Omnisphere 3 Hardware Guide

Arturia Microfreak

The Arturia Microfreak is a cool polyphonic “experimental” hybrid synth that blends wavetable and digital oscillators with analog filters. Its unconventional oscillator modes, combined with a modulation matrix, aftertouch, arpeggiation, and effects, make it a great synth (especially at its price point!). Even though many of its deeper functions don’t send MIDI, the panel controls do, so when controlling Omnisphere, you can tweak two oscillators, two envelopes, two LFOs, and effects. With its unique design, it’s a very nice controller for Omnisphere!

Arturia Microfreak Strengths:

  • Cool Hybrid Synth
  • Unique Oscillator Modes
  • Vocoder
  • Good Build Quality
  • CV / Gate / Pressure outputs

Arturia Microfreak Details:

Retail Price $349
Number of Keys 25
Keyboard Type Touch-sensitive Capacitive Keybed
Size of Controls Medium
Special Features Vocoder
Dimensions 22.75” x 9.09” x 1.57” (578 × 231 × 55 mm)
Weight 2.25 lbs (1.02 Kg)
USB Powered No
Pitch Bender Yes—Ribbon-style Capacitive Touch Strip
Mod Wheel Yes—Ribbon-style Ribbon-style Capacitive Touch Strip
Sends Aftertouch Yes
Sustain Pedal Input No?
Expression Pedal Input No
Ribbon Capacitive Touch Strip
Non-Functional Controls Type
FX Type/Sub
Tempo/Swing
Master
Mode
Wave/Load
Matrix
Arpeggiator Yes
Sequencer Yes
MIDI Messages CC

Omnisphere Sections Controlled by the Arturia Microfreak:

Independent Layer Control No
Number of Oscillators 2
Number of Wavetables 5
Number of Envelopes 2
Number of LFOs 3
Filter Types None
FX Units Global Ambience
Global Tone
Global Limiter
Tube Overdrive
Soundsources No
Mod Matrix No
FM Yes
Ring Mod No
Waveshaper No
Unison No
Harmonia No
Granular No
ORB No
Arpeggiator No

Ratings

Control of Omnisphere
Panel Layout
Ease of Use
Keyboard Feel
Build Quality