mini has a ton more to offer than the Explorer, it all comes down to what you want out of a synth.
I tried to like the HS desktop as i had one for around 11 months and just never found it working with my other analogs.
The Mini would fit right in the mix with my existing gear.
Where did you buy it? I can't see it available on any shop yet. Thanks
@@spoppp I literally got mine today (pre-ordered from Perfect Circuit, I think Thomann might have it too?). I love how they kept the UI as simple as the Microfreak, it’s very easy to tweak stuff very quickly. If Arturia show the same level of commitment that they did for the Microfreak as far as firmware updates go, I expect this to be another winner. In about 2 years I’ve gone from never owning any Arturia gear to now owning 2 Microfreaks, a PolyBrute, MiniBrute 2S, Pigments, V Collection 9 and now the Minifreak (and I used to be a Roland fanboy 😉
Still waiting for the manual and the VST though… 😞
@@symbiat0 thanks!! Thomann doesn't have it yet :( I am looking forward buying it, to be honest, it looks like the perfect synth.
@@spoppp guitar center has them in the us since last week. I have no idea why.
I got one of these, and I am daunted by how many possibilities lay before me. I love everything about it. Plays well with my Novation Bass Station 2
I own and love a BS2, and have a Minologue XD which I don't seem to get along with so well. I might swap my MXD for a minifreak...
Awesome upgrade to the microfreak, and an awesome shirt too!
Great review. This thing is so deep. Could spend months learning all it has to offer. I’m still deciding between this and the microfreak but I’m leaning towards the mini.
Great review! First and for now only review to show a more in depth of the potential.
Are you satisfied with the level of PWM available on this little beast Nick? 😜
I would like to see them do a DRUM FREAK that is multi timbral, with controllable regions that utilize the touch responsive metallic key surfaces for each sound or maybe and an X Y grid, like a Kaoscillator, but made with the metal surface like the Mini Freak. A drum machine with all the different sound engines would be amazing.
Not gunna lie that's a neat idea, even just as a controller
and momentary switchs on the XY pad - -springing back when you let go
This little guy is a beast. I thought it's more expensive and it makes it more impressive for such a small price.
Great thanks a lot Nick & co.!! Had mine on back order from 1st day of announcement …. Right up my ruelle!! Can’t wait, only 2wks to go now😮👍🎹🎵🍻
What a lovely instrument.
The stepped LFOs and looping envelopes are really nice to have, I really enjoy building patches with them on my Hydrasynth (which has 5 of each). This thing is really cool, some really unique sonic possibilities, lots to explore and experiment with.
Nick, if you have to choose one between this and the microfreak, which one would you get? Do you think the lack of Poly aftertouch is a minus point for the Minifreak?
Mini all day.
i own the matrixbrute, but i think the minifreak is actually Arturia´s best synth ever. well done, Arturia & thx for the great review Nick!
lol perhaps you don't realize what you've got there
You should really go to a store and spend half hour with the polybrute.
You won't even think about this synth afterwards though.
A Minifreak vs Minilogue xD vid would be great!
Totally different machines. I think theyre not comparable actually.
8:23 everything was almost in its right place
That comb filter sounds amazing.
Beautiful sounds and playing Sensei Batt 🙏
For those complaining about the mini keys, the benefit is that it’s basically module-sized, and with some very basic diy skills you can mount it on a swiveling desktop monitor stand so it sits right above a full size keyboard synth or controller.
People complain without finding their own solutions.
This is perfect as its most important facet is the sequencer and how everything is in your peripheral vision.
Had this had full sized keys, the whole form factor would have been much larger and would not have been as easy to use due to size.
The Mini is a perfect combination of size, sound and UI, then add in the $ and you have a seriously great synth to add to anyone's collection.
You could buy a car with a miniature steering wheel, and then overlay a full-sized MIDI steering wheel. Makes perfect sense to me.
@@GizzyDillespee People always talk about full size keyboards, but they don’t sell that well. The only ones that do OK are things like the OBX8 and the Prophet 5 reissue. I have room for one big keyboard. I don’t have and don’t want a stack of big synths in a synth cave, and that’s true for most people. Look at Reverb and Thomann sales rankings. What sells the most are modules, grooveboxes and smaller keyboard synths. You are a niche market.
@@geephlips That's backwards... keyboards tend to sell much better than modules.
