ARTURIA MICROFREAK Experimental Hybrid Synth
In recent years, Arturia has enjoyed much success with their range of analogue synths. Starting with the MiniBrute in 2012, they’ve rapidly ascended to near-ubiquitous popularity appealing equally to both the cult of Eurorack users and the DAW-faithful. The MicroFreak is a curious deviation from these pure-analogue products, being their first hybrid design offering digital oscillators with an analogue filter.
The MicroFreak is light-weight (1.02kg), compact and robustly built. It can be bus-powered via USB (even from a mobile phone charge bank or adapter) or from the included DC adapter, but for best pressure response from the keyboard it is recommended to use the DC adapter – as discussed below. A miniature OLED display provides access to the menu system (via the Utility button), along with a detailed display of parameter values/statuses, and the means to navigate its 256 patch memories. The panel is graced by a strip of fruity looking artwork that, you’ll discover once you dig in, hints at the sonic safari within.
Instead of a regular mechanical keyboard, the MicroFreak has a two-octave capacitive-touch keyboard. Essentially, with a firmer touch from your fingers, more skin makes contact with the circuit and provides polyphonic pressure response. Since you
