Check out Arturia MiniFreak here: Thomann: thmn.to/thoprod/553604?offid=1&affid=623 Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/7m2nLg Perfect Circuit: bit.ly/PCxMinifreak Affiliate links support the channel at no cost to you.
I love how I saw this thumbnail and said to myself "what? Wait.... what? When did this happen???" And then the first thing you say is "you didn't see this coming". I truly had not even thought of this happening.
I believe this is a glimpse of the future of synthesizers for the next decade. No one else seems to be doing anything very _innovative_ in synth design these days, but Arturia has recently introduced controllers and synths that seem to be reflective of the future needs of synthesists and keyboard artists across the board-at least in the immediate sense-with the Microfreak blowing many minds when it was first released (as it still does) with its capacitive keys and *_real_* poly-aftertouch, and its awesome _mod-matrix_ 🙂👍
@@croatoansounds Gear4Music says - The MiniFreak might seem similar to Arturia's previous entry in the Freak series - the MicroFreak - but there are a few key differences. The main difference is the velocity-sensitive keyboard. Compared to the MicroFreak, which has a flat PCB keyboard, the MiniFreak allows for a little more expression.
@@HOLLASOUNDS that’s cool. I guess Microfreak can have a similar thing with the touchpads and how larger surface area changes the sound, just have to sort of plan it out
I regret selling my MicroFreak, and lately I'd been thinking about buying another one. This thing looks absolutely insane! Ordered one right after finishing this video
Thanks for the great demo! This is amazing and deserves the hype! Arturia listened! Microfreak keyboard was quite polarizing so seeing a larger proper keybed is what a lot of people wanted, and the extension to the sound engine is meaningful because it already did so much! Adding the FX that we all felt were missing is icing on the cake. It seems to do a great job of combining the best parts of analog, poly, and modular into a palatable package with the right level of functionality. I think this will be huge.
it has the keystep mini-key keybed... I'd hardly call that "proper" and it's the same price as the Hydraysynth Explorer but pales in comparison in every respect. In a highly competitive and saturated digital synth market, "huge"?... hmm maybe not so much
Good to see you Bo. This a huge announcement in my synth world-glad you got to review/preview it. Dang-just the monster Matrix on this thing is insane. 🙂
@@HOLLASOUNDS Yeah- I trained on OG Buchlas and ARPs, so I *like* the capacitive keyboard on the Microfreak-but only because it harnesses all that chaos. But I totally understand people not liking small/capacitive keyboards. However you spell it. 🙂
How did I not hear about this?!?! This is basically what I wanted from the micro, and part of why I never felt it "clicked". You're still talking about distrokid and I'm already in.
The Microfreak is my first and only synth. I love it. This really tempts me to give it a big brother. A video with the Mini and Micro working together would be awesome!
Maybe get Minifreak V, the software version. I just couldn’t justify the cost of another synth with so much overlap with the Microfreak already. I’ve also found that if you do a bit of mapping yourself you can control the software pretty well with microfreak! No poly aftertouch tho. Hey look at $99 for the software we could count it as an upgrade for your existing synth. Trust me, it’s wonderful
Great first look of this synth @BoBeats! As a sound designer that worked on a couple of the factory patches I can say that this thing goes really deep. So I look forward to your in-depth review!
Those effects make a real difference for the sound. I really enjoy my MicroFreak but without processing, it's hard to tell between a bleep and a bloop. And I know I'm in the minority here but as a non-keyboard player, the MicroFreak keybed is a LOT friendlier to me than a conventional keyboard. And the (real) musician I play music with has learned to enjoy it as an alternative to a real keyboard.
Same here. The capacitive keys on the Microfreak were actually THE biggest selling point to me because i wanted something DIFFERENT than the ever same keys but something less mechanical that still had a lot of expression options. If anything i would have wished for a wider capacitive keyboard. And yes, the lack of effects is also the biggest negative aspect of the microfreak. Not even a Delay or reverb. So you REALLY depend on an external multi-effect unit to actually make the sound interesting. It's a shame Arturia went conventional again with the keys on the MiniFreak but it's not really a dealbreaker for me.
