There’s other engines that are like that. I could be wrong but I think the wavetable is also only available on Slot one. I think it’s a limitation of the computer inside possibly.
Yes, I prefer Moog Ladder & Korg MS20 types of filters.
I simply replaced the MB2 with a Grandmother and couldn’t be happier
Yeah maybe’s, is using a sample engine more taxing than a synth engine?
The Deluge handles both oscillators as user samples no problem and that device has been around for 7 years
No user samples??
I wonder… if they could add a digital filter (in firmware) - that takes the place and controls of the existing filter.
So it doesn’t take a slot, and would give a bit more options and depth for filtering!
Oh yeah, didn’t even notice that, just Factory samples it seems, man… so no user samples and cant use 2 samples in the synth either, hmm.
I was thinking of buying a Minifreak, but i’ll just stick with the vst unless the sample engine changes
Oh hey Look at this. Granular sample engines in a non sample focused music instrument. Would really love to see this in sampler like Digitakt, maybe? Someday?
Honestly there’s no discernible difference between the VST and hardware in terms of sound. Unless you really want something for live performance… I prefer using the VST to sound design anyways. Not to mention the convenience of multiple instances of it in a DAW.
I bought the minifreak before the VST version came out and I figured it would just be a companion VST for people who bought the hardware. Once they sold the VST standalone I regretted buying the hardware.
That’s just me though. But the VST is more convenient in every way and I don’t think the interface of the hardware is as good or fun to use as, say, a Digitone, Analog Four, or Hydrasynth.
It’s always nice to get free update, but it’s still quite a bit behind Microfreak in terms of oscillators. No user wavetables or samples, no vocoder… I’m starting to wonder if there’s some technical reason for this, especially since second oscillator isn’t getting most of new options… well, maybe they’re just saving the best for last.
Finally!!! Wooohoooo… I will try this right now….really like the Minifreak and its plugin counterpart.
I bet it’s because Microfreak is self contained whereas the Minifreak needs to support the VST mirroring as well, meaning you’d need some form of sample management and storage solution that works seamlessly across those two worlds.
I’ve been waiting for this update hoping either for samples and preferably multisamples, or at least an exciting enough update to give a little bump to the used prices so I can get rid of mine, but this seems like neither.
This is really starting to show the limitations of the concept of different oscillator models with only 3 parameters. What’s the sense in having 7 different granular engines rather than just one with more controls that can cover all of the same territory?
Installed it and I am just playing a couple of the patches that come with Arturia MiniFreak Firmware 3.0 that I like: https://youtu.be/-IFkgQttQpg
‘the Frog’ is insane if you ask me! Especially when you ‘Lick’ it
Its more fun to use cause of the immideacy and limitations rather than get lost in searching for usable patches and settings.
I personally find it more convoluted. If I want to make a basic subtractive analog style sound where do I start? BasicWaves? Vanalog? SawX? I could try them all out but they’re not next to each other. If I want to do a sync type of sound which of those does it? I can’t remember.
I haven’t tried the update but I already felt like there were too many oscillators to scroll through. It’s fun for playing around and getting happy accidents but personally it feels exactly like “getting lost in searching for usable settings”.
And now 7 different granular engines? It sort of feels like “look how much stuff we’re giving you” but it’s all pretty shallow. I mean don’t get me wrong it’s a great synth with endless possibilities, just maybe not for me.
this is the reason i parted with the microfreak way back when it didn’t even have as many engines as it does now, and it’s what has kept me from the minifreak as well. (well, that and I didn’t find what I was looking for in the filter flavor)
I think Arturia should enable all of these as optional engines that you can select which to have on your device or not. Some folks love that there are (however many) 20 different engines to scroll through, and others (me) find that the inclusion of 7 new things to scroll through unappealing.
I’d be more inclined to pick up a minifreak if I could have some say in the organization of the devices engines (maybe even just reordering?) otherwise, it’s a sticking point for me with workflow.
One of the coolest features of the Minifreak is that the choice of engine itself is a modulation destination. Also that voice can be a modulation source. I’ve made a bunch of patches using that where each note gets a slightly different sound because it’s shifting to a different oscillator.
But I haven’t updated mine yet because I’m not sure if adding new oscillators is going to break all of those patches I made because now there are a different number of oscillators to modulate through.
Your idea of customizing the number and order of oscillators would also complicate that issue.
Could be, I remember they mentioned that they want wavetable transfer to be seamless when it was first released, but I’m sure they could find a solution by then. It’s either some bigger issue or they’re just postponing it deliberately.
I agree. I’m already a bit annoyed by many similar osc in Microfreak, but having 7 of basically same type… which one do I use for what? I guess it’s cool for someone that prefers randomly tweak a few macro knobs with large sweetspots…
I’m glad they added samples and granular. I like the synth already so I really don’t have any complaints about the added functionality. I find the synth fast and intuitive for sound design and performing, this hasn’t changed any of that. I feel fairly confident there’ll be another update in about a year with more / different options.
If there’s anything I’d say this update really missed, it was the countless small tweaks, bug squashes that came with 2.0. I would have expected to see a bit more minor stuff in the changelog.
Meanwhile, I feel like it’s always been a polarizing synth, I don’t suppose any firmware updates will change that.
I also am watching for Arturia to release a digital flagship, something closer in shape to a PolyBrute but digital signal path, it could potentially even have the Freak branding.
I am also glad that they keep adding stuff to the Minifreak. The new sample modes are nice, have not yet dig into it deeply, hope to have some time over the weekend or holidays.
But just being able to have a granular moving sound in the background of the standard PWM with some added delay and reverb gave me goose bumps yesterday evening.
Minifreak has a very good sounding sound engine, even if the filters could have some more oomph to it
I believe they will add user samples sooner than later.