@@GizzyDillespee I would have thought that, but there are only a few full size keyboards on Reverb's top 20 list for 2022. Lots of tiny keyboards, tho. If you were to expand the list to include arranger keyboards, that would likely change the list.
Still waiting for stock in the UK. Can't wait to get it. Great review!
They should do a SuperFreak, could market it with the tagline "can't touch this".
Yes - give it a theremin antenna!
@@GizzyDillespee a Theramin style Midi/CV controller would be kinda hilarious to play with.
And I agree, the flagship version definitely needs to be called "Superfreak", it would be such a lost opportunity not to.
Would be happy to have the filter stages from the Minifreak as a separate unit for my Microfreak too
i reaaally hope they add the user wave algorithm back in. That one was the algorithm i love on my MicroFreak. It just makes the synth really your own instrument.
Also the ragular wavetable algo would be nice now the MiniFreak has got two oscillators.
I feel the same way about the userwaves… I have a preset on my Micro that is the backbone of a piece and I wanted to expand on it with the mini but it’s built on a user wavetable. The thing about the mini is that it doesn’t connect with the midi control center (yet) and that’s where you download and store/manage user wavetables. I’m not sure if Arturia intends to integrate mini into the MCC or not but my guess would be that they can’t offer wavetables without that.
@@bobbycroker19 I guess, they'll rather expand MiniFreak V to handle Wavetables at some point. Still kinda sad, that Arturia left wavetables out in the first place.
But, i think they'll add it with an update, like they added stuff to the MicroFreak as well.
It has wavetables but better than micro, same will happen with all other engines.
Hello. Thank you for the great walk-through. Can you tell me if the pre-sets you played around the 15 min mark, like Preset 2 Aevus, are part of the default pad set? I'm a synth novice, but love those kind of ethereal sounds and want to explore more of that kind of thing.
Beautiful review of a great synth!
Lovely powerful little synth. And the graphics on the display are hilarious😂
if I understand correctly paraphonic gives you one filter per 2 voices as there are 6 filters, the limitation would be there (with the single oscillator). each voice has its own digital VCA. I mean on the microfreak there is only one (and the paraphonic mode still has discrete digital VCAs) so that's a big step up.
That's correct. It's not technically paraphony, it's kind of in-between poly and paraphony since all 6 filters are still being used.
And just like MicroFreak, the VCA is handled digitally BEFORE the filter to give independent envelopes for both voices going into each filter. The Analog VCA is used to tame self-oscillating filters, and to avoid background noise when no sound is played through a filter, but it's a safeguard more than a musical functionality.
This might not be a jupiter, but the simplicity of the design reminds of that a little bit of, but tonally this can go to jupiter and beyond and back again ;) really fine design and musically charged sound toolkit here Arturia!
Jup8 is so overrated. Trust me if you have this synth you have a more capable and inspiring synth than a J8.
Can't wait to play with this! Great video- subscribed!
Great review very helpful! Would be awesome if you could do an in depth video of the audio input
If one would like to do more generative ambient stuff but you only know basics of synthesis (but want to learn more too), is this a good synth to get? Compared to, say, the Hydrasynth? Peak?
Thanks for the full review!
Nick you‘re amazing!
Thank you so much for this outstanding review!
The Microfreak does have the Noise Engineering oscillators. They were added in one of the awesome free updates.
I love my microfreak... the big draw for me in this are the on-board effects...and the actual keyboard.
but if you already have a microfreak getting a mini will be like having three of the same sound engine. and with the cheap keystep keybed and no poly aftertouch. for the same money you could get a hydra explorer with a high quality keybed, poly afterouch if you want a huge sounding polysynth. the virtual analog on this doesn't come close to what a hydra can do. I have the microfreak and explorer which are incredible but very different synths. but the minifreak is trying to be something it's not and misses the mark for me.
Hey Nick, I've watched sop many of your fantastic reviews. Thanks so much for these!! if I'm buying my first piece of hardware, and already have Ableton and some soft synths, would you recommend the Minifreak or the Korg Minilogue XD? I just can't bloody decide!! Your reviews rate them both so highly. Seems like there is more menu diving on the Minifreak? What would you recommend?