Whoa! I recently converted my MicroFreak into a ModuleFreak, since I'm one of those who don't get along with the uFreak's PCB keybed (and it saved desktop space). But hey, a poly Freak with keyboard! The GAS demon just woke up! Arturia is certainly a favorite mfg of mine!
Great video!, as usual! ... you perfectly summarize in the end : accessible, but still deep... I just got mine one week ago, and honestly I've rarely seen a synth allowing building really so deeeeeep pads and drones for ambient music by just turning a few knobs ... After a few hours, you can already make very very interesting patches... The 3 cumulative FX are of great quality, and I particularly appreciate the reverb and phaser that are perfect for ambient sounds. I am considering replacing my Modwave with this one in my setting. I think that Arturia products can now more and more compete with much more expensive machines! this unit really worth its price (€599, in Feb 2023)
I love Microfreak, it's one of the main parts of my current setup. Which makes me want Minifreak even more, because it's like the same but also so much more. The second LFO, improved arpeggiator capabilities, 6 voice polyphony (instead of 4 voice paraphony in Micro), the second oscillator and built-in effects are main selling points for me. All in all, seems like a great piece of gear.
i came to love the remarkable depths of the microfreak. the minifreak seems like an upgrade in almost every sense with the exception of the keyboard, i know opinions differ on that but i liked the pcb keyboard a lot. i'm almost considering selling off my moog grandmother to make space for the minifreak in both my setup and my bank account.
the ASM Explorer is way more synth for the money tho and if you already have a microfreak then you'll have three of the same synth engines when you could've had a Hydra and a freak for the same cost.
Just got mine yesterday - shipped to Thailand thanks to Thomann Germany. OMG I can see endless possibilities... where to start 😅. Great vid by the way 👍
there's really no comparison, they're very different synths. the minifreak is based on the plaits eurorack oscillator and is definitely not in the same class as the Explorer synth engine. I have an explorer and a microfreak and the freak is good fun but doesn't come even close to the depth and sound of the Hydra. and the minifreak is just two microfreaks smashed together with the cheap keystep minikey key bed.
@@GoodAfternoonDave no it´s not. Minifreak have completely independent voices, each one with a full set of VCF/VCA, envelopes and modulators. Also processors on oscillator 2 adds a lot of diverse results. And of course 3 FX processors. I tried the Hydra range and for me they sounds thin and sterile most of the time. This one sounds more interesting and warm.
WOW! That intro ditty your were performing sounded so Silent Hill! That sold me alone... awesome. Another thing that sells me is that the price of the Minifreak will be cheaper compared to the Microfreak + the pedals I would want to beef it up. No pedals... less set-up too.
I can't afford it (anymore), but it's great to see the I/O on this is fully fledged. MIDI in/out/thru, USB (not C unfortunately), Sustain, Clock in/Clock out/Reset out, AUDIO IN (!!) and Stereo out. That's really amazing. I'm still mad that my Minilogue XD doesn't have Midi Thru or audio in.
@Wilderness Music Yeah, especially with user oscillator's and FX it just would've made the synth so much more versatile. It's weird because the normal Minilogue does have Audio in.
Owning the Microfreak already - I want it 👾 also want the MiniFreak 🖤 it sounds great and really it's very immediate. Just watch the official Arturia product release video demonstrating the sequencer controls 💯 great fun
I've been thinking of getting a synth lately, as someone with little formal experience in music who likes to mess around. Before this was released I would have gone for the MicroFreak which seems to clearly have a great price for what it is, especially for a beginner, but now... I'm thinking if I want something that's going to be kind of an all-in-one package , splurging a little and getting the Mini is probably the best choice. The addition of effects especially is tempting.
Got this synth just today and omg it's freking freaky! It was the love from first touch! It's just you can do sooo so much with it! I have prophet rev2, it's huge spaecship with it's own sounds, but minifreak is something so interestingly different and can do what 1500 dollar synt can't! I feel like i found my perfect combination of analog and digital. But in terms of basic shapes and fat raw saws minifreak is kinda weak and you need analog oscilators for this classic raw synth sounds. But in terms of freaky, deep and layered sounddesign I think nothing beats minifreak especialy in his price range!
