Microfreak/UG/03 Overview

• 03 MicroFreak Overview

  • This chapter introduces the controls on the MicroFreak. If synthesis is new to you, Microfreak/UG/06 Dig Osc, Microfreak/UG/07 Filter, and Microfreak/UG/09 Envelope Gen explain its main building blocks.
  • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel

    • 03.01 Front panel overview

      • The MicroFreak's front panel is compact.
      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row

        • 03.01.01 Top Row

          • Top Row
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          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row/01 Matrix

            • 03.01.01.01 The Matrix

              • The matrix
                • 
              • The Modulation Matrix is an electronic patchbay that routes modulation sources to destinations. Turning the white Matrix encoder moves the connection LED between patch points; after the last point, it cycles back to the first. Click the encoder to set the selected connection's modulation amount.
              • Each connection acts like a patch cord with an attenuator for positive or negative modulation. Parameters with knobs can generally be modulation destinations.
              • Sources occupy rows 1–5. Destinations occupy columns 1–7: columns 1–4 are fixed, while columns 5–7 are assignable.
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row/02 Paraphonic

            • 03.01.01.02 Paraphonic

              • When the Paraphonic button is lit, the MicroFreak can trigger four voices independently. The voices share one analog filter but can have different amplitudes. Internal VCA envelopes shape each voice's volume along with the Main Envelope.
              • The Main Envelope, Pressure, Keyboard, and Arpeggiator can produce polyphonic modulation. Routing them to polyphonic destinations such as Oscillator Type, Wave, Timbre, or Shape gives each voice its own modulation.
              • Selecting paraphonic mode
                • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row/03 Panel Select

            • 03.01.01.03 Panel Select

              • A loaded preset recalls saved parameter values, which may differ from the panel's current knob positions. Press Panel to apply the current knob positions to the sound, so subsequent edits match what you hear.
              • Panel Select
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          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row/04 Display Preset

            • 03.01.01.04 The Display and the Preset encoder

              • The OLED display shows information about knobs and buttons. Turn the Preset encoder beside it to browse presets; the display shows each preset's name and category.
              • Firmware 5.0.0 increased capacity from 384 to 512 slots. A bank of 64 new presets can be loaded from the MIDI Control Center. Empty presets default to the name “Init” and category “Bass.”

              • Note/Info Factory presets are protected against overwrite by default. Change this in Utility > Misc > Mem Protect.
                

              • The Preset manager
                • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row/05 Save

            • 03.01.01.05 Save

              • Press Save to save a preset. Microfreak/UG/04 Presets explains the steps.

              • Note/Info Saving is unavailable in Utility mode. Leave Utility mode before saving a preset.
                

              • Saving Presets
                • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row/06 Utility

            • 03.01.01.06 Utility

              • Utility contains global settings and settings for each preset, including Preset Volume, Bend Range, and Pressure mode.
              • Access to the Utility settings
                • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/01 Top Row/07 Master Volume

            • 03.01.01.07 Master Volume

              • Master Volume sets the global output level for both the line and headphone outputs. To balance one preset against another, set Utility > Preset > Preset volume.
              • The Volume knob
                • 
      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/02 Middle Row

        • 03.01.02 Middle Row

          • Middle row of the MicroFreak
            • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/02 Middle Row/01 Keyboard Glide

            • 03.01.02.01 Keyboard glide

              • Glide smooths the pitch transition between notes. Fully counterclockwise, the transition is immediate; turning the knob clockwise increases the glide time. Microfreak/UG/10 Keyboard/03 Glide explains Glide in detail.
              • The Glide knob
                • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/02 Middle Row/02 Digital Osc

            • 03.01.02.02 Digital oscillator

              • The Digital Oscillator generates the MicroFreak's core sound. The Analog Filter, Envelopes, and LFO shape it. Type, Wave, Timbre, and Shape control its parameters; Microfreak/UG/06 Dig Osc explains them in detail.
              • The Digital Oscillator
                • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/02 Middle Row/03 Analog Filter

