Arturia Polybrute vs Matrixbrute the "did you need both?" review

Here is my Arturia Polybrute vs Arturia Matrixbrute "did you need both" review or better call it "movie". With a little help from Arturia's Drumbrute Impact.
www.arturia.com/products/hard...
www.arturia.com/products/hard...
www.arturia.com/products/hard...
www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/A...
www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/A...
www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/A...
00:00:00​ Intro
00:00:30​ Title Track
00:01:14​ Epilogue
00:03:41​ Sound Demos
00:15:52 Overview Matrixbrute & Polybrute
00:19:26 VCO´s
00:28:54 Mixer
00:30:54 VCF´s
00:44:01 Envelopes
00:49:53 LFO´s
01:01:48 EFX´s
01:06:03 Arpeggio & Sequencer
01:09:07 Audio Mod & Filter FM
01:15:09 Miscellaneous
01:20:23 Conclusion
01:23:21 Outro
Thanks to my wife for this lovely gift :-)
Used Equipment: Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 7S Plus, Sony ZV-1, Sony HDR-CX625, Universal Audio Apollo Twin Solo, Steinberg Cubase 11 and Apple iMovie
The Intro and Outro was made with Polybrute, Matrixbrute & Drumbrute Impact

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

You absolutely need both, along with 7 drum machines and 14 reverb pedals.

[@SynthgodXXX]

I am seriously considering buying the Polybrute to go with my Matrixbrute! I love the Matrixbrute so much! Great video!

[@knobsswitches]

I think you won’t regret it ;-)

[@paulonuneesx]

Excellent knowledge, thank you very much for sharing with us!

[@pedrogomis]

keep both is the recommendation as I do. Thank you for this great review

[@knobsswitches]

I’m glad that you like it!

[@hilarymockewich5588]

This is the only real comparison I could find on the internet. Thankyou for the comparison.

[@knobsswitches]

Glad you like it!

[@rainbowmade1880]

Super helpful breakdown and comparison!!!!!

[@knobsswitches]

Thank you very much! Glad that find it helpful!

[@SeverityOne]

What I like about your videos is that you take ample time, yet it doesn't get unnecessarily drawn out. I think I've actually seen this one before, but there's so much in it, that it warrants another view. And a third view for the video about the Waldorf STVC...

[@knobsswitches]

Thank you very much. i'm already trying to explain most of the details and to entertain at the same time. Glad if it works

[@synkuk]

Excellent work, thankyou!

[@mick3950]

We need both ,nothing less will do,great video.

[@Digiphex]

What a lovely kitten.

[@kvmoore1]

Thanks for this wonderful demo and superb explanation of these synths. I also have both and I totally agree with you. While they look similar, they are very different in many ways both in architecture and sound. They compliment each other very nicely.

[@kvmoore1]

@@Synthpunk123 HI, Synthpunk!

[@AdrianDantas]

Thanks for your review!

[@knobsswitches]

My pleasure!

[@podespault]

Respect for Mr Oizo's Flat Beat cover ❤

[@knobsswitches]

Thanks a lot, but it´s a preset sound ;-)

[@kierenmoore3236]

Yeah, that was cool. ☺️😎👍🏼

[@odalv7278]

amazing video, thanks

[@knobsswitches]

Thanks a lot!

[@criddyla696]

nice tunes sir, like your style, great vid overall too, made me turn on my Polybrute and play..... sub

[@roblewis5044]

"When machines rock", and "man"! You made these beautiful synthesisers sing, many thanks to you for making this video, really enjoyed.

[@knobsswitches]

Thank you very much. Glad you like it ;-)

[@KGBookkeeping]

Great video! Great conclusion; I agree keep ‘em both

[@mathaze9122]

the mr oizo part !!!😍

[@gordonfinne1437]

Respect! Such a long video just to convince your wife why you need to keep both ;) Joking aside, nice thorough video. Much appreciated

[@Jusquaquant]

J’aime beaucoup tes sons 👍 Merci

[@knobsswitches]

merci beaucoup!

[@servicecatchers3190]

Super,Thank you guru

[@knobsswitches]

Glad, you like it. Spread the word ;-)

[@joaquinosiri6518]

I have both, love them lots.. Got the prophet xl and iridium and a synth that blew my mind was the vector... And of course the hydrasynth goes hard

[@kierenmoore3236]

Vector?! What’s that? 🤔 The Prophet VS ?

[@KiR_3d]

Hello! Wonderful demos! What is the 8:30 composition? I think I've heard it somewhere...

[@awpMusic1]

Great video - and music - I have both too and will not be parting with either!

