Arturia Minifreak VST

[foosnark]

I only have a few minutes of first impression from this morning, since I couldn't log in to my work machine remotely and had to drive to the office where there are no synths

As a former owner of Microfreak, the oscillators are nothing new for me. Not boring, but not as fun as Kult or the entire world of modular. And I still don't think the Noise Engineering or Mutable Instruments algorithms sound quite as good in the Freak implementation as they do elsewhere. The filter, too, is serviceable but not exciting -- though I feel like I enjoyed it a bit more on the Microfreak.

Having the second "oscillator" process the first does spice things up. Modal through comb filter can be fun. But then, Kult and Bitwig Grid both have comb filters as well.

There are weird design choices. Why are the envelopes "advanced"? Why are some effects restricted to specific slots? Why (as I keep asking with many VST synths) can't I hide the nearly useless on-screen keyboard)?

The modulation grid was a decent solution to a thorny interface problem on the hardware, but it feels a little awkward in software form. They could at least have had the oscillator parameters use the same names as they do for the chosen algorithm.

What saves the synth for me is that the additional distortion and filtering possibilities, combined with the Unison mode which is freely detunable over an octave range, can sound completely mad. Even more so than the Microfreak did. So I'm probably going to pick it up for the intro price mainly to make terrible noise

[Scotty]

I'm really enjoying the user interface. Resizable guis are a must for me and this is really easy to use. It looks like it is already optimized for a touch screen which will be added to my studio at some point. I love the mod matrix which the depth amounts showing up directly on the matrix display. It exceeds the hardware in this regard. I'm likely going to get more out of this than expected because it is very well thought out and it is joy to tweak. I find the subtractive style oscilators a bit "polite" and the envelopes aren't a snappy as I'd like. For textures and animated sounds this is a really nice. Fernando, keep us updated on how you are doing with it. I like it.

I love how Minifreak sounds, it is my favorite synth right now. Sorry to break the consensus.

[RugerioDelStereo]

All wasted if it doesn't actually sound any good, and it doesn't.

Ah maybe in YOUR opinion (Which you should not state as fact) it does not sound good. That's fine. Just don't post it like your opinion is an absolute. You come across as DEEPLY insecure. Or maybe like an asshole. Or a combination of both.

In my opinion, the MiniFreak sounds great. I thoroughly enjoy the VST, especially for making gnarly, weird sounds for EBM and Industrial.

[Neon Breath]

thx a lot guys, i wonder (of course i dont need to ) if i would buy Minifreak what it can what pigments cannot, just out of interest .

Dude, just demo it. Only you can tell if you need it, don't rely on us & others opinion. Cannot be compared, very different synths, sound and workflow wise.

[WasteLand]

thx a lot guys, i wonder (of course i dont need to ) if i would buy Minifreak what it can what pigments cannot, just out of interest .

Dude, just demo it. Only you can tell if you need it, don't rely on us & others opinion. Cannot be compared, very different synths, sound and workflow wise.

indeed, wise words!

[Artie Fichelle]

I went to listen to some presets, but there is nothing I could not do with my other vst. I have alot, that said.
I does not sound bad, but why buy it when you can have:

1. a decent FM synth
2. A wavetable synth
3 . An "analogue".
4. A sampler.
5. A decent piano
that means in my case:

- DX7V or else or even free stuff
- Pigments or uhe or serum
- Diva
- bliss
- Pianoteq pro.
And Vital and plasmonic and
just a good DAW.
Of course when you need orchestral stuff, there is many choices.

[Neon Breath]

It even has an undo history which is a bit rare.

All Arturia plugins have this.

[EnGee]

I went to listen to some presets, but there is nothing I could not do with my other vst. I have alot, that said.
I does not sound bad, but why buy it when you can have:

1. a decent FM synth
2. A wavetable synth
3 . An "analogue".
4. A sampler.
5. A decent piano
that means in my case:

- DX7V or else or even free stuff
- Pigments or uhe or serum
- Diva
- bliss
- Pianoteq pro.
And Vital and plasmonic and
just a good DAW.
Of course when you need orchestral stuff, there is many choices.

If you don't feel it different, then it's not for you. You don't need it.

[mholloway]

Anybody know how to clear the notes in the sequencer? I can only seem to right click them individually to make them disappear...feels like I'm missing a clear / reset button somewhere?

[aMUSEd]

I love how Minifreak sounds, it is my favorite synth right now. Sorry to break the consensus.

It is from my favourite synths now also I just finished another round with it on M1 Mac and it performs great (similar to my Ryzen/Windows PC).

I like a lot the details in the sound. The presets are wonderful and suits my taste and music. Weird but lovely weird sounds. It also can do bread and butter sounds, but this is not its strength IMO.

Arturia did a great job with this synth! Well done

It is freaking awesome - I've had it quite a few months now

btw if anyone wants them now there is just a plugin version but you want a hardware like experience I made a NKS conversion (also several months ago but now I can finally share it) - fully tagged with previews and everything

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9pzfpy1mjququ ... S.zip?dl=0

[sacer]

I also bought it at morning, when most comments like bones where negative about it. I would have bought it without testing, but after negative comments I decided to try before buy and was soon in love with this synth. It really adds something new to my synth arsenal.

[Shunten]

Out of Minifreak or Pigments 4, which one would you guess suggest to get since they are the same price.

[cb8rwh]

That is a very personal choice. I myself, although I am liking MiniFreak V, would get Pigments. I just think it's more versatile.

[Artie Fichelle]

If at the same price, without a shadow of a doubt: pigments.

[sacer]

Yeah I also would prefer pigments, but if you already have and like pigments ts, than you should add minifrak