Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear

• 17 Connecting external gear

  • The MicroFreak connects to a range of vintage and modern equipment through the ports on its rear panel.
  • MicroFreak Rear Panel
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  • Below are examples of possible setups:
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/01 Computer Connection

    • ...with a computer

      • MicroFreak-Computer connection
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      • The MicroFreak is a USB class-compliant controller. Connect it to a computer to use it as an input device for applications or to work with MIDI Control Center, which provides a wide range of settings.
      • You can also use the MicroFreak without a computer. Power it with a standard USB phone charger or a power bank, and connect other equipment as shown below.
      • MicroFreak with power bank
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      • Note/Warning The MicroFreak's touch-capacitive keyboard must be grounded to work fully. Arturia recommends using the supplied three-pin wall plug.
        

      • Many devices have MIDI ports but no CV/Gate or USB connectors. The MicroFreak can send them notes and control them from its front panel with CC commands.

      • Note/Info Use the supplied gray 1/8-inch TRS-to-5-pin DIN adapters to connect external MIDI devices to the MicroFreak.
        

      • The MicroFreak can also send and receive MIDI data through a computer's USB port.
      • MIDI to Modular
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  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/02 CV Gate

    • 17.1 CV/Gate functions

      • The MicroFreak puts USB, MIDI, Clock, and CV/Gate outputs on its rear panel. This section describes its CV/Gate circuitry.
      • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/02 CV Gate/01 Pitch Gate and Pressure

        • 17.1.1 Control voltages: Pitch, Gate and Pressure

          • When Sequence A or B is selected, or when you play the keyboard, notes are immediately converted to Control Voltage (CV) and Gate signals at the rear-panel outputs. In Paraphonic mode, notes played on the keyboard take priority over a running sequence.
          • CV Gate outputs
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          • Each note sends three independent voltages: Pitch, Gate, and Pressure. Pressure can send velocity or pressure, depending on the Utility setting or MIDI Control Center.
          • Some analog synthesizers implement CV/Gate in ways that are not fully compatible with the MicroFreak. Check their specifications before buying to ensure they work together.
          • MIDI Control Center can configure the response of the CV/Gate jacks. By default, Pitch uses the 1 V per octave standard: an octave played on the keyboard raises the connected synthesizer or Eurorack module by one octave. Some synthesizers use Hz/V or 1.2 V per octave; choose the matching Pitch Format in Utility or MIDI Control Center.
          • CV Gate setting in the MIDI Control Center
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          • Gate output can use S-Trig, V-Trig 5 V, or V-Trig 10 V, set in Utility or MIDI Control Center. Keyboard sensitivity adjusts the CV pressure range to match an external modular synthesizer.
          • The default 1 V per octave standard means that one volt raises an oscillator by one octave. It is the most common standard. If external oscillators do not track properly, check the external gear's documentation; changing the Volt/Octave setting may help.
          • The Pitch control voltage can use:
            • 1 V per octave (0–10 V)
            • Hertz per Volt, for systems where each volt change produces a fixed change in frequency rather than a fixed musical interval
            • 1.2 V per octave, a Buchla-specific standard
          • CV setting in the MIDI Control Center
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  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/03 Clock Sources and Destinations

    • 17.2 Clock sources/destinations

      • Clock input and output can synchronize with older clock formats: 24, 48, or 2 pulses per quarter note (ppq), or one pulse per step.
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/04 Control External Gear

    • 17.3 Controlling external and modular gear

      • Arturia's MicroBrute, MiniBrute, and MatrixBrute helped renew interest in analog synthesizers. Many musicians also use Eurorack modules to build individual instruments; Arturia's RackBrute provides a Eurorack case.
      • The MicroFreak follows Arturia's other products with interfaces for modular equipment. Its Pitch, Velocity, and Pressure outputs can control external Eurorack modules.
      • MIDI also controls external synthesizers and modular systems. Connect the MicroFreak to a MIDI-equipped synthesizer with a MIDI cable. To control Eurorack modules over MIDI, use a module that converts MIDI from the MicroFreak into Pitch and Gate signals.
      • MIDI can also control external synthesizer parameters such as filters and envelope generators, if the synthesizer has a MIDI input.
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/05 Local Control

    • 17.4 About Local Control

      • By default, the keyboard is connected to the sound engine (Local On), so pressing a key plays the MicroFreak. Turn Local Control off when controlling the MicroFreak externally over MIDI: the keyboard sends notes to MIDI out, but they do not reach the sound engine. The MicroFreak may then seem unresponsive.

      • Note/Info If the MicroFreak seems unresponsive, check whether Local Control was turned off.
        

      • Local Off is useful when an external sequencer controls the MicroFreak. It prevents double triggering when the sequencer sends keyboard notes back to the MicroFreak sound engine, a condition called MIDI echo.
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/06 MIDI Channels

    • 17.5 About MIDI channels

      • A central synthesizer or MIDI controller can control several instruments. MIDI has 16 channels so one device can send separate parts to other instruments on different channels.
      • The MicroFreak can transmit on all 16 channels at once or on a selected channel. By default, it transmits on all channels. To send a performance or sequence to a particular synthesizer or drum machine, set the MicroFreak's output channel to match; drum machines commonly use channel 10. Change the channel in Utility or MIDI Control Center.
      • MIDI input works the same way. To have a controller such as an Arturia BeatStep Pro control the MicroFreak on channel 2, set its input channel to 2 in Utility.
      • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/06 MIDI Channels/01 DAW Configuration

