Arturia MiniFreak 3.0 is a major free firmware upgrade that introduces eight new sampler and granular engines to the hardware and software synths.
MicroFreak and MiniFreak are two synthesizers that cover almost everything in synthesis: virtual analog, FM, wavetable, physical modeling, additive, and more.
In May 2023, Arturia added even sample playback and granular synthesis to the MicroFreak—the best update for me for the jack of all trades in synthesis. The algorithms are ready for a bigger adventure one and a half years later. Arturia has just released Minifreak 3.0, a free upgrade with the same algorithms plus all new ones.
Arturia MiniFreak 3.0
So far, the MiniFreak/MiniFreak V has 22 distinct sound engines covering a wide spectrum with Mutable Instruments ports, Superwave, Karplus Strong, algorithms from Noise Engineering, and more.
With update 3.0, Arturia opens up a whole new level of sound design in the MiniFreak hardware and software. Users can play with samples in the synth for the first time, with a slight limited-time downer.
In version 3.0, you are limited to the integrated factory sample library. Arturia promised in the briefing that sample import would be a free update soon. So, no worries if you don’t find the section on how much sample time you have or where you can import samples in the plugin. It’s coming soon!
You can only load one slot with one of these new engines. The second oscillator can have one of the other 22. Thus, dual sample or granular is not possible.
Sample Playback
Samples can be easily selected using the Shift button + the type knob. Alternatively, you can dive into the sound edit menu to set the sample.
It’s time for the most exciting part of the Arturia MiniFreak 3.0 update: the eight engines, each with three tweakable parameters. “Start” is the same for every engine and sets the sample start point.
Sample is the first, and behind it is a classic sample playback engine (one-knob forward/backward) with loop and reverse functions.
The engine sounds very simple on paper but offers a lot of creative scope. Working with the loop parameter (manually or modulated) is super fun, and you get exciting micro-sampling-like effects.
7 Granular Engines
Then, it’s time to dive into the multi-colored granular sphere. Cloud Grains, Hit Grains, and Skan are already known to many. These already premiered in the MicroFreak 5.0 update in 2023. But Arturia added four all-new ones, giving you seven granular engines to explore.
Cloud Grains is a traditional granular sampler engine with density and chaos parameters. The latter is a macro parameter that adds randomization to multiple engine parameters.
Clouds Grains is a fun engine for creating rich soundscapes and textures from sample content. It also harmonizes nicely with the built-in sequencer, with which you can achieve other results.
Move on with engine 3. Hit grains is a unique clicky and percussive granular engine with a triangle envelope shape. The engine lets you create interesting stutter-like repeated sounds. Crank up the density control (timbre) to get super fast repeats.
Then, Frozen is a superfast granular engine. The high-speed factor is not made to create “Speedy Gonzales” rhythms but primarily for soundscapes and textures that sound like ice.
The high-speed collision of grains lets you create an ethereal, sustained nature in your sounds. Add a bit of “chaos” to get more life into it.
Skan is another unique approach to granular synthesis. The algorithm stretches your samples vintage-ally to archive grain textures with keyboard tracking in this method. It is difficult to explain what it does and how it sounds in words.
Tip: Add a bit of chaos to add movement to any algorithm. Chaos is a macro control that adds random modulation to various pre-mapped parameters. Arturia has set this in every engine differently.
3 More Granular Algorithms
Indeed, there are three more fascinating granular algorithms. One of them is Particles that generate hypnotic layers of random sound particles. I took a wood sample from the factory library as a test.
The engine generated a particle storm. It sounded as if the wood had been cut into small blocks, and they were randomly flying around in the stereo image. It was nuts, but it was awesome to hear what it could do with a simple wood sample.
Lick is yet another granular engine designed for percussive rhythmic sounds. It takes your sample and generates a rhythm groove you can tweak further with the three parameters. The density and random parameters are neat, letting you move your groove from a smooth grain rave to a whole grain firework.
The eighth and final engine is Raster, and yes, it’s another rhythmic granular engine. Arturia describes it in its press briefing as a gradual tempo synced engine with a fixed size. The results are beat repeat-like effects up to hypnotic, randomized rhythmic sequences.
In my exploration of the Raster algorithm, I noticed that it also loves to create textures. Crank up the values and add the internal delay and reverb, and you will have some fabulous stuttering, randomized textures. These beat repeat effects can mainly be heard on percussive samples.
Alongside these eight new fascinating engines, Arturia MiniFreak 3.0 also has better hardware/software communication. improved interface workflows and bug fixes. On top, it ships with a brand-new library of 64 presets that showcase the new engines. Here is a demo with 30 of these.
Arturia MiniFreak 3.0 Review
The new firmware 3.0 is probably one of the biggest and most sound-changing updates so far for the MiniFreak and MiniFreak V. It is a fantastic update that clearly sets Arturia’s hybrid Synthesizer apart from other hybrid synths.MiniFreak is now not only a Synthesizer but also a sampler—all without costing more—great!
All eight new engines are a lot of fun and will keep you busy throughout the Christmas holidays and beyond. The granular engines are refreshingly different from what we’ve seen. Much creative scope is taken from relatively few grains (often 50 max).
Yes, it’s a shame you can’t load your own samples. However, Arturia confirmed today that this will be added in the coming weeks, making the new engines even more tasty. This update is not a game-changer for the synth industry but for your MiniFreak.
Arturia MiniFreak 3.0 and MiniFreak V 3.0 are now free updates for existing users and can be downloaded from the official website.
More information here: Arturia
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Thomann
these sounds engines rate a real keyboard. *sigh*