Using the Arturia MICROFREAK complete deep dive guide tutorial

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Welcome to the Arturia MICROFREAK complete guide. On this video we will cover every single aspect of this Synthesizer (minus the osc types), filters, matric, LFO, envelopes, sequencer, arpeggiator, everything. This is not a review, is a complete in depth guide / tutorial. Everything is timecoded, so can watch what you want or maybe comeback later to refresh your memory.
Here is the OSC Types guide: • Using the Arturia MICR...
timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Presets & Init
03:55 - Load panel
05:11 - Paraphonic
12:29 - OSC's
14:07 - Filter
16:41 - Envelope
25:03 - Filter Modulation
28:31 - Mod matrix
43:39 - LFO
48:29 - Cycling Envelope
54:01 - Legato
56:26 - Aftertouch & velocity
01:02:52 - Arp
01:14:19 - Spice & Dice
01:18:18 - Sequencer
01:37:23 - Motion Sequence
01:45:48 - Unison mode
01:48:37 - Chord mode
01:50:04 - Scale mode

[@SeanC-zk5hb]

Thank you so much - this was my first synth purchase and I went from completely lost to feeling great about navigating its features. I will definitely be checking your other videos out. Keep up the amazing work!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thanks man, Glad you liked it. I'll try to keep it up :)

[@dailygrowth7967]

You should read the manual too. It’s quite fun to read and you get to understand your synth even better

[@jaiveersingh3415]

Hey! I'm considering purchasing one myself but i have a tonne of queries I can't find answer to! Could you help me out?

[@craigwood8862]

Totally agree - from absolute nothing to knowing more than my mate who just uses the presets and doesn’t know anything else.

[@dmcinnis23]

I've had the Freak for two years. This is one of the best...no it's the best...tutorial I've ever seen. Great pacing and your voice is reassuring and easy to understand. Thank you for this!

[@penglyu1699]

such an explicit and elaborate tutorial! good job! thank you very much!

[@stefanwechsler6001]

Thank you, that's what I've been waiting for

[@balintrichard6039]

Thanks bro! I just bought a Microfreak. I don't need de owner manual anymore, you just explained all in such a simple and understandable "Microfreak for dummies" mode!

[@Hanoveur]

Thanks! I've used three of your tutorials over the weekend. Great resource.

[@gkillmaster]

You have a way of explaining thing perfectly. So thorough and someone giving all the important information. I end up with no questions after watching your in depth videos!!! Can't thank you enough!

[@jeremyjensen7144]

This is the most helpful MicroFreak video I've encountered on KZbin so far. Thanks!!

[@ntzm_]

This is so useful, thank you! Also I love the way you say spice and dice.

[@stuartleighton]

This is great thanks, just bought a microfreak and loving it.

[@darrenpriede8075]

easily the best tutorial,especially arp and sequencer, thanks.

[@justinambron679]

Thanks Fernando! This is my first hardware synth and I super appreciate the in depth walk through. The manual is great, but it's so much more powerful to see you walk through it. Donated to ya as thanks

[@reintje58]

Best tutorial I have seen. Well done!. 👍

[@kerbolax]

You've got a guide for almost every synth I own, and I've watched all of them since taking a while off making music made me forget so much, plus things I never learned in the first place! Fantastic tutorials mate :)

[@yesyesyor]

This tutorial is soooo helpful! Thanks so much

[@danparso1381]

Just an AWESOME tutorial thanks Fernando. I do not usually donate but your attention to detail in your instructions is just fantastic. I am just learning and purchased the Microfreak Stellar a week ago and still awaiting parts to complete the setup (Minifuse 1). I am sure everyone who is learning could afford to sponsor you for this tutorial. Thanks again Fernando!

[@longnose7405]

What an amazing tutorial. I have the freak for couple of years now and you still managed to explain things I wasn’t sure about. Thanks!

[@nerdyartygirl1983]

I love your 'deep dives'! You have made the BEST synth tutorials that i have found on KZbin.~ Thnx for doing it!

[@jandzoe9249]

I'm a complete beginner and this helped me alot to get into the synth. Thanks alot!

[@dxtrs_mnpltr]

Great job with this tutorial bro, so easy to follow and clear

[@joshuagotto8201]

Thank you for all of your work! These are great both for evaluating instruments and learning. Your English is great, on point, and your slang is fresh and keeps me in the moment. I know it takes you days to make these, and it takes just about as long to absorb what you have done in each video!

[@doylelacrua]

I will have to watch this a couple times. That is a lot of efficiently packed information for my brain.

