Arturia’s virtualization of its instruments continues. Following MiniFreak V, they’ve now turned to the compact analog MiniBrute keyboard, modeling the synth’s analog circuitry and adding polyphony and digital effects.
Arturia could have just phoned this one in, but it seems they really went all out with extras to make a premium software instrument. I’ll look at it more in detail later as I’m behind on testing, but a quick browse through the feature set looks great:
![MiniBrute V, a modeled software rendition of Arturia's baby wonder 1 Main 1](https://cdm.link/app/uploads/2024/05/Main-1-1024x908.jpeg)
- Models the analog circuits and Steiner-Parker filter of the original
- The usual ‘Brute features: Ultrasaw, Metalizer, Brute Factor controls
- 8-voice polyphonic instead of monophonic
- New Unison mode (okay, would love a MiniBrute + hardware with this)
- Two LFOs – one with 6 waveforms, one with 3 vibrato modes
- 4 FX slots
- 17 FX types: Reverb, Delay, Tape Echo, PS Delay, Compressor, Multiband, Multi Filter, Distortion, Bitcrusher, Super Unison, Chorus, Chorus JUN-6, Flanger, BL-20 Flanger, Phaser, Stereo Pan
![MiniBrute V, a modeled software rendition of Arturia's baby wonder 2 Effects 1](https://cdm.link/app/uploads/2024/05/Effects-1-1024x908.jpeg)
They’ve also added some tweaks/hacks that – don’t even exist on the real hardware. (Or maybe they do … kudos if someone has been brave enough to mod a Minibrute.)
![MiniBrute V, a modeled software rendition of Arturia's baby wonder 3 NoKeys 1](https://cdm.link/app/uploads/2024/05/NoKeys-1-1024x628.jpeg)
Of course, what I really want is the MicroFreak V (following up on MiniFreak V), since sample and wavetable loading in software and the ability to sync that to the hardware would be perfect. But this looks nice, especially for those times when you don’t have the hardware handy.
Now that they’ve done this, I humbly submit that the Brute features and modeled filter would be amazing additions to Pigments.
MiniBrute is on sale now for an intro of 50% off from Plugin Boutique
If you buy something from a CDM link, we may earn a commission.
Long-time readers of CDM, get prepared to get creeped out by the idea that this is a synth from “back in the day”. (Wait, 2012 is 14 years ago? Weiiiiiiiird….)
I somehow missed two other Arturia plug-in updates – the Acid improvement especially:
![MiniBrute V, a modeled software rendition of Arturia's baby wonder 4 acid v](https://cdm.link/app/uploads/2024/05/acid-v-1024x657.jpg)
Acid V 1.1 adds a Phase Retrig option and some look-and-feel enhancements, plus Sonoma support:
- Phase Retrig Mode
- New light theme
- Multiple look and style improvements
- Startup preset can now be customized from the hamburger menu
- User preset banks picture can now be customized
- Keylab Essential 3 Integration
- Support of Mac OS Sonoma
And JUN-6 V adds some similar improvements:
- New light theme
- Multiple look and style improvements
- Startup preset can now be customized from the hamburger menu
- User preset banks picture can now be customized
- Keylab Essential 3 Integration
- Support of Mac OS Sonoma