Arturia V Collection X first look review: Acid V, MiniFreak, CP-70, and more

Arturia V Collection X bundles 39 synthesizers and virtual instrument plugins, including the new Acid V, MiniFreak V, CP-70 V, and more.

Arturia’s portfolio of plugins grows every year. This includes synthesizers, classic virtual instruments, effects, and mixing/mastering plugins. In their V and FX Collections, the French developers bundle their plugins at an attractive price. 

The V Collection celebrates a round anniversary today with the new version X. After the release of VC9 at Superbooth 22, version 10 is ready to conquer the DAWs worldwide.

Arturia V Collection X

Arturia continues its popular synthesizer and virtual instrument bundle with the V Collection X. Like the last editions, number 10 features many new instruments, updates, and sounds. 

In VCX, the bundle grew to 39 plugins, including all plugins known from the V Collection 9: Emulation II V, OB-Xa V, JUN-6 V, Buchla Easel V, Matrix-12 V, ARP2600 V, Modular V, Synthi V, CZ V, and many more.

There are also new additions: six new plugins (ACID V, MiniFreak V, CP-70V, three new Augmented titles (Brass, Grand Piano, Woodwinds), two remakes (Mini V, Wurli V), and three exclusive expansions with new sounds.

If you take it exactly, it is a single new plugin (CP-70 V). The others (MiniFreak, ACID V) have been on the market for a while, and the Augmented titles use the same instrument engine as the previous Augmented plugins, only embedded with other sound content.

Let’s take a closer look at the new instruments and changes. 

Acid V

The first new addition is the Acid V, initially introduced in August 2023. It’s a supercharged, still authentic emulation of the legendary Roland TB-303 with a multi-algorithm distortion, built-in modulation, and more. You can find a detailed overview of the ACID V plugin in the dedicated article. 

A highlight of the ACID V is the advanced engine part that allows you to take the TB-303 sound far beyond the original hardware. This comes with a creative, modern sequencer, three flexible modulators, and a rich 4-slot multi-FX processor with 17 automatable effects.

It’s a complete package that makes a lot of fun. Classic TB-303 sounds but also spaced-out, crazy soundscapes are possible. I can’t say how close the ACID V comes to an original TB-303. Simple because I don’t have an original device to draw any conclusion. It’s authentic enough for me and gives me 303 vibes.

MiniFreak V

The MiniFreak V in the V Collection X. That’s a little surprise. Once only available exclusively with the hardware, the MiniFreak V was released in January 2023 as a standalone plugin for everyone. Now also in the V Collection. This would not have been the case 2-3 years ago.

With the Augmented Series, Arturia broke the vintage focus of the VC and added modern classical instruments for the first time. The MiniFreak V is now a further step towards a hybrid bundle of vintage-inspired and modern instruments. 

I think I don’t need to say much about what the MiniFreak V is. It is the virtual version of the MiniFreak polyphonic hardware hybrid macro oscillator Synthesizer. It has the same features, including all macro oscillator algorithms, an Oberheim filter emulation, and more.

With version 2.0, the MiniFreak V engine also got a boost with the new wavetable algorithm and super unison FX. All the details can be found in the dedicated article. My highlight here is the Super Unison FX, which makes the sounds wide and fat. 

The digital version is perfect for exploring the MiniFreak’s fascinating engine without going all-in with the hardware. In addition to the price, the plugin has another advantage. You can load several instances into your DAW, each with different settings and sounds. Not possible with the hardware. 

CP-70 V 

The third newcomer is probably the plugin with which I can identify less. It is a new electric piano, more precisely, an emulation of the Yamaha CP-70 from 1976. The CP-70V is Arturia’s take on this iconic electric piano from the 70s. 

Unlike AAS or Pianoteq, Arturia uses a mix of samples and circuit modeling for its electric piano emulations. They captured the raw sound of the CP-70 and modeled its model output stage, preamps, EQ, and tremolo circuits.

You can adjust the character with six front-panel parameters: the volume, the EQ with bass, middle, and treble, and the tremolo with depth and speed amounts. 

They didn’t stop here. They also added an advanced mode with more in-depth functionality, including full control over the velocity curve, the tuning, the AR envelope of the samples, and output characteristics, including the noise level.

Plus, you have a full-featured pedal rig with five slots, 13 effects, and a convolution reverb. They include a reverb, delays, distortion, chorus, and more. Perfect for refining your sounds. 

I can’t say how close or authentic Arturia’s CP-70 emulation is because I neither own an original nor have I played one. It sounds, however, like a solid electric piano to me. It’s not groundbreaking, but a nice-looking and sounding virtual instrument.

Augmented Brass, Grand Piano & Woodwinds

Then, the Augmented instrument continues. A series of virtual instruments for which Arturia has broken tradition with its V Collection. These are not emulations but hybrid virtual instruments that combine multi-sampled acoustic sounds with various synthesis techniques.

For this purpose, Arturia has developed an engine that consists of building blocks from various other synthesizer plugins, including virtual analog and granular synthesis bits from Pigments and more. A bit like Kontakt à la Arturia.

