Arturia MicroFreak Stellar Limited Edition - Analog Synthesizer

Product Information

Discover the same loveable hybrid beast that sent the synth world into a spin, but primed for launch and ready for an interplanetary sonic voyage. MicroFreak Stellar features the same inspiring, bonkers sound but embellished with a unique space-age design. Digital, Wavetable, Sampling, Granular… Rewire the MicroFreak Stellar’s architecture with its comprehensive modulation matrix. With up to seven simultaneous destinations, three of which are freely assignable, and five sources, including an ADSR envelope, cycling envelope and 6-shape LFO, you can dive deep into complex sound design and discover an endless array of synth sounds. Inspiring Sequencing Arturia made available user installable firmware updates for the MicroFreak with additional features and improvements in the years after the original release. [8] [9] Launched alongside MicroFreak Stellar is another free firmware update for all MicroFreak users, introducing user sample import, a Sampler engine and 3 Granular engines. It’s a really emotive form of synthesis that’s been popularised in plugins and modular synths, but there aren’t too many hardware synths with this capability, and certainly none at the MicroFreak’s inviting price point.

The Arturia MICROFREAK Stellar Paraphonic Hybrid Synthesizer blends the strengths of analogue and digital synthesis engines to offer a diverse tonal palette, enabling you to create almost any sound you can imagine. The limited-edition 'Stellar' version builds on the success of the original MicroFreak and comes with an updated finish and several new features. The firmware update also includes three new granular engines, named Scan Grains, Cloud Grains, and Hit Grains. These engines offer even more options for editing samples, making the MicroFreak an even more versatile tool for musicians. You'll be pleased to know that four-voice unison mode can now be used for all oscillator types. This provides you with a unison spread of up to 12 semitones, all of which can be used as a destination for modulation. Achieving "phat" sounding basses and melodies has never been so easy!

Wholegrain Goodness

Classic Analogue Filter - MICROFREAK's state-variable filter is based on a classic analogue 12db/Oct filter and can deliver both subtle and aggressive tonal changes. With the ability to self-oscillate, the filter opens up new possibilities for sound design. You can also modulate the cut-off with keyboard pressure or the sequencer, allowing you to create dynamic and expressive soundscapes. Whether you want to add a finishing touch to your sound design or tame harsh wavetable sounds, the filter provides a wide range of options. Mullen, Matt (2021-10-26). "Arturia's V4.0 MicroFreak firmware update adds WaveUser synth engine and 64 new presets". MusicRadar . Retrieved 2022-10-25.

Wavetable – a method of synthesis where the waveform transitions through a table of different waveforms, You can even use the keyboard to define and change the pitch of your sounds, or the sequencer to set up full drum beats, slice up synth sounds, or chop vocals! In addition to sample import and granular engines, the firmware update also improves the synth’s envelopes, making them faster and snappier. And with over 300 factory presets and 512 slots for user presets, the MicroFreak Stellar Edition is a synth that will keep musicians inspired for years to come. Frequency Modulation (two operators) – a method of synthesis where a wave modulates the frequency of another wave, Arturia have also added three brand-new synthesis engines to the MicroFreak’s new edition, all utilising granular synthesis to really make the MicroFreak stand out!On the downside, being a digital synth, a lot of these oscillator types can sound a little… well, digital. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – when you need a brash, harmonically complex sound that can slice through a mix, MicroFreak can do it in so many different ways. Filter fun For us, though, the USP is the Chords oscillator, which outputs a four-voice chord. The Wave knob is used to choose one of 11 chords, the Timbre knob switches the current inversion, and Shape scans through a host of waveform shapes. Digital Oscillator Modes: Over 20 modes, including modes from Noise Engineering & Mutable Instruments Based on a classic analogue 12db/Oct filter, the MICROFREAK can scream or whisper. This powerful state-variable filter can self-oscillate, giving your sound design new realms to explore. Modulate the cut-off with keyboard pressure or even with the sequencer. The filter offers massive scope for adding that finishing touch to your sound design or for taking the edge off those abrasive wavetable sounds. Expressive and performative Digital oscillators with variable modes, with integrated open-source Plaits engine created by Mutable Instruments

MicroFreak Stellar comes with an exclusive selection of presets designed to boldly go where no Freak has gone before. What if we told you that you could get virtual analog, wavetable, FM, vocoder sounds and beyond in a single synth? a b Rogerson, Ben (2020-08-25). "Arturia releases MicroFreak Vocoder Edition, and there's a pleasant surprise for owners of the original synth, too". MusicRadar . Retrieved 2022-10-25. If you haven’t tried granular synthesis before and don’t have a MicroFreak to hand, I’d recommend trying a granular synth plugin to experiment with this unique style. It’s great for soundbeds and unique textures. Sometimes excellent for comforting ambient textures, granular is also great at creating warped or stretched sounds for more ominous moods or some out-there percussive sounds.It received a limited edition white Vocoder design in 2020. [5] MicroFreak Vocoder (in white) is located on top of MatrixBrute (leftmost synthesizer) Reception [ edit ] The versatile digital oscillators in the MICROFREAK feature varied modes, so you can create weird and wonderful sounds with ease. Modes like Texturer, Karplus strong, Harmonic OSC, and Superwave give the MICROFREAK a huge range for creating your own interesting soundscapes. If you want an instrument that features an incredibly versatile sound set and don't want to be restrained by other more focused synths, then MICROFREAK's flexible and powerful synthesizer engine is ideal for this and loads of other applications. Plaits by Mutable Instruments Building on the success of the original MicroFreak, this limited edition version not only features a brand new look but the updated firmware introduces four powerful engines. The new sampling engine allows you to use manipulate and trigger recorded audio directly from the MicroFreak, allowing you to run your favourite samples through the powerful analog filter and modulation controls. Three new granular engines are also included, comprised of Scan, Cloud and Hit modes allowing you to journey into the depths of granular exploration. MicroFreak’s Buchla Easel-style 25-key capacitive keyboard is an interesting addition in both looks and playability, encouraging a different kind of performance. Unlike regular keys, these PCB flat strips are covered in copper dots that respond to the amount of surface your fingers cover, resulting in the output of gate, pitch and pressure (or velocity) data that can be assigned to any parameter via the Matrix. Polyphonic aftertouch is possible, and various responsiveness options can also be adjusted in the Utility menu, too. For note bends, there’s a bipolar Touch Strip that lets you ‘punch in’ and scan specific jumps or slides below and above the current pitch. For more performance possibilities, the synth features an Arpeggiator: engage it with the Arp button, set Rate and Division, set an Octave range between one and four, then hold down a chord to cycle through those notes. There are also two four-voice-paraphonic Sequencers onboard, which run at a global length of between four and 64 steps. Each sequence can store up to four MicroFreak parameters for hands-free parameter automation, and be used as destinations for mod duties. Versatile Sound Design and Algorithms - With the latest update, three new algorithms, namely bass, sawX, and harm, have been introduced. These algorithms are also available in Noise Engineering's Virt Iter module, which offers flexibility in additive harmonic colour, wave folding, modulation, and other features. By including these algorithms, you can push your digital signal to analogue extremes and explore a range of possibilities. It's an ideal way to enhance your audio experience.