Arturia Microbrute 25-Key Analog Synthesizer

MicroBrute is pure analog sonic powerhouse of a synth. Small in size but loaded with features, it follows in the footsteps laid by its big brother the MiniBrute. 

Packed with mixable waveforms, a new sub oscillator design, the famous Steiner-Parker multimode filter, super fast envelope, syncable LFO and the new step sequencer, not to mention the patchable mod matrix the MicroBrute is a landmark new synth at an incredible price.

The Voice path on the MicroBrute is 100% Analog, not digitally controlled analog, not digital oscillators with a wave shaper, but true honest analog. 

This gives MicroBrute the same sort of rich, warm sound found in its award winning big brother, the MiniBrute.

This gives the MicroBrute a sound that will not go out of fashion or get stale, just like the many true analog classics that are still around today getting top dollar.

The MicroBrute oscillator generates multiple wave shapes at one time. The wave mixer allows you to blend these different waveforms in varying levels to create and unending variety of sounds.

Some synths that cost 2, 3 and 4 times as much only allow you to enable or disable the waveforms. This leaves you with 2 or 3 options for the raw sound. The MicroBrute oscillator does not hold back on sonic capabilities and allows you the freedom to create your own sound.

The oscillator waves and wave mixer are nice but they don't stop there. We have added special wave shapers on every waveform that boldly expands the sonic range. Most synths have pulse width mod... yeah, we do too.

No other synths have our Triangle wave Metalizer or our analog Ultrasaw modifiers. The Metalizer adds upper end harmonics to the normally dark triangle wave and can produce some sharp cutting bass sounds. The Ultrasaw makes the single saw sound like 2 or 3 saw waves that are slightly detuned making it the biggest single analog wave you have ever heard.

The newly designed Sub oscillator, named Overtone, is much more than the typical sub.

This will of course create a standard square wave 1 octave down from the oscillators root pitch, giving you deep octave spread goodness but it goes further by having a harmonic control that increases the upper overtones until the pitch finally reaches a full 5th above the root oscillator.

This in effect gives you a two-oscillator sound. The sub>5th control allows for a wealth of sounds between as well. Add the ability to modulate this and you get the baddest, boldest sub oscillator 

When we chose the Steiner-Parker filter on the MiniBrute we knew we had a winning combination. We decided to leave this classic filter on the MicroBrute as well. Known for having its own distinctive sound and its wide range of tonal options, the Steiner-Parker is a staple filter in the modular synth world. 

The MicroBrute offers three modes of this great filter : Low Pass, Band Pass and High Pass.

This filter in combination with our amazing oscillator will give you a lifetime of sound sculpting options.

The Brute Factor™ adds a certain character to both our MiniBrute and MicroBrute that makes them some of the most aggressive analog synths around. 

The Brute Factor™ simulates a trick that people used to do on a certain synth by taking the output from the headphone out and routing it back to the external input. We refined this and made it into a more controllable circuit that at low levels gives you a saturated and enhanced low end sound and at high levels can wreck havok on sound systems everywhere.

You have been warned. 

The modulation matrix takes the MicroBrute into a whole new arena of sound possibilities.

Being able to change the default mod routings and create your own patches sets MicroBrute apart from the crowd. It also opens the MicroBrute up to being much more than just a compact synth. It allows the MicroBrute to work well as an expander and companion to the MiniBrute. For those with modular synths, the MicroBrute can become a controller, a set of modules that can be integrated as well as a signal processor

The LFO allows for a wide range of modulation possibilities. With an extended frequency range it can create subtle vibrato effects, long evolving modulations, or even reach into the lower realms of exponential cross mod effects. Normally patched to control the pitch of the oscillator, you can always patch the output to control the filter cutoff for wobble basses or patch it to the pulse width, saw animator or sub inputs to create thick and rich waveshaper effects.

The envelope was tailored to offer a range of "times" that are best suited to a mono synth. This means that there plenty of punch and fast attack for creating the hardest hitting basses and electronic kicks around. Normally routed to the Metalizer, the enveloppe allows for sync-sweep types of effects that are perfect for cutting leads. Using the mod matrix, patch it to the pitch and now you will have the start of percussive zaps, kick drums and alien craft landing sounds. Use the Mod matrix output and make the enveloppe a 3rd modulation enveloppe with a MiniBrute or an extra one for your ever growing modular synth.

The MicroBrute allows full connectivity to the modern world. 
We are seeing a wealth of new low cost analog products that are leaving this critical functionality off, which relegates them to the toybox and not the professional studio.

The MicroBrute features USB 2.0 MIDI input and output and responds to MIDI notes, modwheel, pitch bend and will sync to MIDI clock.

The 5 Pin DIN MIDI Input allows you to use the MicroBrute as a sound module with a full sized keyboard giving you a wider range of playability. 

MicroBrute supports the standard 1 Volt per octave format found on most modern modular synthesizers, but also on the MiniBrute. This make the MicroBrute a great addition to both modular users and MiniBrute users.

MiniBrute users can have the sequencer of the MicroBrute drive the MiniBrute via CV/GATE. They can use the envelope and LFO CV outputs to add a third env and LFO to your MiniBrute via the Filter, Pitch or VCA inputs.

Modular users can use the MicroBrute's sequencer, keyboard, envelope and LFO to add a vast amount of functionality to their modulars. Modular users would typically spend more money for a Steiner-Parker filter alone (which you could also use via the audio input) much less the other controls that are available. 

Audio processing of external sources is possible with the Audio Input. 

You can run your drums through the MicroBrute's filter and Brute Factor™. Shape the sound or modulate a vocal part. Use the external input along with a sequence that is modulating the filter to get some great rhythmic tonal changes to a guitar solo or bass line. The possibilities are endless.

The built in step sequencer allows for quick and creative pattern making. It has 8 sequences that can be up to 64 steps each. They are remembered on power off so you won't lose them.

Simply put the mode switch to REC, start pressing notes on the keyboard and entering rests using the Tap Tempo buttons. When you are finished, just move the mode switch back to OFF or PLAY when you are finished. It is that easy. 

The Step sequencer allows for a number of trigger modes and playback modes. These are set in using the free editor software that you can download from the Arturia web page.

You can choose the time base from the following step sizes 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32.

You can have the sequences trigger from the Keyboard or start playing right when you select PLAY.

You can have the sequences play to the end when you switch them or have them change immediately... and more.

So now that you have your sequences, you want to save them and clear them out to create some more. Using the software editor, you can import and export your sequences to your computer.