[@knobsswitches]

There is nothing to add! 😀

[@rainbowmade1880]

Great music. Getting a Polybrute soon..

[@knobsswitches]

Congrats. Good choice

[@lsdfun]

I must have both, I'm in love.

[@knobsswitches]

Go for it!

[@100haymaker]

Fantastic comparison. Was going to sell one of these towards buying a 3rd Wave but finding it very hard to justify selling either one. Matrixbrute is a classic monophonic with a great paraphonic mode. Polybrute a great polyphonic. Thinner but you got the best out of it. Thanks again.👍

[@kierenmoore3236]

PB does have a much thinner sound, right?

[@zweiundneunziger3484]

Was für geile Musik am Anfang von Dir!

[@knobsswitches]

Dankeschön! Meinst Du den Intro Track?

[@zweiundneunziger3484]

Ich meine deine Sound Demos. Sehr cool. Würde dich gerne unterstützen und deine Musik kaufen- also sofern du sie überhaupt verkaufst!

[@knobsswitches]

@@zweiundneunziger3484 das ist sehr nett von dir. danke. ich denke das es momentan noch zu früh ist für Patreon, etc...später, wenn es mehr subscriber gibt werde ich das vielleicht mal angehen. sample packs, song download, etc... mal sehen. wenn dir mein sound gefällt kannst du dir ja mal meinen letzten release von 2017 anhören auf meshwork music. das Projekt nennt sich Ferrochrome: www.meshwork-music.com/project/ferrochrome/ vielleicht ist das ja etwas für dich.

[@zweiundneunziger3484]

Wird gemacht, vielen Dank für den Link. :)

[@rickhopkinson]

Hi :-) great comparison video with plenty of detail... Please can I ask if the Polybrute's sequencer is able to do free time recording or is it quantised? My korg minilogue doesn't have a free time option and is a bit frustrating as I have to keep recording to get it right, and I like to not be too rigid to quantised sequences... sounds less human

[@knobsswitches]

The way I see it, you always have a grid through the time division. so no free run

[@rickhopkinson]

@@knobsswitches Ok thank you :-)

[@troublesomecorsair]

Impressive! It's like a MonoPoly atop a PolySix or a Pro 3 above a Take 5 or a Matriarch beneath a Grandmother maybe an Argon8 with a Cobalt8X below possibly Memorymoog with the One

[@kierenmoore3236]

Except these siund nothing like any of those synths. ☺️

[@klstay]

The ability to use the LFOs as simple 1 shot EGs giving fully articulated multi-timbrality elevates matrixbrute above other mono/para synths. Though also a wonderful design some pads and chord progressions patches with long releases could be a problem on polybrute. Unless a bag o' coin dropped on me if buying a poly and a mono I would certainly agonize over it, but then probably get something with more voices. (If that bag were large enough I would get all three...)

[@user-cq1zh6rd6d]

... I see a ¡¡¡Schmidt!!! behind the Arturia Matrixbrute ... ... A review of the Schmidt would be very interesting ...

[@knobsswitches]

Yes, it´s on my timeline for 2022 and still in work. But first the 2600m-review will come soon

[@lifelies]

Thank you VERY MUCH for such comparison. Honestly, the best - I went other way, having Polybrute for 2 years and producing music almost Everyday (Lifelies is my project) Polybrute is my master sound maker. 3 days ago I went to my local music shop to get Waldorf Iridium Keyboard. But I wasn’t happy with the sound even I have Waldorf Streichfett and Blofeld while playing on them daily. Next to Iridium there was Maxibrute Noir - after few notes and VCO moves I felt in love. So I went home and found your video. Yea, also using Arturia Drumbrute Imact, Microfreak and Digitakt so I believed you. Also as you played some patches I even found something I was missing on Polybrute. So Today I finally got Matrixbrute and YES - tempted immediately - 2hrs of instant enjoyment. Yea, both Polybrute and Matrixbrute are the best ever synths so thanks again for helping me to get it :)

[@knobsswitches]

My pleasure. Both brutes are superb synths but the Matrixbrute is a kind of raw and edgy which the Polybrute lacks a bit

[@lifelies]

@@knobsswitches yep, Maxibrute is like techno machine & hardcore synth with really raw elements while Polybrute is singing beauty for existing sounds. Both are Stars of different World

[@joaquinosiri6518]

We have the same synths, but you should seriously check out vector... Bought it and had hopes it was great, but it blew my mind...

[@kierenmoore3236]

Vector? 🤔🙃

[@knobsswitches]

I‘m happy when my video helped you with your decision

[@xdrabbit]

Cool music!

[@knobsswitches]

Thanks a lot!