1:50 - it's sad :( I've hoped that they will continue with a new extended "Buchla-style" keyboard! It's very sensetive but the main bad thing that it's just two octaves! We already have KeyStep, BeatStep and etc...
I just got my Micofreak up and running. I love it. It's small, and very useable. Not being a proper "keyboardist", The key bed doesn't bother me. I actually like it. I have the Keystep, and a couple of other controllers, as well. Thanks!
My man this was something I did not expect and since I've been keeping an eye on the microfreak once it came out on the mkt, I absolutely love the mini, it sure looks like an upgrade and little tweaks on everything I didn't like so much on the micro. Althought, for that price, I think I'm still headed towards for the korg minilogue XD, but hey, change my mind by making a comparison vid hehe Thanks for this "mini" surprise bo!
Great demo video! I am thinking about getting it :) I was hoping you also talked about the included software synth companion MiniFreak V and how they work together.
I actually did see this coming. First thing was the mini brute than the matrix brute then the poly brute. We had the MicroFreak…now the mini freak. Let me know when the PolyFreak drops.
I'm a huge fan of the OG Microfreak! This looks cool but I could connect a Midi keyboard if I wanted the tactile feel since they're using pretty much the same engine
I'm only a few month into synths but when I saw this video short after release I was instant in love with it. Everytime I think about getting another synth used (MF not out in EU) like a Hydrasynth Explorer or a Modal, I watch a MicroFreak video and know again not getting it is no option!
I saw this coming a long time ago. People would whine about the Microfreak keybed and it not having any effects. I like how expressive the microfreak keys are. I wanted more than 2 octaves, so I bought a 2nd microfreak freak to get 4 octaves or use like a split keyboard. For effects I just use guitar pedals I already have. ...in a year or two there will be a White Minifreak with a vocoder. :/
This will be a money maker for Arturia. They're using keyboards they already have, same knobs and buttons but have added a couple of oscillators and a polyphonic sound engine. I bet their profit margin is twice that of the microfreak.
Dang you Bo! I'm meant to be planinning xmas presents for others, but it looks like they gonna have to miss out this year and get an orange instead! Arturia has continued to put a smile on my face :-)
Heh, I have a cz-101 and I was thinking exactly the same 🤣 but this jewel is more powerful by far! I put it into my wishlist, who knows, everything is possible...
i'm mostly pleased with what i've seen of the minifreak. i got a microfreak in early 2020 and i've been a real fan of the instrument. of course it helped that i really liked the idiosyncratic keyboard of the microfreak to the point i find myself wondering if arturia could be persuaded to make a capacitance touch keyboard for the minifreak . . . perhaps a limited edition sometime in the future. otherwise it appears they got many things right with this new entry in the "freak" line. thanks for the information.
Thanks for the video, Bo. You played some songs with a drum accompaniment. What was the source for the drum timbres (I can't pronounce it either) ? When you've played more complex sounds, did you use only the Minifreak to produce the sounds or got other sources?
I'm heavily in between the MicroFreak and the MiniFreak for my first synth they just seem to make the sounds I want. I'm not going into production or recording I just wanna make sounds and just have fun.
Sure seems like the Mini unleashes a dramatically more expansive range of sounds, above and beyond (or perhaps thanks to) the spec sheet additions... I love my Micro but always feel like the sound palette is decidedly 'thin' / lo-fi etc. Sounds like Mini expands that palette to include add more warm, lush to the creative mix. I've got a Keystep 37 and Micro and think I'll might sell both to upgrade to this.
I have exhausted the options available on the MicroFreak. I made heavy 808s, hard kicks, surprisingly a decent snare, but it is easy to run out of options to make the sound you really want. I like that the MiniFreak has two oscillators that can be run in serial or parallel, on board effects, more than one LFO. Seems like this synth might just have enough modulation to be a good candidate for making neuro basses. Here's to hoping it doesn't cost that much more than the micro.
