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Arturia
MicroFreak 25-Key Hybrid Synth
Product Videos :
YouTube Video
2 models to choose from:
Whether you're looking for your first, affordable hardware synth or a collector looking for original sounds and unique interface, MicroFreak is the synth you need.
A synthesizer like no other, MicroFreak blends wavetable and digital oscillators with analog filters. It features a unique poly-aftertouch flat keyboard. It adds controlled randomness to sequences. MicroFreak features 11 awesome oscillators, 4 bespoke Arturia engines, and 7 modes from their friends at Mutable Instruments.
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 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.
About the unusual looking keyboard - it isn't really a keyboard, it's a PCB. Super-flat, with no moving parts that will track lightning-fast synth solos. 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.
MicroFreak redefines what low-cost digital synths can do.
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 and LFO
• LFO with Sync: Sine, Tri, Saw, Square, Random, Slew Random
• Modulation matrix with 5 sources and 7 destinations (3 destinations are user-assignable)
• 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
• Instrument size : 12.2 x 9.2 x 2.2 inches (311 x 233 x 55mm)
• Instrument weight : 2.3 lbs. (1.02 Kg)
A synthesizer like no other, MicroFreak blends wavetable and digital oscillators with analog filters. It features a unique poly-aftertouch flat keyboard. It adds controlled randomness to sequences. MicroFreak features 11 awesome oscillators, 4 bespoke Arturia engines, and 7 modes from their friends at Mutable Instruments.
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 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.
About the unusual looking keyboard - it isn't really a keyboard, it's a PCB. Super-flat, with no moving parts that will track lightning-fast synth solos. 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.
MicroFreak redefines what low-cost digital synths can do.
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 and LFO
• LFO with Sync: Sine, Tri, Saw, Square, Random, Slew Random
• Modulation matrix with 5 sources and 7 destinations (3 destinations are user-assignable)
• 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
• Instrument size : 12.2 x 9.2 x 2.2 inches (311 x 233 x 55mm)
• Instrument weight : 2.3 lbs. (1.02 Kg)
Media
Youtube video product demo
Q & A
There are currently no questions for this product.
Reviews
3.135.195.249
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The entry-level synth that will stay with you for years to come. 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Edmonton Highlands, Alberta
I picked this up recently as my first foray into the world of synthesis and sound design, and I was not disappointed at all. This little instrument packs a mind-boggling number of sonic capabilities, and at the time of writing this review (firmware version 5.0), it has 21~ unique oscillator types and modes. Each oscillator will have its own parameters that you can adjust to carve out the sound you want. The latest updates even allow you to upload your own audio sample snippets from your PC for you to mangle around with its engines.
The build quality is good. The knobs turn smoothly, with a bit of weight behind each turn. The weight of the unit itself is light and plasticy, but it doesn't flex under typical usage. The flat PCB keyboard is a bit strange at first to use, as you might have trouble feeling your way around the keybed, but I found them to be a lot more expressive with the use of aftertouch. However, I often just run a midi keyboard through it, using the Microfreak's keybed only when I need the aftertouch.
Coming from a background in mostly acoustic instruments, I found this synth to be the near-perfect entry point for someone who might be interested in exploring synthesis for the first time at a price point and value that make this a no-brainer. For me personally, it's the inspiration this synth can spark that makes it worthwhile.
Posted by Bryan on Oct 26, 2023
pretty amazing! but has MIDI issues 2 of 2 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Halifax, Nova Scotia
i can't really trust this thing for live shows because the MIDI seems to simply stop working 50% of the time, so i usually just play the MF's parts live. restarting the unit fixes it temporarily.
i've used it with an MPC 2500 and an MPC Live, and it just stops receiving MIDI note data after awhile. it seems like a common issue after some research.
still an incredible synth for the price, really really fun to build patches on this thing. you can pretty much make any sound you want, and i actually liked the stock patches! i'll probably never sell it either.
oh and i hate the keyboard, very very easy to play the wrong notes, but always have a MIDI keyboard hooked to it, so not a big deal.
i've used it with an MPC 2500 and an MPC Live, and it just stops receiving MIDI note data after awhile. it seems like a common issue after some research.
still an incredible synth for the price, really really fun to build patches on this thing. you can pretty much make any sound you want, and i actually liked the stock patches! i'll probably never sell it either.
oh and i hate the keyboard, very very easy to play the wrong notes, but always have a MIDI keyboard hooked to it, so not a big deal.
Posted by Sam on Apr 13, 2022
Wouldn\'t trade it for a synth that was 2x the price. 5 of 5 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Winnipeg (Pembina), Manitoba
-17 Synths engines and counting! 17!!
Subtractive, FM, Physical Modelling, Vocoding, Speech Synthesis, Wavetable (with the ability to import your own), and more including some I don\'t even understand yet.
-Great sequencer with 4 automation lanes and the ability to introduce randomness.
-Regular updates with both quality of life improvements and new sound engines.
-Can run off a usb power bank.
-Audio rate LFO and Cycling envelope with mod destinations for ALL parameters.
Sometimes a third envelope would come in handy but at this point, I\'m just being greedy.
It really is the perfect machine to learn sound design.
10/5 because it\'d still be worth it at double the price.
Subtractive, FM, Physical Modelling, Vocoding, Speech Synthesis, Wavetable (with the ability to import your own), and more including some I don\'t even understand yet.
-Great sequencer with 4 automation lanes and the ability to introduce randomness.
-Regular updates with both quality of life improvements and new sound engines.
-Can run off a usb power bank.
-Audio rate LFO and Cycling envelope with mod destinations for ALL parameters.
Sometimes a third envelope would come in handy but at this point, I\'m just being greedy.
It really is the perfect machine to learn sound design.