[@samprock]

At that time my decision was special edition of Subsequent 37CV, when MatrixBute was in parallel. Never regret. When piggy bank populated PolyBrute came along….. though Neon Lights are so so luring :) cool jamms!!!

[@knobsswitches]

the Subsequent37 is defnitely a very good competitor. good choice. thanks!

[@Screaming-Trees]

So the answer is?? You need both? I have to admit I am tempted by the MatrixBrute Noir. Hard to always tell from online demos but it might be one of the nicest sounding modern mono synths I've heard. Thanks for the great overview.

[@radiomorph]

Your music is beautiful.

[@lokologico]

I own a polybrute and I love it . I’m tempted to try the matrix brute but in a way I wish they made a keyboard less version to accompany the polybrute …and save on space even.

[@knobsswitches]

that seems to be difficult. i can imagine, that the MB without a keybaord will be still a massive instrument. may you try the minibrute 2 instead?

[@OPTIONALWATCH]

Do you mean like a module version only?

[@lokologico]

@@OPTIONALWATCH yeah

[@Soshize]

@@knobsswitches i fell in love with a minibrute 2s tonight

[@knobsswitches]

@@OPTIONALWATCH yes

[@ogasi1798]

ikea brada stands under the PB are brilliant - so strong and amazing for providing perfect angles for a few measly quid/euro

[@knobsswitches]

yes, and it helps a lot with the angle to see the display better on an e-piano.

[@GearGuy]

Great video and very in-depth, but the one question I have: If you ABSOLUTELY had to choose just one of them, which one would you choose and why? They are both very large synths and honestly most people cannot fit both in their studios (nor could most people afford both)…so which one would you buy (or if this helps, which would you buy first assuming the 2nd one would not be able to be purchased for quite some time). To take the question one step further since the above assumes money is not an issue (and the poly is likely to be the answer since it is a true poly)… At what price point would you say that the matrixbrute (since it is now much more discounted on the used market) makes it just so compelling that it is the recommend choice of the two? Granted if the matrixbrute is the answer to the first question then the price point question is a bit moot. Anyway, I hope the above questions are clear.

[@knobsswitches]

If I have to choose one of them. The Matrixbrute! It's more gritty and direct and I love that you have to deal with him to get a good result 🙂

[@GearGuy]

@@knobsswitches Good to know, thanks ! I think its great that Arturia is also adding features after the fact for the Matrixbrute as well… hopefully they keep it up.

[@payt01]

They need to release a version of the PB with poly AT.. that would be aweesome :) Now that I have the Hydrasynth I have no Idea how I ever did without. Love your demos btw :) I have microbrute and microfreak, but of course they hold no candle to the Matrixbrute and Polybrute.. If I had the space I might go for a Polybrute one day, as I love how it sounds!

[@knobsswitches]

glad, you like my demos. thanks! I think Arturia will bring the Poly AT feature to their synths in the future.

[@Trottelheimer]

The PolyBrute responds to poly AT through MIDI, so a Hydrasynth could be used to go there :)

[@knobsswitches]

@@Trottelheimer good to know! Thanks for mentioning

[@Getthenderson]

Can you do multiple audio mods (FM) at the same time on either?

[@knobsswitches]

Nope. The VCO Outs are not in the ModMatrix as a Source

[@kierenmoore3236]

Have you compared the Morphee to a Touché controller? You have plenty of cv inputs on the back to do a direct comparison! ☺️

[@knobsswitches]

No, sorry. Didn‘t had the chance to use a Touché yet

[@leo-fx8go]

Your so awesome? Thank you so much❤

[@knobsswitches]

I’m flattered! 🙏

[@davidbetts2980]

My Matrixbrute is paid for and comes Tuesday 🙂

[@knobsswitches]

Congrats! You will definitely not be disappointed 😀

[@GeorgiRusev]

If you already have two polysynths (one analog and one digital) which one of these would you recommend for a third?

[@knobsswitches]

of course it also depends on your sound. i would recommend the Matrixbrute in this case, because it can do some pretty crazy stuff

[@GeorgiRusev]

@@knobsswitches I own the OB-6 and the Jupiter-X. Is a third polysynth necessary as a complimentary adding new sound spectrum that these polys can't cover or would a mono be of more help creating bass and other stuff in the threesome party?

[@RvBy88]

Your sound reminds me of the Theme Hospital music, which was genius

[@odalv7278]

"...i'll definitely keep both" a great decision 😝

[@RayyMusik]

I also have both synths; each has many pros and a few cons. However, I would care even less about which one is ’better‘ if I had a *Schmidt* in my studio. OMG, does the massive MatrixBrute look slim compared to that beast!