Check out Arturia MiniFreak here:
Thomann: thmn.to/thoprod/553604?offid=1&affid=623
Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/7m2nLg
Perfect Circuit: bit.ly/PCxMinifreak
Affiliate links support the channel at no cost to you.
Zis or Hydrasynth Explorer ?
@@goodnota i'd say the minifreak.
I love how I saw this thumbnail and said to myself "what? Wait.... what? When did this happen???" And then the first thing you say is "you didn't see this coming". I truly had not even thought of this happening.
I believe this is a glimpse of the future of synthesizers for the next decade. No one else seems to be doing anything very _innovative_ in synth design these days, but Arturia has recently introduced controllers and synths that seem to be reflective of the future needs of synthesists and keyboard artists across the board-at least in the immediate sense-with the Microfreak blowing many minds when it was first released (as it still does) with its capacitive keys and *_real_* poly-aftertouch, and its awesome _mod-matrix_ 🙂👍
a bot replied to ur comment also I agree with this post
Soma is doing some interesting stuff
As opposed to fake poly AT? Eh?
I’ve been dreaming of this synth ever since my first MicroFreak - and Arturia have just made my dreams come true. Ordered!
Will it replace your Microfreak?
I also pre-ordered and own two Microfreaks but I think it might be interesting to use them together perhaps 😉
@@HOLLASOUNDS yea that’s my question. Is this a Microfreak plus more? Worth getting to replace a micro or no?
@@croatoansounds Gear4Music says - The MiniFreak might seem similar to Arturia's previous entry in the Freak series - the MicroFreak - but there are a few key differences. The main difference is the velocity-sensitive keyboard. Compared to the MicroFreak, which has a flat PCB keyboard, the MiniFreak allows for a little more expression.
@@HOLLASOUNDS that’s cool. I guess Microfreak can have a similar thing with the touchpads and how larger surface area changes the sound, just have to sort of plan it out
I regret selling my MicroFreak, and lately I'd been thinking about buying another one. This thing looks absolutely insane! Ordered one right after finishing this video
hows it been? considering getting one
i'm happy @@alfiekennedy1657
@@alfiekennedy1657so how’s it been? Oh wait…
@@X22GJPOh wait what?
Thanks for the great demo! This is amazing and deserves the hype! Arturia listened! Microfreak keyboard was quite polarizing so seeing a larger proper keybed is what a lot of people wanted, and the extension to the sound engine is meaningful because it already did so much! Adding the FX that we all felt were missing is icing on the cake. It seems to do a great job of combining the best parts of analog, poly, and modular into a palatable package with the right level of functionality. I think this will be huge.
it has the keystep mini-key keybed... I'd hardly call that "proper" and it's the same price as the Hydraysynth Explorer but pales in comparison in every respect. In a highly competitive and saturated digital synth market, "huge"?... hmm maybe not so much
Yes. Happy that they did this. I think this is the new Juno. 😀 And as usual Thia is great coverage. So thank you Bo! 😃
Good to see you Bo. This a huge announcement in my synth world-glad you got to review/preview it. Dang-just the monster Matrix on this thing is insane. 🙂
Have you ever owned a sythersizor with mini keys?
@@HOLLASOUNDS Yeah- I trained on OG Buchlas and ARPs, so I *like* the capacitive keyboard on the Microfreak-but only because it harnesses all that chaos. But I totally understand people not liking small/capacitive keyboards. However you spell it. 🙂
@@HOLLASOUNDS Ahhh-Minikeys-I totally get it, man-yeah for a primary performance mainboard-ahhh-no worries-it's cool 🙂
Really good show, man. I enjoyed that a lot. Nice to watch you design a sound.
Yet another synth that I feel like I need in my collection...
how many have you got? :)
Never ending is it. I'm uninstalling RUclips!
I FEEL THIS 😭😭😭
It's nice but I have a MiniNova and this dont have enough to get Me to replace it as I dont want several mini key sythersizors.
Six voice though 😔. It's digital, just make it 8. Can still sell the macrofreak as a 16 voice later.
