The Arturia MiniBrute is a

synthesizer A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis a ...

manufactured by

Arturia Arturia is a French electronics company founded in 1999 and based in Grenoble, France. The company designs and manufactures audio interfaces and electronic musical instruments, including software synthesizers, drum machines, analog synthesizers, ...

. Although the MiniBrute was the first piece of analog hardware created by Arturia—which had previously exclusively marketed

software synthesizer A software synthesizer or softsynth is a computer program that generates digital audio, usually for music. Computer software that can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed now allow softsynths to accomplish the same t ...

s—it generated strong sales. The MiniBrute takes some cues from vintage monophonic synthesizers, such as the

Roland SH-101 The Roland SH-101 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1982 and 1986. Though it did not achieve significant commercial success, it later became a staple of electronic music in the 1990s, particularly house music ...

and

Minimoog The Minimoog is an analog synthesizer first manufactured by Moog Music between 1970 and 1981. Designed as a more affordable, portable version of the modular Moog synthesizer, it was the first synthesizer sold in retail stores. It was first popul ...

. However, it also incorporates modern technology to increase its versatility, stability and depth of sound. The synthesizer uses a single, highly shapeable

oscillator Oscillation is the repetitive or periodic variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples of oscillation include a swinging pendulum ...

, which can be processed through a multimode Steiner filter and multiple LFOs.

Background

Before releasing the MiniBrute,

was known for its affordable

software synthesizers A software synthesizer or softsynth is a computer program that generates digital audio, usually for music. Computer software that can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed now allow softsynths to accomplish the same t ...

. These were generally faithful software emulations of classic

analog synthesizer An analog synthesizer () is a synthesizer that uses Analogue electronics, analog circuits and analog signals to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s, such as the Trautonium, were built with a var ...

s, such as the Moog 3C and Moog 55. The MiniBrute was the first piece of analog hardware manufactured by Arturia. Following the 2010

NAMM Show The NAMM Show is an annual trade show in the United States organized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), which describes it as "the industry’s largest stage, uniting the global music, sound and entertainment technology commun ...

, Arturia CEO Frédéric Brun began to receive word that American customers were interested in small, low-cost analog synthesizers, which were not available at the time (British synthesizer-manufacturer, Novation had long stopped production of its small Bass Station synthesizers). In June 2010, Arturia reached out to synthesizer designer Yves Usson of YuSynth in order to gain insight into the production of analog hardware. Usson designed schematics for the circuitry of the MiniBrute and helped troubleshoot technical problems. The release of the MiniBrute was first announced at the 2012 NAMM Show. There was some uncertainty about whether or not a

monophonic Monaural sound or monophonic sound (often shortened to mono) is sound intended to be heard as if it were emanating from one position. This contrasts with stereophonic sound or ''stereo'', which uses two separate audio channels to reproduce sou ...

synthesizer would sell well compared to contemporary digital and analog competitors, which were mostly polyphonic. New analog monosynths were not common at the time. Despite this, Arturia invested resources in the unit's build quality and produced a fairly large first run.

Design influences

The MiniBrute uses a single oscillator, which is reminiscent of synthesizers such as the ARP Axxe of the 1970s or

of the 1980s. Also like the SH-101, the MiniBrute gives the option to mix pure analog waveforms to generate unique shapes. However, at the insistence of hardware designer Yves Usson, Arturia chose to depart somewhat from these vintage synthesizers by using a modern modification of a 12 dB/octave Steiner multimode filter—like those found in rare Steiner-Parker Synthacons—rather than emulating those used in more popular machines, which were often 24 dB/octave to produce a "beefier" effect. The MiniBrute's filter also eliminates the technical limitations of more common filters, which tend to have a single mode. Usson had also considered emulating the

Korg MS-20 The Korg MS-20 is a patchable semi-modular monophonic analog synthesizer which Korg released in 1978 and which was in production until 1983. It was part of Korg's MS series of instruments, which also included the single oscillator MS-10, the ke ...

filter and various others, but ultimately elected to use a filter that was not already widely available in other machines. Usson is known for his DIY work with synthesizers, especially

modular synthesizers Modular synthesizers are synthesizers composed of separate modules for different functions. The modules can be connected together by the user to create a patch (synthesizer), patch. The outputs from the modules may include audio signals, analo ...