[@knobsswitches]

Yes, it´s quite a beast and difficult to move alone ;-)

[@RayyMusik]

@@Leviathan-mj8gi Define ‘similar‘. MB and PB both have the characteristic Arturia sound (based on the oscillators?), but not the same filters. Those of the MB are much more versatile, albeit not state-variable like the PB‘s Steiner-Parker. There is an overlap, but it is smaller than expected.

[@RayyMusik]

@@Leviathan-mj8gi Yup, they complement each other; otherwise I had sold the MB. The MB sounds indeed bruter due to: - 3 oscillators per voice, - the more effective filter feedback (Brute factor), - that general general headroom difference between mono and poly synths; a Subsequent 37 voice also sounds more powerful than a Moog One voice.

[@knobsswitches]

I totally agree with Rayy’s description

[@bastientoutcourt]

music through the most complex waves

[@dvamateur]

How is an auto-accompaniment different in concept from an arpeggiator?

[@knobsswitches]

I would say these are pre-made patterns that are meant to fit a musical context (rhumba, bossa nova,etc...) often used with electronic organs and played only with a single finger. An arpeggiator simply takes notes that you play and repeats them in a pattern without Rests.

[@dvamateur]

@@knobsswitches I thought you could make your own auto-accompaniments and your own arpeggios.

[@knobsswitches]

@@dvamateur in which context? Both, the Polybrute and the Matrixbrute did not have an auto/accompaniment! You could Programm the sequence or use the Arpeggiaencer (Arp&Seq buttons together). With this you could program a kind of rhythmic pattern

[@dvamateur]

@@knobsswitches Okay, let me give you an example. I saw this Moog 55 system demo. The guy is using the step sequencer to play a sequence of notes. Then he routes the keyboard CV to control the initial note of the sequence. This way he can transpose the sequence exactly like a player can transpose the auto-accompaniment by holding a single key, or a chord. Then my questions is, what is really the difference between a step sequencer/arpeggiator and auto-accompaniment? They both auto play, and they both can be transposed at a press of a key. What is the difference then?

[@Trottelheimer]

Nice comparison. I have both and love them to bits :-D Both are powerhouse synths - the MatrixBrute being the wild child and the PolyBrute being more grown up and wise, so to speak.

[@pseudomass]

what stands are holding these magnificent beasts up?

[@knobsswitches]

These are rolling tables from a television repair shop. They used them to repair the heavy old tube televisions. But nowadays the televisions are paper-thin and usually no longer capable of being repaired. They sold 30 of these rolling tables. I came across them when I was looking for an adequate stand for my Schmidt 8-Voice. I now have 9 of them and am very happy with them.

[@pseudomass]

@@knobsswitches love the repurposing

[@knobsswitches]

@@pseudomass Yes!

[@Steph_7d7]

So if you could only have one, which would it be?

[@knobsswitches]

The Matrixbrute

[@spawnthecrazy]

What synth is behind both of the Arturias?

[@knobsswitches]

Schmidt 8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer!

[@knobsswitches]

i also released yesterday a review about the schmidt: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZaaqXePq8eIa8k

[@OPTIONALWATCH]

I own the MB and you should ask Arturia for a discount voucher or commission because you just sold me a Polybrute!😀

[@knobsswitches]

Happy to hear! may you should tell them so :-)

[@OPTIONALWATCH]

@@knobsswitches It's been fun with both instruments since I bought the PB in late November. I'm pleased with both.

[@0072gldnfngr]

- 8:30 - 10:39 👆🏾👆🏾 These two are my favorite! Very nice. I can tell that you are a wizard with the Matrix Brute! I aspire to these levels as I recently acquired a MB (Noir edition) myself about a month ago. I love it so far. Now I’m on the hunt for a poly synth and was curious about the PB. Thanks for a great review!

[@knobsswitches]

Thank you very much. I´m flattered! There are a lot cool new PolySynths on the market. The PB would´nt disapoint you i think. Test it

[@0072gldnfngr]

@@knobsswitches I’d certainly like to. We will see. Thanks again!

[@virgillesterlin]

I PERSONNALY THINK THE MATRIX BRUTE IS MORE CREATIVE AND ENJOYABLE FOR CREATING SOUNDS WITH IS 64 MATRIX OPERATING PADS!

[@knobsswitches]

The Matrixbrute definitely invites experimentation and is very comfortable with its large matrix.

