The Microfreak's Unique Keyboard

[@zacknahkon]

the little metal circles on the keys are what are making the circuit and the sound, so nothing to worry about if the pattern does come off as its just aesthetic :)

[@FreeBeat]

Cool, good to know haha. Thanks for watching!

[@CatFish107]

Love to use the touchplate for controlling parameters in vcv rack. Touch pressure is sent as aftertouch data via midi

[@HansyPants184]

I've heard that you can send MPE info via the MF keybed. Ever try it?

[@CatFish107]

@@HansyPants184 not yet.

[@FreeBeat]

I'll have to play around with that!

[@infn8loopmusic]

I cannot believe I waited til now to get this synth. This synth just does so much in such a small perfectly convenient package. I'm really grateful that great videos like this one turned me on to buying it. I couldn't be happier with it. As a guitar player learning keys and synth, for playing expressive leads I always found other synths lacking in this regard a little and this is hands down the best way to implement expression AND when you combine with the capability that it has to limit the keyscale you can play effortless leads without any cares of hitting the wrong notes, and you can just go nuts with it. Then when you factor in the incredible diversity of deliverable sounds out of it... I don't think I will ever be able to put it down.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah, if you put the time in to learn all of it, it becomes an invaluable tool! Thanks for watching :)

[@GerenM63]

When I first got my Microfreak, I thought that being a “traditional” keyboard player for decades, I was going to hate the keyboard, to the point that I actually ordered a “case” that would allow me to remove the keyboard and turn it into a desktop module. But, I discovered that the keyboard is actually pretty amazing.

[@FreeBeat]

Have you found that your traditional keys experience allows you to play even faster on the freak keyboard?

[@GerenM63]

@@FreeBeat Not really, but I've also not really tried for speed. What I've really liked is the expressive control that the "aftertouch" affords.

[@BOMBPHONICS]

Thanks for making a video on this keybed. I just asked you about this the other day and now KZbin recommended this video.

[@FreeBeat]

Awesome, glad KZbin recommended it to you. Thanks for watching!

[@GazRendar]

Nicely detailed, totally specific video. It seems like a fun device but I've always dismissed it because the keyboard was an unknown. It might be better than I thought since it has those raised dividers than I didn't know about. Congrats on getting over 11k subs!

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah, the dividers really make it a lot more playable. Thank you!

[@inwex8350]

Definitely cool seeing you play the keys!

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you so much!

[@edgeof60]

I think the Microfreak keyboard is based on/inspired by the Buchla Easel keyboard. I'm fine with it, both synths are really more about deep sound exploration than fancy keyboard playing. I tend to use the arpeggiator and sequencer anyway.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomnewton9024]

I'm definitely on the noob end of the synth spectrum and I love the sounds that come out of the microfreak. It is the keyboard that puts me off though. Not because I think it'll be bad, I'm with you I think I'll be much quicker around it than with a more traditional keyboard. I'm really space limited and I'd rather just use the synth engines as a module and drive it with my current controller. It's not much but you could probably fit an extra module or two on your desk if you don't need them all to have their own attached keyboard. It's a shame that option isn't out there.

[@FreeBeat]

Apparently there is a modification that allows you to use it as a desktop module!

[@thomnewton9024]

@@FreeBeat Yeah, I've seen that. Unfortunately, from what I've seen the little buttons above the keyboard are on the same ribbon cable so you lose the dice, spice and all the randomiser functions as well. Which is a real shame. It seems like a big hole in the Arturia product catalogue. They do some nice controllers, great synths, but no modules of those synths. I'd have thought modules of the mini/microbrute and polyfreak would have a bit of demand for them. Oh well.

[@dustyaudio]

I’d love to see how you set it up & use it with the mpc one as a controller for a synth plug-in. Could it send its cycle envelope to the mpc synth? As a bass player, this was a perfect first synth

[@FreeBeat]

I'm not sure if it can send non keyboard modulations externally, that's a bit beyond my knowledge of midi and CV haha. I'll give it a shot though!

