Great Microfreak Feature for Beginners (Scale Mode)

Great Microfreak Feature for Beginners (Scale Mode)
Today we're checking out a Microfreak feature that I think is fantastic for beginners, and one that I wasn't even aware of until recently. Within the utility menu, you can find the "preset" section, which contains a list of parameters that are specific to the currently selected preset. On this list is scale mode, which dictates the scale that the keys will adhere to. This means you can never hit a wrong note while playing, a very handy feature for beginners who want to start writing their own melodies! You can also change the root note of your scale, which is the very next setting in the preset menu. Enjoy the video :)
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[@TrickmanTerry]

Microfreak is still pretty new to me. Good to know scale mode is there with all the other goodies. Thanks for menu diving so we can get more out of our machines!

[@FreeBeat]

I highly suggest scrolling through the rest of that preset menu, there's a lot of good stuff in there!

[@johnr9896]

Thank you for the info. Great video

[@misso6613]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@hstone0808]

Thanks bro! Ive had mine for about a year and there is so much i still am learning on this unit alone.

[@edgeof60]

Great tip for everyone, not just beginners, especially those of us who are just "keyboard impaired". Very useful for using with the Freak's outstanding sequencer and arpeggiator. Thanks!

[@FreeBeat]

Absolutely, thanks for watching!

[@AcidFink666]

I'm buying a used microfreak this weekend and this video is awesome. I can't wait to get this thing

[@JasonNaas]

How do you like it?

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

Thanks for this. I’m still just messing around with it. Playing over my circuit tracks. Now I’ve had a couple of proper synths for a few months, I view them like acoustic instruments and expect it to be a few years before I’m anywhere near mastering or being at the level I’ll be happy . Don’t know where I would be without guy’s like yourself. Thanks from a grateful fan in northern England. 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@TheMortyvicar]

Very informative and to the point video. Thanks FreeBeat

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks!

[@kevinanderson519]

Great spot. My Microfreak arrives today. Can’t wait. These videos are so helpful - thanks.

[@FreeBeat]

Right on, have fun!

[@matred3538]

Thanks. Some more very helpful tips. I think changing the scale may put me off a little and or teach me bad muscle memory. But always helpful videos. 👍

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

Thanks for the tip. MicroFreak is one of my favorites. So much, I got two of them.

[@FreeBeat]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@oldunclemick]

For the people suffering from low output levels, it's a balanced output so using a TR lead halves the output. Strange design choice.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@Chloroplastism]

thx, man - very helpfull

[@jolieuke]

Wow, I didn't know that! Thank you so much!

[@FreeBeat]

Absolutely, thanks for watching!

[@InkyDaCaT]

Great video🙌

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you!

[@dustyaudio]

Nice tutorial of the “hidden” stuff. I hope they add a custom scale option with MCC. The original beat step has this option

[@FreeBeat]

Custom scale mode would be great!

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

Great features, here! Does it also have ‘exotic’ scales? Egyptian, Japanese, etc.? Does it include reverb and or delay? Always entertaining and educational. I appreciate your work, sir!

[@minisynthmaniac]

Microfreak doesn't have any built in effects, but it works great with delay and other effects pedals (like the Zoom MS-70CDR)

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

@@minisynthmaniac ok, thank you!

[@FreeBeat]

The scales I listed are the only ones it has, and it doesn't have any effects either haha. That's why I'm always pairing it with the NTS-1! Thanks as always :)

[@eFiddle]

Great feature to know if I ever get this. I think it can help me no matter how I play violin it will be In-Scale

[@FreeBeat]

Definitely! Looking forward to some Violin, J6, and Microfreak tracks :D

[@wiggesobk]

Nice video!

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks as always!

[@vibeaimusic]

Very cool. Mine was just delivered last night. I played around a bit until I couldn't stay awake anymore and today I went out and got some cables so I could connect up to the PC for audio input. I can't seem to get it to connect to Reaper via USB MIDI yet (it sees it in the list, but just gives errors or nothing happens), but their registration isn't working so I can't get their software installed either. I assume that might be part of the problem. Regardless, I'm old, inexperienced with MIDI, and use audio clips to mix and make my music anyway so it doesn't much matter. I am really stoked over this little thing! Super appreciate your videos on this. My first step in standalone hardware for a very long time. Have a good one!

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you so much for the support! I'm glad you're enjoying the Microfreak :) That's super weird that you can't download the software, that's basically how Arturia handles everything with firmware and "hidden" settings for their gear. Hopefully the issue resolves itself soon. Thanks again!

[@vibeaimusic]

@@FreeBeat You bet! Yeah, I can certainly download and install it, however once again - you need to *login* to be able to move forward and use the software. I can't complete my account registration on their website to the point where my account is now active to do so. I.E. their verification email has never shown up. I sent a support email, which I did get the auto-notification from so.. just hurry up and wait. :) Thanks again... I've been messing with it all day since grabbing cables. This thing is INSANE! :)

[@charlarge3555]

Much appreciated.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@charlarge3555]

@@FreeBeat Would love more videos on the Microfreak! Thanks again!

[@ianmitchell4745]

You'll always get a thumbs up from me, talking hands!

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much!

