The Microfreak is a PERFECT First Hardware Synth

The Microfreak is a PERFECT First Hardware Synth
Today I'm explaining why I feel that the Arturia Microfreak is a perfect first hardware synth! Since the Microfreak is a "jack of all trades, master of none," it's a fantastic way to learn what types of synthesis speak to you! With it's 14 different oscillator types, you're bound to find one that you really enjoy using. From there, you can branch out into another piece of gear that allows you to deep dive into that type of synthesis. Enjoy the video!
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
Arturia Microfreak: amzn.to/3vX1K0l
Audient EVO 4 (audio interface): amzn.to/3eyDdsA
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[@night_speed]

I have a pretty decent collection of synths at this point including lots of eurorack and the Microfreak is still one of the first things i go to.

[@FreeBeat]

It's an amazing little synth for sure!

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

That’s good to hear. I’ve just got into hardware and after buying the Volca then tracks. I have a freak and realised I should have got this first. I’m glad to hear that people who know their stuff rate it.

[@matred3538]

Hello. I have to say thank you yet again for more great help choosing new gear. Got my Microfreak yesterday and absolutely love it! I thought my Volca Keys, nts1, and 303 copy was enough (oh and a few PO's), but this thing is a lovely beast. Many many thanks for singing it's praises. 👍👍👍

[@traitortotheliving]

Also perfect eighth synth lol Love the Freak

[@randommcranderson5155]

It was my first synth. afterwards someone gave me a Behringer TD-3 and after playing with the td-3 for a little bit I was like 'wait, this is all it does?' spoiled by the microfreak

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah I think it was 4 or 5 for me hahaha

[@DiegoMoskz]

I got mine last month, it's my first synth and I love it. I still have a lot to learn.

[@FreeBeat]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@jsonchicas]

dude you sold me incredibly well on this synth, I'll get one soon!

[@FreeBeat]

I hope you love it, thanks for watching!

[@TheMortyvicar]

Good video and you didn’t mention that it gets AWESOME updates expanding it’s already fantastic features 👊🏻

[@FreeBeat]

You're right, I totally forgot to mention that haha. Another great selling point!

[@trevord9811]

Still around £260 here in the UK. It is on my wishlist still (as is the Korg Minilogue XD) but tempted to buy the Behringer Deepmind 12 at the moment as it has so much to offer for the money. Thanks for another cool video FB.

[@FreeBeat]

The Deepmind 12 does look like it has a TON of functionality for the price haha. Go for it!

[@SaEvSampleEverything]

Nice review

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks!

[@fuckinzell]

I bought my Microfreak because I lost an auction on a 1010Blackbox and I needed to spend the money on something… this was in December and since then I’ve made like 50 tracks just with Blackbox(I won an auction for one a week or two after buying the MF) & Microfreak(paired with some fx pedals) The possibilities of this thing are insane and I haven’t even touched the vocoder yet!! Definitely recommend as a first hardware synth.

[@dustyaudio]

Yes, my first synth and a great one. I love the weird keys so much. Just getting into key-tracking (key/arp matrix) I really hope you can help explain it one day!

[@FreeBeat]

I need to learn more about that as well, and then I'll definitely do a video. Thanks for watching!

[@DanielRoberts-vn6ox]

Got this connected to an SL88 Studio - so much fun 😋😋

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@peterjessop1878]

As a guitarist my first synth was a Behringer Neutron as I was interested in Eurorack. In hindsight I think a Microfeak would have been better. I have progressed since then though. If you can afford it I think Korg Minilogue XD is the best first synth due to the mixture of analogue,digital and added fx. Microfreak is great, but you need to add effects to it such as on Korg NTS1, which of course means you then have 2 synths :-)

[@FreeBeat]

Wow you dove in head first with the Neutron haha. Glad you stuck with it though!

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

I’m a newbie and have a tracks and a freak. Been looking at the minilogue and wondering if it’s similar to the freak or if I would benefit and learn more. Also have a different sound source. But I’ve slipped up and bought the Volca and tracks already. Wish I had gone straight for the freak. I think your saying a minlogue would help me learn more and is a different machine to the freak. Used they are affordable.

[@oldunclemick]

This synth is amazing value.

[@FreeBeat]

It really is!

[@FA-Q]

I use the cv gate for my Moog werkstatt. You would love the werkstatt.

[@FreeBeat]

It's on the list haha.

[@FA-Q]

On Topic , microfreak is my favorite piece of gear . Besides my live II.

[@FreeBeat]

It's awesome!

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I’m getting one from my fiancé for my birthday! I cannot wait.

[@FreeBeat]

Awesome! Which one are you getting?

[@charlescohen1536]

This video should be updated, with the "Version 5" enhancements. My only comment _against_ the Microfreak as a first synth, is that's it has _so many alternatives_ to choose from. For "function per dollar", I think it's unmatched.

