Arturia MicroFreak Review - Hybrid Synth with Vocoder

Today we're going to review the Arturia MicroFreak synthesizer that Arturia introduced back in early 2019. Surely, users interested in this direction have already had a good look at this interesting synthesizer. Just recently, Arturia released a very curious firmware update that added a new vocoder mode that gave the synthesizer a special twist. At the same time, a limited edition MicroFreak Vocoder Edition synthesizer with a gooseneck microphone is now available for sale and comes in a unique white coloring. We haven't had a close look at MicroFreak yet, and with the release of this interesting firmware, we're filling that gap. As usual, let's start our Arturia MicroFreak review with the specs.

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Classic Package

Arturia MicroFreak Specifications:

• Synthesizer with 512 preset slots and 320 factory presets
• 21 digital oscillator modes, from wavetable to sample playback & granular processing, plus engines from Mutable Instruments and Noise Engineering + Vocoder mode (after the firmware update)
• Analog State Variable Filter, 12dB/octave, resonant, Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass
• ADSR envelope
• Cycling Envelope offers two modes: Envelope, LFO
• LFO with Sync: Sine, Tri, Saw, Square, Random, Slew Random
• Modulation matrix with 5 sources and 7 destinations (3 custom destinations)
• Monophonic, Paraphonic or Unison modes - Up to 4 voices
• Chord mode lets you program a chord shape and play it on any note
• Scale Quantize enables you to set a specific scale for the white notes to simplify the creative process
• Powerful Arpeggiator: Up, Order, Random, Pattern modes + Spice & Dice Gate randomizers
• 64-step sequencer: 2 patterns per preset, 4 automation tracks per preset
• 25-key capacitive keybed with polyphonic aftertouch
• Capacitive touch strip
• Crisp OLED display for editing and parameter values
• Outputs: CV / Gate / Pressure / 6.35mm master and 3.5mm headphone output
• USB, Clock and MIDI in and out
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 311 x 233 x 55mm (12.2 x 9.2 x 2.2 inches)
• Net Weight: 1 kg (2.3 lbs)
• Set Includes: Arturia MicroFreak unit, registration card, power adapter with power cable, 2x MIDI port adapters
• Color Options | Versions: currently available 3 versions of MicroFreak synthesizer - Classic Black Arturia MicroFreak with white keys (usually comes without gooseneck microphone for vocoder, but there are bandles with mic or you can buy microphone separately, it is available on sale) / Arturia MicroFreak Vocoder Edition is made in white housing with white keys, comes with a gooseneck microphone (unfortunately this version is hard to find, it's a limited edition) / Arturia MicroFreak Stellar - black housing like the classic MicroFreak, but has black keys and unique prints (also comes without a microphone for vocoder).

Overall Build and Features

So let's start the "Overall Build and Features" section of our Arturia MicroFreak review with a look at the unit's housing. The chassis is made of high-quality plastic (black, but closer to gray in daylight), the MicroFreak is assembled very well, and nothing loosens or creaks. We have never had any complaints about the build quality of Arturia products. As far as the design is concerned, everything is perfect.

The device is made in the recognizable Arturia style, which can be seen in the shape of the case, the controls, the fonts, signatures, and commutation (which is always on the back of the device). Fortunately, suppose you don't like the coloring of the unit. In that case, you can take a look at the MicroFreak Vocoder Edition, which is in white, or the MicroFreak Stellar - a version with black keys and unique control signatures. In addition, the device has a small size and weight (as the prefix Micro in the name immediately indicates), allowing you to transport the device if necessary easily.

Arturia MicroFreak is a hybrid semi-modular paraphonic four-voice synthesizer with a touch keyboard. It is based on a versatile digital oscillator and a three-mode analog filter. Both the traditional ADSR form and the cyclic form, which works as an additional modulation, are used as envelopes. MicroFreak's basic modulation capabilities are similar to those of Arturia's more advanced MatrixBrute synthesizer. The modulation matrix makes it very easy to assign different synthesizer parameters to any available source. MicroFreak also has an arpeggiator and two sequencers with four modulation tracks, allowing you to create complex shapes.

