Arturia PolyBrute 12 is a MASTERPIECE (Superbooth24)

I was absolutely blown away by the ‪@ArturiaOfficial‬ Polybrute 12 at this year's ‪@superboothberlin‬ . The synth is a piece of art in itself, and Lily from Arturia showcases its incredible sounds and unmatched expressiveness in this video.
I'm sorry my camera work isn't the best here (some of the shots are out of focus), but there's not much time to plan ahead for video shoots at events like Superbooth. Things don't always go as planned, which is part of the charm when filming videos like this one. It's not perfect, but I hope you'll enjoy the sounds and sights of the Arturia Polybrute 12.
Thanks to ‪@MinimalAudio‬ for sponsoring our SB24 coverage.
#superbooth

[@ethr95awd]

Vangelis would be proud

[@bpblog]

It's a crazy instrument; halfway through the video it felt like I was at a concert.

[@thejollyjoker187]

No he wouldn't. He already had a DeepMind12 AND a Hydrasynth before he passed away.

[@neoclone1]

So would Giorgio Moroder

[@GuiGabois]

@@thejollyjoker187 they are nice but nowhere near as good as this!

[@thejollyjoker187]

@@GuiGabois I sold my Polybrute last year, but I still have both my Hydrasynth and My DeepMind 12. Hm, let's see, why is that? Because the Polybrute sounded like crap, that's why.. and now, this overpriced monstrosity.. I prefer to wait until Arturia releases this keybed as controller only.

[@IrionDaRonin]

The level of expressiveness of this beauty/beast is freaking impressive!! :O

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

First time I visited your blog. Hope to see you again soon Lily. Well laid out review. I agree this being a masterpiece. And I see the screw on legs allso work on this synthesizer. Looks functional and beautiful.

[@bpblog]

Just to clarify, Lily is from Arturia - she performed in the video and is not affiliated with BPB. However, I was super impressed by the PolyBrute 12, hence the video title. :)

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

@@bpblog I expected her to be from Arturia. She has a deep knowledge of synthesizers. Tho I would not mind seeing her again reviewing other (non Arturia) products. For she did an amazing job.

[@spyrock247]

I think it’s a bit shrill sounding but very cool expressiveness

[@LyliJ]

I am really into IDM and textured sounds but I promise there are PLENTY of warm, smooth analog sounds in there. It's a good reminder that I should demo more types of sounds, thank you for your comment :)

[@spyrock247]

I’m sure it can sound warm, but the oscillators on all their synths have this cheapish sound that gets shrill in the higher registers. Still a very cool synth, that’s my only gripe with it

[@JayTheLane]

I think it's the kind of patches she demonstratedbthatbgive that impression. As it is who can afford this beast anyway? 🤔😂

[@Rhythmattica]

@@spyrock247 And remember , as it doesn't meet you criteria, many also don't meet this.

[@jamesbtex]

Wow, that is one HUGH synth! I don't think I've ever seen on that big.

[@marcbrasse747]

It even has CS80 style gills! 😁

[@deareeMusic]

almost grabbed this but it is soooooo big. need a bigger spot to house it

[@DaveChips]

It was amazing experience hearing it live... Also my kidney got scared when the pricing was mentioned 😅

[@Gardener7]

Your kidney will be fine. But it will cost an arm and a leg! 😂

[@Webzterr]

😂😂😂

[@Lainer1]

Did you update to where effects like reverb or delay can be assigned differently in a split? Say the lower half of the keyboard can play delay, but the upper half can play reverb? Or is it global and can’t change?

[@lance134679]

I think the only drawback is how big it is. But it seems to fit the category of "last synth you'll ever need", especially because of all the control options - poly aftertouch with envelope control, the XYZ pad, ribbon, matrix, etc. Good demo of the aftertouch. Thanks.

[@Steph_7d7]

If i could afford this i would, ive been an arturia enjoyer since the microbrute, which i still love, added a microfreak to my sound palette two years ago and now im ready for a centerpiece type synth to my modest setup. Ive ordered a poly d and am excited for its arrival in a couple months but its no polybrute, but it's within my budget so who am i to complain considering what other people are going through right now. The polybrute 12 is an heirloom synth and i think it sounds wonderful.

[@MadelnMachines]

So it’s exactly the same as the polybute but with polyphonic after “touch and more voices?

[@tonyhill2318]

So it's exactly the same as a normal bomb but fission instead of incendiary? Big deal

[@Webzterr]

Patch @11:00 is heavenly

[@LyliJ]

It was great meeting you!

[@bpblog]

Hey Lily, it was lovely meeting you and thanks again for the wonderful performance!

[@jadomi2076]

Thankyou

[@FortheSoulFtS]

Une superbe présentation faite par une bien belle âme. Bravo !

[@marcbrasse747]

In spite of all the wordy blurb: If it has poly AT / MIDI expression at last roll it in!

[@MKA63]

Control and expressiveness look great, but I didn't hear anything new from this synth - in fact it all sounded the same.

[@jawoody9745]

Very cool!

