Arturia MiniFreak 37 Key Polyphonic 6-Voice Hybrid Synthesizer Keyboard

This massively popular synth has only been available for about half a year, but the staggering number of praise-filled reviews, aftermarket preset packs, and general community support should give you an idea of how successful this versatile little synth is. Youtube videos run through the default factory presets, and provide tips and tricks for optimizing your time with this gem. The multi-mode synthesis engine covers just about every method imaginable and the oscillators, analog multimode filters, and generous effects section provide true high-quality sounds of all kinds. Each of the 256 preset slots can include its own user-programmed sound patch AND polyphonic sequence or arpeggio setup. Plenty of smooth, precise knobs to control variables in real time, and a flexible matrix assignment system for managing signal routing make this a great synth for beginners or experienced users alike. True six-voice polyphony with user-selectable note-re-triggering and voice-allocation modes allow for lots of flexibility and can emulate modes from conventional monosynths to various polysynths like the original Oberheim 2- 4- and 8- voice. (Well, no, not 8-voices at once, but the same kind of note assignments!)The compact keyboard is velocity sensitive with monophonic pressure aftertouch, and provides a sturdy predictable keybed.The metal chassis construction is ventilated to prevent heat build-up, while providing a feeling if solid construction.Arturia also provides free access to the MiniFreak V when you register online, which is a very faithful virtual instrument (standalone and plugin) that runs on a PC or Mac and to me sounds exactly like the hardware version. This allows for multiple instances of the MiniFreak simultaneously, limited only by your computer’s processing power. It also can be setup to track in realtime all the knobs and settings of a connected hardware MiniFreak. You can work on developing patches or sequences on the virtual version, then transfer them to the hardware unit once it is connected. You can also use the virtual version to save patches and sequences from the hardware unit to hard disk. The 1 -to-1 mapping of the hardware controls makes for a very unique experience when working with the virtual version in a DAW…I can confirm that everything works as it should in Propellerhead’s Reason v12.It’s not quite as powerful or well laid out as Arturia’s flagship softsynth, Pigments, but it’s close, with similar high quality sounds, and a few strengths of its own. Now, I’d love to see Arturia release a hardware version of Pigments!

Arturia makes very solid devices and this is no exception. It doesn't feel like a cheap device. It feels great to play, although the keys are small.It feels like a very immediate synth, you can really spend hours creating new sounds.For the amount of features it has, the price is great and the size feels very portable without being too small.

Awesome synth. Super fun messing around with all the presets (comes with tons of them). On top of all the presets, it has several hundred blanks that allow you to create your own. It is a fairly complex machine but, aside from its complexity it is still easy to use. Start plunking away at the keys and twisting knobs, see what you come up with. It also gives you access to the virtual version when you register the hardware.

This device is an absolute riot to use! There are hundreds of presets, and each one of those presets have infinitely adjustable parameters/sounds and effects. It's wonderful not having to rely on having a PC running at all - yet be able to create all of these sounds. I haven't even started to make my own saved presets yet.In case you don't understand this item, you plug it into power, and put on some headphones, and you are good to go. No laptop or anything required unless you want to get fancy and do some multi-track recording, DAW, or use this as a MIDI interface, or whatever.This little guy also features the ability to play chords / multiple keys at one time. This is a feature, that apparently, many synthesizers do not offer. Now that I'm learning about these, I'm super glad I started with this item. There are synthesizers that are full size and have millions of knobs and connections and things - and you can only press one key at a time on them. There are ways around this with the big synthesizers, such as multiple oscillators. Things start getting a bit confusing for me at this point. The minifreak does the multiple oscillator/etc behind the scenes essentially.The PC/USB, firmware update for this unit was pretty scary. I ended up bricking my brand new synthesizer several times. It was stuck. Turning it on and off, reconnecting to the computer, holding down buttons in a certain order to restart it into a certain mode. My minifreak was an anchor for about an hour. I somehow magically got the sequence correct when powering it up and doing the firmware upgrade for the 15th time... Whew! Now I have version 2.0 and everything is fine.Other than the firmware upgrade, this unit has been absolutely rock solid. It has luscious stereo, floating, neat sounds and '80s pop rock sounds and all kinds of everything in between. I have it synced via midi to my external drum machine. Now I have an entire band with no PC even connected or turned on. Windows updates?? Nope. Just make music!This is an absolutely fantastic way to learn about synthesizers, learn about piano notes and reading music, learn about terminology in music writing. I've barely scratched the surface with what this thing can do. I wouldn't hesitate at all in buying one of these. I can't even think of something to give a con about.

Yup you read it right! The best investment I have done by far... This synth is so good, I loooooove it. You also get the software code in the box (minifreak V) for updates and patch upload and transfer. Minifreak V is a vst as well for those days you Wana use the synth but don't want to use the physical one(why would you not want to use the physical one). On the fence about getting it? I recommend to get this synth.. It's so fun to play and just build patches

Great little synth, would recommend to someone looking to get into synthesis, a lot of presets to play around with and a lot of fun features.Personally, I didn't really like the feel of the small keys. If you aren't a fan of the smaller key size I would probably avoid.I ended up returning this because I don't think I will really use it to its full potential, not that there is anything wrong with it, I'm just not really creative when it comes to things like this.Would definitely recommend to others though!