Let's continue our Arturia MicroFreak review and take a closer look at all the features in a more detailed way.

Digital Oscillator

The MicroFreak digital oscillator is amazing in its capabilities. Its engine is capable of physical modeling, table wave synthesis, virtual analog, and much more. At the time of its release, the oscillator had 11 modes, 4 of which were developed by Arturia itself, and another 7 were created in collaboration with Mutable Instruments, whose core business is the production of Eurorack modules. Arturia integrated the open-source code of the popular Plaits module into its digital oscillator. The great thing about the whole thing is that Arturia promises to add more oscillator modes with future updates and currently the oscillator has 21 digital modes.

The oscillator section has 4 orange encoders: Type, Wave, Timbre, and Shape. The first one allows you to select the oscillator engine, while the other 3 are used to fine-tune its sound. Let's go through the modes presented in the first firmware:

• Superwave: Fine-tuned saw, square, sine or triangle waves that allow you to create very fat synth sounds. Perfect for tweaking smooth fog pads or trance plucks.
• Harmo: As the name implies, this oscillator works by saturating the sound with harmonics. You have 32 sine waves and the ability to modulate their volume. This mode allows you to create complex, harmonically saturated, resonant sounds that you can then shape with a filter.
• KarplusStr.: A synthesis method that uses physical modeling to recreate the sound of string instruments, from gentle pizzicato to shrieking chords.
• Wavetable: Tabular wave synthesis in its purest form. This mode contains 16 wavetables, with the promise of more to come.
• Pl.VA: A virtual analog oscillator that digitally recreates traditional synthesis techniques to combine classic and modern sounds.
• Pl.Waveshpr: A triangular wave processed with a waveshaper and a wavefolder. It is great for creating aggressive metallic sounds.
• Pl.FM: A simple but powerful FM oscillator with two sine wave operators that modulate each other's phase to create sharp, acidic sounds.
• Pl.Grain: A granular synthesis engine that's great for adding texture and character to sequences.
• Pl.Chords: A paraphonic synthesis engine that plays copies of a single sound at specified intervals, creating standard chords with the press of a single key.
• Pl.Speech: An engine capable of generating vowel sounds, formant sounds, and forming simple words. If you automate this oscillator properly with a modulation matrix, your MicroFreak will come to life.
• Pl.Modal: Creates unique non-harmonic oscillations. Perfect for adding texture or unusual harmonics to your music.

Analog Filter

MicroFreak is not an all-digital synthesizer. In addition to a multi-mode digital oscillator, it has an analog resonant filter with three modes (low, band, and high pass) and an Oberheim-SEM-style 12dB per octave cutoff. This filter is based on the state-variable method, so it is capable of self-excitation at resonance peaks. The filter section has two knobs for adjusting the cutoff frequency and resonance, as well as a mode switch.

LFO, Envelope and Cycling Envelope

The MicroFreak is equipped with two different envelopes and an LFO with a synchronization function. The LFO section has a frequency control and a mode switch: Sine, Tri, Saw, Square, Random, and SlewRandom.

The basic envelope can be connected to the amplifier to modulate it. This is a fairly standard ADSR envelope with release tied to decay. In addition to the basic parameter controls, this section also has a knob for adjusting the effect of the envelope on the filter.

The Cycling Envelope has several modes of operation, two of which allow you to automatically restart the envelope, turning it into an LFO with variable rise, hold, and fall times with exponential, linear, or logarithmic curves. In Run mode, the envelope acts as a free LFO, restarting its phase only when a MIDI command is received, while in Envelope mode, the low-frequency oscillator's phase is restarted from the beginning when a key on the keyboard is pressed. The remaining mode allows the envelope to operate in normal mode. Controls in this section include the Rise and Fall Time encoders, which are used to change the shape of the envelope, as well as the Sustain Level and Modulation Depth encoders. And, of course, the envelope mode switch knob.