[@vatolegato]

Thanks for the video. Just to let you know, the microfreak now costs $349. It used to be $299, but they raised the price recently.

[@autisticeinstein9702]

i wonder what happened to that special white model with the mic. i see they sell the mic at $29, and ya, the old black freak is $349 at sweetwater too.

[@randommcranderson5155]

The white model was a limited edition run for the launch of firmware v3.0. They're still around but harder to find.

[@FreeBeat]

That's a real bummer!

[@josephwright5921]

Yes, the dollar’s value is crashing due to all the deficit spending. One out of five dollars in circulation was created in the last year and a half. Expect synths to keep going up.

[@CmdrMic]

Great vid. I have this, but I would humbly suggest the best way in for Newbies is via Pocket Operators and perhaps the ubiquitous Beringer TD-3. Aurturia is awesome... but also damn ADVANCED!

[@autisticeinstein9702]

PO's are more like groove boxes. this video is about a first synth

[@CmdrMic]

@@autisticeinstein9702 It depends on the model...

[@randommcranderson5155]

Counterpoint - the td-3 has the advantage of being verhy inexpensive but it's learning potential for sound design is much less (fewer knobs etc) and its mainly known for its analog sound. Its sequencer is absolute garbage and in 2021 it's clunky aging interface is a bad introduction to synths Pos are neat sequencers but don't really give you the same amount of knobs envelopes and lfos like the microfreak and the microfreak can make more and more interesting sounds than $350 worth of pos. The microfreak has the ability to do simple from messing with its hundreds of presets or complicated with serious sound design. It's a much better choice even if it's more complicated because it has so much more room to grow.

[@FreeBeat]

The td-3 can only cover one type of sound. The reason I chose the microfreak for this video is because it can cover so many, so it's perfect for helping you find the genre of synthesis that you want to dive into. Thanks for watching!

[@rookmaster7502]

An extremely versatile and flexible synth for sure, the tonal possibilities are virtually endless. However, not exactly the easiest synth to learn for someone new to synthesizers. Although I guess there are plenty of software synths for anyone to learn the basics beforehand.

[@FreeBeat]

It can be very complicated to program, but it's very simple to scroll through the presets and use the type knob to learn how different types of synthesis sound. That's more what I was trying to get at with this video. Thanks for watching!

[@Hanni93472]

It actually is my first and only synth I own and it's perfect! Lots of videos to learn from and easy to handle. So if you're ready to actually learn about synthesizers, then the microfreak is a really good choice.

[@memorytheater]

Thinking of grabbing this since I dont know what kind of synthesis I want to get into. That being said, I do know for a fact that I’m going to have a distorted/noisy sound, and I’m curious if the Microfreak is able to produce these noises.

[@FreeBeat]

It can get partially there, but if you grab a Microfreak and a distortion pedal, or even just a multieffects pedal (that has distortion) and you'll be VERY happy haha.

[@howardanderson3061]

This one is still on my "Eventually Get" gear list, it's an amazing beast with Killer sounds! Have you demoed the Vocorder? if so I missed it.

[@FreeBeat]

I haven't yet, need to get a compatible mic first lol.

[@howardanderson3061]

@@FreeBeat I get that, the small mics that are on vintage synths are really cool. Small footprint. If you've never experienced the first time "Vocoding" it's pretty cool.

[@Ewan-Argo]

I'm a complete noob and am very tempted by this. Would I need a separate drum machine for beats and if so what would you recommend? Thanks

[@FreeBeat]

Yes you would need a separate machine for drums. The microfreak is just a synthesizer. I would recommend starting with a pocket operator for drums. Something like the p.o-12 or po-32!

[@TheXxjmpxxx]

Hey man I really like your content! I'm a new subscriber and I had a quick question - I'm a guitar player, and I make music of course and wanted to add a hardware synth to my aresenal. I mainly write heavier kind of music and basically wanted to add rhythmic/percussive patterns/leads to my songs. I got the Novation Bass Station II and so far so good - but I'm still trying to figure it all out...after watching this, do you think the Arturia Microfreak is a better option? 🤔 I'd love to hear your opinion or thoughts!

[@FreeBeat]

Hmmm, I'm not that familiar with the bass station, but I know they are both standalone synths. Are you looking to build your own backing tracks basically?

[@TheXxjmpxxx]

@@FreeBeat yeah, sort of. Sometimes lol. But also to make lead lines to accompany melodies. If that makes sense 🤷‍♂️ I'm going to include a link of a song that gives a pretty good example of what I mean. There's a synth and drums in the first 15 seconds or so that you can hear pretty well. It fades in. They both also have some kind of high pass filter sweep as it kicks in. The synth is still there as the song kicks in, but it's effects and sounds like this that I'm after. music.kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqWZZJyspbqZra8&feature=share

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

I have finally bought what I should have originally. I’m finding it a challenge at the moment. But I play a few instruments and have had to spend some years picking up the basics and learning to get what I want from them. So why would a synth be any different. Trying to find a good source to learn synthesis from the very basics first. But it seems to be a good instrument and I’m looking forward to learning synthesis with it. I’ve been waiting and after just over a year I have got one for £100 less than new , used.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

@@FreeBeat I regularly watch this video as still trying to get my head around the freak. You have a good presenting style that’s easy to listen to. If it wasn’t for guy’s like you, I would never have bought one or have any clue how to use it.

