Arturia announces MicroBrute synth

Arturia has just announced details of another hardware analogue synth, this time the MicroBrute. On the face of it it looks like a feature-packed little beast and comes in at just £269 inc VAT (USD 349.00 / EURO 299.00) which seems incredible value, but we’ll let you know what we think in a few weeks time. Meanwhile the official details follow. Warning: bold claims alert!

Arturia announces MicroBrute synth

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.

Price: £269 inc VAT (USD 349.00 / EURO 299.00)

MAIN FEATURES – see below

Monophonic synthesizer
100% Analog Audio Signal Path
Steiner-Parker 2 pole Multimode Filter (Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass)
Analog Voltage Controlled Oscillator
Oscillator Mixer (Overtone, Sawtooth, Square, Triangle, audio in (on rear panel))
‘Overtone’ sub oscillator/5th generator
Signal Enhancers :
Pulse Width Modulation
Ultrasaw generating fat sawtooth waveforms
Metalizer bringing extreme harmonics
Brute Factor™ delivering saturation and rich harmonics
LFO with 3 waveforms (Sine, Sawtooth, Square)
LFO clock syncable to Arpeggiator (Arpeg, or free).
ADSR Envelope Generator
Keyboard Tracking on the VCF Cutoff
25 note minikey keyboard
Mod Wheel (assignable to Cutoff, or LFO amount)
Pitch Wheel (with selectable bend range via software)
Octave selector from -2 to +2 octaves
External Analog Audio Input
CV In jacks: Pitch, Filter, sub-harmonics, pulse width, metalizer, saw animator
CV Out jacks: pitch, envelope, LFO
MIDI Inwith 5 pin DIN connector
USB MIDI In/Out
1/4” Audio Output and 1/8” Headphone Output
Full Function step sequencer :
8 memories
up to 64 steps per memory
tap tempo
rate control
step divisions (via software)
trigger modes (via software)
MIDI Sync
Steel bottom panel
12V DC 1A power supply