Arturia MicroFreak Keyboard Hybrid Synthesizer

zZounds Gear Experts Say...
An inspired combination of FM synthesis, analog filtering, poly-aftertouch keys, and more, the Arturia MicroFreak is a budget-friendly, trailblazing synth.

A synthesizer like no other, MicroFreak is a peculiar, exceptional instrument that rewards the curious musician. It blends wavetable and digital oscillators with analog filters. It features a unique poly-aftertouch flat keyboard. It adds controlled randomness to sequences. This isn't a revolution, it's a mutiny.

Un Grain De Folie - A Touch Of Madness

Whether you're looking for your first, affordable hardware synth or are 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 Texturer, KarplusStrong, Harmonic OSC, and Superwave give adventurous musicians the chance to explore totally unheard-of 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 Arturia did it.

Physical modeling, wavetable synthesis, virtual analog, there is 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. Excite your creativity and reward your curiosity with a large, diverse sound palette. MicroFreak features 11 awesome oscillators, 4 bespoke Arturia engines, and 7 modes from read more their friends at Mutable Instruments.

There's a little freak inside you, and this instrument will bring it out.

The Best of Both Worlds

Even though MicroFreak has a digital oscillator at its heart, "opposites attract" as the saying goes. That's why Arturia has included a lush-sounding analog filter.

Inspired by the trailblazing 12-dB Oberheim 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.

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.

"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.

Main Features:

Synthesizer with 192 preset slots and 128 factory presets
- 11 Digital oscillators with variable modes, with integrated open source Plaits engine created by Mutable Instruments
- 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 or Paraphonic modes - Up to 4 voices
- 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
- CV / Gate / Mod outputs
- USB, Clock and MIDI in and out
- 6.35mm master and 3.5mm headphone output
read less

Box contents:
- MicroFreak unit
- Power supply
- Size & weight
- Instrument size: 12.2 x 9.2 x 2.2 inches (311 x 233 x 55mm)
- Instrument weight: 2.3 lbs. (1.02 Kg)
Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
with Microphone
Shipping Weight: 3.86 lbs
Base Item
Shipping Weight: 3.75 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 17 x 11 x 3 in
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 570101

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Web: https://www.arturia.com/support

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (4 ratings)
Submitted June 27, 2019 by Matthew Elder in Vienna, WV

"Awesome"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
First of all i was going to pass on this and get something else but I'm glad i didn't.Rather your new to synths or pro there's something for everyone for all styles of music.With plenty of room to make your own paches.I've already took it out giging and did really well for a 3 hour set.I love using it with my TR-8 hooking midi up to it and really letting it fly but i will also be using it for sfx to.The keybed is awesome i just slide my fingers right across it.Sounds are good to so i would recommend this to anyone and just have fun with it

Musical Background:

34 year's

Musical Style:

Acid Techno Sci-Fi Psytrance Synthwave Hardstyle Alien music
23 of 25 people (92%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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With Microphone

Arturia MicroFreak Keyboard Hybrid Synthesizer
1 Arturia MicroFreak Keyboard Hybrid Synthesizer
($349.00 each)
$349.00
Arturia MicroFreak Gooseneck Microphone
1 Arturia MicroFreak Gooseneck Microphone
($29.00 each)
$29.00
Free
Price Separately:
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$378.00
$29.00 (8%)
$349.00
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