[@alvinmason758]

dx7 perfect starter synth lol

[@marcin_bruczkowski]

I bought the Microfreak based on all the recommendation of it being a perfect first synth and it was a big mistake due to... lack of tutorials. YT is full of "demo"-type videos showing off its capabilities, but no real tutorials (or I can't find any). I mean videos guiding step-by-step how to build a simple patch, at a pace one could follow on their own instrument.

[@FreeBeat]

Check out Oscillator Sink's channel, some amazing Microfreak patch tutorials there!

[@___xyz___]

I am compelled to agree. As a synthesist of 12 years, even I found it hard to imagine how I would begin to write songs on this thing if I owned it. Like it appears you'd already have to be quite well versed in synth concepts to be get consistently good sounds out of it. My actual plan, however, was far more devious. As I had been playing with the idea of gifting one of these to my 7 year old boy, who needs something to do besides iPad. But I'm slowly realising this is a potentially terrible and stupidly ambitious plan which is doomed to fail. So when I eventually do subject him to infinitely tweakable synthesis, I'll keep you updated on how spectacularly unsuccessful we are.

[@ericMT]

It also happens to be the perfect 48th hardware synthesizer. Don’t ask me how I know that.

[@FreeBeat]

:D

[@treezybeats602]

Can you do a video on how to make this thing not sound so cartoony

[@randommcranderson5155]

learn sound design, play with knobs, add some reverb/chorus/etc (since the microfreak has no effects). Or buy/download patches and transfer them over to the microfreak.

[@johnruschulte2593]

Also it really general sounds better in mono mode than paraphonic mode so you have to be aware of that and maybe push the resonance or run it through some dirt fuzz distortion or boost. Reverb and chorus I agree are always good.

[@autisticeinstein9702]

there are tons of vids. i recommend checking out Xaos Resonance. he uses the freak with digitone/digitakt to make great ambient and chill. me, i use my freak to make cartoony sounds haha

[@FreeBeat]

Effects are the way to go. A little quality reverb and this thing just sings!

[@cedriccarballo658]

Arturia synths sounds too clean, so they are the perfect instruments to run through a tube preamp or transformer di box. Sounds amazing and fit very well in mixes. To me going through audio interface line ins is better for colored synths, like Moogs or Junos.

[@FreeBeat]

Great tip, thanks!

[@couchcamperTM]

I thought I would like it but I'm gonna sell mine again. not my cup of tea^^. In hindsight I shouldn't have sold the Monologue to get the MFer...

[@FreeBeat]

What don't you like about it?

[@couchcamperTM]

@@FreeBeat #1 the encoders and #2 menu diving, #3 the presets, most of them show what is possible but make me wanna quit before I really start lol

[@Andronicus2007]

Another good thing about the Microfreak is a lot of people bought one... so you can buy them very cheap secondhand, even in perfect condition!

[@cravensean]

My music buddy said awful, nasty things about the sound of the Microfreak. So I said, "How would you feel about your guitar sound going straight into the mixing board and out of the monitors?" Then I added some reverb to the Microfreak. "Oh." And some overdrive, just enough to fatten things up. "Oh." And now some chorus. "Okay, okay, I'm not going to (vulgar, sexist term for complaint) about the Microfreak ever again."

[@cravensean]

(It wasn't my first synth. But it was the first synth I bought for myself. Because it looked like a good education and it has paid out on that level, absolutely. And while my music buddy likes the feel of a piano, the electro-keyboard is so much more intuitive for me, it isn't funny. I want to learn how to custom-make a big-old MIDI controller based on that model and designed for crabby semi-musicians.)

[@tzodearf2596]

You probably do a. better sales job than Arturia. Does it work as a sampler too?

[@autisticeinstein9702]

no digital recorder in there, pretty much just a straight synth with digital osc/waves and an analog filter with digital control.

[@randommcranderson5155]

No samples no effects but an amazing synth especially for the low cost.

[@FreeBeat]

As others have stated, it unfortunately does not. I'd love to see a low cost Arturia sampling keyboard though!

[@flashylite]

Looks like it's $350/€350 atm.

[@FreeBeat]

Dang, that's too bad. Still a solid deal, but $299 was a steal!

[@flashylite]

@@FreeBeat Agree!

[@FA-Q]

Bro I'm first again .... Let's make a track together. Seriously