Back to navigation


Flexible, Freaky Interstellar Exploration





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Sound designers at Arturia are no strangers to meticulously and methodically deconstructing the elements of aural intrigue that make our favorite synths tick. The MiniFreak Stellar throws down the gauntlet with a 37-key hybrid design that utilizes a dual-oscillator 2-engine architecture to elicit dynamic, undulating sonics with multiple lanes of modulation. Its powerful, onboard FX engine, velocity-sensitive keybed, and analog filtering are engineered to inspire with responsive, dynamic polyphonic synthesis. Boasting over 20 playing modes across a 6-voice polyphony, the reimagined Freak modulation matrix abounds with artistic opportunity. To take this synth into another dimension, you’re also getting the MiniFreak V, a VST counterpart for use with your DAW. It's armed with identical sound engines to deliver a digital doppelganger for expanded sound design and patch development to be loaded back onto the hardware, which has impressed Sweetwater’s synthesists and production pros with its uncompromising versatility.





Note: Free ongoing software and firmware updates from Arturia are planned to continue expanding the MiniFreak’s sound design capabilities. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for further details.





Related Videos: MiniFreak 37-key Hybrid Synthesizer - Limited-edition Stellar





NOW PLAYING:


Arturia MiniFreak Stellar Demo: Features & Sounds with Daniel Fisher





MiniFreak Stellar | Dark Sky Synthesis | ARTURIA





Arturia MiniFreak Synth | Sounds-only Freak-out - Daniel Fisher





MiniFreak | Algorithmic Synthesizer | ARTURIA





What's New? | MiniFreak - Firmware 2.0





Why Buy Your Keyboard From Sweetwater? | Daniel Fisher


Hybrid sound, unbridled power





Harnessing years of cutting-edge development and thorough research, the MiniFreak is a living tapestry of voltaic action, reactive, responsive, and ready for sonic exploration. Armed with 23 oscillator modes, the dual-engine architecture takes its 6-voice polyphony into inspiring realms of Virtual Analog, FM, Additive, and many more forms of synthesis to serve as the bedrock of the MiniFreak’s premiere polyphonic potential. With the exciting 2.0 update, this polysynth is now a bona fide waveshaper, introducing 32 wavetables and 64 dedicated presets to propel sound explorers to the furthest reaches of intergalactic excavation. The engines can be sequenced to process the first one through the second, supplanting your sound with even greater dynamism to generate unique behaviors as you play. Character-rich analog filters and VCAs add a distinctive touch to the MiniFreak’s output, with a powerful 7 x 13 modulation matrix and a trio of digital effects slots to continue expanding your sonic horizons.





Carve out your sonic signature





While the MiniFreak is brimming with explorational opportunities, mileage is magnified exponentially by its armature of sonic tools. Two cutting-edge LFOs are available per voice, which can be completely customized with multi-segment shaping alongside one envelope and one cycling envelope, respectively, with each voice. There are 11 total FX options with three digital FX slots that can be assigned to insert or send modes, offering a combinatorial explosion of options with 6-mode distortion, 3-band EQ, shimmering chorus, super unison and more. Let your sounds breathe and undulate across the aural terrain with polyphonic ADSR, Spice & Dice randomization, or the distinctive FM & Ring Modulation ? control the chaos.





Premiere performance possibilities





Boasting a 37-note Slimkey velocity-sensitive keybed, the MiniFreak includes aftertouch, spontaneous sequencing/arpeggiation, and a suite of randomization across four different modulation lanes, creating a responsive, reactive instrument as powerful onstage as it is in the studio. When more control is in order, the 64-step sequencer is divided into four 16-step pages, accommodating plenty of approaches to performance. Tactility and form factor have been thoughtfully and masterfully realized with the MiniFreak, between its real-time feedback and vivid, OLED display, and the sturdy, responsive knobs. Further accessibility considerations include a Favorites panel, allowing you to seamlessly navigate a customizable constellation of your favorite presets. No matter where the synth sits in your rig, an adaptable array of I/O management includes MIDI in/out/thru, Clock in/out, an audio input, L/R channel outputs, and a headphone output.





Virtualize the real





The MiniFreak’s power isn’t limited to our corporeal realm. Out of the box, you’re given access to Arturia’s Mini Freak V ? a dedicated doppelganger of the real-life synth. Inject this VST in your DAW of choice to experience an identical instrument, fully loaded with the sound engines and architecture that define the rich physical synth. Plus, a combination of 320 factory presets and 256 assignable user slots affords you with heaps of room for precision sound design, live performance, and tailored patch making.





Arturia MiniFreak 37-key Hybrid Synthesizer Features:


37-note velocity-sensitive Slim-key keybed includes aftertouch for responsive, expressive play


6-voice polyphony and dual-engine architecture yield 23 total oscillator modes for evocative, inspiring aural exploration


Numerous per-voice envelope, LFO, and ADSR controls allow for precision voicing


Powerful FX suite includes 3 slots and 11 choices for rich texturization


Customizable multi-segment LFO, FM/Ring Modulation, and diverse randomization tools add unrelenting chaos to control with your sound


7 x 13 modulation matrix ensures versatile sonic sculpting


320 presets provide and 256 user slots provide a variety of sonically rich options for patch development and ideation


Versatile I/O includes MIDI In/Out/Thru, stereo audio output, clock I/O, USB-B connectivity, and more


Included MiniFreak V VST gives you a robust, digital duplicate of the MiniFreak’s distinctive architecture with easy preset design and management