Arturia MiniBrute Synthesizer - SonicLAB Review

Currently rare as Dodo eggs, the Minibrute is Arturia's first forray into analog synths proper - we test and enjoy
Watch Sonicstate's Exclusive Series:
Sonic LAB: bit.ly/SonicLab
Meet The Makers: bit.ly/SonicMakers
Sonicstate Performances: bit.ly/SonicPer...
Sonic TALK Podcast: bit.ly/SonicTalk
NAMM 2017: bit.ly/SonicNAM...

[@hansendesigns]

everyone's instinct is to turn the wave sliders all the way up. it is interesting to note that due to added cost of printing a red line, a halfway mark on the sliders was omitted from this synth... meaning.. 0-50% on the waveform sliders is the sweet spot and the raw harsh stuff and distortion is from 50-100%. try it :)

[@rorschach1]

This is absolutely true

[@elq999]

Solid monosynth. Comes to life with some effects. All the waveforms are really nice and the brutefactor adds some possibilities for crazy filter sounds and adds bottom end at lower settings. I am very pleased as I didn't expect it to create entire songs on its own, and 490e wasn't too much

[@JAv2305]

elq999 can you make beats with it record your ideas ? Bass lines etc ?

[@SteveSatori]

Something that wasn't mentioned in the video is that it actually has polyphonic midi out - I have a lot of fun controlling my old Yamaha PSS480 FM, running it back in to the brute, so the filter is used on top of the polyphonic FM sounds - quite good :)

[@yusynthman]

Hi Nick, thanks for the review and yes you pronounced my first name and name correctly !

[@rexterrocks]

I still love it. It was the first modern-era synth to use the Curtis 3340 Oscillator which Behringer later used in the Crave and Neutron coupled with the unusual Steiner Parker Synthacon filter, which I really like.It's also built like a tank.

[@testohtoby]

Wasn't it a bespoke discrete VCO?

[@rg7120]

You can play a "real song" (whatever that was supposed to mean) with a 2 octave keyboard, but yes, it does have MIDI so you can use a MIDI keyboard.

[@Hutchoo0]

Finally a thorough review of this intriguing instrument. This is so well designed I appreciate your enthusiasm for demonstrating its features. Reading a manual can only give you some frustration as to "what would that sound like?" and you have intuitively nailed the main guts. Secured my subscription and looking forward to other gear reviews.

[@alicksviewfinder]

Your reviews are always the best dude - thanks ;-)

[@Ramt33n]

your reviews are by far the best sir. thank you

[@RinoaL]

9:08 you've just found the Atari 2600 knob haha.

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

Yes it can sound raw and dirty but you can also get pretty mellow sounds out of it, provided you don't put the mixer sliders all the way up and use resonance and brute factor sparingly.

[@dep1001]

The Sonic LAB reviews are great! More of them please!

[@AlanHAGOSHaggarty]

Your synth reviews are the best. Well done.

[@jbscornerstore]

This guy is the MAN! This is a great channel!

[@Stof31]

"You're" ;) Thanks for the great review ! Yours is the first showing how it can be used to pilot a modular rack, I love it.

[@FernandoAb]

Best MiniBrute review I've seen so far.

[@sonicstate]

Yes, us too, sadly it arrived just days before my holiday, so I didnt have time to publish before I went.

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

nope the editor is just for parameters like aftertouch, velocity and for editing the LFO and arpeggiator, since those are digital. The audio signal chain itself is 100% analogue. The faders and knobs are simple potentiometers with no MIDI mapping, so it is impossible to export sounds or store them internally. The only way to "store" sounds is to either take a photo of your control panel, or to take one of the blank plastic overlays, put it on the panel and mark the positions of the knobs.

[@hypersphere412]

Just bought one of these and I have to say I don't regret the decision at all, a lovely instrument. I've jokingly described at as playing a MIG-21 :). A bit rough and raw, but absolutely intriguing with it's own special character.

[@sodaverde]

I bought the synth. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Good evening Unpaid Council Tax Letters, HOW ARE THEE TODAY?!!!!

[@Basimilus]

Youre my favorite kinda person.

[@francktima3473]

But did ya buy the brain with, bro ?