[@cwb197]

I have watched a lot of tutorial videos on KZbin, but this one was hands down the easiest to follow along with. I just got the Microfreak this week and after watching this I feel very well versed in it's many subtleties. I will probably need to watch a few sections over again. Your cadence, teaching style, straight forward language, all makes this a must watch for anyone that has this synth in their studio. Many thanks kind KZbinr.

[@SpeccyMan]

... its many subtleties. (The possessive pronoun has no apostrophe!)

[@XtianApi]

This guide may be taking me a week to get through, but it is fantastic

[@lacklusterbeverage]

Thanks so much for this. Your videos are such an excellent resource for anyone getting started with a new device. Recently purchased a Deepmind, watched your video, and recently got access to a MicroFreak, accidently came across you again. Keep doing what you're doing!!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Yeah dude, thanks for the coffee !! It's really nice to know the work helps people to do what they love. Money helps to keep me in business and feed the body but knowing it helped you it feeds the soul. Thanks for the contribution !!!

[@binaryfunction4233]

Great tutorial brother...I've just go hold of my first MicroFreak and this video has been super helpful..

[@BennBirch]

Thank you for this video. it's essential for us non-keyboard ppl to understand the fundamentals of ADSR synth activiity. reallly good practical examples...

[@ldc3461]

Thank you, this was really useful.

[@KiyoCabessa]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge of this whole world, you are a real lifesaver. Liked and suscribed . Greetings from Spain ;)

[@charlie.pentatree]

This is a perfect guide trough! 💜

[@halcyonwinds1970]

This and it’s sibling video on the oscillator types are absolutely awesome. Thank you for making such a thorough walk through series!

[@SpeccyMan]

... its sibling ... (The possessive pronoun has no apostrophe!)

[@goodvibepsyhelp366]

Thank you, very deep and logical explanations.

[@BenutzernameNummer4]

Thanks a lot! The Microfreak is my first hardware synth in years and this was very helpful.

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Well !! Glad you could get something out of the video. Thanks for the help and the coffee :)

[@genoekenfloeken]

This is really fantastic. Arturia should pay you for this. Thank you so much you spared me a lot of time and frustration 👍🏻☘️💪🏻👏🏼

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Hey, thanks for the comment, glad to hear you liked it.

[@57muzic]

I knew this unit was a powerful tool. Still, you have introduced me to more than I had anticipated from this small weightless phenomenon. Arturia continues to supply us with updates that add even more value. Thanks 4 da info!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Hey dude, yeah, I thought the same thing. When I picked it up the first time it was like "something so light cannot be good". But when I started to go trough all the features it was like "holy shit, this tiny little thing can do a lot". I was surprised too.

[@seraphinvandegar4510]

Thank you so much! I see I'm not the only one here getting his first sync and getting from completely lost to having an idea on how to start playing with my new Micro Freak. Every second of this video was useful to me!

[@seraphinvandegar4510]

BTW, I tried to make a donation but Paypal won't let me without creating an account. 😞

[@vaaksvakuums]

Another superb tutorial!

[@FreddieShreddieTV]

this synth has maxed up my music since getting it. what a banger. im using the roland j-6 to trigger it, midi out of freak to roland s-1 and you've got huge huge synth. big stuff with both arpeggios running from the j-6 and freak

[@juliogargano8968]

Wonderfull tutorial !. Thank you so much !

[@trifonstatkov477]

I just want to say one more time "Hell of a job, mate". Your video is really invaluable when it comes to getting up to speed with the MicroFreak. You have an amazing way of explaining things, high value...

[@mimidamimida7931]

You're always giving the best tutorial👏

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thank you. I try my best, everything the channel makes I use it to record more quality videos. I am always trying to improve. Thanks for the comment and the support !!! :)

[@minisynthmaniac]

My Microfreak has been pretty much sitting since September when I bought it, cause I have been busy with my other synths. Starting from this year I decided to really start deep diving into it and your video is very helpful. Thank you!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thanks man. I am sure you can get some useful info out of the video. Thanks for the comment.

[@Galaxywanderess]

thank you! i felt so overwhelmed when i tried to read the manual ... usually I get bored when It comes to tutorials but this video was interesting and helped me figure out how to use my microfreak :)

[@PsyJaye]

Me Too.. a lot to grasp but wow what a resource..

[@trifonstatkov477]

Really good tutorial. Highly recommended for anyone that want to quickly learn the ins and outs of the MicroFreak.

[@hanstaagen2066]

Just bought the synth thanks for making the vid

[@kalle9757]

Top tutorial!

[@lorrenaelliott161]

Woochia beats has a a amazing series of videos to explain sound design starting from basic waves and oscillators plus envelope types… I was still a little lost when I plugged my Microfreak in…. I don’t do manuals lol 😂YOU HAVE MADE ME SOOOOO HAPPY WITH THIS FREEE TUTORIAL …. may you be blessed with 100k synth-head subs 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@moonofwool]

Thanks! This is so much useful guide !!)

