Un grain
de folie
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 3 granular engines 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 modeling, wavetable synthesis, virtual analog, sample playback; there’s 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. Stimulate your creativity and reward your curiosity with a large, diverse sound palette. MicroFreak features 17 awesome oscillator modes, including 7 bespoke Arturia engines, 7 modes from Mutable Instruments, and 3 oscillator modes designed with Noise Engineering.
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.
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 5x7 modulation matrix.
This truly is a budget-friendly synth like no other.
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...
Euan Dickinson
MASSIVE ATTACK gets creative with MicroFreak
Massive Attack are known for their intensity, wide range of emotions and inimitable electronic sound. We visited their studio in Bristol, UK, to see how the MicroFreak has added to their creative process.
Read the StorySound
corner
Ambient 90
A bright an ethereal trip into space using FW 2.0 bank presets. Arturia external FX and processing were used for this track.
At Last
Sit back and enjoy this chillout deep bass track with floating melodic elements and texture. Arturia external FX and processing were used for this track.
Tales From The Table
An epic melodic techno track using the FW 4.0 features. Arturia external FX and processing were used for this track.
Slow Tempo Demo
MicroFreak is at ease in creating leads and FX sounds in this psybient track.
Playing Games In The 80s
Energetic synthwave track showing capabilities of the MicroFreak in the analog domain.
AEternal
Dark industrial techno featuring a heavily distorted MicroFreak.
Chill Street
Laid back smooth techno track done entierly with the MicroFreak.
Ambient Forest
Melodic ambient track, with a stong nostalgic feeling.
Trancentral
Bring back the 90s rave sound with this uplifting trance track.
Gallery
What's in the box
Box content
- MicroFreak Unit
- Universal PSU
- Registration card
- 2x MIDI port adapters
Instrument dimensions
- size : 12.2 x 9.2 x 2.2 inches (311 x 233 x 55mm)
- weight : 2.3 lbs. (1.02 Kg)
Main Features
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 as well as the Vocoder mode
Analog State Variable Filter, 12dB/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 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 lets you set a specific scale for the white notes to simplify the creative process
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
- 2 patterns per preset
- 4 automation tracks per preset