[@drewernest1556]

pro trick: you can watch series on Flixzone. I've been using them for watching lots of of movies lately.

[@felixjonas77]

@Drew Ernest yup, I've been using Flixzone} for months myself :D

[@intotheblue50]

I enjoyed your review here. What stood out was how bringing the modular in came a poor second in terms of widening the modulation effects to the Minibrute's own modulation, admittedly though you had little time with the modular.

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

Yes, if you put the mixer faders up just about half way. Leave the brute factor off and try to find a decent balance of cutoff and resonance. Then raise the brute factor slowly, until you reach the point just before filter breakup, that gives you a defined yet punchy sound.

[@dalecharlesphoto]

so great, thanks very much for your insights and expertise - I learn something from every review and show! - Dale in Sacramento, California

[@sonicstate]

Gaia is a poly synth with more synthesis capabilities, but not so much balls. MiniBrute is an anlog monophonic - single note synth, you cant play chords with it - very different. simillar price. depends what you want to use it for.

[@Martijnnaber]

You do the most awesome reviews!

[@michaelsalvo5720]

Anybody notice at about 11:29, the second OSC he tunes is not a fifth, it's closer to major third...

[@marshallbrooksmusic]

I was gonna say something about that, but I'm glad someone else did.

[@sonicstate]

I believe so, it certainly outputs it over CV so I should expect it to be the same for MIDI. Sadly I no longer have the review unit here, so I cant check.

[@Symmetry77]

Worth watching till the end for that last tune

[@suitandtieguy]

thanks for demonstrating this with the modular right out of the gate. when i saw this thing at NAMM i just about had to change my pants. i think it's going to be a very good thing for the modular scene.

[@RandomProductionszsz]

This video is vintage as f*** ! They way he says 'ANALOGUE!' in combination with the almost soap-like video quality make it that.

[@SendyTheEndless]

On a single oscillator synth? I think the lack of memories was a masterstroke. They're forcing the world to become better synthesists :)

[@henrydarger]

Great review as always. Got me pumped to go jam on my 700 and 700S!

[@jbachman01]

Funny to see this almost 10 years later. We really didn't know what Arturia was about to do to the game!

[@sonicstate]

Messy studio will make a return at some point Bill, I was in a rush so had to use the simplest setup

[@yusynthman]

Hi , as a matter of fact you can the arpeggiator into a limited step sequencer, for this you must use the configuration software (available on Arturia's site) by selecting the option Hold for the Arpeggiator, this way the arpeggiator plays the notes in the order they were entered (up to 16 notes I think). For the Polychain it will be probably available in a future release of the firmware which assigns the keys to MIDI out.

[@migueldoliveiracomposer]

This guy's demos are absolutely brilliant and a joy to watch. If he reviewed politicians no one would turn up to vote.

[@360Freakoutkid]

Run the Pitch out and gate from the Minibrute into the minitaur then run the minatur's audio into the minibrute's audio in. Then set the input to audio and then you should be able to filter both with one knob.

[@Goettel]

You need to specify what aspects are important to you: patch memories, one or two oscillators, a sequencer, what-you-see-is-what-you-get vs. 'hidden' functions, modulation possibilities etc.. And of cource, most importantly, how you like the sound. To me the Minibrute's sound is more easiliy identifiable, I love its directness, but its modulation is pretty basic compared to the BS2, which has an entirely different sound, stuff like (basic) filter FM and a nice sequencer.

[@AdnanAlsannaa]

It's funny how it costs $320 now on amazon. I'm tempted

[@austinbru]

I picked one up used for $180 on craigslist. Best 180 I've spent

[@fuzzupuzzu]

lucky bastards... i payed full price for it.... love the synth tho

[@tinfoilhatlover3660]

@@austinbru i cant imagine what is the worst 180$ yiuvespend. Ylthis shit is literally shit.

[@gnarlysoundscapes7210]

I have one of these. Killer synth, especially if you're into rough gritty sounds. If you plug the headphone out into the external audio in, it gets downright gnarly. But it can make soft and soothing sounds as well.

[@els1f]

Nice review! Answered all my ?'s and a few I hadn't thought of.

