Fat analog in a slim-sized monophonic synth.
Arturia's revolutionary MiniBrute is an analog synthesizer featuring a pure analog signal path and a host of unique features, setting a standard for what a hardware synthesizer should be. Its 100% analog audio signal path features a VCO wave mixer, the classic Steiner-Parker multimode filter, as well as numerous analog innovations like the Metalizer, Ultrasaw, and the Brute Factor. Boasting complete MIDI, CV and USB connectivity, MiniBrute works easily with both your computer or your vintage synths. This makes the MiniBrute an ideal companion to deliver a pure analog blast anywhere you need it.
100% Analog Power
Combining the renowned savoir-faire of Arturia for designing professional musical instruments, and the expertise of synth guru Yves Usson in crafting fine analog modules. MiniBrute was built with a simple goal in mind: offer great analog sound, through a very easy-to-use interface, and without ever compromising on quality.
The result of fine R&D and skilled craftsmanship: a 100% Analog Audio signal path, delivering huge basslines, screaming leads, outstanding arpeggios and effects. Analog synthesizers of yesteryear are highly sought-after on the second-hand market for their warmth, fatness, slight instability, and their unmistakable sonic character. Digital synths, for their part, offer more possibilities but tend to sound sometimes too sterile and loose musicians in endless menus and boring sound digest concepts.
MiniBrute stands proudly among legendary analog machines like the Minimoog, Pro-One, SH-101, MS-20, and Odyssey. It brings fine analog sounds as heard on the most iconic electronic records, whilst imprinting its own unique features and strong attitude.
Hands-On Heaven
Forget about tiny LCD screens. Forget about menus and sub-menus. Forget about double functions and complex control. MiniBrute brings back the fun and the immediate hands-on experience of synthesis.
You want to make it stronger? Grab the sub-osc slider and move it up. You want it brighter? Grab the filter cutoff knob and turn it up. You want your sound to grow fangs and snarl like a beast? Grab the Brute Factor knob and turn it up. It’s that easy.
Connect to the World
Thanks to its full MIDI/CV/USB connectivity, MiniBrute is designed to fit seamlessly in any modern or vintage studio.
MIDI In/Out: Sequence MiniBrute from your computer’s MIDI interface and DAW, or any other MIDI-Out enabled gear you have. Alternatively use MiniBrute as a master keyboard for your DAW or other MIDI-enabled equipment.
CV In/Out: Chain MiniBrute to your vintage synthesizer, or modular, to get a beefier sound. Expand, control and sequence MiniBrute from your vintage equipment. Use MiniBrute to control your vintage synths (It conforms to the classic 1V per Octave scaling system). Use MiniBrute as a MIDI to CV converter.
USB In/Out: Sequence MiniBrute directly from your computer’s DAW without needing a MIDI interface. Use MiniBrute as a USB-MIDI controller, use MiniBrute as a USB MIDI to CV converter.
Audio In: Process any external sound through MiniBrute’s filter, VCA and Brute Factor circuit. MiniBrute can be used as an analog powerhouse for adding warmth, grit and filter effects to drums, guitars, vocals, and more. It will alternatively generate automatic basslines from percussive sounds by switching the Gate source selector to audio.
MiniBrute can also be used as a MIDI to CV Gate interface, ensuring the link between your computer-based studio and your vintage gear.
Sounds with an Attitude
MiniBrute is certainly not capable of producing every type of sounds, but it does very well with the classic analog sounds it was designed for, including powerful basses, hypnotic drones, screaming leads, acid sequences, ethereal monopads, 80's arpeggios, mind-blowing effects, and fascinating sonic experiments.
If you are more into deep funky basses, mellow leads, clavinet or woodwind-like sounds, MiniBrute can produce them as well, but the danger zone is always at a twist of a knob.
Your Sounds, Your Attitude
MiniBrute comes with no electronic presets. You build every sound you hear yourself. It is not only fun, but it's also creative, and helps make better music. It is no harder than browsing sub-menus on more complicated systems.
You can still play sounds made by other programmers, and you can also store your sounds. Arturia delivers preset sheets that fit on the surface of the MiniBrute. Following instructions set on the preset sheets, you get a preset sound in a minute. And if you want to store your sound, just take one of the blank sheets and make marks so you know where they were.
Oscillator On Steroid
VCO
No DCO (Digitally Controlled Oscillator) is used in MiniBrute - only a pure VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) for absolute authenticity. MiniBrute’s VCO is classic in its sound and modern in its shape, allowing you to mix individually 4 different waveshapes, as well as white noise and external audio input. Add to that a sub-oscillator and several analog signal enhancers such as the Metalizer and the Ultrasaw, and you get custom shapes like no other.