            • 03.01.02.03 Analog filter

              • The Analog Filter emphasizes or suppresses harmonics in the Digital Oscillator sound, changing its timbre. Cutoff sets where filtering begins; Resonance emphasizes frequencies near that point. Microfreak/UG/07 Filter explains the filter in detail.
              • The Analog Filter
                • 
              • The three filter types
                • Low-pass (LPF) attenuates frequencies above cutoff.
                • Band-pass (BPF) attenuates frequencies above and below cutoff.
                • High-pass (HPF) attenuates frequencies below cutoff.
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/02 Middle Row/04 Cycling Env

            • 03.01.02.04 Cycling Envelope

              • The Cycling Envelope generates modulation signals for destinations in the Matrix. Unlike a standard envelope, it can retrigger after its last stage finishes. Microfreak/UG/09 Envelope Gen covers its controls.
              • The Cycling Envelope Generator
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      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row

        • 03.01.03 Bottom Row

          • Bottom row of the MicroFreak
            • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row/01 Octave Select

            • 03.01.03.01 Octave select

              • The octave buttons select the active keyboard range.
              • Octave select
                • 
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row/02 Shift

            • 03.01.03.02 Shift

              • Hold Shift to access functions printed in blue on the panel and other secondary functions. Microfreak/UG/20 Appendix C - Cheat Sheet lists them.
              • The shift button
                • 
              • Shift functions
                • Toggle between Arpeggiator and Sequencer.
                • Set the swing rate.
                • Control the Attack and Fall shapes of the Cycling Envelope.
                • Transpose or reload sequences, or copy an arpeggio to a sequence.
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row/03 Arp Seq

            • 03.01.03.03 ARP/Seq (Arpeggiator/Sequencer)

              • The Arpeggiator plays notes derived from the held keys. Microfreak/UG/12 Arpeggiator and Microfreak/UG/13 Sequencer share several controls.
              • The Arpeggiator and the Sequencers
                • 
              • Arp | Seq switches between the Arpeggiator and Sequencer. Oct | Mod sets the Arpeggiator range or selects one of four Sequencer modulation tracks.
              • Rate sets the tempo in BPM. Press the knob to enable Sync; with Sync active, the knob changes the time division relative to the set tempo.
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row/04 LFO

            • 03.01.03.04 LFO

              • The low-frequency oscillator produces modulation at 0.05–100 Hz and offers six waveforms.
              • The LFO
                • 
              • Shape selects a waveform
                • Sine rises and falls smoothly.
                • Triangle rises and falls linearly.
                • Rising sawtooth rises linearly and then drops suddenly.
                • Square switches suddenly between minimum and maximum.
                • Random stepped jumps between randomly generated values.
                • Random gliding moves gradually between randomly generated values.
              • Rate sets LFO speed. Press it to enable Sync, which follows the Sequencer/Arpeggiator tempo clock. With Sync off, Rate sets the speed independently.
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row/05 Gen Env

            • 03.01.03.05 The General Envelope Generator

              • The Envelope Generator shapes a tone’s loudness or timbre and can be patched to destinations in the Matrix. Attack, Decay/Release, and Sustain affect the filter by default; Filter Amt sets the envelope’s effect on the filter. Microfreak/UG/09 Envelope Gen explains the controls in detail.
              • The Envelope Generator
                • 
              • With Amp Mod active, the envelope also shapes VCA loudness.
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row/06 Keyboard

            • 03.01.03.06 Keyboard section

              • The 25-key capacitive keyboard generates gate, pitch, and pressure. The octave buttons extend its two-octave range. The section also includes the Icon strip and the Bend, Spice, and Dice touch controls.

              • Note/Info Utility can make the keyboard generate velocity in place of pressure.
                