[@meldianen]

Too bad ! Availability over here not expected before the end of august...But this synth sounds so great that I'm gonna wait a while ! Anyway thanks for the review, very good and interesting as usual !

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

The lack of fader mapping was one of the major points of lowering the production cost. The synth has midi and usb connectivity but the usb is mainly for programming the arp and setting velocity sensitivity. LFO and arp are digital so they can be upgraded if need be. I guess you must have confused with another brand. AFAIK the mopho has an editor/librarian software that allows you to export and import sounds.

[@obd]

Good review, fun with the modular interaction. thanks!

[@alphavoyager]

I'm very happy with mine. It does incredibly a lot for a small monosynth. I find the filter really nice (I've always somehow preffered 12db filters as they don't eat the low end when you boost the resonance). I only have three gripes: 1. the LFO to PITCH knob is not calibrated well as imediately when you move it it's already too much, so it's impossible to set up a subtle pitch modulation. 2. the keys suck and are too wide, but there you go for such price 3. the range is limited at the upper end. I'd love to get another octave. That said, it's an amazing little synth and I bought it after auditioning Little Phatty, Sub Phatty, Voyager, and Pulse 2. While Moogs left me completely cold, and while Pulse 2 was really nice soundwise (didn't like the interface), the Minibrute gave me the best interface and the sound that clicks with me. Right after turning it on in the shop I went: "Yeah! This is it!" It's a definitive keeper and I'm really thinking of buying another.

[@constantinroman2045]

ALPHAVOYAGER regarding problem 1: i found out the other day that you can get much finer control over the LFO if you assign it to the mod wheel. i set the pitch to maybe 1 notch left or right from center, and that's the maximum amount the mod wheel sees. so turning it only goes from zero to that notch. it's not an ideal situation (i much prefer having the cutoff on the mod wheel), but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@synesthetica]

Constantin Roman That is a workaround, yes, but I think I'll simply mod it, because it is annoying.

[@constantinroman2045]

Rok Koritnik excellent solution, if you're handy with a soldering iron (which i'm not) and not lazy (which i am)

[@OONought]

+ALPHAVOYAGER the keys are too what? wait! What? WHAT? (lol) All you see on some other vids about other synths is awwww minikeys or awww slim keys. first time i've ever seen someone not happy with bigger keys.lo. i'm not a kb player so keys are just buttons to me.

[@synesthetica]

+OONought I disslike minikeys. But the keys on Minibrute feel clumsy due to their light response (especially the black keys) and the width of the white keys. Compared to the excellent keybed on my Yamaha DX7 they are one millimeter wider and very flat and believe it or not, it is quite noticeable and I dislike it. My perfect keys would be just a tad shorter and thinner than that of DX7. If my memory serves me well, the keys on Waldorf Blofeld are perfect for my taste.

[@keybern6457]

if you don't know the difference, try first experimenting with some free softsynths on your computer. Synth1, Tal-u-no-62, Tal-Bassline, etc. If you're using an onboard sound card, asio4all also might be recommended. (to minimize any sound lagging) It will give you a basic idea about subtractive synthesis and what's it all about. Don't rush into it. Let it slowly sink in.

[@adamborseti5515]

I love him. He just tells it like it is; doesn't dress anything up....

[@sonicstate]

No, your absolutely right there, my bad - sorry for the misinformation.

[@Frozen_Smoke1972]

I bought the MiniBrute - it's a thing of beauty!

[@vorgan100]

I held thirty of these yesterday. They are quite awesome.

[@DeyquanBowens]

the minibrute is thick and heavy! youtube audio quality makes it sound a little thin! this is a board to get for synth bass, and synth stuff!

[@migueldoliveiracomposer]

I've tried the Minibrute side by side with the MS-20 and, although I'd like to own both, I think the Minibrute wins hands down. I've had mine for a while and am still having fun with it. Also, its pretty sturdy, save for the metal plates glued under the keys which I had to re-glue on the first week.

[@peecee2000]

These are on special offer now at £299 in the UK.

[@bunksrevenge4489]

*taking screenshots to steal your sounds* proud owner - only here for tips and tricks to know it better

[@360Freakoutkid]

I'm not an expert, but i read on the Moog forums that people were interested in controlling both the Minitaur and the minibrute to emulate a little phatty.