[@tippymay]

I came here for the comments! Whooo! JK, I appreciate all you do for my plugin fancies!

[@simoningate2056]

With all those controls and aftertouch - you are going to need more hands

[@kosmikmusa]

If you don´t have that much money to spent I strongly recomend to try Expressive E Osmose.

[@klstay]

I love the voice architecture and while there are a wide range of things it can do well some of the design decisions and their impact (on it an PB6) will never make sense to me. Morphee sharing mod source lanes. Ladder and Steiner Parker instead of 2140 and SEM. One pair of outs. Clean gain staging across the whole signal path. (Feedback on the SP with "brute factor" is NOT the same as overdriving filter mixer sources) End result is when you peel back all the expressiveness and use no effects on a well made "bread-n-butter" analog bass, keys, lead, brass/wind solo or organ sound Prophet type magic is simply not there. (Same for brass/wind sections and pads; no Oberheim type magic) It does NOT need to sound just like or even super close to a Prophet, Jupiter, or OB-X, but it needs to get a lot further into those "spaces" than it can because of those design choices IMHO. Those types of patches when well programmed do NOT sound bad on it, but they also do NOT make you sit up in your seat while a shiver goes down your spine.

[@zorglub76]

My bedroom costs half the PolyBrute 12

[@Matthewsavant]

I really do miss the big forehead ass designs of the vintage poly synths, Something about the shape fitting the sound

[@edenhunter9904]

yeah, until the new masterpiece arrives - it's not the equipment, it's what you do with it .....

[@HaroldMaude]

Too much talking

[@DadoSimicStudiostriver]

Amazingly impossible to be aquired if you are working class persona who works in factory or anyone who keep this world moving, aka 80% of planet earth.

[@ROBBYTOB777]

I don’t Like the Sound, its sounds shrill and un-musical. There is some Patina over the Sound like on Alesis Fusion.

[@augustleo7434]

Boring demo. Please feature an artist who can play keys!

[@LyliJ]

I play classical piano

[@asynchronicity]

@@LyliJLoved your demo style! You can tell you really love this instrument.

[@LyliJ]

@@asynchronicity thank you

[@Bibblebabbler]

🥱 yawnnnnn… another paper weight synth that will hold zero value

[@eclecticaro]

What? Are you Russian troll?

[@tonyhill2318]

Masterpiece indeed. Best synthesizer ever built, I think.Combining so many arturtia innovations...the matrix, the dual filters, the morphee, with this full touch and ribbon....its infinite expression

[@mpmi7588]

Dope but I wish they'd get someone to play some funk, pop, wave R&B or something else other than atmosphere, lofi, slow evolving sleep music to showcase the sound range. Everything sounded pretty much the same with the electric piano/pads and sweeping reverbs.

[@RayyMusik]

Just hopped to Andertons because Jack uses to play funky stuff on an any synth. Unfortunately, the PB12 is demoed by another guy.

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

Get Corey Henry on this.

[@Rhythmattica]

Ummm... 6 voice version... Matt Johnston Approves

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

Its a great synthesiser, but I've owned 2 Arturia synths in the past and i just dont enjoy the tonality of Arturias filters. If this synth had Sequential or Oberhiem filters I'd buy in an instant.

[@DaveBessell]

The control options are great but I am also not sure about the basic sound. The new keyboard certainly makes things a lot livelier though. Its something I would have to try in person I think before deciding if it was something I could use myself.

[@maydaygoingdown5602]

@DaveBessell Yeah, for me it's that Steiner Parker filter arturia use, it's just not a nice sounding one tonally. I found it dull and boring.

[@Mazdak1986]

My thoughts exactly. This level of control but on a Sequential or Oberheim. would be the ultimate synth.

[@earodeafchild]

Have to chime in too… The keyboard reminds me of the Osmose (which I own) but the general sound and the look of the synth is not my cup of tea! Can’t wait to pair my Osmose with my Dreadbox Murmux Adept (when it arrives) for some MPE goodness…

[@fizgak]

It's awesome but just don't need it in my arsenal either --- something about the sound rubs me the wrong way also.

[@mthomas1091]

I wish ONE synth would have Stereo Input Filters 🙏

[@PanopticMotion]

I always enjoy Lily demonstrating Arturia's products. Well done! Brilliant synth!

[@NicolasMelis]

nice

[@bpblog]

Thank you!

[@fizgak]

I think the Muse sounds better, but the PB12 sure has some amazing performance tools that I am jealous of.

[@ageshero]

It’s expensive huh lol

[@rjakiel73]

So… $4k for this. $4k for a Montage m8x. Korg Nautilus AT 88 $3k. Roland Fantom 8 $3.5k. All fully weighted beds, aftertouch (full polyphonic aftertouch on the Nautilus AT and Montage m8x, channel aftertouch on the Fantom). Infinitely more voices and all multitimbral along with sequencing, full sound creation, multiple sound engines to for incredible layering. Yeah… gonna be a hard pass on the Arturia.

[@BucF16]

You don't understand what this instrument is. Polybrute does not operate in the same space as the instruments you mention.