I’m so glad I waited on the microfreak, this is exactly what I wanted them to build
How did I not hear about this?!?! This is basically what I wanted from the micro, and part of why I never felt it "clicked". You're still talking about distrokid and I'm already in.
They kept it under wraps only hints teasing something was comming on there website last week.
Fantastic sounds! Arturia killed it!
@@artisans8521 bro stfu u prob dont even make music
Hi Bo!. Haven't been on your channel for a while and it's cool to see that you're still one of the finest sounddesigners on YT. Great demo.
Thanks buddy!
The Microfreak is my first and only synth. I love it. This really tempts me to give it a big brother. A video with the Mini and Micro working together would be awesome!
Maybe get Minifreak V, the software version. I just couldn’t justify the cost of another synth with so much overlap with the Microfreak already.
I’ve also found that if you do a bit of mapping yourself you can control the software pretty well with microfreak! No poly aftertouch tho.
Hey look at $99 for the software we could count it as an upgrade for your existing synth. Trust me, it’s wonderful
Great first look of this synth @BoBeats! As a sound designer that worked on a couple of the factory patches I can say that this thing goes really deep. So I look forward to your in-depth review!
Not the first for Me the first video on this sythersizor come from Anditons this morning.
@@HOLLASOUNDS I was referring to the title of this video...
@@SolidtraxNL I see.
Those effects make a real difference for the sound. I really enjoy my MicroFreak but without processing, it's hard to tell between a bleep and a bloop. And I know I'm in the minority here but as a non-keyboard player, the MicroFreak keybed is a LOT friendlier to me than a conventional keyboard. And the (real) musician I play music with has learned to enjoy it as an alternative to a real keyboard.
The Analog effects is probably why this is £600 instead of £450 which is what I'd expect for a fully digital mini sythersizor with 6 voice.
Same here. The capacitive keys on the Microfreak were actually THE biggest selling point to me because i wanted something DIFFERENT than the ever same keys but something less mechanical that still had a lot of expression options. If anything i would have wished for a wider capacitive keyboard. And yes, the lack of effects is also the biggest negative aspect of the microfreak. Not even a Delay or reverb. So you REALLY depend on an external multi-effect unit to actually make the sound interesting. It's a shame Arturia went conventional again with the keys on the MiniFreak but it's not really a dealbreaker for me.
It's such an expressive keyboard. very enjoyable under the right circumstances
If you want to see *really* different, go for a Seaboard :)
@@flrn84791 Rise 2
Whoa! I recently converted my MicroFreak into a ModuleFreak, since I'm one of those who don't get along with the uFreak's PCB keybed (and it saved desktop space).
But hey, a poly Freak with keyboard! The GAS demon just woke up!
Arturia is certainly a favorite mfg of mine!
Thought so too till I had no more mpe. So bought a roli
I INSTANTLY heard this and thought, yes! It's good, wow!
Beating Arturia to the punch, Bo :)
I have been looking for my next synth and I may have just found it. Thanks for a great intro to the MiniFreak
I need this😱 awesome video my friend!!
Great video!, as usual! ... you perfectly summarize in the end : accessible, but still deep... I just got mine one week ago, and honestly I've rarely seen a synth allowing building really so deeeeeep pads and drones for ambient music by just turning a few knobs ... After a few hours, you can already make very very interesting patches... The 3 cumulative FX are of great quality, and I particularly appreciate the reverb and phaser that are perfect for ambient sounds. I am considering replacing my Modwave with this one in my setting. I think that Arturia products can now more and more compete with much more expensive machines! this unit really worth its price (€599, in Feb 2023)
I love Microfreak, it's one of the main parts of my current setup. Which makes me want Minifreak even more, because it's like the same but also so much more. The second LFO, improved arpeggiator capabilities, 6 voice polyphony (instead of 4 voice paraphony in Micro), the second oscillator and built-in effects are main selling points for me. All in all, seems like a great piece of gear.
i came to love the remarkable depths of the microfreak. the minifreak seems like an upgrade in almost every sense with the exception of the keyboard, i know opinions differ on that but i liked the pcb keyboard a lot. i'm almost considering selling off my moog grandmother to make space for the minifreak in both my setup and my bank account.
the ASM Explorer is way more synth for the money tho and if you already have a microfreak then you'll have three of the same synth engines when you could've had a Hydra and a freak for the same cost.
