Arturia MiniBrute 2 and 2S

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O1B
Posts: 2037
Joined: 26 Jan 2015

16 Jan 2018

and, now -
Arturia MiniBrute 2 Synthesizer
Features:


25-key semi-modular monophonic analog synthesizer
2 oscillators with waveform mixing, waveshaping, and frequency modulation
4-mode Steiner-Parker analog filter
2 envelopes, one ADSR and one looping AD, and 2 LFOs
Built-in sequencer and arpeggiator
MatrixBrute-style keyboard with assignable aftertouch
USB and MIDI connectivity, plus sync support for DrumBrute, Akai MPC Live, and Korg Volcas
48-point CV for extensive modulation capabilities and Eurorack integration
Link Midi - no wires?

Price: $649 , Avail: Feb '18

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It also has 25 full-size velocity sensitive keys with aftertouch, adding pitch and modulation wheels not found on the original.

Last edited by O1B on 16 Jan 2018, edited 1 time in total.

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O1B
Posts: 2037
Joined: 26 Jan 2015

16 Jan 2018

and,

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Arturia reveals new MiniBrute 2S synthesiser:

The new product shares much in common with the MiniBrute 2, which was announced yesterday. Instead of a keybed, the 2S has performance pads and a sequencer with real-time recording and space for 64 chainable patterns. The sequencer has various sequence types, namely LFO, envelope, gate, control voltage and pitch, and each sequence can have its own individual length.

Apart from the sequencer, the 2S has the same architecture as the MiniBrute 2.

The Arturia MiniBrute 2S is available from March 2018 for $649.
https://www.arturia.com/minibrute-2-landing#mb-2
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Andy
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16 Jan 2018

The 2S look great. I may get that one.

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Faastwalker
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Location: NSW, Australia

16 Jan 2018

Very nice. There is another announcement on the way. It's rumored to be the RackBrute, a modular case & system that can be physically connected to the new Minibrutes. Full system is rumored to be $1999. But the thinking is you could just buy the case & fill it with whatever modular / Eurorack components you like ............ or it could all be an elaborate hoax & the third Arturia announcement is something completely different. But the RackBrute looks pretty convincing from the images people have been posting;

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Data_Shrine
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21 Jan 2018

That's all really cool but I don't see myself getting rid of my Microbrute for the M2.

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O1B
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22 Jan 2018

Definitely in on the 2S (Ill keystep it). That Sound Mod. That Step Seq. I Talked myself out of the 2.
Andy wrote:
16 Jan 2018
The 2S look great. I may get that one.
Loving that RackBrute. It's the only way to Eurorack!
Faastwalker wrote:
16 Jan 2018
Image
I feel the same. The uBrute footprint is more manageable - albeit mini keys.
But the Sound design improvements on the mini2 may be well worth not ever going back.

btw: The minibrute has been reduced to $150 on eBay.... $200 tops.
Data_Shrine wrote:
21 Jan 2018
That's all really cool but I don't see myself getting rid of my Microbrute for the M2.
now... about that 61 key korg 'maxi-logue...

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Data_Shrine
Posts: 517
Joined: 23 Jan 2015

22 Jan 2018

O1B wrote:
22 Jan 2018
Definitely in on the 2S (Ill keystep it). That Sound Mod. That Step Seq. I Talked myself out of the 2.
Andy wrote:
16 Jan 2018
The 2S look great. I may get that one.
Loving that RackBrute. It's the only way to Eurorack!
Faastwalker wrote:
16 Jan 2018
Image
I feel the same. The uBrute footprint is more manageable - albeit mini keys.
But the Sound design improvements on the mini2 may be well worth not ever going back.

btw: The minibrute has been reduced to $150 on eBay.... $200 tops.
Data_Shrine wrote:
21 Jan 2018
That's all really cool but I don't see myself getting rid of my Microbrute for the M2.
now... about that 61 key korg 'maxi-logue...
The attraction for the MicroBrute was, for me, in it's affordability - it was my first analogue synth (beyond the Monotron Duo & Monotron Space Delay). I still haven't done all that can be done with it. I agree that the MB2S looks fantastic... The way I see it.. MS-10 vs MS-20... the MS-10 is still cool ;)

150-200$ for a MiniBrute is a steal... !