. This is reflected in some design elements of the MiniBrute. For example, the MiniBrute includes an effect called Brute Factor, which is a form of overdrive. It is inspired by the technique of rerouting the

voltage-controlled amplifier A variable-gain (VGA) or voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) is an electronic amplifier that varies its gain depending on a control voltage (often abbreviated CV). VCAs have many applications, including audio level compression, synthesizers and ...

(VCA) output on a Moog Minimoog to be processed through the synthesizer again. However, like the similar concept employed by Dave Smith Instruments Mopho synthesizer series from 2008, Brute Factor does not require any patching, as it is built into the MiniBrute. Unlike the DSI Mopho, however, the MiniBrute's 'Brute Factor' circuitry is permanently available, not broken by the connection of an actual external input. Additionally, Usson has made technical diagrams for the MiniBrute's circuitry available on his website, HackABrute, to encourage users to modify their machines. He has also included proposed modifications that have been tested. However, making modifications to the internal system, including those listed on the site, voids Arturia's product warranty.

Synthesis model

The MiniBrute's single oscillator can be set to sawtooth,

pulse In medicine, the pulse refers to the rhythmic pulsations (expansion and contraction) of an artery in response to the cardiac cycle (heartbeat). The pulse may be felt ( palpated) in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surfac ...

(modulatable width),

triangle A triangle is a polygon with three corners and three sides, one of the basic shapes in geometry. The corners, also called ''vertices'', are zero-dimensional points while the sides connecting them, also called ''edges'', are one-dimension ...

white noise In signal processing, white noise is a random signal having equal intensity at different frequencies, giving it a constant power spectral density. The term is used with this or similar meanings in many scientific and technical disciplines, i ...

, or any combination of these. The three waveforms each have options for additional wave shaping. Although pulse-width modulation is common for analog synthesizers, the shaping options for the sawtooth and triangle are unique to the MiniBrute. The MiniBrute also includes a sub-oscillator and external signal processing. The oscillator is processed through a multimode 12 dB/octave Steiner filter. The user can select a

low-pass filter A low-pass filter is a filter that passes signals with a frequency lower than a selected cutoff frequency and attenuates signals with frequencies higher than the cutoff frequency. The exact frequency response of the filter depends on the filt ...

high-pass filter A high-pass filter (HPF) is an electronic filter that passes signals with a frequency higher than a certain cutoff frequency and attenuates signals with frequencies lower than the cutoff frequency. The amount of attenuation for each frequency ...

band-pass filter A band-pass filter or bandpass filter (BPF) is a device that passes frequencies within a certain range and rejects ( attenuates) frequencies outside that range. It is the inverse of a '' band-stop filter''. Description In electronics and s ...

, or notch filter. Although this filter made the MiniBrute more versatile than its vintage predecessors, Gordon Reid of ''

Sound on Sound ''Sound on Sound'' is a monthly music technology magazine. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals. Due to its technical focus, it is predominantly ...

'' was critical of the choice not to emulate a more popular Moog filter. The filter has its own dedicated ADSR envelope generator and can also be modulated by LFO or the modulation wheel. The filter was designed by Usson. Minibrute and dotcom

The MiniBrute's LFO can be routed to wave shape modulation, filter cutoff, pitch, and amplitude. Various wave shapes are available for the LFO. It can also be synced to the MiniBrute's arpeggiator. The audio output can be reprocessed through the synthesizer using the Brute Factor to achieve an overdrive effect.

Impact

The MiniBrute reintroduced the analog monophonic format for newly produced synthesizers. Although its release posed a risk for Arturia in an uncertain market, the units sold well due to their low price point and relatively high quality. Prior to the release of the MiniBrute, analog synthesizers tended to retail for or more; the MiniBrute entered the market at around , making it more accessible to new users. Nick Batt of Sonic State called the MiniBrute "one of the first of this...new breed of

nouveau A ''nouveau'' ( ), or ''vin (de) primeur'', is a wine which may be sold in the same year in which it was harvested. The most widely exported ''nouveau'' wine is French wine Beaujolais ''nouveau'' which is released on the third Thursday of ...

analog", citing the Korg MS-20 Mini, Korg Volca series, and

Novation Novation, in contract law and business law, is the act of – # replacing an obligation to perform with another obligation; or # adding an obligation to perform; or # replacing a party to an agreement with a new party. In international law, no ...