Amazing song at 4.40, well done!
Sounds great, good job on the video Bo.
1:11 I heard this jam and it made me think of : you've already heard the minifreak in todays intro
Just got mine yesterday - shipped to Thailand thanks to Thomann Germany.
OMG I can see endless possibilities... where to start 😅.
Great vid by the way 👍
Minifreak vs Explorer would be a good comparison video!
yes
I think this one is more diverse and the analog filters really makes a difference in sound (a plus for me)
@@liantrosretrospectiva4134 I really like what I’m hearing with the minifreak and the user controls are really nice!
there's really no comparison, they're very different synths. the minifreak is based on the plaits eurorack oscillator and is definitely not in the same class as the Explorer synth engine. I have an explorer and a microfreak and the freak is good fun but doesn't come even close to the depth and sound of the Hydra. and the minifreak is just two microfreaks smashed together with the cheap keystep minikey key bed.
@@GoodAfternoonDave yeah, but people looking at identical price points and near close size.. a comparison video is in order.
@@GoodAfternoonDave no it´s not.
Minifreak have completely independent voices, each one with a full set of VCF/VCA, envelopes and modulators.
Also processors on oscillator 2 adds a lot of diverse results. And of course 3 FX processors.
I tried the Hydra range and for me they sounds thin and sterile most of the time. This one sounds more interesting and warm.
Hi Ziv, Delighted to see this review up so fast! :+)
It looks nice. I was just goofing with my Microfreak last night. The platform is so versatile and now with six voices it will be very popular.
The price is at least £100 above the cost of other mini key sythersizors probably because if the Analog effects with pushed the price up.
Your Microfreak unboxing years ago was my introduction to your channel and I’ve been a subscriber since 😅 This is a great upgrade from the Microfreak!
WOW! That intro ditty your were performing sounded so Silent Hill! That sold me alone... awesome. Another thing that sells me is that the price of the Minifreak will be cheaper compared to the Microfreak + the pedals I would want to beef it up. No pedals... less set-up too.
I love the micro freak so much and my dreams comes true now and Arturia continues micro freaks story with an bigger brother called MiniFreak!!! WOWWW!
Thank You Bo!👍
Arturia MiniFreak Sounds and Looks Good!😀
I love arturia products.
The Casio CZ synth of our time!
OK take all my money now! This is the greatest thing ever! 6 voice polyphony AND effects??! What!
Oh dear, they’ve finally made the synth I was dreaming of - SOLD!!
I have been expecting a "macrofreak", but this is nice. Very nice, actually.
Yeah sounds cool to me , thanks for the demo
Man I want this thing soo much! ♥️ . . .One day! I will make this my 1st hardware synth.
I can't afford it (anymore), but it's great to see the I/O on this is fully fledged. MIDI in/out/thru, USB (not C unfortunately), Sustain, Clock in/Clock out/Reset out, AUDIO IN (!!) and Stereo out. That's really amazing. I'm still mad that my Minilogue XD doesn't have Midi Thru or audio in.
@Wilderness Music Yeah, especially with user oscillator's and FX it just would've made the synth so much more versatile. It's weird because the normal Minilogue does have Audio in.
Would love a shoot out between Minifreak, Hydra Explorer and Modal Cobalt8/Argon8!
This should have a module version , because
YES
Owning the Microfreak already - I want it 👾 also want the MiniFreak 🖤 it sounds great and really it's very immediate. Just watch the official Arturia product release video demonstrating the sequencer controls 💯 great fun
Definitely getting this one when it goes on sale in my country
Very good demo btw!
I've been thinking of getting a synth lately, as someone with little formal experience in music who likes to mess around. Before this was released I would have gone for the MicroFreak which seems to clearly have a great price for what it is, especially for a beginner, but now... I'm thinking if I want something that's going to be kind of an all-in-one package , splurging a little and getting the Mini is probably the best choice. The addition of effects especially is tempting.