The RackBrute looks great, but I've seen cheaper Doepfer cases (they look cheap too). If I had a modular setup i'd definitely prefer moving it around in the RackBrute.

I already have one big keyboard, the mighty DX7, so I'm less tempted on things like the Prologue.

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O1B
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Joined: 26 Jan 2015

23 Jan 2018

I agree on the uBrute. ($$). I did the monotron thing as well.
I now stomp around with the microKorg S. Brilliant!

I also agree that the plastiques used by Arturia is a bit tired. (Drumbrute's the same).
But, the microKorg's no different! And..., I use the heck out of them both!

And, RackBrute... If/when I do a mod thing... no way will it be stationary.

Cheers!

Ill pick a proper 61, 76, or 88 key one of these days.
Data_Shrine wrote:
22 Jan 2018

The attraction for the MicroBrute was, for me, in it's affordability - it was my first analogue synth (beyond the Monotron Duo & Monotron Space Delay). I still haven't done all that can be done with it. I agree that the MB2S looks fantastic... The way I see it.. MS-10 vs MS-20... the MS-10 is still cool ;)

150-200$ for a MiniBrute is a steal... !

The RackBrute looks great, but I've seen cheaper Doepfer cases (they look cheap too). If I had a modular setup i'd definitely prefer moving it around in the RackBrute.

I already have one big keyboard, the mighty DX7, so I'm less tempted on things like the Prologue.

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O1B
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07 Mar 2018

Minibrute and BeatStep Pro Morphed. This dude slobs his knobs well.


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O1B
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Joined: 26 Jan 2015

12 Mar 2018

Anybody got one??

Looks like the 2s is winning in popularity. Both have dropped, but the 2s is harder to find and has a wait of 2 weeks - at least. Found one that arrives Wednesday.

Can't imagine I'll ever use the microbrute again:
- No screen (tempo) vs ###.#
- no HOLD (no, not the Sustain), no ARP
vs HOLD, ARP, 64 easy STEPs
- Substandard (now) Synth Section, meager PatchBay
vs revamped Filter, AMP, a pack of 8 patch cords and a Cookbook
- 1 ADSR, 1 LFO, 1 VCO
vs. 2 ADSRs (+ PBay), 2 LFOs w/more waveforms (+VCO2), 2 VCOs

The microbrute was my commodore 64. But, i don't have that anymore, either. so...

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O1B
Posts: 2037
Joined: 26 Jan 2015

17 Mar 2018

Microbrute is $150 used on eBay.
There is NOT ONE BID on any OLD MINIBRUTES on EBay. (2 pp.)
Not one.
The Minibrute 1.0 is Dead. Long live Minibrute 2.0

Arturia's 2.0 synth architecture is the most immediate when it comes to shaping a great sound, IMO.
by "Great", I mean FM'd, PWM'd, Noise'd, Rez'd, Detune'd, Metalized, Enveloped, and Brute FORCE'd.

On most 2 voicers - attaining great sound from scratch takes a little longer than necessary, I believe.
The microbrute was awesome, but the palette seemed limited - and I am new.
Not so with the Mini 2.0 . A pitch and mod wheel would've been cool, but there are easy analogs on the board.

It DOES have:
Proper pads with aftertouch,
Proper step sequencer with value knobs, transport, numerical Tempo, etc., Transpose, Scales
Proper ARP - with HOLD.
FM modulation of the Cutoff is nice.... so is Resonance Modulation via LFO.
Global Tune knob is convenient...
Looping AD(SR)

Overtone (SUB->Fifth) of the microbrute, and the minibrute's 1.0's SUB OSC are gone, I believe.
The SUB or Fifth would've been nice. Maybe Im missing something.
But the Subs seem Deeper and the Highs clearer, so Im very happy with it.

As an all-in-one Drone, Step Seq, Bass, or Sound FX, I finally settled on something.
And just I patch cord applied told me a 6U rackbrute worth of eurorack modules seems the next step.

The LFO's seems a little slow... compared to, say the monologue, but NYX will take care of that.

Drums: Check. Mono synth: Check. Poly:...... now to investigate PEAK.
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Marco Raaphorst
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17 Mar 2018

monophonic... feels so outdated :D

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O1B
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Joined: 26 Jan 2015

18 Mar 2018

Edit: I was wrong about the LFO. nice. with FM linked to VCO 2
... which doubles as an LFO.

