Arturia new hardware Analogue Synth MiniBrute for 499 euro

[Sequent]

The Dominion X looks pretty interesting, thanks for pointing it out. The Pulse 2 is also looking good. I like the new desktop design. The matrix editing that somebody else pointed out is pretty much like the Pulse 1 (which I have). It's actually a really quick and easy system to get around on.

It's great that we're starting to see more and relatively inexpensive analog (analogue) gear and not just the bigger and more expensive super boutique items.

It's not just the new Pulse 2 which is "ahead" with patch memories, but the new MFB Dimension X, which as I have been saying previously, is probably the best buy at the moment. The simple reason is, it has the right user interface and specification. What remains to be proven though, is the sound. Some of the initial demos posted at GS are very promising.

edit:typo

[Dogboy73]

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/pro ... tails.html

dozens of sound examples there. Also, you can find other sound examples around the web of the Steiner-Parker filter and its clones. It's a really rude sounding filter imo.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that. It's just not what I prefer.

I'm not hearing rude. Some of the demos on that page have a really nice creaminess to them. But generally it seems to have a nice tonal range from those sounds. It can be rude if you want that. But I think that filter is capable of some really nice stuff.

Incidently wasn't that the filter type that was originally going to be in the MFB Dominion X?

[Albert.VST]

No, it's funny how a software/DSP company that's been making shitty "emulations" and "virtual analog" synths for so long has finally realized that producing a fine analog synth by Yves Usson (yusynth) would be good for them. If they were any good at "emulating analog" they wouldn't have had any reason to do this instead of another digital "emulation" that sounds like ass.

Wait what happens when a sw company that's more praised over here (Uhe, Xils etc., are you there ) gets into this stuff....

[chk071]

No, it's funny how a software/DSP company that's been making shitty "emulations" and "virtual analog" synths for so long has finally realized that producing a fine analog synth by Yves Usson (yusynth) would be good for them. If they were any good at "emulating analog" they wouldn't have had any reason to do this instead of another digital "emulation" that sounds like ass.

Tbh, if it wasn't for the filter resonance, i would hardly have heard a difference between their "shitty" emulations and the Minibrute, but well.... i guess that's a pretty unpopular opinion.

[v1o]

It's not just the new Pulse 2 which is "ahead" with patch memories, but the new MFB Dimension X, which as I have been saying previously, is probably the best buy at the moment. The simple reason is, it has the right user interface and specification. What remains to be proven though, is the sound. Some of the initial demos posted at GS are very promising.

edit:typo

At 780 euro The MFB Dimension X much more pricey than the Minibrute and doesn't come with a keyboard. And to be honest I've never been totally convinced with the "MFB family sound", their stuff sounds lo-fi compared to creamier more refined sounding stuff from Vermona for example.

[toitoi]

[Ingonator]

It's still hard to believe that the MinBrute got no patch memory and comes with a bunch of patch sheets instead.
So if i would do sound design for the MiniBrute i would have to send a PDF file with patch sheets to the customers?

Like i already mentioned the part about the patch sheets at the Arturia website almost sounds like this is a great new invention.

When i got my Moog Slim Phatty i thought "OK, it only got 100 patch memories but it should be enough" and now the upcoming Pulse 2 will have 500 locations. IMO for a modern synth 64 memory loctions should be the minimum except it's a modular system.

Besides this the "Ultrasaw" as described on the Arturia site is like 3 detuned Saws which could be done with any 3OSC synth (e.g. Pulse 2). The "Metallizer" sounds like a RingMod (included in Pulse 2) to me and the "Brute factor" like an Overdrive/distortion. The Pulse 2 will have a Drive with different curves which should be comparable.
Based on the design of the oscillator section it will be not possible to create e.g. two detuned Squares or Triangles or two different Pulses. Additional features like Sync and FM/Crossmod seem to be missing too.


Ingo

[Dogboy73]

It's still hard to believe that the MinBrute got no patch memory and comes with a bunch of patch sheets instead.

With this type of synth I think it's better not to have patch memory. I don't think it's just about maintaining that 'vintage' aesthetic. I've spent more time on my Neptune 2 than any other synth I have. I put that partly down to it's lack of presets. It forces you to get down and dirty with the thing. Before you know it your dialing in sounds that you want extremely quickly because you've gotten to know the thing inside out. Patches are for pussies! I don't think you really need them on an analogue mono synth.