I just ordered a mini a few days ago. Looking forward to having fun. I am a guitar player so this will be a new adventure. Go for it.
Nice, bro...I def didn't see this one coming.... Great video and I'm gonna check this one out for sure...
Aesthetically, takes me back to my CZ-101 days in the 80s.
Got this synth just today and omg it's freking freaky! It was the love from first touch! It's just you can do sooo so much with it! I have prophet rev2, it's huge spaecship with it's own sounds, but minifreak is something so interestingly different and can do what 1500 dollar synt can't! I feel like i found my perfect combination of analog and digital. But in terms of basic shapes and fat raw saws minifreak is kinda weak and you need analog oscilators for this classic raw synth sounds. But in terms of freaky, deep and layered sounddesign I think nothing beats minifreak especialy in his price range!
is it possible to get prophet sounds with the Arturia mini freak?
@@dariogrijalba I would say no. They are both gorgeous but very different. Filters and oscilators sound much thiner on Minifreak
Use the sawx engine for saw analog sounds
1:50 - it's sad :( I've hoped that they will continue with a new extended "Buchla-style" keyboard! It's very sensetive but the main bad thing that it's just two octaves!
We already have KeyStep, BeatStep and etc...
I just got my Micofreak up and running. I love it. It's small, and very useable. Not being a proper "keyboardist", The key bed doesn't bother me. I actually like it. I have the Keystep, and a couple of other controllers, as well. Thanks!
11:38 those filters are giving me chills.
My man this was something I did not expect and since I've been keeping an eye on the microfreak once it came out on the mkt, I absolutely love the mini, it sure looks like an upgrade and little tweaks on everything I didn't like so much on the micro. Althought, for that price, I think I'm still headed towards for the korg minilogue XD, but hey, change my mind by making a comparison vid hehe
Thanks for this "mini" surprise bo!
might make a minilogue xd vs minifreak comparison
@@BoBeats hell yeah, looking forward for it!
@@BoBeats Yes, I definitely would love to see that!
@@BoBeats I'll be interested in that. I look forward to seeing it
+1 to that idea for a video !
Great review. Thank you for keeping us informed.
I’m gonna get this and make it my main synth, sound design in a box 👌🏾
It has the modest look of something like a Casio CZ101 back in the day. Bigger inside than outside? 😁
Hopefully there's a big boi Polyfreak at some point in the future too. Nice!
Looking at it reminds me a lot of the mininova
Great demo video! I am thinking about getting it :) I was hoping you also talked about the included software synth companion MiniFreak V and how they work together.
The software isnt quite ready yet, might discuss it in a followup vid
Thanks for the good review!
Wish they would do modules of both freaks.
I actually did see this coming. First thing was the mini brute than the matrix brute then the poly brute. We had the MicroFreak…now the mini freak. Let me know when the PolyFreak drops.
Super freak
I'm a huge fan of the OG Microfreak! This looks cool but I could connect a Midi keyboard if I wanted the tactile feel since they're using pretty much the same engine
Good idea, do you know if they’re the same presets tho?
I have Kontak 61 I miss just switching on an playing. Love this, I am considering one
That frog alone is making me want to buy this
I'm only a few month into synths but when I saw this video short after release I was instant in love with it. Everytime I think about getting another synth used (MF not out in EU) like a Hydrasynth Explorer or a Modal, I watch a MicroFreak video and know again not getting it is no option!
Is there a hidden mic in as well just like on the microfreak? Does it have a vocoder?
I need that first track so reminiscent of Silent Hill! excellent track Bo!
I saw this coming a long time ago. People would whine about the Microfreak keybed and it not having any effects. I like how expressive the microfreak keys are. I wanted more than 2 octaves, so I bought a 2nd microfreak freak to get 4 octaves or use like a split keyboard. For effects I just use guitar pedals I already have. ...in a year or two there will be a White Minifreak with a vocoder. :/
Lack of polyphonic aftertouch is kind of a bummer, that was the thing that made the original so expressive and cinematic.
