User:Leo Ronert/sandbox

MiniFreak
Top down view of the MiniFreak
Manufacturer	Arturia
Technical specifications
Polyphony	6 Polyphonic or 12 Paraphonic
Oscillator	Dual Multi-Mode Digital Oscillator
LFO	Multi-shape LFOs
Synthesis type	See Sound Engines
Filter	Multi-mode VCF plus sound engines.
Attenuator	Cycling envelope, ASR envelope and LFO
Aftertouch expression	Monophonic Aftertouch
Velocity expression	Yes
Storage memory	320 presets and 64 user slots
Effects	See FX engines
Input/output
Keyboard	37 "slim" Keys
External control	Sends and receives MIDI.

The MiniFreak is a synthesizer released in 2022 by Arturia, a french music technology company. Reminiscent of the MicroFreak philosophy, it features two digital oscillators with 22 sound engines each, a polyphonic multi-mode filter and a multi effect engine, giving the MiniFreak its hybrid sounds.

Sound engines

The MicroFreak has 22 distinct sound engines (as of the 1.1.0 update).

They are:

• Basic Waves - a standard synth voice using traditional waveforms,
• Super Wave - a group of detuned waves (like a supersaw),
• Harmonic - a form of additive synthesis where you set volumes of frequencies individually,
• Karplus-Strong - a physical modelling system to replicate string sounds,
• Wavetable - a method of synthesis where the waveform transitions through a table of different waveforms,
• Noise - various types of noise and static.
• Virtual Analogue - a standard subtractive synth voice,
• Waveshaper - a triangle wave that is repeatedly wavefolded,
• Frequency Modulation (two operators) - a method of synthesis where a wave modulates the frequency of another wave,
• Formant - a form of granular synthesis,
• Chords - an engine that plays groups of notes paraphonically,
• Speech - a vocal synthesizer,
• Modal - a physical modelling engine that replicates the sound of hollow objects,
• Bass - another waveshaping algorithm specifically for basslines,
• Harm - a mixture of waveshaping and additive synthesis,
• SawX - a supersaw being phase modulated,
• Audio in, lets the audio input pass through the oscillator

In addition to thoes modes, oscillator 2 can affect oscillator 1 by filtering its sound through the following algorithms :

• Multi filter, a collection of 14 different filter emulations with various modes and slopes.
• Surgeon filter, a more precise multi mode filter.
• Comb filter, a comb filter.
• Phaser filter, a 2 to 12 pole filter.
• Destroy, a blend between saturation, fuzz and overdrive.

Close up shot of the MiniFreak

Of those, 12 are made by Arturia (Basic Waves, Super Wave, Harmonic, Karplus-Strong, Wavetable, Noise, Audio in, Multi filter, Surgeon filter, Comb filter, phaser filter and destroy), 7 are made by Mutable Instruments (Virtual Analogue, Waveshaper, Two operator FM, Formant, Chords, Speech and Modal) from their "Plaits" eurorack module, and the remaining 3 are made by Noise Engineering.

Major update timeline

• 1.1.0 - MicroFreak is released with this firmware. (updated the 21st of November)

Software Integration

As of the current update (1.1.0), the MiniFreak pairs with it's VST plugin counterpart MiniFreak V. This allows a fluid hardware/software workflow where patches and sounds can be sent from the unit or the other way around. The plugin can also help better visualize envelopes, modulation sources and design custom LFO shapes. MiniFreak V can be used on it's own, though the analog filter of the hardware unit is digitally emulated on the plugin.

Review ratings

The MiniFreak received many high reviews on retail websites and specialist music blogs:

• 9/10 from MusicRadar
• 9/10 on MusicTech
• 5/5 on Sweetwater

The Freak Range

As of 2022, the MiniFreak is the second product of Arturia's Freak range. Which features the MicroFreak, a widely acclaimed synthesizer for it's sound as well as for it's affordability.

See also

• Arturia MiniBrute – another synthesizer by the same company
• Arturia Microfreak – MiniFreak's smaller counterpart

External links

• https://noiseengineering.us/ and https://mutable-instruments.net/ - the two other companies that contributed sound engines to the Microfreak

References

Category:Synthesizers Category:Musical instruments Category:Electronic musical instruments Category:Music production Category:Music technology