Arturia Release Limited-Edition Microfreak Stellar and New Firmware

Arturia has announced a limited-edition version of the MicroFreak Stellar which will be on show at Superbooth 23. This new addition to the MicroFreak family features a bold and quirky new aesthetic inspired by all things space and cooky synth design, along with new firmware that introduces granular processing and sampling to the Freak ecosystem.

The limited-edition design features a sleek grey exterior with space-age graphics inspired by its controls, from the ADSR rocket launch to the filter resonance UFO. But it’s not just about looks. The MicroFreak Stellar also comes with a new firmware that includes 4 new sampling and granular sound engines. These new sound engines unlock the ability to create a new world of sounds and explore the depths of the Freak ecosystem. The firmware is also available as a free download for all MicroFreak and MiniFreak users, which will surely be awesome news for existing Freak owners. (Update now via the Arturia Website)

This update brings forward the ability to load user samples onto the MicroFreak. While there is already a factory library of samples to use, users can easily browse through them by clicking three times on the preset encoder and using the Type knob to navigate the Sample Engine. Once in Sample Browsing mode, users can try out the Wave (start point), Timbre (length/reverse length), and Shape (loop length) controls on the Sample Engine to create unique sounds.

In addition to the new sampling engine, the update also includes three new granular engines: Cloud, Scan, and Hit modes. Each engine offers a unique way to explore granular synthesis, with controls for grain start position, density and size of grains, and chaos control, among others. Users can have endless fun experimenting with different samples and engines to create new sounds.

The new firmware also includes several other features to play around with, including 64 new factory presets and the ability to import your own samples up to 24 seconds using MIDI Control Center. Users can also try out random per-key modulation, snappier envelopes, and modulating sample start to create expressive patches.

The Cloud engine looks to be mint for creating lush pads, while the Scan engine allows for vintage time stretch effects that sound straight out of a sci-fi movie. The Hit engine is great for building percussive or clicky patches, while reversing samples using the Sample Engine can lead to interesting and unexpected results.

New Features:

· New sampling engine: Manipulate and trigger recorded audio using MicroFreak.

· 3 new granular engines: Scan, Cloud, and Hit modes for Freaky granular exploration.

· New colour: MicroFreak Stellar is a classy all-grey, space-age style.

· New graphics: Cute custom graphics featuring rocket ships, space invaders, and more

More info via Arturia’s Website

Arturia is Distributed by CMI Music & Audio in Australia