So it seems like proper analogue synth’s are making a comeback. Off the top of my head I can think of the Korg Monotron, Waldorf Pulse 2, Moog Minitaur and Slim Phatty. Oh, and the one I am about to talk about, the Arturia MiniBrute. I am sure there are some that I have missed, but lets keep it basic. Another thing about all of the synths I have just mentioned is that they are all quite small, just look at the names of some of them and that’s enough to give you a hint. Mini is in! So the Arturia MiniBrute would not be the most obvious option out of the list I just gave. The list includes some of the biggest and most well respected names in synthesis ie Korg, Moog and Waldorf. Regardless, I thought it might be interesting to see what Arturia could bring to the table
What is it? A monophonic, 100% analogue synth. It doesn’t have a type of digital control. It has your regular, triangle, pulse, white noise and saw waves forms with some cool added/modern features like super saw which can make the saw detune and sound like it’s adding saw layers and metalizer on the triangle wave (see website for more details but it kinda does what it sounds like it does). It also has a sub Oscillator which as well as a sine wave can also produce a pulse/square wave. On top of this, it has a Steiner Parker Filter, arpeggiator and two LFO’s
Awesome things about this synth? The layout and controls are great. Very simple and I think it would be one of the easier hardware synths to use EVER! Big call I know. The extra functions (super saw and metalizer) on the simple analogue waveforms brings a new element to the classic analogue sound. Steiner Parker Filters I have never used, but I have read about them and they sound like they are the business with a distinctive sound and have me very curious to give them a go. The size is also a key benefit. Who can say that they would like their hardware to use up more space in their studio’s, right!? It is going to retail at AU$579 and US$540! That is crazy cheap and it is starting to bring hardware out of the not so affordable bracket. Some software synths cost $300, so the gap is getting smaller
Things I am not so into? Well there are not many really. I guess Arturia is not a name I think to go to when I would be looking to buy hardware, but I do love their software. Arpeggiator is a little limited but it would be hard to expect more out of such a small unit. It is not the most beautiful synth going around but is that really important? If I didn’t have a Moog Little Phatty already in my studio and I wanted a basic analogue synth, this would be super hard to go past. One big thing for me is that hardware is faster to use when you are on the controls and knobs. This to me looks like it has nailed that. Sound wise I guess I would have to get one and try it. Also buying hardware for me is about having something classic and Arturia is not yet something I would consider classic. I will say I think this is the best way to get into analogue synthesis when you consider the price, the features and, only from what I can gauge by what I have read – the quality of the sound. Read more here.
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