Keys

Of course, in our Arturia MicroFreak review, we couldn't pass up one of the most notable features - the 25-key PCB keyboard! Keys not only allow you to play notes in standard mode, but they can also detect the force with which a key is pressed and have an aftertouch function for each individual key. One more key's function - it can be used to control any parameter of the synthesizer depending on the area of the key pressed after it is triggered. It's important to note that this keyboard has no moving parts, so if you're used to standard keyboards, you may not like this solution. However, the use of circuit boards as sensors has allowed for amazing response speeds.

Thanks to USB, MIDI and CV outputs, the MicroFreak can also be used as a MIDI controller to control instruments in DAWs and analog or modular synthesizers. But this feature is really unleashed when the controlled instrument also supports polyphonic aftertouch.

Sequencer

The MicroFreak Sequencer is not just any old synthesizer sequencer, it's a dual-mode polyphonic arpeggiator/sequencer with innovative features that will fuel the creative process. Touch-sensitive buttons above the keyboard give you access to the sequencer's most important parameters. You can also record up to 4 parameter automations per step, and the Touch Strip can be used as a pitch change controller or to control the depth of the Spice and Dice functions, which will help you diversify and revitalize your sequences.

• Dice: This parameter changes an arpeggio or sequence without changing the pitch, creating something completely new and often interesting on the fly. Specifically, Dice randomly changes the duration of each note, up to and including disabling all notes in the sequence.
• Spice: Allows you to adjust the depth of the previous parameter's effect on the sequence.

Modulation Matrix

Despite its small size, MicroFreak has a very powerful modulation matrix. There are a total of 5 sources and 7 destinations, 3 of which are user-defined. Controlling the matrix is very simple and is done via the matrix's clickable encoder: just scroll the controller to the desired parameter and click the encoder.

• Sources: CyclingEnvelope, Envelope, LFO, Press, Key/Arp.
• Destination Parameters: Pitch, Wave, Timbre, Cutoff, +3 user parameters.

Display and Presets

A small OLED display shows changes to any of the synthesizer's parameters, so you'll always know what changes you're making.

While exploring the features of a new synthesizer can be fun on its own, it's nice to be able to quickly flip through some presets to understand the capabilities of a new device. MicroFreak comes with 128 preset patches and allows you to create, edit, and save your own. The preset push encoder allows you to select, apply, and rename any preset.

Connectivity (Arturia MicroFreak inputs and outputs)

Arturia MicroFreak has CV, and Gate outputs that allow you to send pitch and note duration signals, as well as pressure signals corresponding to aftertouch, to any CV/Gate compatible synthesizer. You can also connect it to your DAW via USB or use the included MIDI cables. This feature allows you to connect MicroFreak to your favorite MIDI keyboard or use the MicroFreak's sequencer to control another synthesizer, for example. There is also a clock input & output for synchronizing with external devices, a 6.3mm jack output for audio recording, and a 3.5mm headphone output. The device is powered by a 12VDC 1A power supply or via the USB bus. If you bought a special microphone for a vocoder (microphone bandle or Arturia MicroFreak Vocoder Edition), it plugs into the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Final Verdict on Arturia MicroFreak

Here we are at the end of our Arturia MicroFreak review and it's time to summarize and give our verdict on this wonderful device. The MicroFreak synthesizer looks very convincing. Its small size and the use of a touch-sensitive keyboard should not be misleading. With its low price, the MicroFreak is ideal as a first synthesizer, and for those who are already aficionados of musical equipment, it can delight with a huge palette of unique sounds.

This little music machine is equipped with a versatile digital oscillator that allows you to easily create unique and interesting sounds. It has many different sound engines that will keep both beginners and seasoned professionals busy for hours exploring brand-new, unexplored possibilities.

We hope you enjoyed our Arturia MicroFreak review. leave your comments, questions, and suggestions in the section below. We will be happy to answer them all.