Arturia Minifreak Polyphonic Hybrid Keyboard Synthesizer

[loachm]

...solidtrax, I really like and appreciate your efforts to film and write about the Minifreak. It's been a long time, since I've been that excited about a music product - apart from some cheap hardware in the late 90s, I've only used software and controllers since then, but was always looking at hardware synths. Fortunately, in the last 20 years, affordability and availability has increased immensely, but, ultimately, I always decided against getting any hardware synths, as I found them too impractical in comparison to softsynths (while being annoyed all the time by their limited physical accessibilty). The Microfreak has always been very appealing to me as a fun getaway/gateway thing, but still I thought, Arturia could do more with it, so I'm glad they did now.

The Minifreak still isn't available at my prefered dealers, but I think, I'll wait until the plug-in is available (hopefully with a wavetable update and the sw/hw communication in place). So, if and when you can (NDA etc.), please, tell also, how it behaves as a hybrid system and where short-comings might be (limited hardware access to the software or software controls not enabled for automation - please, none of that... )

Really hope, it'll start a trend - Pigments, OG Massive or Hydrasynth - these could be some interesting candidates for hybrid systems.

[solidtrax]

...solidtrax, I really like and appreciate your efforts to film and write about the Minifreak. It's been a long time, since I've been that excited about a music product - apart from some cheap hardware in the late 90s, I've only used software and controllers since then, but was always looking at hardware synths. Fortunately, in the last 20 years, affordability and availability has increased immensely, but, ultimately, I always decided against getting any hardware synths, as I found them too impractical in comparison to softsynths (while being annoyed all the time by their limited physical accessibilty). The Microfreak has always been very appealing to me as a fun getaway/gateway thing, but still I thought, Arturia could do more with it, so I'm glad they did now.

The Minifreak still isn't available at my prefered dealers, but I think, I'll wait until the plug-in is available (hopefully with a wavetable update and the sw/hw communication in place). So, if and when you can (NDA etc.), please, tell also, how it behaves as a hybrid system and where short-comings might be (limited hardware access to the software or software controls not enabled for automation - please, none of that... )

Really hope, it'll start a trend - Pigments, OG Massive or Hydrasynth - these could be some interesting candidates for hybrid systems.

Hi, thank you for your nice words loachm!

MiniFreak V and the latest firmware just dropped. Perhaps this will answer your questions: https://www.arturia.com/products/hardwa ... minifreakv

I think you will be pleased tbh. Enjoy!

[SpartanNoble]

MiniFreak V and the latest firmware just dropped. Perhaps this will answer your questions: https://www.arturia.com/products/hardwa ... minifreakv

I think you will be pleased tbh. Enjoy!

Too bad that only hardware users can use the plugin.

Hope that Arturia will also release the plugin for separate use

[WatchTheGuitar]

Interested to know the score if you sell the minifreak hardware on are you still ok to keep the plugin licence.

[Constructed Identity]

Interested to know the score if you sell the minifreak hardware on are you still ok to keep the plugin licence.

Yea, obvious question since it is "like for like", wouldn't you just use software if that is what you are more familiar with? Is this Arturia's version of Roland's System 8??
Will people just 'rent' the hardware to get the software?

[db3]

Minifreak V is tied to the hardware registration. i.e. it's not listed as a separate product in your account. The hardware registration makes it appear in software center. If you wanted to sell the hardware you'd need to deregister from your Arturia account which I assume would deactivate the soft. Firmware update is also handled through the software version.

[WatchTheGuitar]

Nice to know they’ve crippled it on purpose.

[trusampler]

I'm definitely buying this synth! Incredible sound

[muki]

[…] The hardware registration makes it appear in software center. […]

uhm...no...:
i do not have the hardware (and do not have it registered) but
nonetheless i can see minifreak in arturias software center
i can download and install it (massive 560MB (without AAX))
it opens and can be tweaked but unfortunately remains silent (i.e.: without sound)

[db3]

[…] The hardware registration makes it appear in software center. […]

uhm...no...:
i do not have the hardware (and do not have it registered) but
nonetheless i can see minifreak in arturias software center
i can download and install it (massive 560MB (without AAX))
it opens and can be tweaked but unfortunately remains silent (i.e.: without sound)

Oh ok, in that case I assume the hardware registration is what allows it to be activated.

[muki]

Oh ok, in that case I assume the hardware registration is what allows it to be activated.

yes
and i think it kinda makes sense:
they have to offer it in their softwarecenter
it's free for registered owners of the hardware
without registration it runs as demo without soundoutput
(kinda same like a regular arturia-demo after 30 minutes...)

[Constructed Identity]

[…] The hardware registration makes it appear in software center. […]

uhm...no...:
i do not have the hardware (and do not have it registered) but
nonetheless i can see minifreak in arturias software center
i can download and install it (massive 560MB (without AAX))
it opens and can be tweaked but unfortunately remains silent (i.e.: without sound)

Oh ok, in that case I assume the hardware registration is what allows it to be activated.

They probably have a hardware detect test set up on opening the software.
I think the combination is deliberate to lure software-only people into the hardware and is a smart move. I think the Minifreak would make a great first synth for anyone from what I've seen.

[zvenx]

They might even sell this as a plugin after the current sales are over.
rsp

[SLiC]

They will definitely sell the plug in, there is already a buy button that goes to a 404 page (which is a bit sloppy), I think they just wanted to give it to the hardware purchasers first…not sure how long they plan to wait…but I don’t think it will be long, it’s easy money for Arturia as it’s the people who don’t own the hardware that really want this!

[aMUSEd]

They will definitely sell the plug in, there is already a buy button that goes to a 404 page (which is a bit sloppy), I think they just wanted to give it to the hardware purchasers first…not sure how long they plan to wait…but I don’t think it will be long, it’s easy money for Arturia as it’s the people who don’t own the hardware that really want this!

They have to be careful though that the plugin doesn't undermine sales for the hardware - so I don't think it will be software only for a good while yet - eventually yes, probably. With the hardware it's an added value, but selling it on its own I can see some people thinking if they just use it with a decent midi controller they would probably be 90-95% able to do what the hardware could do so why bother with the hardware as well.