This video, via DV247TV, takes a look at the new Arturia MiniBrute analog synthesizer.
The MiniBrute features a multimode Steiner-Parker filter, VCO with waveform mixer, arpeggiatior, MIDI, CV, USB connectivity and a 100% analogue signal path. Arturia also introduces some new features such as the Metalizer and Brute Factor to further add some shape to your sound.
curse this awesomeness!! must save money for Oberhieim TVS… must save money for oberheim TVS….
i picked up a minibrute. however the env knob for pwm is loose. does anybody else have a minibrute and can confirm whether this is normal behavior?
I do, and yes I have the same problem (by loose do you mean it has much less resistance than the other knobs?). I wouldn’t say that was exactly “normal” though. Keep in mind that we are the first batchers. I suspect the second group of people to get these won’t have loose PWM envelop knobs.
How do you like yours though? I have to say I find it pretty impressive (not exactly revolutionary, but for the price point, I think it’s really pretty enjoyable), I was fairly skeptical as to whether or not I would hear a huge difference between true analog and clever emulations.
So do you hear a huge difference? How would you characterize that difference?
Ok, thank you, I just wanted to confirm that weirdness. I’ve been quite bored with subtractive synthesis lately. But then I simply couldn’t put this thing down because it’s so fun. I will just mention 3 things that I didn’t notice from demos:
1. Modulating/altering the osc/subosc interacts in all kinds of weird and interesting ways with the filter res, as does the brute factor. The filter functionality on here is not normal at all and gives you a wide variety of wonderful harmonics and distortion characters.
2. I feel this is really important about demos. They can only lead you to a certain point, but they can never really describe the personal experience you’re gonna have interacting with the synth. That is, the creative conversation that exists when you’re giving the synth your ideas. How it reacts. What that makes you wanna do, and so forth. This particular synth is VERY fluid in regards to the process. And sonically, for the duration of the process, its continuously warm and good sounding, to my ears.
3. Regarding questions about “analog sound,” (who cares?) but yes, it has smooth transitions the rich harmonics characterized by analog in the osc and filter. it has really nice volume dynamics and low mid saturation as you start to bring in the tri and sub oscs. tonally it’s pretty diverse too, you can do all kinds of perc sounds to moogish leads to formant/phasish stuff with the notch filter. the envelopes are also pretty snappy. this is a dream synth for techno producers but also rock band keyboardists etc will like it too. im sure it will find its way into many many songs that are released in the near future.
complaints:
1. the LFO has no key trigger? kind of a bummer that it only syncs from arpeggiator. And you cannot edit the arpeggiator timing via musical notes unless the arpeggiator is on. This seems like something they could have implemented.
2. the pwm knob being loose. not really bad at all but just enough to get under my skin. oh well. one day i’ll call it a birthmark after many long and happy collaborations w this synth. 🙂
should i post an unboxing video shot on the ipad (soon to be 2nd osc for minibrute ;-))?
Ok I’ve detected some more flaws by the way. There is an lfo sync to arpeggiator feature. But it drifts very much rendering it relatively useless…….Also the lfo amp mod causes the volume get VERY loud……maybe enough to blow up some speakers. And not having a gate on the lfo i already mentioned…..Awesome synth so far but its got its bugs….
p.s. the signal-noise ratio on the minibrute is extremely good.
note to self: RTFM
the lfo can be synced from a software config page!
hi folks,
i´ve got the same “loudness problem” with the amp-lfo if it´s opened.
beside this the amp lfo is also playing (a bit quieter) if there is no note coming in.
hmm…
does anybody has a solution for this?
or would it be possible to solve this with a firmware-update?
apart from this it´s an awesome synth!
cheers, choslin
Hey – the Minibrute’s LFO does actually have key trigger – this is accessed via the editor available here: http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products/minibrute/resources.html
If anyone here has a MiniBrute – please ensure the firmware is up to date (download the editor above to get this) – this adds time divisions to the sync’d arpeggiator (something I should have mentioned in the above vid really!).
Cheers – Alex @ Source
Same here. My ENV knob is loose. Looks like this is going to be a big enough issue that it might be beneficial for us to all contact Arturia.
Arturia in my experience are very very strong on the software side, but seem to cut corners when it comes to the quality of their hardware (probably as a means of controlling cost). I haven’t had a chance to play with the minibrute but I’d be interested in seeing if it has the same quality issues as their other series.
To their credit though I have to say that arturia’s customer support have always been absolutely awesome to work with!
hmm, i think i will wait a while…
Yeah, I can wait to pick one up on ebay.
By design, the PWM Env Amt knob is different from others, so it ineluctably has a different feeling. However it is as reliable as others, unless you use an hydraulic press to move the knobs. To say it other way: it is not a bug, but a feature.
By the way, proud owners shall make sure to update their beast firmware to gain better MIDI sync:
==> http://www.arturia.com/products/minibruteconnection
Wish deep oscillations with the MiniBrute!
Antoine@Arturia.
The PWM ENV Amt is different type than other pots, so it has different touch. However it is as reliable as other ones, unless you apply excessive brutality to the knobs. To say it differently, it is not a bug but a feature.
By the way, proud first owners shall update their beast firmware to gain better MIDI sync: http://www.arturia.com/products/minibruteconnection
Wish you deep oscillations with the MiniBrute!
Antoine@Arturia.
I played with one at Guitar Center yesterday (their only one, apparently) and if I didn’t already have a Little Phatty and Evolver (not to mention my Matrix 6R) I would have happily paid $500 for it then and there. I was a little surprised by how “bare” the switches seemed and the keyboard feels a little flimsy, but aftertouch is a killer feature (and not on the LP) and its size and price are perfect for it to stealthily work its way into many project studios.
I guess I’m in line for the second batch on back-order till October. I have a feeling that at the 395 USD I paid, this synth will be worth every penny and the wait. I don’t mean to be that guy, but I think Moog Music along with a few others (DSI, SE, etc.) needs to take note of Arturia on thi
I guess I’m in line for the second batch of Minibrutes due out in October. At 395 USD (w/JRRshops 21% Arturia promotion), I have a feeling that this synth will be worth every penny and the wait. In addition, I hate to be “that guy” but I think Moog Music and a few others (DSI, SE, etc.) need to take note of what Arturia did here with the Minibrute (regarding features and pricepoint). I bet this monosynth is going to be a real winner and I sincerely wish Arturia the best.