[@IepsyI]

What a great review!

[@meedily]

This guy can make skydiving look as fun as folding laundry.

[@RLreedyProductions]

Not to rub it in, but I got mine (in August). It's great for someone like myself that is still learning about synthesis. And it is a sweet little synth!

[@Stof31]

Bravo et merci Yves (et Arturia) pour cette super machine ... Maintenant il ne reste plus qu'à attendre de pouvoir mettre la main dessus. :)

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

Sorry, I just realized that i phrased this a little confusingly. A synth can of course have an anlogue signal chain and still have digital controls that enable storing presets, like eg. the old juno 60 and 106 (I personally own a j6 without the patch memory). My point was that the Arturia is a very simple construction, like an ms 20 with simple direct potentiometers. Analogues with patch memory have a more complex circuitry, since the fader values have to be mapped, and the MB doesn't have that.

[@sylverbill8162]

I keep comming to this vid everytime i feel my Mini brute is collecting dust. Minibrute is a powerful instrument. Combined with effect pedals and your in for a ride. For a budget try the Zoom Ms-70. It will blow you away ;)

[@umusachi]

Great review. Comprehensive as always. I own one and love it :)

[@oscarwylder]

Good honest review . Thanks.

[@coldwar1977]

I have both and I think the Minibrute is MUCH more fun and sounds better!

[@openchallenge]

Thanks! I wasn't immediately worried but my city is not the wired type. When I go out for midi cables I wipe the city out. I live in a coastal town in nc. My nearest bastion is the Moog factory. I'm from Detroit and I feel the need to be self sufficient here.

[@sonicstate]

Well there is already inso far as you can set the velocity curves, aftertouch and MIDI channels that kind of thing, but as for an editor for sounds, I would think not - thats why its got knobs on...

[@TheDegart]

We can change aftertouch curve , velocity curve, legato mode via miniBruteEditor

[@TRADESMAN-xt4ce]

best reviewer on the web

[@Synthematix]

I love this little synth, it has massive sound and is cheaper than the moog minitaur

[@jasoncorganbrown]

This has so many more features that the new Moog Sub Phatty... for almost half the price! I can't believe the new Moog doesn't have CV Outs.

[@yusynthman]

Hi SouthernTraxYT Thanks for your kind words; Concerning the sequence/arpeggiator feature I had the chance to have one a test machine at home last week end and I made two sound demos using this function. In these demo I tried to cover a field that is generally not covered in other demos or videos ;values the MiniBrute is able in also producing sweet and warm analogue sound. You can here these two demos (sorry for my lousy musical skill in these songs) here : soundcloud(dot)com(slash)yusynth

[@RLreedyProductions]

I do feel lucky. And I also feel bad for everyone that ordered around the same time I did, yet still hasn't received their minibrute. I guess Arturia has been tedious in hopes of avoiding a disaster in their new venture.

[@Frozen_Smoke1972]

Thanks for your reply. I think I might be swinging in the direction of the MiniBrute now, if only for ease of transportation for gigging etc. I really need to get in a room with both of them and have a play about. Not much chance of that happening for another few weeks though so I might just throw caution to the wind and buy one of these.

[@decaystar]

My opinion about Minibrute: I like this synth very much and I want to buy this, when it come to my local musicstore. ;) It misses some features that would have made it - the headlight: - It should have memory, so you don’t have to carry patchsheets around. - They gave it an arpeggiator but why not also a sequencer similar to Roland sh-101? - Would have been nice with an option to make it poly.

[@coldwar1977]

funny you mention the bass station... that one sounds to me in ALL videos like a 90's VA synth.

[@astroboomboy]

Well, if you want to store your presets for live playing then you should get the Mopho. In terms of sound they are not so different in my opinion, both are raw and gritty. If you want to have a more mellow and round sound I would suggest you get a moog.

[@y34r]

have to buy korg krome for my regular gigs...but this little beast sounds so great.

[@yusynthman]

Hi Openchallenge I don't think you'll need to recalibrate your MiniBrute when it comes from the factory, Anyway I think that Arturia will make available all the information for V/OCT and tune calibration. I know that Arturia intends to provide a dedicated web site for moding and hacking the MiniBrute.