[@fizgak]

There's no comparing a synth like this to those workstation-style synths.

[@rjakiel73]

@@fizgak point is any of the synths I mentioned can create these sounds, infinitely more polyphony, sequencing capabilities along with countless other features.

[@jimroseberry5608]

@@rjakiel73 Nautilus 88AT does not have polyphonic aftertouch (channel aftertouch).

[@rjakiel73]

@@jimroseberry5608 I stand corrected.

[@aweidenhammer]

She is awesome. Does she have any albums.

[@LyliJ]

if you type "Lyli J" you'll find my music online ! =)

[@LyliJ]

yes if you look up 'Lyli J' I have lots of releases :)

[@ztkspace5885]

Thank you. Such a beauty. Mercy. X

[@quentin2368]

Best demo i have seen so far, and from one of the sound designers ! Bravo !

[@bpblog]

Thank you so much. Feel free to share it if you enjoyed it. :)

[@Riktenstein]

Every now and again a synth gets released when you think, I’d really really like that. Great video by the way.

[@bpblog]

Thank you so much!

[@user-nu7xx7pc1d]

cute synth and cute lady!

[@NicoHolloman]

Sounds to me like the expressiveness is amazing but the source sound of the synth is just ok. Feels like the sound has a gritty, shrill, anemic thing going on in the high end.

[@LyliJ]

I am really into IDM and textured sounds but I promise there are PLENTY of warm, smooth analog sounds in there. It's a good reminder that I should demo more types of sounds, thank you for your comment :)

[@RaymondCastile]

All that performance control and all those features, all in the service of an uninspiring sound. They can make a super duper $20K version the size of a grand piano and it still won’t be a great instrument. A $100K violin doesn’t command that price because it’s loaded with tons of features that other violins don’t have. It commands that price because of its basic sound…the sound you hear when you rub a bow along its strings. I’ve watched dozens of videos about this synth and its predecessors. I haven’t heard anything inspiring or transcendent. Instead of more bells and whistles, the company needs to invest in developing a better filter.

[@Youbadouba]

Yep the filter’s a real drawback, and i agree it’s starting to come close to a workstation than a genuine synth

[@joeyfloress1131]

I was trying to convince myself that this synth sounds bad because I don’t support Arturia’s other synths (the Drumbrute was alright), but honestly in my opinion this has the most Polyphonic Synthesizer-est sound that I can think of right now and reminds me of when I was listening to 80’s and 90’s New Age as a kid. A lot of synths I have, I feel like I’ve pushed the boundaries of them and this synth seems to have a high ceiling for pushing boundaries!

[@RaymondCastile]

@@joeyfloress1131 and that’s exactly why I can’t talk myself into buying it. I’m not hearing that sound. Maybe I need to just stick to vintage synths.

[@gabepollack8382]

So I've definitely felt this way about some other modern premium keyboard synths... the UDO series comes to mind and the Moog One also. Great instruments, amazing technically, just not inspiring to me in terms of sound. Not something I would see myself reaching for, especially, to record w/. Personally I opted for an OB-x8 and have tried out a lot of the vintage Rolands... d-50 is definitely my favorite. I think the 3rd wave has a lot of character and the prophet remakes are obviously great too. Nothing else you can get on the market really does it for me, personally. Looking farther back, the alesis andromeda and nonlinear labs c-15 are also worth a mention as really innovative (high ticket) keyboards that I think have at least a bit of character. When it came to OG polybrute, I could definitely see what you all mean. This one somehow is sounding better to me on first impression. Two things definitely stand out... the mpe compatibility and dynamic controls AND all the options for waveforms and driving feedback / fm, along with the mod matrix. I feel like the only place you could get some of these sounds up until now was the modular world... and that's actually a big deal imo, which could make it worth it for me.

[@hivatu]

aren’t those features same as in OG?

[@ieyucel]

This beauty is for rich bedroom producers 😂

[@bpblog]

Yeah the price might be a bit of an issue for most of us. :)

[@russ254]

sleep on the couch!

[@tk1ngatk1nga]

Too big.

[@ElectroPanPipes]

It's the video aspect lol. It's just slightly bigger than OG Polybrute. Mine sits above my Juno-60 and looks fine.

[@iwillnevergetone5]

@@ElectroPanPipes it's a shame people aren't used to the physical presence of legit synths anymore. i like my synths to command space. there's plenty of VST and small synth options available. i love that this new Poly12 has a big size. it looks like power to me

[@russ254]

knob per function, good

[@Test-zv9ty]

That's what she said.

[@thejollyjoker187]

When the first lie is told at 0:25 you already know how it will continue.. "Pioneer".. haha, more like "copycat" she should say. They mixed the DeepMind12 and the Hydrasynth and made this with an added 2K euros (for no reason at all) and wrapped it up in an awful design & color scheme that is reminiscent of cat vomit. On the other hand, "oh wait, I have no other hand, I sold it to buy a polybrute 12". I already feel sorry for the filthy rich fanboys that will buy this. Such a pity really, because Arturia had such an opportunity here and they blew it. And those IKEA legs..