The secret of Arturia’s new synth can finally be revealed. The MicroBrute draws on the design principles of the MiniBrute and introduces a few cool new features.
If you don’t already think we’re living in a golden era for affordable analogue synths (and Dave Smith agrees, so you probably should), this might be the proof you were waiting for.
Arturia’s teaser campaign for a mysterious new product came slightly unstuck when images of the MicroBrute leaked earlier this week., but we’ve been sworn to secrecy until the announcement was official. Now that the countdown timer has reached zero, we can spill the beans about the latest addition to the Arturia line-up…
The MicroBrute is a semi-modular analogue synth based on a similar approach to the excellent MiniBrute. It’s a single oscillator architecture which allows the different waveforms (saw, triangle and square) to be blended together in any combination. There’s a new ‘overtone oscillator’, which can be used as a sub-oscillator an octave below the main oscillator or pitched up as far as a fifth above it. The filter is the same excellent Steiner-Parker multi-mode design found on the MicroBrute’s bigger brother. The Brute Factor feedback control is also included.
The two major new additions are the tiny patchbay-based modulation matrix (which should be great for interfacing with modular gear and vintage analogue kit) and an eight-pattern step sequencer. The 25-note micro-key keyboard and tiny form factor signal the intention for the MicroBrute to slot below the Mini in the product range, but the price means that this little synth is sure to be taken just as seriously – UK RRP is an incredibly reasonable £269 inc VAT ($349/€299).
Check out the preview video and more pics below:
03.27 PM
Watching him have a blast with this was so much fun! I know what Zeus is bringing me for the winter eqionox!
03.34 PM
*solstice