Arturia MicroBrute UFO brings back the compact, raw-sounding brute analog Synthesizer for a limited time in an alien black version.
The French company Arturia has its roots in software development. In 2012, however, the developers took their first steps into the world of analog synths with the MiniBrute Synthesizer.
Development was led by French developer Yves Usson, who also developed the later MiniBrute SE and the more affordable MicroBrute. An interview with Yves will be available soon on the Synth Anatomy YouTube channel.
Arturia MicroBrute UFO
The Arturia MicroBrute, which was the most popular among the early Brute synths, now returns in an alien-abducted UFO version.
It is based on the same analog design and features as the 2014 version, but comes with a new look. This is entirely black, with green accents reminiscent of aliens.
More notable is that the new MicroBrute UFO version features new knobs, which do not become sticky after a few years, unlike the ones on the original MiniBrute, MicroBrute, etc. Everything else has remained the same.
The MicroBrute UFO features a two-octave keyboard with 25 mini keys and octave up/down buttons. Onboard is, of course, the easy-to-use sequencer with up to 64 steps and pattern memory.
Raw Analog Synth
On the synthesis side, it features a single oscillator with mixable and blendable waveforms (saw, square, triangle), offering a distinct raw character.
Adjust levels for each wave independently, and you can also use this creatively, for example, to drive the filter or the Brute FactorTM for added harmonic richness.
Then, you can find the best-known waveshapers. Ultrasaw thickens the saw wave with detuned duplicates, the metalizer wavefolder for metallic tones, and the overtone adds a sub-octave or 5th harmonic for extra depth.
Then, it enters the unusual Steiner-Parker analog multimode filter, offering low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass modes. A special feature of the filter section is the Brute FactorTM, which is based on the concept of the Minimoog external input/feedback circuit.
Turn it up, and the sound is fed back into the signal, generating an aggressive, feedback-style distortion – perfect for gritty basses and screaming leads.
Arturia MicroBrute UFO also features the same modulation feature set as the original MB with an ADSR envelope, LFO, and CV signals that can be introduced via the modulation patch matrix. Here you can feed parameters with modulation sources from the Eurorack world.
Connectivity
On the backside, you have CV connectivity with CV/gate out and gate in, a mono line out, a headphone socket, and a mono line input.
The latter can be used to route external audio through the lovely characterful filter and the brute factor. It’s a perfect feature for creative audio destruction. Plus, you have a USB port and a 5-pin MIDI in socket for MIDI duties.
Like the original, the Arturia MicroBrute UFO is constructed from plastic with a metal base.
First Impression
The original Brute synthesizers had a very distinct raw sound that was somewhat lost in the MiniBrute 2 series. This is mainly due to the signal path changes, making the sound more usable in the “mainstream.”
I’m glad to see the MicroBrute making a brief comeback with some better knobs.
Arturia MicroBrute UFO is available now for 349€ for a limited time.
More information here: Arturia
Available at my partner
nice! Love my babyblue Version!
immediately Ordered this New Version as a Backup!