I would like 10+ note polyphony. I think that should be prioritized on most digital polysynths.
It’s a hybrid, but yeah, I think they should do a matrix freak that is basically a hardware Pigments with analog filters and make it 12 voice.
This will be a money maker for Arturia. They're using keyboards they already have, same knobs and buttons but have added a couple of oscillators and a polyphonic sound engine. I bet their profit margin is twice that of the microfreak.
I wondered when you were going to present this keyboard. I've been watching for your review.
I dropped mine on release day, but I think youtube sometimes is slow to serve it to people :)
Dang you Bo! I'm meant to be planinning xmas presents for others, but it looks like they gonna have to miss out this year and get an orange instead! Arturia has continued to put a smile on my face :-)
Wow this was very unexpected your video is the firsr time im seeing this
Damn you Bo - now I want one. I do not need one! Pretty impressive and the price isn't too bad either. Thanks for the review!
Of course I did see it coming. Though I thought it will be called MegaFreak :) it is for, but good it's packed into mini form-factor of KeyStep!
I guess a good question to Arturia- will you end up releasing that free plugin-version for sale for those that don't need more hardware?
just get pigments, it's all that and more.
It sort of reminds me of the Casio CZ and HT formfactor with the sharp edges. Instant nostalgia!
Especially the pad sounds on it, very reminiscent of the CZ series
Heh, I have a cz-101 and I was thinking exactly the same 🤣 but this jewel is more powerful by far! I put it into my wishlist, who knows, everything is possible...
i'm mostly pleased with what i've seen of the minifreak. i got a microfreak in early 2020 and i've been a real fan of the instrument. of course it helped that i really liked the idiosyncratic keyboard of the microfreak to the point i find myself wondering if arturia could be persuaded to make a capacitance touch keyboard for the minifreak . . . perhaps a limited edition sometime in the future. otherwise it appears they got many things right with this new entry in the "freak" line. thanks for the information.
Just put a sticker or something over the MiniFreak name and now it's rocking!
My Deepmind is giving me jealous looks. I should probably master that synth before thinking about getting a new toy. Cheers!
Arturiaよりも情報早いのやばすぎる。Bo beatsさんが好きです。
Comparison with hydrasynth explorer?
thats a good comparison yeah!
I kind of just love arturias analog filters
Good news for prices on the used microfreak market 😉
Thanks for the video, Bo. You played some songs with a drum accompaniment. What was the source for the drum timbres (I can't pronounce it either) ? When you've played more complex sounds, did you use only the Minifreak to produce the sounds or got other sources?
Mom, Bo keeps making me spend money!
Mom: listen to your father
I'm heavily in between the MicroFreak and the MiniFreak for my first synth they just seem to make the sounds I want. I'm not going into production or recording I just wanna make sounds and just have fun.
I love how Your Apple Watch band matches the knobs!!!
very cool to have a polyphonic synth with Mutable Instruments oscillators.
Sure seems like the Mini unleashes a dramatically more expansive range of sounds, above and beyond (or perhaps thanks to) the spec sheet additions... I love my Micro but always feel like the sound palette is decidedly 'thin' / lo-fi etc. Sounds like Mini expands that palette to include add more warm, lush to the creative mix. I've got a Keystep 37 and Micro and think I'll might sell both to upgrade to this.
I'll wait for the Freakbrute
Drumfreak!
SuperFreak
The price tag is really competitive. Three quarters of a Polybrute for less than a quarter of its price!
All I want to know: is there a filter per voice????
Oh no! I bought a new synth yesterday..... now I need to buy this one too......
Ooohhhh.... But I still want a Polybrute. Damn it!
I have exhausted the options available on the MicroFreak. I made heavy 808s, hard kicks, surprisingly a decent snare, but it is easy to run out of options to make the sound you really want. I like that the MiniFreak has two oscillators that can be run in serial or parallel, on board effects, more than one LFO. Seems like this synth might just have enough modulation to be a good candidate for making neuro basses. Here's to hoping it doesn't cost that much more than the micro.