              • The Keyboard
                • 
              • Utility or MIDI Control Center settings determine whether the keyboard provides aftertouch or velocity. USB and MIDI out can send fully polyphonic MIDI control to other devices.
          • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/01 Front Panel/03 Bottom Row/07 Icon Strip

            • 03.01.03.07 The Icon strip

              • The eight icons above the keyboard provide Arpeggiator, Pattern Generator, Sequencer, Spice, Dice, and Bend controls.
              • The icon strip
                • 
              • Spice and Dice vary the current arpeggio or sequence; their effects are audible only while the Arpeggiator or Sequencer runs. Dice changes gates and triggers, while Spice sets the amount of variation.
              • Spice & Dice
                • 
              • Microfreak/UG/10 Keyboard explains the Icon strip in detail.
  • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel

    • 03.02 Rear Panel Overview

      • Rear Panel Overview
        • 
      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel/01 Audio Outputs

        • 03.02.01 Audio outputs

          • The headphone output is a 3.5 mm TS or TRS jack. The MicroFreak sends the same mono signal to both sides of stereo headphones.
          • Audio output
            • 
          • The headphone jack also accepts the microphone supplied with the MicroFreak Vocoder Edition. A TRRS device, such as a gaming headset with a built-in microphone, can serve as an audio input on a standard MicroFreak.

          • Note/Warning Pull the microphone straight out of the headphone jack to avoid damage. Remove it before storing or transporting the MicroFreak.
            

          • The Line output is a balanced 6.35 mm TRS jack for an amplifier or mixer. A TRS cable improves the signal-to-noise ratio. Its signal is mono.
      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel/02 Pitch Gate Pressure

        • 03.02.02 Pitch/Gate/Pressure outputs

          • These outputs send electrical signals to external analog synthesizers or a Eurorack modular system.
          • CV, Gate and Pressure outputs
            • 
          • CV sends a control voltage for an external oscillator; Gate triggers an external device.
          • Pressure sends a pressure or velocity voltage, selected in Utility > Preset > Press mode.
      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel/03 Clock

        • 03.02.03 Clock input/output

          • Sync the MicroFreak with external synthesizers or modular systems through the Clock input and output.
          • Clock input and output
            • 

          • Note/Info A TRS jack carries both clock and start signals. A TS jack carries only clock.
            

      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel/04 MIDI

        • 03.02.04 MIDI input/output

          • MIDI input and output
            • 
          • Use the included gray 3.5 mm TRS-to-5-pin-DIN adapters to send and receive MIDI and controller data from compatible devices.
      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel/05 USB DC In

        • 03.02.05 USB/DC IN

          • The USB connector supplies power and exchanges data with a computer. A 5 V, 500 mA USB phone charger can also power the MicroFreak without a computer.
          • The USB connector
            • 
          • USB connects the MicroFreak to Arturia MIDI Control Center for settings, firmware updates, and preset management.
      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel/06 Power Switch

        • 03.02.06 Power switch

          • The recessed switch turns the MicroFreak off without unplugging USB. When both USB and DC power are connected, DC power takes priority; connecting DC power resets the MicroFreak.
          • The On-Off switch
            • 

          • Note/Info The MicroFreak can run from a phone or tablet power bank.
            

      • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/02 Rear Panel/07 Power Connector

        • 03.02.07 Power Connector

          • Connect the supplied Arturia power supply to the mains outlet. The supply provides the ground required by the capacitive keyboard.
          • The power connector
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  • Microfreak/UG/03 Overview/03 Signal Flow

    • 03.03 Signal Flow

      • The Digital Oscillator sends its waveform to the Filter and an analog VCA. The main Envelope has a fixed connection to the VCA. With Amp Mod on, the main Envelope controls the VCA; with Amp Mod off, the keyboard Gate controls it.
      • The signal flow of the MicroFreak
        • 
      • In Paraphonic mode with Amp Mod on, copies of the envelope control internal digital VCAs, one for each voice set in Utility.
      • The main Envelope also controls Filter cutoff through the Filter Amount knob. Turning the knob lights the envelope-to-filter connection in the Matrix.