10/5 because it\'d still be worth it at double the price.
Posted by Calan Neurenberg on Nov 26, 2021
Micro freak 7 of 7 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Moncton, New Brunswick
Wow. Is there anything this little synth can't do? I am 62 and somewhat tech challenged so I am sure I am not getting the most out of this but OMG am I having a blast. Eventually I will figure out all the finer nuances of this machine and then look out. Love everything about it. Small, lightweight and the keyboard is absolutely incredible. Have gotten my money's worth out this in just a couple of months doing nothing more than making trippy sounds. Thank you Arturia
Posted by Glenn Weatherall on Jul 28, 2021
DOES NOT GET OLD, SO MUCH TO EXPLORE 9 of 9 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Halifax, Nova Scotia
I feel like I lucked out when I turned around and saw this lil guy across the room.This is my first synth and while it was an absurd learning curve, it was fun the entire time because it's so easy to get something cool sounding at every knowledge level. I can't tell you whether or not this synth will bring you as much joy as it has brought me but I would not be surprised if it did. My advice is read the manual, especially if you're new to synths as it's written in a way that is easily understood, lots of analogies and comparisons to common knowledge concepts. Thank you Arturia for making such a fun piece of gear!
Posted by Dave on Jul 31, 2020
Good, but get the upgrade too 2 of 2 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Lethbridge, Alberta
Programming is complicated - but installed the Ultimate Patches and now have tons of surprisingly good patches to play with. Great synth.
Posted by Jon on Jun 29, 2020
Top Quality, Top Sound. 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Vancouver, British Columbia
I watched one video of the Microfreak and was totally blown away by the kind of sounds coming out of it and so I bought it almost immediately, I have never purchased a synth so fast in my life.
From the moment I got it and started noodling around with the presets, it seemed like I fell into a vortex and several hours just evaporated into thin air. Seriously, this thing is very dynamic sounding and is a lot of fun to play around with, almost to the point of being addicting!
I for one appreciate the overall design of the unit, and the means of playing the keys is quite interesting as well. In my experience, this had been unique and a total blast.
Also, I'd like to say that the manual is one of the most well written manuals that I've read. The folks at Arturia clearly have a passion for inspiring others and producing something of good quality.
Posted by Freaky Synth Dude on Jun 16, 2020
Astounding little synth 2 of 2 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Bedford, Nova Scotia
The Microfreak makes me smile...it's such a quirky and unique sounding synthesizer. It makes the kind of "ornamental" sounds that you hear on modern tracks, and you wonder "how did they make that sound?"...in the past the answer was usually with a computer. But now there's a little synthesizer that does.
I have really enjoyed adding this synth to my "home" studio. I can always find a place for it in a mix. Having the ability to recall our patches (or use the factory/aftermarket presets) is a HUGE bonus. It plays quirky, but it can ALSO play convincing Jupiter strings and Moog leads as well.
The "keyboard" is a new one for me, and for some things it's great, but I decided to add a midi Keystep to control it ($159 new), because it has aftertouch, and regular (slim) keys.
Any midi keyboard could be used to control the MF, as well as it's touch-keys at the same time, and with the paraphonic feature on, having those extra keys is great, especially for "traditional" patches like its Jupiter strings. and Moog square wave lead, etc.
I give the MF 5/5, which is rare.
Posted by John David Peer on Jan 22, 2020
Nearly perfect 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Kingston, Ontario
This synth nearly has it all. It is simply too much to write in a review. Though there are tons of videos. The only thing it needed was some sort of effect routing. Delay, reverb or distortion would have made this the ultimate must have. Still the best value, but you will need to add some effects to bring it to the next level! Would recommend!
Posted by Alex W. on Nov 11, 2019
Awsome little machine 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Owen Sound, Ontario
This is a new instrument all on its own... Teamed up with a Drum Brute Impact and it is nothing short of amazing what sounds can be produced.
Posted by Michael on Oct 25, 2019
I have one 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Vancouver, British Columbia
This is an amazing unit. A must-have for my sound.
Posted by tyson on Sep 19, 2019
Fantastic Budget Synth 2 of 3 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
i love the hybrid design of this synth, you can play with it like an analog mono and make weird unmusical garbage, or you can play big lush chords that sound great in a mix with a full band. polyphonic aftertouch at this price is crazy, and you can unlink the keyboard from the synth engine so you can play a poly aftertouch synth vst with the keyboard while the synth engine is sequenced by your daw. this synth really comes to life with effects, some people complain that there isnt any effects built in but i bet theyd complain more if it had effects and costed $100 more. download a free daw and get some free effects plugins
Posted by Isaac on Sep 12, 2019
Un p'tit gros monstre 5 of 11 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Québec, Quebec
12 types d'ondes (analogue, fm, superwave, générateur de mots...) avec des variations multiples. Plusieurs sources de modulation possibles: lfo, vca selon deux mode, arpégiateur/séquenceur, pression des doigts sur le clavier textile.
Une infinité de possibilités. Utilisable en mono ou 4 voix paraphoniques en live ou en lab.
Posted by Françoise Labelle on Jun 8, 2019
Looks like a toy, but is a POWERHOUSE!!! 2 of 3 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Calgary Chinook, Alberta
4 powerful and flexible digital voices, analog filter. This thing is KILLER for the price. Modular routings via the top left mod matrix gives MAJOR sound sculpting capability. Don't let the toyish appearance put you off. Glad I preordered!
Posted by UJ on Apr 21, 2019
Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty
A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.
Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
- Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
- Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
- No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
- Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
- Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
- Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
- Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
- Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
- Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.
Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
- NEW products: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
- USED products: 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. 4% for each additional year.
- GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
- BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
Great Additions
Reserve in Store
| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| MicroFreak 25-Key Hybrid Synth | 704692 |