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thanks for the comment :)

[@ofthe7552]

Waiting for mine to arrive. I'm here preparing for my first dive into synthesis for the first time in ten years.

[@blaster3744]

You deserve many more subscribers. You awesome. ❤❤

[@margateswede]

Very useful. Thank you!

[@lorrenaelliott161]

With a tutorial like this, it is easy to see why the Microfreak is an absolutely beast for creating your own patches and sound design. I bought a sampler so I can record each patch I make so I can save them as wave files and use them again later in a daw if I want…. I was thinking about going modular but this actually is modular … it’s an amazing starting point for. Didn’t really the power do it until I saw this video

[@aly-yen]

Amazing tutorial! I just purchased the microfreak as my first synth and this really helped me getting started, very beginner friendly. Will be checking the rest off your content for sure!.

[@3ck]

I just bought Microfreak and this video is gonna by my bible for some time. Thank you for amazing informations sir🙏

[@Sharpened_Spoon]

Thanks! I’d watched a couple other videos and even though I grasped a couple other synths fairly naturally, this thing had me confused. The way you started out explaining the preset navigation and settings and the signal path, after this I could follow along pretty easy. One thing I noticed was, I wish they switched the mod-matrix encoder and the glide, either left or right hand when setting the mod-matrix it’s awkward to see what’s happening. Most of the time I do a downward pinch like sprinkling seasoning on food, then tip my hand slightly if I block the matrix or screen. Oh well.

[@samuelpeinado1267]

Well done video manual!

[@guddy19]

This was awesome man thanks!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thanks for the comment kind sir :)

[@defdrumz]

Thank you, I had zero clue about how this crazy kool synth worked. Now I can play it with some intention, where before the sounds were just hit and miss.

[@XNBeatsMusic]

I always love to hear that. Helping people out to sync with their instrument, rediscover it. Love it. Thanks for the comment.

[@falazarte]

OMG. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this.!!

[@thomasmetz2681]

You are the best ❤

[@gabrielemengoli]

Thank you very much !!!!!!

[@gorogne]

Thank u! Very helpful! 👍🏿😎👍🏿

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for the comment :)

[@SimonMenu]

Thx a lot for explaining the *extended* paraphony. I was lost. Your video has Loopop taste, in the good way of course . Keep going !

[@AndyHauns]

Thank you so much ❤

[@XNBeatsMusic]

No problem. Thank you for the comment.

[@user-hd6wq4vc1n]

This is the most systematic and newby friendly in depth explanation of the Microfreak (and synthesis) I encountered. You have really a BIG talent for making things clear, understanding both the box and the beginners mind on a new device. Thx a zillion. PS Just curious, where about are you from? #donatedacoffee 🙏

[@alban6101]

WELL DONE SIR ! (again...) i was thinking myself :

[@gregorydoux6086]

Thanks a lot dude ✌️

[@distantidentitymusic]

Thanks bro I just purchased this one too

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thanks. Is a good synth, specially for the price.

[@BrianFortner]

Thank you very much

[@dmnC.]

Great video and nice explanation!! 💯👏🏻👏🏻 I have it since years ago. I would like Arturia update the assign buttons. For example, if I assign in slot 1 a modulation, then slot 1 can't be assigned to something different on another line of the matrix. If I assign another parameter like LFO to assign1, the assign 1 also changes the one I did before. Assigns the same parameter to all rows of the array. We would take advantage of the 15 independent modulations. Maybe next firmware version.. 🥹🎄

[@mixoworld999]

thank you so much 👏👏👏

[@daojea]

Thank you 👍🏻

[@Azeria]

i thought scale mode was going to be a bit of a gimmick, but actually because you can’t slide from a white note to a black note due to how the keyboard is built, scale mode becomes super useful for things like solos, as you can just slide your finger between any note in the scale

[@TC-lk2ev]

Thanks!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Wow !!! Thanks you for the contribution and the coffee :)

[@HouseJunk1e]

Thank you!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thanks for the comment.

[@evolvedaily]

Thank you so much sir.

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thank you for the comment :)

[@OldPsytrance]

Thanks man

[@neopunkmusic]

liked and subbed. nice stuff.

[@hellobobbyboy6538]

Please please please mr XNR, can you make one for the minifreak? Your tutorials are the best in the web by the way!

[@jglassjglassjglass3414]

Could you Possibly do one of these for the Minifreak? I have both. This vid is so informative.

[@thomasmetz2681]

Danke!