Ooh that's a tough one. Very similar in many ways but the xd is more analogue I guess. I really liked both. The mini freak will likely get more updates and ultimately do more...I think the mini just edges it for me
Cheers Nick, versatile little fella isn't it.
Thinking of selling my Microfreak, Minilab 3 and replacing the hole they leave with a Minifreak. Wondering if it will work okay as my DAW master keyboard.
Anyone else squinting at the shelf behind Nick, looking for goodies?
Candy? Or gear? It is full of goodies if you mean gear.
Can the rhythmic element of LFO waves be synced to a tap tempo on the fly? That'd make it really useful. Great video as always of course :)
Finally, the first review that actually showed the VSTi... now it looks to me from what I gathered that the VST version is not ready yet for the public, is that correct? I ordered my MiniFreak yesterday and it should be here within a week... very excited, but I also was really looking forward to testing out the V along with the hardware - I hope Arturia will not make us wait too long! ;)
Awesome! In a Matrix Freak or Mega Freak etc, I'd love to see a few multi-stage envelopes that you could assign to whatever parameters you'd like, maybe a third oscillator section and some sort of percussive pads. Arturia would have to really study up on how to make this intuitive but I really love the way these synths work
Cool mate! Be interesting to hear the same patch compared on the hardware and the VST. I'd imagine the analogue filter would make for some difference.
Me too... I badgered Arturia about making a VST version ever since I got the MicroFreak and I just ordered the Mini. I think Arturia has an excellent track record emulating hardware, so I hope the difference in sound is negligible (at least in a mix). It will make tracking a full song with many MiniFreak sounds so much easier and enjoyable than recording each little bit one by one (as I had to do with the MicroFreak)! Unfortunately it looks like the VSTi is not yet ready for download... hope it does not take much longer.
This seems really cool. In its price range, it's probably second only to the Hydrasynth Explorer.
GS initiated this will be my Christmas present for myself.
I always value your reviews the most most, Nick. Synth sounds great.
Any idea when the manual will be available? Arturia's site says "Coming soon...". Thanks for the review. Mine is on the way.
I need the manual too and the vst, kind of odd they released this without them. They must already planning another update and are in secret beta mode right now.
We'll try and publish it roughly around the 20th of November. We had unexpected issues with this manual. I'm reviewing a third draft that is pretty good so we should have everything done quite soon. Thanks for your patience :)
@@Diayse Thanks for the update!
@@Diayse Thanks
One of the only synths I've ordered this year
Thanks for review! Are you using a literal foot sustain pedal?
Yep a physical sustain pedal
Thank you for this deep review!!!
Thank you, Nick! Thank you, Arturia!!! 🙌🙌🙌
excellent demo waiting for u.k delivery
Regarding shortcuts to presets, for live sessions, can't you just use the Midi Control Center and rearrange the order of the presets so you have the most important ones grouped together in the beginning of the list?
Hmm. I’ll try the MCC re-ordering approach you’ve mentioned. As I really miss even 5 buttons (or 10?) or controls for instantly recalling and saving a small number of favorite presets/patches.. badly needed for live performances when you don’t have time to “list-dive” to preset 167 or whatever.
This or the Cobalt 8? Cobalt looks interesting with the v2 firmware update.
There's a lot in the £600 band: this, cobalt 8, Hydrasynth Explorer, Minlogue XD
🧙🏻♂ Or Hydrasynth Explorer or Korg Opsix. Gotta collect them all.
@@sonicstate For sure. Looking for a good companion to the Digitone. Minifreak seems solid.
Both, get the Minifreak then later the Cobalt8
@@Jason75913 Cobalt8 is VA, you're going to possibly have some overlap, probably better off getting an analog, maybe a DM6 or module.
Certainly on my must have list!
Perhaps Arturia will make a MacroFreak with full size keys..?
Even better a workstation keyboard using all the best features of the BSP, KSP, Spark, MiniFreak (full 32 voice polyphony please!), even the Fuse!
Add a sequencer like the Ensoniq SQ-80 and KeyLab styled controllers and I'd be in sonic heaven.
I agree, bring back the onboard sequencer with multiple parts (split polyphony between tracks dynamically, could totally be done). There’s something amazingly creative about workstation synths/samplers like the old Ensoniq ones. ESQ1 and EPS/ASR too.