After Strings and Voices in VC9, three new Augmented titles premiere in the V Collection X: Brass, Grand Piano, and Woodwinds.

All three new instruments feature the same sound engine. They only differ in the sound content. The possibility of blending traditional acoustic sounds with synthesis is exciting here. You can create very dense epic cinematic sounds. 

The instruments each offer two interfaces. The simple one where you can easily morph between sounds. Highly recommended for players as you can quickly get new, inspiring sounds. In Advanced mode you can go all-in and modify the sounds and create new ones using the built-in sample content and available synthesis. 

As a downer, you can’t import your own samples. It’s more a rompler” style workflow. Hopefully, multi-sample support will also come to Pigments. That would be a big thing. All in all, three powerful hybrid instruments offering a unique take on sample-based acoustic instruments. 

Mini V 4

Two classics from the V Collection have also been completely renewed.

Firstly, Arturia’s popular Minimoog plugin, the Mini V, has received a complete remake. Don’t worry. It’s still a Minimoog, but it has a lot of new goodies. It starts with a new, high-resolution, scalable interface with a new preset browser, macro controls, and built-in tutorials.

Then, it comes with a brand-new audio engine that upgrades the quality of the oscillators, mixer, filter, envelopes, and feedback loop. I can confirm that. Compared to the Mini V 3, the new version sounds significantly richer and fuller.

Polyphony is also part again of the new audio engine, turning the Mini V into a 6-voice polyphonic Minimoog emulation. Polymoog vibes are in the air.

Besides this, you can dial vintage fluctuations with a dedicated knob. It emulates the behavior of vintage synths, where the behavior of individual oscillators, filters, and envelopes vary from voice to voice. This makes the engine more wobbly and organic.

Interestingly, the advanced panel has been stripped back to be closer to the original. But there are still a lot of tools that are available with just a few clicks. On the modulation side, you get two new modulators  (envelope, LFO, or function generator) and customizable expressivity with velocity, aftertouch, and more. 

There is also a flexible arpeggiator with various modes and a repeater. Further, you can refine your Minimoogesque sounds with a new multi-effects processor with three slots featuring 17 effects. 

I’m not going to make a fuss about which Minimoog emulation is the best. But I can say that Arturia’s Mini has significantly improved in quality. The overall synth sounds rounder and more powerful. It has notably improved in the bottom area. It has beautiful new inspiring presets that cover both the all-time classic basses and leads and also the crazier side of it. 

Wurli V 3.0

Arturia also gave its virtual Wurlitzer (Wurli V) a solid makeover. This includes a new high-definition, scalable interface with a new hardware view and features like the new Mini V.

Then, they updated the physical modeling part of the Wurli V, including a new circuit-modeled output stage, making it more authentic and close to the original, says Arturia. 

Looking closely, you’ll notice that the new Wurli V 3 has much in common with the new CP-70 V.  In the advanced mode, you craft your own Wurlitzer sound; in the new effect rack, you can finalize the sound. Just like the CP-70V, you will find a variety of stompbox-like effects and a convolution reverb.

Honestly, I didn’t notice a huge jump in sound quality here. Yes, it sounds nicer and more balanced, but the wow moment is missing. For me, it remains a solid virtual Wurlitzer with expanded sound-shaping options.

Arturia V Collection X First Look Review

With the V Collection X, Arturia’s popular bundle has entered its 10th round. Another successful release with many exciting new additions. ACID V or MiniFreak are no longer big highlights, as the plugins have been known for a few months. Both are excellent plugins. 

The CP-70V doesn’t blow me away. Okay, it’s also a very personal thing. I don’t work much with electric pianos in my music. Although I don’t work with it much, the Arturia developers did a good job. Other musicians, other opinions. I could imagine it’s super exciting for musicians to work more in pop/rock or blues/jazz music production. 

Speaking about the Augmented series. I don’t know whether they have a good place in the V Collection or whether they are more of a gap filler. They offer a lot of flexibility and come with exciting sounds. Maybe a dedicated Augmented bundle would make more sense. However, I don’t know whether this would be a best-seller or a flop.

I like the new remakes. In particular, the Minimoog emulation (Mini V 4) has received a nice sonic boost. Thanks to the new sound engine, it now sounds fuller and more analogish. The new features, including the multi-FX board, also round off the plugin well. 

The V Collection 10, aka X, is a worthy successor to the V Collection 9. Even if it doesn’t contain the mega release highlights but more of a summary of what was released in 2023, the VCX remains a fantastic bundle.

The only downside is the Augmented series, which may need its own bundle. I think it’s not the strongest V Collection update. I hope we get in future versions some new emulations of more bizarre synths like the Polivoks, Kobol, or so. 

Availability & Pricing 

Arturia V Collection X is available now for 599€.  There are also various upgrades/crossgrades available for existing customers. 

If you’re wondering, have you paid too much or not with the V Collection 9 for €279 during Black Friday? No! If you add 199€ for the update, you pay 479€ instead of 499€ or 599€. So it’s still cheaper than buying it now during the release. 

They run as a VST, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin and as a standalone application on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.

More information here: Arturia 

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