AudioThingies MicroMonsta 2: the popular French bi-timbral digital 3-oscillator Synthesizer is available again.
Things had been quiet for a long time regarding the AudioThingies developer and MicroMonsta 2 Synthesizer. There were two reasons for this.
Firstly, the developer was completely overwhelmed by MicroMonsta 2’s success, leading to long waiting lists. As a result, he was busy working through this list and getting new devices ready for shipment.
Secondly, he has now built up a stock of MicroMonsta 2 synths. Yes, the MicroMonsta 2 is now regularly available without waiting.
Since the synth is back, it’s worth mentioning again that Monstaguru also offers a free web editor for the Micromonsta 2. That’s great news, the MicroMonsta 2 is back!
Features Highlights
- 2 x 6 voices of polyphony
- 3 oscillators, 1 multimode filter, 3 envelopes, 3 LFOs, 10 modulation slots and 2 operators per voice (lag and mult)
- 12 « analog » oscillator types + 4 FM-able oscillators for OSC1
- 12 « analog » oscillator types + 8 multisampled wavetables for OSC2 and OSC3 (FM source)
- 8 filter types with FM
- Per voice and per oscillator detuning options for analog character
- Deep modulation matrix
- Delay + reverb (per program)
AudioThingies MicroMonsta 2 is available now for 318€, including French VAT.
Article from September 2021
When the new MicroMonsta 2 was released, I missed smart, modern features like scaling or chords. The developer has now added these in the new update.
Update 2.5 is out now and brings an internal MIDI keyboard with scales, chords, inversions, and chord sets. To activate/deactivate, go to the System Menu, page 13, and set the Int MIDI KBD parameter to on.
The keyboard settings are global and shared with all presets.
A small but excellent update 2.5 that shows the developers are continuing to improve. It’s available now as a free download for existing users.
Article from April 14, 2021
Excellent news from AudioThingies. The major update 2.1 is out now for the MicroMonsta 2 Synthesizer, adding plenty of new features.
Firmware 2.1 unlocks the full FM power of the synth with both more intense FM on both oscillator and filter side, allowing for more aggressive FM sounds. There is also a new oscillator-phase-reset parameter, useful for FM sounds.
It also introduces an upgrade for the filter. It now has a filter character parameter with soft, mild, hard, and mean that modifies the behavior of the resonance and self-oscillator level. The latter was available already in previous versions but hidden in the menu system.
MicroMonsta 2 now also has an individual envelope reset parameter that returns to zero when the envelope is retriggered. Another neat feature is the new MPE mode and the ability to program apreggiator patterns with up to 16 editable steps.
Other changes:
- added a second multiply operator (mult2)
- voice panning reworked with two different available pan spread modes
- chorus and simple EQ (low or hi pass) per program)
- new unipolar shapes for LFO
- second LPF delay with a higher cutoff frequency
- delay tempo sync
- VCA destination in mod modatrix.
Excellent free update for the AudioThingies MicroMonsta 2. The new firmware is out now as a free update for existing users.
Article from November 16, 2020
Analog is in trend, but digital synths should not be forgotten. Some are even insider tips. The AudioThingies MicroMonsta v1 is considered a digital highlight by many Synthesizer enthusiasts. Sonically as well as technically on a very high level, and made by a Boutique company. For a few months, I have been reporting on a possible successor to the MM2.
Now the AudioThingies MicroMonsta 2 is available, and it’s a powerful new version. Equipped with many new synthesis functions, a better overall sound, and built into a much narrower aluminum case with upgraded switches & encoders. It looks pretty.
AudioThingies MicroMonsta 2
The biggest difference from the past is the MicroMonsta 2’s engine. The AudioThingies MicroMonsta 2 is now dual-polyphonic (bi-timbral), with 6 voices per layer. Each layer features three oscillators with updated algorithms, including new FM options.
Oscillator 1 offers 12 analog-style oscillator types and 4 FM-ready types. Then, oscillator 2 and 3 also have 12 analog-style types but on top 8 multi-sampled wavetables where oscillator 3 can be an FM source.
Also, it offers drive per voice and detuning per voice/oscillator for an analog character. There is no information yet on whether it supports wavetable import. Next, it comes with 1 multimode filter per voice with cutoff and resonance controls, housing 8 FM types.
On the modulation side, it features three envelopes and three LFOs. The LFOs can be free-running, key-triggered, or per voice with an optional one-shot. So you can also use it as an additional envelope.
All modulators are operable via a straight but powerful 10-slot modulation matrix. At the end of the signal chain, it features per-timbre delay and reverb to refine your sounds.
Playability & Connections
You can play the new MicroMonta 2 in different modes. Either in monotimbral, bi-timbral, or in different combi modes including mono, stack, split, or multi. According to the developer, MPE is not yet on board, but they plan to release it as a free update.
On the backside, you have a USB port, a TRS mini 3.5mm MIDI in socket, and a main audio output. The new version doesn’t offer full MIDI, so no MIDI Out or Thru.
First Impression
AudioThingies MicroMonsta 2 is available now for 299.00€ (inc VAT). It ships with a USB 2.0 cable but without a power supply adapter.
More information here: AudioThingies
Oh? Too bad that MPE support was delayed. It was the one feature which attracted me (based on the first version being listed by Roger Linn). We definitely need more MPE support in hardware synths.
And … it’s out of stock again.
AudioThingies tries to manage the demand for it by limiting it on a stock basis per week. There will be a new amount of units on stock each week
This is a great little device that’s built like a tank and sounds great. I hope he does another drummachine in the near future.
Synth Anathomy wrote :
“Secondly, he has now built up a stock of MicroMonsta 2 synths. Yes, the MicroMonsta 2 is now regularly available without waiting.”
I’m not sure the manufacturer managed the stock wel : Yesterday (less than 24 hours after this article was written), there were already no more Miscromonsta 2 in stock ! 🙁
he is releasing new stock every week to manage well the orders 🙂
Mines arriving any day now – very excited. I had the MM1 but stupidly sold it to help fund some studio gear.
I know the MM@ will be great as it is but I am hoping the developer can add User Wavetables at some point as he did in MM1 as I loved that feature using Audioterm and miss it. A really great synth nevertheless, and fantastic value for money given its price to features/sonics ratio.