How does it compare to the Korg XD? I've saved up to buy one and now this arrived and i'm not sure now which to buy. This seems to have a lot more options especially with the VST to accompany it plus 6 voices not just 4 with the XD. Any advice?
I have the XD, it is somewhat limiting and gets lost in mixes with other gear.
I have a piece I made called Tron, it was sequencing 3 other synths and I used lane sequencing and adding steps to make a super complex piece that only ever used 16 steps.
If I had 64 steps, this would have taken me to greater heights, and this is a massive strength over the XD.
Then add the 2 macros and the Spice and Dice, you're flexibility is going to far exceed what the XD can do.
If you like what you hear on the Mini, plus the ability to do many forms of synthesis and do not mind it is not analog, you should go and play one in person if you can.
It is far more complex than a XD, has a better sequencer than the KeyStePro (which what the form factor is based on) and can be used to control the VST counterpart which is pretty cool.
My XD is put away currently and it might be sold in the future.
@@dankeplace Thanks for your insight . I've been comparing all day lol . I think I will take the plunge with the Freak (if I can get hold of one) .Going to give myself another week and re watch Nicks Vids and Loopops but I've got a gut feeling my minds made up
@@mrfeenix1 Both are great synths but the sequencing capabilities on the Mini are much deeper than the XD's.
I think you get more bang per buck with the Mini too and I will in the future get one, just that my P12 module is 1st on the list.
@@dankeplace I Pre-Ordered the MiniFreak although arrival time is sketchy
@@mrfeenix1 like Nick himself said, the Minifreak is not so strong at basic synth sounds, which is what the XD is great at (and that is nearly all it can do), so the two synths can go well together: the freak does unusual/complex/FM sounds while the XD covers basic basses, leads, etc.
Superb vid as always. Thanks
This is tempting indeed. Does it have a a true analog filter per voice? Even in 12 voice paraphonic mode? If so, wow!
I think true analogue filter per two voices in paraphonic mode
@sonicstate interesting, so 6 filters. I wonder how exactly it splits the filters up in 12 voice mode. It must just trigger a new filter for every other note held down, essentially like having 6 2-note paraphonic voices stacked. Either way, 6 true voices is plenty for me. Awesome, thanks!
so do i understand right that this thing has an analog filter per voice or is it again just the one on the sum?
Yep. Six
This minifreak kind of looks like a casio that took LSD which I love… it’s just a shame it’s all digital, and you get that exponential choice hidden under a limited physical interface… you’d have to choose your 3 favourite things and set and forget…or you’d be endlessly delving and maybe not so productively from a music making or performance point of view.
Can you imagine the MatrixFreak or PolyFreak?
I'm hoping they do a PolyFreak. I'm saving up for a PolyBrute. And just sold my MicroFreak to get the MiniFreak. But, that's why I'm not sure they would do a PolyFreak, at least not for years. It would cannibalise sales of the PolyBrute and Freaks. Which I think they are selling quite a lot of the former, given how expensive they are. And they sold tons of MicroFreaks and I'm sure will shift similar numbers of MiniFreaks.
@@compucorder64 I believe many people think that Matrixbrute and Polybrute cannibalise each other. On the other hand some TH-camrs have gone out of their way to disagree and own both.
@@chromosundrift yes it's true. PolyFreak could happen. Long gap between the MatrixBrute and Polybrute though (was it 5 years or more?). I reckon the Polybrute and Minifreak will be given time to sell. Especially with parts shortages. Another thing I'd love to see Arturia could do is a synth stereo mixer. With per channel saturation/distortion, two analogue filters, and a multieffects engine (including Fragments granular).
I feel there's a fair amount of menu diving but having the vst linked to the keyboard for downloading and editting allows faster interaction. But as a sound machine it's up the top. Good demo. Gives us a full feel for it. This one will sell loads I guess.
Small keys .. urmmmm.. especially poly use
There’s very little menu diving, for the amount of flexibility you get. Seriously you wouldn’t even notice it unless you simply detest looking at a screen ever. Have had the MicroFreak for years and it has the same UI, and i do not feel like it’s a menu-divey synth at all.
When you touch a knob or button, you get feedback on the screen but there is almost no menu-diving as such.
What a shame Arturia went with mini-keys. I will buy it anyway, but I would pay more for a version with a decent velocity-sensitive Fatar KB with AT. Honestly, the synth engine is just begging for polyphonic AT. Well, there is always the KB on my Hydrasynth...