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Danke to you :)

[@vladjoldis5553]

You can also reduce your voice count to 2 in Unison. That way you can at least play two notes at the same time using unison. 3 also kind of works, however if you play an interval you're going to have 3 voices on one key, leaving the other key with 1 voice.

[@fluffboxmusic]

How do you do that?

[@jmd76family]

Great video. Want to buy this and your insight prepared me for purchase.

[@johnsuggs7828]

You will not be bored for years. For 350, it is the most amazing little device I've ever owned. And I've been playing for more than 35 years.

[@timanderson2936]

оч. круто!!!)) спасибо!!!))

[@arbCannons3395]

Yo thanks for this I just got one to start exploring music a bit. And even looking for a super indepth video like this.

[@lokologico]

Great tutorial, I understand my microfreak much better now. Any chance you will get a Polybrute too XNB? :)

[@DougAlvey]

5:15 I think most people recognize "note stealing" as the simpler Monophonic, Paraphonic, Polyphonic issue, which is not demonstrated in your examples. [Play Three-part Invention here; Mono, Para and Polyphonic] The note attack and waveform are the "voice" and the modulators are just "stomp boxes". If the Microfreak (or Model D) were polyphonic, it would have DOZENS more virtual knobs per note (which would make little difference in the overall sound). With rich waveforms, one good filter and a rudimentary VCA are most of the "heard" note. (See Wendy Carlos or the Beatles about the "labor cost" of overdubbing individual instrument voices. We are so spoiled!)

[@Kyle-pz1tg]

Although That Is Extensive Menu Diving For A Compact Machine, The Versatility Is Still Worth The Price.

[@badlefthook624]

As a man with a touch of ADHD, reading manuals is a headache as I'll start thinking about something from 20 years ago and forget what I'm reading and give up. I'll also try and cram everything in at once understanding it bit by bit and then I'll forget all of it shortly afterwards....you'll never understand the struggle 😂. I'll tell you this though, when I strike gold on a video like this, it just sticks in that tornado of a brain of mine and it becomes crystal clear. I can easily take it all in and understand exactly what's doing what and how to achieve it. You're a legend mate 👍

[@johnsuggs7828]

It's not you. Those manuals are the worst. They literally find the most boring way to describe their devices and put it in print. I usually bail after the table of contents. And I don't have ADHD.

[@dj_datch]

thanks ;)

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Thanks for the comment :)

[@leefoster4171]

Fantastic - donated $20 👍🏻

[@XNBeatsMusic]

Holy guacamole !!! Thank a million Lee, right now your help could not come at a better time. I am trying to keep this thing afloat, my country is going straight to the gutter so I it is hard to keep the channel alive because it doesn't make a lot of money. You saved the day, thanks a million.

[@leefoster4171]

Your very welcome - I do have a tech question as I have just bought the key step 37 and the Behringer Pro 1 and for the life of me I am struggling to get noise even after patching Midi to the key step . baffling me at the moment @@XNBeatsMusic

[@revalone3944]

this should have way more than 10k views whoever owns one of these and doesn’t know how to use it should watch (me)

[@Maladaptation_ThiesWrobel]

I have some Synthesizers meanwhile. Your Videos are of great help! What I did not really understand at the Microfreak is the difference of the Cycling envelopes Env envelopes and the „normal“ envelope. Do they interact somehow ???

[@rentonl]

Legendary video. how do you get the wave form visualizer in bottom left and what is the second box?

[@josegarcia-dw7cm]

Great

[@izzzzzz6]

How does he remember all of this? Did he design it or something? lol Amazing instructional.

[@MarkusPendo]

6:18 I thought there was an ant inside my monitor >.

[@XNBeatsMusic]

hahaha, damn bug. I have a closed rooms, nothing gets out, so the problem with that is that if a bug enters trough the door, it cannot go out because there are no holes, doors, windows. So I need to go Predator on that bug. One of the downsides of having an enclosed environment.

[@theodorbastard9763]

Thank you so much - your video really helped me understand this synthesizer. But one thing remains unclear to me: the organization of patches (tools). When you scroll through the menu with a choice of instruments, the categories go one after another: bass, pad, sfx, keys. All this is in a chaotic order. Question: how can I make it so that I can watch only the “pads”? Or how to make it possible to watch only the “bass” category in a row? I will be grateful for your answer.

[@CatFish107]

Anybody know a way to route one of the envelopes or the lfo to one of the cv outputs on the back? I like to use the touchplate controller with modular gear. If I could use the other modulation sources on outboard gear, I'd be set.

[@eduardoduarte9230]

Can I loop a sequence respecting the timings between each note? Just like the “sequence”, but not playing all notes with the same timings.