[@J1M0TEE]

I'm a bass player too and I'd like this to be my first synth! I have a Monotron Delay and a Volca Drum, but that's it. Really looking forward to noodling around with a MicroFreak sometime soon :)

[@dgamusic4706]

I love my Microfreak. While the keybed can take a little getting accustomed too and while it is easy to accidentally have you finger grave another key, it’s still enjoyable. Not too sure if it’s a thing but I wonder if you can turn down the sensitivity of the keybed, alleviating accidental key presses 🤔 FWIW, there is a pretty easy mod out there where you can detached the keybed and have the Microfreak as a desktop version. The casing is available for purchase but sadly you miss all the sequencer and spice/dice options.

[@FreeBeat]

I kind of figured there was a mod out there like that, I personally use the keyboard way too much to ditch it though haha. Thanks for watching!

[@katlegotladi2116]

Yup you can adjust sensitivity in the menu

[@traitortotheliving]

I love the touch plate keyboard it’s very expressive. I use it to play my hydrasynth desktop sometimes as it sends polyphonic aftertouch

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah, I find myself being able to sneak a lot of nuance into my playing that I normally wouldn't be able to. Thanks for watching!

[@willswitchcraft]

awesome.....another related question: Do you know if the 'Modulation' data activated by the conductive keyboard is sent out via the MIDI output as well.....?

[@FreeBeat]

I *think* so, but don't quote me on it lol

[@willswitchcraft]

thanks.............Just waiting for a Microfreak to arrive - I'll figure it out sooner or later.

[@johnruschulte2593]

Pressure sends cv out the back which is nice you could send it to your Model D

[@FreeBeat]

I'll definitely have to give that a shot, thanks for watching!

[@Honestjon1966]

I’ve had problems playing the keyboard when the weather gets too hot and dry. My hands get too dry to make contact. A good hand moisturiser helps. Bloody Adelaide weather😃

[@evankeal]

Yeah, I had many issues, I finally figured out that the power you use is critical. In my older home there is no using it with house power, I can only use a battery brick. Even if I plug this into something using house power the keyboard will begin to freak out. Arturia is aware of the issue but it is what it is due to the design. Dryness seemed to be an issue at first but with battery power I have zero issues.

[@FreeBeat]

That's really interesting, I haven't encountered anything like that before.

[@loamanai]

The Microfreak ist a realy awesome Machine! Absolut worth to have one. There are unlimited ways to create Ur own Style or Projects and Like you said arturia keeps updating. Im glad that i got my for about 259€ in Februar Last year. It was after the electribe 2 my Seconds device. But the price ist now about 369€ and it climbs. So i recommend everyone to grab one als soon als possible!!!!

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah, the price seems to slowly be creeping up. I grabbed mine for $299 back in the summer of 2020, I'm hoping anyone who wants one can get their hands on it before the next price increase inevitably happens.

[@wiggesobk]

The microfreak is really cool and unique.

[@FreeBeat]

It really is!

[@yewrforstnaymhearyewrlayst5566]

deluge vs op1?

[@FreeBeat]

I've only had the deluge a couple of weeks, I'll need a bit more time with it before I start making comparison videos haha.

[@yewrforstnaymhearyewrlayst5566]

​@@FreeBeat i look forward to it! thinking about getting one myself. really want an op1 but for 300 dollars less the deluge is looking quite promising. keep on rocking man, loving the content.

[@rasterweb]

Free Beat: "I'm not a keyboard player..." (Then goes on to play a keyboard one hundred times better than I can.)

[@FreeBeat]

🤣

[@femto859]

Never expected that face

[@FreeBeat]

I've shown my face a lot on the channel!

[@femto859]

@@FreeBeat Seems until now I never had seen it - probably looked some older ones .. oh and i got everything in youtube turned off but the videos i searched for