Sub-Osc
Minibrute’s Sub-Oscillator generates sine and square waves. It will allow you to rattle the house by descending as low as two octaves down.
Ultrasaw
The Ultrasaw brings shimmering sawtooth waveforms that will considerably enrich your tone. It basically builds two phase-shifted copies of the basic sawtooth signal. These copies have independent and ever-evolving phaseshifts with respect to each other, and are eventually mixed with the sawtooth signal.
This results in a lively, rich, and bright ensemble effect whose character depends on the modulation rates of the phase-shifted copies. This is the first time such a feature is offered in an analog keyboard format.
Metalizer
The Metalizer takes the basic triangular waveform and warps/folds it to create very complex jagged waveforms that are rich in high harmonics. This results in metallic pitched sounds that are ideal for harpsichord- and clavinet-type tones. Dynamic modulation (LFO or envelope) of the warping/folding parameters opens up a realm of "klangorous” sounds that will nicely cut through your mix.
Modulations Galore
Modulations are key to widen a synthesizer’s sound palette. Whereas too many synths offer limited possibilities, and, in the end, very few different sounds, MiniBrute opens the door to a world of combinations that will allow you to create your unique and original sonic signature.
LFO1 waveforms include a collection of sine, triangle, sawtooth, square, random square and random sine. The modulation amounts are bipolar towards 4 destinations: PWM & Metalizer, Pitch, Filter, and Amplifier. This means you can really get creative and start, for example, modulating the Filter with a negative slope, while increasing the Pitch.
LFO range stretches from 0.1Hz to 100Hz allowing you to go anywhere from progressive evolutions to wild frequency modulation effects.
LFO2 controls vibrato, with adjustable rate and 3 different modes: trill up, trill down and oscillating sine modulations.
Two full ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) envelopes are available on MiniBrute - one controlling Filter and the other controlling Volume (Amplifier). The Filter Envelope can also be routed to modulate the Pulse Width of the Square wave, and the Metalizer amount. The Envelope fast/slow switch allows you to command ultra-fast 1 millisecond responses for snappy electro basses and leads, to more than 10 second responses for slow evolving soundscapes.
To extend the modulation routings further and link them to your expression of playing, MiniBrute benefits from Mod wheel and Aftertouch controls. Each one of them can be set to modulate either the Cutoff or the Vibrato. Mod wheel can also be set to control the general LFO amount.
Steiner-Parker Filter
Introduced for the first time in the Synthacon synthesizer, back in the '70s, this marvelous filter not only brings a Low pass mode like competitive designs, but also Band pass, High pass and Notch positions, making it a highly versatile and praised boutique filter.
The MiniBrute filter is based on the core of the legendary Steiner-Parker multimode filter and has been improved to deliver an even wider range of cutoff and resonance. Nyle Steiner himself has validated and approved these improvements.
Teamed up with the MiniBrute multiwave oscillator, and the wide modulation capabilities, the Steiner-Parker filter brings an extreme versatile and aggressive edge that will make your sound stand out.
Brute Factor
The Brute Factor was inspired by a patch made on a famous vintage synthesizer connecting the headphone output to the external audio input. The result is a kind of feedback loop that is ideal for raspy and grungy sounds. This patch has been adapted and implemented internally in the MiniBrute.
For low Brute Factor settings, the distortion is smooth and gentle but becomes harsher as you turn up the knob. When turned up above about 75% of the way, the MiniBrute can go berserk and produce barely controllable, crazy feedback sounds.
Note: the Brute Factor feature alters the filter characteristics, so expect highly unpredictable results at extreme settings. You have been warned!
A Full, Hands-On Arpeggiator
MiniBrute comes with a 25-note keyboard fitting the modern musician’s need of mobility. On the other hand, it offers a very nice arpeggiator that will allow you to create complex melodic patterns without needing to be a skilled keyboardist.
MiniBrute’s arpeggiator boasts a full set of features, from octave range, to play mode, tap tempo, step size, not to forget the swing control to change your groove on the fly. In addition, the arpeggiator is fully synchronizeable with the MIDI input and with the LFO1 (using the clock switch), enabling perfect timing during your performance. When playing live, you can also get in sync with your drummer using the handy Tap Tempo button.
A Keyboard Taylored to Your Needs
MiniBrute features a quality keyboard including velocity, aftertouch and 25 semi-weighted keys for a fast-andaccurate performance. Aftertouch can be routed to the Cutoff or Vibrato amounts for maximum expression.