Changing between sine, square, and saw and picking different octaves, LFO speed(VCO tune), and FM depth, you can control the speed and sound very well.

With the Hold, Step Sepencer/ARP flexibility, Arturia's OSC architecture, very little gets overlooked in sound design.

What's your synth, Marco? Mono or Poly?
I like Subtractor, or THOR, but, I'd need a
Subtractor/THOR,
a Matrix,
ACCESS to the back of the Subtractor/THOR,
Zvork REs,
Pepin's Front-8,
Ocher K CV Tune, and MicroTune,
LoveOne BZR-1 CV Generator,
AND since the Matrix or THOR's sequencer are MONO, I'd need to use even more.
I dont have that kind of screen real estate.
(Minibrute 2s has 2 note lanes easy (NOT mono) and 2 more for good measure!)

Minibrute 2s works for me.

Outdated? Mono Synths are Outdated? the Voyager D/XL is Outdated?
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I see you like 'saying funny.' have at it, then.
Marco Raaphorst wrote:
17 Mar 2018
monophonic... feels so outdated :D

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Marco Raaphorst
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18 Mar 2018

I am a guitarplayer. Never understood why anyone would go back to monophonic stuff after the polyphonic synths were invented. I guess limitations are nice? I can understand this.

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O1B
Posts: 2037
Joined: 26 Jan 2015

18 Mar 2018

You didn't answer the Synth Question, so Ill assume you have no easy work around.
I am a guitarplayer.
Which one are you?
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I am a guitarplayer.
Yeah.... and...?? Plenty of guitar players... not many slack-jawing about "never understanding"
You're commenting about the archaic nature of mono synths?
Maybe... and, I'm just spit-ballon', but maybe.... mono/poly distinctions are irrelevant.

Ignorance, for me isn't bliss - but, like I said, have a it.
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Marco Raaphorst wrote:
18 Mar 2018
I am a guitarplayer. Never understood why anyone would go back to monophonic stuff after the polyphonic synths were invented. I guess limitations are nice? I can understand this.

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O1B
Posts: 2037
Joined: 26 Jan 2015

18 Jun 2020

Still going strong with my minibrute 2s.

The architecture
- mixer section of waves, NICE,
- noise (nice HISS)
- 2 useful LFOs (gotta look up LFO retrig).
- Proper FILTER, with Brute, FM and RM - and it’s internal patching to the ADSR
(I do wish there was CV for ATTACK - but I can play it with my hands since it uses faders :puf_smile: .)
- the ARP, and STEP SEQ - VERSATILE... USEFUL...
I don’t know if it has micro timing, but it sure sounds like it does. One of the best STEP SEQ I’ve used.
- Patch bay (AMPLE)
- THE Pads... very playable.... lots of FUN,
and,
- the SOUND.

Nice Patch @5:45

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Noiserunner
Posts: 79
Joined: 26 Sep 2018
Location: Munich, Germany

18 Jun 2020

I love it, too.
... 2 useful LFOs (gotta look up LFO retrig) ...
The AD Envelope can be used as an additional LFO (even so the different sequencer lanes) and can be retriggered.
... I do wish there was CV for ATTACK - but I can play it with my hands since it uses faders :puf_smile: .) ...
The AD Envelope has a CV IN for Attack.
(MacBook Pro 13", some soft- and hardware)

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selig
RE Developer
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Location: The NorthWoods, CT, USA

18 Jun 2020

I missed this thread the first time around - only got mine early 2019.

But.

I love it - long live the mono synth. Pared with the RackBrute 6U it's amazing IMO

Agree with everything you say about it O1B, and can only add all osc shapes on VCO 1 are modulatable. Having had a Synthicon in the early 1980s, the filter is like coming home. The Brute section gets used most of the time. Probably my favorite bass synth right now.

As for the mono vs poly synth, I don't see the limitations being anything but inspiring. Ask Coltrain, Davis, or any other horn player if only playing one note at a time is a bad thing…

I also have polysynths like Peak and software synths for that task…

And the sequencer is amazing for creating interesting control signals for the modular - mostly use it for that due to it's versatility creating slow random CVs and individual step based LFOs and Envelopes (very useful, wish more sequencers did this!).
Selig Audio, LLC

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