I think the mini-keys are a clear sign that there’s one more entry planned for the Freak range. Probably not for another year or two, but if this sells well, a full-size with poly AT seems very likely.
This sounds so good!
What cables are you using for the stereo out?
I don't recall where they came from. 1/4 balanced to XLR
I love it. Wish it could send chords out of midi and had CV.
Watch the next version... be a SuperFreak.
Superpower Sounds are absolutely horrific, terrible ..the sound of dying 8-bit soundblasters, the worst of the worst, they're........ MAGNIFICENT!!!.. 🤩
Nick sports the best short sleeved shirts on TH-cam
Is it worth it if you have the MInifreak v?
I hate this review.
I'd just completed my first full month of "I don't need another synth". I'd NEARLY wobbled a couple of times but I'd done it. Even my wife believed me. Then this.
I now need another synth.
Thanks, Nick. My wife wants a word with you.
Minifreak cannot replace any existing synths? Any redundant VAs?
It's really versatile, full-featured, and attractive. But to me it just sounds like software - like, if you close your eyes, it's no more compelling than endless numbers of plugins/VSTs. The best hardware synths have this visceral oomph that elevates them above soft synths - e.g. the new Obie OB-X8, many of the Moogs, etc. This Freak sounds anywhere from pretty to interesting, but it just doesn't grab you in the guts.
Did you play one in person?
some people love the knobs ! !
@@mjaa1307 True! And to be fair, I have a couple of plugins that I _really_ like, and would adore to have versions of them with real physical knobs.
Maybe you prefer analog sounds to digital ones? I like both, for different projects...
Wondering what happened to the Erebus in the background before the conclusion! It disappeared :)
Does it have PWM though?!
Am I correct in saying that nothing was said about how many note polyphony it is?
It was mentioned. 6 voices with 2 osc per voice or 12 paraphonic with one
@@sonicstate thanks for clearing that up Nick
I love my OG freak, its the best synth for the money
can't wait to score one later
edit: 17:11
hot damn
This feels like a small gripe about the micro, but I can't be the only one... there was no on/off setting for midi stop/start, so if you were using something else as the master, the sequencer would just start right up, you couldn't wait and introduce the sequence later in the piece. So I'm hoping they've fixed that in this one. It was honestly quite annoying on the original.
There's a "Auto Play on/off" setting. Which does what you want if I understand it well. MiniFreak will respond to Stop, but you can choose to wait for a press on Play (or on keys) to trigger the sequence rather than immediately when MIDI Start shows up
I've got a touch of the pigments myself
Were can I find that screen?
When you talk about “talking filters” I think of formants. Formants always make me think of Add N to X, no one doubled down on formants the way they did. I lament the lack of knowledge and reference to their work. I know they weren’t famous, but how can you love synths and not be impressed with their work?
Both the hardware and software is worth having.
Is there a waveshaping time stamp?
Wish it had Clouds build in
This sounds like the statement of a person who owns a Clouds. Hook the synth up to it and you’re home! ❤
I sold all my euro rack. I just don’t understand why nobody uses these amazing MI open source effects. Only the synth engines are sometimes used in hardware. (M8 tracker and this Minifreak)… it would be so cool with more MI ported to hardware synths.
super video!
Can't wait!
This feels a bit like a VST in a box done right
Agreed, it's cheap enough to pretend it's not and has enough knobs to make you feel like your in tangerine dream, I love my OG microfreak
Except that every voice has its own fully analog SEM filter, one of the best filters of all time. This can’t be understated. The sound of this synth is so much better than softsynths generally, and beats fully digital hardware synths too, generally. Honestly in the timbre/sound quality department this synth makes my Hydrasynth sound bad. (The Hydra does not sound bad at all, that should tell you how good the filter is in this synth)
@@sub-jec-tiv yeah the filter on the microfreak and mini are top notch. The filter on the micromonsta 2 is also good, although it might be digital I forget. But it has wonderful character and resolution despite the mm2 being a digital synth
Thanks
Just in case anyone needs the Manual i've just been told by Arturia it will be released tomorrow 23/11/22
Keybed compare to roland jdxi?
I have a jdxi and had a keystep. Both keybeds are light and okay-ish, IMO.
ASM and Arturia should hook up.
DEEP!