Besides this the "Ultrasaw" as described on the Arturia site is like 3 detuned Saws which could be done with any 3OSC synth (e.g. Pulse 2). The "Metallizer" sounds like a RingMod (included in Pulse 2) to me and the "Brute factor" like an Overdrive/distortion.

I think your exactly right there. Arturia appear to have named these features with a more literal description But I think they are essentially doing what you have suggested. For example the 'Brute Factor' is clearly an overdrive/distortion from the description on the demo vids (i.e. some of the output is fed back into the input).

[Fr@nk]

It's still hard to believe that the MinBrute got no patch memory and comes with a bunch of patch sheets instead.

On a synth like that you don't need patch memory. And you don't need an external sounddesigner too.

Besides this the "Ultrasaw" as described on the Arturia site is like 3 detuned Saws which could be done with any 3OSC synth (e.g. Pulse 2).

Of course you can create something like Ultrasaw with three VCOs, the trick here is to do it with just one VCO. And on top of that, the same VCO creates a nice square wave with PWM at the same time and in addition to that, the same VCO creates a triangle too ... and don't forget the sub and white noise. I am sure you will admit that this is a pretty clever design, don't you?

The "Metallizer" sounds like a RingMod (included in Pulse 2) to me

But it is not a ring mod, it is a wavefolder which creates different tonal sounds than a ring mod.

and the "Brute factor" like an Overdrive/distortion.

But it is not an distortion, it is a feedback loop which of course gives different tonal results than a regular distortion circuit.

I don't get your point in comparing the Pulse2 with the MiniBrute? Both have a completely different design and I am sure they would make up for a nice pair side by side.

Cheers
Frank

[Ingonator]

It's still hard to believe that the MinBrute got no patch memory and comes with a bunch of patch sheets instead.

On a synth like that you don't need patch memory. And you don't need an external sounddesigner too.

Is there an OBVIOUS reason why you don't need a patch memory besides some "esoteric" reasons?
What do you learn by putting a patch sheet on the knobs and dialing the same values in over and over again?

Sorry but i really don't get it. And why are people saying you don't need patch memory on a monophonic synth. Would it make more sense on a polyphonic synth? Why?

I got a Moog Slim Phatty and i'm very happy it got 100 memory locations. I have programmed around 100 (or more) patches on it and i would go crazy if i would have to reprogram patch sheets anytime i want to have a specific patch. With the editor software for the Phatty you could even create a library which is great IMO.
If it's about overview of parameters:
In the Slim Phatty each knob got a LED indicator which shows the saved or current value of the selected parameter and in the editor software you got all parameters at once.
Besides that the synth is still fully analog including the oscillators which need a little warm-up time (and the auto-tune feature sometimes).


Ingo

[ZenPunkHippy]

Absolutely agree that patch memory is useful, no matter how easy to use / tweakable the synth is! Seems an odd thing to leave out, but I guess it keeps costs down by reducing design complexity.

Peace,
Andy.

[Dogboy73]

Is there an OBVIOUS reason why you don't need a patch memory besides some "esoteric" reasons?

Not really. Traditionally these things didn't have patch memory so it's an obvious throw back to that bygone era.

[Fr@nk]

Is there an OBVIOUS reason why you don't need a patch memory besides some "esoteric" reasons?

Because the layout is so easy to use and there is no hidden function. Everbody who is just a little familiar with analog synthesis will dial in any sound in seconds. On a Phatty (and the Pulse by the way) you have to use the buttons to switches through functions.

But anyway, the obvious reason not to have memory on a MiniBrute is that with the given number of knobs and faders you would never be able to reach this price tag. That is the reason why the Phatty has only 7 knobs (8 on the Pulse2) and a lot of buttons and the MiniBrute has 29 knobs, 8 switches and 14 faders. If you want a beast like the MiniBrute with all it's features and preset memory, than you have to pay much much more than 499,- Euro. In this case I would rather go for the knobs and faders.

Frank

[whyterabbyt]

Is there an OBVIOUS reason why you don't need a patch memory besides some "esoteric" reasons?

The obvious reason isnt about what isn't 'needed'; patch memory requires digital control requires a hybrid design requires higher costs. Its an purely analog signal path, end of story.

[himalaya]

In a way I like this 'old' school approach as it will teach those reliant on presets or newcomers how to tweak a synth quickly. I think it's all good.

This synth could be great fun, quick to edit with with good results.