[@DopamineOverload]

God I miss all the gear I had to sell to pay bills... including this....

[@FreeBeat]

Sorry to hear that, hopefully you can own another one in the future!

[@DopamineOverload]

@@FreeBeat god willin’

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

Shit man, I feel for you. There’s always something around the corner. I live off pot noodles and don’t go out clubbing. So I can afford this gear. But I have credit to pay off. It’s easy for me as I’m 48. Hopefully in the future you can sort it out. I was homeless 5 years back with just what I could carry.

[@DopamineOverload]

@@Oooo-bi7bi Thanks Mike. Hope so. Yeah, I eat cheaply. I never go out, don't drink. I could afford all my home studio gear until some shit circumstances happened in late 2021 which prompted me to sell off nearly everything I had. Still trying to catch up. Constantly behind my phone bill (three months, no service), credit cards over limit and accounts closed, always behind on wi-fi and whatnot. I'm not too far behind you age-wise. I feel like I'm on the verge of being homeless at this point... just trying to get up every day and hustle my ass off.

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

@@DopamineOverload I have brain injury from a motorbike crash. I walked out of my flat in 02. Managed to get another as government now recognise me as long term disabled. But in last few years it’s the first time since my accident that I haven’t been completely broke. Even managed to build up my credit rating. I got overdrafts and abused them when a student. So when got them this time bought equipment. It’s tricky to manage at the moment. My good friend who’s like a sister, doesn’t understand why I buy instruments. As long as you’re not feeling really depressed. I can play enough on guitar that I busk when really skint. Do you have any skills or talents others might pay you for.

[@misso6613]

Is there way to chnage thw setting so I can see the bass sounds together, all leads, soundscapes etc?

[@johnplainsong9769]

Nice! But how do I get the Microfreak to ouput the matching MIDI notes/scale?

[@cavacino]

tbh this makes me consider buying it

[@FreeBeat]

It's a great synth!

[@blythe1331]

I think you should tackle a micro korg

[@FreeBeat]

I actually own an Alesis Micron, which I believe was a direct competitor to the Microkorg in its hayday. Both are powerful VA synths!

[@marcosrotllan]

Can you transpose semitones with the sequencer?

[@donvanmoran1024]

When i turn mine on, its auto setting is C and the global scale is the pentatonic minor I can set it to the scale i want, but once i change the voice, it reverts back to Cmin Its great when im playing in that key, but obv thats not the case all the time the tiny screen and kinda precise buttons you have to do to switch the scales and root note really pauses the flow in a live setting. Do you know how to set it so auto is just the notes they are supposed to be? Thanksss

[@TheRealPhilHoward]

Hey Free Beat. Can you address the wear on the white keys that I noticed in the video? Will it affect the playability? Is it a defect or damage? Are they touch sensitive circuits or decorative? Anyone thoughts on this? I've been very interested in this device but haven't pulled the trigger just yet and this kinda makes me a little hesitant.

[@FreeBeat]

As far as I know, it's just a cosmetic choice. I haven't noticed it effecting the playability at all :)

[@romi9485]

Just ordered mine im sooo hyped!! Not my bank account tho

[@FreeBeat]

I hope you love it!

[@patrickgoethals3235]

does a preset have a reset feature, to its original sound, or do you have to reset everything manually. thx 4 the vid.

[@FreeBeat]

Unless you click the save button, when you switch to a new preset, everything on the old one resets to how it was. You can fiddle away to your hearts content without worrying about overwriting anything. Even when you save, you can choose a new location for your tweaked preset so you don't write over the original sound. Have fun!

[@TheMinecraftbud1]

BEST SYNTH!!!

[@FreeBeat]

It's definitely one of them!

[@TheMinecraftbud1]

@@FreeBeat to clarify 😂 best synth for cheap! I have been looking at a bunch of expensive analog synths recently (G.A.S.) But fiddled with the virtual analog on the microfreak and made a few patches that make the perfect big chord analog sound, and oh my god I am so glad I didn't bite the bullet on a 1.5-2k purchase 😂😂

[@JohnGauge790]

@@TheMinecraftbud1 Nah, it’s the best synth, period. It’s already a classic.

[@ShortKicks7733]

Hi, How can I copy n paste settings or an entire preset on the MicroFreak to another preset? Basically, duplicate a preset

[@FreeBeat]

I'm not at my Microfreak right now, but I believe you click "save" once on whatever sound you want to save, then choose a slot location for it with the main value knob, then click save again to save it to the destination.

[@ShortKicks7733]

@@FreeBeat I'll try, thank you 🙏🏽

[@robojopo]

What's about scale Global? I can't understand what the shit. Because every C and D are same note. What scale drops every D notes in real world?

[@coskuarsiray]

this machine has a great potential but lacking of a PC editor and a tiny oled screen made me sell mine.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah it's not for everyone haha, thanks for watching!

[@magnuseriksson8081]

Scale and Chord mode?

[@FreeBeat]

Scale mode :) I need to play more with chord mode!

[@ALIENSHYBOI]

Shite, I’ve had my microfreak for a year and a half and didn’t know it could do that. •-•

[@FreeBeat]

Don't feel bad, I just found out about it a week or two ago!