[@openchallenge]

Also the sweetwater sound review has a bit more lead focus with work arounds like an electro harmonix ring thing (adds course detune) or just buying two since they are inexpensive.

[@verve92]

To all the whiners about the lateness, you must not know too much. What? Do you want to be shipped one that bugs haven't been worked out and quality controlled? They stated from scratch on this one. They cry like girls about "no analog" and when this brilliant unit comes out, you cry that you have to wait. Grow up! Nick did a great job as usual and seemed happy as a lark! I was late in pre-ordering so, I'm looking for a long wait, but I have my Dave Smith MEK to keep me busy!

[@gepardek]

Yes. It looks like that Novation fitted their synth for those who couldn't decide :)

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

I wouldn't say that. the MB is a powerful little monosynth, but the GAIA can do expansive polyphonic pad sounds you can never achieve with another synth in this price range. The MB is very good for punchy basslines and screaming leads and given the right dosage of filter it sounds almost as beautiful as my 1974 minikorg 700s, but it can't do complex polyphonic pads- that's my GAIA's job

[@Jasonweckard]

i'm sold

[@freeheelfreestyler]

Now we need a full-size, polyphonic Arturia Brute.

[@martinofenzi858]

the knobs on my minibrute are absolutely still and reliable, so can be said for fader and switches etc.

[@meldianen]

Great little synth with some good stuff under the hood ! And it is build over here, what makes me proud ! Anyway, you can faound it for a little more than 400 £ in France.

[@maxsolomonhenry]

synth metal?

[@jasoncorganbrown]

That's true. I need to try one in person.

[@glitchunicorn]

awesome thanks for the review!!

[@openchallenge]

The modern analogist has classic fifth leads all over their desk. If they are buying the most obvious stuff that's covered. There is an incredible amount of room for something different.

[@dalecharlesphoto]

Great review Nick, really appreciate all your hard work on all the reviews and interviews. Question - can I play the mini-brute manually while using the the CV Gate out via it's arpeggiator to trigger my SH-101? thanks so much.

[@heavymaskinen]

Might be worth considering the Keyboard-version of Mopho over this. Aftertouch AND Velocity-sensitive... I have tried the Minibrute and it sounds pretty cool, once you get the hang on the faders (the value seem to increase exponentially).

[@promodcon.989]

I use reason 7 and an zoom R16, recorded brute from a reason midi out patern, with all my other gear. Reason 7 midi out has proven to be very easy to use and set up. Allso ive had my brute set up with cv/gate no probs with an analogue sequencer (mode machines x0xb0x 2) if you want to avoid DAW's. Recomended synth though i'm on my second, the 1st f'ed up in the 1st week, 2nd one is holding up, and i'm getting some realy nice sounding stuff from it, not just mean brutality!!

[@yusynthman]

I am sorry Bill but from day 1 (january 18th) the only date published on Arturia's site was April 2012. Dates like february were never given by Arturia, you can check all the NAMM videos all the Arturia's demonstrators say April. I understand you feel frustrated by the fact that retailers promised you something else but facts are facts. The official initial release date was April 2012.

[@weaponEX]

1/8" I do beg your pardon And it's for performing live dubstep (if that influences your decision whether to reply!)

[@yusynthman]

Wrong, You are making a confusion between retailers and Arturia. Arturia never promised dates of Feb 2012, at NAMM it was clearly announced for late April 2012. They are late I agree but not to the extent you claim.

[@darksideothetune]

Doepfer Dark Energy is similar in price and options and much smaller. I love mine!

[@openchallenge]

How dare this video not show up in my subscription page? I ended up finding it on matrix synth. I put in an order and have been waiting so long for this synth. I was hoping that was an actual production copy. Has it hit retail in europe?

[@dethbyspud]

MB is better if you want to create sounds from scratch or really immerse yourself in learning how a "real" synth works. A BS2 is better if you prefer to work with presets to come up with idea's and tweak from there. It all depends how YOU like to work. The MB does have a better sound, but will take more time to get the best out of it. If you do learn how to use an MB, you will be better understand using any synth. Get both, if you can afford it!!

[@derekdj6790]

haha love this man, guess its his accent and his humbleness