Bass Station II as others following the trend. Arturia later issued an updated edition of the MiniBrute, the MiniBrute SE, which used an updated design and included a step sequencer.

MicroBrute

Following the success of the MiniBrute, Arturia released the MicroBrute, a smaller analog monosynth, in 2014. The MicroBrute lacks the MiniBrute's velocity and aftertouch and does use a single-knob-per-function model, but adds an analog step sequencer and a small patch bay. Arturia later released an updated edition of the MicroBrute, the MicroBrute SE, which featured an updated Sub-Oscillator and step sequencer design .

MiniBrute 2 and 2s

In 2016, Arturia released an updated version of the MiniBrute. Featuring two oscillators an extensive 48-point patchbay and more modulation capabilities. This synthesizer was released in two formats, one with a 2-octave keyboard and a smaller version with a 16-pad multichannel sequencer instead called the Minibrute 2s.

MatrixBrute

At the 2016 winter NAMM show, Arturia announced the MatrixBrute, a 3 VCO analog synthesizer based on the MiniBrute. The MatrixBrute includes a Moog-style ladder filter in addition to the Steiner filter found on the MiniBrute and MicroBrute. Unlike its predecessors, the MatrixBrute is modular; however, it uses a matrix of backlit buttons to represent patches instead of cables.

References

{{reflist, 30em, refs= {{cite interview, url=http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/tech/meet-the-programmers-arturia-613652 , publisher=MusicRadar , first=Adrien , last=Courdavault , title=Meet the programmers: Arturia , date=19 January 2015 , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web, url=http://www.bonedo.de/artikel/einzelansicht/arturia.html , publisher=Bonedo , title=Arturia – Musical Instruments Herstellerprofil , accessdate=6 August 2015 , language=German {{cite web, url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar12/articles/arturia-minibrute.htm , work=

, first=Gordon , last=Reid , title=Arturia MiniBrute: Analog Monosynth , date=March 2012 , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web, url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/namm-2012-arturia-minibrute-analogue-synth-announced-524500/ , publisher=MusicRadar , first=Ben , last=Rogerson , date=19 January 2012 , title=NAMM 2012: Arturia Minibrute analogue synth announced , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web , url=http://www.keyboardmag.com/gear/1183/arturia-minibrute/29037 , work=

Keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Mus ...

, title=Arturia MiniBrute , date=18 January 2013 , first=Francis , last=Preve , accessdate=6 August 2015 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801080830/http://www.keyboardmag.com/gear/1183/arturia-minibrute/29037 , archive-date=1 August 2015 , url-status=dead {{cite interview , url=http://www.arturia.com/company/news/artist/interview-yvesusson , publisher=

, first=Yves , last=Usson , interviewer=Arturia , title=Yves Usson Interview , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web, url=http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/minibrute.php , publisher=Vintage Synth Explorer , title=Arturia MiniBrute , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web , url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7943bYSdVc , publisher=Sonic State , work=Sonic LAB , title=Arturia MiniBrute Synthesizer- Sonic LAB Review , first=Nick , last=Batt , date=2 July 2012 , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web , url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb14/articles/arturia-microbrute.htm , work=

, title=Arturia MicroBrute , first=Gordon , last=Reid , date=February 2014 , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web , url=http://www.keyboardmag.com/gear/1183/arturia-microbrute-reviewed/29586 , work=

, title=Arturia MicroBrute reviewed , date=15 January 2014 , accessdate=6 August 2015 {{cite web , url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/musikmesse-2014-video-arturia-minibrute-se-analogue-synth-unveiled-595973 , publisher=Music Radar , title=Musikmesse 2014 video: Arturia MiniBrute SE analogue synth unveiled , first=Ben , last=Rogerson , date=12 March 2014 , accessdate=6 August 2015

External links

MiniBrute overview
from Arturia
MiniBrute SE overview
from Arturia
MiniBrute Test Report - GreatSynthesizers
Analog synthesizers Monophonic synthesizers Synthesizers Products introduced in 2012