        • 17.5.1 MIDI and CV/Gate signals: DAW configuration

          • A DAW can play MIDI tracks on the MicroFreak when the track's MIDI channel matches the MicroFreak's input channel. The Utility settings also let you receive on one channel and send the keyboard's notes to the DAW on another. Set the input and output channels in Utility.
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/07 MIDI Tutorial MINI V

    • 17.6 Tutorial 1: Using MIDI to control the MINI V VST synth

      • This tutorial uses the MicroFreak to control the filter frequency in Arturia MINI V. The same method works with any V Collection instrument that receives MIDI on channel 4.
      • Set the MicroFreak to transmit on MIDI channel 4 in Utility. MINI V instruments receive on all channels by default; set MINI V to channel 4 from the MIDI channel control at the bottom right.
      • Connect the MicroFreak's USB output to the computer and open MINI V in standalone mode or in a DAW.
      • Open the Arturia System menu and choose Audio MIDI settings. Select Arturia MicroFreak under MIDI devices.
      • Select the MIDI icon in the upper-right corner of the main menu. MINI V's knobs turn red or purple.
      • Select the Filter section's Cutoff Frequency knob, then turn the MicroFreak's Filter knob. MINI V's Cutoff Frequency should respond.
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/08 MIDI Tutorial VCV Rack

    • 17.7 Tutorial 2: Using MIDI to control modules on VCV Rack

      • This example uses the MicroFreak's arpeggiator to control an oscillator and envelope generator in VCV Rack, a free virtual modular system.
      • Connect the MicroFreak's USB output to the computer and open VCV Rack's demo patch.
      • In the first position, use a MIDI-CV module to send MicroFreak note values to an oscillator's pitch and velocity values to an ADSR envelope.
      • In the MIDI-CV module, change the input from computer keyboard to Core MIDI, then select Arturia MicroFreak as the device. The module can now receive pitch and velocity from the MicroFreak.
      • In the Audio-8 module, select the computer's audio output.
      • VCV Rack MIDI-CV patch
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      • Press a MicroFreak key to hear VCV Rack. The keyboard, arpeggiator, and sequencer can now control VCV Rack oscillators and envelope generators.
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/09 MIDI CC Control

    • 17.8 Using MIDI CC# codes for control

      • MicroFreak encoders send MIDI CC# data as you turn them. CC# codes control parameters on external synthesizers, modular systems, and software such as VCV Rack. They are parameter-control messages, separate from note messages.
      • CC# codes work like remote knobs. For example, the MicroFreak's Filter knob sends CC# 23; a value of 0 closes the filter and a value of 127 opens it fully. The MicroFreak has 20 CC# codes for its parameters.
      • CC# codes can also control plug-in parameters. Arturia's V Collection plug-ins have MIDI Learn, which can link a MicroFreak knob to a plug-in knob. For example, the MicroFreak's Filter knob can control filters in CZ V, DX7 V, and Buchla Easel V at the same time.
      • Consult the DAW and V Collection documentation for setup instructions.

      • Note/Info If CC# messages are not sent, check the knob-send-CC# setting in Utility or MIDI Control Center.
        

      • The tutorials below show how to use CC# codes to control VCV Rack modules.
  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/10 Tutorial MIDI CC

    • 17.9 Tutorial 3: sending CC# codes from the MicroFreak

      • Turning a MicroFreak knob sends a CC# code. If you know the code for a dial, slider, or switch, you can use it to control an external parameter.
      • This tutorial links the MicroFreak's Cyclic Envelope to the ADSR envelope in VCV Rack's demo patch. It assumes the patch from Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/08 MIDI Tutorial VCV Rack is already set up to control VCO-1 and the ADSR.
      • In VCV Rack, click an empty area of the rack to open the module selector. Search for MIDI and add the MIDI-CC module.
      • In the MIDI-CC module, choose Arturia MicroFreak from the device list.
      • The module has 16 CC# controllers, numbered 0–15, that can link MicroFreak parameters to VCV Rack parameters. Sixteen patch points below the connection field correspond to its entries.
      • Select the first entry, 0; it changes to a dash. Turn the MicroFreak's Cyclic Envelope Rise knob. The first field displays 5, the Rise parameter's CC#.
      • Repeat for Fall, Hold, and Amount. Their CC# values appear in the connection fields.
      • VCV Rack MIDI-CC patch
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      • Connect the patch points to the ADSR CV inputs:
        • First patch point to Attack
        • Second patch point to Decay
        • Third patch point to Sustain
        • Fourth patch point to Release
      • The Cyclic Envelope now controls the VCV Rack ADSR. Press the MicroFreak's ARP button, play a chord, and turn the Cyclic Envelope knobs to hear the result.
      • The VCV Rack MIDI-CC module can identify CC# codes. Select one of its 16 fields and turn a MicroFreak knob; the module displays the CC# if that knob sends one.
      • The connection works both ways: a VCV Rack output, sequencer, or modular system can control MicroFreak parameters. Use a module such as the Befaco VCMC to convert analog modular signals to MIDI CC# messages.

      • Note/Info Like note and velocity values, CC# values range from 0 to 127.
        

  • Microfreak/UG/17 Ext Gear/11 MIDI CC Values

    • 17.10 MIDI CC# values: an overview

      • Microfreak/UG/21 Appendix D - CC Values lists the MicroFreak's MIDI CC# values.