[@kierenmoore3236]

16 x 16 = 256

[@bastientoutcourt]

Nice technologie

[@bastientoutcourt]

bon musicien thx

[@knobsswitches]

Merci :-)

[@klausalberts2240]

The Arturia MatrixBrute is a monophonic analogue synthesizer, the Arturia PolyBrute is a 6-fold polyphonic analogue morph synthesizer. I think it's a bit of a shame that you don't explain these different methods of sound generation in your video clip for the introduction and because both synthesisers use different methods of sound generation, I wonder whether it makes any sense at all to compare the two synthesisers.

[@knobsswitches]

i'm sorry that this doesn't make sense to you. i say at the beginning that there are enough excellent videos explaining the appliances in detail that i don't do that. and therefore i assume that people already know the difference between the two synthesizers (monophonic/polyphonic). of course it's an apples and oranges comparison. i don't explain that they are different fruits. it's much more about the fact that they both come from the same organic farm and whether you need both ;-)

[@NIKOLAS200]

The question in the title reminds me my wife…

[@knobsswitches]

Haha. 🤣show her the video, may she understands why you need both :-)

[@deejay7339]

Replace both with "all"

[@petervdveenmuis]

What about 2 Matrix Brutes? Double the power.

[@knobsswitches]

In my opinion, it is better to add another sound source (arp2600m, matriarch, pro3...) because there are a lot of modulation possibilities. 2 MB's don't bring that much more sonically.

[@kamelhamlaoui9983]

@@knobsswitches just watched your video, loved it. I have an OBX-8 / Oberheim SEM’s pro + patch panel. I definitely want a Matrixbrute. I love minimal dark techno / minimal house and funk…. Any advice? Answe please.😎☔️

[@knobsswitches]

@@kamelhamlaoui9983 I think the Matrixbrute will work very well with the Oberheim Patch Panel!

[@kamelhamlaoui9983]

@@knobsswitches thanks for your answer!👍🏻😉

[@waveterm]

9:11 Hahaha

[@KiR_3d]

Thank you for the comparison! Now I clearly see how much PolyBrute misses comparably to MatrixBrute's capabilities. IMHO it was a big mistake of getting rid of CV inputs in PolyBrute! Yes, it could be not a very easy task for the engineers but it's a "must have" feature for a flagmanship like this! Also the lack of Audio Input is simply ridicilous! It's practically there but somehow Arturia's marketeers decided that it will be "bad for this model". Oh... I hate these f...ng marketing managers! They're pure evil now in the MOST of synth companies!

[@Trottelheimer]

I doubt it has to do with marketing - CV I/O is mono territory, it just isn't a good fit for a poly.

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@Trottelheimer “Why not?!”

[@Trottelheimer]

@@kierenmoore3236 Because on a mono the CV maps 1:1 to the one voice, whereas on a poly you'd either need CV IO for all voices or some scheme to pick which voice or a mix of voices to produce the CVs. It would be compromised. To get something like the CV I/O from the MatrixBrute on a poly is not realistic. An audio in is also a better fit for a mono. In addition to the "conceptual" issues, it increases cost and complexity, and it's not something that many poly users would be using. For hose things a mono is the ticket. Not all synths haver to have all things, and in particular things that aren't a good fit technically or economically👍

[@Lainer1]

I think each one is a distinct instrument. the Matrixbrute is more mono, paraphonic and has more ways to use the CV in the back. But the Polybrute is more for the polyphony and splitting the keyed to play two parts. Both are beautiful.

[@knobsswitches]

there's nothing to add. you're absolutely right.

[@bastientoutcourt]

matrix brute

[@starsunderer]

or do you just get a moog one since your getting closer to that price point lol

[@knobsswitches]

to get close to the price of a Moog One, you can add a Prophet5 on top of the two Brutes :-)

[@user-lf8jt6ny1h]

NB! Warning for polybrute owners! After the second version of the firmware, I began to get freezes when I pressed the buttons. The parameter button does not always respond the first time. Sometimes only after 4-5 attempts! !! At one point, this options button broke.. More precisely, the fastening of the button itself has broken and now it staggers. At least it works the same, but still annoying. Concluded for myself ! Sound - chic and huge! Аssembly - Made in China! Firmware 2.0 - need to fix! Plastic button #setting# - unreliable!

[@knobsswitches]

Sorry to hear that. I believe meanwhile a new OS 2.0 version is online. May you try to install it. The hardware failure is of course very sad :-/

[@knobsswitches]

@@regarolt1691 sorry to hear this as well. I never had issues with my MB and the one issue with the PB was very quickly solved from the German distributor TOMESO.

[@woodyforrest313]

> "did you need both?" no, you need none of them.

[@fuzzofrizzbeebot2775]

No, I never do anything remotely musical in nature